Despite producing content across multiple genres, A24 is one of the most consistent film distributors when it comes to the quality and kind of films they release. A24 has quickly become one of the most popular indie/arthouse production companies out there, making award-winning content in both film and television.
With The Tragedy of Macbeth snagging three Academy Award nominations in 2022, as well as the recent release of hit movies like C'mon C'mon starring Joaquin Phoenix and Red Rocket starring Simon Rex, it's time to take a look at some of the iconic production company's best films according to the cinephiles at Ranker.
Minari (2020)
Minari is a drama about a Korean-American family who travels to Arkansas in the 1980s and starts a family farm. The film is directed by Lee Isaac Chung and is a visually stunning portrayal of what it means to be an immigrant family in the 1980s and the resilience it takes to make a home.
The film boasts incredible performances from the entire cast, but standout performances are delivered by Steven Yeun and Yuh-Jung Youn are in the film. Minari has been widely loved by both A24 fans and film critics since it was released and received six Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress that year.
The Farewell (2019)
The Farewell is a comedy-drama about a Chinese family who discovers their grandmother only has a little while left to live and hides it from her so they can gather and celebrate her life with her, but the celebration is disguised as a family wedding.
For such a sad concept, the film has some truly funny moments thanks to incredible performances by Awkwafina and Shuzhen Zhao, who steals the show as the family's naive dying grandmother. The Farewell is full of compelling characters and is written and directed by Lulu Wang, who many felt was snubbed out of an Academy Award nomination for her work on the film.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Uncut Gems, directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, is a crime thriller about a fast-talking jeweler in New York city who uses a rare opal in an attempt to con people and pay his debts. The stress and anxiety of the movie are high as one bad decision after another leads to dealing with gangsters, NBA players, and art collectors.
Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner in one of his few dramatic performances. Many fans felt that Sandler should have received an Oscar nomination for his role in the film, and were shocked when the film didn't receive a single nod.
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lighthouse is set on a dreary New England island in 1890 and stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as two lighthouse keepers. The movie is shot in black and white as well as in a unique aspect ratio, which truly adds to the dark and claustrophobic psychological thriller.
The film is writer/director Robert Eggers' second film with A24, and undoubtedly his most popular. It truly thrives from Pattinson and Dafoe's performances, as the isolation and tension of the film slowly build both beautifully and cryptically. The film did receive a nomination for Best Cinematography but ended up losing to 1917.
Good Time (2017)
Good Time is a crime drama about Constantine 'Connie' Nikas, played by Robert Pattinson in one of his best performances to date, as he desperately attempts to break his brother out of jail after a failed bank robbery. Good Time is Josh and Bennie Safdie's first feature film, releasing a few years before Uncut Gems, and the film is truly a testament to the brothers' filmmaking abilities.
As well as directing, Bennie co-edited the film, helped with sound mixing, and acted opposite Pattinson as his jailed brother, while Josh co-wrote and directed. Although fans love to debate which of the directing duo's films are better, Uncut Gems usually ends up winning the argument.
Mid90s (2018)
Mid90s is a true coming-of-age dramedy about a young boy navigating a rough home life and a new group of friends as he starts to develop a love for skating in Los Angeles in the '90s. The film is written and directed by actor turned filmmaker Jonah Hill and it is his first turn behind the camera.
The film does a great job at staying true to the time period, as Hill really nails the feel of the mid-90s in Los Angeles. He also has multiple real-life skateboarders in the film, like Na-Kel Smith and Olan Prenatt, that give it even more authenticity. Mid90s didn't receive any nominations or rewards but was widely loved by critics and fans upon release.
First Reformed (2018)
First Reformed is a drama/thriller about a minister in a small town who is struggling to deal with the mounting tension of past personal tragedy and concerns for the world as a young couple enters his life and shakes things up. The movie is written and directed by the legendary writer of Taxi Driver, Paul Schrader.
The film stars Ethan Hawk as the troubled minister, as well as Amanda Seyfried and Cedric the Entertainer. The film flew slightly more under the radar than a lot of A24's other releases but was still nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2019. However, the award ended up going to Green Book that year.
The Florida Project (2017)
The Florida Project is a drama about a rambunctious six-year-old named Moonee as she encounters mischief and adventure at the hotel she is currently living at in Florida. The film is a true favorite among A24 fans, as Brooklyn Prince gives an incredible breakout performance as Moonee and Willem Dafoe gives a powerfully subtle performance as the groundskeeper and manager of the hotel.
The Florida Project is written and directed by Sean Baker, a frequent A24 collaborator, and does a great job at capturing the magic of what it would be like growing up in Florida next door to Disney World. Willem Dafoe received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but the award ended up going to Sam Rockwell that year for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.
Ex Machina (2015)
Ex Machina is a sci-fi/psychological thriller about a young programmer who is selected to participate in a revolutionary new experiment involving extremely human-like artificial intelligence that's created by a genius tech developer. The film is written and directed by Alex Garland, who has continued to put out well-received high concept sci-fi content, and stars Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander.
It's an incredible modern-day sci-fi film with great acting and stunning effects. The film received nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Visual Effects and ended up taking home the award for the latter.
The Witch (2014)
The Witch is a period horror film set in England 1630s about the panic and mania that sets in for a family when the youngest child vanishes and goes missing on the oldest daughter's watch. The film is written and directed by Robert Eggers, who famously collaborated with A24 on The Lighthouse, and he does a great job at capturing the look and feel of 1630's England while still delivering a truly scary film.
Fans love to debate which Robert Eggers film is best, but both collaborations with A24 are truly unique and enjoyable. The witch wasn't nominated for any Academy Awards but did provide the audience with the first glimpse at a leading role from actress Anya Taylor Joy.