By Kevin Muller

The Worst

10. Tuesday

The number 10 spot usually goes to a film I didn’t hate but saw as a huge missed opportunity. Tuesday fits that bill perfectly. Julia Louis-Dreyfus headlines a surreal drama about a mother facing her daughter’s final days, aided by a magical bird. On paper, this looked like her awards-season breakthrough. In reality, it’s a tonal mess—half emotional drama, half awkward comedy, with neither side working. Dreyfus does her best, but even she can’t salvage it. As for the bird? Beautifully animated but utterly bizarre. Its voice sounds less like wisdom and more like Anna Faris’s “House Bunny” impression—and not in a good way.

9. Not Another Church Movie

Parody is hard, and this film proves it. Too many weak gags, not enough plot, and it collapses under its own weight. The only spark comes from Jamie Foxx, who gives the film a jolt as both God and the Devil (opposite a sleepwalking Mickey Rourke). If you dislike Tyler Perry, you might chuckle at the barbs tossed his way, but even that joke wears thin. Ninety minutes never felt so long.

8. Borderlands

Every year one big project with an A-list cast completely implodes. In 2024, that was Borderlands. Eli Roth tries to bring the popular video game to life, but making this live action instead of animated was mistake number one. The game’s distinct style is gone, replaced by clashing neon visuals. Roth leans into a “Guardians of the Galaxy” vibe, but the humor is cringe-worthy and the drama unearned. Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt, and Jack Black all feel miscast. The result? A chaotic, noisy mess with no soul.

7. The Front Room

A24 swung and missed with this one. Brandy and Kathryn Hunter star in a horror tale about elder care gone grotesque, but the Eggers brothers (Sam and Max) reduce the scares to bodily functions. Kathryn Hunter is disturbingly effective as a racist tormentor, but that doesn’t make up for a film obsessed with urine, feces, and general foulness. There’s even a lingering shot of a toilet full of crap—perfect shorthand for the whole movie.

6. Argylle

Matthew Vaughn is usually a blast behind the camera, but Argylle is his first real misfire. The trailer promised clever espionage fun; the movie delivered clunky writing, an overlong runtime, and a painfully miscast Bryce Dallas Howard as a meek romance author turned spy. The film thinks it’s cleverer than it is, and the only standout is the cat—yes, the cat.

5. Harold and the Purple Crayon

An uninspired adaptation of the beloved children’s books. Instead of imagination and wonder, we get Zachary Levi rehashing his Shazam! routine minus the charm, alongside Lil Rel and Tanya Roberts. The movie isn’t funny, isn’t magical, and worst of all, wastes Jermaine Clement in a nothing role. For a story about creativity, it’s shockingly dull.

4. Madame Web

Sony’s attempts to tie its Spider-Man universe into the MCU keep failing, and Madame Web is no exception. Dakota Johnson leads this lifeless slog, but nothing she says feels believable. It’s badly acted, incoherently written, and completely devoid of spark. Even months later, it lingers as one of the year’s most joyless experiences.

3. The Crow

The long-troubled remake finally arrived—and should’ve stayed in development hell. Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs have zero chemistry, the visuals lack style, and even the supernatural elements feel flat. A bloody finale can’t make up for the lifeless two hours that precede it.

2. Poolman

Chris Pine is a magnetic actor, but his directorial debut is a disaster. Poolman wants to be Chinatown by way of The Big Lebowski and misses both marks. The mystery is dull, the humor flat, and Pine himself turns in a weak imitation of The Dude. It’s a vanity project gone wrong, and a blemish on an otherwise solid career.

1. Rebel Moon: The Scargiver (and the whole saga)

Zack Snyder doubled down after part one of his Netflix space epic, and somehow made things worse. Sure, the visuals are expensive, but everything else—from story to characters to relationships—is hollow. Supposedly passionate romances fall flat, and the whole thing plays like lifeless chess pieces moving on a board. Netflix gave Snyder $166 million, and the result is cinematic torture. Director’s cuts exist, but they feel like extended punishment.

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The Best

10. Hit Man (Dir. Richard Linklater)

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell deliver pure entertainment. Powell is charming, funny, and sexy opposite Adria Arjona, with sizzling chemistry that makes their romance feel real. Add in clever writing and Austin Amelio’s scene-stealing turn, and you’ve got a crowd-pleaser that also has brains.

9. The Apprentice (Dir. Ali Abbasi)

Sebastian Stan disappears into a young Donald Trump, with Jeremy Strong excelling as his ruthless mentor, Roy Cohn. The film plays like a modern Frankenstein tale, with Trump as the monster and Cohn the creator. It’s smart, stylish, and chilling, with a supporting cast (Maria Bakalova, Martin Donovan) rounding it out. Love or hate the subject, the film is undeniable.

8. Blitz (Dir. Steve McQueen)

A divisive release, but I loved it. Steve McQueen tells the story of George, a boy who flees wartime evacuation to reunite with his mother (Saoirse Ronan). Elliot Heffernan carries the film with surprising gravitas, while Hans Zimmer’s score blends industrial grit with soaring emotion. A haunting, bold odyssey through WWII London.

7. The Wild Robot (Dir. Chris Sanders)

DreamWorks delivered a heartfelt, visually stunning triumph. Lupita Nyong’o voices Roz, a robot stranded on an island who becomes a surrogate mother to a bird. Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) balances charm, warmth, and wonder, crafting an animated film with real heart.

6. The Substance (Dir. Coralie Fargeat)

Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley shine in this body-horror allegory about Hollywood’s obsession with youth. Stylish, grotesque, and unsettling, Fargeat pulls no punches in satirizing the industry. Dennis Quaid turns in one of the year’s most detestable performances—in the best way. Disturbing, yes, but unforgettable.

5. The Brutalist (Dir. Brady Corbet)

A sweeping, three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Hungarian immigrant architect (Adrien Brody, career-best) chasing the American dream post-WWII. Stunning cinematography, an Oscar-winning score, and grand scope elevate this into a technical masterpiece. It’s not flawless, but its ambition and craft are undeniable.

4. Conclave (Dir. Edward Berger)

One of the sharpest screenplays of the year, exploring the secretive politics of electing a new Pope. Ralph Fiennes anchors an incredible cast (Lithgow, Tucci, Rossellini), but Sergio Castellitto steals the show as a staunch conservative cardinal. Berger wrings suspense and drama from whispered conversations, making it gripping and cerebral.

3. Anora (Dir. Sean Baker)

Sean Baker again proves himself the champion of underdogs. Mikey Madison is electric as Ani, a sex worker swept up in a chaotic romance with Russian royalty. It’s fast, funny, tragic, and bursting with energy. Beneath the humor and chaos lies a sharp commentary on class and money. A worthy Best Picture winner.

2. Challengers (Dir. Luca Guadagnino)

Sexy, stylish, and electric. Guadagnino spins a love triangle between Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor into a game where tennis and desire intertwine. The matches are intense, the quiet moments equally charged, and Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross’s score amplifies it all. Nearly my #1 pick.

1. Smile 2 (Dir. Parker Finn)

The best film of 2024 also happens to be a horror sequel. Parker Finn’s Smile 2 surpasses its predecessor in every way—scarier, smarter, and lingering long after it ends. I’ll save my full thoughts for October’s 31 Days of Horror, but trust me: this one knocked me flat.

Which movies made your Best and Worst lists of 2024? Let us know in the comments!