Bold storytelling, visionary direction and groundbreaking performances defined the silver screen in 2024. From indie gems to box-office blockbusters, The Pace Press celebrates the artistry and innovation that made this year unforgettable with our picks for the best films of the year.

15.  “Nosferatu”

Director Robert Eggers’ haunting retelling of “Nosferatu” breathes new life into a classic. A master of atmospheric horror, Eggers transforms the timeless tale into a nightmarish vision where every shadow and flicker of the lights feels meticulously crafted. The film’s chilling visuals, from its eerie gothic sets to its darkly beautiful cinematography, create a suffocating sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. At the heart of the film is Lily-Rose Depp, who delivers a career-defining performance as the tragic lead, imbuing her character with vulnerability and quiet strength. Depp’s nuanced portrayal is perfectly matched by Eggers’ commitment to gothic horror, making “Nosferatu” a deeply unsettling yet utterly mesmerizing cinematic experience. – Jules Kelly

14. “Conclave”

“Conclave” is not a movie to be underestimated. When the movie says political drama, it heavily emphasizes the “drama” of it all. With a twisty story adapted from Robert Harris’ novel, stellar performances by Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Carlos Diehz, and an excellent guiding hand from director Edward Berger, “Conclave” should not be sealed away from this year’s best. – Ethan Tierno

13. “Nickel Boys”

RaMell Moss gives an entirely fresh perspective on how to tell a story, filming “Nickel Boys” entirely in first person. The camera takes turns between its two characters to tell the story of the brutal reformatory school Nickel Academy. The film remains faithful to its source material, the Nobel Prize-winning book of the same name, and gives a revelatory new experience that will try to be replicated in the next few years.

“Nickel Boys” has gained significant traction for the awards season and could potentially land a Best Picture nomination at next year’s Oscars. – Flavio Moreira

Full review here.

12. “Dìdi”

It’s no surprise to see someone finally step up and make a coming-of-age film set in the early days of YouTube and MySpace–but no one could’ve anticipated something as deeply heartfelt as “Dìdi.” Set in 2008 California, the film is an ode to every awkward teenager glued to their computer and sees Hayley Williams’ face more often than their own reflection. It’s clear that director, writer, and producer Sean Wang poured his own adolescent experiences into this story. By embracing the cringe-worthy moments of teenage life—the ones most of us would prefer to forget—Wang crafts a film that feels extremely authentic and deeply relatable. His willingness to explore the vulnerability of those awkward years makes “Dìdi” resonate with anyone who’s ever felt lost in the chaos of growing up.

“Dìdi” will have you laughing until your stomach hurts, crying until your tears run dry and reflecting on one poignant question: Have you told your mother you love her today? – J.K.

11. “Kneecap”

Following the Belfast hip-hop trio of the same name, “Kneecap” is a fast-paced fever dream chronicling the group’s beginnings. Dramatizing their drug-induced rise to fame and turbulent personal lives, “Kneecap” delves into themes of enduring relationships, cultural tradition and political resistance, all presented through a graffiti-colored, breakneck lens. With its lively editing style and the band starring as themselves, it’s clear that “Kneecap” is a labor of love for everyone involved.

The scenes of the group performing in small clubs and pubs are electric, teleporting you directly into the crowd and instantly turning you into a Kneecap fan (if you haven’t already been converted to one by that point). By blending unfiltered storytelling with their rebellious spirit, “Kneecap” offers a front-row seat to the chaotic, exhilarating world of one of Ireland’s most exciting acts. – J.K.

10. “Longlegs”

Slowburn Horror is alive and well as long as Oz Perkins is behind the curtain. In his latest film, Perkins expands on the eeriness he proved he could depict in the past, creating something–or rather, someone–downright horrifying. Following FBI agent Lee Harker as she attempts to solve a case about a local serial killer, “Longlegs” utilizes silence and style to create a film that is one of the scariest of the year and one of the best-looking. For the most part, the film is an incredibly elaborate and enthralling crime thriller, with Maika Monroe’s performance as Harker feeling so uncanny it veils the movie in an added layer of uneasiness; it’s the cameos from Nicolas Cage and Alicia Witt that elevate this from crime drama to heart-racing horror. 

Witt, best known for her roles in David Lynch’s “Dune” and “Twin Peaks: The Return,” plays Harker’s recluse mother in a role that feels hand-crafted for her. Her deadpan delivery and general uncomfortableness add a grounded fear that sticks with you long after reminding yourself that this is only a movie. Cage’s role, similar to Witt’s, seems tailor-made for him, as no other actor could invoke such terrified reactions while being completely ridiculous. After watching Cage in “Longlegs,”  you may never look at someone big into the band T. Rex the same way ever again. – J.K.

9. “Queer”

Luca Guadagnino continues to tell stories about desire with his new feature, “Queer.” While “Challengers” lean into more concrete terms, “Queer” embraces symbolism and metaphors, evoking much more profound and potent reactions. It will be divisive when it reaches a wider release.  

Daniel Craig distances himself entirely from his persona as the iconic James Bond to embrace the role of Lee, a man who flees to Mexico after a drug bust in New Orleans. There, he wanders through bars and clubs until he meets the young Allerton and is forced to face his own ghosts. With a more abstract narrative, “Queer” emerges as not only more personal to Guadagnino but also as a more introspective and temperamental exploration of identity.

Still, Craig will most likely earn his fair share of nominations and winnings this award season. – F.M.

8. “A Real Pain”

Finding your roots is a hard thing to do, especially when you have to travel across the world to Poland with your crazy cousin. Now That’s “A Real Pain.”

Writer/director/producer/actor Jesse Eisenberg makes his film feel gentle and kind, especially when facing such heavy subject matter as the Holocaust. But Eisenberg shines as the timid soul David, especially when playing against his cousin Benji, portrayed in a firecracker performance by the incredible Kieran Culkin. Culkin’s performance is perhaps in contention for one of the best of the year. But at the center of “A Real Pain” is a reverent and bleeding heart for the past, hoping for the best for the future. – E.T.

7. “The Substance”

What’s scarier than aging? Aging in the public eye as a woman. “The Substance” is a gore-filled fairytale about unlocking the best version of yourself–for a price. With its countless scenes of needles, dancing and some of the most stomach-turning eating sequences ever put to screen, the movie presents a dark yet disturbingly realistic depiction of the impossible demands placed on women in the entertainment industry. It really is so confusing sometimes to be a (Monstro)girl.

“The Substance” is just as ridiculous as it sounds, and director and writer Coralie Fargeat wants you to know it’s ridiculous. She ups the stakes in every scene and pushes the body horror to shocking extremes. Her experimental camerawork, paired with Demi Moore’s riveting performance, creates a visceral nightmare that will stick with viewers for a very long time. – J.K.

6.  “Rap World”

“Rap World,” written and directed by comedian Conner O’Malley and Danny Scharar, combines the excitement of 2009 with the thrill of suburban Pennsylvania. A mockumentary following a friend group in Tobyhanna recording their first album, “Rap World” perfectly encapsulates its time and setting to where the aforementioned town feels like a character in itself. Shot on digital video cameras limited to the era, its editing style and music choices–from Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” to Gorillaz–are so aptly applied that it feels like an actual YouTube video you’re watching on a friend’s family computer after playing “Skate 2.” 

O’Malley’s comedy thrives on breaking the fourth wall, often blurring the lines of reality in his YouTube videos. He carries this approach into the film, fully embodying the character of an Eminem-obsessed wannabe rapper. Jack Bensinger and Eric Rahill star alongside O’Malley and only add to the film’s genius stupidity. Rahill’s performance as album producer Jason Rice and his subsequent B-plot love quest are among the film’s greatest strengths. 

“Rap World” is really dumb, yet it’s so intricate with its attention to detail. The film is a love letter to the technology limbo of the late aughts, the rowdy stupidity of the “CKY” and “Jackass” series and suburbia hell. It’s available to watch on O’Malley’s YouTube. – J.K. 

5. “Anora”

“Anora” was advertised as a “love story” by Sean Baker, centering on Ani, a stripper from Brighton Beach who enters a secret marriage with Ivan, the son of a Russian oligarch. The film explores the themes of passion, ambition and survival, with Mikey Madison delivering a standout performance that brings depth and complexity to the world of sex clubs. Just as hilarious as it is heartbreaking, Baker’s skill in humanizing marginalized individuals, especially sex workers, is on full display.

Baker has become a rising star director since the excellent “The Florida Project.” Now, not only has his latest project dominated the accolades for Best Picture, but he has solidified himself as one of the most prestigious filmmakers of his generation. Only a handful of stories could challenge Ani’s journey this award season, and it will surely be a difficult battle. – F.M.

Full review here.

4. “A Different Man”

When an actor finally breaks free from the shackles of a Marvel series, something truly spectacular happens. Following an aspiring actor with facial disfigurement who undergoes an experimental medical procedure and becomes Sebastian Stan, “A Different Man” completely flips and shatters the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story. Stan’s performance in this film is one of the best of the year. His decisions are not the smartest, yet the emotions that drive his decisions are understandable. His anger, embarrassment, frustration, humiliation, sadness–all avoidable had he thought with his head, but each decision comes from a raw, humane place. It’s an ugly depiction of the beauty standard crafted from a place of tough, painstaking love. 

“A Different Man” is one of the movies that is New York. In the same way “My Dinner with Andre” is New York, this film depicts the city in such a realistic way you may mistake it for romanticization. Filmmaker Aaron Schimberg’s awkwardly authentic script and cinematographer Wyatt Garfield’s hazy palette make for an impeccable duo to create a timeless film that could’ve been released this year or forty years ago. It’s also a strange experience to see Sebastian Stan in a movie sitting at the exact same barstool you were sitting at when you took a man on a date to Birdy’s. – J.K.

3. “The Brutalist”

Currently, “The Brutalist” is generating buzz within festival circuits and exclusive industry circles. Yet, much like its central figure, the architect László Toth, the film is prepared to achieve monumental recognition this awards season, potentially rivaling Sean Baker’s equally incredible “Anora.”  

This epic saga follows a Jewish man’s journey to the post-war United States to pursue the American dream. Set for a limited relase this holiday season, the film stands out with its bold artistic choices—such as using the vintage VistaVision technique—and divisive runtime of three and a half hours, complete with a 15-minute intermission. Led by Adrien Brody’s masterful performance, “The Brutalist” is a cinematic triumph destined to dominate movie discussions in the months to come. – F.M.

Full review here.

2. “Challengers”

There’s no sport as intense as tennis, and there’s no better director to elevate its tension than Luca Guadagnino. The rivalry between two long-time best friends, as they compete for the ultimate prize in their eyes, became both a cultural phenomenon and a box-office hit this spring.

Zendaya draws all attention to herself as Tashi, a rising tennis star who witnesses her career crumble after an accident. Orbiting her are the captivating Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. While some might see their conflict as a battle for dominance on the court—or for Tashi’s heart—such interpretations barely scratch the surface of Justin Kuritzkes’ incredible screenplay. 

Maybe it will only be nominated in technical categories—a nod to the incredible original soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—but its legacy will undoubtedly shape the next generation of filmmakers and leave a lasting mark on pop culture. – F.M.

1. “Dune: Part Two”

Frank Herbert’s classic novel “Dune” is dense. With intricate storylines, dozens of named characters and around 800 pages of Sci-Fi jargon, it’ll make your head spin if you don’t pay close attention. In order to faithfully adapt it for the silver screen, you’d need a crack team of experts. Thank God Denis Villeneuve had one.

The cast, packed with household names such as Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya (who actually gets to talk in this one), Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson and many, many more, are all at the top of their game in “Dune: Part Two.” Everything else about the second installment in Villenueve’s “Dune” series is equally impressive: the direction, costume design, score, cinematography, special effects—it’s all perfect, and (dare I say, most importantly) it beautifully reflects the vision of its source material. 

“Dune: Part Two” is a genre-redefining masterpiece—just like the novel it was based on. – Sophia Patti

Full review here.