Written by: Mark Aguilar 🇸🇻
Still from Anora, Neon via IMDb
Following the conclusion of many major film festivals this fall, which include the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival, we now have a sense of which films will be worthwhile to look out for the rest of the year. These are ten films that you shouldn’t let fly under your radar for the rest of 2024!
Still from Anora, Neon via IMDb
ANORA
Directed by Sean Baker, who’s known for other projects such as The Florida Project (2017), and Red Rocket (2021), comes his newest film that has been hailed his best. Winner of the Palme d’Or for the best film at the Cannes Film Festival back in May, the film also placed as second runner-up at the Toronto International Film Festival. One of the most awarded films of the year so far, Anora follows a sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. As news hits Russia, his parents set out to New York to get the marriage annulled, threatening her fairytale story. The film is finally set to release on Oct. 18th in theaters.
Still from The Apprentice, Briarcliff Entertainment via IMDb
The Apprentice
The controversial film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, The Apprentice follows Donald Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) in his early years during the 1970s as he is mentored by cutthroat attorney, Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong). Following its premiere, the film was met with a lawsuit from Trump and his team, which has since been dropped. The film was intended to be released before the United States elections and was finally picked up by small distribution company Briarcliff Entertainment, who have set a release date for the film on Oct. 11th in theaters.
Still from The Brutalist, A24 via The Hollywood Reporter
The Brutalist
One of the most ambitious films of the year, The Brutalist premiered at the Venice Film Festival to rave reviews. Running at an impressive three and a half hours, with an included intermission, the film is described to be a revisiting of classic epics such as The Godfather or Once Upon a Time in America with its events taking place over three decades. Starring Adrien Brody as a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who emigrated to the U.S. in 1947, his journey follows his rise from poverty and the birth of modern America. The film was picked up by A24, with a release date set for soon.
Still from Conclave, Focus Features via The Hollywood Reporter
Conclave
ollowing the success of his previous film, All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger directs his new film about one of the most secretive processes in the world: the election of a new Pope. Ralph Fiennes stars in this thriller, overseeing the election process and uncovering conspiracies within the Catholic church. Given its commentary on the electoral process, its Oct. 25th release date seems to indicate its intention of releasing before the U.S. presidential elections, such as The Apprentice.
Still from Emilia Pérez, Netflix via IMDb
Emilia Pérez
One of the most stylized and ambitious films of the year, the Spanish-language musical/thriller Emilia Pérez made waves after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize and Best Actress for its four lead actresses: Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoë Saldaña, and Adriana Paz. The film follows these four women as they find their happiness in Mexico, while embroiled in ties to criminal organizations. Emilia Pérez has now also been selected by France as their official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film will have a limited theatrical release starting Nov. 1th, before streaming on Netflix on Nov. 13th.
Still from Nickel Boys, Amazon MGM Studios via The Hollywood Reporter
Nickel Boys
Recently having its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival, Nickel Boys is the film adaptation of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Nickel Boys.” The film follows the friendship of two young black teenagers, who are navigating their way through an abusive segregated reform school, Nickel Academy, during the early 1960s Jim Crow era in Florida. Helmed by Oscar-nominated director RaMell Ross, the film was unanimously met with rave reviews following its premiere. The film will be released in theaters on Oct. 25th.
Still from The Substance, Mubi via Variety
The Substance
Described to be one of the most grotesque body horror films of the year, The Substance made huge waves after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, the film has built a cult following among critics who have had a chance to see it before its theatrical release. Moore plays a fading celebrity who begins using a black-market drug that temporarily makes her younger, and in her mind, a better version of herself. With praise coming the film’s way for its practical makeup and Cronenberg-like body horror, this film might not be best for the squeamish! The Substance releases to theaters on Sept. 20th.
Still from Queer, A24 via Variety
Queer
Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino returns for his second film of the year, following the success of Challengers earlier in the year. Starring Daniel Craig as William Lee, the film follows Lee through his life in 1950s Mexico City, where he meets a young man named Eugene Allerton (played by Drew Starkey), establishing a meaningful and loving relationship with one another. After making its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September, the film was picked up by A24, who plan on releasing it at the end of the year.
Still from A Real Pain, Searchlight Pictures via Deadline
A Real Pain
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who also stars alongside Kieren Culkin, A Rain Pain is now the actor-turned-director’s second feature film. The two actors play reunited cousins as they tour through Poland in honor of their beloved grandmother. Tension rises between the two against the backdrop of their family history. First premiering back in January during the Sundance Film Festival, the film had a lot of buzz around it, specifically for its profound story and Culkin’s scene-stealing performance. After being acquired by Searchlight Pictures, the film was finally given a release date of Nov. 1st in theaters.
Still from Saturday Night, Sony Pictures via Variety
Saturday Night
Oscar-nominated director Jason Reitman brings us his latest film, Saturday Night. The film follows real-time, as the ensemble group of writers and comedians try and figure things out during the 90 minutes before the first-ever Saturday Night Live broadcast. With a very exciting ensemble group of actors that includes Gabriel LaBelle, Cooper Hoffman, Rachel Sennott, Dylan O’Brien, Willem Dafoe, and J.K. Simmons, the chaotic energy of SNL is fully captured on-screen. Every minute counts in the film, and it’ll be released in theaters nationwide on Oct. 11th.
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