As we wind down 2024, it’s time to reflect on our best-reviewed films from the year. There were a lot of great productions this year that spanned across all genres. From animation to drama and faith to fantasy, our list has something for everybody.
SING SING earned our top spot for the year with standout performances from Clarence Maclin and Colman Domingo. It was a great year for animation, with The Wild Robot and Piece By Piece landing second and third overall, boasting our top animated films. The remainder of the list contains sci-fi, musicals, and even a romantic comedy.
THE PEACH REVIEW® has published its Top 15 films of 2024:
- SING SING
- The Wild Robot
- Piece By Piece
- Dune 2
- Wicked
- The Forge
- Escape
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
- The Idea of You
- Transformers One
- Anora
- A Real Pain
- Spellbound
- Moana 2
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
1. SING SING
SING SING arrives as our top film of 2024. Divine G (Colman Domingo) is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and finds purpose through acting in a theater group with fellow inmates. The group participates in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which uses theater as a form of rehabilitation. The film is powerful and offers a unique and genuine experience featuring formerly incarcerated actors, writers, and nonprofit leaders. The film is a heralded victory for A24 who continues to push thought-provoking productions.
SING SING REVIEW
2. The Wild Robot
Our second film overall and top animated project is The Wild Robot. The film follows an intelligent robot named Roz after a shipwreck leaves her stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose. The film earns our number two spot for its deep, meaningful plot, relatable characters, and the range of emotions it evokes. Voices include that of Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O’Hara.
THE WILD ROBOT REVIEW
3. Piece By Piece
Piece By Piece is an animated biopic that tells the life journey of Pharrell Williams through LEGO animation. Brick by brick, we learn about the super-producer’s early life, introduction to music, and how he went from an outcast into a global icon. Just behind The Wild Robot, Piece By Piece takes a more creative approach to the modern biopic and adds a fun LEGO layer to it. In a never-been-done-before medium, the film documents Pharrell’s rise to stardom in the most artistic way possible. Chronicling the highs and lows, audiences gain exclusive access to his family, friends, and the moment when he almost lost everything. Special guests include Snoop Dogg, Missy, Timbaland, and more.
PIECE BY PIECE REVIEW
4. Dune: Part Two
At No. 4 on our list is Dune: Part Two. The second installment in the series explores multiple themes, including romantic and maternal love, revenge, and the ever-popular conflict of good and evil. On one side, the Fremen represent humanity, fighting as a collective force in an effort to keep the native people of Arrakis alive. On the other, we have the Harkonnen, who don’t shy away from their violent, greedy, corrupt reputation. Based on the popular book series of the same name, the film boasts killer visuals, an impressive score, and prepared fans for the series on HBO, Dune: Prophecy. The cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken.
DUNE: PART TWO REVIEW
5. Wicked
The musical turned box office success Wicked comes in at No. 5 on our list. Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads. Don’t let all the hype from theater kids nationwide fool you, this sits high on our list for a reason. Cynthia Erivo is extraordinary as Elphaba and as her character grows, so does her singing. In the same universe as the Wizard of Oz, Wicked spills the details of how the “Wicked Witch” wasn’t always wicked. The cast includes Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage, and a few theatre surprises!
WICKED REVIEW
6. The Forge
From the minds of the Kendrick Brothers, the force behind such films as Fireproof, Courageous, and War Room, The Forge tells the story of Isaiah Wright, a young man who finished high school without a set plan for his future. Stuck in the difficult but common circumstance of no longer being a child but ill-prepared for adulthood, his mother Cynthia makes matters worse by handing him an ultimatum: either find a job to pay her rent or find another place to live. The lone faith-based film on the list, it’s a powerful testimony to the importance of community. Unlike a lot of Christian-themed films in existence, it feels like a motivating, soul-filling experience without the campy dialogue and events that usually come with the genre. “Love is patient, love is kind,” and with the help of mentorship, Isaiah can reflect that in his attitude and actions. Unlike War Room, which focuses on women, men take center stage here and really drill down the dire need for discipleship in the current state of Christianity. The cast includes Aspen Kennedy, Priscilla Shirer, Cameron Arnett, B.J. Arnett, and T.C. Stallings.
THE FORGE REVIEW
7. Escape
Escape is a phenomenal thriller that provides the perfect combination of action and suspense with an incredible soundtrack as the cherry on top. After completing his mandatory decade of military service, North Korean sergeant Kyu-nam (LEE Je-hoon) makes a shock attempt to defect to South Korea. With a map, a compass, and a desire to fail without consequence, Kyu-Nam is willing to risk everything to choose his destiny. An epic thriller from Well Go USA Entertainment, Escape is loaded with suspense and keeps audiences locked in through its entirety. The film leaves room for heartfelt exchanges with a sprinkle of humor, even with the chance of disaster lurking at every corner. The cast includes LEE Je-hoon, KOO Kyo-hwan, and Hong Xa Bin.
ESCAPE REVIEW
8. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island’s mysteries. Ilene Andrews, Trapper, and Jia are back, along with an audience favorite in Bernie Hayes. Ilene is searching to find the reason behind Godzilla’s most recent actions while struggling to connect with Jia. The four reconnect after Kong seeks relief from a toothache and Ilene seeks out Bernie to help with the visions Jia’s been having. Together, they have a two-fold mission of keeping tabs on Kong while finding the catalyst for Godzilla’s erratic behavior. The visual effects are of the highest quality and the sound is crisp. With drama, suspense, and loads of excitement, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire battled its way to our No. 8 spot. The cast includes Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, and Brian Tyree Henry.
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE REVIEW
9. The Idea of You
Solène, a 40-year-old single mom, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. However, opinions from her daughter and the general public begin to affect her feelings for Hayes. The pair take a very real look at their situation and examine if they’re better together or apart. It took a while for us to get a rom-com worth bragging about but the wait was worth it for The Idea of You. The cast includes Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Ella Rubin, and Jordan Aaron Hall.
THE IDEA OF YOU REVIEW
10. Transformers One
Transformers One tells the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron. We know them as sworn enemies but long ago they were friends who bonded like brothers. But their fallout would end up changing the fate of Cybertron forever. Similar to Wicked’s overarching message, “She wasn’t always wicked,” Megatron shares the same sentiment. The story didn’t need to be told via animation but it turned out amazing. Lots of comedy, great storytelling, and the visual effects are award-worthy. The cast is a power-packed lineup that includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne, Steve Buscemi, Jon Hamm, and Vanessa Liguori.
TRANSFORMERS ONE REVIEW
11. Anora
Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. This one is wild, crazy, and never gets boring. If you’re not a fan of nudity, this one’s not for you. But if you’re up for a ride that makes The Hangover look tame, then buckle up and come on! It’s a type of toxic love that would be too good for a Netflix series, which is why the bros at NEON have audiences taken care of. In one of the most outlandish films of the year, Anora is an epic win that’s overflowing in drama and 10x funnier than it leads on. The film stars Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, Brittney Rodriguez, Mark Eydelshteyn, Ella Rubin, Vache Tovmasyan, and Yura Borisov.
ANORA REVIEW
12. A Real Pain
A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David and Benji as they reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. The film also doubles as a love letter to Poland, putting both its beauty and painful history on full display with Chopin in the background. Kieran Culkin puts on the performance of a lifetime. His painful exchanges with Jesse Eisenberg’s character show his depth and why his name is deserving of award consideration. Along with Eisenberg and Culkin, the film stars Jennifer Grey, Ellora Torchia, Kurt Egyiawan, Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, and more.
A REAL PAIN REVIEW
13. Spellbound
2024 has been a stellar year for animation and it shows with our last three picks. At No. 13, we have Sky Animation’s best film yet, Spellbound. Available on Netflix, there’s no major animated film that’s tackled the sensitive subject of divorce until now. Through storytelling, songs, and laughter, the film is a win for kids and a sobering reminder of priorities to parents. Princess Ellian is currently ruling over Lumbria while her parents have been cursed in the form of monsters. Doubling as a metaphor, the two are only able to reverse the curse by putting differences aside and working together. Rachel Zegler is a win as per usual and the comedy never ends with John Lithgow around. Other cast include Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Tituss Burgess.
SPELLBOUND REVIEW
14. Moana 2
Moana is back and ready to set sail on an all-new adventure after receiving a call from her ancestors. Honoring the great wayfinders before her, Moana heads out in search of a new land that will see all of her people joined together again. Sitting at No. 14, Moana 2 is just as magical and memorable as the first. It’s definitely worth a trip to the theater to experience in IMAX quality. The sound and colors are everything you’d expect from a Disney film with all-new songs and fun new characters. The cast includes Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser, Rose Matafeo, Hualalai Chung, Alan Tudyk, Nicole Scherzinger, and more.
MOANA 2 REVIEW
15. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The final film to round out our top 15 films of the year hails from across the pond by the team at Aardman. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl brings the beloved duo back to the big screen. Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependent on his inventions proves justified when Wallace invents a smart gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. To make matters worse, an old foe has been keeping track of them from behind bars. Seeking revenge, Feathers McGraw works tirelessly behind the scenes to get the meddling duo that put him behind bars. The cast includes Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, Adjoa Andoh, Diane Morgan, and more.