A24 has always had a knack for redefining modern cinema and taking risks other studios wouldn’t dare touch. Through this unique preservation of individuality, they’ve constructed a rigid name for themselves with thought-provoking, visually stunning, and emotionally cathartic films that constantly push boundaries and challenge expectations. From tales of identity to psychological breakdowns, some movies cement A24 as a powerhouse studio of indie filmmaking.

Whether the emotions conveyed are gut-wrenching, nightmare-inducing, or simply tears of joy, recurring trademarks in A24 movies have provided incredibly niche experiences for viewers over the years. From Lady Bird to Midsommar, there aren’t any boxes that are left unchecked within the company, allowing audiences to feel virtually every emotion through their extensive catalog. The scariest A24 horror villains as well as the most lovable meld together into one remarkable blur when considering their best movies.

10

Moonlight

(2016)

Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is one of those movies you didn’t know was from A24—it’s a humbling vulnerable illustration of identity and human connection. Chronicling the life of Chiron, a young Black man grappling with his sexuality and identity, it’s raw, poetic, and unforgettable. Mahershala Ali and Trevante Rhodes’s performances are utterly gut-wrenching yet bewitching. Jenkins’ decision to structure the film in three acts—Little, Chiron, and Black—is an expertly executed decision that blatantly turns the film into a symphony of self-discovery.

The lighting alone in this film deserves an award highlighting moments in ways that only feel legitimately real. Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton use rich, saturated colors to transform Miami into a dreamlike setting, a surreal landscape of lush hues. In classic A24 manner, Moonlight stands out as a corner of history, a luminous peak into human experience.

9

Hereditary

(2018)

Ari Aster’s Hereditary is like a modern-day Exorcist but far more disturbing, to say the least. It’s not just a horror movie; it revolves around a deeply woven family drama that just happens to be wrapped in supernatural terror. Toni Collette’s performance as a grief-stricken mother quickly entering her descent into madness is legendary and deserves all the awards it sadly didn’t get. Aster’s use of miniatures to mirror the characters’ lives is creepy yet undeniably brilliant.

The decapitation scene is unforgettable, cementing the Hereditary’s reputation as one of the most shocking horrors of its time. The unsettling score and Aster’s meticulous direction create a lingering dread that sticks with the audience long after the credits roll.

8

Lady Bird

(2017)

Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird is a love letter to teenage angst interlaced with complicated mother-daughter turmoil. Saoirse Ronan shines as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a quirky Sacramento teen dreaming of escaping her small town. The dialogue is so hip that it feels like Gerwig secretly recorded everyone’s high school years- it’s a fun look into one’s self as this movie feels oddly familiar at times.

Much of this genius lies in the little details that slowly creep up through the corners and eventually make their way into the center of one’s mind. The awkward school dances, passive-aggressive fights with the protagonist’s mom (played brilliantly by Laurie Metcalf), and the perfect 2002 soundtrack all create a nostalgic machine of a film. Lady Bird proves you don’t need explosions or epic battles to make a movie feel monumental. More than often, life itself is dramatic enough, even a little too dramatic.

7

Uncut Gems

(2019)

If anxiety were a movie, it would be called Uncut Gems, and it would feature Adam Sandler throwing his heart on the line with a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled explosion of a performance. In perhaps the performance of his career, Sandler portrays Howard Ratner, a jeweler in New York’s Diamond District. This film, spiraling with gambling, lying, deception, lying, stress, and even more lies seemed to hit viewers out of nowhere as their comedy hero Adam Sandler traded the goofy basketball shorts for Cartier rims and got to business.

The pacing of this film is relentlessly stressful, similar to The Bear, with overlapping dialogue and a nerve-jangling score that keeps your heart racing in a true East Coast manner. It is a high-stakes game of self-destruction, everything is pushed to the absolute mental limit, and it’s impossible not to love every single second of it, especially Uncut Gems‘ climactic ending. In yet another creative way, the studio, and Adam Sandler, truly managed to outdo themselves with Uncut Gems.

6

Everything Everywhere All at Once

(2022)

The Matrix on steroids, with a side of heartfelt family drama and a lack of cheesiness—that’s Everything Everywhere All at Once. This multiverse-hopping adventure is unlike anything else, wrapped in its specific brand of chaos-very different from Uncut Gems. Michelle Yeoh gives yet another career-defining performance as Evelyn Wang, proving that the company has a knack for bringing out the best in its lead roles.

From absurd googly-eyed rocks to even more absurd hot dog fingers, the movie fishes from a downright weird pit of ideas while miraculously somehow not losing its emotional core. Ke Huy Quan’s comeback as Evelyn’s husband, Waymond, acts as a beating heart to the film, reminding audiences that kindness can surprisingly be revolutionary. The sheer creativity in Everything Everywhere All at Once is mind-blowing, which makes it one of the most inventive films ever made.

5

Ex Machina

(2014)

Alex Garland’s Ex Machina is a sleek, thought-provoking sci-fi film, once again proving the vast versatility of A24. It’s one of the scariest movies surrounding AI, and Alicia Vikander’s performance as Ava, an AI whose humanity feels disturbingly real, is compelling, to say the least. Furthermore, the dynamics between her and other human characters keep the razor-sharp tension of this film stark. Ex Machina is the kind of film that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, especially through the monotone polarizing aspects of communication that are portrayed.

The film’s minimalist setting—a remote, high-tech lab—reflects laboratory-like themes of control and manipulation. Interestingly, the visual effects team achieved Ava’s translucent design without green screens, not only a testament to the innovation behind the film but also the overarching unique craft of A24 as a whole. This film is a chilling exploration of ethics in the world of AI- a topic that feels eerily relevant today, more than ever.

4

The Witch

(2015)

The Witch (or The VVitch) is a haunting tale of isolation and paranoia in 17th-century New England. Anya Taylor-Joy makes her stunning debut as Thomasin, a young girl caught in a family that is exponentially unraveling under supernatural pressure. The film’s authenticity is unmatched through specific aspects. Dialogue lifted from actual historical records and meticulous period-accurate design creates a compellingly realistic world for the plot to then take place within.

A purposely suffocating atmosphere is masterfully crafted by Director Robert Eggers, where every impending creak and shadow feels like an inevitable threat. Black Phillip, the family’s goat, deserves a horror icon award for his sinister presence. It’s slow-burn horror at its most unsettling, with climactic heights that reach levels only A24 films are destined to attain.

3

Midsommar

(2019)

If The Witch is all shadows, Midsommar is blinding sunlight—but no less terrifying fact, this film holds its own strangely terrifying nuances one may see in nightmares for months. Ari Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary is a psychedelic horror trip through a Swedish midsummer festival gone wrong. The plot sounds like a joke, but upon completing this horrific ride with a psychologically twisted ending, many unsettling thoughts will arise.

The film flips traditional horror on its head by setting the terror in broad daylight. The result is a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere that’s hard to shake from the memory. It blisters with visual stimulation and metaphorical meaning that is delightful and horrific at the same time. The costumes, music, and haunting symbolism all contribute to Midsommar’s impact, and those who truly wish to experience such a tantalizing piece of horror should proceed with heavy caution.

2

The Lighthouse

(2019)

Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson trapped in a confined area slowly losing their sanity sounds like an absolute dream setup for an incredible film. Ironically enough, this film exists, and it is called The Lighthouse, which is also based on a true story that inspired Eggers’ movie. It’s as wild as it sounds. It’s a black-and-white fever dream that feels like a lost tale from the sea orchestra of intrusive thoughts that echo out more and more as the film progresses. Dafoe delivers a stunning performance with manic monologues that could take days to process.

The once again claustrophobic setting and period-accurate dialogue make it an immersive descent into madness, highlighting some continuity in A24 films. The film possessed a weirdly unconventional 1.19:1 aspect ratio, which was chosen to heighten the feeling of confinement. It’s weird, and unforgettable in plenty of other ways similar to that, all while presenting viewers with a blissfully captivating cinematic experience.

1

Minari

(2020)

Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari is the heartfelt story of a Korean-American family chasing the American Dream in 1980s Arkansas. This slice of life provided viewers with genuine storytelling and insight that goes a long way. Steven Yeun provides a phenomenal performance as Jacob, a father determined to build a better life for his family.

Minari exists within a realm of quiet beauty. Lain with authenticity, this film is a gentle, deeply human experience that has subtly incredible performances embedded within its very structure. Youn Yuh-jung’s Oscar-winning performance as a foreign grandma adds inevitable depth and charm to the character. A24‘s Minari offers a beautiful look at a story that is an absolute delight to explore.