A24 Ranked: From \”Moonlight\” to \”Lady Bird,\” Discover the Best Films from the Cult Studio

Across the whole entertainment sector, very few companies inspire as much brand loyalty as A24.

Over the past decade,
The hip distributor has swept through the realm of film enthusiasts like a whirlwind.
, has released many highly praised independent films recently, including amongst them
Aftersun
,
All at Once Everywhere bezpo użytkow
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,
Midsommar
,
The Zone of Interest
and
Ti West’s X trilogy
.

Although \”an A24 movie\” often evokes certain aesthetic associations, the truth is that this production house has put out a wide array of films encompassing various styles and categories.

Ranging from coming-of-age comedies to grand historical dramas, these are the top 15 A24 films listed in order…

15. Climax (2018)

A fantastic exercise soundtrack masquerading as a gritty, eerie psychosexual thriller, Gaspare Noé’s
Climax
unfolds through a sequence of extended shots (including one that lasts for 42 minutes), as a group of French performers lose their composure following consumption of tainted sangria.
Similar to the finest of Noé’s movies
(one of which includes the \”classic stoner film\” favorite
Enter the Void
and the distressing
Irreversible
),
Climax
is essentially crafted to create division, and its bold blend of terror, surrealism, and visual spectacle makes it quintessential A24.

Adam White

14. Under the Silver Lake (2018)

Yet another polarizing A24 film that has become a cult favorite.
Under the Silver Lake
tends to inspire groans as often as it does praise – and that’s really OK! Filmmaker David Robert Mitchell seemed to be given creative carte blanche after the success of his 2014 micro-budget horror
It Follows
, and ta-da: a chaotic, romantic neo-noir conspiracy story that openly acknowledges its influences, particularly those from Robert Altman’s works.
The Long Goodbye
, on its sleeve, tosses in a great fake-band song (“Turning Teeth” by the fictional Jesus & The Brides of Dracula), and boasts an irresistibly committed performance by Andrew Garfield as an aimless Los Angeleno investigating his neighbour’s disappearance. What a weird, wondrous pleasure.

AW

13. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

Joel Coen’s
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Was the initial response to the long-standing thought experiment, \”How might a Coen brothers\’ movie appear if Joel and Ethan went their separate ways?\” The subsequent answer pointed to Ethan\’s 2024 comedy.
Drive-Away Dolls
.) This
Macbeth
It stands out as quite an engaging response and continues to be among the finest and most visually striking interpretations of Shakespeare adapted for film. Denzel Washington delivers a stellar performance as the conniving future monarch, alongside Frances McDormand who shines brilliantly in her role as his treacherous lover.

Louis Chilton

12. Eighth Grade (2018)

Deeply sincere regarding adolescence,
Eighth Grade
It\’s far from an effortless watch. We track the journey of young Kayla (brilliantly portrayed by Elsie Fisher), who navigates through different grades at school with increasing trepidation, struggling to conceal her mounting worries. While details like vlogging, smartphones, and the internet distinctly anchor this story in the 2010s, the underlying sense of pervasive sadness resonates universally.
Eighth Grade
This is likely to resonate with viewers of all ages. Disappointingly, director Bo Burnham – who hails from the world of internet humor – hasn’t released another feature film since then.

AW

11. The Brutalist (2024)

Brady Corbet’s architectural masterpiece was a leading contender for numerous top prizes at the 2025 Academy Awards, and it may primarily be recalled as the movie featuring Adrien Brody’s never-ending Best Actor acceptance speech. Fortunately,
The Brutalist
Is certain to be noted for various reasons as well: it stands out with immense aspiration, brimming with significance and boldly sophisticated. It ranks among the finest productions by A24 and is counted amongst the top movies of recent years.

LC

10. Janet Planet (2023)

Although A24 has definitely expanded its commercial ambitions over the past one or two years (with notable examples being films such as Alex Garland’s
Civil War
And vague horror-comedy hybrids like
Death of a Unicorn
and
Opus
), they remain a studio still enthusiastic about producing movies like
Annie Baker’s tender, intimate
Janet Planet
. Zoe Ziegler is the quiet 11-year-old of the title, a girl trapped in a cycle of odd father figures and endless existential yearning courtesy of her mother (a spellbinding Julianne Nicholson).

AW

9. Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig’s first film as a standalone director is an endearing and distinct tale of adolescence centered around 17-year-old Christine \”Lady Bird\” McPherson from Sacramento (played by Saoirse Ronan). The narrative oscillates between humor, emotion, perceptiveness, and striking visuals, complemented by Laurie Metcalf delivering what many consider her finest performance as Lady Bird’s contentious mother. This project firmly established Gerwig as a noteworthy filmmaker; she most certainly earned this recognition.

LC

8. High Life (2018)

High Life
is a completely distinct science fiction drama from France
maestra
In Claire Denis\’ film, Robert Pattinson portrays a convict aboard a spacecraft heading towards a black hole, sharing screen time with Juliette Binoche, Mia Goth, and André 3000. The somewhat awkward and exaggerated exchanges between characters amplify the peculiar nature of this movie, making it multifaceted—vivid, sensory-rich, thought-provoking, erotically transgressive, and occasionally deeply touching.

LC

7. Hereditary (2018)

Similar to Robert Eggers’s folk tale produced by A24
The Witch
— which narrowly missed out on a place in this ranking —
Hereditary
It felt as though we were witnessing the emergence of an exceptionally talented horror filmmaker. In his chilling directorial debut, Ari Aster focuses on a dysfunctional family (featuring Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne), who seem to be plagued by some primordial malevolence. The movie takes us through ghastly scenarios throughout, particularly with a startling plot twist at the conclusion of the first act that involves a telephone pole, completely reshaping your expectations of where the story might go.
Hereditary
is going.

AW

6. 20th Century Women (2016)

Mike Mills\’ 2016 drama feels like a comforting embrace, brimming with authenticity that might make your eyes well up frequently throughout the movie. Annette Bening plays the spirited but domineering, insightful yet wandering single mom who aims to properly bring up her young boy towards the close of the \’70s, enlisting pals and romantic interests to assist her in this endeavor.

AW

5. Under the Skin (2013)

Jonathan Glazer leaves audiences astounded. The British filmmaker has directed only four movies so far.
Each one a masterpiece and every single one uniquely different from those preceding it.
.
Under the Skin
Is an art house horror film featuring Scarlett Johansson as an extraterrestrial that takes on the form of, unsurprisingly, Scarlett Johansson to attract various unsuspecting Scottish men into what seems like a mysterious hideout. This movie stands out uniquely, brimming with constant innovation and depth, offering emotional and philosophical insights.

LC

4. American Honey (2016)

British film director Andrea Arnold
Fish Tank
;
Red Road
)she redirected her focus towards poverty in the US with
American Honey
This lively and emotionally charged movie captures the essence of romance during travels. Rookie actress Sasha Lane delivers a mesmerizing portrayal of Star, a young woman who leaves her old life behind to join a group of traveling magazine sellers. Shia LaBeouf, playing her ruggedly charming partner, also turns in an impressively nuanced performance. The film brims with vitality in each scene; truly a remarkable achievement.

LC

3. Moonlight (2016)

It’s still remarkable that
Moonlight
In 2017, a film directed by an up-and-coming filmmaker named Barry Jenkins and backed by a fledgling production company with limited resources for award season promotions took home the Academy Award for Best Picture. This movie truly merits all its praise; each scene contributes to a deeply moving trilogy-like narrative about the journey of a gay African American man through his life from youth to maturity. The performances are outstanding, and visually, it is stunning, making it well-deserving of its status as a contemporary classic.

AW

2. I Noticed the Television Light (2024)

Jane Schoenbrun’s
I Noticed the Television Light
centers on two adolescent outsiders who are brought together through their shared fascination with a captivating book series.
Buffy
— reminiscent of a 90s horror blockbuster — where they find their real-life experiences echoing its eerie, surreal plot turns. Mostly, however, this film centers around transitioning transgender individuals and the pain associated with leading a life that feels misaligned. It\’s an extraordinary piece of cinema, as Schoenbrun crafts a dreamy suburban fantasy filled with vibrant purple neon lights, lunar beings, and Caroline Polacheck’s haunting vocals playing in the background. A true masterpiece.

AW

1. Uncut Gems (2019)

A movie with such intense suspense that it feels like you\’d require a machete to slice through it, Josh and Benny Safdie’s work stands out.
Uncut Gems
The narrative revolves around Howard Ratner (played by Adam Sandler), a New Yorker who deals diamonds but is entangled in his reckless gambling habit. This film stands out as some of the most impressive and groundbreaking work from Sandler, contributing to what many consider one of the funniest, most suspenseful, and overall top-tier movies of the twenty-first century so far.

LC

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