The studio A24 has been around less than a decade and already it has made quite the scene. It seems to be a magnet for some of the best filmmakers and continues to grow its library year after year.
In 2019 alone, A24 distributed around two dozen movies. It has about the same amount on its roster for the coming year. Here are their top movies from 2019 per their Rotten Tomatoes score.
10 High Life (82%)
Robert Pattinson may have become notorious because of Twilight, but he has come to establish himself firmly in independent cinema as well. One of his most recent indie films paired him with acclaimed director Claire Denis for her latest film, High Life.
Pattinson stars as Monte, a criminal serving a life-sentence in space with other criminals. Their task is to discover new alternative energy source, but with a crew like this, things don't go quite as expected. It wasn't a huge box office success, but for fans of Denis and Pattinson, it seems they didn't leave the theater disappointed.
9 Midsommar (83%)
Ari Aster's highly anticipated follow-up to his feature debut Hereditary came in the form of another slow-burn horror film, Midsommar. Starring Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as a young couple on the verge of a break-up, they decide to go on a trip to a small village during their once-in-a-blue-moon celebration. Things get more than a little scary; don't be fooled by all the flowers, here.
While the film wasn't quite as huge of a success as Hereditary, it still did well enough at the box office. If you're looking for a great Valentine's Day movie to watch with your significant other, well, you may want to hold off until after the holiday.
8 Waves (84%)
Waves was riding high on critical buzz after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, but controversy seemed to curb its awards season potential from there. The film follows the ups and downs of a modern black family with much of the focus centering on the relationship between the father and son.
Performances by Sterling K. Brown and Kelvin Harris, Jr. were initially lauded by critics. But upon the film's theatrical release, its controversy swirling around writer/director Trey Edward Shults seemed too much to overcome.
7 The Lighthouse (90%)
Director Robert Eggers stirred the independent horror scene in 2016 with his debut film, The Witch. He returned with his sophomore outing last year in the form of The Lighthouse. Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as two lighthouse keepers who get driven mad on a remote island.
The movie didn't generate a great deal of success at the box office with its total run ending at less than $20 million. It wasn't entirely passed over come awards season, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.
6 The Souvenir (90%)
One completely overlooked A24 movie from 2019 is The Souvenir. The story centers around the fictionalized experiences of director Joanna Hogg as a young film student and her less-than-idyllic relationship with an older man.
It may not have gotten a great deal of love from audiences with its mediocre box-office performance, but that hasn't stopped Hogg from beginning production on a sequel also starring, yet again, Robert Pattinson. We're not complaining, but does he have some kind of secret contract with A24 we don't know about?
5 Gloria Bell (91%)
If you feel like there just wasn't enough Julianne Moore in your life last year, have we got a movie for you! Moore stars as the titular Gloria Bell, a divorcee in search of new romance and a new lease on life.
Perhaps because it didn't officially premiere until six months after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018, it mostly went unnoticed by audiences. But if you want to see Moore and John Turturro strike up a new romance, check this one out!
4 Uncut Gems (92%)
Adam Sandler has been successful enough as a comedic actor that he's never needed to be taken seriously by the awards circuits to have a solid career. From time to time, though, we've gotten to see flashes of his dramatic skills as well. In 2019, we were graced with one of his best in Uncut Gems.
Sandler stars as Howard Ratner, a jeweler with an addiction to gambling, struggling to pay off his large debts. Don't forget to breathe during this 135-minute thriller; it may be hard to remember as you watch this.
3 The Last Black Man In San Francisco (93%)
The Last Black Man In San Francisco premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, winning a Special Jury Award and an award for Best Directing. The film centers around Jimmie Fails, a young black man trying to reclaim his childhood home, and the task proves to be more difficult than it would seem.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to the timing of the film's eventual release on June 7, 2019, not quite awards season, the film didn't receive any love from the Academy. But with a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, it's still quite an accomplishment on its own right.
2 In Fabric (94%)
In Fabric brings new meaning to the words "killer dress". The film centers on a woman who can't catch a break, and finds and purchases a dress that is more than it seems. That may not seem like much of a horror movie, but trust us, things get trippy.
The film mostly went under the radar, getting a December release in the U.S. when there were too many other awards season movies getting the attention. If you're a fan of dark comedy infused with horror, though, you won't be disappointed.
1 The Farewell (98%)
The Oscars snubbed more than its fair share of films this year, but one that stands out, in particular, is Lulu Wang's The Farewell. Billi, a 30-year-old Asian-American, finds herself emotionally unmoored when she discovers her grandmother has terminal cancer and her family has decided to keep it a secret while also planning a wedding as a means of giving everyone one last chance to see her.
Awkwafina has never had a better role and does an excellent job. If you find yourself in search of another great movie with an Asian-led cast after Parasite, look no further.
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