2024 was certainly quite an exciting year for movie lovers. The year was full of critical hits likeAnoraandThe Brutalist, as well asbox office smashes likeInside Out 2andDeadpool & Wolverine.All of these films dazzled their audiences, reminding viewers what the movies are all about.Now, with the year in the rearview mirror, many people have begun compiling their rankings of the best movies of 2024; the ones that they felt exceeded expectations, both in terms of their quality and their cultural impact.
Unfortunately,not every movie released in 2024 managed to fully live up to expectations.Plenty of films from the past year ended up coming short of achieving their goals, failing to deliver on what audiences really wanted to see. Whether it be because of poor quality,underwhelming box office performance, or merely failing to understand what their fans actually wanted, these 2024 movies didn’t end up having nearly as big of an impact as people were expecting.
Argylle
Cast
Argylle is an action thriller by director Matthew Vaughn. The movie centers on an introverted novelist who is thrown into the real world of espionage after the plot of her most recent spy thriller parrels the crimes of an underground syndicate. Argylle has a star-studded cast, including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa, and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.
When 2024 began, it was very easy to see why people were excited about the release ofArgylle.For one, although the spy-filled action-comedy film worked as a stand-alone film, it was also tied to the successfulKingsmanfranchise, a connection that felt promising to many moviegoers. Additionally, it had been revealed that the film would feature an absolutely stacked cast, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, and many more. With all these names attached, it felt like a guarantee thatArgyllewould be an exciting experience for fans.
Argylle Ending & Every Twist Explained
Argylle has multiple twists and an ending that connects to a recent spy franchise. We break down the film’s biggest surprises, what’s next, and more.
Sadly, it quickly became clear that the film would end up falling short on practically every front.Critics and audiences alike left theaters feeling rather unimpressed, criticizing the film for its over-complicated plot and underwhelming humor.To make matters worse,Argylleproved to be one of the biggest flops of the year at the box office, not even managing to recuperate half of its massive budget.Argylledid not get 2024 off to the start that movie lovers were hoping for.
IF
IF, originally titled Imaginary Friends, is a comedic fantasy film written and directed by John Krasinski. A young girl who experiences a tragic moment early in her life discovers she can see the imaginary friends of others who leave them behind as they grow older.
With a feel-good premise and a lovable cast, many people were rooting forIFto be a success.Written anddirected by John Krasinski(his first film as a director following theQuiet Placemovies),IFpresented a creative, heartwarming story about a young girl who meets the former imaginary friends of people who have grown up. This feel-good family feature was backed by a star-studded cast, including Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and many other prominent actors.
IFnot only failed at the box office, but only managed to earn mixed reviews, with many feeling that the execution wasn’t quite as creative as the concept.
Upon the film’s release, though, viewers sadly discovered that the film wasn’t quite as magical as they had hoped.IFnot only failed at the box office, but only managed to earn mixed reviews, with many feeling that the execution wasn’t quite as creative as the concept. Although viewers were still pleased with Krasinski’s efforts to explore a more family-friendly genre, the film didn’t fully live up to expectations, and ended up falling by the wayside of other family films likeInside Out 2andThe Wild Robot.
Drive-Away Dolls
From director Ethan Coen comes Drive-Away Dolls, a comedic road-show-styled film that stars two best friends that head out on a road trip that goes hilariously awry. Following Jamie’s recent break-up and her friend Marian’s inflexibility hitting its peak, the two decide to hit the road to Florida - until they accidentally run into a group of bumbling criminals.
Over the years, the Coen brothers have made numerous beloved films, ranging all the way from classic comedies likeThe Big Lebowskito Academy Award winners likeNo Country For Old Men.In 2024,Drive-Away Dollsbecame the first film to be written and directed by Ethan Coen in the absence of his brother, Joel.Even with just one of their names attached, fans of the duo were hugely excited about the new film. The reveal that its cast would include Margaret Qualley, Colman Domingo, and Pedro Pascal only added fuel to the fire.
12 Easter Eggs & References In Drive-Away Dolls
Full of innuendo and raunchy humor, Drive-Away Dolls pays homage to the many films and figures that inspired the queer road trip flick.
The excitement surrounding the film proved to be more of a curse, however, asDrive-Away Dollswas unable to even come close to living up to it.The persistent, raunchy humor of the film proved to be too much for many viewers, leading to very underwhelming reviews overall. Although the film was only the first to be directed solely by Ethan Coen, the comparisons betweenDrive-Away Dollsand past Coen brothers' films were inevitable. To the disappointment of many, Ethan Coen’s debut did not nearly match the quality of the collaborations with his brother.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
In 2019,Jokerbecame not only one of the most acclaimed DC Comics films of all time, but one of the most successful films of the year. Needless to say, there was much anticipation surrounding its 2024 sequel,Joker: Folie à Deux. It was announced that the film would not only feature the return of Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Arthur Fleck, but that pop icon Lady Gaga would be joining the cast as Harleen Quinzel.IfJoker: Folie à Deuxcould match the quality of its predecessor, it could easily be one of the biggest films of the year.
However, to the dismay ofJokerfans, a series of questionable decisions prevented this from being the case.
The most prominent one of these choices involved makingthe sequel a musical, infusing the otherwise dramatic film with a series of extravagant musical numbers meant to express the chaos inside Arthur’s mind. While this was certainly a bold, creative departure from the first film,it was not one that went over particularly well with fans.As a whole,Joker: Folie à Deuxwas unable to deliver the way the first film did.
Trap
Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner.
Although not all of his movies have been critical hits, any project from M. Night Shyamalan is bound to generate a good amount of buzz. His latest feature,Trap, was no exception.Trapfollows the thrilling story of a serial killer(played by Josh Hartnett) who must find a way to escape from a crowded concert venue after discovering that the FBI is using the event as an attempt to catch him. With an exciting premise and a very well-established writer/director behind it,Trapwas on the must-see lists of many moviegoers.
Despite having such a clever concept,Trapdidn’t resonate quite as well with audiences as Shyamalan had likely hoped.The film proved to be rather divisive, with some praising its pacing and performances,while others focused on the unrealistic dialogue and questionable conclusion.Trapmay not have been a complete bomb, but it certainly didn’t live up to the standards set byThe Sixth SenseandSigns. It is unlikely that this latest film will be remembered as one of Shyamalan’s best.
Y2K
On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in this dial-up disaster comedy.
Y2Kseemed to have all the necessary tools to be a unique, exciting comedy/horror movie.Set on New Year’s Eve in 1999, the film explored a grim reality in which everyone’s greatest fears about Y2K became a real, living nightmare. The film was not only produced by A24, but also marked the directorial debut ofSaturday Night Livealum, Kyle Mooney. With a cast led by three of the most promising young actors around (Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison),Y2Kwas an original movie that piqued the curiosity of many.
The box office numbers have been severely underwhelming thus far, currently having earned less than five million dollars.
To a fair amount of surprise,Y2Kfailed to make much of a splashwhen it was released.The box office numbers have been severely underwhelming thus far, currently having earned less than five million dollars. Reviews have not been overly positive either, with many feeling confused about what genre the film is meant to fall into. All things considered,Y2Kis not delivering in any of the ways people expected.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
Nearly a decade afterMad Max: Fury Road, fans of George Miller’s iconic post-apocalyptic action franchise were finally given the new installment they had been waiting for.This latest addition to the series comes in the form ofFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, presenting a thrilling origin story for one of the previous film’s central characters.In winning an astounding six Academy Awards,Fury Roadhad redefined what an action movie could be, thus setting the bar incredibly high for the highly-anticipatedFuriosa.
The response toFuriosasoon became one of the most puzzling of any film released in 2024.On the one hand, the film was received quite well by critics, with a significant amount of praise being given to its exciting action sequences and strong performances. Despite this, the film still failed to attract the audiences that it was expecting.Furiosamade over $170 million at the box office, but was still ultimately deemed a failure, as its budget was equally massive. A potential explanation is the length of time that had passed betweenFuriosaand its predecessor.
Wolfs
Wolfs is an action-thriller film written and directed by Jon Watts, and sees the on-screen reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney after nearly fifteen years. The film centers on two fixers who are brought together when they’re both hired for the same job.
Sometimes, the way a film is released is enough to largely eliminate the excitement surrounding it.This was the case forWolfs, an action comedy film written and directed by Jon Watts, best known for his work on the most recent series of live-actionSpider-Manmovies. At first, the cast alone was enough to entice many potential viewers.Wolfsstarred George Clooney and Brad Pittas two professional fixers who find themselves having to work together after their paths unexpectedly cross one day. The reunification of the twoOceanstrilogy co-stars had many fans very eager right away.
In a decision that upset a large portion of the film’s potential audience, the studio decided to only giveWolfsa one-week-long theatrical release before making it available to stream on Apple TV+.This decision massively limited the number of people willing to see the movie, effectively killing the hype surrounding it.Wolfswent on to receive mixed reviews,with praise given to the performances by Clooney and Pitt, but little else being able to make the film stand out.
Civil War
Civil War is a 2024 action thriller from writer and director Alex Garland. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, Civil War takes place in the near future and shows the United States entering a new Civil War after California and Texas attempt to separate from the country.
For fans of the popular production company, A24,Civil Warwas definitely among the most highly-anticipated movies of 2024.Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland,Civil Warpresents a brutal look at a near-future version of America in which the nation has been violently divided against itself. At the time of its release, this explosive drama film was the single most expensive movie ever made by A24.
Although the film did manage to earn a sizable amount of money at the box office, many viewers couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed byCivil War. While many expected the film to paint a clear picture of how America went to war with itself,Civil Waractually left the entire war feeling very underdeveloped.Instead, the film chose to focus on a team of journalists traveling across the country, while the war seemed to be merely playing out in the background. The film received generally positive reviews, but it did not give viewers what they were hoping to see.
MaXXXine
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx lands her big break, but her rise to stardom is jeopardized by a mysterious killer targeting starlets. As the body count rises, secrets from Maxine’s past threaten to surface, intertwining her quest for fame with a deadly game of survival.
Two years after the release ofPearl, horror lovers were finally given the exciting conclusion toTi West’sXtrilogyin 2024.Set in Los Angeles in 1985, the final film,MaXXXine, continued the story of Maxine Minx, a character originated by Mia Goth inX. Following the acclaim received byPearl, fans were very excited to see what kind of twisted new story West would tell withMaXXXine. With a fun new setting in store,MaXXXinefelt certain to dazzle its audiences.
The final installment may have ended up being the highest-grossing member of the trilogy, but it did not provide the satisfying conclusion fans had been craving.MaXXXinefailed to match the quality of its predecessors, leaving many viewers unimpressed. In a year in which many horror movies hit theaters, this finale to theXtrilogy did not make much of a splash.
