2023 was an interesting year for movies. So many films were pushed to 2024 thanks to the strike. One would think that should lead to 2024 being one of the best years for movies ever…right? I try to outdo myself every year in the sheer quantity of films I see, specifically in the theater (although I do count streaming films on this list because movies are movies).

One note – I use the awards season calendar, so while that technically involves all movies that come out in 2024, it may be January-March before I can see some of these since many of them only release in the markets they have to in the calendar year, then go wide after that.

Here are my favorite films from the last couple of years and where they fell in the Oscar race.

The best from 2022:

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once (Winner)
2. The Whale
3. Tár (Nominee)
4. Avatar: The Way of Water (Nominee)
5. After Yang
6. The Menu
7. The Batman
8. Top Gun: Maverick (Nominee)
9. Hustle
10. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (Animated Nominee)

The best from 2023:

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Animated Nominee)
2. The Holdovers (Nominee)
3. Godzilla: Minus One
4. The Iron Claw
5. Poor Things (Nominee)
6. Anatomy of a Fall (Nominee)
7. Past Lives (Nominee)
8. Air
9. Barbie (Nominee)
10. American Fiction (Nominee)

2024 Movies

Movies in alphabetical order for each rating under every tier, all movies seen in theaters unless otherwise noted (VOD, Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

S-Tier

S-Tier films are looked at as the absolute best of the best. These are movies that I would basically give a perfect score and in my opinion, should be shoo-in’s for the major awards after the year is through. The S means “Super” meaning it’s even better than A-Tier. It’s only for a select few movies and they are all sure to make my Top 10 at the end of the year. Ratings here are 5/5.

Dune: Part Two – 5/5
Sing Sing – 5/5
The Wild Robot – 5/5

A-Tier

A-Tier films are movies that should get serious consideration during awards season. They have a great story, great direction, great acting, and everything else that you could possibly want in a movie. They may not be pure perfection, but they are still a fine piece of cinema that deserves recognition. Ratings vary usually around 4-4.5 stars.

Challengers – 4.5/5
Civil War – 4.5/5
Conclave – 4.5/5
Deadpool & Wolverine – 4.5/5
We Live In Time – 4.5/5
The Apprentice – 4/5
Bad Boys: Ride or Die – 4/5
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – 4/5
I Saw The TV Glow – 4/5
Inside Out – 4/5
It Ends With Us – 4/5
Love Lies Bleeding – 4/5
My Old Ass – 4/5
Ultraman: Rising (Netflix) – 4/5

B-Tier

B-Tier movies are still very enjoyable. While they may lack in a few different places, most of the movie are still great and worth the price of admission. B-Tier will typically have the most movies listed in it’s tier. Ratings vary from 3-3.5 stars.

Alien: Romulus – 3.5/5
Anora – 3.5/5
Blink Twice – 3.5/5
The Fall Guy – 3.5/5
Godzilla – 3.5/5
IF – 3.5/5
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – 3.5/5
Kung Fu Panda (Peacock) – 3.5/5
MaXXXine – 3.5/5
Megalopolis – 3.5/5
Saturday Night – 3.5/5
Trap – 3.5/5
Twisters – 3.5/5
Wolfs – 3.5/5 (Apple TV+)
Despicable Me 4 – 3/5
Hit Man (Netflix) – 3/5
Ricky Stanicky (Prime) – 3/5
Speak No Evil – 3/5

C-Tier

C-Tier movies can be looked at as films that maybe missed the boat in a few ways, but overall still get a thumbs up. Maybe the writing wasn’t great, or it was just a cash grab kind of movie – yet the film was still enjoyable and you don’t regret spending the money or time to watch it. If it comes on TV down the road – you may stay tuned, you may move on – but while the overall movie may be average, there is still something about it you like. Ratings vary from 2-2.5 stars.

A Quiet Place: Day One – 2.5/5
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – 2.5/5
Damsel (Netflix) – 2.5/5
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – 2.5/5
Here – 2.5/5
Heretic – 2.5/5
Imaginary – 2.5/5
Self Reliance (Hulu) – 2.5/5
Lisa Frankenstein – 2/5
Mean Girls – 2/5
Venom: The Last Dance – 2/5
The Watchers – 2/5

D-Tier

D-Tier movies are not very favorable. While you don’t want to throw tomatoes at the screen, you’re not really looking forward to the next time you get to watch this film. It’s not that you would give it two thumbs way down, it’s just that you wouldn’t be very enthusiastic to give it a thumbs up. Earning a D in school is still a passing grade, but only barely. Ratings vary from 1.5-2 stars.

The Union (Netflix) – 2/5
The Idea of You (Prime) – 1.5/5
Joker: Folie à Deux – 1.5/5
Kinds of Kindness – 1.5/5
Lift (Netflix) – 1.5/5

F-Tier

F-Tier movies have to be absolutely terrible. Rarely will movies find their way here because typically movies wouldn’t be sent to the big screen if they were truly this bad. If a film finds it’s way here, avoid it at all costs. Ratings vary from 0-1 stars.

Argylle – 1/5
Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver (Netflix) – 1/5
Unfrosted (Netflix) – 1/5
Borderlands – 0.5/5
Madame Web – 0.5/5

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Updated: November 12, 2024