Cinema is no stranger to drama, and audiences have already seen plenty of it this year. Over the past seven months, streamers and moviegoers alike have been captivated by the many top-tier dramas delivered to their screens, making it another promising year for the world of film.
As movie fans wait in anticipation for the next round of pictures, they can now look back at the best drama films of 2024 so far.
5. Civil War (2024)
Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), the controversial A24 film Civil War depicts an America in the midst of a second Civil War, following a group of war journalists as they try to reach the White House to interview the president before the rebels overthrow him. At first glance, this movie may seem like another action-packed romp trying to reflect current social tensions.
However, Civil War puts a greater emphasis on its characters as they react to the horrors they witness in this odyssey of war reminiscent of Apocalypse Now. It’s a haunting and realistic depiction of a society that has fallen into chaos, and the visuals and performances put on display have made this film a necessary viewing for audiences this year.
4. Longlegs (2024)
Longlegs, the Neon-produced film from director Osgood Perkins (Gretel & Hansel, The Blackcoat’s Daughter), follows a psychic FBI agent (Maika Monroe) as she investigates the unsolved occult killings committed by the titular murderer (Nicolas Cage). This serial killer drama made quite a buzz as it was heralded as this generation’s The Silence of the Lambs.
This heart-pounding crime drama weaves together a suspenseful and layered narrative filled with terror and flare to create a beast all its own. This comes on the back of Cage’s performance as the film’s Satanic villain. But beneath it all is an unsettling portrayal of the darkness buried by childhood trauma, showing how evil really can be anywhere and everywhere.
3. Hit Man (2024)
Acclaimed director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood) made a stellar comeback this year with the romantic comedy-drama Hit Man. Based on a true story, this Netflix film follows a college professor (Glen Powell) who moonlights as a fake hit man to help the police arrest would-be-clients, only to end up falling for a woman (Adria Arjona) trying to have her abusive husband killed.
Witty and deconstructive, Hit Man catches audiences in a whirlwind of excitement as it interweaves a procedural crime drama with a couple’s game of sexual roleplay. Powell and Arjona’s star power also shines ever brighter with their enthralling performances and their burning-hot chemistry.
2. The Bikeriders (2024)
Based on Danny Lyon’s photo book of the same name, The Bikeriders follows the members of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, particularly one rider (Austin Butler) who is forced to choose between his brother (Tom Hardy) and the woman he loves (Jodie Comer) when the siblings’ group grows bigger and more violent. Marketed as “Goodfellas on motorcycles,” The Bikeriders lives up to the hype, as director Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special) delivers a riveting slice of American history that harkens back to the golden age of motorcycling and biker films.
This Scorcese-esque crime drama depicts the decay of the Vandals and America itself as the former devolves from a group of rebels finding companionship in each other to just another band of criminals. On top of that, Comer, Butler, and Hardy vanish into their characters as they deliver some of the best performances of the year.
1. Challengers (2024)
Director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Bones And All) heated things up once again with this athletically and erotically charged sports drama. The story follows former tennis star Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) and the love triangle she shares with her husband (Josh O’Connor) and former boyfriend (Mike Faist), the latter two having been friends off the court.
Brimming with sexual imagery and subtext, Challengers shows Zendaya’s complex character pitting her paramours in an electrifying game for her affections. It also paints an enthralling picture of an unhappy marriage as Tashi tries to revive her career vicariously through her husband. But standing out from the heart of it all is the strong homoerotic bond between the film’s male leads, making for one of the most compelling films of the year.
