The Most Popular Movies During the 2024 Election

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours in dark cinemas, I find the current top 10 movies on Letterboxd this week to be a truly captivating reflection of our times. With six out of ten titles falling under the horror genre, it seems that audiences are craving escapism and suspense more than ever.


In an attempt to divert themselves from the tension surrounding the 2024 presidential election, movies continue to serve as a preferred means of escape. Interestingly, this week’s most popular films on Letterboxd suggest that film enthusiasts are indeed finding solace in these cinematic choices – and it appears that the genre of choice is horror, which stands out prominently among the top picks.

The 2024 U.S. presidential election has passed, and in January, Donald Trump will once again occupy the White House. The atmosphere, as people often put it, is quite disorganized. It seems that many of us find solace in different ways, and if you’re here, it might be that your way of finding comfort lies in watching a few or even several movies. Whatever helps you get through these trying times.

Streaming services make it easy to see the most-watched shows and movies on their platforms – for the past week and a half, Trap has been the most popular movie on Max, for instance. But I was curious about the movies that my fellow nerdy cinephiles on Letterboxd are watching this week, likely in an effort to escape from election stress. Letterboxd tracks the most popular movies – i.e., the ones users are logging most frequently – each week, and based on the data from this week, people are watching a lot of horror movies right now. That makes a certain amount of sense; there are a lot of great new horror movies out this year, sure, but the genre also offers something you can’t really get anywhere else – catharsis.

Essentially, these are the films that people watch to unwind, find relaxation, and alleviate stress; genres like romantic comedies and westerns don’t offer this particular escape or respite.

The Most Popular Movies During the 2024 Election

As a cinephile eager to share my insights, I’ll be focusing on the top 10 most captivating films trending this week on Letterboxd. Despite the platform primarily catering to movies, some limited series and documentaries manage to sneak their way in through a small loophole. However, I won’t be discussing “Agatha All Along” as it falls under the non-movie category. To help you unwind with a bit of cinematic delight, I’ll also provide recommendations for where to stream these titles – just what the doctor ordered for your viewing pleasure!

RankingTitleWhere to Watch
1.The SubstanceMubi / VOD
2.AnoraIn theaters
3.Time CutNetflix
4.Woman of the HourNetflix
5.Terrifier 3In theaters (Nov. 26 on VOD)
6.The Wild RobotIn theaters / VOD
7.We Live in TimeIn theaters (Nov. 26 on VOD)
8.Venom: The Last DanceIn theaters
9.Smile 2In theaters (Nov. 19 on VOD)
10.ScreamMax / VOD

Upon a quick glance, I can pick up on several trends: six out of the top 10 films this week belong to the horror genre. Interestingly, eight of these top titles prominently feature female leads (or nine if we consider The Wild Robot, where Lupita Nyong’o lends her voice to the protagonist). It’s heartening to see that cinema is still attracting audiences, even amidst these challenging times.

Generally, I find it captivating that the leading movies this week seem to reflect current cultural issues. “The Substance” delves into the damaging effects of unattainable and misogynistic beauty standards on women, often leading to self-harm. On the other hand, “Anora” tells a tale of a sex worker who falls for an improbable love story with a Russian heir born into wealth and privilege, satirizing class distinctions and economic disparities while subtly hinting that even the wealthy can’t guarantee salvation. In essence, one film sheds light on the unique struggles of women in oppressive societies, while the other provides a comical take on class and wealth, with a side commentary on the futility of relying on the elite for help.

Just something to think about.

The election has concluded, but you can continue influencing through your spending at cinemas – go ahead and make a difference by participating now!

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2024-11-07 01:33