As a film enthusiast with a background in politics and a bit of a rom-com junkie, I must say that the 2024 Netflix movie lineup has truly been a rollercoaster ride!
Instead of heading out to the theater to catch the top films on the big screen from the 2024 movie calendar, there’s nothing quite like the comfort and convenience of streaming movies at home through one of the top-notch streaming services. Netflix has truly stepped up its game in this area, so as we approach the end of the year, I’ve put together a list of my top 5 favorite Netflix films that I’ve streamed this year, along with 3 that you might want to give a miss.
In 2024, I’ve thoroughly utilized my Netflix subscription, streaming a multitude of original films, documentaries, and stand-up comedy specials from the past year. Some were quite entertaining, such as Adam Sandler’s “Spaceman” or Glen Powell’s “Hit Man”, whereas others, like “Hot Frosty”, failed to impress me. Here is a rundown of my 2024 experience – the series that captivated me and those that I found challenging to finish. Let’s dive in:
2024 Netflix Movies I’m Obsessed With
His Three Daughters
The film titled “Three Daughters” has been creating a stir in the festival scene, and it’s clear to understand why. Featuring an outstanding ensemble cast comprising Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen, the movie revolves around the emotional reunion of three estranged sisters as they prepare for their father’s demise. The complex dynamics between the women and the unique life event they experience make the family strife in “Three Daughters” remarkably relatable. As someone with some background in end-of-life care, I found it challenging to ignore how authentic certain aspects of this movie felt.
It’s What’s Inside
2024 saw some fantastic horror movies hit the screens, with Netflix hosting at least one standout title. A movie that may have slipped under many radars is “It’s What’s Inside.” It’s puzzling why it didn’t garner more attention. In the vein of the party game gone terribly wrong, as portrayed in “Talk To Me” last year, “It’s What’s Inside” follows a group of friends who discover a device that enables temporary body swapping. As the number of characters grows and the swapping begins, it can get a bit confusing; however, the interpersonal drama is captivating, and when things take a turn for the worse, brace yourself for some shocking and terrifying plot twists.
Will & Harper
Over the years, Will Ferrell has been known for bringing humor to the big screen through films like “Step Brothers” and “Anchorman”. However, in the series “Will & Harper“, Ferrell presents a softer, more intimate side of himself as he embarks on a cross-country journey with his friend Harper Steele. At this point in time, Steele, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, has recently completed her gender transition. Both friends are uncertain about how their relationship will evolve and engage in heartfelt and honest discussions that can only occur between individuals who share deep affection and trust.
From this pair, it’s clear that they are filled with joyous laughter and heartfelt discussions as they meet new people. However, there are challenging instances, such as when they reach Texas, which evoked intense feelings of anger and sadness in me. The deep compassion shown by Will Ferrell towards his friend will undoubtedly stir tears. The fragility exhibited by Harper Steele will leave you pondering the importance of kindness among us all.
Scoop
As a veteran of the newspaper industry, I absolutely love a good journalism movie, and Scoop really checks all the boxes. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s based on real events — the interview that BBC’s Newsnight secured with Prince Andrew in 2019 about his relationship to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell that ultimately led to Andrew being stripped of his royal titles. Billie Piper and Gillian Anderson star that doesn’t linger too much on the deplorable crimes in question and chooses instead to focus on the events that led Queen Elizabeth’s favorite son to agree to the now-infamous sit-down.
Shirley
Regina King masterfully portrayed the pioneering essence of political trailblazer Shirley Chisholm in the Netflix production titled “Shirley“. Boasting a stellar cast consisting of Lance Riddick, Brian Stokes Mitchell, André Holland, and Terrence Howard, this biographical drama revolved around the first Black woman to be elected to Congress. She dared to run for president in 1972, serving as the central narrative. This project close to King’s heart had been in development for quite some time, and its release timing, mere months before Kamala Harris announced her own presidential bid, seems remarkably relevant.
2024 Netflix Movies To Skip
Mother Of The Bride
I’m usually all for watching romantic comedies, but sadly, “Mother of the Bride” featuring Brooke Shields on Netflix misses the mark. The character Lana, portrayed by Shields, is hard to stomach as she sulks over her daughter’s marriage to a son of her former lover, Will (Benjamin Bratt). It’s unfortunate that Lana is so unappealing because Ben Bratt and Rachael Harris as Lana’s friend Janice put in decent performances. However, the script seems to work against Shields, resulting in a rather agonizing 90-minute watch. I advise you to skip it.
Uglies
The main idea behind the book “Uglies” by Scott Westerfeld is intriguing, which is not surprising given its popularity as a young adult dystopian novel series. However, director McG’s portrayal of this world, where citizens undergo a surgical procedure at age 16 to transform from “Uglies” to “Pretties,” fails to impress. I had several problems with it (apart from dull dialogue and uninteresting action), but one of the biggest was that I couldn’t imagine Joey King and Chase Stokes as ugly characters. Instead, they appeared more like “Scary Beauties.” Perhaps this was intentional, but regardless, my enthusiasm for adaptations of this series has been dampened.
Lonely Planet
2024 saw a surge in popularity for age-gap romances, with films such as “The Idea of You” and “A Family Affair” leading the way. While some may argue that the latter deserves its spot on this list, I can’t help but focus on Joey King’s performance, and surprisingly, I found much to appreciate in the romantic tale starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. However, “Lonely Planet” did not resonate with me as positively.
Look, Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth are all caps HOT, but I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between them — especially considering Owen was at the retreat with his girlfriend. Way too early in this movie, I began wondering how they were going to justify Owen sleeping with Katherine without making him look like a cheating monster, and sure enough, he got off on a technicality. Speaking of cop-outs (and we were), the ending also feels completely unearned.
While I think the above movies are among the best to binge on Netflix right now, they certainly aren’t the only 2024 flicks worth checking out. Give these a try as we prepare to look forward to more streaming greats on the 2025 Netflix schedule.
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2024-12-12 20:37