Buzz
Launched in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, A24 started as a film distribution firm and has since dedicated itself to promoting distinctive, unconventional, and critically acclaimed films with an independent spirit. Venturing into production in 2016, the company has been at the forefront of releasing innovative films that challenge norms, surprise audiences, and boldly oppose the predictable Hollywood system, which often prioritizes superhero franchises over original storytelling.
The majority of their films are not only exceptional but also redefine our understanding of cinema and its potential. Each of the following movies shatters conventional filmmaking standards, showcasing A24’s profound influence on the industry in recent years.
10. Eighth Grade (2019)
Bo Burnham’s coming-of-age comedy Eighth Grade might seem like a typical teen movie premise—an awkward eighth grader transitions to high school, dealing with mean girls, pool parties, and social media—but it transcends the genre, offering a fresh and poignant perspective.
From start to finish, Eighth Grade defies the conventions of typical teen movies, avoiding clichés like ugly duckling transformations, virginity pacts, and over-the-top Spring Break parties. Instead, it focuses on genuine relationships and authentic experiences. Burnham grounded his research in the overlooked YouTube vlogs of real eighth graders, incorporating their personalities, quirks, and language into the script. He also cast actual eighth graders, including Elsie Fisher, and set the story in realistic environments that neither exaggerate bullies nor gloss over flaws, creating a painfully accurate depiction of this crucial life stage.
However, the film’s efforts to authentically portray teenage struggles nearly went unnoticed when the MPAA slapped it with an R rating. To counter this, A24 and Burnham organized free screenings across every U.S. state, circumventing the rating system to ensure the intended audience could experience the film.
9. Hereditary (2018)
A24 has been instrumental in reshaping, modernizing, and revitalizing the horror genre, contributing to a renaissance that has elevated it from the low-budget thrills of the 2000s to a respected art form. A key figure in this movement is Ari Aster, whose debut feature Hereditary stands as one of the most terrifying and acclaimed horror films of all time.
Ditching jump scares and other overused horror tropes, Hereditary crafts its dread around a family of four and the strange, tragic events that unfold in their lives. The film keeps viewers guessing until the end about the presence of supernatural forces. Central to its chilling atmosphere is the sound design. Aster enlisted avant-garde composer Colin Stetson to create a score that functions as a character in itself—a menacing, unseen force. Stetson delivered a haunting 85-minute soundscape, with his own voice serving as the primary instrument, enveloping 66% of the film’s runtime in an eerie auditory experience.
8. The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’s second feature film, The Lighthouse, marks another collaboration with A24, showcasing the company’s commitment to supporting bold, visionary storytelling. The film follows two nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers, portrayed by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, as they descend into madness while stranded on a remote New England island.
The Lighthouse defies convention in every way, from its black-and-white presentation to its use of the 1.19:1 Movietone aspect ratio, reminiscent of 1920s cinema. Filmed on location in Cape Forchu, the harsh weather conditions added a layer of realism to the production. Eggers pushed authenticity further by having Pattinson and Dafoe deliver dialogue in archaic, often hard-to-understand nineteenth-century wickie slang. The actors endured cramped spaces, filthy living conditions, and even simulated bodily functions on camera, all within the confines of the film’s narrow aspect ratio.
7. Moonlight (2016)
A24’s first produced film, Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight, chronicles the life of Chiron, a young Black man grappling with his sexuality and identity across three pivotal stages: childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood.
The film innovatively breaks from traditional storytelling by casting three actors—Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, and Alex Hibbert—to portray Chiron at different life stages. Each segment highlights crucial moments that shape his growth. To enhance the visual authenticity, colorist Alex Bickel meticulously edited each chapter to mimic the distinct look of Fuji, Kodak, and Agfa film stocks, reflecting the era and setting.
Beyond its unique narrative and visual techniques, Moonlight delves deeply into the intersection of Black masculinity, vulnerability, and homosexuality, offering a groundbreaking perspective that resonated globally. The film’s success in highlighting the struggles and complexities of the gay Black community earned it widespread acclaim, including the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and the Academy Award for Best Film.
6. Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster’s second feature, Midsommar, begins with a chilling sequence: a jarring match cut between a haunting string score and a human scream, set against the backdrop of a winter tragedy. Protagonist Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) loses her entire family in a murder-suicide, prompting her to join her boyfriend and his friends on a trip to a secluded Swedish village. There, they encounter a once-in-90-years midsummer festival, which soon reveals its sinister underpinnings.
The film unfolds entirely in daylight, a stark contrast to typical horror settings, as the villagers’ plan to gather nine human sacrifices becomes clear. On paper, Midsommar defies horror conventions—daylight isn’t traditionally frightening, and there’s no clear antagonist. Yet, by subverting these norms and focusing on the villagers’ collective joy and unity, the film succeeds brilliantly. It even dares to reveal the entire plot through a pre-credit tapestry, a bold move that pays off.
5. Uncut Gems (2019)
The Safdie brothers, celebrated for their bold filmmaking and willingness to experiment with both seasoned actors and newcomers, achieved a masterpiece with their New York-based crime thriller, Uncut Gems. The film’s brilliance lies in two key innovations: casting Adam Sandler in a rare dramatic role and crafting an unrelenting tension that leaves viewers on edge throughout.
Sandler delivers a career-defining performance as Howard Ratner, a jeweler and compulsive gambler whose reckless decisions plunge his life—and the audience—into a whirlwind of anxiety. The Safdies coaxed a depth from Sandler that defied his comedic roots, while their technical prowess amplified the film’s intensity. Cinematographer Darius Khondji abandoned his usual refined style, instead employing harsh lighting, tight angles, chaotic framing, and stark contrasts to create a relentless, claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the protagonist’s spiraling chaos.
4. The Green Knight (2021)
In a surprising departure even for A24, director David Lowery revived a 14th-century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a tale unfamiliar to most outside academic circles. Set in the Arthurian era, The Green Knight follows Dev Patel as Gawain, King Arthur’s aimless and inexperienced nephew, who embarks on a transformative quest to confront the enigmatic Green Knight, leaving behind his life of indulgence and irresponsibility.
Casting Dev Patel, a mixed-race actor, in a role typically reserved for white performers in a medieval setting was a daring yet impactful decision. This choice, combined with the film’s stunning visual style, bridges the gap between the ancient text and modern audiences. The Green Knight mesmerizes with its lush, dreamlike color palette, bringing the medieval world to life in a vivid yet grounded way. Behind the scenes, the film broke new ground as the first vegan medieval fantasy production, with Lowery’s vegan principles ensuring all costumes and props were crafted from animal-free materials.
3. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as “Daniels,” delivered a genre-defying masterpiece with Everything Everywhere All at Once, which stands as A24’s crowning achievement. The film not only garnered critical acclaim but also became the studio’s highest-grossing release. Centered on Asian-American culture and the struggles of second-generation immigrants, it unfolds in a surreal multiverse where characters navigate alternate realities, identities, and abilities through earpieces and specific triggers.
Everything Everywhere draws inspiration from a wide array of cinematic traditions, playfully nodding to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (starring Michelle Yeoh) with its martial arts sequences, the MCU with its dimension-hopping spectacle, and even Ratatouille—or rather, “Raccaccoonie.” Pushing the fascination with multiverses and metafiction to its limits, the film shatters genre conventions, even teasing a fake ending with rolling credits.
Remarkably, the film was produced on a modest $25 million budget. With just a five-person effects team, the Daniels relied on traditional filmmaking techniques like wires, puppets, and basic green screens to create the illusion of a high-budget blockbuster.
2. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
While William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is widely known, Joel Coen’s interpretation in The Tragedy of Macbeth offers a fresh and daring perspective. Known for his modern comedies, Coen took a bold leap by adapting this 17th-century tragedy in black and white, using a 4:3 aspect ratio and retaining Shakespeare’s original language. The casting of Denzel Washington as Macbeth, complete with an American accent, further challenges traditional norms, adding a layer of cultural and racial inclusivity to the timeless tale.
The film’s uniqueness lies in its staging, lighting, and visual design. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, celebrated for his vibrant color work in films like Amelie and Big Eyes, employs a striking black-and-white palette that enhances the film’s dramatic intensity. Production designer Stefan Dechant played a pivotal role in realizing Coen’s vision, crafting soundstage sets filled with optical illusions that blur the lines between up and down, day and night, and interior and exterior spaces. The result is a disorienting yet captivating adaptation that plunges viewers into the haunting world of Shakespeare’s most tragic play.
1. Men (2022)
Alex Garland, acclaimed for his 2015 sci-fi debut Ex Machina, returned in 2022 with the chilling folk horror film Men. Set in a remote English village, the story follows Harper (Jesse Buckley), a grieving woman seeking solace in the countryside after a personal tragedy. Instead of peace, she encounters a series of increasingly hostile and disturbingly similar men, turning her retreat into a nightmare of stalking and psychological terror.
Though the premise alone is enough to unsettle any woman traveling solo, the film’s true terror lies in its groundbreaking casting approach. Rory Kinnear stars alongside Buckley, portraying every single villager—ranging from the vicar and police officer to the pub owner and even a young boy. Frequently appearing as multiple versions of himself within the same scene, Kinnear seamlessly transitions between roles, having meticulously crafted detailed backstories for each character. These backstories were instrumental for the hair and makeup team in creating distinct, lifelike portrayals of every individual.
