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Latest! 67 recommended movies from A24! A cutting-edge film company that is now a regular at the Oscars

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2025.03.18SYO

67 A24 Recommended Movies! 2021-2023

46. “Marcel: The Shell in a Shoe” (21) Director: Dean Fleischer Camp 90 minutes

Filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp has turned a short series released on YouTube in 2010 that has been viewed a total of 50 million times into a full-length film. Filmmaker Dean met Marcel, a talkative shellfish about 2.5 centimeters long, when he moved to his new home. The two hit it off and appeal for information via the internet in order to find Marcel's estranged family, but...

This work combines live-action and stop-motion animation. In addition to the funny content such as the heartwarming exchange between Marcel and Dean and Marcel's cuteness, it is a profound story that touches on society and life as seen through the eyes of a shellfish, the merits and demerits of the internet society that "consumes" others, and the state of media in modern times. The theme hits home.

47. “Pearl” (22) Director: Ty West 102 minutes

The second film in the " X " trilogy by Ty West and Mia Goth. This is a prequel set in the 1910s, 60 years before the events of ` `X' ', and it reveals why Pearl, the craziest old woman from the previous movie, became a serial killer.

Pearl dreams of becoming a star on the silver screen, but is under the watchful eye of her strict mother and spends most of her time caring for her father, who is in a wheelchair. Her desire to escape from being tied to the farm eventually turns into madness. Goss, who played the role of Pearl and the main character Maxine in the previous film, played the younger version of Pearl in this film, and also co-wrote the script and served as executive producer. Her uncanny performance, which continued with a nervous laugh, received rave reviews such as ``Oscar for Mia Goth!'' and ``a female version of the Joker.''

There are many keywords that are similar to ` `X '', such as ``movies,'' ``war,'' ``sex,'' ``religion,'' and ``oppression and liberation.'' The third film, MaXXXine, is scheduled to be released in 2024.

Also read: “Pearl” Paint It Red! Paint It Blood!

48. “CLOSE” (22) Director: Lucas Don 104 minutes

This is the second feature film by director Lucas Dong, who won the Camera d'Or (New Director Award) for his feature directorial debut ` `Girl' ' (2018), which was screened in the ``Un Certain Regard'' section at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. It won the Grand Prix in Competition at the 75th Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.

13-year-old boys Leo (Eden Damblin) and Remi (Gustav de Wael) are best friends. However, as a result of being teased by their classmates, a distance is created between the two, and a rift begins to appear in their seemingly eternal relationship.

Starting with the opening scene of the two running through a field of flowers, the film is rich in poetic imagery and captures the fragile and ephemeral feelings of adolescence, which cannot be put into words. Danblin, who plays Leo, is a Cinderella boy who was first spotted by Director Don on the train.

Also read: “CLOSE” Director Lucas Dong: The joy of “translating” memories of despair into film [Director's Interview Vol.333]

49. “Inspection: Living Here” (22) Director: Elegance Bratton 95 minutes

The feature-length debut of director Elegance Bratton, who has a unique career and began her career as a video recorder while serving in the Marine Corps. Based on real-life experiences, this film emotionally depicts how a young man who volunteers to join the Marine Corps survives despite being put in a situation where he is rejected from all sides.

French (Jeremy Pope), a young man who has been homeless for 10 years since he was 16, volunteers to join the Marines in order to survive. However, from the first day of training, he is bullied by his instructors, and when it becomes known that he is gay, he is discriminated against by those around him.

The feature of this work is the spirit of the main character, who never gives up even under unreasonable circumstances. Although the content is shocking, revealing the prejudice against gays in the United States and the Marine Corps in 2005, French's single-mindedness in not giving up on violence and hatred, and in refusing to give up on understanding from those around him, makes it feel exhilarating.

50. TALK TO ME (22) Director: Danny Filippou, Michael Filippou 95 min

This is the feature-length debut of the Philippou brothers, who are active as YouTubers in Australia, and a smash hit in the US. A high school student who is still in shock after his mother's death takes part in a "90-second challenge" to cheer himself up. He becomes addicted to a dangerous game in which a ghost is transferred to him by holding what appears to be a cursed stuffed hand, and the situation develops into one that cannot be undone.

Even before ghosts, this film is obsessed with the desire for approval, and it sharply points out the dangers of young people who post life-threatening scenes on social media as "delicious." It also contains the theme of "leave one's parents," and has a depth that sets it apart from the usual "horror movies about party people suffering terrible experiences." The seance scene, where the pupils of the eyes grow wider and wider, inspired by the state of a drug trip, also leaves a strong impact. Due to the success of this film, a sequel has already been decided. As A24's next recommended creators, it seems that their close relationship will continue for some time to come.

Also worth reading: "TALK TO ME" Directors Danny Filippou & Michael Filippou Trust your inner voice! [Director's Interview Vol. 379]

51. "When You Finish Saving the World" (22) Director: Jesse Eisenberg 88 minutes

This is the directorial and scriptwriting debut for actor Jesse Eisenberg, known for his work in " The Social Network " (2010), etc. Emma Stone, who worked with Eisenberg on " Zombieland " (2009), produced the film, and Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard from "Stranger Things " (2016-) played mother and son.

Evelyn (Julianne Moore), a mother who runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), a live-streamer who plays the guitar. The film bitterly depicts the painful tangled relationship between two similar people who are both extremely narcissistic. Although they care about each other as family members, they also hate each other because of their own peculiar hatred. Eisenberg's skill in portraying this porcupine-like dilemma-like distance, which is a result of the two family members caring for each other but also hating each other because of their own ancestry, is seasoned with humor and pathos, and even exudes dignity in this directorial debut. He also stars in his next film, ``A Real Pain,'' which was well received at the Sundance Film Festival and Searchlight Pictures acquired the worldwide distribution rights, so his prospects are looking bright.

Also worth reading: "When You Finish Saving the World" I Wanna Be Adored, I Want to Be Adored

52. Stop Making Sense(1984) Director: Jonathan Demme 89 minutes

This is a documentary film of a live performance by rock band Talking Heads in 1983. It was directed by Jonathan Demme, who would later work on Silence The Silence of the Lambs (1991), and cinematographed by Jordan Cronenweth, who worked on Blade Runner (1982). For the 4K restored version, Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison himself supervised the sound, and the film sparked a movement that went beyond a single film, with the band members reuniting for the first time in about 20 years. The fact that it was shown in IMAX in Japan is also a memorable event.

A24's promotions were also very varied, with a playful trailer showing Talking Heads frontman David Byrne returning from the dry cleaners to retrieve his signature oversized grey suit. Merchandise such as T-shirts, soundtrack records and T-shirts were also available, delighting longtime fans.

Also worth reading: "Stop Making Sense" - a music film created by Talking Heads and Jonathan Demme that will make you feel like you're experiencing it

53. "Bo is Afraid" (23) Director: Ari Aster 179 minutes

This is director Ari Aster's third feature film, following " Hereditary " and " Midsommar ." A man with extreme anxiety sets out to attend the funeral of his mother who died mysteriously, but encounters a series of unimaginable troubles... This is a powerful work that sparks director Aster's imagination, with nightmarish images that mix reality and delusion, stage-like direction, and picture book-like animation. The opening, with the production studio's logo, sets the stage, and the ending is shocking, with detailed and bold parts blending together in a slushy manner.

Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in " Joker " (2019), plays the protagonist Bo, who is at the mercy of his own "fear". Phoenix's constant, frightened expression and hunched posture add to the strangeness of the film. The two also teamed up for their latest film, "Eddington", a neo-western.

54. Past Lives(23) Director: Celine Song 106 minutes

Director Celine Song's feature film debut has been widely praised, and this love story was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards. A boy and girl living in Korea are separated at the age of 12 when the girl's parents decide to emigrate to the United States, but they are reunited online at the age of 24. When they finally meet in real life at the age of 36, the girl is already married... Set in the United States, this heartbreaking story unfolds as the two "only" exchange words.

This film, co-produced by A24 and CJ Entertainment, is based on director Song's own experiences and beautifully depicts people struggling between their feelings and their compassion for others, with the theme of fate (Inhyeon). Not only the main couple, but also her husband are not stereotyped as "interfering with love", but are placed in a position where they watch over the couple despite their worries and anxieties. Director Song's next work, Materialists, which was a breakthrough with this film and will see him team up again with A24, is scheduled to star Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal and others.

Also worth reading: "Past Lives" Time to Say Goodbye

55. Iron Claw (23) Director: Sean Durkin 130 minutes

Director Sean Durkin, known for his work on Martha or Marcie May (2011) and An Inconvenient Marriage (2019), presents a true story about a cursed wrestling family. This vivid portrayal depicts the feud and dominance between Fritz Von Erich, an American wrestler who fought against Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki and was known for his "Iron Claw," and his sons, as well as the negative effects of "masculinity."

The film features a cast of next-generation stars, including Zac Efron as the second son Kevin, Harris Dickinson from " The Triangle of Sadness " (22) as the third son David, and Jeremy Allen White from "The Best Chef's Family Restaurant" (22-) as the fourth son Kelly. Each of them works hard to transform their bodies, and the convincing way they transform into The Wrestler and the realism of the match scenes, as well as the shocking The Truth behind the family's spectacular success, leave a lasting impression even after watching the film.

Also worth reading: "Iron Claw" Director Sean Durkin changes how he shoots each wrestling scene for each match [Director's Interview Vol. 396]

56. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert(23) Director: Sofia Coppola 113 minutes

Director Sofia Coppola, who has worked with A24 many times, focuses on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the ex-wife of world-famous singer Elvis Presley. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, 14 years old, met and fell in love with the world-famous singer Presley. Despite her parents' objections, she began living with him and was immersed in an environment where she had to behave as "Presley's lover/wife" at all times.

Cailee Spaeny from Pacific Rim Uprising (2018) plays The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and won the Best Actress Award at the 80th Venice International Film Festival. Presley is played by Jacob Elordi, who gained attention for his work in Saltburn (23). The film is typical of director Coppola, who has contrasted hustle and bustle with solitude in films such as Marie Antoinette (2006) and Somewhere (2010), and the visuals that recreate the 60s and 70s are also outstanding. Costumes are designed by Stacey Battat, a regular in Somewhere and The Beguiled (2017), and the art direction is by Tamara Deverell, who worked on Nightmare Alley (21).

Also worth reading: "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" director Sofia Coppola maintains her desire to tell the story visually [Director's Interview Vol. 398]

57. Area of Interest (23) Director: Jonathan Glazer 105 min

This is a new work by director Jonathan Glazer, who also directed A24's earlier film Under the Skin , and is a shocking work that won the Grand Prix at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and the Best International Feature Film and Best Sound Awards at the 96th Academy Awards.

The film depicts the peaceful days of the camp commandant and his family, who live a wealthy life next to the Auschwitz concentration camp, in a matter-of-fact way, highlighting its horror. The camp can be seen in the background of shots showing the family enjoying themselves, and the sounds of screams, gunfire and other violent acts at the camp are mixed in with the sounds of daily life. It is a tranquil film (hence the frightening) that is shot from a distant perspective throughout, but at turning points in the story, aggressive sounds are inserted by Mica Levi, the composer behind " Monos " (2019) and " Zola, " making it a highly technical film throughout. The director's wife is played by Sandra Hüller, from " Anatomy of a Fall " (23).

67 A24 Recommended Movies! 2023-2025

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