Sitting around the house with family or friends and can’t think of anything to watch? Well, 2024 has seen the release of some great, great movies, many of which were in and out of theaters before you could say “Netflix.” And, thankfully, that means they’re all either available to stream as part of a service or at least rent and/or purchase digitally. We’ve compiled 15 of our favorites below and, spoiler alert, this is also an early look at many films that’ll be on our best of 2024 list next month.
It’s What’s Inside – NetflixIt’s What’s Inside
A group of college friends reunite before a wedding and play a devilish game that will blow your mind, and maybe theirs too. Funny, creepy, and intense, this is one that flew way under the radar and is not to be missed. Watch it on Netflix.
My Old Ass
What would happen if you got really stoned and ran into a future version of yourself? Find out in this heartfelt and surprisingly subtle sci-fi film starring newcomer Maisy Stella as the young version and Aubrey Plaza as the old one. Watch it on Prime Video.
The Wild Robot
A super advanced robot finds itself stranded on an island devoid of humans and must find its purpose. That purpose becomes the driving force for one of the best movies of the year, period. Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Matt Berry are among the voice cast of this shining example of what movies are all about. Watch it on demand.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Story
Hopefully, some of you saw this amazing motion picture when it was in theaters but, judging by the box office, maybe you didn’t. Well, now is the time to right that wrong because George Miller not only lived up to his Mad Max: Fury Road standards, he went beyond them. Watch it on Max.
Music by John Williams
If you’re reading this, you love John Williams, right? And wouldn’t it be awesome to watch a feature-length movie about where the world’s greatest film composer came from and hear the stories behind many of his most famous scores of all time? Of course it would. Watch it on Disney+.
Demi Moore in The Substance – MubiThe Substance
Maybe don’t watch The Substance with your whole family. But a group of friends who appreciate the works of filmmakers like David Cronenberg and Peter Jackson? Oh, yeah, you’ll eat up this gross-out—in more ways than one—masterclass starring Demi Moore as an aging actress who takes drastic measures to become a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley). Watch it on Mubi.
Transformers One
Whether you loved Transformers when you were a kid, or have a kid who doesn’t know their Autobots from their Decepticons, Transformers One is a winner. It’s a super exciting sci-fi adventure wrapped around the fascinating story of best friends who become mortal enemies. It’s so, so good. Watch it on Paramount +.
Monkey Man
Dev Patel stars in and directed this badass action movie about a man seeking revenge on the people who ruined his life. Monkey Man is a visual feast pairing all manner of exciting martial arts with an impactful, emotional story. Watch it on Prime Video.
Civil War
Alex Garland, the man behind Ex Machina, Annihilation, and 28 Days Later, came back in 2024 with one of his most stunning films yet. Set in a war-torn United States, it shows how important of facts and truth can be in a time of uncertainty. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. Watch it on Max.
Mads
The beginnings of a zombie apocalypse unfold over the course of a single night, told in a single take, in this captivating and scary French horror film. Watch it on Shudder.
I Saw the TV GlowI Saw the TV Glow
Two outcasts bond over a cult TV show that may actually be real. Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine star in this trippy, mind-bending sci-fi dive into the psyche of a generation. Martin Scorsese loved it. Watch it on Max.
The First Omen
You may think that a prequel no one asked for, in a franchise that has so regularly shit the bed, would be bad. You may think that, but you’d be wrong. The First Omen is prequel horror done right with one of the most intense performances of the year from Nell Tiger Free. Watch it on Hulu.
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus did decent business at the box office so, yes, maybe you already saw it. But if you didn’t, what are you waiting for? There’s a new Alien movie out from the guy who directed The Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe! And while it’s not perfect, it’s really damn good. Watch it on Hulu.
The Fall Guy
I’m cheating here just a bit because The Fall Guy isn’t technically an io9 movie. But it’s a movie anyone who reads this site would love that bombed at the box office and deserves some love cause it’s awesome. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star as a stunt man and director whose love affair is at the center of a murder mystery, all of which wrapped in a love letter to filmmaking. Watch it on Peacock.
The Crow
Okay, I’m going to swing for the fences here a bit. We all probably know The Crow was a bomb. Many people who saw it hated it too. And yet, I didn’t hate it. I kind of liked it. The film really takes its time investing you in this gothic love story before ripping its heart out and going all Crow with it. It’s not one of the best movies of the year but one that, if it catches your interest, is worth a look. Watch it on demand.
© Nicholas Cage as Longlegs in the 2024 horror film.Also: While those are some movies you may have missed, 2024 also brought lots of hits you probably didn’t miss. Nevertheless, we definitely recommend watching Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine on Disney+, Dune Part Two and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire on Max, or Longlegs and Terrifier 3 on demand, just to name a few.
And: While they aren’t as good as the films mentioned above (in our opinion) these films are also worth a look: House of Spoils on Prime, Trap and MaXXXine on Max, Abigail on Peacock, and Immaculate on Hulu.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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