Movies have always been an immensely important aspect of entertainment to Americans. While 2024 marked a year with numerous new movies, there are 10 that stuck out to viewers.
Inside Out 2 was an animation directed by Kelsey Mann which was extremely well received by viewers. Inside Out 2 follows a sequel of an adolescent girl named Riley, who is learning to understand her emotions as she experiences difficult transitions in her life.
The movie’s relatability and comedy helped it go viral while inspiring many teenagers to go watch the film. The movie has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide due to its popularity and the viral trends surrounding it.
Wicked was released later in the year, however it did not fail to rise up in ranks as one of the most well-liked movies in 2024. Its storyline follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, Elphaba, played by Cynthis Ervio, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. Their portrayal of the witches was admired by many fans, especially through their outstanding singing abilities that helped the music from the movie go viral on various social media platforms.
Reese Monsod (11) shares, “Wicked was my favorite movie of the year because it was so interesting to watch and I would rewatch it again. The music and acting was incredible to me, and it evoked a lot of my emotions because of it.”
The movie franchise of the book Dune released their second film starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. Dune II depicted Paul Atriedes, played by Timothee, uniting the Fremen of a desert planet to wage a war against House Harkonnen. The movie received over 90 percent of rotten tomatoes and was given positive feedback.
Zendaya also played as the star in the movie, Challengers, which explores the love triangle of three professional tennis players including actors Art Donaldson and Patrick Zwieg. The intensity and passion of the film caught the eye of many people who were interested in the drama that occurred throughout the story. Some athletes consider the movie not the most accurate depiction of their life, but an intriguing movie to watch nonetheless.
After 24 years from its first film, movie producers released Gladiator II directed by Ridley Scott. The popularity and likeability of Gladiator had many fans excited about its sequel following Lucius, played by Paul Mescal, returning glory to Rome and its people. Although some fans were somewhat underwhelmed by the outcome of the movie, it was still significantly enjoyed and watched.
The announcement of the release of Moana 2 in 2024 had many people, including teenagers and kids, eager to watch after the original movie’s success in 2016. Many people found the movie entertaining and likable, yet various people also mentioned that this movie lacked emotional depth. Its original music producer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, was also not a part of its sequel which caused some disappointment in the songs involved in the movie.
Abby Lee (11) shares, “I was so excited to watch Moana 2 because when Moana 1 came out when I was in kindergarten, I loved it so much and I still do. Moana 2 was a really good movie in my opinion, and I’m glad I got to watch it.”
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice follows a young girl named Lydia encountering paranormal activity, specifically a ghost named Beetlejuice. The movie was based on its original adaptation featuring actors such as Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega. The movie’s storyline was commonly claimed to be messy while fun at times.
The action film, Twisters, highlighting Glen Powell and Kiernan Shipka, was a thrilling movie about a science project involving a devastating tornado. The popularity of this movie highly sprung from the anticipation of seeing the sequel to the 1996 version. The visual effects and acting were strongly liked and added to its dramatic storyline.
Smile II is a horror movie that was successful because of its first movie that drew a grand scale of attention. Its chilling atmosphere never fails to unsettle its audience, and the creepy suspense throughout its storyline helps make it incredibly intriguing while also emotionally striking.
We Live in Time was a realistic love story of a couple who faces the incredibly hard reality of one of them being diagnosed with cancer. With actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfeild starring in the film, their previous fame and influence in the film industry motivated their fans to watch the movie. While the movie lacked much action or plot, the message of the storyline was very heartfelt and emotionally captivating.
Movies have an incredibly great impact on humans emotionally and physically as they can be motivational or eye-opening. 2024 was marked with influential cinematography that demonstrates the growth and potential for more years to come.
