A24 produces films truly worthy of attention. Find out which ones are guaranteed to give you a wealth of emotions in our selection.

While the big Hollywood machine churns out formulaic popcorn movies, there is another approach to filmmaking in America. It is embodied by the studio A24, which in less than 10 years has carved out a place in the sun and in the hearts of cinephiles who love thoughtful, experimental, vibrant, and auteur cinema. The company already has nearly 150 unique and unforgettable projects. We decided to narrow down the selection a bit and compile a top 10 best films from A24 studio over the past 5 years. Even that was difficult, as they have released so many great films in this time. So, if you don't find your favorite on the list, feel free to write in the comments. Let's go!

10th Place — A Ghost Story

The arthouse film by David Lowery immerses you in a deep meditative reflection on the ordinariness of life and the inevitability of death.

«A Ghost Story» from A24 is akin to a psychotherapeutic session for people who have experienced loss. It is a slow-paced look at the world through the eyes of the Ghost — the main character, wandering through once-familiar places, observing the grieving Rooney Mara, and trying to understand the essence of existence. Lowery created a minimalist, sincere drama that invites thoughtful dialogue rather than the spectacle we are used to seeing in movies about the supernatural.

9th Place — Good Time

The film by the Safdie brothers feels like an endless race against time and circumstances. The events of one night turn into a kaleidoscope of strange and insane happenings, which, at times straightforwardly and at times metaphorically, paint a panorama of the modern United States of America. Not the one from postcards with phrases about that famous dream, but the real one.

This film is also wonderful for the insane negative and somewhat animal charm of Robert Pattinson. His character is not the kind to be celebrated. No one will emulate him or hold him up as an example. He won't earn homages or parodies. But it's unlikely you'll forget him.

8th Place — Lady Bird

It would seem, what can another coming-of-age story offer when we've already seen hundreds of films about it? But director Greta Gerwig managed to bring freshness and candor to the tried-and-true plot tropes. There are the difficult relationships between the eccentric main character, who demands to be called by her pseudonym rather than her real name, and her mother; questions about the perception of religion; and the discovery of her own sexuality. Yet there is no contrived feeling in any of it. Sad episodes are replaced by humorous vignettes. Just like in real life.

7th Place — Under the Silver Lake

If you still haven't gotten over the internet's sudden obsession with Andrew Garfield, now is the perfect time to rewatch a little-known A24 film starring him. And here, he is definitely a star. Garfield represents an entire generation of men obsessed with mysteries, Easter eggs, hidden meanings, and... stalking? Yes, a bit of stalking a girl doesn't hurt a film that is definitely not for everyone. It is so strange and goes so far into it that this very quality gives it its charm. The meaning seems to be there, and yet it isn't. Watching becomes an exercise for our brain — to pick out clues, catch the Hollywood vibe, piece everything together, and then realize we were looking in the wrong place.

An unusual look at pop culture, social life, regular folks, and very decent visuals on the technical side — that's why it's worth turning on «Under the Silver Lake» and just relaxing in the rays of the West Coast sun.

6th Place — Lamb

Maria (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) live and work on a remote farm in Iceland. The couple is childless, but one day they discover a mysterious creature in their barn and decide to raise it as their own child. With it, happiness first comes to the family, and then, following it, terrifying consequences.

The debut film by Valdimar Jóhannsson became a moderate box office sensation for A24 in the arthouse segment in the US, earning an impressive $2.5 million. The project combines biblical references, colonialism (using someone else's land and its fruits), and stunning Icelandic landscapes — silent, seeing right through mere mortals and their futile struggles against time.

The film became another gem among A24's projects. The protagonists' “child” joins the ranks of the producer's memorable animals, alongside the goat Black Phillip from Robert Eggers' “The Witch,” the pesky seagulls in his “The Lighthouse,” the bear from “Midsommar,” and the fox from “The Green Knight.”

5th Place — The Killing of a Sacred Deer

After watching A24's «The Killing of a Sacred Deer,» the viewer first experiences moral devastation. Then comes a bout of rejection and misunderstanding. Some, as a final stage, will achieve catharsis — and Yorgos Lanthimos is remarkable as a craftsman for how many of his viewers he can guide to that final stage without losing them along the way.

Allegorical parable films with a touch of the supernatural are not that rare — we can recall examples like “The Seventh Seal” by Ingmar Bergman or “mother!” by Darren Aronofsky. Despite the action unfolding in the present day, the mythological nature of the events makes the film timeless, and thanks to the brilliant performances by Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and (especially) Barry Keoghan, you certainly won't forget it anytime soon.

The film “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is so much like Martin, one of the main characters — cruel but fair; repulsive but attractive; confusing but ridiculously simple. And just damn good.

4th Place — Hereditary

A mystical thriller with minimal jump scares and pervasive suspense from a new generation director of intelligent horror, Ari Aster.

«Hereditary» is a terrifying performance about a family fractured by secrets, where each member has their own dark side. Oppressive music, hallucinations, a touch of occultism and madness, a plot with a double bottom, and a stunning performance by Toni Collette — the recipe for a successful horror film from Ari Aster, for whom “Hereditary” was a debut feature that immediately earned high praise.

3rd Place — The Lighthouse

A lot has been written about A24's “The Lighthouse.” We can once again recall its symbolism. The cinematography, which references black-and-white films of the last century. The quotes: from paintings to myths. That Robert Pattinson's character embodies Prometheus, and Willem Dafoe's character embodies Proteus. Or that this film is, after all, about madness, purely masculine, and therefore almost all the action takes place in the lighthouse — a phallic symbol. And that it strongly resembles the work of H.P. Lovecraft with its madness, tentacles, and ancient gods. And that besides the conflict of images on screen, there was also a clash of different acting approaches to performance (Pattinson would get into character on set, while Dafoe rehearsed extensively).

But why remember all that when two wonderful actors spend almost 2 minutes here saying “what?” to each other, and it's endlessly fascinating to watch?

2nd Place — The Green Knight

Director David Lowery's film “The Green Knight” is based on the 14th-century poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” It is the story of the adventures of Sir Gawain, the heir of King Arthur. The film is both a new version of the work and its continuation.

The lead actor Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”) in “The Green Knight” accurately conveyed the process of growing up — from a young boy dreaming of becoming a legend to a wise old man ready to accept his fate.

The main theme of the work is choice. The heroes of each part of the story face it. It's the decision to issue a challenge or remain silent, to fight or to die, to return home or continue the journey. But all the time, a question is whispered at your ear: “Are you capable of following a code of honor if you have no extra help?”

1st Place — Midsommar

Why exactly does “Midsommar” take the top spot in our (and other) rankings related to A24 studio? It's simple. This is one of the few horror or thriller films that made it. Ari Aster's team captured the audience's attention with its unsettling atmosphere and plot, and continue to fuel interest in discussing the themes and brilliance of the film among critics and viewers three years after its release.

The film is memorable down to every terrifying detail. The cinematography lures you into rewatching it again and again, because how can you resist the aesthetic of the secluded commune, the shades, the landscapes, the costumes, and the flowers? Paired with the musical score, you'll get goosebumps from any emotion expressed by Florence Pugh, who earned significant critical attention precisely after this role. It's a precise hit on audience interest and a breath of fresh air in the horror genre. We're already heading out to the wilderness to take part in an ancient ritual for a crazy festival.