A24, through their numerous influential films that have permeated the public consciousness, have gained a reputation for creating artful, honest, personal, and powerfully creative works of cinema that resonate with audiences and critics alike. The films have grossed millions of dollars and broken A24 out of underground cult status and into the mainstream, even earning 25 Academy Award nominations and other awards from different prestigious organizations and film festivals along the way. Unfortunately, some of those personal and creative films have not been met with the same love and attention that others have and fell under the radar into obscurity outside of smaller film circles. When interviewed, these film’s fans believe that they might not have reached the same popularity as other A24 films because of their “underlying themes and ideas not matching with the mainstream ideas of the time.” This list will hopefully shed a light on some films that deserve a chance. Films that deserve consideration like the other A24 films that have gained great popularity and become household names. Most films deserve second chances, but out of the other A24 films that did not see success, the ones on this list should be considered first.
First Reformed (2017) is a drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader, writer of films such as Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). The film stars Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried in a story following a pastor struggling with the question of faith and morality in the face of the world’s environmental crisis and the corporatization of religion. On a $3.5 million budget, the film grossed $3.8, barely breaking even. The film is extremely powerful and contemplative, and it alongside Hawke’s performance resonated with a lot of critics, but overall did not hit the same as with audiences or with the voters of some film organizations. The film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards and won Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the Gotham Awards, but in a year where films such as Green Book, Vice, and Bohemian Rhapsody were recognized, First Reformed should be recognized more so than it has been. It truly is a powerful and moving exploration of faith and loneliness, topics that the majority of viewers are not ready to confront.
Good Time (2017) is a crime drama directed by the Safdie brothers and written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, the creators behind films like Heaven Knows What (2014) and Lenny Cooke (2013). The film stars Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, and Buddy Duress in a film about a bank robber on the run trying to rescue his developmentally disabled brother from prison. The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest prize. It was released later that year, grossing $4.1 million, and was met with strong critical reception, particularly for Pattinson’s performance as well as the cinematography and Oneohtrix Point Never’s score. The film was nominated for numerous Best Actor awards amongst others, but the only real award recognition that the film would win would be for its score, winning the Cannes Soundtrack Award and Best Original Score - Feature Film at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. For the strength of the film, it has only been done a disservice by not receiving the proper acknowledgment that it deserves. It’s an entrancing and heart-pumping journey that should be experienced at least once.
20th Century women (2016) is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Mike Mills, creator of films like Thumbsucker (2005) and Beginners (2010). The film stars Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, and Billy Crudup in a story about growing up and family set in the 1970s of Santa Barbara, California. The film premiered at the New York Film Festival in October of 2016 and was theatrically released in December of 2016 to praise from both critics and the audiences who saw the film. On a $7 million budget the film only grossed $6.7, but still saw high praise from critics both for the film’s direction as well as the shining performance from Annette Bening. The film would be nominated for many awards including Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, but the film was only awarded a few awards for Bening and Gerwig’s performances. The award season was full of other powerful and competent films, but, unfortunately, the film was not recognized properly or seen by a wide audience. It is also unfortunate that more of the cast could not be recognized for their performances to the degree that Bening was. A personal and reflective exploration through the lives of five connected characters all in their own separate stories.
Lean on Pete (2017) is a drama film based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, and is written and directed by Andrew Haigh whose previous film 45 Years (2015) was met with great accolades. The film stars Charlie Plummer in a story about a 15-year old boy searching for his Aunt with his stolen horse Pete, running away from inevitable foster care and the slaughter of Pete. The film was screened in the main competition at the 74th Venice International Film Festival in August of 2017 and was released theatrically in the United States in April of 2018, where it did not make a splash with the public but was met with praise from critics for the intensely emotional story and performance from Plummer. Austin Dale of INTO named the film his best of 2018 and lamented the film’s poor box office performance, saying that it was “both the most American film of the year and the year’s toughest sell.” On a budget of $8 million, the film ended up only making $2.5 million at the box office. The film won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor at the Venice Film Festival, but following this was met with little recognition only receiving some nominations and a few wins from smaller award groups or festivals. For how emotional the film was and how much empathy was created watching it, it is incredibly unfortunate that the film was not seen by a wide audience.
Under the Skin (2013) is a science fiction film loosely based on the 2000 novel by Michel Faber, co-written and directed by Jonathan Glazer, the creator behind Birth (2004) and Sexy Beast (2000). The film stars Scarlett Johansson as an unfamiliar almost stranger woman preying on men in Scotland. It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August of 2013 and was released theatrically in the United States in April of 2014. The film was a box office failure only grossing $7.2 million on a $13.3 million budget, but it still received great reviews from critics for the execution as well as for Johansson’s performance. Glazer and other co-writer Walter Campbell were developing the idea for a while about an elaborate story examining an alien’s perspective of the human world and ended up with a unique approach where many of the characters in the film were played by non-actors and some scenes were filmed with hidden cameras. Marketing for the film was very poor and the subject matter was alienating, it made sense why the film did not land with audiences but, unfortunately, the rave reviews from some critics did not lead to mainstream appreciation come awards season. The dark and cold visuals are disturbing and provoke the viewer in a way that other films are unable to, it makes sense for some to dislike it but they should still be able to appreciate the artistry behind it.
Enemy (2013) is a psychological thriller adapted from José Saramago's 2002 novel The Double. Written by Javier Gullón and directed by Denis Villeneuve, the artist behind other films like Prisoners (2013) and Incendies (2011), the films stars Jake Gyllenhaal in a role-playing two characters very different with the exact same physical appearance. The two discover each other and need to realize their own identity in a world where a copy of themselves exists. The film was released at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in September and was later released theatrically in March of 2014, earning both $3.4 million at the box office as well as positive critical reviews. Critics praised the distinct performances from Gyllenhaal as well as the tonal direction from Villeneuve, but in the end, audiences were pushed away from the harsh color pallet and confusing plot. For how sound and full the film was, its poor performance at the box office and awards season is disheartening. Maybe it will be looked at fondly when appreciating Villeneuve’s now incredibly impressive resumé, but until then it will be only be looked at fondly by some.
American Honey (2016) is a road trip drama film written and directed by Andrea Arnold, director of Wasp (2005)and Fish Tank (2009). The film is a character study of Star, played by Sasha Lane, as she escapes her troubled home and drives across the American Midwest selling magazine with a traveling sales crew including Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough. The film premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival on May 2016 and was later released theatrically in September of 2016. The film made $1.8 million on a budget of $3.5 million and received critical accolades for both Lane and LaBeouf. It would be nominated for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize, at the Cannes Festival but it did win the Jury Prize. Understandably, the wider public would not find their way to this film, an almost three-hour journey of a girl finding herself in the nowhere nothingness of midwestern America, but, sadly, such a dreamy and moving narrative is not going to be experienced purely because of this. Even a lot of festivals and award programs disappointingly did not give the film the recognition that it deserves. It will probably remain a cult film that blooms in small circles when shared, but there is still hope for it being properly acknowledged in the future.
Green Room (2015) is a horror-thriller film written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, creator of other films Blue Ruin (2013) and Murder Party (2007). The film stars Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart, and Alia Shawkat in a story where a punk band finds themselves attacked by skinheads after witnessing a murder at the club they are performing. It would premier at the independent Director’s Fortnight section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in May of 2015 and would later see wide release in May of 2016. It was met with many critics listing it as one of the best films of 2016, but ultimately it would underperform at the box-office and only gross $3.8 million in its budget of $5 million. Many critics praised the film for its performances and brutal tone, but at the end of the awards season, it did not come away with many nominations or awards. It was a very real and present horror story that feels almost too real for today’s climate, it seems as if it was maybe just a few years ahead of the best time for it.
Obvious Child (2014) is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Gillian Robespierre. The film is the feature film debut for Robespierre and is a feature-length adaptation of her 2009 short film of the same name. Both star Jenny Slate in a story about a stand-up comedian who has a drunken one-night stand and finds out that she is pregnant and decides to have an abortion. The film also stars Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, and David Cross. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2014 after a successful Kickstarter campaign and it was later released to theatres in June of the same year. The film was met with great reviews from critics and even grossed $3.3 million on an estimated $1 million budget, but in the end, it remained an indie darling that would not make mainstream waves. Part of this may be because of the film’s taboo subject matter, but despite anyone’s objection to this film, it is still brave and compelling. Robespierre said that the story for the film came from her frustration with previous mainstream film’s misrepresentation of women and their experiences with unplanned pregnancies. She wanted to make a film that destigmatized abortion and she did that while also creating a story with empathetic characters to root for. Hopefully, the film can find a resurgence in popularity at some point, but if not then at least the film will have helped pave the way for other films to handle controversial topics that have depth and complexity to them.
Krisha (2015) is a drama film that is the feature-length debut from writer and director Trey Edward Shults, a filmmaker who would later create It Comes at Night (2017) and the upcoming film Waves. The film is a feature-length adaptation of his 2014 short film of the same name and stars Shults real-life Aunt Krisha Fairchild as well as other family and friends, and was also filmed at Shults parents’ house. The story revolves around the character of Krisha (played by Fairchild) as she returns to her family for a Thanksgiving dinner following a ten-year absence. The film met its Kickstarter campaign goal and would premier at the South by Southwest Festival in March of 2015 and later played at the Cannes Film Festival that same month. The film had an extremely limited release in March of 2016 and was met with critical praise as well as audience support for the small release, grossing $144,822 on a budget of $30,000. The film was praised by critics for its raw and honest emotion as well as the performances from Shults and Fairchild and the audiences who saw the film also rated it favorably on review sites. A small film received a small reception, but it has grown slowly as people have found the film and Shults career has grown. For now, it remains overlooked by moviegoers and fans of A24 films but it does look like it will find more appreciation soon.
Never Goin’ Back (2018) is a comedy-drama film written and directed and edited by Augustine Frizzell in her directorial debut. The film stars Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone in a story about high school dropouts trying to go on a trip to the beach while also trying to make rent and not get fired from their jobs. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2018 and was released in August of the same year. The film received above-average reviews from audiences and good reviews from critics but only made $61,271 at the box office. It was praised for its unique take on a traditional format and the chemistry and performances from Mitchell and Morrone. The film is full of life and comedy and does not pretend to be a film that it is not, but overall it was not the story that people wanted to see at this time. A lot of the comedy was sincere and real, but it was also sometimes very crass and just gross and many audiences and critics would probably be turned off from this. The film has a niche following, but there are also many more people that would love this story that have not given it the chance because it is a story of two girls or because no one else is talking about it.
Newer A24 films that look as if they are going to go overlooked:
This last year there has also been a few films that A24 released that have captured some positive critical attention, but it is unclear whether that attention will last. Some films have also received great public praise and mainstream attention while others may not have. Here are some of the A24 films released this last year that caught that critical acclaim but may have failed to garner other people’s curiosities.
Climax (2018) is an experimental psychedelic dance horror film directed, written, and co-edited by Gaspar Noé, the auteur behind films like Enter the Void (2009) and Irreversible (2002). It premiered May 10th, 2018 at the Cannes Film Festival, and was released in the United States theatrically on March 1st of 2019. The film follows twenty-four members of a dance troupe throwing an after-party after a rehearsal, but eventually, they all become disturbed and confused and suspect that their sangria was laced with LSD. Dancer/actress Sofia Boutella stars in the film and the rest of the dancers are played by actual dancers. The film had a unique production with unrehearsed improvisation from the cast who were given no lines of dialogue and were able to freely move and take the story and characters where they wanted. This has helped the film in a lot of ways, as well as Noe’s unique editing and cinematography, but a lot of the criticisms for the film come from this perceived lack of story as well. Looking at the reviews from critics, it seems to get high praise from some while others pan the film as being boring or uninteresting. It only grossed 1.8 million dollars off of its approximately 2.9 million budget, and it is unclear whether or not the film will make a splash come award season in the U.S based on the mixed reception.
Gloria Bell (2018) is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Sebastián Lelio, director of the award-winning film A Fantastic Woman (2017). The film is an English language remake of Lelio’s 2013 film Gloria and stars Julianne Moore and John Turturro. The story follows Gloria, a woman in her 50s who looks for love in the dance clubs of Los Angeles. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of 2018 and was released theatrically in the United States in March of this year. Both Julianne Moore and John Turturro were praised for their performances, with the film revolving around the dynamics between their characters. Met with high reviews, critics gave the film and director Lelio high praise so it could have a little resurgence around award season, but it may also be left behind like other films released at the beginning of the year that film organizations tend to not pay much attention to.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) is a drama film directed and co-written by Joe Talbot. The story was created by Talbot and the film’s star Jimmie Fails, based on a story the two came up with together when they were growing up in San Francisco, and is partly based on Fail’s own life. The film is the directorial debut and stars Fails, Jonathan Majors, Danny Glover, and revolves around the story of an African American man who tries to reclaim his childhood home that was built by his grandfather. Both Fails and Talbot started the production of the film through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and actual filming began in 2018. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2019 and was released theatrically in June. It was met with rave reviews from critics, with a columnist from Deadline Hollywood writing that it was “the one movie I have seen that should have Oscar written all over it.” It even won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance and is a hopeful for awards season as long as it remains in critics’ and audiences’ memories.
The Souvenir (2019) is a drama film written and directed by Joanna Hogg, director of numerous television projects and films like Archipelago (2010) and Exhibition (2013). The film stars Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, and Tilda Swinton in a semi-fictionalized story of Hogg’s own time at film school. Byrne plays Julie, a young wealthy woman at film school who starts a problematic relationship with a secretive older man, played by Burke. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2019 and was released theatrically in the United States in May. The film has grossed $1 million so far and was met with reviews of high praise from critics, even receive the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic award at Sundance, the highest prize at the festival. A sequel for the film has been announced with principal photography beginning earlier this Summer. Award season could be good for this film, but it could also not be recognized and eventually fade into obscurity.
