The 15 Best Movies Of 2024, According To Metacritic (So Far)

Typically, when it comes to movie releases, the general public tends to focus on the summer blockbusters. They're comfort food. Those are the films that can launch us into a fantasy world where we can forget about the day-to-day tedium that comes from the other aspects of our lives. Life can be tough, so we're allowed to enjoy a two-hour movie where things blow up, but those films may not be the films that are "the best."

According to many critics, when it comes to movies, quality is much more important than escapism. Sure, there are occasions where both critics and the general audience agree a movie is wonderful, like Oppenheimer. Neither summer blockbusters or critically-acclaimed movies are bad if you enjoy them by any means, but when it comes to the quality of the film--the story, the acting, the cinematography, etc.--that's something that the masses can measure or at least critics can.

Looking over at GameSpot sister site Metacritic, a review aggregate that takes the scores of critics' reviews and gives movies and TV shows a score based on the average of said reviews, we found out what critics loved in 2024. You may not know some of these films, but you may want to check them out on your own. So let's dive right into the top 15 critically reviewed movies of 2024. Already, there have been a few changes to this list since it was first published. Make sure to keep coming back to GameSpot and this list to see how it changes throughout the year.

Disclosure: Metacritic is owned by Fandom, the same parent company as GameSpot.

Score: 86

Release date: September 21

What it's about: A summation of the actor's life, archival footage and home movies paint a picture of how Reeves started as an unknown actor and became the Man of Steel.

Score: 86

Release date: May 3

What it's about: A teenager is introduced to a late-night television show, highlighting the world of the supernatural. This show changes the teenager's view of reality.

Score: 87

Release date: October 25

What's it about?: A journalist is sexually assaulted by a high-profile offender. She attempts to prosecute him and it exposes Japan's outdated judicial and societal systems.

Score: 87

Release date: August 9

What it's about: 17-year-old Sam goes backpacking during a weekend with her oldest friend and father, who do not get along.

Score: 88

Release date: January 26

What it's about: Set in Recife, Brazilian, Pictures of Ghosts examines the landscape and its history, which includes the city's love of cinema and filmmaking.

Score: 88

Release date: February 23

What it's about: An art teacher is working in a remote village in Anatolia. He wants to get away from this life, but after a turn of events, he seems to be stuck where he's at.

Score: 89

Release date: October 18

What it's about: The comedy is about a sexy worker, which is shot in Las Vegas and New York City.

Score: 90

Release date: June 20

What it's about: The Green Border is a forest area between Poland and Belarus. During a humanitarian crisis in Belarus, a family find themselves trapped by a border guard.

Score: 91

Release date: March 19

What it's about: The film follows a man named Arthur searching for a woman he lost, with the backdrop being set around archeologists and the black market of historical artifacts.

Score: 91

Release date: January 26

What it's about: A seven-year-old named Sol and her mother, aunts, and other relatives prepare a birthday party for Sol's father. However, there is something else going on with her father and a reason for this birthday party being so important.

Score: 91

Release date: March 15

What it's about: Legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has one last performance on piano before passing away. This isn't a fictional movie. It's a saddening and beautiful concert.

Score: 92

Release date: August 9, 2024

What it's about: This documentary follows the Sugarcane Reserve and the investigation into missing children and abuse at an Indian school in British Columbia, Canada.

Score: 92

Release date: February 4

What it's about: Here follows a construction worker who lives in Brussels and is preparing to head home to Romania. He meets a Belgian woman working on a doctorate on mosses. He becomes interested in her and delays his decision to go home.

Score: 94

Release date: January 19

What it's about: A man leaves Saigon after his sister-in-law dies, leaving behind a five-year-old nephew. He ends up in his rural hometown.

Score: 95

Release date: March 22

What it's about: A production assistant must drive around Bucharest in order to film casting for a workplace safety video.