Rewatching 2024

2024 reminded us why we love stories. From the sweeping deserts of Dune to the pressure-cooking kitchen of The Bear, the landscape of stellar entertainment was able to cut through the noise of cash-grabbing remakes to create iconic cinematic moments we’ll be thinking about well into 2025.

MOVIES

While it’s too late to catch these titles in a dark theater as you munch on overpriced popcorn, you can still experience their magic at home. From blockbusters that drew crowds to the screens in droves to smaller films that packed as big a punch, it’s not hard to remember why they call it movie magic.

#1- DUNE PART TWO: This installment in the Dune franchise has been heralded as the pinnacle of sci-fi filmmaking. The unbelievably detailed worldbuilding supported by extensive lore sans tedious exposition, the fleshed-out characters that are as dynamic as the stunning cinematography. The plot is richer and busier than the first film, but from SFX and VFX to the costume design and the fight choreography, it’s clear that Villeneuve handpicked those excelling in their respective fields to join him in the creation of this film.

#2- NO OTHER LAND: Shot before the events of October 2023, this documentary follows Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist, as he documents the ongoing demolition of Masafer Yatta, a cluster of Palestinian villages, by Israeli soldiers. He is joined by Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who helps him capture the indigenous peoples’ struggle and limitless resilience, and the relentless cruelty of colonialism.

#3- MONKEY MAN: Based on the Hindu legend of Hanuman, a half-human half-monkey warrior god that overcomes his oppressors, Monkey Man follows Kid (Dev Patel), a young man hellbent on getting revenge on the corrupt elite who killed his mother and continue to exploit and terrorize the powerless. While some may find the violence in Patel’s directorial debut excessive, the fight choreography is undeniably exceptional, a balletic display of raw power, adrenaline, and pure grit. The genre is dominated in Hollywood by Western heroes — your John Wicks and James Bonds, Jason Bournes, and Ethan Hunts — and seeing a different culture being portrayed on screen (and not just as a destination the hero has to jet off to) is refreshing.

#4- EVIL DOES NOT EXIST: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest film centers on Takumi, a skilled widower living with his young daughter in an idyllic rural village outside of Tokyo. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when entrepreneurs plan to build a glamping (glamorous camping) resort in the area. The film takes a dark turn when the disruption of the natural balance leads to consequences for both the corporate representatives and the villagers.

#5- KINDS OF KINDNESS: Yorgos Lanthimos returns to his roots in his most recent offering is a loosely related three-part anthology connected by themes of control, autonomy, and — obviously and ultimately — kindness. The first part follows a corporate worker (Jesse Plemons) whose boss controls every aspect of his life. The second features Plemons as a police officer suspicious of his presumably dead wife’s return. And the final part involves a cult searching for someone who can resurrect the dead.

TV SHOWS

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more must-watches in the cultural zeitgeist, 2024 came in swinging. Whether you’re looking for something to burn through in one sitting or a slow-burn series to savor, there is no shortage of bangers to keep you glued to your screen.

#1- THE BEAR: Carmy Berzatto, an internationally renowned chef, inherits his family’s run-down sandwich shop after his brother’s sudden and tragic death. The struggles of small-business ownership and the demanding reality of the food industry is revealed as Carmy fights to transform the restaurant as he adjusts to his new role. It's a tense show, but a deeply engrossing one too.

#2- SHŌGUN: Set in 17th-century Japan, the story is set into motion when John Blackthorne washes up on Japanese shores. He finds himself in the company of Lord Toranaga, a powerful feudal lord on the brink of conflict, and Mariko, a mysterious outcast who serves as his translator. The constant jockeying for power between the different factions on the show keeps us on the edge of our seats, masterfully building tension as we watch alliances shift and betrayals unfold.

#3- SHRINKING: Jason Segel stars as Jimmy, a cognitive behavioral therapist who is struggling to grieve his wife’s death in AppleTV+’s comedy . Jimmy grows tired of his patients constantly complaining about their problems and decides to try a new approach: Telling the unadulterated truth, despite blurring ethical boundaries. Season two just wrapped up, with many taking to the internet to digitize their tears,

#4- THE PENGUIN: The Penguin is back wreaking havoc in Gotham. The series dives straight into the aftermath of The Batman as Gotham reels from the destruction left behind after The Riddler blew up the city’s seawall. The Caped Crusader may have stopped him, but the city is far from rebuilt — and it left the crime underworld up for grabs.

#5- TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY: Season 4 of the anthology marks a dramatic shift for the series, setting its mystery in Ennis, Alaska during the perpetual darkness of winter. Led by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, the season follows the investigation of missing scientists found frozen under mysterious circumstances. The show leans heavily into horror elements and supernatural dread while maintaining the series’ exploration of human darkness.