Not many independent studios have left as big a mark on modern cinema asA24. Founded in 2012, the company started as a small distribution house but quickly built a reputation for bold, thought-provoking films that pushed the boundaries of storytelling. Early successes likeSpring BreakersandThe Witchset the tone for A24’s unique blend of arthouse aesthetics and broad appeal. A24 succeeded in drawing in a loyal audience hungry for films that defied traditional Hollywood conventions by giving platforms to daring filmmakers likeRobert Eggers,Halina ReijnandTi West.Just last year, they produced and distributed stellar movies likeThe Brutalist,I Saw the TV GlowandSing Sing.
Over a decade later, A24 has cemented itself as a dominant force in both indie and mainstream cinema, earning widespread critical acclaim and multiple Academy Award wins. The studio’s biggest achievement came in 2023 when it became the first independent studio to win Best Picture, Best Director, and all the four acting awards in a single Oscar ceremony. Withexciting new movies on the horizon, the studio shows no sign of slowing down. While it’s hard to pick favorites from the rich A24 catalog, let’s take a look at 10 must-watch movies from the indie studio.
10’Ex Machina' (2014)
Directed by Alex Garland
InEx Machina, a young programmer named Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) wins a contest to spend a week at the secluded home of his employer, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the genius CEO of a major tech company. Caleb learns he’s been chosen to participate in an experiment: conducting a Turing test on an advanced AI named Ava (Alicia Vikander). As Caleb interacts with Ava, he begins to question the true nature of her consciousness—and his own role in the experiment.
Alex Garland’s directorial debut turned out to be one of the best in modern sci-fi.Ex Machinastands out for its thought-provoking exploration of AI and morality in the age of technology, which are all still relevant today. Vikander’s performance is both nuanced and haunting, instantly catapulting her to mainstream cinema. With its sleek production design, gripping storytelling, anda finale that lingers long after the credits roll,Ex Machinasolidified Garland as a visionary director. While A24 only picked up distribution rights for this film,the studio continues its collaboration with Garland, with the hitCivil Warand the upcomingWarfare.
Ex Machina
9Uncut Gems (2019)
Directed by Josh & Benny Safdie
Directed bythe Safdie Brotherswho made the A24-distributedGood Time,Uncut Gemsfollows Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a New York jeweler with a dangerous gambling addiction. When he acquires a rare Ethiopian black opal, Howard believes it’s his ticket to paying off his debts and securing a better future. But as he places increasingly reckless bets, nothing goes according to his plans and his life spirals into chaos.
Uncut Gemsis a relentless, anxiety-inducing energy that never lets up until the credits roll. The Safdies crafted a pulse-pounding thriller that immerses viewers in Howard’s high-risk world, amplified by the film’s chaotic pacing, overlapping dialogue, and a pulsating score byDaniel Lopatin.Sandler delivers one of his career-best performances, trading his comedic persona for a flawed yet compelling character. The Safdies haven’t made another feature film together since, but both of them will be releasing new films produced by A24,Marty SupremeandThe Smashing Machine, directed byJosh SafdieandBenny Safdie, respectively.
Uncut Gems
8Past Lives (2023)
Directed by Celine Song
Past Livestells the story of childhood friends Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), whose lives take different paths when Nora’s family immigrates from South Korea to the U.S. Years later, they reconnect online, only to drift apart again as life takes them in different directions. When Hae Sung visits New York, where Nora is now married to Arthur (John Magaro), the two confront what could have been and what remains unspoken.
Celine Song’s directorial debut is remarkable in its restraint that allows emotions to play out through the scenes instead of dramatic revelations. The film’s gentle pacing and intimate cinematography heighten the characters' interaction, making them closer to the audience.All the three actors deliver stunningly nuanced performances, culminating in the scene where they are all in one frame.Past Livesisn’t just about lost love—it’s about the paths we take and the ones we leave behind, making it one of A24’s most emotionally resonant films andone of the best romance movies in the last decade.
Past Lives
7Midsommar (2019)
Directed by Ari Aster
Midsommarfollows Dani (Florence Pugh), a grieving young woman who joins her emotionally distant boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends on a trip to a secluded Swedish commune for a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival. The seemingly idyllic getaway quickly descends into a waking nightmare as the group becomes entangled in the horrific customs of the pagan community.
Ari Aster’sMidsommaris an achievement in psychological horror, using its unsettling folk setting to explore themes of grief and toxic relationship. Unlike conventional horror films that rely on darkness and jump scares,Midsommarbrings the terror in bright, broad daylight. With Florence Pugh’s towering performance as the film’s anchor,Midsommarisone of the best horror films in recent memory. Having madeHereditaryfor A24, this film shows Aster’s growth and control in his one-of-a-kind films. A24 obviously loved working with Aster as they collaborated again on the surrealBeau is Afraidand the upcomingEddington, starringJoaquin PhoenixandPedro Pascal.
6Aftersun (2022)
Directed by Charlotte Wells
Aftersunfollows Sophie (Frankie Corio), an 11-year-old girl on vacation in Turkey with her loving but troubled father, Calum (Paul Mescal). Told through fragmented memories and home video footage, the story captures their seemingly ordinary moments spending time together, while hinting at an emotional weight beneath Calum’s calm demeanor. As an adult Sophie looks back on this trip, she begins to reconcile her childhood perception of her father with the man he truly was.
Charlotte Wells’ debut feature is a quiet yet devastating meditation on memory. With its naturalistic performances,Aftersunfeels more like a bittersweet recollection of a cherished but haunting moment than just a regular film.Paul Mescal’s heartbreaking performancebrings Calum to life with both warmth and darkness, while Frankie Corio delivers one of the most authentic child performances in recent memory.Aftersunis not just a must-watch, but an unforgettable cinematic experience that connects with the way we remember those we’ve loved and lost.
5Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
Directed byThe Daniels,Everything Everywhere All at Oncefollows Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a struggling laundromat owner who discovers that she is the key to saving the multiverse after encountering her husband (Ke Huy Quan) from another reality. Thrust into a reality-bending adventure, Evelyn must connect with alternate versions of herself to battle a mysterious force that threatens existence itself while trying to mend fractured relationships with her family in her own universe.
Winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture,Everything Everywhere All at Onceis a must-watch for its visual spectacle and its deeply resonant core.The Daniels created an intricate, inventive filmthat breaks genre conventions. Its multiverse storyline, with elements of existentialism, generational trauma, and possibilities, is so well-explored, it evenbested similar attempts fromMarvelandDC. Michelle Yeoh delivers a great performance, effortlessly balancing comedy, action, and emotion, while Ke Huy Quan’striumphant return to the screenprovides the film with its beating heart. Currently A24’s highest grossing film,Everything Everywhere All at Oncestands as the studio’s most ambitious film to date.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
4Minari (2020)
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
Minariis a semi-autobiographical film about a Korean-American family chasing the American Dream in the 1980s. The film follows the patriarch Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) who moves his wife Monica (Han Ye-ri)and their two children, David (Alan Kim) and Anne (Noel Kate Cho), from California to rural Arkansas to start a farm. While Jacob envisions a prosperous future growing Korean vegetables, Monica struggles with their new life, fearing the instability it brings.
Drawing fromLee Isaac Chung’spersonal experience, the film offers an immigrant experience that resonates with audiences worldwide. The film transcends cultural specificity with its deeply human and universally relatable story. The film also boasts strong performances from all the actors, especiallyYoun Yuh-jung’s Oscar-winning performance. With its beautiful score, naturalistic cinematography, and profound exploration of family and hope,Minaristands asone of A24’s most poignant films, making it a must-watch.
3Lady Bird (2017)
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Set in 2000s Sacramento,Lady Birdfollows the titular character, Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a rebellious high school senior navigating love, friendship, and her often turbulent relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalf). She dreams of escaping her mundane hometown for the culture and excitement of the East Coast, but her ambitions clash with her mother, who often expresses her love through criticism.
Lady Birdis a must-watch for its authenticity and personal storytelling courtesy of writer-directorGreta Gerwig(Barbie).The coming-of-age filmperfectly capturesthe uncertainty of teenage yearsand the small but defining moments that shape a person’s life. The mother-daughter dynamic is one of the most honest and emotionally resonant in modern cinema, with Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf delivering realistic, powerhouse performances. With its sharp dialogue, nostalgic aesthetic, andfive Oscar nominations,Lady Birdstands as one of A24’s finest films.
2Moonlight (2016)
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Directed byBarry Jenkins,Moonlightfollows the life of Chiron, a young Black man growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood, as he struggles with identity, love, and masculinity. Told in three distinct stages—his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood—the film explores his complicated relationship with his drug-addicted mother, his compassionate yet conflicted mentor Juan, and his best friend and love interest Kevin.
Moonlightis often dubbed as one of the best films in the 21st century, with critics highlighting its poetic storytelling and groundbreaking representation of Blackqueer identity. The film is visually stunning and emotionally raw, amplified byJames Laxton’s rich cinematography andNicholas Britell’s dreamy, classical score. The film also has incredible performances from its ensemble cast that spans different generations, particularlyNaomie HarrisandMahershala Ali, who won his first Oscar for this film.Moonlightis A24’s first Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards, a further testament to whythis film is definitely a must-watch.
1The Zone of Interest (2023)
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
The Zone of Interestfollows Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) in this harrowing and unconventional Holocaust drama. They live a disturbingly ordinary life just beyond the walls of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The film depicts the mundane, everyday routines of the Höss family—gardening, hosting dinner parties, and playing with their children—while the ever-present sounds of suffering in the background serve as a harrowing reminder of the atrocities happening nearby.
Jonathan Glazer’s (A24-distributedUnder the Skin) masterful direction turnsThe Zone of Interestintoa haunting reflection on moral blindness. The film’s unconventional approach, marked by long, static shots and an absence of traditional dramatic arcs, makes for an experience that is as disturbing as it is thought-provoking. The film has an incredible yet disturbing sound design that heightens the experience, withMica Levi’s unnerving score haunting the scenes,bringing more sense of dread. As one of the most daring and artistically bold Holocaust films in recent memory,The Zone of Interestis a must-see, even just once, for its chilling resonance in modern times.
