In 2024, the film industry has delivered a flood of Memorable Movies, from blockbusters to offbeat arthouse films. This selection combines box office success, audience reception, and critical acclaim to bring you the best films of the year, listing each one’s director and release date in France and a clear reason to see it.
TOP Number 1: Poor Things
Number 1 on this list is Poor Things (Pauvres Créatures in France), released on January 16, 2024 in French theaters.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, it's a dramatic comedy sponsored by Emma Stone, who plays Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist.
The film blends science fiction, feminism, and the absurd to tell the story of her heroine’s emancipation from the world. Her visual style is completely unique, and the performance by’Emma Stone earned him the’Oscar for Best Actress, submitted on March 11, 2024.
A real oddity that's unlike any other movie this year.
Issue 2: Dune, Part Two
Signed Denis Villeneuve and released in France, February 28, 2024, this major science-fiction film came with some of the highest expectations of the year. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya are at the heart of the story, which continues the tale of Paul Atréides.
As the sole survivor of House Atreides, along with his mother, Lady Jessica, Paul joins the Fremen, the indigenous people of’Arrakis, and is plotting his revenge against those who wiped out his family.
The story revolves around a heart-wrenching choice: he must decide between his love for Chani and the war he carries within him, all set in a desert that is filmed as a character in its own right.
Dune, Deuxième Partie is one of the year's biggest box-office hits, praised by both audiences and critics for its blend of visual spectacle, political tension, and emotion.
TOP 3: The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest is a historical drama signed Jonathan Glazer, released on January 30, 2024 in France after winning the Grand Prix at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
The story continues Rudolf Höss, commander of’Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig, who are building a dream life for their family in a house with a large yard, right next to the camp.
When the commander is to be transferred to Oranienburg, this idyllic little life threatens to fall apart. At first, he hides the news from his wife, who, once she learns of it, refuses to leave the house.
The film's strength lies in its radical stance: The horror remains off-screen, but it echoes constantly in the background. This chilling contrast is what made the biggest impression on audiences and critics alike.
TOP 4: The Snow Circle
Released on January 3, 2024 in France, Le Cercle de la neige is a survival drama directed by J.A. Bayona, based on one of the world's most famous plane crashes.
In 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes, with a rugby team on board that was heading to Chile.
The 29 survivors find themselves trapped in one of the most hostile environments on the planet, cut off from the world, and forced to take extreme measures to stay alive.
Bayona tells this true story with great restraint, and its immersive direction makes it one of the most ambitious survival dramas of the year.
TOP 5: Daaaaaalí!
Last on this list, but by no means least. Daaaaaalí ! is a comedy directed by Quentin Dupieux, released in France, February 6, 2024. The story follows Judith, a French journalist, who runs into Salvador Dalí on several occasions: first for an interview project that the painter turned down, and then for the filming of a documentary that quickly descended into chaos.
The most memorable scene? Dalí cuts to a shot of himself driving a Rolls-Royce on the beach, just before filming began.
Dupieux pushes the’absurd He takes things to extremes, as usual, and plays with the image of the great artist to the point of vertigo. If you're looking for a quirky and truly funny movie, this one's for you.
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