‘Dune: Part Two’, ‘Wicked’, ‘Anora’ and more make AFI Top 10 films of 2024

The AFI announces their Top 10 films of 2024
| Photo Credit: X/ @AmericanFilm

The American Film Institute (AFI) has unveiled its annual list of the 10 best films of 2024, spotlighting a mix of indie-style projects and select major studio entries. This year’s list leans heavily towards smaller productions, with only two films bearing the hallmark of major studios: Wicked from Universal and Dune: Part Two from Warner Bros.

The films recognized as the AFI Motion Pictures of the Year are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, A Real Pain, Sing Sing, and Wicked.

Several smaller distributors made their mark. Searchlight Pictures secured two spots with A Complete Unknown and A Real Pain, while Focus Features, a division of Universal, landed on the list with Conclave. Netflix was represented by Emilia Pérez, a rare inclusion of an international production on AFI’s roster, while Amazon had a connection through MGM/Orion’s Nickel Boys.

Conspicuously absent from this year’s list are several high-profile Oscar contenders, including Gladiator II, September 5, Better Man, Blitz, The Piano Lesson, and Maria. Additionally, acclaimed animated hits like The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2, 2024’s top-grossing film, failed to make the cut.

Historically, AFI’s selections align closely with the Academy Awards, typically overlapping on 7-8 films in their Best Picture nominations. However, AFI’s list often excludes international films, which they recognize separately. This year’s inclusion of the French entry Emilia Pérez breaks from that trend, marking a notable departure.