2022 wasn’t just a comeback for movies at large. Last year, the world’s favorite indie production company, A24, released an impressive sequence of sixteen feature films, many of which have since been labeled as iconic within a few short months' time. Even if it was cultural phenomena likeEverything, Everywhere, All At Oncethat seemed to take center stage throughout 2022, A24 has still proven itself as no less than a powerhouse when it comes to producing diverse films from exciting new voices. Last year’s unforgettable lineup saw everything from Cronenberg-inspired body-horror, to contemplative sci-fi drama, to sharp-edged Gen-Z social satire. With new directors entering the scene every day, it will be a delightful surprise to see what A24 has in store for the years to come. With that being said, these were our favorite A24 releases of 2022, ranked.
8The Whale
Darren Aronofsky might be one of the most idiosyncratic filmmakers of our time, and his latest,The Whale, is no exception to this rule. Most notably,The Whalemarksthe triumphant returnof nineties leading man Brendan Fraser to screen - his staggering performance has been lauded by fans and critics alike, and we canonly thank Aronofskyfor showing us Fraser’s immense talent as it’s never been seen before. Despite, or because of, its box office success,The Whale has becomea very polarizing film for how it tackles themes of obesity and Aronofsky’sreliance on prosthetics. However, it is more than a competent adaptation of its source material, and the incredible performances across the board make this one of A24’s most memorable of the year. Alongside Fraser,Stranger Things’sSadie Sink also shines throughout the film, and the two share a palpable and heartwarming chemistry.
7Funny Pages
From newcomer Owen Kline of theSquid and the Whalefame,Funny Pagesis certainly not for the faint of heart, nor for those who haven’t picked up a comic or two. Nonetheless, Kline’s debut is bound to stick with any viewer for its serrated, Terry Zwigoff-inspired humor and nostalgic style. The film follows18-year-old misanthrope Robertas he abandons the comforts of suburban life to live in a decrepit apartment and pursues cartooning. Robert quickly falls under the wing of an unwilling teacher and fellow oddball - to say the least - Wallace, who serves as a role model of sorts. Despite its limited commercial release,Funny Pagesgarnered a consensus among critics as being one of the most authentic and distinctive movies of the year, theNY Timescalling it a “tonally flawless” feature debut. Any fans of Robert Crumb orGhost Worldshould definitely give it a watch.
Related:Top 15 Non-Horror A24 Films, Ranked
It’s not any news that Ti West’sPearlhas already become something of a cultural sensation across the internet. The Mia Goth-helmed period horror is a sequel to West’s earlier filmX, which took place on the same remote farm during the grittier ’70s. WhereXis a wildly entertaining, though somewhat conventional, slasher-comedy,Pearlgoes above and beyond in its total immersion into character and aesthetic experimentation. Not only is Goth’s performance completely unforgettable, with particular notice to hernightmare-fueling grinand seven-minute-long monologue, but West couldn’t have given us any more of a visual treat to marvel at within the bloodshed. Thankfully, West forsook his original plans to shoot the film in black and white, and what we’re left with is a gorgeous technicolor nightmare that also gives us a great Hollywood history lesson.
5Bodies Bodies Bodies
Even if the movie was bothmade for and meant to parody Gen-Zers, there is a lot to love aboutBodies Bodies Bodiesregardless of the age at which one experiences it. Halina Reijn’s razor-sharp horror sees a group of twenty-somethings become embroiled in a whodunit mystery after a party game goes horribly wrong. As the body count begins to grow - literally and figuratively - audiences get to learn the true depths of the characters' privilege and brattiness. The humor never slows down in this bewildering thrill ride, and Reijn’s film might boast one of the most impressive young ensemble casts in years. Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, andBorat 2’sMaria Bakalova stand out in particular with their gripping, layered performances.
4Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Based on a series of his own YouTube shorts from the 2010s, Dean Fleischer-Camp’s feature-lengthMarcel the Shell with Shoes Onis equal parts heart and hilarity, without a doubtbound to make any adult cry. Not only does Camp manage to make us deeply care for a tiny, one-eyed shell within minutes, but he also gives us a chance to reflect on our own lives in a shockingly profound way. Rightfully so,Marcelwas a smash hit across the festival circuit, winning Best Animated Feature at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, among several other accolades. Besides its touching storyline, what also makesMarcelso revolutionary, if on a small (no pun intended) scale, is its infallible blend of stop-motion animation with live-action filmmaking. The film feels like your favorite cartoon and is shockingly realistic all at once.
Related:Highest-Grossing Indie Movies of All Time
From first-time writer/director Charlotte Wells,Aftersunwas without a doubt one of the most tender, heart-wrenching films of last year, A24 or otherwise. On paper, the film might read like something of a sequel to Sofia Coppola’sSomewhere, following simply a father and his adolescent daughter’s vacation adventures along the Turkish coast. However, Wells’s film is an achingly poignant and beautiful study of aging and grief - what it means to lose a parent whom you may not have ever known in their entirety. The film features breathtaking cinematography from Gregory Oke, as well as career-definingperformances from Paul Mescaland newcomer Frankie Corio.Aftersunmay be a quiet film, but it’s not one that’s easily forgotten.
2After Yang
Kogonada’sAfter Yangis a breathtaking new addition to A24’s already-impressive milieu of recent sci-fi dramas. Featuring just one ofColin Farrell’s many great indie performancesthis year, the film follows Farrell’s character, Jake, as he tries to fix his daughter’s broken android companion, Yang. WhatAfter Yanglacks in elaborate plot or visual effects, it more than makes up for with its reinvigorating minimalist style and profound emotional subtlety. In a genre that unfairly gets labeled as detached, Kogonada is able to craft a moving story that touches on a number of modern themes, such as cultural appropriation, AI ethics, and the historical and interpersonal role of memory in our lives.After Yangis a representation of when A24 can make style and substance converge to perfection.
1Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
What more can be said of the Daniels' film that seamed to completely take the world by storm last year?Everything, Everywhere, All At Oncehas been memed, dissected, and endlessly praised on every corner of the internet, and yet it still feels like there’s an infinite sum of things to discover about it. Rightfully so, the film wasA24’s very frst to surpass $100 millionat the box office, proving the production company can still make accessible films that look cool and have important things to say. It’s hard to put a finger on the one asset ofEEAAOthat makes it so exceptional compared to everything else in the genre. One thing is for certain: had the film been directed by anyone else, it easily could have turned into a mind-numbing, finance-crippling disaster. However, the Daniels have created something whose legacy now precedes it. It’s still a mystery how they did it, but somehow they made us cry over googly-eyed rocks. In 2022, that may have been just what we needed.
