2024 - A Year in Film

I was recently preparing a list for a Top 3 Films of 2024 clip for my YouTube channel, and it dawned on me how this year, nearing its end, has seen a poor offering of strong films. At the same time, however, some incredibly courageous films made it to the big screen, achieving strong success both critically and at the box office (more on that later).

Some might easily answer the question of why 2024 wasn’t a good year in film by pointing to the writers’ and actors’ strikes late in 2023. While that is certainly a factor, I think there are other reasons at play.

By the way, if you want to see my Top 3 Films of 2024 along with some gems and misfires, you can watch the clip here (apologies for the shameless plug):

But let’s get reason number one out of the way:

1. The Strikes

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike on May 2, 2023, lasting for 148 days. The WGA’s demands centered on issues like streaming residuals—ensuring writers receive fair pay for films or TV distributed on streaming platforms; protections against AI tools replacing or undermining their work; and minimum staffing in writers’ rooms. This last issue is especially relevant for TV series, which often have shorter seasons today compared to the traditional 22-episode model, leaving many writers unemployed mid-season. Lastly, writers sought compensation adjustments to reflect increased inflation and the rising cost of living.

While these demands were being negotiated with the major studios, all writers who were part of WGA East and West (totaling over 30,000 members as of the end of 2023) stopped working—whether they were drafting, rewriting, or assisting on set. Essentially, the film factory stopped.

Studios scrambled to revive early drafts of scripts or bring shelved projects back into development to ensure their 2024 slate was filled. Film production requires extensive planning, aligning editing, marketing, and distribution schedules well in advance. The industry’s shareholders demand returns, strike or no strike.

Adding to the challenge, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) included not just traditional studios but also major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, Hulu, and HBO. With Netflix boasting the largest library of original content globally and Amazon and Apple sitting on massive financial reserves, the tech giants had little urgency to negotiate. Some even benefited from stockpiling cash and reevaluating where to deploy it.

For traditional studios, there was hope they could develop projects already written or resurrect others, but on July 14, 2023, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) joined the strike for similar reasons as the WGA.

This effectively froze Hollywood, with major projects either delayed or canceled. Dune: Part Two moved from its November 2023 release to March 2024; Avatar 3 shifted from December 2024 to December 2025; Deadpool & Wolverine moved from November 2023 to July 2024; and Blade was postponed indefinitely.

Combined, the strikes brought Hollywood to a halt for 190 days. The resulting agreements, though celebrated, remain uncertain in the long term. For instance, Lionsgate’s September 2024 deal with RunwayAI allows the latter to train its AI on Lionsgate’s library, including the John Wick, Saw, and Hunger Games franchises. This demonstrates how AI continues to integrate into the industry, even amid regulation efforts.

2. The Previous Year Was Too Good

Films are no longer made in a single year. Many projects take years to develop, and when top-tier directors wrap up big projects ready for release, the industry takes notice.

In 2023, we saw four of the top five directors in the world release major films:

1. Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan

2. Killers of the Flower Moon – Martin Scorsese

3. Napoleon – Ridley Scott

4. The Killer – David Fincher

5. Asteroid City – Wes Anderson

6. Barbie – Greta Gerwig

The only major directors “absent” were Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg. Tarantino reportedly completed the script for his tenth and final film (now canceled as of April 2024), while Spielberg remained focused on producing rather than directing.

The film calendar was also packed with event films. From Barbenheimer’s combined $2.4 billion gross to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, 2023 saw blockbuster after blockbuster. No wonder 2023’s global box office surged to $33.9 billion, a 30.5% increase over 2022’s $25.9 billion.

With such a crowded and successful 2023, it’s unsurprising that 2024 felt quieter.

3. Uncertainty Brought by AI

While the Oxford University Press may have declared “brain rot” the word of the year, the phrase dominating conversations in 2024 was undoubtedly “AI.” Artificial intelligence saw remarkable advancements this year, continuing to reshape industries, including film. As AI infiltrates nearly every facet of modern work, the film industry has embraced it as a tool for efficiency across all stages of production.

From script generation to audience preference analysis, AI has become indispensable. In visual effects, it automates tasks like rotoscoping, rendering, object tracking, and de-aging, significantly reducing costs and timelines. Pre-visualization and editing tools powered by AI help filmmakers create immersive worlds more effectively, while advanced data analysis enables hyper-personalized marketing campaigns. Despite the heated debates during the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes over AI’s role in creative processes, one fact is clear: AI is here to stay, and it is proving to be an invaluable tool.

The industry’s shift toward AI became even more apparent with Lionsgate’s partnership with RunwayAI, a deal allowing the AI platform to train on Lionsgate’s vast film library, including franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games. This collaboration promises to enhance reproduction of sets, interiors, and visual effects with AI-driven efficiency. Additionally, OpenAI and Google unveiled updated text-to-video generators—Sora and Veo 2, respectively. These subscription-based services are poised to democratize high-quality video production, offering independent filmmakers and small studios tools previously accessible only to industry giants.

The impact extends beyond Hollywood, with AI raising the bar for industries like advertising, corporate presentations, and online content creation. Soon, creating a polished four-second clip for a pitch or social media campaign will be accessible to anyone with a subscription.

For major film producers, however, this rapid evolution has introduced caution. With AI poised to disrupt traditional filmmaking processes, many are pausing to reassess their investments in big-budget projects that adhere to “old” production models. The industry finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the opportunities AI offers with the challenges of adapting to a new creative landscape.

4. TV Has Also Been Very Good

As film production stumbled through the disruptions of 2024, television emerged as a consistent source of high-quality entertainment. Many claim the Golden Age of Television has already peaked, but the year delivered a slate of exceptional series that challenged this notion.

Shows like The Penguin (Max), Arcane: League of Legends (Netflix), Shōgun (Hulu/Disney+), Slow Horses (AppleTV+), and The Boys (Prime Video) continued to push boundaries with bold storytelling and stellar performances. Meanwhile, new hits like Say Nothing (Hulu/Disney+) and Baby Reindeer (Netflix) brought fresh narratives and innovative formats to screens.

With television offering immersive stories and high production values, it remains a formidable competitor to cinema. Viewers increasingly find themselves torn between the comfort of watching from home and the allure of the big screen. As we only have so many waking hours in a day, the battle for audience attention continues, and films will need to innovate to stand out in a crowded entertainment landscape.

But 2024 Wasn’t That Bad

Despite the challenges, 2024 proved to be a year of quiet triumphs. The absence of an overwhelming number of blockbuster “event films” allowed smaller, riskier projects to thrive. Films like Emilia Perez, which daringly blended musical, crime thriller, and romance genres, captured audiences with its originality. The Substance, a body horror film, combined grotesque imagery with thought-provoking themes, earning both critical praise and audience engagement. Meanwhile, Nickel Boys, shot almost entirely from the protagonist’s perspective, delivered a unique visual experience that stood out in an otherwise conventional slate.

These films didn’t just succeed critically—they also achieved financial stability, proving that audiences are willing to embrace bold and experimental storytelling. This year demonstrated that risks can pay off and that there is still space in the market for innovative cinema.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2025, the pendulum seems to be swinging back toward big-budget event films. The calendar is packed with titles like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Fast and Furious 11. Marvel will release Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, while Superman: Legacy promises to revitalize the superhero genre.

However, there’s hope for more unique fare too. Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later is poised to deliver another chilling chapter in the 28 Days Later franchise, while Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing and Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Battle of Baktan Cross are already generating buzz as potential awards contenders.

2024 may not have been a year of bombast, but it reminded us of the value of creativity, risk-taking, and innovation. As filmmakers and audiences alike look ahead, the lessons of this transitional year will hopefully inspire a richer, more diverse cinematic future. Here’s to embracing both the blockbusters and the hidden gems of 2025.