What I Watched in 2024
The following list contains every movie I watched this year. Below it, you'll find an additional list for 2023, a nod to Edgar Wright, and a note on my favorite theater.
*Denotes first time watch / +Denotes seen in cinema / %Denotes top 3 favorite / #Denotes honorable mention
12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (2024)*+
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)
A REAL PAIN (2024)*+
ARMY OF SHADOWS (1969)*+
BABYLON (2022)*
THE BATTLE FOR ALGIERS (1966)*+
THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1970)*+#
BODY DOUBLE (1984)*
THE 'BURBS (1989)*
CHALLENGERS (2024)*+%
CINEMA PARADISO (1988)*+%
CIVIL WAR (2024)*+
THE CONVERSATION (1974)*
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013)*
DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978)+
DEATH PROOF (2007)*#
DELIVERANCE (1972)*#
DRESSED TO KILL (1980)*
DUNE: PART TWO (2024)*+
EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014)
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981)*
EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)*
FITZCARRALDO (1982)*+
GLADIATOR (2000)
GLADIATOR II (2024)*+
GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)*
GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS (2005)*
HIT MAN (2024)*
THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (1994)*#
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (1993)
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU (1994)*
IT ENDS WITH US (2024)*+
KILLING THEM SOFTLY (2012)*+
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997)*
LE SAMOURAI (1967)*%
THE LONG GOODBYE (1973)*#
LOOPER (2012)
MACHINE GUN MCCAIN (1969)*+
THE MERCENARY (1968)*+
MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005)*
MYSTIC RIVER (2003)*
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
NOSFERATU (2024)*+
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (1984)*+
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019)
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
THE PARALLAX VIEW (1974)*
PULP FICTION (1994)+
RED SONJA (1985)*+
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (2001)
SATURDAY NIGHT (2024)*+
THE SEARCHERS (1956)+
SOCIETY OF THE SNOW (2023)*#
THE THING (1982)+
THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975)*#
TWISTERS (2024)*+
THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987)*+
V FOR VENDETTA (2005)*
What I Watched in 2023
*Denotes first time watch / +Denotes seen in cinema / %Denotes top 3 favorite / #Denotes honorable mention
ACCEPTED (2006)*
ADAPTATION. (2002)*#
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022)*
AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013)
ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)*
ANNIHILATION (2018)*
ANOTHER ROUND (2020)*#
ASTEROID CITY (2023)*+
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (2018)*
BARBIE (2023)*+
BARDO: FALSE CHRONICLES OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS (2022)*
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014)*%
BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017)
BLOW-UP (1966)*
BORAT (2006)
THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)*
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005)
CHINATOWN (1974)*
CITY OF GOD (2002)
COLUMBUS (2017)*
THE DARJEELING LIMITED (2007)
THE DEATH OF STALIN (2017)
THE DEER HUNTER (1978)*
DON’T WORRY DARLING (2022)*
DREAM SCENARIO (2023)*+
ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979)
EVEREST (2015)*
FARGO (1996)
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)
THE FIRM (1993)*
FLETCH (1985)*
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (2008)*
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN (1996)
THE GAME (1997)
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)
THE GODFATHER (1972)
THE GUARD (2011)*
HOTEL RWANDA (2004)*
THE HUNGER GAMES (2012)
THE HUNT (2012)*%
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)*
I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS (2020)*
THE IMITATION GAME (2014)*
INCEPTION (2010)
INTERSTELLAR (2014)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (1993)*#
JACKIE BROWN (1997)
JFK (1991)*#
THE KARATE KID (1984)*
THE KILLER (2023)*
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (2023)*+
LA DOLCE VITA (1960)*
LA LA LAND (2016)
LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (2021)*
LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2023)*
LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1995)*#
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)*
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003)*
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002)*
LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)*#
MAESTRO (2023)*
THE MENU (2022)
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (1978)*
MINORITY REPORT (2002)*
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996)*
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)*
NAPOLEON (2023)*+
NATURAL BORN KILLERS (1994)*
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (2016)*
OFFICE SPACE (1999)*#
OPPENHEIMER (2023)*++
THE OTHER ONE: THE LONG, STRANGE TRIP OF BOB WEIR (2015)*
THE PALE BLUE EYE (2022)*
THE PLAYER (1992)*
POOR THINGS (2023)*+
PSYCHO (1960)
RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)
ROAD HOUSE (1989)*
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (2012)*
SHARPER (2023)*
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
SIN CITY (2005)*#
SISU (2022)*
SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977)*
THE STING (1973)*#
THE THING (1982)*%
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (2017)
TWELVE MONKEYS (1995)*
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (2007)
WHITE NOISE (2022)*
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE (2023)*
Inspired by Edgar
After coming across this tweet from Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Last Night in Soho) on the very last day of 2022, I thought it would be a neat idea to adopt his process and track my own viewings.
More recently he tweeted a list of his 2023 watches on New Year's Day 2024. His lists are far more impressive than mine with 600+ total films logged over the last two years. I barely cracked 60 this year and just under 100 last year. I suppose being a Hollywood director makes it easier to convince yourself to sit down and watch something.
Edgar appears to be a pretty down-to-earth guy. I appreciate how accessible he is unlike most of the industry that seems quite locked up. You can just go DM him online and he'll respond. Looking forward to pulling some movies from his next update and adding them to my watchlist.
The Music Box Theatre
This blurb is a well deserved shoutout to The Music Box Theatre, a historic cinema on Southport Ave in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. This building has completely reinvigorated my passion for movies that unfortunately began to fade away some years ago.
I cannot recommend it enough -- if you live in the area or you're visiting town and you're serious about movies, check it out. They screen beautiful film prints and have something for everyone. The place has a fantastic old school vibe, respectful yet lively audiences, and an obviously dilligent care for the moviegoing experience. (They also serve liquor.)
If there's a classic you've been meaning to get around to and it's playing at the Music Box, GO SEE IT. Doing so feels like how I imagine it was to attend the film opening day. I was lucky to discover this feeling when I saw Cinema Paradiso for the first time during their Ennio Morricone festival, my favorite moviegoing experience of 2024 (with Challengers being a close second, although at the local AMC).
Subsequently, I skipped the opportunity to see Le Samourai on the big screen and have been kicking myself for it ever since I watched it at home and fell in love with it. Won't be making that mistake again.
Thanks for reading and Happy New Year.
—JT