Tried to keep up with the latest movies but have fallen drastically behind? A movie you were desperate to see disappeared without trace after less than a week at the cinema? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
As we get closer to the end of the year, your list of movies to catch up with has likely gotten out of control, which is why we’ve put together a handy guide to the movies critics have declared the best of 2024 that you can watch right now. For this feature, we’re including any film released in the UK after 1st January which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 85% or higher – indicating close to universal critical acclaim – which you can either stream or buy at the time of writing.
We’ll be regularly updating this feature with up-to-date information when more movies announce their home entertainment release plans. For now though, these are the best films of 2024 so far that you are either able to watch right now, or have announced a physical or streaming release date, in ascending order of their RT score.
The Beautiful Game (85%)
Even at their most cliched, it’s hard not to be heart warmed by underdog sports dramas. Here, Bill Nighy plays the manager of England’s Homeless football team on the eve of the Homeless World Cup – and as they fight for success on the pitch, we suspect there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
What have the critics said? “It’s a film with considerable heart and, in Nighy and Ward, the Tinker Bell sparkle of the true film-star. Also, with its subject, a plea for compassion that can never go amiss, however the film ends up finding its audience.” - Screen International
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Netflix.
The Dead Don’t Hurt (85%)
Signature Entertainment
Viggo Mortensen proved himself a triple threat with this romantic western, writing, directing and starring in a tale of two immigrants whose relationship is torn apart by the American Civil War. Starring alongside the ever-fantastic Vicky Krieps – whose character is partially inspired by Mortensen’s mother – and featuring a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from Aragon’s sword Andúril, it’s a unique take on the distinctively ‘Murican genre.
What have the Critics said? “Beautifully photographed, the Nevada rockscape looks as stark as it must have done to early settlers, but without stealing attention from what is, at heart, an actor’s piece” - Financial Times
Where can I watch it at home? Buy the Blu-ray now.
Smile 2 (85%)
Paramount Pictures
Sequels will always try to go bigger than the first – and Smile director Parker Finn has taken that more seriously than most, with his horror follow-up seeing a world-famous popstar (played by Naomi Scott) infected with the Smile curse on the eve of her comeback tour.
With bigger jump-scares and more bonkers set pieces than the original, it’s clear there’s enough juice in this formula to power a long-running franchise.
What have the critics said? “Smile 2 is more of the same. A lot more. But it’s just as scary, and this time it’s feistier and funnier, proving that the premise has legs” - The Wrap
Where can I watch it at home? Pre-order it on 4K (including the limited edition 4K steelbook) now.
Longlegs (86%)
BlackBear
Are you prepared to meet Mr. Downstairs? Nicolas Cage embraced a glam-rock makeover as the Satanic serial killer at the heart of director Osgood Perkins’ supernatural detective thriller, an unsettling midway point between The Silence Of The Lambs and the bonkers cult horror of Hereditary.
What have the critics said? “Part of what makes the film so effective is that it doesn’t really depend on secrets or surprises. The writer and director Osgood Perkins summons an atmosphere of dread so intense, it’s practically spoiler-proof.” - NPR
Where can I watch it at home?Pre-order the Blu-ray now
A Quiet Place: Day One (86%)
Paramount Pictures
This prequel to the successful horror franchise invited us to experience the day the Earth went quiet – and proved unexpectedly moving as it threw two strangers (Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn) together in their initial quest for survival. If that wasn’t enough, it provided some of the year’s best cat content in the movies.
What have the critics said? To watch A Quiet Place: Day One is to recalibrate your senses — not to the alien horror movie you know is in store but rather, to the intimate human drama it hangs onto. - Los Angeles Times
Where can I watch at home? Released on 4K on 7th October, in plenty of time for Halloween.
The Beast (87%)
Beginning in dystopian 2044, where emotions have been outlawed and artificial intelligence has replaced “useless” humanity, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) opts to begin a process to “purify” her DNA, which means diving headfirst into her past lives to confront her unresolved trauma there. If this sounds confounding, then you’ve barely scratched the surface of director Bertrand Bonello’s genre-defying epic, which becomes everything from a period drama to an incel slasher over the course of its runtime – strap in.
What have the Critics said? “To paraphrase the smartest line from Tenet, don’t try to understand The Beast, you just have to feel it.” - The Times
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on MUBI.
The End We Start From (88%)
Signature Entertainment
Jodie Comer has fast built a reputation as one of Britain’s best actresses, and this stripped-down disaster movie is further evidence of why. Here, she stars as a new mother who embarks on a perilous journey to escape the city when floods break out across London.
What have the critics said? “Comer’s riveting performance, physically tense with desperation, makes us believe, at least while watching, that we’d do whatever she’s doing.” – Variety
Where can I watch it at home? Buy the Blu-ray now.
Monkey Man (88%)
Universal Pictures
Dev Patel has never previously been cast as an action hero, so the biggest surprise of his directorial debut Monkey Man might be just how well he fits the mould. Many have compared it to John Wick, but there’s much in this tale of vengeance that’s bloodier and bolder than what you’d find in the comparatively light-hearted adventures of Keanu Reeves’ put-upon assassin.
What have the critics said? “Monkey Man doesn’t reinvent the revenge movie wheel exactly, but it does cover it with so much blood that you can barely see where the wheel ends and the pile of knife-perforated henchmen begins.” – The Observer
Where can I watch it at home? It’ll be released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on Monday, 8th July. Pre-order here.
Challengers (89%)
Warner Bros.
The erotically-charged tennis love triangle drama became the year’s most talked-about movie following its cinema release in April – and many are already speculating on whether it could sustain that momentum and nab some Oscar nominations in the New Year. Challengers was supposed to be released last September, but was pushed back due to the actors’ strikes; it isn’t inconceivable that Zendaya would have won Best Actress if it arrived last autumn as planned.
What have the critics said? “Like Call Me By Your Name did for Chalamet, Challengers is one of those rare original big-screen delights that firmly announces the arrival of a new generation of movie stars.” – Associated Press
Where can I watch it at home? Scheduled to stream on MGM+ from late July, before arriving on Prime Video in September.
The Iron Claw (89%)
Lionsgate
One of the best – and most harrowing – sports biopics in years, this account of the rise-and-fall of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty is amongst the most haunting films to have played in cinemas this year. Zac Efron’s tortured lead performance is genuinely revelatory; it’s baffling that the Oscars overlooked such a transformative turn, which firmly announces his arrival as a serious dramatic actor.
What have the critics said? “It’s the kind of big, weepy, macho film that just doesn’t get made much anymore, a soaring power ballad that should prompt a lot of loud sniffling in the theater.” – The Atlantic
Where can I watch it at home? It’s now available to own on Blu-ray.
Transformers One (89%)
Paramount
Who could have predicted that one of the most acclaimed animated movies of the year would be an origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron’s arch rivalry? Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley took the reigns over the Hasbro franchise for this never-before-told tale, elevated by inventive animation and committed performances from an all-star voice cast.
What have the critics said? “Cooley’s film makes a good spinoff suddenly seem simple: Sometimes all you need is the imagination for heroes and villains, betrayal and glory — and heaps of plastic to smash together” - New York Times
Where can I watch it at home? Pre-order on 4K and Blu-ray now – and don’t sleep on the gorgeous steelbook!
Young Woman And The Sea (89%)
Disney
Not every movie needs to reinvent the wheel, and this good, old-fashioned sports biopic proves that genre cliches are cliches for a reason: when they work this well, they’re irresistible. The Daisy Ridley-starring biopic brings to life the now-forgotten tale of Trudy Ederle, who made history as the first woman to cross the English Channel a hundred years ago.
What have the critics said? “This rousing sports biopic is a throwback to the kinds of inspiring underdog stories we love” - Los Angeles Times
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Disney+
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (90%)
Warner Bros.
Nine years after Fury Road, director George Miller has returned to the Wasteland for the first prequel in his post-apocalyptic saga. Anya Taylor-Joy takes over the reins from Charlize Theron in an adrenaline fuelled origin story recounting how Furiosa was kidnapped by a biker gang as a child, and risked it all to escape.
What have the critics said? “Furiosa runs on a high-octane philosophical perspective that finds hope in a hopeless place. Also, a lot of cars go fast and s**t blows up.” – Rolling Stone
Where can I watch it at home? No release date has been confirmed at the time of writing, but you can
Evil Does Not Exist (91%)
Modern Films
After director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car made history as the first Japanese film to get a Best Picture nomination, all eyes were on what he’d do next. The answer was a film much smaller in scale, filmed largely in secret, about a rural community protesting the creation of a glamping site in their backyard which could have devastating effects on the town’s survival.
It’s a more slow-burning tale than his international breakout – even as it’s far shorter than that film’s three-hour runtime – but is a rewarding character drama all the same. You will want to speak to somebody about the ending as soon as you’ve seen it too.
What have the critics said? “A masterful film that invites contemplation and, in return, delivers lyrical beauty, haunting mystery, and more than a bit of unexpected terror.” - The Daily Beast
Where can I watch it at home? Available on Blu-ray from 11th November.
Inside Out 2 (91%)
Disney Pixar
Fresh from becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time upon release, Inside Out 2 lands at home newly crowned as an example to filmmakers everywhere of how to perfect a high-concept sequel. Yes, there are new, destructive emotions in play – but their over-the-top antics never get in the way of a teenage drama that’ll be relatable to kids of all ages.
What have the critics said? “Sparky, kaleidoscopic and boldly honest about the tougher side of growing up, Inside Out 2 is Pixar’s most profound and moving movie since, well, Inside Out.” - Time Out
Where Can I watch at home? Released on 4K and Blu-ray on 30th September
One Life (91%)
Warner Bros.
There are many powerful stories from the margins of WWII yet to be told on the big screen, and this biopic of Nicholas Winton – the British stockbroker who rescued hundreds of children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia – is the latest to have reduced audiences to tears. You’ll need a heart of stone to not be moved by Anthony Hopkins’ performance as Winton in older age, looking back on his remarkable humanitarian achievements.
What have the critics said? “The film does justice to this overwhelmingly moving event in British public life in a quietly affecting drama.” – The Guardian
Where Can I Watch it At Home? You can buy the Blu-ray now.
The Substance (91%)
MUBI
Deranged, gasp-inducing body horror made a massive comeback this year with The Substance, a surprising crowdpleaser about a former TV host (Demi Moore) who gets a second shot at fame via a drug that can transform her into a younger, “better” version of herself (played by Margaret Qualley). She doesn’t pay close enough attention to the rules though – and what happens after has to be seen to be believed.
What have the critics said? “Feminist scholarship this ain’t; think Showgirls if it were directed by David Cronenberg. But give yourself permission to revel in the excess and be rewarded with an uproariously good time.” - Empire Magazine
Where can I watch it at home? Now available to pre-order on Blu-ray, and streaming on MUBI from Thursday, 31st October.
Woman Of The Hour (91%)
Netflix
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut is the kind of true-crime story far stranger than fiction; the tale of a prolific serial killer who managed to avoid getting caught despite appearing on the American version of Blind Date. It’s far grittier than the average episode of Cilla Black’s vintage ITV game show, so don’t expect a lorra’ lorra’ laughs from this one.
What have the Critics said? “A fiercely committed depiction of murder and misogyny in 1970s America.” - The Times
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Netflix.
Dune: Part Two (92%)
Warner Bros.
The spice flowed once again in this bigger-and-better sci-fi sequel from director Denis Villeneuve, which lived up to the promise of the first instalment, re-establishing the famously “unadaptable” source material as an intergalactic Game of Thrones. Plus, there’s worm riding this time, and it looked every bit as cool as it sounded.
What have the critics said? “This is sharper, slicker, more resonant than the first instalment.” – London Evening Standard
Where can I watch it at home? Buy it on 4K Ultra HD here.
Poor Things (92%)
Searchlight Pictures
Emma Stone won her second Oscar for her audacious turn as Bella Baxter in this wild reimagining of the Frankenstein myth. Pitched somewhere between coming-of-age sex comedy and wild feminist parable, Poor Things is an unlikely crowd pleasing delight you won’t forget in a hurry.
What have the critics said? “Absolutely bats**t, utterly filthy and a true original: Poor Things is as good as Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have ever been.” – Empire Magazine
Where can I watch it at home? It’s currently available to stream on Disney+, and there’s a physical Blu-ray release too. You can buy it now here.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (92%)
CineAsia
A modern cult action classic in the making, Hong Kong’s submission for next year’s Best International Film Oscar makes the most of its claustrophobic period setting – Kowloon Walled City, an enclosed, self-governed location demolished in the early 90s – to stage some of the year’s most unforgettable fight scenes.
What have the critics said? “This wildly entertaining, eye-poppingly violent triad martial arts flick is an old-school throwback to the action cinema heyday of the territory.” - The Observer
Where can I watch it at home? The Zavvi exclusive 4K/Blu-ray Collector’s Edition is released on Monday, 11th November.
American Fiction (93%)
Curzon Artificial Eye
Half publishing-industry satire, half heartfelt family drama, this adaptation of Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure is as tender as it is scathing. It’s also the ideal leading man showcase for Jeffrey Wright, one of America’s finest character actors, and it earned him a well deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
What have the critics said? “Director Cord Jefferson overlays the story’s most biting wit with layers of warmth, sadness and discovery that make this movie far more than the sum of its parts.” – Washington Post
Where can I watch it at home? It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Green Border (93%)
Modern Films
A harrowing depiction of the European refugee crisis, the award-winning Green Border follows a Syrian family caught between the border of Poland and Belarus, transformed into political pawns just for fleeing their war torn home. It might be shot in stark black-and-white, but there are few films this year that will feel more sadly relevant.
What have the critics said? “This is bold filmmaking that makes us feel more courageous too. And there’s not a citizen of the world who couldn’t use some of that right now.” - TIME Magazine
Where can I watch it at home? Released on Blu-ray on 11th November.
The Zone Of Interest (93%)
A24
Are the true horrors of director Jonathan Glazer’s experimental holocaust drama firmly in the background, constantly heard but never seen, or are they staring us right in the face the whole time? It’s not that the Höss family living next door to Auschwitz are naïve about what’s going on over their garden wall – quite the opposite – but how ambivalent they remain that makes The Zone Of Interest such horrifying, punishing viewing, with a contemporary resonance that suggests this indifference to mass murder didn’t end in 1945.
What have the critics said? “More than any movie I’ve seen this year, or perhaps any year, The Zone of Interest leaves you pondering the magnitude of what the banality of evil has wrought — and the terrible, inconsolable void that it leaves behind.” – Los Angeles Times
Where can I watch it at home? It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, although we hope a physical release will follow soon – this is not a movie that should be interrupted with commercial breaks.
La Chimera – 94%
Curzon
Before taking centre court in Challengers, Josh O’Connor taught himself Italian to play Arthur, a drunken archaeologist who has teamed up with a band of eccentric graverobbers in the hope he’ll find the door to the afterlife buried amongst hidden treasures. Director Alice Rohrwacher’s film is the intersection of the supernatural and the mundane in rural Italy, and at its best, it feels magical in the way few movies do.
What have the critics said? “Enigmatic, absorbing and so much more alive than any pottery behind glass in a museum, this is an exquisitely crafted, grown-up Indiana Jones steeped in its own distinctive magic” - Empire
Where Can I watch it at home? Buy on Blu-ray now or stream on MUBI from August 2.
Sleep (94%)
Curzon
This South Korean psychological thriller has been praised by Bong Joon-ho as the best debut film he’s seen in 10 years – and when the director of Parasite says that, you sit up and take note. Featuring one of the final screen performances of that film’s late star Lee Sun-kyun as a husband seemingly possessed in his sleep, this is a mind-bending, blackly comic chiller designed to get under your skin.
What have the critics said? “It's an impressive first feature from Jason Yu, who is as adept at wielding the sly observational comedy of the film's first half as he is at ratcheting up the claustrophobic tension later on.” - The Observer
Where can I watch it at home? Released on Blu-ray by Curzon on 16th September
Love Lies Bleeding (95%)
Lionsgate
Following up her shocking 2019 debut Saint Maud, director Rose Glass crosses the Atlantic for this 80’s set, unapologetically queer neo-noir. Best described as Thelma and Louise on an unhealthy dose of steroids, it’s a romance with a heart every bit as dark as the crime drama it finds itself entangled within.
What have the critics said? “There are movies that grab you by the throat. There are movies that punch you in the gut. Love Lies Bleeding is both, and I f*cking love it.” - Mashable
Where can I watch it at home? Coming soon to Blu-ray – pre-order here.
Rebel Ridge (95%)
Netflix
One of the year’s best thrillers has been dumped onto Netflix with very little advance promotion, and it’s a return to form for director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room). Best experienced with as little advance knowledge as possible, all we’ll say is that this is a tale about a man wrongfully pulled over by the police which escalates very quickly – and violently.
What have the critics said? “A film like Rebel Ridge reminds us that you can lose yourself in exciting, engaging, stimulating entertainment while still keeping your brain completely on.” - The Wrap
Where Can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Netflix
Strange Darling (95%)
ICON
It’s not every movie that earns positive comparisons to Pulp Fiction, but director J.T Mollner’s non-linear thriller similarly scrambles B-movie conventions to crowd pleasing effect. As with Tarantino’s breakout second film, you still might need a strong stomach to embrace it.
What have the critics said? “Electric and unforgettable, Strange Darling lives up to its maddening moniker. In a summer movie season that’s been middling at best, this is a must-see -- a feat of filmmaking so extraordinary you’ll wonder if it could ever truly be spoiled.” - Indiewire
Where can I watch it at home? The 4K Collector’s Edition is released on 2nd December.
All Of Us Strangers (96%)
Searchlight Pictures
Perhaps the most tender ghost story in cinema history, director Andrew Haigh’s otherworldly family drama sees Andrew Scott’s failed screenwriter reopen old wounds as he visits the parents who died in a car crash whilst he was young. It’s a deeply affecting examination of grief that’s made millions reach for the tissues already, all without falling into simple sentimentality.
What have the critics said? “A deeply moving film about loss and loneliness with a quartet of performances that blend together in a breathtaking way.” RogerEbert.com
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Disney+, and available to own on Blu-ray.
Io Capitano (96%)
You can probably guess Io Capitano is one of the year’s most gruelling cinematic experiences based on a quick glance of its subject matter – two Senegalese teenagers risking their lives to make the journey to Europe – but this hard-hitting drama doesn’t need to rely on the harrowing nature of this topic to make an impression. Beneath the horrors, there’s a moving coming-of-age story on display, brought to life by two of the finest child actors to have graced screens in years.
What have the critics said? “Io Capitano is as unflinching as it is robust with empathy.” - Los Angeles Times
Where Can I Watch it At Home? Now Streaming on MUBI
Crossing (96%)
MUBI
A hidden gem from this year’s film festival circuit, Crossing follows the unlikely friendship between a retired schoolteacher and her Gen-Z neighbour as they go on a road trip from Georgia to Istanbul to find her missing niece. As with director Levan Akin’s previous film, And Then We Danced, this is an intimate character study that’ll leave a major mark.
What have the critics said? “A thoroughly intelligent, emotionally engaging and robustly performed movie” - The Guardian>
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on MUBI, and available on Blu-ray from 30th September.
Fancy Dance (96%)
AppleTV+
Following her Oscar nomination for Killers Of The Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone returned to lead another dark, Oklahoma-set tale. This tense family drama follows a woman’s struggles to maintain custody of her niece as her sister mysteriously disappears – and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.
What have the critics said? “The film is an exquisite star vehicle for one of Hollywood’s best rising actresses and an engaging thriller.” - Indiewire
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on AppleTV+
Perfect Days (96%)
MUBI
Who could have predicted that the year’s most feel-good movie would follow a few days in the life of a quiet and unassuming toilet cleaner in Tokyo? This gentle drama is a tender ode to embracing the small joys in life – and, as a side effect, will make you really want to invest in some cassette tapes.
What have the critics said? “Though Perfect Days never reveals the specific details of Hirayama beyond what happens in the few days we spend in his company, by the end of the film, a full portrait of a life is beautifully realized.” – A.V. Club
Where can I watch it at home? It’s currently streaming on MUBI, and will be released on Blu-ray and Collector’s Edition 4K on Monday, 15th July. Pre-order here.
Hit Man (97%)
Netflix
Very, very loosely based on a true story, Hit Man is a noir-inflected crowd pleaser that cements Glen Powell as a real-deal movie star, after his scene stealing turn in Top Gun: Maverick shot him up to the big leagues. Like all the best noirs, there’s a morally queasy sexiness at the film’s core – but thanks to Powell and director Richard Linklater’s screenplay, it becomes irresistible against all better judgement.
What have the critics said? “Your suspension of disbelief may get tested more than a few times, yet your faith in Powell as a real-deal leading man who can work miracles is never shaken.” – Rolling Stone
Where can I watch it at home? It’s now streaming on Netflix.
Hoard (97%)
Vertigo Releasing
Many directors have made semi-autobiographical films about grief, but as far as we can tell, very few have made ones in which rooting through bins is a major plot point. This coming-of-age tale, set between the 1980s and 1990s, is a unique tale of confronting past trauma designed to linger long after you’ve washed the stench off.
What have the critics said? “There is real beauty amid all the rubbish, and the dirt, and the saliva...” Mark Kermode
Where to Watch: Now streaming on MUBI.
The Holdovers (97%)
Universal Pictures
The best Christmas movies are the ones you can watch at any time of the year, something The Holdovers proved when it arrived in UK cinemas in mid-January, just after the tree had been put back in the loft for another year. It’s far from sentimental, and yet, it’s hard not to have your heart broken and warmed anew by this festive buddy comedy, which often resembles a more biting Dead Poets Society; I suspect for many, this will become an annual viewing tradition.
What have the critics said? “Giamatti gives a wonderful performance here. He roots his character’s frustrations not in cruelty but in misguided desperation -- an eagerness to mould these boys into men better than himself.” The Independent
Where can I watch it at home? Buy it now on Blu-ray.
Kneecap (97%)
Curzon
Dubbed the “8 Mile of Belfast”, this not-quite-biopic of rap trio Kneecap (who play themselves in their acting debuts) unexpectedly charmed audiences at cinemas this summer, which was especially surprising for director Rich Peppiatt, who told us that assumed it would cause controversy.
Turns out, the world is more than ready for their rabble-rousing, politically infused brand of rave-rap.
What have the critics said? “Hard-punching and cheerfully riotous, the film directs a well-placed kick at the nether regions to anyone who insists music, politics and cinema cannot mix.” - The Daily Telegraph
Where can I watch it at home? Released on Blu-ray on 25th November, pre-order now.
Late Night With The Devil (97%)
Vertigo Releasing
Heavily reminiscent of the BBC’s infamous Ghostwatch, this found footage tale of a chat show broadcast gone wrong found a cult following immediately upon release. Perhaps it will be even spookier on the small screen, where you can turn your brain off for a minute and imagine you really are watching the most Satanic broadcast in American history…
What have the critics said? “It’s wonderfully creepy and unnervingly familiar, like Alan Partridge by way of The Exorcist. If that doesn’t automatically enter it into the pantheon of classic midnight movies, I don’t know what does.” – Time Out
Where can I watch it at home? It’s currently streaming on Shudder and the Shudder channel on Amazon PrimeVideo and will be released on 4K by Second Sight on 28th October.
Monster (97%)
Picturehouse Entertainment
Much like Akira Kurosawa’s 50s masterpiece Rashomon, to which it has been widely compared, Monster has a beguiling Russian Doll narrative structure, with each new perspective reinforcing that the events we see aren’t quite as simple as they seem. What starts as one parent’s mission to get to the bottom of who is bullying her son becomes grander, and eventually exceptionally moving, with each fresh pair of eyes we witness this story through.
What have the critics said? “Monster is one of the finest films of the year, and its structure — like its circle of characters — carries secrets that can only be unravelled through patience and empathy.” The New York Times
Where can I watch it at home? A Special Edition Blu-ray release will arrive later this year. There’s no release date at the time of writing, but you can Buy the special edition Blu-ray now.
The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin (98%)
Netflix
If you think gamers are wasting their lives in front of computer screens, then prepare for director Benjamin Ree’s moving documentary to change that perception. This account of the true story of a disabled young man from Norway reveals how World of Warcraft helped him forge connections with the outside world – and how, unbeknownst to his parents, found love and friendship around the world.
What have the critics said? “It’s about empowerment, empathy, and the impact we can have on one another, even those we never meet. You’ll cry. It’s worth the tears.” - RogerEbert.com
Where can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Netflix
Robot Dreams (97%)
Picturehouse Entertainment
This hand-drawn, dialogue free Spanish animation recalls vintage Pixar in its ability to marry a plethora of laugh-out-loud sight gags with a story that’ll leave parents in tears, and on the brink of an existential crisis. It’s a tale of friendship, but what starts as a buddy comedy soon turns into an exploration of whether life is worth living without friends beside you; a movie you can happily show your kids, even though you may need to explain to them why it’s left you an emotional wreck.
What have the critics said? “Who needs humans? This is visual storytelling at its finest, a traditional animation of gentle, unshowy genius. Sometimes the very best love stories go deeper than words can say.” Empire Magazine
Where can I watch it at home? Streaming on MUBI and out now on Blu-ray – buy it here.
The Wild Robot (98%)
Universal
Dreamworks took a big risk with their Miyazaki-inspired eco-fable, and it paid off handsomely – not only was The Wild Robot a big box office hit, its already assumed to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar months before voting even begins. Pixar are no longer Hollywood’s only animation studio taking big risks with their family movies.
What have the critics said? “Clever, heartfelt and frequently stunning, The Wild Robot offers the type of all-ages-welcome animated entertainment that will delight kids and leave a lump in one’s throat.” - The Guardian
Where can I watch it at home? Pre-order the Blu-ray now.
Daughters (100%)
Netflix
Viewers are advised to have tissues at the ready for the year’s most acclaimed documentary, which captures four families taking part in a “daddy-daughter dance” at a Washington D.C jail. One of the most acclaimed films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’ll likely be a huge contender for the Best Documentary Oscar in the coming months.
What have the critics said? “Daughters is an alternately shattering and hopeful look at family and the prison system. Patton and Rae spent years following their subjects, and the resulting portraits of lives in limbo are intimate and stirring.” - Vanity Fair
Where Can I watch it at home? Now streaming on Netflix.
His Three Daughters (100%)
Netflix
When it premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival, Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne and Carrie Coon were all singled out for giving career-best performances as estranged sisters in this claustrophobic family drama. Now, you can finally see for yourself – based on reviews, it’s conclusive proof that all you need to make a movie is a single location and three great actresses.
What have the critics said? “Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne astound as siblings who are stubbornly at odds with each other and whose only common ground is the impending death before them.” - Huffington Post
Where can I watch it at home? Streaming on Netflix from 20th September
Ryuichi Sakamato: OPUS (100%)
Modern Films
Ryuichi Sakamato passed away in 2023 after a battle with cancer, but the Grammy and Oscar-winning composer remained active until his final days. Despite being told by doctors he could no longer perform live, he returned to the stage for this intimate performance in late 2022, accompanied by just a piano – and the results, captured here, are nothing short of spellbinding.
What have the critics said? “A final performance for the ages, showcasing Sakamoto’s ingenuity and musical legacy for the next generation of fans who will not be privileged to watch him live in concert.” - RogerEbert.Com
Where can I watch it at home? Released on Blu-ray on 11th November.
This post will be updated monthly with the latest titles available to buy and stream.
