Critics' Best Picks: 2024's Top Movies and Performances

This year, 177 film critics and journalists voted on the best movies and performances of the year, spreading the wealth among several top picks. While "Anora" took the top spot for Best Film, "The Brutalist" won Best Director. "Anora" also bagged Best Screenplay and came in third for Best Director. The votes came from a diverse group of critics from various countries, but the majority were from the U. S. Films needed to have been released in the past year to get votes. "Anora" was on 89 ballots for Best Film, while "The Brutalist" had 73. Brady Corbet won Best Director with 51 votes. IndieWire's internal pick for the best movie, "Nickel Boys, " also did well on the polls. "Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World" and "All We Imagine as Light" were other notable mentions.Critics really liked films that explored the theme of finding fulfillment. "Nickel Boys, " directed by RaMell Ross, made a strong showing, especially for its innovative cinematography. International films like "All We Imagine as Light" also got high praise. Marianne Jean-Baptiste won Best Performance for her role in "Hard Truths, " which tackled tough life questions. Documentaries, cinematography, screenplays, and first features all had their own winners.