When you want a movie with more meat on the story’s bones, you look for an A24 film. Known for quirky movies with strong characters, the distribution and production company dives deeper into the emotional and artistic side of films. It has only been around since 2012, yet it feels like audiences have been able to turn to the independent entertainment company for decades when they want a unique movie experience.
If you had to name an A24 film, you’d blurt out Lady Bird, Hereditary, or Everything Everywhere All at Once. Maybe Uncut Gems, but definitely Backrooms. Since independent movies have a smaller and shorter release run, some of A24’s movies fall through the cracks. Don’t sleep on these forgotten A24 movies that are masterpieces from beginning to end.
Chemistry is the Main Character in We Live in Time
There is no question Florence Pugh is a beloved romantic movie darling. Her 2024 romantic drama, We Live in Time, which holds a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score, is the perfect unconventional meet-cute audiences love. Instead of a perfect, happy relationship, we witness the reality of a couple dealing with issues like a partner’s illness and infertility.
Director John Crowley’s (Intermission, Brooklyn) non-linear storytelling parallels the chaos often found inside a partnership. Pugh and co-star Andrew Garfield’s chemistry propels the beauty of their relationship along. As great as Pugh and Garfield look together on screen, they deliver performances that make you weep throughout the whole film.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Beautifully Navigates Life’s Changes
A 98% RT score is so well-deserved for the 2021 movie Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Dean Fleischer Camp wrote, produced, and directed the beautiful family flick. The film sort of blends an Are You My Mother? journey with the Office-style mockumentary narrative. The mix of stop-motion and live action isn’t new. But here it’s done so wonderfully, you’ll give every shell you find a second glance.
Marcel’s shell family is accidentally taken from the Airbnb they live in. A human named Dean aids him in his quest to find them. Jenny Slate voices the one-inch seashell in the film she co-wrote and co-created. There’s whimsy, heart, sadness, and resilience to be found alongside Marcel’s quest to be reunited with his loved ones.
Real Memories Frame the Cost of Combat in Warfare
Image via A24
Not every war film has the scope or budget of Saving Private Ryan or Dunkirk. But the realism found in the 2025 movie Warfare is unmatched. Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) wrote and directed the war movie about the Second Battle of Ramadi. The script is able to go deeper than other war movies because it pulls from firsthand experiences.
As a U.S. Navy SEAL in the battle, Mendoza was instrumental in creating the movie’s authenticity. Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, and Joseph Quinn’s heavy and raw performances capture the spirit of the catastrophic events. There’s no glory to be found at the end of the battle. But the 92% Rotten Tomatoes score is a reflection of the harrowing, real-time narrative of the soldiers and civilians caught in the fighting.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco Addresses Loss in Multiple Ways
Nominated for dozens of awards, the 2019 drama The Last Black Man in San Francisco follows a young man on a mission to buy back his family’s Victorian home. Jimmie Fails (Pieces of a Woman, Nickel Boys) plays a fictional version of himself, pulling on parts of his life as inspiration for the drama. Director Joe Talbot is rightfully praised for his use of color and cinematography, which helps the film maintain its 93% RT score. The loss of a home, community, and cherished friendship is one of the struggles Fails fixates on.
Everyone has that house or city they’ve been priced out of. Or you know someone who has been. The Last Black Man in San Francisco dives into the dynamics of gentrification, but at its heart, it’s a love letter to San Francisco. The essence of the city is celebrated in every scene. The film expertly balances the hope and heartache of a changing community.
Intrigue, Secrets, and Paranoia Are Around Every Corner in Under the Silver Lake
It’s always fun to dive into a conspiracy theory movie. The 2018 black comedy thriller Under the Silver Lake is full of Hollywood intrigue. Theories, puzzles, secret symbols, and hidden clues are left everywhere. David Robert Mitchell (It Follows, The End of Oak Street) wrote and directed this neo-noir where the conspiracies and the drugs are aplenty. Independent movie veteran Andrew Garfield stars as Sam, the unhinged loafer who falls down the rabbit hole of conspiracies.
Under the Silver Lake harkens back to old Hollywood music scores, which perfectly match the strangeness of the film. The cool, bizarre, dream-like cinematography adds another layer to the schemes. The film holds a 58% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it does require patience to appreciate all the subliminal messages, codes, and Easter eggs. Garfield’s Sam holding a Spider-Man comic is a fun, playful scene. But if you love to get lost in the underground of Hollywood and secret societies, Under the Silver Lake is a perfect watch.