From powerful dramas that tugged at the heartstrings to exhilarating blockbusters that captivated audiences worldwide, the film industry delivered memorable experiences that resonated with viewers. Here’s a look at the standout triumphs of the year, celebrating the movies that left a lasting impact and reshaped the art of filmmaking.
Anora
Winner of the Cannes Film Festival, which brought independent director Sean Baker the "Palme d'Or." The spotlight is on a modern Cinderella story featuring a stripper named Anora, who becomes the wife of a Russian oligarch's son. However, her seemingly perfect happiness quickly unravels when her new husband's parents decide to annul the marriage.
The film became a huge success not only for the director but also for the cast. Young actress Mikey Madison, who previously appeared as one of Charles Manson's "Family" members in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," gained worldwide fame overnight. For Mark Eidelstein and Yura Borisov, it was their first (and incredibly successful!) experience of working in American cinema.
Dune: Part Two
The continuation of Denis Villeneuve's epic, based on Frank Herbert's novel. After the downfall of House Atreides, Paul and his mother Jessica hide among the Fremen. There, Jessica becomes the Reverend Mother of the tribe, while Paul prepares to fulfill the prophecy and lead the fight against House Harkonnen.
Joining the cast from the first installment are Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux. The film surpassed its predecessor at the box office and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. For instance, Christopher Nolan compared it to one of his favorite films—the fifth episode of "Star Wars."
Substance
A body horror film by French director Coralie Fargeat, who directed several episodes of “The Sandman” and the bloody revenge thriller “Revenge.” The main character in "Substance," played by Demi Moore, is Elizabeth Sparkle, an actress and fitness show host who is fired on her 50th birthday. Upon discovering a mysterious substance that can create a better, younger version of herself, she decides to use it. This gives rise to the stunning Sue, who rapidly takes over the screens.
The film won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes and the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival.
Deadpool and Wolverine
The continuation of Wade Wilson's story, who must travel through the multiverse to save his own timeline—it directly depends on whether Wolverine survives. After a fierce battle, the heroes decide to team up to save Wade's world and correct a fatal mistake made by Wolverine in his version of the universe.
"Deadpool and Wolverine" became the highest-grossing R-rated film and the second highest-grossing film of the year (behind "Inside Out 2"). At the same time, the opening scene revitalized the song "Bye Bye Bye," sparking a viral trend on social media with dance routines from the movie.
Terrifier 3
Few films can boast box office earnings exceeding their budget by nearly 50 times! It all started as a joke. In 2016, director Damien Leone released a slasher film made for a laughable $50,000 by industry standards. The story of the terrifying clown Art was so well-received by horror enthusiasts that it quickly spawned two sequels (with Leone currently working on the fourth installment of the franchise).
The third film takes place five years after the events of the previous movie. On Christmas Eve, Art and the deranged Victoria Hayes return to exact revenge on Sienna Shaw.
Smile 2
Another commercially successful horror film of the year. In the sequel to the story about the sinister entity, the focus shifts to pop singer Skye, who is about to go on tour. Suffering from back pain, Skye turns to a small-time drug dealer, who commits suicide right in front of her. Now, she is haunted by unsettlingly smiling people everywhere. She must find a way to rid herself of the curse before it’s too late.
"Smile 2" grossed over 130 million having a 28 million budget and received positive reviews from both audiences and critics.
