Our culture critics named their favorites for the year so far, but what did readers think?
We asked, and more than 1,000 people responded with their picks across movies, books, music, TV and theater. For film, “Conclave,” “Challengers,” “Wicked” and “Anora” were the most-mentioned favorites of 2024. “The Bear” — comedy or not — dominated the responses for the best TV show, with “Slow Horses,” “Shogun” and “Somebody Somewhere” also getting some love.
The Broadway hit “Oh, Mary!” topped the plays and musicals list, followed by “Merrily We Roll Along,” “The Outsiders” and “Suffs.” And making the rounds on readers’ playlists are Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” Charli XCX’s “Brat” and Chappell Roan’s hit single “Good Luck, Babe!”
Here’s a look at some of our favorite comments from readers.
Movies | Theater | Television | Pop Music
Best Movies
‘The Substance’
“In a year (and election) somewhat defined by gender and gender roles, ‘The Substance’ actually made the conversation fun, dangerous, sexy and terrifying in a little over two hours. Plus, Demi Moore really knocked it out of the park!”
‘The Wild Robot’
“Striking and moving. I saw this movie with my mom, sisters and daughters. The movie was funny, tragic and hopeful. We all cried and left feeling buoyant. I am a sucker for mom and kid movies.”
‘Challengers’
“What fun! Stylish, smart, sexy, and, most importantly, such a great time at the movies. As I left the theater, I wanted to do three things: play tennis, go dancing and walk right back inside and watch the movie again. The lead trio all give great, committed performances, and behind the camera, Luca Guadagnino proves once again that he can make any genre of film into a feast for the senses. The feel of sweat dripping down your face, the smell of a fresh tennis ball, the sound of pulsing music, the sight of three gorgeous actors, the taste of a churro — it’s all there.”
‘The Outrun’
“Saoirse Ronan is incandescent and mesmerizing in the role. You cannot look away. I felt every vibration, every sound, every emotion and had to sit in the theater for a few minutes afterward to come back into the world. Gut-wrenching if you’ve ever known a friend or family member in trouble.”
‘Dune: Part Two’
“Visually amazing representation of one of my favorite books of all time. Denis Villeneuve did the impossible and filmed what many tried and failed, and some said could not ever be accomplished on film. Not only is this my favorite of the year, but it will be an all-time favorite.”
‘Anora’
“So, so, so funny while also being deadly serious. Supremely perfect acting from every single cast member. I was completely sucked in for the entire movie despite it being over two hours long. Beautifully shot. Made me want to learn Russian.”
‘My Old Ass’
“This beautifully written and acted film delivers all the feels and appeals to both young and old, cynical and romantic. It has a beyond-charismatic heroine; a winsome love interest with a face the camera loves; many LOL moments, pitch-perfect dialogue and reckless situations that make you smile; plus, a third act with a scene-stealing Aubrey Plaza that left this viewer full-on sobbing, rivers of snot running down my face. Its female and supporting characters are fully formed and feel 100% real. Plus: gorgeous Canadian lakes, psychedelic drugs and a magical plot. What more can you ask for from a movie? Nothing.”
‘Inside Out 2′
“It’s rare that a movie can convey complex thoughts or a nuanced approach to mental health issues, especially in a movie geared toward a younger audience. Yet, ‘Inside Out 2’ is able to masterfully thread the needle between sharing a message about how life gets more difficult as you grow older, while also being an entertaining and heartwarming story that Pixar is known for. It’s the type of movie that I wish had been around when I was a preteen, and I am glad it exists for the children of today.”
‘All of Us Strangers’
“Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal are two of the best actors we currently have, and watching them together is mesmerizing. This was a subtle, beautiful, heart-wrenching movie that left me feeling devastated when I left the theater. The final scene has repeated in my mind ever since.”
‘A Real Pain’
“It was a tough choice between this and ‘Anora,’ but for me, Kieran Culkin’s performance is just incredible. Jesse Eisenberg was great too, and he did an amazing job directing. For me it was nearly the perfect movie: not too long, focused deeply on characterization while successfully portraying past trauma through behavior and sensibilities of the character in the present. I also loved the score and the setting and the historical themes and parallels.”
‘La Chimera’
“A beautiful, thoughtful journey into love, greed and loss that the magical realism genre supports. I’ve not stopped thinking about the final scene since watching it in theaters this summer.”
‘Conclave’
“Started slowly, but built suspense like the best thrillers, and had a crackerjack surprise ending that paid off everything that came before — especially about the church’s appalling attitudes toward women.”
‘Queer’
“Director Luca Guadagnino, star Daniel Craig, and writer Justin Kuritzkes craft the ultimate tale of devastating, unsynchronized love. They take William S. Burroughs’s novella and go deeper, darker and stranger. It’s amazing that Guadagnino made this and ‘Challengers’ in the same year. Where that is a perfect pop confection, ‘Queer’ is a dark, harrowing odyssey to the depths of the heart.”
‘Sing Sing’
“In a year where humanity seemed to be in short supply, ‘Sing Sing’ showcased humanity. A light in the darkness.”
‘Wicked’
“Unlike most musical adaptations, this one really felt like it was respecting and uplifting the original musical. I also appreciated how Jon Chu really used the form of movies to approach this in a slightly different way than the musical. It felt like the change in media was looking at the story in a new way while still respecting and not looking down on live stage musicals.”
‘Will & Harper’
“You would think there would be a lot of laughs in a road-trip documentary with Will Ferrell and his friend, a ‘Saturday Night Live’ writer who transitions from male to female at age 50-plus. But it’s more a touching story about friendship, celebrity culture and the challenges of being trans.”
Best Theater
‘Maybe Happy Ending’
“The best life-affirming love story I’ve seen onstage this year. And between robots, no less. A pitch-perfect 90 minutes with some of the best writing on Broadway. Most importantly, it is one of the only FULLY original stories on Broadway this year.”
‘The Outsiders’
“The music? Phenomenal. The cast? Perfect. The staging? Jaw dropping. But especially seeing it the week after the election, it reminded me of the stories out there that are often overlooked, and how, sadly, S.E. Hinton’s tale of destructive systems of poverty and toxic masculinity is still urgently relevant today.”
‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’
“The only rendition of ‘Cats’ anyone should ever see. A reimagining of the iconic mega musical toned down (but just as flamboyant) as told through a queer ballroom culture lens has to be one of the most ingenious iterations of this show. Captivating and heartwarming. Shame it didn’t run longer.”
‘Oh, Mary!’
“The new theater of the absurd is a perfect antidote to our post-truth age.”
‘The Great Gatsby’
“Semi-embarrassing note that after having read and studied the book in high school and watched the Leonardo DiCaprio movie repeatedly, watching this on Broadway was the first time I truly got the ending.”
‘Yellow Face’
“Somehow this play manages to combine a hilarious satire on identity in the theater with a serious exploration of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States.”
‘Suffs’
“‘Suffs’ is brilliant and shows how art can bring truth to power for the public consciousness. My family and I loved this play and we cried so much.”
‘Illinoise’
“I was gobsmacked by this show. It expanded the limits of what a musical is and can be by its dancers’ infinite leaps and bounds. I still get choked up thinking about it.”
‘The Hills of California’
“Beautifully written and acted. I was incredibly moved. I felt like I watched a Dickens novel.”
‘Sunset Boulevard’
“Propulsive, fresh staging that almost felt like a dance recital at times, with a volcanic performance by Nicole Scherzinger that people will still be talking about 20 years from now.”
‘Swept Away’
“Sorry it’s closing. Using the tools of theater to create the amazing shipwreck creates the suspension of disbelief that is lacking in so many live performances nowadays.”
‘Stereophonic’
“The story of a band (*cough cough* Fleetwood Mac) as they record an album (*ahem* ‘Rumors’ *ahem*) is such a pleasure to witness. With Will Butler songs built in, David Adjmi’s play chronicles the creative process and the personal turmoil that goes into it. The ensemble is stellar and by the time that the two sound engineers call the album a wrap, we’ve been through quite the harrowing journey.”
‘Merrily We Roll Along’
“‘Merrily’ was sheer perfection. A score that I have always loved with every cast member bringing the songs to life. Jonathan Groff taking a character that is so easy to hate and instead letting us see that even as he makes the wrong choices, we see the pain underneath. Daniel Radcliffe showing us that things aren’t as black and white as he sees them. And Lindsay Mendez desperately trying to mediate and instead, losing herself. The play reminds us that life is full of compromises, and it’s impossible to know if we made the right choices until it’s way too late. This was a night of theater that will stay with me forever.”
‘Dead Outlaw’
“Great music and comedy, and what’s not to love about a show where a dead man travels the country as a sideshow act for the entire second half? Seriously, so unexpectedly sly and a commentary about America’s priorities then and now.”
Best TV
‘Industry’
“Gen Z is often treated like a snide joke in the media, but ‘Industry’ sort of probes the edges of that joke: How does an oft-ridiculed age cohort mingle within (and eventually, surpass) the echelon that raised it? When you place wealth and success as the be-all, end-all, even at the expense of humanity, can you blame the underlings that pursue it to its end goal?”
‘Nobody Wants This’
“By far and away the most lovable series in a long time. Adam Brody as the rabbi is such a dear mensch, and Kristen Bell is the independent podcaster who loves little dogs and cuddly rabbis. Cross-cultural comedy in a time when we desperately need to celebrate. If it can’t happen in real life, let the movies and television bring us some sunshine.”
‘The Bear’
“Deep personal insight into grief portrayed with exquisite softness. Superb acting. I was lost in it — the very definition of art — it connects with your soul, and that only happens occasionally.”
‘My Brilliant Friend’
“Seeing a female friendship treated with the complexity that is usually only reserved for romantic relationships is so refreshing. Such a complex and beautiful show.”
‘Baby Reindeer’
“Everyone needs to watch it, but no one should recommend it.”
‘Slow Horses’
“I like the pace, the blend of weird characters, the plot, and mostly, the depth of Gary Oldman’s rendition of the brilliantly scuzzy and clever Jackson Lamb.”
‘Somebody Somewhere’
“I love that you can’t really pin down what this show is about. It’s about returning home, your real family and your family of friends, grieving, creativity, joy, course correction (or not) in midlife. It’s about all of these things in a subtle, sweet way. And it’s one of the few shows I’ve seen that gets Kansas exactly right.”
‘English Teacher’
“This is one of the best comedies that I have seen in a long time. As a queer high school English teacher myself, I really felt like the show captured the balancing act that is appealing to our Gen Z students while still trying to please their boomer parents. The scenes with the burnt-out principal were real and hilarious, and the relationships between the teachers felt like something that I experience in my everyday life.”
‘Ripley’
“I read all the Ripley books four decades ago and never found the film adaptations true to the books. This version captured Ripley’s pathetic, desperate, unglamorous and amoral character. Andrew Scott was strangely still but his face told so much. The cinematography was stunning and the casting was inventive.”
‘True Detective: Night Country’
“The eerie setting of Alaska during the dark winter, the gripping performances of Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, and the exploration of issues on Indigenous vs. locals, polluting mine vs. local economy, violence against women, and Indigenous spirituality. This woman-led season is the series’ best since Season 1.”
Best Album or Song
‘Brat’ by Charli XCX
“Yet another pure escapism choice. Listening to her music, you can hear the science of pleasant pop music being brewed straight in the beaker. Usually that puts me off, but I needed it this year.”
‘Beethoven Blues’ by Jon Batiste
“The music is incredible. The interpretations are amazing. And, if you view a clip of Batiste at the piano, you might end up breathless.”
‘Cowboy Carter’ by Beyoncé
“Is there anything this woman can’t do? I have nothing but respect for her and her genius!”
‘Stick Season (Forever)’ by Noah Kahan
“It is ‘Stick Season’ but better! This version features artists like Post Malone and Gracie Abrams and Hozier and plenty more. This album speaks to us northern dwellers like no other album I’ve found. Noah explores themes of suicide and addiction and even heavy snowfall. There are so many things to get from this album; there just aren’t enough listens to get all the album has to offer.”
‘Megan’ by Megan Thee Stallion
“By far my most-listened-to album this year, we see what Megan can do when not attached to a restricting label. She’s a delightful mix of sharp, poignant and vulnerable. While possibly not her best work (‘Traumazine’ was my favorite of hers), Megan proves to be the next great female rapper of our generation.”
‘Euphoria’ by Kendrick Lamar
“‘Not Like Us’ got all of the attention, but ‘Euphoria’ was what caused the simmering pan to catch fire. It’s brilliant, it’s devastating, it is my favorite song from this year without question.”
‘The Tortured Poets Department’ by Taylor Swift
“I can’t help it. I’m a huge fan and loved how it felt like she wrote this one for herself. Also again, the rage. It’s impossible to not connect with a woman’s anger, as a woman, right now.”
‘Beautifully Broken (Pickin’ Up the Pieces)’ by Jelly Roll
“Jelly Roll’s a great crossover artist, lacking the nasal country twang and heavy reliance on bars, pickup trucks and girls in cutoffs. His melodies are pop, alt-rock, blues or a mélange thereof. This album reminds me of a longtime addict friend who tells me he’s clean and I don’t believe him. I don’t say so, but this album really points out the facets of addiction and how difficult it is to escape its clutches. The topic sounds depressing, but the lyrics and melodies are anything but.”
‘Good Luck, Babe!’ by Chappell Roan
“The pulsating pop-synth beats combined with Roan’s passionate vocals made this the song of the summer and year as a whole.”
The post The ‘Unexpectedly Sly’ and ‘Brilliantly Scuzzy’ Shows, Music and Movies Readers Loved appeared first on New York Times.
