10 Best Drama Movies Of 2024

Summary

• Despite challenges, 2024 has produced strong drama films with standout performances and compelling stories.
• Films like “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Young Woman and the Sea” offer intriguing glimpses into real-life events.
• “Robot Dreams” and “Challengers” showcase diverse storytelling styles and captivating character studies in the drama genre.

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In the wake of 2023’s dual Hollywood strikes, there’s no denying that it is a difficult time for the movie industry. Films continue to fall short of box-office expectations, even when they hail from previously acclaimed franchises (i.e. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) or received universal raves. Nonetheless, there have been solid releases, especially where drama movies are concerned. Packed with some of the year’s stand-out performances, 2024’s best dramas don’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but they provide compelling glimpses into characters’ lives, from decorated athletes to teenagers who find refuge in a TV series.

While “best of” lists have subjective, sometimes nebulous criteria, Screen Rant’s editors have compiled a thoughtful list of 2024’s best drama movies. With few exceptions, all the entrants have seen wide releases as of June 2024, which means most movie-goers should have access to the editors’ picks. Although some films straddle genres, all the selections have a dramatic narrative at their core — even when blended with elements of sci-fi or comedy. With several months of releases on the horizon, the list will no doubt shift. Chosen by Screen Rant’s editors, here are 2024’s best dramas so far.

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10 Bob Marley: One Love

Directed By Reinaldo Marcus Green

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Bob Marley: One Love
PG-13
Biography
Drama
Music

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Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, Bob Marley: One Love is a biographical music-drama that explores the life of Bob Marley, as portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adir. The film highlights the ups and downs of Marley’s life and career until his untimely death in 1981.

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green Release Date February 14, 2024 Studio(s) Tuff Gong Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Zach Baylin , Frank E. Flowers , Terence Winter Cast Kingsley Ben-Adir Runtime 107 Minutes

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Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), Bob Marley: One Love has received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. However, it’s that classic instance of a biopic that stands out because of its heavy-hitting central performance. In One Love, the iconic reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley is played by Kingsley Ben-Adir. While the film as a whole doesn’t quite do its central figure justice, Ben-Adir nails Marley’s charismatic public persona, all while capturing his more downbeat private moments too. A run-of-the-mill musical biopic, One Love also boasts a memorable performance from Lashana Lynch.

9 Young Woman and the Sea

Directed By Joachim Rønning

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Young Woman and the Sea
PG
Biography
Drama
Romance

Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England. 

Director Joachim Rønning Release Date May 31, 2024 Writers Jeff Nathanson Cast Daisy Ridley , Tilda Cobham-Hervey , Stephen Graham , Christopher Eccleston , Jeanette Hain Runtime 100 Minutes Main Genre Biography

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Trading lightsabers for untested waters, Daisy Ridley stars in Young Woman and the Sea as Gertrude Ederle, a competitive swimmer who became the first woman to successfully swim across the English Channel. Directed by Joachim Rønning, the sports drama is 2024’s answer to last year’s Nyad, though the Disney-backed film trades fraught drama for a more uplifting trajectory. The gold medal-winning Olympian Gertrude Ederle has an incredibly compelling life story, which Ridley translates to the screen with easy charm. In the best way, Young Woman and the Sea is an old-fashioned sports drama that hits its marks.

8 The Bikeriders

Directed By Jeff Nichols

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The Bikeriders
R
Drama
Crime

The Bikeriders tells the story of a 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Through the eyes of Kathy, played by Jodie Comer, the film explores the club’s evolution from a group of local outsiders to a dangerous gang.

Director Jeff Nichols Release Date June 21, 2024 Writers Jeff Nichols Cast jodie comer , Austin Butler , Tom Hardy , Michael Shannon , Mike Faist , Norman Reedus Runtime 116 Minutes Main Genre Drama

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A buzzy entry on the festival circuit, The Bikeriders sees Oscar-nominated Elvis actor Austin Butler starring opposite Killing Eve‘s Jodie Comer as well as heavy-hitters Michael Shannon and Tom Hardy. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Mud), the film is a compelling crime thriller that soars thanks to The Bikeriders‘ charming cast of characters. Inspired by the 1967 photo-book of the same name, the film centers on the Outlaws MC, an Illinois-based motorcycle club. Full of both cutting grit and warm humor, The Bikeriders feels like an authentic, grounded portrayal of motorcycle culture.

7 The Promised Land

Directed By Nikolaj Arcel

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The Promised Land
R
Biography
Drama
History

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The Promised Land is a Danish biographical drama from director Nikolaj Arcel based on a book written by Ida Jenssen. The film follows the story of Ludvig Kahlen, a former captain in the Germany Army who lives in poverty despite his service, and seeks a future of honor and wealth. When he finally attains the right to build a property, he must contend with a ruthless magistrate who seeks to control surrounding areas.

Director Nikolaj Arcel Release Date February 2, 2024 Studio(s) Zentropa Entertainments , Film i Väst Distributor(s) Magnolia Pictures Writers Nikolaj Arcel , Anders Thomas Jensen Cast Mads Mikkelsen , Amanda Collin , Simon Bennebjerg , Kristine Kujath Thorp , Gustav Lindh Runtime 127 Minutes Budget $8.8 Million

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An epic historical drama, The Promised Land was the Danish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards​​​​​​​ — and for good reason. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair), The Promised Land centers on Ludwig Kahlen (Hannibal‘s Mads Mikkelsen), a retired and impoverished German Army officer who uses his meager pension to acquire property in his homeland of Denmark. Hoping to establish a meaningful life, Ludwig comes into conflict with a merciless nobleman-turned-magistrate, who feels threatened by the ambitious war hero. The slow-burn, Western-inspired movie is a must-watch for Mikkelsen alone.

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6 Robot Dreams

Directed By Pablo Berger

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Robot Dreams
Not Rated
Animation
Drama
Family

Robot Dreams is an animated comedy-drama film by writer-director Pablo Berger, featuring no voice acting. The film follows a dog living alone in New York City who decides to build a robot friend in the 1980s, setting the two on various heartfelt adventures in Manhattan together.

Director Pablo Berger Release Date December 6, 2024 Distributor(s) Neon Writers Pablo Berger , Sara Varon Runtime 102 Minutes Main Genre Animation

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Written and directed by Pablo Berger, Robot Dreams is an animated comedy-drama that chronicles the friendship between a dog and a robot who are living in New York in 1984. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards, Robot Dreams stands out for many reasons, from its beautiful animation to its charming characters, but what really stands out is that the film contains no dialogue. Both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, Robot Dreams underscores the power of a good story, of a tale that needs no frills — or even words.

5 Sing Sing

Directed By Greg Kwedar

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Sing Sing (2024)
Drama

Based on actual events, Sing Sing is a drama movie that tells the story of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility and a group of prisoners within that decide to stage their own musical production within the prison’s walls.

Director Greg Kwedar Release Date March 8, 2024 Studio(s) Marfa Peach Company , Edith Productions , Black Bear Writers Clint Bentley , Greg Kwedar Cast Colman Domingo , Paul Raci Runtime 105 Minutes Main Genre Drama

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After being nominated for an Academy Award for his incredible performance in Rustin, Colman Domingo returns to the silver screen with a career-best turn in Sing Sing. Directed by Greg Kwedar, the film is based on the Sing Sing maximum security prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts program in which a group of incarcerated men get involved with staging theatrical productions. While Colman Domingo and Paul Raci star in Sing Sing, it also features an ensemble of formally incarcerated first-time film actors who participated in the real-life arts program. Beautifully acted and written, Sing Sing is a wrenching story that legitimately centers on the people whose stories are being told.

4 I Saw the TV Glow

Directed By Jane Schoenbrun

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I Saw the TV Glow
PG-13
Drama
Horror

I Saw the TV Glow is a horror film by writer-director Jane Schoenbrun, released in 2024. A young man named Owen is introduced to a late-night TV show that reflects their reality. As the two begin to bond over the series, it suddenly is canceled, causing Owen’s view of reality to shatter.

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Director Jane Schoenbrun Release Date January 18, 2024 Studio(s) Smudge Films , Fruit Tree Distributor(s) A24 Writers Jane Schoenbrun Cast Justice Smith , Brigette Lundy-Paine , Danielle Deadwyler , Fred Durst , Helena Howard , Ian Foreman Runtime 100 Minutes

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One of the year’s most distinctive films, I Saw the TV Glow was written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, and centers on ’90s teenagers Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), outsiders who bond over a supernatural TV show called The Pink Opaque. The A24 horror film is perfect for Twin Peaks fans thanks to Schoenbrun’s singular style and willingness to lean into the surreal. At its core, I Saw the TV Glow is a truly wrenching film about transness — about queer and trans characters who either embrace their truth or run from living an authentic life.

3 Challengers

Directed By Luca Guadagnino

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Challengers
R
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Sports

Challengers is a romantic sports comedy film by director Luca Guadagnino. The film stars Zendaya as a retired Tennis legend who, while trying to coach her husband and lead him to victory in an upcoming Tennis match, discovers his coming opponent is her ex-lover.

Director Luca Guadagnino Release Date April 26, 2024 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , Pascal Pictures Distributor(s) Amazon MGM Studios Writers Justin Kuritzkes Cast Zendaya , Josh O’Connor , Mike Faist

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Directed by Call Me by Your Name filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers centers on a charged, years-spanning love triangle between Tashi (Zendaya), a tennis star-turned-coach; her less successful tennis player ex-boyfriend, Patrick (Josh O’Connor); and Art, her tennis champ husband (Mike Faist). Framed by Art and Patrick’s rematch of the decade, Challengers serves up Guadagnino’s signature elements, from emotionally complex characters to eroticism. An intense and powerfully acted drama, Challengers is an incredibly captivating character study wrapped in a sports drama narrative.

2 Civil War

Directed By Alex Garland

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Civil War
R
Action
Drama

Civil War is a 2024 action thriller from writer and director Alex Garland. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, Civil War takes place in the near future and shows the United States entering a new Civil War after California and Texas attempt to separate from the country.

Director Alex Garland Release Date April 26, 2024 Studio(s) DNA Films Distributor(s) A24 Writers Alex Garland Cast Kirsten Dunst , Wagner Moura , Stephen McKinley Henderson , Cailee Spaeny , Jesse Plemons , Nick Offerman Runtime 109 Minutes

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In Alex Garland’s Civil War, Kirsten Dunst stars as renowned war photographer Lee Smith who plans to interview the US president with her work partner, Reuters writer Joel (Wagner Moura). However, as the film’s dystopian title implies, civil war has wracked the country, with secessionist movements opposing the three-term president’s authoritarian rule. Even though viewers never learn what caused Civil War‘s titular conflict, the incredibly sharp, often-violent film interrogates the moral quandaries that arise in Lee’s line of work. Plus, Civil War is anchored by a career-best performance from Dunst.

1 Dune: Part Two

Directed By Denis Villeneuve

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Dune: Part Two
PG-13
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Drama
Adventure

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Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate. 

Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date March 1, 2024 Studio(s) Legendary Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts Cast Timothee Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson Runtime 165 Minutes Franchise(s) Dune Sequel(s) Dune: Part Three prequel(s) Dune Budget $122 Million Main Genre Sci-Fi

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The second installment in Denis Villeneuve’s two-part sci-fic epic is not only 2024’s highest-grossing film, but also the year’s best drama. Picking up where Dune left off, Dune: Part Two chronicles the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) — the unwilling leader-turned-ruthless-messiah who leads a revolt against the Known Universe’s powers that be. Bolstered by stunning visuals, an engrossing sci-fi world, and Dune 2‘s incredible cast of characters, the 2024 sequel delivers on all fronts, making it the most fully-realized drama of the year.

This list will be updated as new drama films are released throughout 2024.

Source: https://anhngunewlight.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment