Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Oppenheimer:
The Brutalist
Throughout December, expect to see many outlets anoint Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist as the best film of 2024. It’s epic. It’s wildly accomplished. And it knows it. The movie’s operatic opening crescendos into a visually striking image of the Statue of Liberty flipped upside down—an arresting symbol that mirrors the film’s poster. It’s the kind of bold, declarative start that announces a filmmaker fully in command of their craft.
Read our full review of The Brutalist
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis makes it crystal clear that the legendary director is disappointed in the trajectory of modern civilized life. To think that this passion project of his has been in the works for nearly four decades is astonishing considering how neatly it conveys modern anxieties about the fragility of social infrastructure.
Read our full review of Megalopolis
Civil War
I’m fascinated to see how Civil War will change in my estimation on a rewatch. The movie is significantly less tied to its premise and more tied to its character than I expected. Alex Garland is so, so remarkably close to making a thoughtful statement on the tenuous state of affairs in our country. But he pulls back when he should be going all in. It slips through his fingers when it comes to the biggest details.
Read our full review of Civil War
Dune: Part Two
There’s nothing like Dune: Part Two, which feels like it could only be conceived by Denis Villeneuve and the best crew around him possible. Everyone is working at the top of their game to create one of the best theatergoing experiences of 2024. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya star in the science fiction movie that stands against the genre’s best.
Read our full review of Dune: Part Two
Napoleon
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is an overtly ambitious cinematic endeavor, a sprawling historical drama that delves into the life and conquests of the iconic French military leader. Clocking in at well over two hours, the movie impresses with its visual grandeur, meticulous attention to detail, and breathtaking battle sequences reminiscent of many of Scott’s previous epics – most notably Gladiator or The Last Duel. The veteran director, now 86 years old, continues to demonstrate his mastery of the genre, particularly in capturing the ferocity and brilliance of Napoleon’s military campaigns.
Read our full review of Napoleon
The Favourite
The Favourite sees director Yorgos Lanthimos recontextualizing 18th-century British royalty. A searing dark comedy featuring many of 2018s’s best performances, including Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz.
Read our full review of The Favourite
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 tries to operate in two separate modes, as a humane and personal drama, and a science fiction epic. While these two styles work in their own separate veins, they cross to make a visually stunning, emotionally hollow movie. Denis Villeneuve directs himself into a corner with this one.
Read our full review of Blade Runner 2049
The Creator
Gareth Edwards’ latest movie, The Creator, blasts onto the screen with the force of a nuclear warhead, throwing audiences into a sprawling sci-fi epic that’s equal parts awe-inspiring and occasionally frustratingly shallow. Like a perfectly sculpted sandcastle frailly built on a windy beach, The Creator boasts breathtaking visuals and an ambitious scope, only to slightly crumble under the weight of its own narrative shortcomings.
Read our full review of The Creator
Leave the World Behind
Sam Esmail, renowned for his work on Mr. Robot, returns to feature filmmaking with Leave the World Behind, a star-studded drama delivered straight to Netflix that operates as an apocalyptic mystery thriller. Boasting a cast of A-listers like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and the promising up-and-comer Myha’la, the film carries the weight of its cast’s reputation but, unfortunately, doesn’t quite live up to expectations.
Read our full review of Leave the World Behind
A Real Pain
The announcement of Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore film, A Real Pain, immediately intrigued me—especially with Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin cast as feuding cousins. Eisenberg brings his signature unsure, self-deprecating energy, while Culkin channels the same twitchy, sharp delivery that made him unforgettable in his Emmy-winning Succession role. The two are a seamless pairing, and their dynamic powers the film, creating an engaging and effective core that drives A Real Pain to standout results.