Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like The Green Knight:
The Last Duel
Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel is a medieval epic that trades grand battles for something far more harrowing—a Rashomon-style retelling of a brutal assault, where perspective shapes the truth. The film, based on true events, unfolds through three distinct narratives, each offering a different account of the same crime. With a stellar cast led by Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer, the movie is as much a historical drama as it is a sobering commentary on power, justice, and gender dynamics.
The Northman
If The Northman isn’t Robert Eggers’ best movie, it’s at least his boldest. It’s finetuned and pinpoint beyond what you’d expect from an already exacting director, and the stunning ensemble cast is entirely dedicated to their profound roles – all led by Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy.
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.
Gladiator II
Gladiator II tries to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, but often stumbles, feeling like a rehash of the 2000 original rather than something new. The story treads familiar ground, and the visual effects can be distractingly bad, as if Ridley Scott decided to embrace outdated CGI instead of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible today. It’s frustrating to watch a film with such potential settle for being a shadow of what came before.
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.
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer is undoubtedly one of the best movies directed by Christopher Nolan, who puts any doubt to rest that he wouldn’t be capable of capturing a story of this magnitude. Cillian Murphy gives an iconic performance that intensifies each moment rolling along this breakneck biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The Revenant
The Revenant might be as close as I’ll ever get to fully enjoying an Alejandro González Iñárritu film. While his work often leans into self-indulgence—whether through the meta posturing of Birdman or the grating self-reflection of Bardo—this film largely sidesteps that pitfall. Instead, The Revenant strips things down to a primal survival story, focusing on raw spectacle rather than existential musings about art and life.
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.
Ballerina
Considering the rocky production history behind it, Ballerina emerges as a competent entry in the John Wick universe—though one that never quite matches the highs of the mainline films. At its center, Ana de Armas delivers a strong performance as Eve, bringing physicality and grit to a role that demands both, while the action—particularly in the second half—benefits greatly from the influence of Chad Stahelski, who stepped in alongside Keanu Reeves to help reshape much of the film after original director Len Wiseman’s version assumingly faltered.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
George Miller finds so much new ground to cover with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga that perfectly justifies its own existence. While Fury Road was interested in such a contained story propelled by larger-than-life action sequences and big rig warfare spawning from a game of cat and mouse, Furiosa fills in the gaps of a world much larger than what is expected. Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth stun in a prequel well worth the wait.