10 Best Drama Movies of 2024, Ranked

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While the most popular and successful films in a given year are usually explosive action films or more widely appealing family films, a great selection of exquisite adult drama films is still being released year after year. Ranging from hard-hitting adaptations of beloved novels to exceptional original films, there is nothing quite like an effective drama film when it comes to telling a compact story that tackles mature themes and respects the maturity of its audience.

2024 has especially been a spectacular year for dramas, as dramas are reaching wider audiences than ever before thanks to the advent of the digital era, with a widespread increased interest in dramatic cinema. At the same time, dramas find themselves in an unexpected resurgence of blockbuster success, following the major success of dramas like It Ends With Us and Bob Marley: One Love. With the year having come to an end and critics groups and awards bodies choosing their best films of the year, there is no better time to check out the best drama films that 2024 has to offer.

10 'Small Things Like These'

Directed by Tim Mielants

A slow and foreboding drama that tackles the ingrained acceptance and culpability that society as a whole can have towards injustices and abhorrent behavior occurring beneath the surface, Small Things Like These is an emotional juggernaut of a film. The film sees Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a hard-working coal merchant who uncovers a sinister truth surrounding the treatment of young women in his Irish town's local convent. These truths force him to confront his past as well as confront the complicit silence of the town as a whole towards this behavior.

While the film may take place and have a history rooted in 1985 Ireland, the thematic resonance of society as a whole choosing to look the other way in the face of the disgusting actions of those in power holds a heavy weight in a modern context. Murphy's grounded yet emotionally draining performance is what elevates the material as a whole, acting as a surrogate for humanity in a situation with increasingly dire malice and pain at all sides.

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9 'Babygirl'

Directed by Halina Reijn

Many films that directly cater to and play into their erotic power fantasy themes often have very little else to offer, resulting in critical flops like Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days. However, Babygirl's subversion of the classic power balance roles and dynamics creates a tantalizing experience rife with thematic resonance without giving up on the eroticism that defines these stories. The provocative story proves to be as energetic and enthralling to watch as it is brimming with topical messages on abuse of power and the pains of adultery.

The film sees Nicole Kidman as a high-powered CEO who ends up placing her entire family and livelihood at risk when she becomes enamored with a young intern at her company (Harris Dickinson), allowing her to explore her dark and depraved desires. Kidman proves to be the clear highlight of the film, bringing a powerhouse performance that greatly balances the unlikable aspects of her character with her carnal and unquenchable desires.

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8 'The Apprentice'

Directed by Ali Abbasi

Donald Trump is still one of the most controversial and recognizable faces of today, making it seem a bit early to be creating a provocative biopic about him, yet The Apprentice proves to succeed with flying colors as a harrowing origin story. The film sees Sebastian Stan as a young Trump still attempting to make his name known and succeed in 1970s New York. Under the guise and leadership of infamous prosecutor Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), Trump learns how to take the world by storm and become an icon in the making.

From its very concept as a dark and negative biopic about a then-former president, The Apprentice immediately became one of the most controversial films of the year. However, whether you completely agree with the film's politics and messaging or think it's a distasteful takedown, there is an undeniable strength within Stan and Strong's performances that elevates the material. The film as a whole is seamless in its ability to bring to life the hectic and wild world of 70s and 80s New York, with this duo of performances even further amplifying every other positive of the film.

7 'Queer'

Directed by Luca Guadagnino

While Luca Guadagnino made waves near the beginning of the year with his erotic sports phenomenon, Challengers, the filmmaker went back to his roots of telling compelling romantic dramas at the year's end with Queer. The film sees Daniel Craig as William Lee, a homosexual expat living in 1950s Mexico City who has lived a solitary life of passionless love and crippling addiction. However, when young student Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) arrives in town, it begins to warm Lee's cold heart and leave him open to the possibility of a true relationship.

Much like Luca's other successful romantic dramas, Queer finds a brilliant balance between graphic displays of on-screen passion with its monumental pains that come with love and lust. Craig gives an effective, centralizing lead performance that every other aspect of the filmmaking as a whole circles around, compounding with his pains and struggles as his attempts at solitude serve to make things worse.

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6 'Kneecap'

Directed by Rich Peppiatt

The widespread popularity of musician biopics has resulted in a wide array of different stories coming to the big screen, yet one of the most energetic and faithful not just to the artist's story but their music and energy as a whole is Kneecap. The film follows the titular Irish rap band of the same name, from their humble origins of sticking to authority and refusing to give up their birthright language to the rising tension and controversy that surrounds their political stance.

One of the most interesting dynamics that makes Kneecap different from any other musician biopic is that the lead actors of the film are the actual band members, playing themselves in the film. While this would seem to be a disastrous choice in concept, it manages to further amplify the honesty and passion that the entire film provides, with a slick editing style and a topical and powerful message of persevering culture.

5 'Nickel Boys'

Directed by RaMell Ross

A striking and emotional story of growth and hardship that feels revolutionary and genre-defining in its execution, Nickel Boys is the type of drama that will continuously be talked about by scholars for decades. The film follows the story of a duo of black teenagers navigating the trials of school reform in their home of Florida, facing hardships and difficulties at every corner. What helps the film stand out from other coming-of-age dramas is its exceptional approach to storytelling, with the entire film being shot from the first-person point of view of its protagonist.

It's easy to write off Nickel Boys as a drama largely defined by its gimmick, yet the film at every opportunity available proves to be much more than just a gimmick, with its emotional and powerful story directly complimenting the approach to visuals. No other film has quite effectively been able to literally let the audience see things through the perspective of their characters, without ever getting too grating or self-centered, the film is a feat of filmmaking ingenuity.

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4 'A Real Pain'

Directed by Jesse Eisenberg

A hilarious and emotionally touching journey of familial bonds with all the ups and downs that come with it, A Real Pain delights and charms with each passing second. The film follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they travel on vacation to Poland in remembrance of their recently deceased grandmother to respect her Jewish heritage. The trip proves to take an emotional toil for both of them as old tension begins to bubble to the surface during their tour of the country.

It's a difficult balancing act for any actor to be able to find a balance between emotionally compelling material while being endlessly hilarious and enthralling on-screen. Yet this task is perfectly accomplished by both Eisenberg and Culkin in the film, with performances that are just as tear-jerking as they are comedically charged. A Real Pain makes for a touching and unforgettable dramedy experience, making for not just one of the best dramas of recent memory, but also one of the best comedies of the 2020s.

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3 'Anora'

Directed by Sean Baker

The latest striking and beautiful film from director Sean Baker, Anora's almost fairy-tale approach to sleazy, unfulfilled romance has made it one of the year's standout cinematic experiences. The film follows a young Brooklyn sex worker who seemingly has made her big break when she forms a connection with her latest client, the young son of a powerful and wealthy Russian oligarch. They soon end up getting married so that he never has to leave the United States, yet their fantasies together are soon given a roadblock when forces appear to intervene.

No other film in recent memory quite effectively finds greatness through the rampant and chaotic combination of various genres, tones, and styles, yet it's this very chaos incarnate that makes Anora such an engaging experience. The film will easily jump from romantic highs to painful yet hilarious lows as Anora's journey to success and fortune makes for one of the most entertaining stories of growth that modern cinema has to offer.

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2 'I'm Still Here'

Directed by Walter Salles

While countless exceptional drama films are being released through Hollywood and English-speaking filmmakers, amazing dramatic experiences are being released all around the world, with one of the year's best coming from Brazli with I'm Still Here. The family political drama follows a family living on the beachside of Rio during the height of Brazil's military dictatorship in the 70s. On one painful day, the father of the family is taken in for questioning by the government, never to return to his loving family.

I'm Still Here proves to be one of the most heartwrenching and engaging dramatic experiences of the year, with deep respect and care taken towards its painful subject matter with precise realism and execution. Even despite the more painful aspects of its storytelling, the strength that helps elevate it above many of the year's other depressive dramas is its core focus on familial strengths amidst tragedy and pain. Even those who aren't as used to foreign language filmmaking deserve to give I'm Still Here a shot.

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1 'The Brutalist'

Directed by Brady Corbet

The Brutalist is a remarkable feat of filmmaking prowess, being a large-scale dramatic epic like the blockbuster masterpieces of old despite its rather minuscule budget compared to modern blockbuster affairs. The film follows visionary architect László Toth (Adrian Brody), who, after the pains of escaping post-war Europe, attempts to rebuild his life, work, and marriage in America as a foreign immigrant. His talents as an architect are soon discovered by a local industrialist, but the price of power and legacy comes at a painful and heavy cost.

The Brutalist harkens back to an older era of intelligent and stylish filmmaking, weaving together a gargantuan epic tale with magnificent scope and style through pure narrative strengths. It doesn't lose a second of weight throughout its nearly 4-hour runtime (complete with intermission), while also employing beautiful Vista vision to make its layered portrait of America that much more impactful. Its the type of drama that is rarely ever made in the modern day, and deserves the utmost respect as a genuine accomplishment and step forward for modern film.

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NEXT: The 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked