13 Best A24 Movies Streaming on Max

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A24

Studio A24 has earned credibility with a string of highly successful films, made recognizable by what fans call ‘A24 vibes’ – their special brand of visual style, quirky tone, and creative expression. Just a decade ago, this small, indie studio took some big risks on unknown writer-directors that made a big impression. Today their films can rival tent-pole productions, with cinephiles keeping a keen eye on the A24 calendar.

Viewers looking for slick, thought-provoking, unusual films do well to check for the A24 logo. Though known for breathing new life into the horror genre, A24 is the studio behind a wide spectrum of films. It is the cool kid among film studios, and its fans are particularly cult-like in their admiration. Max (formerly HBO Max) has shrewdly picked up on this trend and hosts a large swath of their film catalog. A recent update has added yet more A24 movies on Max that are particularly worth checking out.

13 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' (2022)

Directed by Halina Reijn

Four wounded friends stand shocked and wearing glow sticks in Bodies Bodies Bodies

Taking a hilarious satirical take on a whodunit slasher, Bodies Bodies Bodies tears down the mentalities and aspects of modern youth in a simple yet brilliantly effective execution. The film follows a group of rich 20-somethings finding themselves isolated in a massive family mansion during a hurricane, deciding to pass the time with a fun social deduction game. However, when they actually begin to get murdered, it doesn't take long before the friends all turn on one another in search of the culprit.

While A24 is more commonly recognized for its more standard, non-comedic horror affairs, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a wondrously fun deviation from this norm, with many iconic moments and hilarious characters. It's unlike any other whodunit movie out there, actively going against the norms and conventions of the genre for the sake of maximum comedy and satirical potential, amplifying the divide and infighting of this toxic friend group.

Bodies Bodies Bodies

Release Date August 5, 2022

Director Halina Reijn

Runtime 95 minutes

12 'Priscilla' (2023)

Directed by Sofia Coppola

Cailee Spaeny touching up her makeup in Priscilla

Especially after the monumental, award-winning success of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, it would be easy to assume that Sofia Coppola's Priscilla would floor a similar, glamorous execution. While the film does follow the story and seemingly luxurious life of Priscilla Presley leading up to and throughout her love life with Elvis Presley, the film is far from glamorous in its interpretation of the proceedings. Based on Priscilla's memoirs, the film doesn't shy away from the darker and painful aspects of the relationship and how Elvis manipulated Priscilla from a young age.

Coppola is the perfect director for Priscilla's life story, as her films have always done a terrific job tackling the themes of womanhood, emotional maturity, and innocence through a female lens. All of these trademark thematics and messages shine through perfectly in the story, brought home effectively by two brilliant lead performances from Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. Especially when compared to the high-flying in-your-face style of the Elvis biopic, Priscilla acts like a harsh slap back to reality and the painful truths behind the mythos that was the Presley family.

Release Date November 3, 2023

Runtime 113 Minutes

11 'Civil War' (2024)

Directed by Alex Garland

Kirsten Dunst as Lee Smith and Cailee Spaeny as Jessie Cullen crouching in helmets in "Civil War"

A brilliantly shot and breathtaking look at a theoretically truly modern war, Civil War follows a group of war journalists traveling across the U.S. during a dangerous ongoing civil war. As they get closer and closer to the capitol during the final days of the war, they capture numerous ongoing battles and even find themselves in the line of fire, constantly toeing the line to find the perfect shot. At the same time, expert photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst) brings the young, energetic Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) under her wing so that she doesn't end up getting hurt in the fervor of excitement.

Civil War is much less interested in the political dynamics and intricacies of what started and perpetuates its titular war, instead emphasizing the pain of war itself and the inner turmoil of war photographers. Garland has always had a knack for visually enthralling and beautiful filmmaking, with Civil War even furthering the director's signature flair for finding grace in beauty from places of pain and bloodshed.

Civil War

Release Date April 12, 2024

Director Alex Garland

Cast Kirsten Dunst , Wagner Moura , Cailee Spaeny , Stephen McKinley Henderson , Nelson Lee , Nick Offerman , Jefferson White , Evan Lai , Vince Pisani , Justin James Boykin , Jess Matney , Greg Hill , Edmund Donovan , Sonoya Mizuno , Tim James , Simeon Freeman , James Yaegashi , Dean Grimes , Alexa Mansour , Martha B. Knighton , Melissa Saint-Amand , Karl Glusman , Jin Ha

Runtime 109 Minutes

10 'The Lighthouse' (2019)

Directed by Robert Eggers

Close-up of Ephraim Winslow and Thomas Wake from 'The Lighthouse'

Easily one of the most beautiful and visually distinct films to come out in recent memory, Robert Eggers proves that black-and-white filmmaking is far from dead with The Lighthouse. The film follows a simple yet effective premise, seeing two 1890s lighthouse keepers stuck on a lone island with only themselves to keep each other company and sane. It doesn't take long before the duo begins to lose their sanity, questioning everything that happens around them.

Eggers makes the most out of the black-and-white aesthetic and 1.19:1 aspect ratio to create an otherworldly experience that could only be described as psychedelic. This goes hand in hand with the film's intentionally confusing story, as the characters have a multitude of disturbing visions, false memories, and massive leaps of faith as to the true nature of the lighthouse. The film wouldn't work nearly as it does without the duo of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, whose performances are multi-faceted and allow audiences to come to a near-infinite number of conclusions as to the film's true meaning.

Release Date October 18, 2019

Runtime 110 minutes

9 'Love Lies Bleeding' (2024)

Directed by Rose Glass

Katy O'Brian as Jackie and Kristen Stewart as Lou working on a car in "Love Lies Bleeding"

A psychological queer romantic thriller that doesn't hold back in terms of high tension and chaotic visuals, Love Lies Bleeding quickly became a critical smash hit. The film follows the blossoming lesbian relationship between gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) and ambitious bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian), with their passionate love having them leave town for Las Vegas to follow Jackie's dreams. However, Lou's family still has deadly ties to a local mafia, forcing the lovebirds into a complicated web of lies, deceit, and murder.

Love Lies Bleeding balances a lot of different tones and inspirations to tell its refreshing thriller story, feeling equal parts taken straight from the 80s while also being a piece of art that could only be made in the modern era. It plays into the conventions of romantic thrillers to subvert clichés and always keep the audience on edge, whether it be through simple changes like character dynamics to massive shifts like Love Lies Bleeding's chaotic ending. Its distinct erotic yet mesmerizing tone makes it one of the most unique in A24's filmography, making it certainly worth checking out.

Love Lies Bleeding

Release Date March 3, 2024

Director Rose Glass

Runtime 104 Minutes

8 'Good Time' (2017)

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie

Before they would go on to direct Uncut Gems and star in films like Oppenheimer, the Safdie Brothers would direct one of the most heart-pounding and adrenaline-rushing thrillers in Good Time. The film follows Constantine "Connie" Nikas (Robert Pattinson), a small-time criminal who finds himself on the run after a botched bank robber lands his disabled younger brother (Benny Safdie) in prison. This suddenly thrusts Connie into a wild and unpredictable adventure across New York City and its hellish underworld as he attempts to break his brother out of jail.

Just like the Safdie Brothers' other films, Good Time finds maximum value out of its pacing and high-stakes energy, able to create heightened tension and powerful sequences consistently for the entire runtime. Combined with numerous twists and turns and a deeply flawed focal character, Good Time consistently finds ways to keep the audience glued to their seats and excited to see where the film will go next and how it's all going to end.

Good Time

Release Date August 11, 2017

Director Ben Safdie , Joshua Safdie

Runtime 101minutes

7 'I Saw the TV Glow' (2024)

Directed by Jane Schoenbrun

Ian Foreman stands under a bi flag parachute while children dance around him.

One of the greatest strengths of the independent filmmaking of A24 is their ability to provide a cinematic voice that few other major publishers would take on, with I Saw the TV Glow's distinct trans allegory being a perfect example. The film follows young teenager Owen (Justice Smith), who in his day-to-day struggle finds refuge in a mysterious late-night TV show known as The Pink Opaque, fostering a friendship with Maddy in the process. However, as Owen grows up, his relationship with the show begins to change as his perspective on reality itself crumbles around him.

The inherent horror elements of I Saw the TV Glow don't necessarily come from a direct force terrorizing its characters, but instead an uneasy dread and uncomfortability in one's own skin that persists through its runtime. Jane Schoenbrun's masterful and distinct vision is something unlike anything else in A24's filmography, a compelling evolution of artistic horror that has a heartbreaking emotional core.

I Saw the TV Glow

Release Date January 18, 2024

Director Jane Schoenbrun

Runtime 100 Minutes

6 'The Iron Claw' (2023)

Directed by Sean Durkin

David Von Erich (Harris Dickinson) performing the titular wrestling move in The Iron Claw

One of the few times when a biopic opted to remove aspects of the true story because it was already heartbreaking enough, The Iron Claw has become infamous for being one of the bleakest dramas in recent memory. The film follows the unbelievable true story of the Von Erich brothers, a family of professional wrestlers who were each icons in their own right during the high-stakes times of the 80s wrestling world. However, their time at the top doesn't last forever, as the family is hit by tragedy after tragedy as they loom in the shadow of their tough and despotic father/coach.

It's hard not to come out the other side of The Iron Claw without shedding tears, as the film does an excellent job of hammering in the weight and gravitas of one of the most painful stories in wrestling history. Zac Efron delivers a performance that is riddled with grief and pain as the character goes through tragedy after tragedy, to the point where even the audience begins to believe that the family is in fact cursed. It's an overall story that isn't afraid to delve into the painful, often brushed aside toxic environment that 80s sports had, hoping to learn from the pain to move forward stronger and more conscious.

Release Date December 22, 2023

Cast Zac Efron , Jeremy Allen White , Harris Dickinson , Holt McCallany , Maura Tierney , Stanley Simons , Lily James , Maxwell Friedman , Brady Pierce , Aaron Dean Eisenberg , Kevin Anton , Cazzey Louis Cereghino , Chavo Guerrero Jr. , Ryan Nemeth , Scott Innes

Runtime 132 minutes

5 'Midsommar' (2019)

Directed by Ari Aster

Dani is crowned as May Queen by the Hargas

One of the most legendary and iconic horror films to come from A24's entire filmography, Ari Aster's Midsommar is a film that is as deeply thematic and layered as it is terrifying. The film follows a group of friends who travel to Sweden to relax as well as study a local summer festival that is held every 90 years. What initially seems to be a perfect vacation for the friends quickly devolves into a nightmare as their sanity is tested, and they are turned against each other as they participate in several disturbing and deadly rituals.

Midsommar has been nothing but divided since its release, with as many people lauding it as a modern-day masterpiece of horror as people calling it a misguided trainwreck. At the very least, it has continued to stay at the forefront of conversation ever since its release, with audiences still looking to pick apart the different meanings and themes present throughout the film. It continues to be one of A24's most recognizable ventures and will assuredly go down in history as one of the most defining horror films of the 2010s.

Midsommar

Release Date July 3, 2019

Cast Julia Ragnarsson , Rebecka Johnston , Henrik Norlén , William Jackson Harper , Gunnel Fred , Anna Åström , will poulter , Archie Madekwe , Louise Peterhoff , Björn Andrésen , Isabelle Grill , Jack Reynor , Florence Pugh , Liv Mjönes

Runtime 147 minutes

4 'The Farewell' (2019)

Directed by Lulu Wang

Awkwafina in a car during a scene from The Farewell.

A poignant and powerful dramedy about the process of grieving and the inevitability of loss, The Farewell finds a beautiful balance between its emotional moments and top-notch comedy. The film follows headstrong Chinese-American Billi (Awkwafina) as she returns to China following the news of her beloved grandmother receiving a terminal diagnosis. Billi finds herself struggling with her extended family's decision to keep her grandma in the dark about her illness, with the family staging an impromptu wedding as an excuse for them all to see her one last time.

While Awkwafina is most commonly known for her various comedy roles, The Farewell proves that she is just as talented and capable in a dramatic role as a comedic role, easily being one of her best films in the process. The film expertly finds great comedic levity present within the painful experience of losing a family member while still not taking away from the emotional weight and effectiveness of its inherent premise.

The Farewell

Release Date July 12, 2019

Director Lulu Wang

Cast X Mayo , Gil Perez-Abraham , Aoi Mizuhara , Awkwafina , Jim Liu , Zhao Shuzhen , Tzi Ma , Ines Laimins , Yongbo Jiang , Shuzhen Zhou , Diana Lin , Han Chen

Runtime 98 minutes

3 'The Zone of Interest' (2023)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss smoking a cigarette in 'The Zone of Interest'

A masterfully crafted work of art and a horrific portrayal of being complaisant amidst genocide, The Zone of Interest is one of the most harrowing and nightmarish depictions of the holocaust put to film. What makes the experience so striking is that it accomplishes such a feat without resorting to showing the atrocities firsthand, as it instead focuses on the day-to-day life of commandant Rudolf Hoss and his family as they live next to Auschwitz. While they attempt to live a normal life, it becomes increasingly apparent to them, as well as the audience, that it's a near-impossible task to simply ignore the elephant in the room.

The Zone of Interest is an experience that thrives on being slow, meticulous, and purposeful with its craft and execution, making sure to not show its hand too early and to simply let the audience simmer in its depiction of evil. The Academy Award-winning sound design is easily some of the most creative and haunting seen in a modern film, with its use of the faint screams of agony from the camp considerably amplifying the unnerving nature of the film. The film sensationally shows that evil is much less over-the-top in real-life, and puts into question the type of evil actions that we ourselves are willing to brush to the side and ignore.

Release Date December 15, 2023

Director Jonathan Glazer

Cast Christian Friedel , Sandra Hüller , Ralph Herforth , Luis Noah Witte , Johann Karthaus

Runtime 105 Minutes

2 'Lady Bird' (2017)

Directed by Greta Gerwig

Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson and Julianne Steffans in Lady Bird, looking disinterestedly at something offscreen

The groundbreaking coming-of-age comedy-drama that redefined what was possible for the subgenre in the modern era of filmmaking, Greta Gerwig's masterpiece Lady Bird continues to delight and enchant 7 years later. The film follows the teenage struggles of Lady Bird McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a 17-year-old woman with a strong will and a true sense of the arts, anxiously awaiting the day she can finally leave Sacramento. She finds herself constantly butting heads with her mom as she explores all possible options for teenage life before she heads off to college.

Lady Bird has had an undeniable influence not just on coming-of-age films, but comedic dramas as a whole, ingrained with a style of charm and wit that would make it one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 2010s. Everything from Ronan's striking lead performance to Gerwig's emphatic directorial vision to the smaller details of Sacramento life all come together to create a striking, even beautiful coming-of-age experience. It's a film that simply never gets old, no matter how many times one sees it and no matter how much time has passed, as one of the true cinematic works of art of the 21st century.

Lady Bird

Release Date November 10, 2017

Runtime 94 Minutes

1 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan

Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan stand together looking scared in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The best picture-winning crowd-pleaser that has easily become A24's most acclaimed and recognizable film, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a cacophony of wild visuals and concepts that is one of the decade's must-watch films. The film follows aging Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), who on what was already a chaotic day at the audit center gets that much worse when she is considered the key to ending a multiversal struggle. Being trained to harness the skills of alternate-universe versions of herself, Evelyn will have to take down a villain who threatens to destroy the multiverse.

Everything Everywhere All at Once's blend of top-notch action choreography, hilarious and absurd visual flairs, and unexpected tearjerker moments made it an instant classic from the very beginning. The film stands for the very type of wild, no-holds-barred and constantly barrier-pushing capabilities of independent filmmaking that made A24 such an iconic studio and publisher. It manages to live up to all of the lofty expectations and hype surrounding it and will surely go down as one of the most notable films of the modern era.