The films of 2024 again challenged ways to reshape old cinema influences in daring new directions, proving that despite the changes around, the art form remains pivotal and maybe even vital as ever... Like a tango which moves back and forth ultimately going full circle, moviemaking continues to dance back and forth through its long history.

One of the years core themes was the idea of artificial intelligence and where it stands (or where its going) in relationship with humanity. So many films either subtly or directly implied the presence of advanced technology/AI... Maybe none more masterful then in the abstract form of Bertrand Bonello's The Beast, an enigmatic genre-bending film that expresses a truly human emotion which AI can never duplicate - love. As technology advances, so to does a detachment from emotions and this expression is further endorsement of the power/importance of cinema.

There is much discussion about the so-called death of film and of movie-going. However this year only further highlights the value, the beauty and the power films can provide the world. While the movie-going experience continues to change (it always has!!), the joy will never go away… allow me to borrow one of the most deeply touching moments of 2024, from Inside Out 2: "Joy, you are needed!" 2024 was another rich year in world films. This is far from a dying art and to me remains the superior medium of truly capturing human experience. Or to take the fun and energetic climax from one of the years best films (The Challengers) - the experience can be summed up with a belting scream: "COME ON!"

As of December 31st, I saw 126 new films in 2024, which is much higher then any of the previous 4 years. Because I'm more selective in choices of what I see, most of these are films that I like in some way. All but probably the bottom five are films I would recommend and did enjoy in some way or another (and I really really enjoyed probably the top 75 films on this list). Please don't get too caught up in the ranking. There are some films I still need to see a second time.
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Notable films yet to see:
A Real Pain; Anora; Blitz; Nickle Boys; Hard Truths; Megalopolis; The Count of Monte Cristo; Babygirl; The Outrun; The Life of Chuck; Homestead; My First Film; It Ends With Us; Strange Darling; The Wild Robot; Nightbitch; The Order; September 5; The Taste of Things; The Return; Queer; Bird; Wicked; Sing Sing; Gladiator 2; Ghostlight; Thelma; Azrael; Look Into My Eyes; Kill; We Grown Now; Lonely Planet; The 4:30 Movie; The Deliverance; Mother Father Sister Brother Frank; It's Whats Inside; I'm Still Here; The Room Next Door; Lee; The Apprentice; Saturday Night; Wolfs; Ghostbusters Frozen Empire; The Instigators; The Last Showgirl; Here

1… GOOD ONE
India Donaldson, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30319516/

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2… THE BEAST
Bertrand Bonello, France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14407336/

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3… CHALLENGERS
Luca Guadagnino, United States / Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16426418/

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4… CHIME
Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30516366/

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5… CLOSE YOUR EYES
Victor Erice, Spain / Argentina
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21284358/

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6… INSIDE OUT 2
Kelsey Mann, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22022452/

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7… HERE
Bas Devos, Belgium
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26448954/

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8… SMILE 2
Parker Finn, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29268110/

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9… REBEL RIDGE
Jeremy Saulnier, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11301886/

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10… OUT OF MY MIND
Amber Sealey, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5012320/

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11… GASOLINE RAINBOW
Bill Ross / Turner Ross, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28494031/

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12… LIMBO
Ivan Sen, Australia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21833834/

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13… THE DEVIL'S BATH
Severin Fiala / Veronika Franz, Austria / Germany
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29141112/

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14… A DIFFERENT MAN
Aaron Schimberg, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21097228/

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15… LAST SUMMER
Catherine Breillat, France / Norway
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14550346/

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16… DIDI
Sean Wang, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30319503/

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17… I SAW THE TV GLOW
Jane Schoenbrun, United States / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15574270/

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18… CONCLAVE
Edward Berger, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215234/

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19… FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
George Miller, Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12037194/

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20… JANET PLANET
Annie Baker, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28366692/

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21… THE SETTLERS
Felipe Gálvez Haberle, Chile / Argentina / United Kingdom / others
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370812/

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22… LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY
Francis Galluppi, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11674730/

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23… CAUGHT BY THE TIDES
Zhank ke Jia, China
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27958252/

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24… RED ROOMS
Pascal Plante, Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22207786/

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25… DUNE: PART 2
Denis Villeneuve, United States / Canada / several others
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/

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26… TUESDAY
Daina Oniunas-Pusic, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14682800/

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27… DO NOT EXPECT MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
Radu Jude, Romania / Luxembourg / France / others
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18162096/

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28… LISA FRANKENSTEIN
Zelda Williams, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21188080/

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29… TOUCH
Baltasar Kormákur, Iceland / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23468836/

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30… STRANGERS
Kenta Ikeda, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33470284/

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31… THE FIRST OMEN
Arkasha Stevenson, United States / Italy / Serbia / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5672290/

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32… JUROR #2
Clint Eastwood, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27403986/

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33… LONGLEGS
Osgood Perkins, Canada / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23468450/

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34… LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Rose Glass, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19637052/

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35… ABIGAIL
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin / Tyler Gillett, United States / Ireland / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27489557/

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36… LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Cameron and Colin Cairnes, Australia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14966898/

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37… MONKEY MAN
Dev Patel, United States / Canada / Singapore / India
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214772/

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38… CIVIL WAR
Alex Garland, United States / United Kingdom / Finland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17279496/

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39… HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS
Mike Cheslik, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12818328/

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40… BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Tim Burton, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2049403/

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'
41… BETWEEN TWO TEMPLES
Nathan Silver, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27722375/

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42… HIT MAN
Richard Linklater, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215968/

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43… MY OLD ASS
Megan Park, United Kingdom / Canada / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18559464/

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44… THE IDEA OF YOU
Michael Showalter, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9466114/

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45… HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
Azazel Jacobs, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28491891/

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46… NOSFERATU
Robert Eggers, United States / United Kingdom / Hungary
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5040012/

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47… IN A VIOLENT NATURE
Chris Nash, Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30321146/

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48… HERETIC
Scott Beck / Bryan Woods, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28015403/

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49… KUBI
Takeshi Kitano, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27502365/

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50… DRIVE AWAY DOLLS
Ethan Coen, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19356262/

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51… TRAP
M. Night Shyamalan, United States / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26753003/

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52… THE SHADOW STRAYS
Timo Tjahjanto, Indonesia / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28349451/

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53… IMMACULATE
Michael Mohan, United States / Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23137390/

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54… FLOW
Gints Zilbalodis, Latvia / Belgium / France
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4772188/

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55… EXHUMA
Jae-hyun Jang, South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27802490/

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56… SNACK SHACK
Adam Rehmeier, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22004344/

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57… A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
James Mangold, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11563598/

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58… YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME
Josiah Allen / Indianna Bell, Australia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22023218/

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59… ALIEN: ROMELUS
Fede Alvarez, United Kingdom / United States / others
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18412256/

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60… THE PARADES
Michihito Fujii, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31102181/

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61… THE SUBSTANCE
Coralie Fargeat, United Kingdom / France / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/

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62… CADDO LAKE
Logan George / Celine Held, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15552142/

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63… ODDITY
Damian McCarthy, Ireland / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26470109/

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64… TWISTERS
Lee Isaac Chung, United States / Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12584954/

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65… UNFROSTED
Jerry Seinfeld, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14914430/

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66… DON'T MOVE
Brian Netto / Adam Schindler, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24807110/

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67… THE PIANO LESSON
Malcolm Washington, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15507512/

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68… THE BIKERIDERS
Jeff Nichols, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21454134/

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69… MADS
David Moreau, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28821371/

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70… CUCKOO
Tilman Singer, Germany / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12349832/

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71… THE BRUTALIST
Brady Corbet, United States / United Kingdom / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8999762/

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72… THE FRONT ROOM
Max and Sam Eggers, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21905744/

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73… NIGHT SWIM
Bryce McGuire, United States / United KIngdom / Australia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9682428/

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74… DADDIO
Christy Hall, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7461686/

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75… MEAN GIRLS
Samantha Jayne / Arturo Perez, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11762114/

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76… HELL HOLE
John Adams / Toby Poser, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32394528/

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77… HOW TO ROB A BANK
Stephen Robert Morse / Seth Porges, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32308418/

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78… SASQUATCH SUNSET
David and Nathan Zellner, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30180830/

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79… KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Wes Ball, United States / Austrailia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11389872/

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80… DRAWING CLOSER
Takahiro Miki, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31078761/

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81… THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME
Antonio Campos, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7395114/

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82… MAHARAJA
Nithilan Saminathan, India
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26548265/

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83… NIGHT SHIFT
Benjamin and Paul China, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13380324/

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84… HUMANE
Caitlin Cronenberg, Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16280912/

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85… NUTCRACKERS
David Gordon Green, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30144381/

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86… JACKPOT!
Paul Feig, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26940324/

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87… BLINK TWICE
Zoë Kravitz, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14858658/

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88… TERRIFIER 3
Damien Leone, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27911000/

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89… MARY
D.J. Caruso, United Kingdom / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32084246/

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90… UPGRADED
Carlson Young, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21830902/

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91… TIME CUT
Hannah Macpherson, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14857528/

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92… OUR LITTLE SECRET
Stephen Herek, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31022050/

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93… MONSTER SUMMER
David Henrie, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3954936/

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94… IN LOVE AND DEEP WATER
Yûsuke Taki, Japan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21211474/

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95… THE COFFEE TABLE
Caye Casas, Spain
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21874760/

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96… CARRY-ON
Jaume Collet-Serra, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21382296/

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97… VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
Kelly Marcel, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16366836/

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98… APARTMENT 7A
Natalie Erika James, United States / Australia / United Kingdom
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14371860/

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99… A FAMILY AFFAIR
Richard LaGravenese, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21051906/

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100… ARTHUR THE KING
Simon Cellan Jones, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10720352/

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101… MAXXXINE
Ti West, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22048412/

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102… BROTHERS
Max Barbakow, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9860566/

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103… HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON
Carlos Saldanha, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1609486/

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104… EMILIA PEREZ
Jacques Audiard, France / Belgium / Mexico
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20221436/

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105… MOTHERS' INSTINCT
Benoît Delhomme, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13397574/

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106… IF
John Krasinski, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11152168/

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107… JOKER 2
Todd Phillips, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11315808/

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108… KILLER HEAT
Philippe Lacôte, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27419292/

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109… SPEAK NO EVIL
James Watkins, United States / Croatia / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27534307/

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110… THE KILLER
John Woo, United States / Canada / South Korea
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1121948/

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111… SPACEMAN
Johan Renck, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11097384/

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112… THE FALL GUY
David Leitch, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1684562/

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113… MOANA 2
David G. Derrick / Jason Hand / Dana Ledoux Miller, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13622970/

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114… THE WATCHERS
Ishana Shyamalan, United States / Ireland
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26736843/

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115… RED ONE
Jake Kasdan, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14948432/

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116… SUBSERVIENCE
S.K. Dale, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24871974/

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117… A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE
Michael Sarnoski, United States / United Kingdom / Canada
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13433802/

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118… APOCALYPSE Z: THE BEGINNING OF THE END
Carles Torrens, Spain
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27599851/

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119… MARIA
Pablo Larraín, Italy / Germany / Chile / United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22893404/

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120… KINDS OF KINDNESS
Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland / United Kingdom / United States / Greece
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22408160/

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121… BECKY
Justin Milton, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26902675/

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122… ROAD HOUSE
Doug Liman, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359350/

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123… FAMILY SWITCH
McG, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14227048/

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124… THE STRANGERS: CHAPER 1
Renny Harlin, United States / United Kingdom / others
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22050754/

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125… THE UNION
Julian Farino, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12610390/

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126… BORDERLANDS
Eli Roth, United States
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4978420/

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