Best Movies of the Year: 2024

Last updated: February 5, 2025

On-screen stories taught us a lot this year: how to recognize and manage emotions, the challenges of courage and communication, and what it truly means to be a parent. And it doesn't stop there: Editorial Director Betsy Bozdech and Head of Streaming Movies Beth Pratt and Executive Editor Danny Brogan expertly curated this list that showcases the best movies released this year—many of them loaded with positive messages and role models. Check out their selections and, when you're done, dive into the rest of our favorite 2024 media picks —all linked below.

Best of 2024 Collection: U.K./International Films | TV Shows | Books | Video Games

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Puffin Rock and the New Friends movie poster: Cartoon birds and an otter all behind an egg

MOVIE

Puffin Rock and the New Friends

age 3+

Sweet Irish animation has teamwork, empathy, migrant theme.

April 16, 2024 2024 NR (79 minutes)

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A close-up of an otter's head is shown on the poster for Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story

MOVIE

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story

age 6+

Beautiful, heartwarming nature docu has positive messages.

May 6, 2024 2024 NR (77 minutes)

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Flow movie poster: A black cat sits in front of a Tibetan landscape

MOVIE

Flow

age 6+

Superb animated "cat-astrophe" has animals in peril.

November 22, 2024 2024 PG (84 minutes)

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Inside Out 2: Movie Poster: The emotion characters all squish together, their faces up against the "glass" of the poster

MOVIE

Inside Out 2

age 6+

Growing up is emotional in thoughtful sequel; some peril.

June 14, 2024 2024 PG (100 minutes)

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Inventors movie poster: the word written in orange font

MOVIE

Inventors

age 6+

Stop-motion animation is packed with positive messages.

September 27, 2024 2024 NR (76 minutes)

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Tiger movie poster: Two tigers cuddle.

MOVIE

Tiger

age 6+

Gorgeous animal docu is full of wonder; also peril, death.

April 22, 2024 2024 PG (89 minutes)

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A Greyhound of a Girl movie poster: A girl reads a book to three women and three men cheering

MOVIE

A Greyhound of a Girl

age 7+

Sweet animated adaptation about losing a grandparent.

July 27, 2024 2024 NR (85 minutes)

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Kensuke's Kingdom movie poster: A young boy looks over an island from a wooden platform in the trees

MOVIE

Kensuke's Kingdom

age 8+

Magical animated adaptation about the power of friendship.

October 18, 2024 2024 PG (85 minutes)

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Orion and the Dark movie poster: Animated nighttime characters.

MOVIE

Orion and the Dark

age 8+

Child faces fears in book-based fantasy; peril, scares.

February 2, 2024 2024 NR (92 minutes)

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Secret Lives of Orangutans movie poster: Ape baby face.

MOVIE

Secret Lives of Orangutans

age 8+

Apes hunt, fight, and grow up in absorbing nature docu.

August 23, 2024 2024 NR (80 minutes)

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Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds movie poster: Bird woman, two cat girls, face colorful vista and giant robed person in distance among the clouds

MOVIE

Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds

age 8+

Peril, forced marriage in melodic, magical adventure.

September 17, 2024 2024 NR (80 minutes)

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Thabo and the Rhino Case movie poster: Litlhohonolofatso Litlhakayane and Ava Skuratowski stand in the Africa savanna

MOVIE

Thabo and the Rhino Case

age 8+

Rhino poaching mystery has animal death, peril, language.

May 3, 2024 2024 PG (97 minutes)

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The Wild Robot: Movie Poster. Robot Roz peers through vegetation

MOVIE

The Wild Robot

age 8+

Beautiful, heartwarming adaptation with moments of peril.

September 27, 2024 2024 PG (101 minutes)

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Piece by Piece Movie Poster: A Lego man with lots of rainbow Lego pieces around him

MOVIE

Piece by Piece

age 9+

Creative Lego bio-doc has positive themes, implied drug use.

October 11, 2024 2024 PG (93 minutes)

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Transformers One Movie Poster: Transformers stand together in fight positions

MOVIE

Transformers One

age 9+

Dazzling animation in entertaining, explosive origin story.

September 20, 2024 2024 PG (104 minutes)

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Apollo 13: Survival movie poster: Astronauts suited up.

MOVIE

Apollo 13: Survival

age 10+

Tense re-creation of history in gripping space survival doc.

September 5, 2024 2024 NR (98 minutes)

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Butterfly in the Sky Movie Poster: Rainbow monarch butterfly emerges from a television, with LeVar Burton on the screen

MOVIE

Butterfly in the Sky

age 10+

Inspiring look at Reading Rainbow's legacy; mild language.

March 17, 2024 2024 NR (87 minutes)

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Girls State poster: A girl smiles with flag-colored braces

MOVIE

Girls State

age 10+

Teen girls show resilience and smarts in political docu.

April 5, 2024 2024 NR (95 minutes)

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Out of My Mind movie poster: Phoebe Rae-Taylor in a wheelchair in front of a blue sky.

MOVIE

Out of My Mind

age 10+

Strong emotions, positive messages in book adaptation.

November 22, 2024 2024 NR (107 minutes)

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She Rises Up movie poster: Woman in green garb holding a black bag walks away in the desert

MOVIE

She Rises Up

age 10+

Women battle poverty in inspiring docu; violence, language.

June 21, 2024 2024 NR (91 minutes)

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