Top 10 A24 Movies in 2027

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once ranks first because it is A24's most decorated film, winning Best Picture at the 2023 Academy Awards. The Daniels' multiverse epic runs 139 minutes and features Michelle Yeoh in a career-defining performance as Evelyn Wang. It also earned Oscars for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor for Ke Huy Quan, and Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis, a record seven wins for the studio.

This film is for viewers who want maximalist spectacle with emotional weight, but its sensory overload can exhaust first-time watchers. Compared to Moonlight's quiet restraint, Everything Everywhere All at Once is loud, chaotic, and relentlessly inventive. It trades subtlety for sheer audacity, rewarding those who embrace its googly-eyed nihilism and hot-dog-finger universes. If you prefer intimate dramas, this may feel overwhelming, but for most it is the studio's crowning achievement.

2. Moonlight

Moonlight ranks second because it is A24's most critically acclaimed drama, winning Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards after the famous envelope mix-up. Barry Jenkins' triptych follows Chiron across three chapters of his life in Miami, with Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor. The 111-minute film also won Best Adapted Screenplay and features luminous cinematography from James Laxton. Its tender, restrained portrayal of Black queer coming-of-age made it an instant modern classic.

This film is for viewers who appreciate quiet, emotionally heavy storytelling that demands patience. Compared to Everything Everywhere All at Once's explosive energy, Moonlight is hushed and introspective, offering little relief from its melancholic tone. It trades spectacle for intimacy, rewarding careful attention with devastating emotional payoff. If you want a film that lingers long after the credits, Moonlight delivers, though its slow pacing may frustrate those seeking immediate thrills.

3. Hereditary

Hereditary ranks third because it is widely considered the scariest A24 film, anchored by Toni Collette's ferocious, Oscar-worthy performance. Ari Aster's debut feature runs 127 minutes and delivers unrelenting, expertly engineered dread from its opening minutes. The film's mid-story shock is one of the most jaw-dropping turns in modern horror, cementing Aster as a major voice in the genre. Its grief-soaked narrative and occult finale have made it a touchstone of elevated horror.

This film is for horror fans who want to be genuinely upset, not just entertained, but its disturbing content makes it unsuitable for casual viewing. Compared to Moonlight's emotional heaviness, Hereditary is viscerally terrifying, trading subtlety for raw, nerve-shredding tension. The occult finale divides audiences, with some finding it baffling rather than frightening. If you can handle its unflinching brutality, Hereditary offers a masterclass in dread that few films can match.

4. Lady Bird

Lady Bird ranks fourth because it is A24's most charming and universally beloved crowd-pleaser, earning multiple Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Director. Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut runs a tight 94 minutes and stars Saoirse Ronan as the titular Sacramento teen. Laurie Metcalf's performance as her mother delivers electric mother-daughter chemistry that anchors the film's warmth. Its sharp, funny, and deeply humane screenplay has made it endlessly rewatchable.

This film is for viewers who want accessible, heartwarming coming-of-age stories without the intensity of A24's horror output. Compared to Hereditary's unrelenting dread, Lady Bird is light and bittersweet, trading terror for tender humor. Its familiar coming-of-age beats may feel derivative to some, and its Sacramento specificity won't resonate with everyone. If you want a film that feels like a warm hug, Lady Bird delivers, though it lacks the bold ambition of higher-ranked entries.

5. The Witch

The Witch ranks fifth because it is the best value pick on this list, a lean 92-minute scare that rewards every rewatch with accumulating dread. Robert Eggers' debut won the directing prize at Sundance and launched Anya Taylor-Joy's career as eldest daughter Thomasin. Its obsessive period authenticity, from archaic dialogue to candlelit cinematography, creates a meticulously crafted nightmare. The film's slow-burn tension and ambiguous ending have made it a cornerstone of A24's horror reputation.

This film is for newcomers to A24 who want a short, atmospheric entry point, but its archaic dialogue is hard to parse on first viewing. Compared to Lady Bird's warmth, The Witch is cold and unsettling, trading charm for creeping paranoia. Its deliberate pacing frustrates some viewers who expect jump scares, yet its richness on rewatch makes it a smart starting point.

6. Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems ranks sixth because it is A24's most stressful thriller, a 135-minute anxiety attack that showcases Adam Sandler's revelatory dramatic performance. The Safdie brothers' film follows Howard Ratner, a Manhattan jeweler and compulsive gambler, through a spiraling high-stakes bet involving Kevin Garnett. Julia Fox's breakout role and the pulsing score create a relentless, sweat-soaked New York energy. Its overlapping dialogue and propulsive pacing make it an unforgettable, exhausting experience.

This film is for viewers who crave intense, propulsive filmmaking, but its constant stress is exhausting by design. Compared to The Witch's slow-burn dread, Uncut Gems is frantic and claustrophobic, trading atmosphere for relentless momentum. The overlapping shouting overwhelms some viewers, and its unlikeable protagonist tests patience. If you want a panic attack you'll want to feel again, Uncut Gems delivers, though it demands full attention and emotional stamina.

7. Midsommar

Midsommar ranks seventh because it is A24's most beautiful nightmare, a 148-minute daylight horror that turns a toxic relationship into ritual catharsis. Ari Aster's second feature stars Florence Pugh as grieving Dani, who joins her boyfriend at a Swedish commune's midsummer festival. The film's sun-drenched, flower-draped imagery is stunning, and Pugh's raw performance earned widespread acclaim. Its graphic ritual violence and ambiguous ending have made it endlessly dissected and rewatched.

This film is for viewers who appreciate gorgeous, disturbing horror, but its long runtime tests patience. Compared to Uncut Gems' urban panic, Midsommar is pastoral and eerie, trading New York chaos for Scandinavian pageantry. The graphic violence is hard to watch, and some find the breakup metaphor too on-the-nose. If you want a film that is both visually stunning and emotionally harrowing, Midsommar delivers, though the extended director's cut runs even longer for the committed.

8. Ex Machina

Ex Machina ranks eighth because it is A24's sharpest sci-fi, a 108-minute chamber-piece thriller that won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects on a modest budget. Alex Garland's directorial debut stars Alicia Vikander as Ava, a strikingly humanlike AI, opposite Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac. Its tense, cerebral exploration of machine consciousness feels increasingly prescient in the age of AI. The film's sleek design and morally slippery narrative make it one of A24's smartest releases.

This film is for viewers who want ideas-driven science fiction, but its talky, slow pacing will bore action-seekers. Compared to Midsommar's emotional rawness, Ex Machina is cold and intellectual, trading visceral horror for philosophical unease. The cold tone keeps viewers at a distance, and its chamber-piece setting feels confined. If you want a brainy thriller that only gets more relevant, Ex Machina delivers, though it lacks the emotional warmth of higher-ranked films.

9. The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse ranks ninth because it is A24's most hypnotic oddity, a 109-minute black-and-white descent into madness featuring titanic performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Robert Eggers' second feature traps two lighthouse keepers on a remote 1890s rock, shot in a boxy vintage aspect ratio on film. Its Oscar-nominated cinematography and salty monologues create a mythic, claustrophobic atmosphere. The film's dark humor beneath the dread makes it a unique, unforgettable experience.

This film is for viewers who appreciate surreal, intentionally unpleasant cinema, but its dense dialect and surrealism alienate many. Compared to Ex Machina's sleek sci-fi, The Lighthouse is grimy and primal, trading intellectual ideas for visceral isolation. The claustrophobic setting and deliberate unpleasantness make it a challenging watch. If you want two giant performances in glorious black and white, The Lighthouse delivers, though it demands patience and a tolerance for weirdness.

10. Past Lives

Past Lives ranks tenth because it is A24's most graceful romance, a 105-minute PG-13 drama that earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Original Screenplay. Celine Song's debut traces childhood sweethearts Nora and Hae Sung, separated by emigration and reunited across decades. Greta Lee's subtle, luminous lead performance anchors the film's quiet, aching exploration of fate and what-ifs. The Korean concept of in-yun gives the story a mature, restrained emotional depth.

This film is for viewers who want an accessible, tender romance without A24's typical intensity, but its quiet melancholy lacks big dramatic peaks. Compared to The Lighthouse's overwhelming weirdness, Past Lives is understated and warm, trading chaos for gentle longing. The understated style feels slight to some, and its slow pace may bore those seeking action.

How we ranked these

We measured five weighted factors: story strength, directorial craft, lead and supporting performances, rewatchability across a second viewing, and durable cultural impact. Placement came from where those overlap — bold filmmaking attached to a story that holds. Critical consensus informed order, but no single aggregate score decided it. Runtime and tone were logged for each title so readers can match a pick to their appetite rather than to reputation.

We deliberately ignored box office grosses, Rotten Tomatoes percentages, and fan polls, because those measure reach and popularity rather than quality. We ignored the A24 brand halo — the label ships duds alongside classics — and judged each film alone. We avoided recency bias by carrying older titles like Ex Machina and The Witch. Awards were noted, not weighted heavily, since Oscar outcomes often track campaign spend more than craft.

What to look for

When choosing between these films, what actually matters is your tolerance for intensity, pacing, and emotional tone. If you want a warm, accessible pick, Lady Bird or Past Lives are safe. If you want horror, Hereditary or The Witch deliver dread, but The Witch is shorter and more rewatchable. For maximalist spectacle, Everything Everywhere All at Once is the top choice, but it demands stamina. Match the runtime and mood to your viewing context, not just the critical reputation.

The mistake most buyers make is assuming higher rank means better for everyone. They pick Everything Everywhere All at Once because it won Best Picture, then find the sensory overload exhausting. Or they choose Hereditary for scares and get overwhelmed by its brutality. Rank reflects measured quality, not personal fit. Read the tone and runtime notes, and choose based on your mood and patience, not the list order.

Related questions

What is the best A24 movie for a newcomer?

The Witch (2015) is the best starting point. It runs a lean 92 minutes, needs no prior familiarity with the label's style, and its period authenticity — archaic dialogue, candlelit photography — shows what a director-driven A24 film looks like. The slow burn frustrates viewers expecting jump scares, but it accumulates dread and rewards a second watch.

Which A24 movie has won the most Oscars?

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Ke Huy Quan, and Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis. Moonlight (2016) won three, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, but the 2023 sweep remains the studio's largest single haul.

What is the scariest A24 horror movie?

Hereditary (2018) is widely considered the scariest, built on Toni Collette's ferocious performance and Ari Aster's engineered, unrelenting dread. Its mid-story shock is among the most jaw-dropping turns in modern horror. Midsommar and The Witch frighten differently — daylight folk-horror pageantry and period paranoia respectively. For pure fear rather than unease, Hereditary is the pick.

Are A24 movies available on Netflix?

Availability shifts constantly as licensing deals rotate, and no single service carries the full catalog at once. Some A24 titles surface on Netflix periodically, while others land on Amazon, Max, or Hulu. Check a streaming aggregator like JustWatch for a specific film rather than assuming a platform, since digital rental is often the only reliable path.

What is the most rewatchable A24 movie?

Lady Bird (2017) rewards repeat viewings — a tight 94 minutes, warm humor, and the electric Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf mother-daughter dynamic that reads differently as you age. The Witch also gains on rewatch as its period detail and accumulating dread come into focus. For an easy, endlessly repeatable pick, Lady Bird is safest.

Which A24 movie has the best performances?

Everything Everywhere All at Once carries career-best work from Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, all three Oscar winners for it. Toni Collette in Hereditary and Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems drew comparable acclaim in narrower registers. For sheer range across comedy, action, and family drama in one role, Yeoh's Evelyn Wang is unmatched here.

What is the most underrated A24 movie?

The Lighthouse (2019) gets overlooked despite Oscar-nominated cinematography and titanic two-hander performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Robert Eggers shot it in black and white on film in a boxy vintage aspect ratio, trapping both keepers on an 1890s rock. The dense dialect and surrealism alienate many viewers, but patient ones find dark humor beneath the dread.

Is Everything Everywhere All at Once worth the hype?

Yes. It blends absurdist comedy, kung-fu action, and a genuine mother-daughter drama across 139 minutes, and the Academy Awards sweep reflected real ambition rather than campaign noise. The sensory overload exhausts some first-time watchers, and the hot-dog-fingers universe is divisive. But the emotional core lands, which is why it tops this list over quieter contenders.

FAQ

What is the best A24 movie?

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) tops the list. The Daniels' 139-minute multiverse epic won Best Picture and represents the studio's creative peak in ambition, invention, and emotional payoff. Michelle Yeoh anchors it as Evelyn Wang. It is loud and chaotic where Moonlight is hushed, but it is the definitive A24 film for most viewers.

Which A24 movies won Best Picture?

Two: Moonlight (2016) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). Moonlight took the award at the 2017 ceremony after the famous envelope mix-up, with Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor. Everything Everywhere All at Once won at the 2023 ceremony. Both marked turning points that lifted A24 from indie curiosity to a major awards player.

Where can I stream A24 movies?

No single service carries everything, and availability rotates as licensing deals expire. A24 titles move across the major subscription platforms and are consistently available through digital rental storefronts. Search the specific film on a streaming aggregator to see current options rather than subscribing to one service expecting the full catalog. Treat any where-to-watch listing as a snapshot.

Are A24 movies good for casual viewers?

Some are. Lady Bird and Past Lives are accessible, warm, and under 110 minutes. But many A24 films are intense, slow, or deliberately unpleasant — Hereditary, Uncut Gems, and The Lighthouse all demand stamina. Check the tone before pressing play. The Witch works as an entry point because its 92-minute runtime keeps the commitment low.

Who are the key A24 directors?

Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse), the Daniels — Kwan and Scheinert — (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Alex Garland (Ex Machina), and the Safdie brothers (Uncut Gems). Each brings a distinct voice, from Aster's engineered dread to Gerwig's coming-of-age warmth.

What is the best A24 movie for a date night?

Past Lives (2023) is the pick — a graceful, PG-13, 105-minute romance tracing Nora and Hae Sung across decades, anchored by Greta Lee's luminous lead performance. It is tender and thought-provoking without being punishing. Lady Bird works too for its humor and heart. Avoid Hereditary and Uncut Gems unless a shared panic attack is the goal.

Which A24 movie has the best visual effects?

Ex Machina (2014) won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects on a modest budget, thanks to the seamless integration of Alicia Vikander as Ava, a strikingly humanlike AI. Alex Garland's 108-minute chamber piece pairs those effects with a cerebral script about machine consciousness that has only grown more prescient. It is talky and cold by design.

What is the most stressful A24 movie?

Uncut Gems (2019). The Safdie brothers' 135-minute thriller follows Adam Sandler's Howard Ratner, a Manhattan jeweler and compulsive gambler, through a spiraling high-stakes bet involving Kevin Garnett. Overlapping dialogue, a pulsing score, and Julia Fox's breakout turn make it exhausting by design. It demands full attention and emotional stamina, and rewards both.

Is Midsommar scarier than Hereditary?

No. Midsommar is disturbing rather than frightening — 148 minutes of sun-drenched folk-horror pageantry, graphic ritual violence, and Florence Pugh's raw performance as the grieving Dani. Hereditary is scarier, built on unrelenting dread and a shocking mid-film turn. Both are Ari Aster films, but Hereditary is the more purely terrifying watch of the two.

How long are the movies on this list?

They range widely. The Witch is the shortest at 92 minutes, followed by Lady Bird at 94, Past Lives at 105, Ex Machina at 108, The Lighthouse at 109, and Moonlight at 111. Hereditary runs 127, Uncut Gems 135, Everything Everywhere All at Once 139, and Midsommar 148 — longer still in the director's cut.

Sources

• https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=a24
• https://www.rottentomatoes.com
• https://www.metacritic.com
• https://letterboxd.com/studio/a24/
• https://www.rogerebert.com
• https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies
• https://a24films.com
• https://www.justwatch.com

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