The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced its 2024 Motion Pictures of the Year, featuring a mix of smaller, indie-style films and only a few titles from major studios

The two major studio films included in the list are Universal’s ‘Wicked’ and Warner Bros.' ‘Dune: Part Two.’ Meanwhile, Disney-owned Searchlight made a strong showing with two films of their own: ‘A Complete Unknown’ and ‘A Real Pain.’ Additionally, Universal’s Focus Features secured a spot with ‘Conclave.’ The streaming world had limited representation, with Netflix’s ‘Emilia Pérez’ earning recognition after making festival rounds, though Amazon also had an indirect connection through MGM/Orion’s ‘Nickel Boys.’

Several highly anticipated titles missed the mark this year, including several Oscar contenders. Paramount’s ‘Gladiator II.’ ‘September 5,’ and ‘Better Man’ were overlooked, as were Apple Original Films’ ‘Blitz’ and Netflix’s ‘The Piano Lesson’ and ‘Maria.’

Other notable omissions included Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’ and ‘Queer,’ Venice Golden Lion winner ‘The Room Next Door,’ Cannes selections like ‘The Substance’ and ‘The Apprentice,’ and two well-regarded animated films, ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘Inside Out 2,’ which is currently 2024’s highest-grossing film at the box office.

A notable surprise was the absence of Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed drama ‘Juror #2,’ which was released with minimal marketing by Warner Bros. and could have been a pleasant surprise on the list.

See the official list of the AFI Motion Pictures of the Year honorees below.

AFI MOTION PICTURES OF THE YEAR:

Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
A Real Pain
Sing Sing
Wicked

In the past three years, AFI and the Oscars have agreed on at least seven of the top 10 films. In 2021 and 2023, both organizations shared eight selections, and in 2022, they agreed on seven. However, the AFI tends to deem most international or foreign films “ineligible,” often giving them a special mention instead. For example, in 2021, ‘Belfast’ received a special mention, and in 2022, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ was acknowledged. International films like ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and ‘Triangle of Sadness’ were notably absent from AFI’s list in 2022, despite being nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. ‘Drive My Car’ was another example in 2021, where its ineligibility for AFI’s list prevented it from appearing, even though it was up for an Oscar.

The AFI Awards luncheon will take place on January 10, 2025, at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.

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