A24has made a name for itself in the film community as one of the most exciting and original voices of indie cinema, winning over a faithful fanbase with its quirkycomediesand distinctively dark humor. The production and distribution company is responsible for disruptive stories, bringing a three-dimensional approach to the film industry and remodeling how movie genres such as horror and comedy work in an ever-changing scenario.
For those familiar only with A24’s current scenario, most of the company’s first movies flirted with comedy such asThe Bling Ring, The Spectacular Now, andObvious Child.A24 only got better as time went by, and stands out now as a safe haven for those looking for comedies with a good twist to the unconventional.
Here are A24’s best comedies, ranked.
7The Lobster (2016)
The Lobster
Yorgos Lanthimos had already generated quite a buzz around his disturbing dramaDogtoothin 2009, andThe Lobster, hisfirst-ever English-language movie, was just about enough to win over fans of his outrageously hilarious filmmaking style. Set in a dystopian future,The Lobsterimposes a condition in which single people are taken into a hotel in order to find their soulmate in forty-five days. In case they fail to do so, they are transformed into animals and discarded into the Woods.
What Makes It Great
Such an original premise gets as provoking as a movie can get once the characters' yearning for unconditional love gives space to desperation and melancholy. Pretty much every character in this movie feels as if they are constantly on the verge of a mental breakdown, and Lanthimos manages to convey these feelings with such a hysterical sense of humor that it’s nearly impossible to look away from the screen.
6On the Rocks (2020)
On the Rocks
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InOn the Rocks, Bill Murray and Rashida Jones play father and daughter, Felix and Laura, teaming up in an unusual quest to find out whether Laura’s husband is cheating on her.Director Sofia Coppolaunderstands momentum like no one else, and the film’s patient comedy timing feels completely in synch with the unique interactions between the two leads.
Weirdly enough,On the Rocksis a movie made for streaming that genuinely feels like a movie made for streaming. There’s something about its cozy, nonchalant attitude that perfectly matches the comfort of a home, let alone the movie’s powerful subtext on family and household dynamics.
5Funny Pages (2022)
Funny Pagesis an underrated A24 comedy that might have slipped under the radar of indie aficionados. Marking Owen Kline’s debut feature, the movie is half a sarcastic coming-of-age tale, half an unforgiving cinematic ego-trip featuring Robert, a young aspiring cartoonist who thinks greatly of himself. He decides to go on a journey of self-discovery and self-fulfillment while rejecting being part of a conventional urban lifestyle.
Funny Pagesis a self-aware debut that fully embraces the chaos of its protagonist’s mind and his condescending view of the world, giving in to cartoonish flourishes that wouldn’t work in a conventional comedy movie. Here, it feels as if Kline is handling a sketch he just knows is better than the final version, which is evident in his risky storytelling choices.
4Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Everything Everywhere All at Once
A Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world.
Everything Everywhere All at Onceturned out to be the biggest sensation of 2022 and even challenged the traditional Oscar-bait narrative by winning the prestigious Best Picture award at the ceremony. The film introduces Michelle Yeoh in the performance of a lifetime as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant whose life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she can access different versions of herself in multiple universes.
For one thing, the unanimous praise around the movie can be linked to how well it navigates through different movie genres, feeling like a genuinely hilarious movie while delivering a moving message about the mesmerizing absurdity of life. Directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan are inclined from the very first scene to make viewers laugh and cry with the same intensity.
3Dream Scenario (2023)
Dream Scenario
Those familiar with the “Have you dreamed of this man?” creepypasta will be happy to know they are finally addressing the matter with the dark humor it prescribed withDream Scenario. The film introduces Nicolas Cage as Paul Matthews, an ordinary college professor who becomes famous overnight after appearing in the dreams of every person on Earth.
The contrast between the real world and the dream sequences escalates intoa mind-bending experience, resulting in one of the most original comedies of the past years. In addition,Dream Scenariois another one of those movies that is both joking and being serious about Cage being the protagonist of a whole universe, adhering to a nearly mythological lore around the veteran actor. In a way, it feels as if the movie just wouldn’t exist without Cage — he seems to have been born for a role like this.
2Lady Bird (2017)
One of Greta Gerwig’s most personal films,Lady Birdis an account of a teenage girl in crisis. Calling herself “Lady Bird,” the main character forces her way out of the nest in an effort to leave her small town behind. The movie explores her condition as a student, a friend, a daughter, and a dreamer.
It’s difficult to label what kind of movieLady Birdis exactly: if it was supposed to be a straight-up coming-of-age drama, it’s much funnier than one could anticipate. On the other hand, it feels so painfully relatable and emotional at times that it crosses the boundaries of a regular comedy. So much of this works thanks to Saoirse Ronan’s charming and bigger-than-life performance, hitting close to home for both the new and old generation.
1Red Rocket (2021)
Red Rocket
Sean Baker is one of thebest directors working today, using his movies to portray overlooked portions of American society as a reflection of a deteriorating conservative society.The Florida ProjectandTangerineboth offered moving stories while maintaining a distinctive sense of humor, but it’s only inRed Rocketthat Baker fully dives into his most depraved and scandalous influences.
Simon Rex rises from the ashes in a captivating performance as Mikey, a washed-out porn actor on the run. Crawling back to his hometown, he tries to reconnect with old faces while plotting a way to reach stardom. Baker sure knows how to make audiences care about an absolute prick, and Mikey hilariously outdoes himself as he engages in a succession of outrageous maneuvers.
