Ariana Madix, television personality

Diane Warren, Grammy Award-winning songwriter

Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, actress

Cooper Kline and Lauren Greenfield, artist and filmmaker

Ilana Peña, screenwriter

Stephanie Koenig, actress and producer

Ty Stiklorius, Founder & CEO Friends at Work

Yasmin Monet Watkins, poet, actress, screenwriter

Sharon Waxman, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of TheWrap and Shira Lazar CEO and founder of What’s Trending & #Creators4MentalHealth

Alicia Hannah-Kim, actress

Lydia Wrensch, producer

Sharon Waxman and Diane Warren

Madeline Di Nonno, President and CEO of Geena Davis Institute

Ivy Kagan Bierman, Chair, Entertainment Labor at Loeb & Loeb

Jo Cronk, President of Whalar Group

Micaela Erlanger, Celebrity Fashion Stylist

Keely Cat-Wells and Molly Burke

Shira Lazar CEO and founder of What’s Trending & #Creators4MentalHealth

Meghan Grimm, CEO of Clyde Staffing Agency

Kathryn Peterson, Agent at UTA and Elizabeth Goodstein, VP business development, strategy at Madison Wells

Jordan Weiss, Writer and Producer

Sam Javis, Screenwriter

Molly Burke, Activist

Syreeta Butler,  CEO and Founder of Just B Consulting & therapist

Mona Shaikh, Comedian

The atmosphere at the Changemakers 2024 cocktail reception.

Nicole Pollard Bayme, Fashion Stylist & Founder of LalaLuxe

Sarah Rothman, Co-Founder of The Lede Company

Nikki DeLoach, Actress

Sharon Waxman, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of TheWrap and actress Michelle Lemuya Ikeny attend Changemakers 2024.

Sharon Waxman and Ty Stiklorius, producer

Yazmin Monet Watkins, poet, actress and screenwriter

Keely Cat-Wells, CEO of Making Space and Molly Burke, activist

Brittani Nichols, producer

Sharon Waxman speaks on stage at the Changemakers 2024 cocktail reception.

Sharon Waxman

Ariana Madix, television personality and Kellie Gerardi, American astronaut

(L-R) Jordan Weiss, Sam Jarvis, Ariana Madix and Stephanie Koenig

(L-R) Dani Potter, Sharon Waxman, and Nancy Josephson

(L-R) Madeline Di Nonno, Keely Cat-Wells, and Molly Burke

Keely Cat-Wells, CEO of Making Space and Molly Burke, activist

“Gossip Girl”

If you’re craving the Upper East Side background of the O.G. “Cruel Intentions” movie, “Gossip Girl” will likely quench your thirst, with Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena (Blake Lively) competing for the sole spot as queen of Constance, though let’s be honest, there’s no competition for Queen B. The CW series ticks off the boxes of several favorite “Cruel Intentions” plot points: best friend betrayal, grey area of step sibling romance and an illicit affair with a professor, to name a few. Bonus points if you watch the Max reboot of “Gossip Girl,” which features “Cruel Intentions” star Savannah Lee Smith.

“Pretty Little Liars”

While Sarah Catherine Hook’s Caroline Merteuil and Zac Burgess’ Lucien Belmont avoid getting hands dirty in their plots at all costs, nearly every character in “Pretty Little Liars” has a hands-on role in keeping their dirty laundry — from an affair with a teacher to a predilection for theft — out of the public eye. As the liars (played by Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale and Shay Mitchell) are tormented by an anonymous antagonist who goes by “A,” betrayal is commonplace at every place they turn.

“Tell Me Lies”

If your favorite part of “Cruel Intentions” was Caroline and Lucien’s undeniably toxic relationship, your mind might be blown by Stephen in “Tell Me Lies,” who gaslights his way in and out of relationships with freshman Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and his ex-girlfriend, Diana (Alicia Crowder), throughout the show’s existing two seasons. Even as Lucy learns his toxic ways, she can’t help but get drawn back into Stephen’s lies, even though she knows better. As Lucy becomes involved with Stephen, her close friends, Pippa (Sonia Mena) and Bree (Catherine Missal) are also drawn into relationships with Stephen’s friends, and encounter some tricky situations of their own. And yes, “Tell Me Lies” also includes a student-professor affair, though not until Season 2.

“You”

While we’re talking toxic, we would be remiss not to mention “You,” whose Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) might admire the lengths Caroline will go to ensure her place on the throne and prove her “love” for Lucien. Much more motivated by love rather than status, Joe’s infatuation-turned-exploits have taken him from a Brooklyn bookstore to a London university, where lust always turns to murder, no matter how hard Joe tries to avoid it. Both series succeed in satirizing the elite classes, with Joe’s murderous inner dialogue ridiculing his acquaintances while fawning to them IRL. While not a teen show necessarily, “You” definitely is packed with twists and turns.

“The Sex Lives of College Girls”

If you want a full on break from toxic characters with the same fun and sex appeal found in “Cruel Intentions,” your next pick might be “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” a lighthearted college-set series with plenty of comedic relief. Centering on four freshman year roommates, the Max series follows the journeys of a soccer player involved with her coach (Alyah Chanelle Scott), a reputation-conscious cool girl coming to terms with her sexuality (Reneé Rapp), a well-meaning and vivacious aspiring comedy writer (Amrit Kaur) and a Midwestern student whose world is opened up for the first time (Pauline Chalamet). The girls all make their fair share of mistakes, but they are never intentionally cruel.

“Gladiator” (2000)

We had to add “Gladiator” to the list with its sequel being in theaters and all. So if you need to watch it before heading to the movies, check it out on Prime Video. In Ridley Scott’s action-adventure “Gladiator,” Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a former general who’s been enslaved and forced to fight for his life as a common gladiator. However, he eventually rises through the ranks all with the goal to avenge the murder of his family.

“Boomerang” (1992)

Reginald Hudlin’s romantic comedy “Boomerang” centers on confident and suave ad executive Marcus (Eddie Murphy). He’s known for getting anything and any woman he wants. However, when a company merger forces him to work under the beautiful and intelligent Jacqueline, who enjoys as much a bachelor lifestyle as he does, Marcus must choose between the challenging Jacqueline or his other more sweet and considerate lady friend, Angela.

“Good Will Hunting” (1997)

Who doesn’t need a good heartwarming tear-jerker in their lineup of movies to watch? “Good Will Hunting” is one of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s early collaborations, and it won them each the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It’s about a highly intelligent young man named Will (Matt Damon) who doesn’t understand the full potential of his brain. While working as a janitor at MIT, professor Geral Lambeu discovers his smarts after seeing him solve a graduate-level math equation. When Will gets arrested for attacking a cop, Lambeu offers to help him clear his crime only if he takes up therapy with a man named Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).

“Airplane!”

Another classic on this list is the comedy “Airplane!” The parody film from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Arthur Hailey, Hall Bartlett and John C. Champion spoofs several hit ’70s disaster movies through a hilarious plot. In an effort to land a plane full of food poisoned passengers, a drunken rogue pilot is forced to work with his ex-girlfriend while juggling the series of whacky events that go down in the air.

“Coraline” (2009)

“Coraline” makes this list because it’s just a great film, plus it’s something for the whole family to watch. In “Coraline” a young girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) finds herself exploring an alternate world that’s hidden behind a secret door in her home. Everything goes well in this new dimension that looks eerily like her own, at least until her Other Family (led by a mom played by Teri Hatcher) attempts to make her stay there forever. Now, she’ll have to figure out a way to make it back to her real family.

“Small Soldiers”

Let’s be honest this movie’s toy-sized, gritty characters and action-packed scenes left us on the edge of our seats. “Small Soldiers” follows the journey of Alan (Gregory Smith) who’s bought set of soldier-like action figures. But these aren’t just any regular toys, they’ve been programmed with military technology. When the toy soldiers come to life, Alan becomes wrapped up in the middle of a war between the Commando elite and the Gorgonites.

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

Last but certainly not least is truly your classic’s favorite classic. A young wife (Mia Farrow) and her husband (John Cassavetes) move into a New York City apartment that has a sinister background and creepy neighbors. Eventually she becomes pregnant, but she has an inking that her child isn’t of this Earth. It’s not until she gives birth that she sees its true identity.

Training Day

“King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on me!” Crooked L.A. cop Alonzo Harris and his iconic speech earned the actor his first (and, to date, only) Best Actor Oscar. It’s a joy to watch him cook as the character, who alternately charms and intimidates rookie partner Jake (an also nominated Ethan Hawke). We don’t really want to root for him since he’s the bad guy after all, but we just can’t help it. It’s Denzel at, arguably, his best.

Glory

Washington won his first Oscar for his searing performance as Private Silas Trip in Edward Zwick’s 1989 Civil War drama. The character is whipped in front of the entire company after he leaves camp without permission and he never once flinches as the lashes are delivered. Instead, he levels a death glare at the commanding officer who ordered the punishment (Matthew Broderick) and never once looks away as a lone tear runs down his cheek. The way he shrugs off his shirt to reveal a lifetime’s worth of whipping scars from his time as a slave says more than than words in this powerful scene. He had previously been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as as South African activist Steve Biko, but this was the moment when he arrived.

Malcolm X

Other actors have played the slain Civil Rights leader before and since, but Washington brings everything he has, the rage, the intensity and the laser-like focus to the role, which earned him another Oscar Best Actor nod. (He lost to Al Pacino, who finally won the category with “Scent of a Woman.”) It’s a perfect combination of director — frequent collaborator Spike Lee — the weight of history and the power of the moment as he stepped up as a leading man and major movie star.

Fences

Washington directs himself in the adaptation of the August Wilson play, a role that had already earned him a Tony Award. Here, he reprises his performance as Troy Maxson, a Pittsburgh garbage collector who might have made it to the big leagues as a baseball player — if not for the color barrier that still existed in the 1950s.

Much Ado About Nothing

Washington is in charming manipulator mode as dashing Don Pedro in Kenneth Branagh’s extremely enjoyable adaptation of the Shakespeare play that more than set the stage for his eventual turn as Macbeth nearly 20 years later.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

When silent film star Greta Garbo made her first sound film, the advertising tagline was, naturally, “Garbo Speaks!” a phrase that comes to mind since all you need to know about this Joel Coen-directed drama is “Denzel Does Shakespeare!” Here, opposite three-time Oscar winer Frances McDormand, he brings one of the most complex and coveted stage roles to life with gravitas, pride and, of course, all-too-human hubris.

American Gangster

The actor’s first team-up with “Gladiator II” director Ridley Scott also had him playing a larger-than-life villain, in this case, real-life Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas. Right before shooting down a man who owes him money (Idris Elba) in the middle of the sidewalk in the middle of the day, he tells his crew, “Either you’re somebody or you’re nobody.”

‘Bosch’

Amazon kicked off its trend of successful detective shows with “Bosch,” an adaptation of the Michael Connelly book series that got the moniker “Dad TV.” But you’ll find that “Bosch” is more than just a stubborn detective solving cases. Titus Welliver’s titular LAPD detective wrestles with crossing the line as the show touches on policing and corruption in Los Angeles. But yes, it’s also a mystery-filled series with season-long storylines that twist and turn as Harry Bosch works to crack the case. — Adam Chitwood

Where to watch: Prime Video

“Luther”

Like Aldis Hodge’s Alex Cross, Idris Elba’s Luther is a compassionate and highly intelligent detective who sometimes is ruled by his emotions. As Luther works to crack murder cases, he struggles to navigate and accept how dark humanity can truly be. Nevertheless, he takes on his targets, often finding himself in a psychological battle with some of the most demented yet brilliant minds, and that’s all while juggling his personal life. — Raquel Harris

Where to watch: Pluto TV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Britbox, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV

“Reacher”

James Patterson has Alex Cross and Lee Child has Jack Reacher. “Reacher” is the second adaptation of Child’s books – Tom Cruise starred in two movie adaptations – and it stars Alan Ritchson as the hulking former U.S. military major who lives as a drifter, moving from town to town and answering the call when people need him. This show’s more action-oriented than “Cross,” but still has crackling mysteries and season-long arcs that hit the sweet spot. — Adam Chitwood

Where to watch: Prime Video

“True Detective”

While “Cross” is mainly focused on one detective, “True Detective,” follows a group of detectives as they pursue criminals in sometimes unorthodox ways. A plus is that it’s an anthology series, so viewers are introduced to an entirely new set of characters and fresh storylines every season. — Raquel Harris

Where to watch: Max

“Jack Ryan”

Yet another adaptation of a popular book series hero, John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan” is a global espionage thriller show that follows in the footsteps of prior portrayals from the likes of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Each episode of “Jack Ryan” is something of a mini-movie and the show is more of a spy series than a detective story as it follows Krasinski’s CIA analyst constantly out of his depth. And there’s a movie on the way! — Adam Chitwood

Where to watch: Prime Video

“Criminal Minds”

“Criminal Minds” is one of the longest running cop procedurals and it’s gone on to have two spinoffs, “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” and “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.” Like Alex Cross, each member of the “mind hunter” team is fully equipped with investigative and psychology-based skills that help them dig into the minds of the most tactical criminals, while bringing their own unique qualities to the group. — Raquel Harris

Where to watch: Paramount+, Hulu

“Mindhunter”

If the serial killer aspect of “Cross” piqued your interest, “Mindhunter” should be high-up on your watchlist. The Netflix series from “Seven” and “Zodiac” filmmaker David Fincher chronicles the earliest days of the FBI’s criminal profiling unit, following the team that assembled in the 1970s to start using psychology to catch serial killers. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany play the two central figures who travel the country to interview captured killers like Charlie Manson and Ed Kemper to get a better sense of what makes these killers tick. The show only lasted two seasons, but all 19 episodes make for a meaty, thrilling and truly terrifying binge-watch. — Adam Chitwood

Where to watch: Netflix

“The Blacklist”

Watch “The Blacklist,” because one, its lead is James Spader, and two because you’ll get a little bit of “Cross” while watching because Ryan Eggold — who played Ed Ramsey in “Cross” —is one of the show’s stars. “The Blacklist” centers on a government agent named Raymond “Red” Reddington, who’s one of the world’s most wanted fugitives. However, he teams up with the FBI to help the organization crack down a “blacklist” of the globe’s biggest threats. His only request is that he’s able to work with a profiler named Liz, who he helps learn the mind of a criminal. — Raquel Harris

Where to watch: Netflix

Dark

The final episodes of “Arcane” Season 2 dips its toe into the multiverse, alternate timelines, and time travel. If you want a fully immersive time travel experience, then Netflix’s German series “Dark” is unassailable. The series follows a town unknowingly stuck in a cycle of 33-year intervals where actions set in motion bring an unknowing end to the world. The story takes place across all three cycles, with the same characters dealing with themselves and other members of the town at different periods of their life.

There is a pretty steep learning curve to fully understanding “Dark.” But once everything starts to fall into place, it’s a singular viewing experience.

Blue Eye Samurai

“Blue Eye Samurai” boasts a gorgeous animation style to rival the great work apparent in “Arcane.” It’s also a very adult story about a mixed-race samurai who hides in disguise while on a quest for revenge in the Edo period of Japan.

If you want a brutal, adult story with a beautiful animation style, then look no further than “Blue Eye Samurai.” The one downside is the wait for Season 2 will likely rival the long wait between seasons of “Arcane.”

Attack on Titan

“Attack on Titan” tells the story of Eren Yeager and his friends and fellow soldiers in the Scout Regiment, as they fight to reclaim a world overrun by towering and hungry Titans. For the fans who loved the the meticulous plotting of “Arcane” and a focus on a main character whose quest for power and justice leads them down a questionable path, “Attack on Titan” is your next stop.

Like “Arcane,” “Attack on Titan” uses its fantasy setting and wartime mentality to explore humanity in brutal fashion. If the Netflix series had you crying across it’s 18 episodes, buckle up for what four seasons of “Attack on Titan” will do.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Another Netflix animated hit with inspirations from a video game, “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” tracks David Martinez’s journey from being a street punk to a full-fledge Edgerunner in the dangerous Night City. David’s climb up the criminal ladder is offset by his growing relationship with fellow Edgerunner Lucy. If one of the big pulls to “Arcane” was Jinx and Ekko’s relationship, then queue up the one season of “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

12 Monkeys

Another time travel series, “12 Monkeys” is a TV version of the famous ’90s film. This version goes beyond a ragtag group of people sending someone back in time to stop the release of a virus that decimates the planet, and becomes a story about saving time itself.

The time travel aspect will help scratch an itch left by the final episodes of “Arcane” Season 2, but will also appeal to fans of the Netflix series who were charmed by the solid themes of found family. Those are readily apparent in “12 Monkeys” and make the show shine all the brighter.

Castlevania

Another Netflix animated series on the list based on a video game, “Castlevania” offers a very similar vibe to “Arcane” while being set in the gothic and vampire-riddled setting of Walachia. The series follows noted vampire hunting Victor Belmont, mage Sypha teaming up to take down Dracula himself. Along the way, they side with Dracula’s son, Alucard, to aid them in the fight.

The series earned a number of accolades and praise from critics for its first season, with a second series, “Castlevania: Nocturne,” ready to drop a second season soon.

Yellowjackets

Showtime’s runaway hit “Yellowjackets” will help fill the “Arcane” void for those missing the strong female characters throughout the Netflix series. The horror drama follows a high school girl’s soccer team that crashes in the woods in the ’90s and are forced to battle a cult-like mentality and cannibalism while they fight to survive. In the present day, the survivors deal with the fallout of what they lived through while trying to keep it quiet about everything they did to stay alive.

The Sopranos

The parallels between “The Penguin” and “The Sopranos” were talked about ad nauseam throughout the show’s run that this recommendation is a no-brainer. Oz and Tony share a number of similarities from a need to climb higher in their city down to a somewhat troubling relationship with their mother.

“The Sopranos” sits near the top of the All-Time TV pantheon so if you haven’t already seen the show then at least use the excuse of needing more “Penguin” vibes to check a great off your list.

Gotham

If what you crave is another dive into The Penguin’s backstory then a binge of Fox’s “Gotham” is what you need. The series serves as a prequel to much of what people are familiar of when they think of Batman’s City. Bruce Wayne is still a young boy, Jim Gordon is a new cop for GCPD and several of the most iconic Batman villains are just finding their footing.

Robin Taylor Lord’s turn as Oswald Cobblepot often steals the show and while many other villains came and went through the series, Lord and his portrayal were a constant.

Batman: The Caped Crusader

“The Penguin” is likely to spark a lot more interest in Batman’s world and it wasn’t even the only new show set in Gotham to land in 2024. A spiritual successor to the beloved ’90s “Batman: The Animated Series,” the new Prime Video show “Batman: The Caped Crusader” hits all of those highs while expanding on an alternate reality Gotham where there is free reign to try new and fresh story angles for familiar characters.

Boardwalk Empire

Oz Cobb doesn’t just want to be a career criminal. He also has his eye on Gotham’s political world as we see in the show’s final episodes. “Boardwalk Empire” main character Nucky Thompson walks a similar line in the series set in Prohibition Era Atlantic City. If what you’re craving is a crime drama that’s just as much about the political maneuvers as it is pushing whatever the illicit substance of the week is than HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” is your pick.

Plus, Steve Buscemi puts in some career-best work playing Thompson.

Peaky Blinders

The last 15 years in TV has largely been led by captivating anti-heroes. Oz Cobb will definitely be remembered as one of the greats but he’ll still have to do some climbing to stand aside a Mount Rushmore of TV anti-hero contenders in “Peaky Blinders” main character Tommy Shelby.

The Netflix series follows a London gang through the early 1900s, Cillian Murphy puts in a legendary performance as the leader of a family of gangsters. If you love watching Oscar-winners soak up a TV performance give “Peaky Blinders” a go.

Daredevil

We’re crossing comic book family lines by suggesting “Daredevil” but it definitely fits the bill. Matt Murdock may not be a villain like Oz Cobb but you’ll find a lot of parallels between the Batman villain and Wilson Fisk – The Kingpin. Both clawed from nothing to become an influential power in their respective city and in this case it’s up to Daredevil to come up against that power.

Unlike many Marvel shows, there’s a level of grit to “Daredevil” that will make fans of “The Penguin” feel right at home.

Sons of Anarchy

If there’s one thing about Oz Cobb it’s that he’s a scrappy criminal. He’s going to do what it takes, however it takes, to get what he wants out of life. If what you’re looking for is a bit of that scrappy, ground level crime look no further than “Sons of Anarchy.” The FX series follows a California motorcycle club and their many criminal dealings.

The show boasts Ron Perlman as a lead and was one of Charlie Hunnam’s big breaks.

All We Imagine As Light

Payal Kapadia’s emotionally intricate “All We Imagine as Light” was the first Indian film in 30 years to compete for major prizes at the Cannes Film Festival. It also won the Grand Prix, an award previously given to classics like “Cinema Paradiso,” “Breaking the Waves” and last year’s “The Zone of Interest.” But don’t take the festival’s word for it. Watch this beautiful drama for yourself and see what all the fuss is about. “All We Imagine as Light” tells the story about nurses working in Mumbai, maintaining their independence in spite of the men who let them down, eager to live their lives but stuck at arm’s length from true happiness.

Anora

Not that it’s a competition, but Sean Baker’s rom-com “Anora” won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. (Okay, I guess that technically was a competition; the point is, but it doesn’t actually make one film better than another.) “Anora” stars Mikey Madison in a breakout, awards-contending role as the title character, a sex worker whose big new client Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, marries her after a whirlwind romance. When his parents find out, the story takes an unexpected turn, and Anora winds up on a scavenger hunt throughout New York with a small gang of hapless goons. First romantic, then hilarious, “Anora” reveals itself in the end to be a complex and bittersweet experience.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Barbara Robinson’s classic 1972 children’s book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” finally came to the big screen in a film that genuinely captures its magic. Judy Greer stars as a mom who takes over the directing duties of the town’s annual Christmas pageant, but when a family of local bullies gate crashes the festivities and muscle all the other kids out of the starring roles, it looks like this year is going to be a disaster. Or maybe it’ll be, you know, the best Christmas pageant ever. Dallas Jenkins’ funny and heartfelt comedy has a smart approach to the holiday season, deftly poking at Christmas traditions, without a hint of mockery, to make sure the spirit of the holiday doesn’t get lost in the details. It’s flying under the radar but “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” has the makings of a yuletide classic.

Conclave

Speaking of poking at traditions, “Conclave” takes a hard look at the inner workings of the Catholic Church and comes to difficult conclusions. Directed by Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”), the film stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, who assembles a conclave to elect a new pope after the new one unexpectedly dies. Sealed off from the outside world, the process quickly becomes a locked room mystery as Lawrence investigates the candidates and reveals disturbing secrets that could shape the future of the church. Berger has assembled one of the most impressive casts of the year — John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini are all standouts — and the tense, efficient airplane novel of a story delivers the film’s serious commentary without seeming too… well, “preachy. “

Flow

I know what you’re thinking: “Another Latvian CG-animated film about animals banding together to survive an apocalyptic flood?” And yes, this genre has been done to death but — wait a minute, I’m just getting a note from my editor… actually no, that’s not a pre-existing subgenre. This movie really is as brand-spanking new as it sounds. “Flow” tells the story of a house cat who leaps to safety on board a boat when the waters rise, swallowing up every man-made building and monument. Along the way other animals hop on for dear life, and fight their natural instincts as they overcome frightening obstacles and fend off starvation. There aren’t many other films this year as harrowing as “Flow,” a film that looks charming on the surface, but is full to bursting with existential dread.

Ghost Cat Anzu

A little girl named Karin gets dropped off at her grandfather’s house, because her deadbeat dad owes money to some shady characters. While he runs off to pay his debts, she finds herself spending time with Anzu, the family’s ghost cat. He doesn’t die, he just keeps getting bigger and smarter, until now he’s in his thirties and walking on two legs and working as a professional masseuse, making biscuits (as they say) on people’s backs for money. “Ghost Cat Anzu” is an extremely odd premise, which makes sense, because it’s an odd movie. It’s more interested in hanging out with minor deities than it is in anything resembling a plot, at least until the climactic chase scene, and even that is surreal to the point of absurdity. Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s film defies most American expectations of animate cinema — it’s too mature for little kids, too sedate for most adults — but it’s captivating in its eccentricities, and packed with unforgettable characters.

Heretic

The writers of the original “A Quiet Place” step behind the camera for a confrontational A24 horror movie, about two young Mormon missionaries who fall prey to a mysterious man with antagonistic ideas about religion. Hugh Grant plays Mr. Reed, a reclusive eccentric who invites the young girls, played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, inside his creepy house to debate the validity of the Mormon Church. Where the story goes from there, I can’t tell you in good conscience, but the nature of organized religion is repeatedly challenged, and writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods refuse to let the film become lopsided and condescending. Grant steals the show, playing his disarming, charmingly befuddled on-screen persona as a form of cunning manipulation, but everyone’s firing on all cylinders. It’s smart, unsettling, excellent horror filmmaking.

Queer

Luca Guadagnino’s second film of 2024 — after the sexy tennis love triangle spectacular “Challengers,” still one of the best of the year — stars Daniel Craig as William Lee, an American expatriate living in Mexico in the 1950s. Addicted to narcotics and openly queer, Lee lives on the outskirts of polite society, but he lives on his own terms. He develops a sexual affair, and eventually a possessive obsession, with a younger man named Allerton (Drew Starkey), and which leads to his potential ruination. Based on an unfinished novel by William S. Burroughs, “Queer” flies off the rails a bit at the end while Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes try to concoct a conclusion that does justice to Burroughs’s inimitable literary legacy. But until then it’s a fantastic character piece, with Craig turning in what may be the performance of his career.

A Real Pain

Jesse Eisenberg writes and directs a wonderful, intricate, deeply sad and incredibly funny drama about two Jewish cousins, played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, traveling to Poland to explore the history of the Holocaust. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. It’s incredibly funny, without ever undermining the seriousness of the material and the cultural baggage the film carries in every frame. Culkin, as the deadbeat cousin whose outgoing personality and emotional sincerity masks his wounded soul (barely), is at his very best — and that’s saying something. 

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Mohammad Rasoulof had to flee his home country after filming “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” in secrecy. Some members of his cast are still stuck there. The film, which won multiple prizes at Cannes, is damning and daring. Missagh Zareh stars as Iman, a husband and father of three daughters, who accepts a new government position interrogating dissidents and recommending their executions. But as the job changes him, and as political unrest rages outside his family’s windows, he begins to search inward for conspiracies, suspecting his own wife and children of stealing his gun and ruining his career. “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is a fierce and terrifying portrayal of brainwashed nationalism, a powder keg that goes off in its audience’s face.

Smile 2

The sequel to the smash hit 2022 horror movie “Smile” is every bit as frightening as the first, but cleverer, funnier, and more impressive in practically every way. Naomi Scott stars as Skye Riley, a teen idol turned pop star, wrestling with opioid addiction and psychological trauma after a deadly car accident. When she’s infected by the Smile demon, which presents itself as a creepy grinning stranger and gradually drives her mad with anxiety, it’s genuinely terrifying and — pointedly — only slightly removed from the turmoil that already comes with modern celebrity. In a rational universe Naomi Scott would have serious awards buzz for her multifaceted and intense performance, but in case you hadn’t noticed, we don’t live in a rational universe.

Wicked

Jon M. Chu’s handsome, colorful, powerhouse adaptation of the hit Broadway musical successfully translates the first half of the story into a satisfying feature. Yes, it’s only half of “Wicked,” but no, it doesn’t feel like we’re short changed. This revisionist take on “The Wizard of Oz,” based on a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, finds the future Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), meeting the future Good Witch, Galinda (Ariane Grande), in high school. Along the way they become enemies, become friends, and become embroiled in a sinister political plot to institutionalize oppression in order to unite the land of Oz against helpless scapegoats. It’s a fantasy but it’s grounded in something real and relevant, and it’s got everything else you’re looking for in a musical too. Comedy, romance, unforgettable songs. “Wicked” has it all. 

The Wild Robot

It’s been a great year for animation and “Wild Robot” is one of the greatest. Directed by Chris Sanders, the film tells the story of an automaton named ROZZUM unit 7134 — aka “Roz” (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) — which washes ashore on an island filled with animals, but no humans to give it tasks and, by extension, a purpose. Instead she decides to help the animals, and soon becomes a surrogate mother to an orphaned goose. Along the way she rewrites her own programming, eventually becoming more than a machine, so very much more. “The Wild Robot” hits hard, with overwhelming emotional complexity and riveting storytelling, and ultimately emerges as one of the most thoughtful and absorbing motion pictures of 2024.

‘A Man on the Inside’

A super-sweet, surprisingly emotional new comedy from the creator of “The Good Place” and “Parks and Recreation,” “A Man on the Inside” sends TV legend Ted Danson into a retirement community as an undercover spy and evolves into something lovely and touching along the way. Danson stars as retired widower Charles, bored of his daily routine, who gleefully leaps at the chance to take an undercover job for an investigator looking into theft in a local retirement home. Surrounded by veteran character actors, Danson lights up the screen with empathy and humor (and some pretty sharp suits) in this playful-yet-poignant ode to the elderly and those who don’t forget them.

‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6, Part 2

“Cobra Kai” returned for the second chapter in its final Season this month, and despite the irritating three-part release schedule, the show remains one of the more delightful franchise hits on Netflix. Picking up where Part 1 left off, the new episodes follow Miyagi-Do to the big Tekai Saikai tournament in Barcelona, where they battle Kreese’s new Cobra Kai. Sometimes the characters feel stuck in a bit of a holding pattern as the series circles its endgame, but dang if the latest episodes don’t bring some of the best, most action-packed fight scenes of the series so far. Now we just have to wait for February to see how it all ends.

‘Arcane’ Season 2

“Arcane’s” return for a second and final season is nothing short of astonishing. The animation is gorgeous, the action set pieces are breathtaking, and the performances – again led by Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell – will put you in tears.

The second season wraps up the current war between Piltover and Zaun in a way that leaves you satisfied and wanting more. The story picks up with sisters Vi (Steinfeld) and Jinx (Purnell) finally on opposing sides after Jinx’s attack on the Piltover council last season but bigger problems quickly rise up thanks to Jayce and Viktor’s continued tampering with HexTech and the Arcane. — Jacob Bryant

‘The Madness’

A disinformation thriller starring Colman Domingo, Netflix’s “The Madness” is all about finding the truth in a time when propaganda, extremism and polarization run rampant and facts are harder and harder to find. Domingo plays a high-profile pundit who discovers the mutilated body of a big-name white supremacist and narrowly escapes an ambush by two masked men, only to wind up framed for the grisly murder. Without the platform and privilege he’s grown accustomed to, he has to protect his family and unfurl a conspiracy that caries to the highest ranks of power. It’s a bit of a “The Fugitive” for the post-truth era, led by one of the best actors working right now.

‘The Later Daters’

If you’ve been missing “The Golden Bachelorette,” Netflix has a new reality show focused on dating after 55. The series has some serious pedigree behind the scenes, a Boardwalk Pictures and Higher Ground production from executive producer Michelle Obama, as well as the co-creator of “Love on the Spectrum” and the showrunner of “Queer Eye.” The series follows six Baby Boomers on the search for love late in life, following them through blind dates as they’re coached by Harvard-trained behavioral scientist Logan Ury (“How to Not Die Alone”).

Colman Domingo as Muncie Daniels

Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo plays Muncie Daniels, a high-profile author and CNN pundit who stumbles onto the dead body of a famed white supremacist and gets embroiled in a political conspiracy that threatens the foundations of American democracy itself. An actor, playwright and director, Domingo is best know for playing Victor Strand in “Fear the Walking Dead,” Bayard Rustin in “Rustin” and Ali in “Euphoria,” for which he won an Emmy Award. Domingo also stars in awards contender “Sing Sing,” “The Color Purple” (2023) and “Candyman” (2021) and produced the delightful Netflix sci-fi thriller “It’s What’s Inside” earlier this year.

Marsha Stephanie Blake as Elena Daniels

Emmy-nominated actress Marsha Stephanie Blake plays Elena Daniels, Muncie’s tough and resourceful ex-wife. Blake is best known for her Emmy and Critics Choice nominated performance as Linda McCray in “When They See Us,” as well as playing Berdie Rogers in “Orange Is the New Black” and films including “The Laundromat,” “The Photograph” and “An American Pickle.”

John Ortiz as Franco Quiñones

John Ortiz plays Franco Quiñones, a hard-nosed FBI agent determined to expose the shady dealings of billionaire Stu Magnusson, who he believes has a hand in Muncie’s framing. With 70+ credits on his resume, Ortiz is recognizable for many, many roles, including “Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Gangster,” “Miami Vice” and “Fast & Furious,” and more recently, “Bad Monkey” and “Will Trent.”

Tamsin Topolski as Lucie Simon

Tamsin Topolski plays Lucie Simon, the estranged wife of Mark Simon, the white supremacist whose murder sets off Muncie’s nightmare. Eager to sever ties with her husband’s violent legacy and the hate group “The Forge,” Lucie teams up with Muncie and Franco to help uncover the conspiracy. Topolski’s previous work includes “Penny Dreadful,” “Call the Midwife,” “Slow Horses” and “The Diplomat.”

Thaddeus J. Mixson as Demetrius Daniels

Thaddeus J. Mixson plays Demetrius Daniels, Muncie’s teenage son, who struggles to connect with his father while living separately with his mother. Mixson is best known for his performances in “Reasonable Doubt,” “Creed III” and “Candy Cane Lane.”

Gabrielle Graham as Kallie Daniels

Gabrielle Graham plays Kallie Daniels, Muncie’s headstrong and independent daughter from an earlier relationship. Graham is best known for her roles in “Twenties,” “Possessor” and “In the Shadow of the Moon.”

Bradley Whitford as Stu Magnusson

Bradley Whitford plays Stu Magnusson, the powerful billionaire who emerges as a key suspect in the conspiracy. Three-time Emmy-winner Whitford has a robust resume and is best known for “The West Wing,” “Transparent,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Get Out” and “Cabin in the Woods.”