With the end of the year upon us we’ve asked our staff what their favourite film of 2024 has been.

Here is what they had to say…

The Iron Claw, February 2024

“This one surprised me the most. Who knew that a film about wrestling would be so moving? This film was really unafraid to challenge the issue of toxic masculinity, showing men seemingly like unbeatable superheroes from the outside, overflowing with vulnerability. I loved it.” – Emma Nixon, Creative Administrator & Programme Coordinator

All of Us Strangers, January 2024 & Love Lies Bleeding, May 2024

“I’m splitting my vote between two very different films. Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers is a beautiful meditation on grief and family. Anchored by a brilliant performance from Andrew Scott, it is a film that broke my heart and has stuck with me ever since. A once deeply personal, but also universal in its depiction of parent-child dynamics, Haigh has crafted a truly magical film.

At the end of 2019, I watched a preview of the demonic horror Saint Maud and knew I had just witnessed a breakout hit from debut filmmaker Rose Glass. Unfortunately, Covid disrupted what should have been a triumphant release and it has taken five years for her follow-up to arrive. It was worth the wait though, Love Lies Bleeding is a pulpy, sweaty, violent body horror full of visceral imagery and huge swings. Whilst not all of them land, it’s still one hell of a ride.” – Johnathan Ilott, Head of Film & Comedy

EOS: My National Gallery, London, June 2024

“This particular Exhibition on Screen offered an exciting insight into the extensive variety of art available in our National Gallery. Having people such as Claudia Winkleman and Micheal Palin talk about paintings that are special to them created an accessible and entertaining format to encourage a conversation about art from people we wouldn't associate with historical paintings.

The main drive behind the piece is to celebrate the 200th birthday of the gallery and really stress the importance that the National Gallery belongs to us and their exhibitions are for everyone from all walks of life to enjoy. There is a prejudice around Fine Art that has meant a lot of people have chosen not to experience it and struggle with articulating how are makes them feel or "getting it wrong" but as long as art makes you feel something then you're doing the right thing.” – Gabi Dawkins, Head of Marketing & Communications

Hundreds of Beavers, July 2024

“I have never seen a film like it - bizarre, absurd and incredibly joyful. To quote my (22yr old) son "I'm so glad this film is in the world!"” – Karen Chandisingh, Audience Development & Data Manager

“Said Pauline Kael once about an Altman film, “I’ve never before seen a movie I loved in quite this way: I sat there smiling at the screen, in complete happiness.” That’s precisely what Mike Cheslik pulls off with Hundreds of Beavers. Pitched as The Revenant (2015)–but funny, it’s a live-action cartoon epic à la Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton but shot on a Panasonic GH5 on a $150,000 budget and finished in After Effects. The offbeat premise follows a fledgling fur trapper hunting for the titular pelts (the fauna is played by people in mascot suits): the price of marrying a local merchant’s daughter. What makes the film so madly entertaining is its unifying aesthetic of a level-jumping video game. Learning the rules is part of the fun. All in all, it’s a riot and quite likely the most ingenious picture out in the UK in 2024. I mean it!” – Antoni Konieczny, Volunteer & Programming Intern

The Substance, September 2024

“I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, which is rare, but what a gift of a film! The vibrancy and overall, no holds barred approach to every element of this film reminded me of Lynch at times and the on screen transformations were as exciting as seeing David transform into the American Werewolf for the first time. It sees sawed between horror and humor brilliantly throughout and was wonderfully refreshing to witness this grotesque and vicious side of beauty being explored. And finally, all hats are off to the truly wonderful Demi Moore. I can't wait to see what she does next! A treat I had not expected and will stay with me for a long time yet!” – Caroline Scott, Head of Visitor Experience

Wicked, November 2024

“My new all-time favourite film adaptation of a stage musical, with impeccable casting, set/ costume design and cinematography!” – James Shields, Creative Communities Coordinator

Check out our 2024 Dukes Favourites List on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/Bl3Ps