Top 10s 2024

[Chris B]

Was originally thinking of this just being movies, but (at the risk of 'top ten biscuits' or 'top ten top ten lists' style hilarious posting), I figured we could also use it to talk about games, shows, books or whatever people are specifically into.

2024 has been a tremendous year for film, it really has. Here's my personal Top 10 of the year (some surprises in there), based purely on what I've seen in the cinema. My Mubi Go pass was a lifesaver in a year I spent a lot of time not working. 

1 - Love Lies Bleeding

2 - Kneecap

3 - Poor Things

4 - I Saw The TV Glow

5 - The Substance

6 - Red Room

7 - MaXXXine

8 - Terrifier 3

9 - Robot Dreams

10 - Hundreds of Beavers

 

My biggest surprises in there are MaXXXine and Terrifier 3. I thought X was okay and I was very so-so on Pearl, so I wasn't expecting much from MaXXXine, and I absolutely loved it. The vibe, the story, the acting - all of it ended up being far, far better than I thought. And I've avoided Terrifier 1 because of the blatant misogyny I'd seen in parts. Part 2 had a sneaky misogyny I didn't like, but it felt like a film I almost liked. Terrifier 3 feels like it's been listening and taking notes, and it got the balance far, far better. It was actually funny, gross without being tortururous for the most part, and looked unexpectedly fantastic - because they filmed it on 35mm, and those soft-focus Christmas lights everywhere, it was an unexpectedly great-looking film.

Love Lies Bleeding was amazing, and all the better for how much Drive Away Dolls was a disappointment. Just grimy, smart and sexy throughout. Kneecap was obviously great, but considering the lack of acting experience the three leads had, they were all fantastic. 

The Substance is my favourite film in terms of 'well, this exists and that's great' - a weird, silly body horror going mainstream? Love it. And Demi Moore was superb, with a jaw-droppingly brave performance. The only second 'holy shit, someone made this' that I felt out there was Hundreds of Beavers. Can't believe they pulled that off so well.

Red Room was insidious and nasty and just brilliant. And on the other side, Robot Dreams just kept delivering - such a sweet film. 

Honestly, a great year for film. REALLY hoping Mubi Go do that deal again.

[DavidB6937]

I'll go with my Top 10 TV for now, seeing as apparently Top 10 Biscuits is frowned upon..

1. The Penguin

I put this off for a while because I haven't been too fussed about DC content for a while now, even though The Batman was a pretty decent movie. That and I can go months without being in the mood to watch anything remotely serious or thought provoking. Once I got round to it, I genuinely thought it was one of the best things I've seen in a long time - not just comic book related but any TV show. The writing and Colin Farrell's performance throughout really elevated Oz's character and made him emotionally complex and gave him a strong journey from start to finish. Obviously Cristin Milioti stole the show many times as Sofia too. Just a really grounded show that looked great, allowing you to completely disappear into Gotham and focus fully on the characters. Loved the twists and turns that never felt like shocks for the sake of it and by the end you really feel like you've been on an emotional rollercoaster and quite empty.

2. Shōgun

A close call and probably only 2nd because Penguin is more my kind of 'thing' but this was absolutely spectacular. I went in blind, not having any previous knowledge of what had come before it so no expectations. Definitely the best way to do it. Again it was one of those shows that really took you into its world, gave you deep and meaningful characters that you cared about, and just felt like a show that knew exactly what it was doing. Absolutely must-see.

3. Baby Reindeer

Predictable to include on a 2024 TV list but it deserves a high spot. Again, something I really knew nothing about whatsoever beyond a promo poster, I got through it before everyone else started talking about it and I'm glad. It's something to be treasured when a piece of art can surprise you completely. Much has been written about it since it launched on Netflix but going from a weird quirky start to something far more sinister in surprising ways and a good few laughs along the way - albeit uncomfortable ones sometimes - Richard Gadd takes everyone on a journey. It's his journey which makes it all the more meaningful and painful and has an impact that many stories can only dream of having. The fallout and the debates after the show was made stole a lot of the headlines but it remains such an impressive, complex series for Netflix to take a punt on when so many other commissions are run of the mill ideas, remakes and sequels or ones that are obvious star vehicles. This was none of that and it managed to achieve something special.

4. Industry

You would think things would slow down a bit for the third series but absolutely not. I would have included this for the episode focused around Sagar Radia as Rishi alone, documenting the intensity of his gambling addiction, but there's plenty more to enjoy. I won't go into spoiler territory for those that haven't watched it but it's never been so fun to dislike so many people in a show.

5. Colin From Accounts

Just a true Aussie diamond. Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer are unsurprisingly brilliant together and it's quickly become one of my go-to shows to stick on when I need cheering up.

6. The Traitors

I will always need some trash to balance out the intense dramas I often watch and The Traitors is absolutely the best reality game show out there. The twists and the turns and Claudia are just incredibly addictive. It's as close to those water-cooler shows of the past where you just have to watch it as it's on and you can't believe what's unfolding. Pure cheese all the way but damn it's good.

7. Fallout

Walton Goggins! Ella Purnell! I was never not going to adore this.

8. Agatha All Along

I know. I'm sorry, but I had so much fun with this. Especially for a show that absolutely did not need to exist. Maybe it was the low expectations but they managed to pull out some massively surprising and emotional performances where I just wasn't expecting them. Kathryn Hahn's range is nothing short of spectacular but her supporting cast was just as good, especially Patti LuPone. And Aubrey Plaza is in it which never hurts. Up there with the best Marvel TV output and a good showcase for the depth of comic book genres.

9. One Day

Not many on-screen couples have come close to beating Normal People's Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones for me, but Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are definitely the closest in recent memory. The chemistry between them any time they're on screen together perfectly captures the ups and downs of a relationship and I was way more into this than I ever expected. Not sure I could ever watch it again but for something that I didn't want to end, it deserves a spot on my list.

10. Slow Horses

Talking of things that I never want to end - Gary Olman as Jackson Lamb. Perfection. If you haven't watched it yet, grab one of those Apple TV trials ASAP.

Plenty of other shows that could have easily made the list too. Another really good year for TV despite the fact everything's scattered all over the bloody place. Apple TV still has a ton of shows that more people should watch but nobody ever really discusses. HBO, Netflix, Disney etc all had at least a few good hits that justified the subscriptions.

The only issue I really have is because there's so many of them I do miss the watching and discussing together, which is why it's so enjoyable when something like The Traitors comes along and captures everyone's attention at the same time. It's not dropped all at once. It's not on some random thing that a ton of people don't subscribe to. It's traditional TV that you get to watch unfold and discuss with loads of others and that's just such a great shared experience. I wish more could be like that.

[Devon Malcolm]

In no particular order, top 10 pop songs.

Olivia Rodrigo - Obsessed

 

Ridiculous how varied her sound already is and how confident she is in everything she tries. Just a blast in every single way.

Pixey - The Thrill of It

 

Pixey's debut album, Million Dollar Baby, is also a cracker but this is the standout track from it and probably my favourite track of the year if I was going to commit to one. Stunning.

Taylor Swift - The Bolter

 

From a double album that doesn't outstay its welcome and has almost no troughs, this is the one that stood out most for me. She's at her best at her most personal and I love this.

Allie X - Off With Her Tits

 

The greatest song about top surgery ever recorded. Allie X never misses but this is her maddest yet.

Dua Lipa - Training Season

 

On reflection I might like this even more than Houdini. But not quite as much as Levitating. They're all great, this is great.

Charli XCX - Von dutch

 

The true highlight of the Brat summer.

Florrie - Looking for Love

Florrie's debut album deserved a lot more attention than it got and this is the standout track on a record that is wall-to-wall bangers....

Florrie - Kissing in the Cold

 

....and here's more proof of that. Xenomania have still got it.

Dora Jar - No Way to Relax When You're on Fire

 

Inexcusable name aside, this is a lovely slice of indie-pop, the likes of which we don't really get enough of these days. Really need to put her album on at some point.

Julie Ellinor - Neon Glow

 

Beautiful bit of emotional synthpop, the sort of thing I'll also favour over just about everything else.

[mim731]

2 hours ago, Chris B said:

Love Lies Bleeding was amazing, and all the better for how much Drive Away Dolls was a disappointment.

I feel like I missed something with Love Lies Bleeding, it felt a bit flat to me. It didn't click at all, and seemed to be very much style over substance. Maybe there's a greater subtext that has passed me by, but I couldn't get on with it at all. It's a shame, I really wanted to like it, and it has a great soundtrack, but I was sadly disappointed. 

[Dr. Alan Grant]

I love a list thread.

I haven’t seen 10 new films from 2024, so instead here’s my top 10 films I watched this year for the first time regardless of release date.

Bottoms

Poor Things

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

The Ipcress File

Notting Hill

Calvary

Oppenheimer

The Limey

Annie (1982)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Top TV shows (once again I haven’t watched 10 new shows, so here’s some I rewatched)

Band Of Brothers

The Sopranos

Lost

Detectorists

Game Of Thrones

Taskmaster

Peep Show

Top 10 2024 Games

Astro Bot

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree

Black Ops 6 (only the campaign, the rest is bollocks)

And I guess that’s it. Can’t even muster a top 10. 

I definitely need to play more new games in 2025, not just replay ones I’ve done to death. Same with films. Must stop watching ones I’ve seen time and time again and check out some of the unseen gems and classics on my hefty watchlist. 

[Merzbow]

I'm waiting for the top ten best poos or chippy teas, then it's a real ukff thread.

I already had my Letterboxd list sorted out this year, there's a fair few that could have filled the last spot but I thought Monkey Man deserved to be in there as it's a special film and Dev is just the loveliest.

Top ten non-2024 first watches?

All About Lily Chou-Chou

Dinner In America

Suzhou River

The Killer

Bullet Ballet

Gone Girl

Hoard

Bliss

Bones and All

Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion

 

[RedTwoster]

Great idea for a topic.

I’d been looking for an excuse to write about under appreciated games, so here are the top ten hidden gems I revisited this year (and also, where possible, where you can buy them) 

Soul Bubbles (Nintendo DS, £2.50 at CEX)

Given that DS games have skyrocketed in price, I’m a bit perplexed (but pleased) that this one is available for so little. You have a cult classic that can only really work on this system, it should cost a fortune - but it doesn’t, so I would definitely encourage you to buy it in case that ever changes. If you ever played Lost Winds, it’s not a million miles away from that. Your little character blows bubbles (you help, using the stylus - you can also slash them to break them up into smaller bubbles), and the aim is to take them from point A to point B - it’s a bit more complex than that, but it’s a load of fun and, in spite of the Lost Winds comparison, pretty unique. It seems to be (as best aa I can tell) the only game released by the studio behind it, Mekensleep, and it’s astoundingly creative and fun - I urge you to buy it, it deserves to be experienced by more people.

Bangai’O Spirits (Nintendo DS, £18 at CEX)

If you hadn’t already guessed, I’ve been revisiting my DS library this year. This game is a side-scrolling bullet-hell sh’mup by Treasure - a genre I typically hate. But this…it’s a bit different. You don’t know if the levels are going to last seconds or minutes (there are 160 of them, alongside a level editor if you’re feeling creative). At first, the game kicked my arse, before everything clicked and I realised this was as much a puzzle game as it was a shoot-em-up, and I started to love it. When it does click, it sinks its teeth into you in a similar way to Vampire Survivors. I’d love to see a port to modern systems, and I’m a little disappointed it doesn’t exist as it’s a game that could work on any system, not just the DS. 

Rod Land (£5.79, PS4/PS5 - also available on Switch and iOS)

A confession - I played the Amiga version of this, if you want to do the same you’re looking at spending around £25 including postage on eBay. The version on Switch/Playstation is the original Arcade version, but given that it’s cheaper and more easily available, it seems a sensible thing to recommend. Anyway, it’s very similar to Bubble Bobble. You use your rod to grab enemies, kill them and clear the stage. Then you move on to the next one. It’s a simple but addictive formula that presents a surprising amount of challenge as you progress. You can also play it in co-op, which is a lot of fun.

Extreme Warfare Revenge (free, available here)

OK, so this probably isn’t under appreciated by wrestling fans, but outside of that bubble who has even heard of it? You have a game, available for free by someone who clearly loves wrestling. The creator, Adam Ryland, has expanded the idea and released commercial titles here, but the original game is still an absolute banger - think Championship Manage 97/98 compared to the new Football Manager games of his more recent releases. I like both, but the original has a pick-up and play feel that the newer games lack a little. EWR is still great fun, and there are loads of mods available if you want a more recent roster. I should probably explain what this is if you’ve not heard of it - it’s Championship Manager, but you’re a wrestling booker. Simple as. And it’s done very well indeed. If you’re at all interested, I tried to get it working on Steam Deck - but failed. However, his more recent wrestling management sims - the Total Extreme Warfare series - were relatively simple to get working on Steam Deck, and they’re still really good. 

KLAUS (£3.99, PS Store; £4.29 Steam)

I recommend this game a lot, and I’d apologise for doing it again if it weren’t for your own good - it’s well worth picking up. It’s a puzzle platform we with a great storyline in which you’re an office worker. There’s something a bit Inside/Limbo about it, even though the gameplay is nothing like that. It’s fun, but surreal and occasionally disturbing - and you should absolutely play it. It’s a wonderful game.

Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (GBA)

I really struggled to find a reliable place to pick up the original - I couldn’t find it on the CEX website, and while it’s cheap on eBay, I’m not certain you’d be getting a legitimate cartridge - and the fakes are very unreliable. The R36S might be your best bet to play this in an affordable but reliable way, which is a shame as it’s a game that deserves more recognition. It’s a surprisingly good 2D Crash Bandicoot game that feels like a 2D version of 2 and 3 mashed together - with the occasional venture into 3D, through (for example) the polar bear chase levels. But it feels like a missing Crash Bandicoot game - matching the originals much more closely than the unfairly hard 4 did. If you miss the series but have yet to play this game, you absolutely should.

Pokémon Conquest (Nintendo DS, £100 at CEX)

I really hate directing you to such an expensive way to buy a game, but until it’s ported elsewhere - and I’m doubtful that’ll ever happen - this is probably the cheapest way to legitimately play the game, unless you get lucky on eBay (some copies are going for far less than £100, though the price rises quickly). It’s a Pokémon tactical RPG game set in a region inspired by feudal Japan. And if you like this genre - and I do - you’ll probably enjoy this game. It’s bizarre that it even exists, and it’s a crying shame that there’s no cheaper way to play it - really illustrating the need for better game preservation. If you can get it at a decent price, it’s worth a purchase. It’s a lot of fun.

Freshly-picked: Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland (Nintendo DS, £90 at CEX)

Another game I feel slightly guilty about recommending, given the high price point. You play as Tingle - one of the worst Zelda side-characters - and the aim is to get rich. It’s a game about capitalism, I suppose. You visit areas across Hyrule - including many that you’ll know - and complete tasks for people, bartering your arse off. You donate the money to a pond on a tower which gets taller as you do so - honestly, it’s a unique game and I had a lot of fun with it even if it did feel a little repetitive at times. It’s quite funny too and is very knowing when it comes to how Tingle is viewed, to the point he becomes quite a fun character as the game goes on - like Zelda’s version of Waluigi. 

Sonic Advance (GBA, £12 at CEX)

It’s as strange to be listing a Sonic game on here as it was to list Pokémon and Crash Bandicoot, but this game feels somewhat forgotten - it’s a beautifully animated 2D Sonic game that feels like the natural successor to the Mega Drive games. Advance 2 and 3 are great too, and are also cheap. It’s a crying shame that Sega is yet to release a collection of these games in the same vein as what we’ve seen with Castlevania and Megaman as they are among the best Sonic games. They sound and play like Sonic should, while feeling suitably different from the Mega Drive games to seem like an evolution. If you love 2D platformers, give these a go. If you love Sonic and haven’t played these games, ditto.

Ever Oasis (3DS, £20 at CEX)

Released very late in the 3DS’s life (in 2017) this game was overshadowed by the existence of the Switch, and it’s a real shame as it’s absolutely great. It’s an RPG crossed with a town management game - and is possibly the kind of experimental game that only exists because it was late in the console’s life. It’s by Grezzo - the people behind the Link’s Awakening remake and Echoes of Wisdom, and it’s good enough that if they’d slapped Link onto this and made it a Zelda game, it would feel justified. It’s rare that you step into a CEX and don’t see this game - so if you have a 3DS, pick it up and give it a try. You won’t regret it. 

[Devon Malcolm]

You bastard, @RedTwoster, I just dropped £70 on Steam yesterday and now you do this.

[FLips]

2 hours ago, RedTwoster said:

 You play as Tingle - one of the worst Zelda side-characters

 

[FLips]

Top 10 Touching Tributes

A lot of greats gone this year so it really warmed my heart to have these meaningful eulogies to look back on and reflect on the lives and careers of those we lost. I hope when I go I get the same special send off that Kate Garraway's Husband, Two Jags, and an unnamed pilot near Coningsby got.
 

10.

On 1/5/2024 at 11:45 AM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Kate Garraway's husband 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/derek-draper-husband-of-kate-garraway-and-former-political-adviser-dies-13033929

9.

On 2/10/2024 at 4:57 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68251184

 

Derrick McIntyre who performed with Jamiroquai and Beverley Knight amongst others

8.

On 2/24/2024 at 8:41 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Stan Bowles has gone

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68394453

7.

On 4/30/2024 at 9:01 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/line-of-duty-and-rob-roy-star-brian-mccardie-dies-aged-59/ar-AA1nVrzi?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=4acafa9d6ec04790b23b5e228d7d19b7&ei=5

 

Tommy Hunter from Line of Duty 

6.

On 5/20/2024 at 4:06 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0vv1ngrq5yo

 

Frank Ifield out of Coventry and Australia music fame

5.

On 9/27/2024 at 2:17 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Another great gone. Dame Maggie Smith aged 89

 

https://news.sky.com/story/maggie-smith-known-for-her-roles-in-harry-potter-and-downton-abbey-has-died-13223024

4.

On 7/24/2024 at 8:48 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/eastenders-bill-actress-roberta-taylor-205915987.html

 

Familiar to many I'm sure. Roberta Taylor from out of TV soaps.

3.

On 10/16/2024 at 10:56 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://news.sky.com/story/former-one-direction-star-liam-payne-found-dead-reports-13234922

 

Liam Payne out of off of One Direction

2.

On 5/25/2024 at 8:39 PM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Also sad to report a BBMF pilot has been killed in a crash near Coningsby in a WWII Spitfire. RIP Sir

1.

On 11/21/2024 at 6:02 AM, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

https://news.sky.com/story/former-labour-deputy-prime-minister-john-prescott-dies-aged-86-13257566

 

RIP Two Jags

 

[Devon Malcolm]

Still got a bunch of shit to watch for a 2024 list, but here's my top 10 list of non-2024 first time film viewings.

[Tim Healys Chutney Spoon]

2 hours ago, FLips said:

Top 10 Touching Tributes

A lot of greats gone this year so it really warmed my heart to have these meaningful eulogies to look back on and reflect on the lives and careers of those we lost. I hope when I go I get the same special send off that Kate Garraway's Husband, Two Jags, and an unnamed pilot near Coningsby got.
 

10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

 

RIP my gimmick for next year....

[RIDDUM_N_STYLE]

Top 10 Animation for the year (movies or tv)

1 - X Men 97

2 - Masters of the Universe Revolution 

3 - The Boy and The Heron

4 - Wallace and Gromit Vengeance Most Fowl

5- Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc

6 - Marvel’s What If?

7 - Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths

8 - My Hero Academia S7

9 - South Park The End of Obesity

10 - The Simpsons O C’mon All Ye Faithful

[RedTwoster]

12 hours ago, RIDDUM_N_STYLE said:

1 - X Men 97

This really surpassed my expectations. I was worried it would be MCU-ified, with countless quips and a heavier focus on comedy, but if anything, they went darker than the original series ever dared. And it was brilliant as a result.

[Nexus]

Top 10 books I read this year (I've read 25).

 

1. Killing Thatcher: The IRA, the Manhunt and the Long War on the Crown by Rory Carroll

A very detailed and interesting discussion of the lead up to, events of, and aftermath of the Brighton Bombing which didn't quite manage to kill Thatcher. Lots of historical information, written in a very accessible way. 

2. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

A novel about three generations of a South Korean family in Japan. Absolutely heartbreaking in parts, including the end which had me devastated. 

3. Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki

A very well written book about a journalist trying to get an interview with a female serial killer with an obsession with food. Legitimately made my mouth water whilst reading some of the descriptions. 

4. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Fascinatingly, depressingly written novel about a young boy in Scotland - his difficult upbringing and the trials and tribulations he faced. 

5. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

What if the Republic of Ireland became dystopian? Sadly, something which is easily recognisable and could happen. 

6. Topographica Hibernica by Blindboy Boatclub

A series of short stories by an autistic man with a bag on his head. The Donkey and I'll Give you Barcelona are particular highlights, although that might be because listening to him read them aloud also helped. 

7. The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

A final girl in a horror scenario revisits events a couple of decades later, when another final girl is left in the exact same situation. Well written and gripping. 

8. The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

Sci-Fi magnificence, interspersed with commentary on revolutionary China. Very well written, and great world building - the Netflix show also does a good job showing it. 

9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

A very, very gay retelling of the story of the Trojan War. Massive fan of Madeline Miller's writing. 

10. The Future by Naomi Alderman

The world ends, and tech tycoons try to survive it. Good world building etc.