Well kids, this is it, the final day of 2024. I’ve had the pleasure of being able to take some time off last week and this, so I figured I’d be vaguely productive online and share with you, dear reader, my favorites from different types of media in 2024.

Please note: this is just based on what I’ve been able to play / watch / listen to this year. There’s some movies and such which I haven’t had a chance to watch that I’m pretty sure I’ll dig (Anora, Conclave) and I’m sure there are games and albums I’ll be discovering from 2024 for years to come.

That said, let’s get into it.

Favorite Movie of 2024

Saturday Night (Dir: Jason Reitman)
For quite a while there, this was pretty much Dune Part Two, and going to be locked as such. But then it seemed that Hollywood decided to go directly for the Marty Day vote and released a movie which…

  • Was about putting on a show
  • Featured young Hollywood
  • Was in gloriously stressful “real time”
  • Was about Saturday Night Live.

I get it, the movie’s historically inaccurate and there’s no way all of this happened in the hour-and-a-half before showtime, but no movie had me locked in and enthralled from the jump this year quite like this one. I’ve revisited it a few times on VOD since, and still dug it each time. I’m going to be watching this for years to come.

Favorite Movies of 2024 List (Alphabetical)

  • Alien: Romulus
  • Dune: Part Two
  • The Fall Guy
  • Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
  • Heretic
  • Inside Out 2
  • Jim Henson - Idea Man
  • Nosferatu
  • Saturday Night
  • Twisters
  • The Wild Robot
  • Wicked: Part One

Favorite Album of 2024

Los Campesinos! - All Hell

Gareth from Los Campesinos! is 39 years old. This year, I turned 40. And no album this year spoke to me directly than this. Battling with your age and relevancy in a world you used to define by your taste and creativity is a rough go, and over the course of 15 tracks and 50 minutes, this album puts you there. But it’s far from a bummer of a listen. Enthusiastic, sarcastic, enthralling, heartbreaking, intense, the album covers a bit of everything, and that’s why it racked up play after play in my Apple Music library.

Best Track: “Clown Blood/Orpheus' Bobbing Head”

Favorite Albums of 2024 List (Alphabetical)

  • And So I Watch You From Afar - Megafauna
  • Black x Sea - Every Tree Shall Fall: One (EP)
  • Childish Gambino - Atavista
  • Childish Gambino - Bando Stone & the New World
  • Future Islands - People Who Aren’t There Anymore
  • Godspeed You! Black Emperor - “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD”
  • Gulfer - Third Wind
  • Jack White - No Name
  • Justice - Hyperdrama
  • The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy
  • Los Campesinos! - All Hell
  • Nada Surf - Moon Mirror
  • Riley! - Keep Your Cool
  • RJD2 - Visions Out of Limelight
  • The Smile - Wall of Eyes
  • The Smile - Cutouts
  • St. Vincent - All Born Screaming
  • Tycho - Infinite Health
  • Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
  • Wallows - Model
  • Wishy - Triple Seven

Favorite Video Game of 2024

Balatro

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that I would dump literal hundreds of hours into a poker video game, I would’ve said you were crazy. But not since Tetris have I seen a game which grabs so many, from so many walks of life, and causes them to sink hours upon hours into a game that surprises and delights on every round. And in an industry where game budgets are bloated, layoffs are happening everywhere, and creativity seems to be dwindling — here’s a project by ONE person which has sold millions and will likely sell millions more. More Balatros in 2025, please.

Favorite Video Games of 2024 List (Alphabetical)

  • Astro Bot (PS5)
  • Balatro (macOS, iOS)
  • *Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth *(PS5)
  • Helldivers II (PS5)
  • Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5)
  • Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (PS4)
  • Marvel Rivals (PS5)
  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PS5)
    Note to self: play more video games next year.

Welp! That’s that, folks. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I’d love to hear what YOU dug in 2024. Shoot me a line or ping me on Mastodon/Blue Sky. And let’s look forward to a happy, healthy, exciting 2025.