In an age where Hollywood has marvelled at new creative capabilities that technological advancements have provided the modern world, it seems shocking that ideas are beginning to stale. Cinema-goers require more commitment to each franchise than ever before. For example, the MCU’s release radar is extending faster than Quicksilver. Considering how much they have struggled to ride the high since Endgame, with lowering critics and fan scores accompanying the slowly depleting box office statistics, a change of direction is needed.
Furthermore, after the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, mainstream cinema has been flooded with repetitive and formulaic biopics that frankly bore cinephiles. Take one look at the reception to Back to Black or Bob Marley: One Love, with 35% and 43% critic scores respectively, and it is clear that mainstream cinema needs a new writers’ room. With future prospects of Hollywood looking bleak, is there any saving grace to the core values that cinema was built upon? Can we make a return to original storytelling that will resonate with cinephiles long after the screen darkens? Enter A24.
A Revolutionary Production Company
A24 is a film production company based in Manhattan, New York, and the brainchild of Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodge. Katz recalls the name A24 as being based on the Italian motorway that passes through Rome. Here, he decided to take the failing landscape of film distribution into his own hands. Emphasising relationships with independent filmmakers, A24 strives to spotlight these creative talents that lie outside of Hollywood’s benchmark formula for success. This came at a particularly crucial time, with major studios prioritising CGeyesore blockbusters over original storytelling, a trend that is still ever present in today’s cinematic landscape. This also benefited A24, which without the risk of financial box office blunders, had the autonomy to promote their films in a method they saw fit.
The genius behind A24 is their penchants for genre-blending. They range from fantasy to romantic comedy and even include documentaries, such as their Oscar Winning Amy, centred around Amy Winehouse. However, their success stories lie in the horror additions. Known for specific collaborations with directors that push the boundaries of horror, A24 are not afraid to break the zeitgeist and shock viewers. At the helm of Hereditary, Midsommar and the X trilogy, A24 presents itself as a firm rival for the likes of Blumhouse and Shudder. If you fancy a thrill, look no further.
Success in 2025
Now in the public eye for the best part of 13 years, A24 has been revolutionising cinema since Moonlight won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards (you know the one). At the time of writing, A24 has been nominated an additional seven times in the category, including their most recent success, The Brutalist. This also saw Adrien Brodie break the Guinness World Record for the longest Oscar acceptance speech at a staggering five minutes and 34 seconds.
A24’s success comes at a crucial time in the world of cinema. As it was 13 years ago, the outlook of film is looking bleak. Budgets are favouring sequels, remakes and biopics to the art of creativity and disadvantaged groups. This facilitates a culture of cinematic repetition; viewers will accept the norm and settle for soulless capitalist ploys that prioritise quantity over quality (I’m talking about you Kevin Feige). A24, however, provides a solution. Whilst not necessarily overtaking these commonalities, movies distributed and produced within this company will at least return cinema to the values that started this wonderful art form.
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There are plenty of upcoming A24 films to sink your teeth into. For example, why not watch The Death of a Unicorn? With a star-studded cast such as Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega and Will Poulter (the guy with the eyebrows), this fantasy-thriller will make you see Unicorns in an entirely new light. Finally, we have Warfare, a harrowing war epic written and directed by veteran Ray Mendoza. Scripted entirely from memory, Warfare gives viewers arguably the most accurate look into the world of war, an experience all so present in the global political scope.