Studio A24 has earned credibility with a string of highly successful films, made recognizable by what fans call ‘A24 vibes’ – their special brand of visual style, quirky tone, and creative expression. Just a decade ago, this small, indie studio took some big risks on unknown writer-directors that made a big impression. Today their films can rival tent-pole productions, with cinephiles keeping a keen eye on the A24 calendar.

Viewers looking for slick, thought-provoking, unusual films do well to check for the A24 logo. Though known for breathing new life into the horror genre, A24 is the studio behind a wide spectrum of films. It is the cool kid among film studios, and its fans are particularly cult-like in their admiration. Max (formerly HBO Max) has shrewdly picked up on this trend and hosts a large swath of their film catalog. A recent update has added yet more A24 movies on Max that are particularly worth checking out.

20 'How to Talk to Girls at Parties' (2018)

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell

Despite a title that suggests the self-help genre, How to Talk to Girls at Parties is about a young punk named Enn (Alex Sharp) partying in a London suburb in the 1970s. He and his friends stumble upon what appears to be a sex den of beautiful exchange students. Enn is particularly drawn to Zan (Elle Fanning) and worries about how to lure her away from this strange suicide cult, only to find that the truth is even stranger: Zan is an alien, anxious to experience Earthling culture with Enn.

Truthfully, the film is hit-and-miss, but it’s also bold and daring and when it works, it’s a lot of fun. DJ James Murphy developed a new kind of punk-EDM hybrid for this film, which he describes as “extraterrestrial dance music” that still shares a kinship with the Sex Pistols. Director John Cameron Mitchell stages an ambitious film that’s lovably sloppy and more than a little unhinged. It’s a punk rock Romeo & Juliet featuring Nicole Kidman looking like David Bowie in Labyrinth. Based on a short story by Neil Gaiman, this campy film goes for broke and deserves to find an audience.

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19 'Under the Skin' (2014)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

An alien (Scarlett Johansson) disguises herself as a beautiful human woman and drives around Scotland luring lonely, unsuspecting men into her van for harvesting. Under the Skin is one of those weird and wondrous films that will alienate casual viewers but fascinate true film buffs. Director Jonathan Glazer takes on the fear of female sexuality using fantasy to provoke and unnerve, probing and dismantling gender identity.

This arthouse horror isn’t so much a story as a subversion. Its hypnotic score, composed by the brilliant Mica Levi, will haunt you. The film makes masterful usage of hidden cameras and a mostly inexperience cast to create a much more grounded and realism-focused experience that amplifies the dread and nightmares to unbelievable levels. The audiovisual experience that is Under the Skin is seductive and disturbing, a confusing kaleidoscope that needs to be seen to be believed, if not understood.

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18 'Slow West' (2015)

Directed by John Maclean

A lesser-known A24 film on Max, Slow West is a revisionist Western film that serves as John Maclean's directorial debut. In it, Michael Fassbender plays a bounty hunter who hides a dark secret from the Scottish teenager he's tasked with protecting (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they look for someone in Colorado.

Set in the 1800s, the film is peculiar and often has surrealist elements that some viewers may find jarring. A major reason why the film works so exceptionally well is the amazing performances of Fassbender and Smit-McPhee, who both do a great job embodying their character archetypes. Those who love modern takes on the Western genre will likely be captivated by Slow West's inventive and bold hero story, set against a visually stunning yet harsh backdrop that seems to go on endlessly.

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17 'A Most Violent Year' (2014)

Directed by J.C. Chandor

A Most Violent Year is a grossly underrated crime drama from director J. C. Chandor. Starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain as a competitive couple in the oil business, it's centered on what the characters are willing to do to get ahead in the industry. Taking place in 1981 New York City, the film follows the lives of Abel Morales and his family as they attempt to expand their family business and company. Their small company is caught in the middle of mafia-like competitors, violent henchmen, and corrupt government officials.

Isaac's performance as Abel Morales is particularly remarkable, as it's easy to feel invested in the story thanks to the ambitious, morally questionable, and intense protagonist he effectively plays. The film acts as the perfect modernization of the classic mafia crime drama, able to reflect upon the giants of the genre in the past and tell a new story that is both original while paying tribute to its clear inspirations. The entire film is a bit of a slow burn, but there's a rewarding and unforgettable ending for viewers who stick around.

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16 'The Spectacular Now' (2013)

Directed by James Ponsoldt

Sutter (Miles Teller) is a popular, hard-partying high school senior who gets dumped by his girlfriend (Brie Larson) and starts dating Aimee (Shailene Woodley), a shy and serious girl from a very different social clique. It shouldn’t work, but he’s charismatic, and she thinks she can help him. Unfortunately, Sutter continues to get in his own way. Growing up means realizing that cutting Aimee loose might be the kindest thing he can do.

Director James Ponsoldt defies expectations. The protagonists are nuanced, the story-telling candid. The Spectacular Now is a gritty, atypical young adult romance. Teller and Woodley have great chemistry, the film doesn’t flinch from hard realities, and happy endings are relative. While many A24 movies find themselves to be heavily focused on serious and depressing topics and themes, The Spectacular Now is a great example of how the distributor can have their name attached to more uplifting and powerful stories.

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15 'Priscilla' (2023)

Directed by Sofia Coppola

Especially after the monumental, award-winning success of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis the previous year, it would be easy to assume that Sofia Coppola's Priscilla would floor a similar, glamorous execution. While the film does follow the story and seemingly luxurious life of Priscilla Presley leading up to and throughout her love life with Elvis Presley, the film is far from glamorous in its interpretation of the proceedings. Based on Priscilla's memoirs, the film doesn't shy away from the darker and painful aspects of the relationship and how Elvis manipulated Priscilla from a young age.

Coppola is the perfect director for Priscilla's life story, as her films have always done a terrific job tackling the themes of womanhood, emotional maturity, and innocence through a female lens. All of these trademark thematics and messages shine through perfectly in the story, brought home effectively by two brilliant lead performances from Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. Especially when compared to the high-flying in-your-face style of the Elvis biopic, Priscilla acts like a harsh slap back to reality and the painful truths behind the mythos that was the Presley family.

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14 'Remember' (2015)

Directed by Atom Egoyan