We’re cruising to the end of 2024 and as we do, I’m looking back at some of my favorite films and performances from the year. As well as a few of my least favorite. Each day between now and January 9 look for another installment in a different category. Let’s ring out 2024 by looking back on some of the best and worst of the year!

No. 5: Flow
About: This wordless journey follows a few creatures through a flood. It’s deeply emotional and beautifully crafted. It’s one of the best animated films I saw this year and a journey richly worth taking.

No. 4: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
About: This is a prequel that shares how the fortress at Helm’s Deep got its name. It is an interesting expansion of the Lord of the Rings world on screen. I loved the style and the way the story is told here. This was an engaging film that was a fun end-of-the-year film.

No. 3: The Wild Robot
About: It starts out feeling like a fairly simple story. But this is a tale of the family that you find and the family you create. And it’s that sense of family that sustains you. This was a beautifully crafted tale and one that ended up being quite an emotional journey. It’s one of the year’s hidden gems in animation.

No. 2: Transformers One
About: I wasn’t sold we needed another Transformers film, let alone an animated prequel. Then I saw this film and I was blown away. I loved the way this story was told and the voice work from stars Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, and Keegan Michael Key. It’s a fun film that adds depth to the franchise.

No. 1: Inside Out 2
About: I’m not one of those people that loved the first Inside Out movie. I thought it was fine and engaging, but it’s hardly a personal favorite. So, I came into this second film with modest expectation. Yet, what we got blew me away. Not only was I taken by the story, but I was also taken with the depth of emotion. This ended up being one of my favorite films of the year.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.