This year’s global cinematic landscape continued to diversify Hollywood with stories that challenged expectations and embraced rich cultures. From high-stakes action to intimate, emotional journeys, the great variety of API narratives on the big screen receiving attention are a testament to the richness of global cinema. Check out ACT!ON’s film picks for 2024 below!
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Chosen as Thailand’s official entry for the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies steers away from the usual soap opera feel and offers an authentic and moving portrayal of family connections. Billkin stars as M, a young man caring for his grandmother Amah (Usa Samekham). Initially motivated by thoughts of inheritance, M embarks on a journey that unfolds the deeper meaning of family beyond material wealth. You can now gather your family and enjoy this heartfelt film together on Netflix. — Carissa Alfiora
Dìdi
This coming-of-age film explores the complexities of adolescence and cultural identity through the lens of a preteen boy Chris Wang in the early 2000s played by newcomer Izaac Wang. As Wang navigates first loves and popularity while juggling traditional family values, the film’s unique narrative gives voice to the nuanced experiences of Asian youths in their journey of self discovery. The film highlights the emotional tension between Wang and the traditional expectations of his mother, portrayed by Joan Chen. Audiences will find the film’s relatability through Wang’s performance which captures the confusion, rebellion and heartache that comes with maturing. — Heather Ngo
Monkey Man
For his directorial debut film, Monkey Man, British Indian actor Dev Patel delved deep into his heritage to create a story of hope for the underdogs. The film combines ancient mythological elements with modern societal issues to offer a stern critique of Indian society. In the action-thriller, Kid (Dev Patel) — a member of the lower class — seeks revenge for his mother and many others who have been crushed under the relentless caste system. As he infiltrates his way into upper society, he discovers how deep-rooted and complex the structure truly is. Despite the difficulties presented ahead, Kid is still determined to prevail.
Through collaboration with Jordan Peele and Monkey Paw Productions, the film was acquired from Netflix and given a theatrical release. If you happened to miss the premiere — or simply want to relive the experience — you can stream Monkey Man now on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or Peacock. — Ebonie Mustipher
18×2 Beyond Youthful Days
Adapted from the travelogue by Jimmy Lai, 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days merges an energetic first love story with a melodramatic soul searching journey in this Taiwanese Japanese co-production. Jimmy (Greg Hsu), a recently fired 36-year-old Taiwanese game developer, embarks on a trip to Japan to visit his first love, Ami’s (Kaya Kiyohara) hometown. Jimmy first encounters Ami, a Japanese backpacker, when he is 18, working a summer job at a karaoke joint. Despite the language barrier, the two became close, but their time together was cut short. Co-written and directed by Michihito Fujii, the film parallels the warm summertime of Jimmy’s youthful early adulthood in Taiwan to his solo travels throughout the wintery Japanese countryside. — Allie Salvucci
The Wild Robot
With the creators of Lilo and Stitch (2002) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010) helming the direction of DreamWorks’ latest animated feature, The Wild Robot is filled with its predecessors’ nostalgic childlike wonder and life lessons to boot. Inspired by classic Disney films and Studio Ghibli animations that live up to the DreamWorks’ legacy, the film stars Lupita Nyong’o (Roz), Pedro Pascal (Fink), Kit Connor (Brightbill), and Catherine O’Hara (Pinktail) as the voices behind the beloved non-human ensemble.
Boasting the same mechanic to serve people like Big Hero 6’s Baymax, robot protagonist ROZZUM 7134 (shortened to “Roz”) is programmed with a singular objective in mind — customer satisfaction. Crashing on an island with uninterested animal customers, Roz is determined to fulfill her purpose. But faced with her steely mechanical body, the island’s inhabitants are not only disinterested in her services but defensive about her automatous presence. When Roz stumbles into adopting a baby gosling, her instinct to serve kicks in, albeit in a different form: motherhood. Slowly integrating into animal society with her child beside her, Roz has to learn how to rewire her programming and embrace what life has to offer. — Karen Yi
Rez Ball
“Remember who you are.” A phrase echoed across generations in communities with deep cultural histories, particularly those shaped by tribal and familial bonds. This sentiment lies at the heart of Rez Ball, a sports drama that chronicles the journey of a Navajo high school basketball team from New Mexico. Directed by Sydney Freeland (Echo, Reservation Dogs) and featuring a cast of fresh talent, including Kauchani Bratt, Jessica Matten, and Kusem Goodwind, the film taps into the enduring power of basketball within Indigenous communities. Through its fast-paced action on the court and heartfelt moments of friendship and connection, Rez Ball reminds us of the strength that comes from embracing both heritage and identity. — Davonna Gilpin
Officer Black Belt
From director Kim Joo-hwan (or Jason Kim), who brought us Midnight Runners and Bloodhounds, comes a new film highlighting a relatively unknown profession — martial arts officers. The action-comedy movie Officer Black Belt, follows Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin), a sports enthusiast who possesses a black belt in taekwondo, kendo, and judo. Despite his impressive list of skills, Jung-do leads a simple life, working as a delivery driver for his father’s restaurant. That is until he saves a probation officer and apprehends a homicidal parolee after a routine delivery run. Intrigued by the side of justice he’s never known, Jung-do joins the Seoul Probation Office as their newest martial arts officer. In tow with veteran probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun), they monitor high-risk offenders; preventing them from creating new victims — or retraumatizing old victims. — E.M.
The Shadow Strays
Following the success of The Night Comes For Us (2018), Timo Tjahjanto returns with another bloody action movie that doesn’t hold back on delivering fight scenes that are as stylish as they are brutal. This time, we follow a 17-year-old assassin with the codename “13” (Aurora Ribero) who befriends an 11-year-old boy named Monji (Ali Fikry) who has just lost his mother to a crime syndicate. Aurora Ribero is absolutely magnetic in this role as she portrays a stone-cold assassin with an undeniable charisma that makes every scene unforgettable. While this is a film best experienced on the big screen, The Shadow Strays is available for streaming on Netflix. —C.A.
Mai
Mai is the record-breaking Vietnamese romance drama film that engrossed audiences in its poignant storytelling. The movie follows the titular character, Mai, a resilient single mother who is trying to navigate her past hardships while still searching for true love. The film captures her emotional highs and lows, from budding connections to judgment from nosy neighbors, difficult coworkers, in addition to strained family dynamics. What sets the film apart is the compelling performance of lead Phuong Anh Dao and the chemistry of the main cast. Their natural connections bring to life the depth and relatability to this heartfelt story. — H.N.
The Parades
As Netflix nears its tenth year of launching in Japan, it strives to continuously deliver compelling stories to audiences worldwide. The Parades by Michihito Fujii is one of the many Japanese live-action productions introduced on the platform this year. In the aftermath of a catastrophic tsunami, single mother Minako (Masami Nagasawa) desperately searches for her son — not realizing she has passed away. She remains unaware of his fate until she meets Akira (Kentaro Sakaguchi), who brings her to an abandoned fairground where other earthbound spirits gather. From Shori, a former Yakuza member (Ryusei Yokohama) to Michael (Lily Franky), a film producer who passed away before the release of his final film, everyone has a unique story — and an unresolved grievance. The fantasy drama film is sure to get tears flowing as it tackles the complicated emotions surrounding the concept of life after death. —E.M.
Exhuma
Undertaking a paranormal twist to life beyond the grave, director Jang Jae-hyun’s occult horror film Exhuma is filled with incense, salt, and chants as shamans Lee Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Yoon Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) are promised an undeniable offer from a rich client. With millions of Korean won at stake, the duo are tasked to solve the spiritual problem behind the client’s sick son.
After using her shamanistic sixth sense, Hwa-rim promises feng shui master Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik) and mortician Ko Young-geun (Yoo Hae-jin) a cut of the deal if they decide to help in the exhumation of her client’s ancestor’s vengeful spirit. Trekking into the mountainside — where the ancestor’s grave lies — the quartet ignore the blazing warning signs as they continue their ritual for grave digging. With an operation that goes wrong, Exhuma is equally chilling as it is introspective, expanding on the value of life, with a touch of Korean history and shamanism. —K.Y
Drawing Closer
Writer and director Takahiro Miko brings to life a melodramatic encounter between two terminally ill teenagers who find genuine friendship in each other. After being diagnosed with a heart condition and only given one year to live, art student Akihito (Ren Nagase) finds himself on the hospital rooftop but is terrified of dying. There, he meets Haruna (Natsuki Deguchi), who is looking forward to dying after being told she only has six months to live and proceeds to show off her drawings of the gate to heaven to Akihito. Although Akihito and Haruna handle their inevitable fate differently, this coming-of-age film explores their similarity of artistry and yearning. — A.S.
All We Imagine as Light
As the first Indian feature to receive the Cannes Grand Prix, The Cannes Grand Prix-winning film, All We Imagine as Light immerses us in the everyday lives of three nurses in Mumbai. Prabha (Kani Kusruti), abandoned by her husband who left for Germany, bears an aura of sorrow as his presence fades with every distant phone call. Her roommate, Anu (Divya Prabha), must keep her love hidden due to religious differences, while Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam) struggles with eviction from persistent developers. All We Imagine as Light draws us into these stories, guided less by plot and more by emotion, as Ranabir Das’s cinematography bathes Mumbai in a dreamlike beauty, capturing its humid air and monsoon rains in a way that feels almost tangible. —C.A.
The Roundup: Punishment
The Roundup: Punishment, the long-awaited fourth installation of the action crime series, brings Ma Seok-do’s (Ma Dong-seok) crew back again, but this time in the Philippines, where the crime is now taken online. With a murder case and an illegal online gambling ring, where trusty Ma’s fists won’t fly, Ma’s investigation team venture into unfamiliar ground as the investigation quickly turns cyber.
True to The Roundup fashion, battles and betrayals are in abundance, fueled by the allure of making it big through newly found digital ventures. With Baek Chang-gi (Kim Mu-yeol) and Chang Dong-cheol (Lee Dong-hwi) at the forefront of the crime scene, Ma has his hands full with having to balance both brains and brawn. Showcasing familiar faces like Jang Yi-soo (Park Ji-hwan) back on the screen, the film stands as another delicious addition to a fan-favorite franchise. —K.Y.
Kung Fu Panda 4
In the fourth installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Jack Black returns as Dragon Warrior Po now on a mission to choose a successor as he ascends to the new position of spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. With the looming threat of The Chameleon (Viola Davis), a shapeshifting sorceress, Po teams up with a sly and knowledgeable fox, Zhen (Awkwafina), to take down The Chameleon in Juniper City. Worried about their son’s safety, Mr. Ping (James Hong) and Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) remain helicopter parents and trail behind Po’s adventures. Kung Fu Panda 4 culminates the ultimate reunion for Po and his past nemeses with reappearances from Tai Lung (Ian McShane), Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), and General Kai (J.K. Simmons). —A.S.
Wonderland
Blending science fiction and emotional drama, this film explores the moral implications of using artificial intelligence to connect us with our loved ones we can no longer speak with. Set in a near future, audiences are shown multiple unique lives and explores themes of grief, memory, and the complex nature of human relationships. Each character learns to navigate a digital realm as a way to heal from their past traumas. The star studded cast is just as enticing as the stories with appearances from the likes of Park Bogum, Tang Wei, Gong Yoo, and more. With its stunning cinematography, Wonderland raises thought provoking questions about identity, love and the boundaries between the digital world and what’s real. —H.N.
Whether you’re seeking action, drama, or a fun comedy, there are endless film options from 2024 that have something to offer. Chances are, you’ll discover something new that sticks with you long after it’s over.
Want more ACT!ON year end round ups? Check out our favorite soundtracks from 2024 here!
