This year, global cinema and TV transcended borders, genres, and expectations
December 20, 2024
Movies have always mirrored the times, and this year, cinema across the globe captured a cultural shift that felt both introspective and expansive. As audiences continued to seek stories that resonated deeply, filmmakers responded with narratives that broke boundaries — of geography, genre, and language.
From the neon-lit arenas of Hollywood to the intimate frames of Indian regional cinema, this year felt like a collective reckoning with identity, legacy, and innovation. Internationally, Dune: Part Two and Challengers dazzled with spectacle, while The Nickel Boys offered a poignant, reflective narrative.
Closer to home, Bollywood found itself recalibrating after years of commercial formulae. While some films tried to fuse spectacle with substance, it was Indian cinema beyond Bollywood that emerged as a revelation. Malayalam films led the charge with box-office successes (Manjummel Boys, Aavesham, and Premalu to name a few) proving that hyperlocal stories could have universal appeal. In a historic moment, All We Imagine As Light claimed the Grand Prix at Cannes, a nod to the growing power of Indian arthouse cinema on the global stage.
This year saw cinema break beyond Anglophone dominance, with global TV blending epic scale and intimate storytelling. FX’s Shōgun dazzled with feudal Japan’s grandeur, Korean drama Moving combined emotional depth with sci-fi, and The Great Heist brought Latin American thrillers to the forefront. Indian series Kohrra stood out, merging gritty crime with layered character studies, showcasing that TV’s finest often comes from unexpected corners.
Whether through blockbuster spectacles or quiet, meditative indies, this year proved that cinema remains an evolving conversation about who we are — and where we are going.