While we at Kakuchopurei cover video games extensively, we also talk about TV shows and movies prominently. And there are a lot of them—both good and bad—in the year of our lord 2024. From thrilling blockbusters to niche series that flew under the radar, 2024 has been a year of storytelling highs and lows that kept us on our toes. Whether it was a film that left us in awe or a TV show that had us binge-watching late into the night, this year had something for every type of viewer.

Here are the best TV shows and films of 2024. To make it easier for you, we’ve split our picks into two categories—so grab your popcorn and settle in for a look at the year’s finest (and not-so-finest) screen offerings.

 

TV Shows/Anime

X-Men ’97 (Season 1)

The reason why that series was so well-received and beloved earlier this year was more than just nostalgia, it embraced the old and the new, as well as actually adapting the comics and source material while providing its own unique takes at the same time that keeps the series feeling refreshing and exciting with every new episode. There are so many genuinely epic and pleasing fan-favourite moments in this series, and it still manages to be shocking and heartbreaking when it wants to be.

This is how you do a legacy sequel to one of the most beloved animated shows of all time. Most of all, it just feels so good to be able to once again say: The X-Men are back. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Arcane (Season 2)

The final season of Arcane, while hyped to the mountain tops of Targon, was received with mixed reception following the release of the third and final act. I personally have mixed feelings for it and I understand that many may be disappointed with the fact that this storyline has concluded, especially in the way that it did. While I share some of that sentiment, I am also embued with hope.

Because many forget that League of Legends is a franchise so rich with lore and world-building that could compare to the likes of The Elder Scrolls. And Arcane adapted that almost perfectly. While altering bits and pieces here and there, Riot Games hits the nail on the head in terms of aesthetics and adapting the lore faithfully. So Arcane should stand as a testament to the plethora of stories that are to come from Runeterra. – Lewis Larcombe (Lickety)

DAN DA DAN (Season 1)

Girl meets boy. Girl fights with boy. Both challenge each other to visit haunted sites and alien activity areas. Evil spirits and sci-fi nightmares start plaguing their lives. The girl gets psychic spirit powers, while the boy transforms into a superpowered being with The Maxx-like mouth.

All this is told in one coherent yet madcap and lovingly animated season, blowing most anime series this year out of the water. Cruel cliffhanger aside, the 12 episodes of Season 1 are full of energy, wit, creativity, and spiralling emotions, all blasting at you in sequence with full aplomb & fire like a volcano next to Pompeii. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Prime Video’s Fallout (Season 1)

This is one of the biggest surprises of the year because so many things could have gone wrong for a video game adaptation on this scale. Thankfully, Prime Video’s Fallout series turned out to be on the good side of the video game adaptation pantheon, carrying the torch of 2023’s HBO’s The Last Of Us. The showrunners (Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner) managed to faithfully adapt many fan-favourite elements from the games, especially in its depiction of the franchise’s iconic factions (such as the Brotherhood Of Steel and the Vaulters), as well as the badass Power Armour and just overall vibe of the series just works so well.

It’s strong evidence and proof that if you respect the source material, and with the right amount of passion, it can be great, so this deserves a thumbs up from Vault Boy. Plus, Ella Purnell is becoming a queen of video game adaptations because this isn’t the only great one she’s in this year (Arcane Season 2 is the other). – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Solo Leveling (Season 1)

Probably the most anticipated manhwa adaptation to date, A1 Pictures delivered a passable entry into the list of animes adapted from their cousins from across the Korea Strait. While the animation isn’t quite at the level of One Piece (Post-Wano), DAN DA DAN or even Kaiju No.8, the studio managed to stay relatively faithful to the source material which was a big worry going into it. But so far so good, and with Season 2 just around the corner, we’re going to be in for a heckuva season. Hoping we get a glimpse into the Jeju Island arc. – Lewis Larcombe (Lickety)

The Penguin (Season 1)

The Penguin TV series had no business being this good. Before this series came out on Max, no one probably cared about Oswald Cobblepot. Like The Godfather, The Sopranos and other similar gangster mafia movies/shows, The Penguin focuses on gang wars and conflicts in a grimy and dirty Gotham City. The series isn’t afraid to be as dark as it has to be, despite being a comic book series, and it benefits from that, as well as phenomenal performances from both Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb a.k.a the Penguin and Cristin Milloti as Sofia Falcone/Gigante. This series is making it even harder for us to wait a whopping two more years before The Batman returns in 2026. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

The Boys (Season 4)

The Boys Season 4 is a prime example of how a comic book adaptation can grow beyond its source material while still being faithful to its themes. The Boys Season 4 remains one of the most outrageously fun TV shows right now and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. Not even superhero fatigue can bring down this series. At this point, The Boys is clearly on top of the throne of Prime Video’s library. It’s doing what Marvel will never do. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Invincible (Season 2 Part 2)

The wait for the second part of Invincible Season 2 made many fans angry but it turned out to be very much worth the wait in the end. Invincible is unique amongst Western superhero shows in that it’s basically an anime in all but name due to how accurately it follows the comics, almost beat-by-beat and verbatim in some instances.

However, Robert Kirkman’s Invincible comics are iconic and beloved for good reason, so all of them have so far been lovingly adapted into animation. Bring on Season 3 in 2025! – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Delicious in Dungeon (Season 1)

Studio Trigger pulls off another lovely-looking and audio-gasmic banger of an anime series, to the absolute shock of nobody. However, this adaptation of the now-concluded manga series showcases how an actual dungeon ecosystem works and how its fantasy world thrives, right down to the logic of felled adventurers resurrecting at the magic dungeon they’re in.

Most importantly, the cast of heroes are loveable both in Japanese dub and English dub, from the monster stan nutjob Laios to the level-headed Chilchuck to the knowledgeable and sage-like Senshi. And of course, our favourite sensible and misery-addled spellcasting elf Marcille, who is given English dub life from Emily “I play live-action Nami in One Piece” Rudd. The food presented here using imaginary ingredients are also the highlights, but that’s just stating the obvious from one of the pioneers of animation. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Secret Level (Mega Man: Start)

As much as having the guys behind Love, Death, & Robots do a bunch of 4-to-10-minute short movies on video games we know, it’s a known fact that it’s all just elaborate video game commercials. Still, I can’t get too cynical with one of them: Mega Man – Press Start.

This 4-minute show is the best pitch for a Mega Man CGI series with loads of influence and story beats from comic writer Ian Flynn’s run with the Blue Bomber on Archie Comics. That’s a very good thing; hopefully, director Tim Miller sticks to his word on Mega Man making a return in Secret Level Season 2. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

 

Films

Dune: Part Two

2024 was a quiet year for big-scale epic blockbusters that had to be experienced at the cinema but Dune Part Two was one of those. Director Denis Villeneuve brings a level of sheer cinematic spectacle that no other movie in 2024 managed to match, let alone surpass. Dune Part Two isn’t just one of the best movies of 2024, but it will go down as one of the best science fiction films ever made, being the first successful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary books. Just as Peter Jackson is synonymous with The Lord Of The Rings, Denis Villeneuve will always be synonymous with Dune moving forward. In terms of visuals, cinematography and epicness, the Dune franchise is as close to this generation’s new Star Wars or The Lord Of The Rings. Looking forward to the eventual third movie that will adapt Dune Messiah! – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Longlegs

2024 was a great year for horror fans, but if I could only choose one or two on this list, Longlegs definitely deserves that honour. It’s dripping in dread and atmospheric suspense from start to finish. It seldom lets up, which is why it’s comparable to recent horror movies like Hereditary or When Evil Lurks. There’s always a sense of creeping uneasiness in every scene, which is further lifted by the incredible performances of Maika Monroe and Nicholas Cage.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Cage is used as sparingly as Sir Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter was in Silence Of The Lambs, but each time he appears on-screen, he gives a disturbing performance channelling a Joker-esque serial killer. Director Osgood Perkins has another horror movie (The Monkey) coming next year, so rest assured that we will be there for that. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Terrifier 3

With Terrifier 3, Art The Clown proves that he’s a modern horror icon, joining the ranks of other iconic and legendary faces of horror such as Halloween’s Michael Myers, Nightmare On Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, Friday The 13th’s Jason Vorhees, Child’s Play’s Chucky and more.

Ultimately, Terrifier 3 is certainly not for the faint of heart and it won’t be for everyone, but it’s an unrelenting joyride for anyone who calls themselves fans of all things horror. Art The Clown is part of horror pop culture and the horror icon pantheon, and he’s here to stay, so glad tidings. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

Godzilla Minus One / Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Godzilla fans ate so good in 2024 because we received not one, but two Godzilla movies. Sure, Godzilla Minus One came out in Japan in 2023, but most of the rest of the world, including Malaysia, only managed to watch it in 2024, so it still counts. It tugs on your heartstrings and for the first time, it’s perhaps the rare kaiju movie in that you care more about the human characters than the kaijus.

For once, the human element is more engrossing than the monster action. Meanwhile, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire delivers all the insane kaiju action we could ask for in a movie that feels satisfyingly epic and one of the best yet in the MonsterVerse. With sequels to both movies already confirmed, we have a lot more Godzilla to look forward to in the future. – Alleef Ashaari (ComicsLord)

The Substance

If you’re going to do a commentary on Hollywood casting and perception of beauty in a fast-moving and harrowing business that is prime-time television, just do it like director/writer Coralie Fargeat and just go all out while being as subtle as a sledgehammer. That is the gist of this surreal horror movie with a huge, HUGE emphasis on body horror.

The Substance is a tale of an ageing actress past her prime (Demi Moore) who takes the titular Substance and temporarily creates a younger and better version of herself. Naturally, stuff goes wrong and gets gorey and messed up as the movie progresses, leading to a very over-the-top finale that is just as infamous as the last moments of Brian Yuzna’s Society. The Substance is shocking, nauseatingly detailed, profound, well-acted, and totally goes for the jugular with its message. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Inside Out 2

Pixar is usually 50/50 when it comes to making sequels better than the original. Inside Out 2 is arguably better due to the additional emotions taking centrestage and its host character Riley dealing with everybody’s most memorable bit in their high school years: teenage angst. Trust the animation studio to go wild with the presentation while still retaining its core emotional intelligence laid out by the first film. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Transformers One

It’s rather sad knowing that the best Transformers film in recent years is the one that sold the least tickets worldwide. Transformers One does not deserve its current fate; it’s heartfelt, it follows bits from the Transformers comic books from Marvel and IDW Publishing while establishing its own canon, it fleshes out the dynamic between Orion Pax and D-16 (who eventually become the series’ lead hero and villain) and is quite a looker from an animation and setpiece standpoint.

The show’s adherence to the source material and plethora of easter eggs are also a treat for those who want a more bot-focused Transformers film. Let’s hope that Paramount follows up this sublime prequel with better advertising. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

The Wild Robot

Also, another animated film with robots that needed more exposure, this Dreamworks Animation title based on a kid’s book really impresses with its rich score, well-made animation, and simple story about a robot finding its place on an uninhabited island. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Furiosa: A Mad Max Tale

Arguably out a few years too late to capitalize on Mad Max: Fury Road, this prequel’s new casting of characters at least tells a solid wasteland tale that’s mostly cherished by its lead villain Dementus. Chris Hemsworth’s unhinged portrayal of a petty tyrant that haunts the title character Furiosa is the highlight that fascinates from start to finish if the film’s bombastic visuals and high-octane action aren’t enough to captivate you. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Monkey Man

John Wick but India, poverty, and Dev Patel. It’s about as entertaining, dramatic, and funny (in small doses) as you would think out of the latter actor’s directorial debut, where one man takes down the systemic corruption of an Indian town but starts as a pitfighter who wears a monkey mask. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Memoir of A Snail

A tragicomedy claymation special wholly carried by the narration of Sarah Snook (of Succession fame), this Australian-made film hits the right balance between black comedy & emotional benders. The basic tale is about two siblings, one with a fascination for snails, as they find out through many, many hardships that life is worth living through.

It’s also not afraid to be cheeky with its humour which includes swinger parties, bible-thumping and eventual heresy, and fat fetishes, along with memorable imagery to go along with its bleak yet hopeful tone. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Love Lies Bleeding

A noir focused on a reclusive gym owner and her bodybuilding lover, this pretty stylistic tale showcases extremities in the sport they’re wrapped in, a bunch of twists and turns, and a lot of sex & violence.

Amidst the grindhouse aesthetics, props should go to lead Kristin Stewart for her restrained and coolly responses to the ever-escalating situation as gym owner Lou, Katy O’Brian as the roid-rage-waiting-to-happen bodybuilder, and Ed Harris as Lou Sr. who is calm yet chilling and manipulative through and through.  – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Look Back

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s other magnum opus that isn’t called Chainsaw Man gets the loving anime adaptation it truly deserves. This tale about two fledging mangakas who are complete opposites showcases the highs and lows of pursuing artistic perfection, while also looking incredibly vibrant. – Jonathan Toyad (Mr Toffee)

Deadpool & Wolverine

While it’s far from the movie of the year, I’ve personally been anticipating Deadpool and Wolverine since Ryan Reynolds fondled Polverine’s you know what… With Hugh Jackman returning to the role, this was the one missing piece in Jackman’s Wolverine saga. The chemistry between the two on and off the screen was more laugh-induced cramping than I could have ever imagined.

And with Disney’s acquisition of Fox, finally being able to see the countless cameos and easter eggs referring to the MCU, watching Deadpool and Wolverine was probably one of the most memorable cinematic experiences I’ve had in recent memory. – Lewis Larcombe (Lickety)

For our awesome video game picks for 2024, head here.