This December, most nerd fandoms saw the widely anticipated trailer of Superman from James Gunn, Peter Safran, and the afresh-minted DC Studios. Was it a statement of global supremacy and reckoning? More on that later in the list (because you bet your superhero pajamas flying across the room that it will be on this Top 9 list).
Movies, TV, streaming, oh my! What were the most substantial, memorable, and nerdable moments of 2024? There were many in this fruitful year, so let's see if your top seed made this Top 9.
(And shout out to Kendrick Lamar and Drake, but your fandoms don't take kindly to being called nerds, so you two bickering in bars didn't make this list. I mean, we like "First-Person Shooters," but usually only with Call of Duty.)
9. We Lost the Voice of a Generation
James Earl Jones was one of us. Consider the fandoms where he has a figurative or literal throne--Star Wars, Jack Ryan, The Lion King, Conan the Barbarian, Baseball films (I still cry watching Terence Mann speak so eloquently about the great game during Field of Dreams), and Coming to America as the king of Zamunda.
The EGOT winner from Arkabutla, Mississippi was as Shakespearean as he was waxing nerdy. A Baron of his craft and gifted oratory, the voice of resonance and royalty, he was the signature sound of countless movies and acclaimed stage productions (if Broadway is your thing, catch his riveting performance in "The Great White Hope").
He loved what he did, and we adored every time he flexed that melting basso profondo vocal elegance. There will never be another voice like his. We sat front-row for this once-in-a-lifetime talent. Cherish the days, nerds. Godspeed, Lord Vader.
8. Glicked
The cute portmanteau may not have stuck like gum under a shoe as "Barbenheimer," but the duo of Gladiator II and Wicked was definitely the targeted golden road for box office receipts. Their joint venture did not enjoy similar success.
While $435M is not a flop by any means, Gladiator II was not the Ridley Scott triumph many hoped it would be. (And seriously, a Roman emperor hopeful with an accent from Queens, NYC?!) Meanwhile along the Yellow Brick Road, Wicked is sweeping up $634M and still counting.
Hopefully, the mish-mash nomenclature fans should pay attention to the hype train running over their toes. Cutsy names doesn't always provide handsome results. Wicked truly was the "Shiz." (See what we did there?)
7. Villeneuve Opened a Can of Worms
The Dune universe is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult to fathom in any medium. Frank Herbert's imagination was limitless, which is why it's been so difficult to conceptualize what he meant by Shai-Hulud.
And then we were blessed with a riveting, spine-tingling ride of Paul's life on the back of a worm. That guy was born to be played by Timothee Chalamet. That signature scaled Greig Fraser cinematography. That Messianic score from the maestro, Hans Zimmer. Speaking of which, Dune: Messiah can't get here soon enough. While it may close the Denis Villeneuve trilogy, there are still four books in Frank Herbert's quill and 18 more written by his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson.
There is a literal universe yet to unfold. Thanks to Max, we may get it somehow.
6. The Penguin Waddles to No. 1
Easily, the most aggressively anticipated streaming series was a return back to Matt Reeves' Batverse to see a fully engrossing and dreary world unfold with The Penguin. The series premiere drew 10.7M people. The second episode? It attracted 17% more viewers or an additional 1.6M people. More. That rarely happens because of attention spans the size of a hummingbird fart.
Matt Reeves can play coy all he wants. He's a professional. But if you think for a second David Zaslav won't unload a dump truck of cash at his house for another go-round of 8-10 episodic Bat-magic, we'll have some of what you're smoking. Did you see that slo-mo stranglehold Oz put on Victor?! Amazing television.
If this "Elseworlds" continues streaming and screening dominance (we see you The Batman: Part II), James Gunn may have to do something else about it.
5. 2024 Proves Movies Are No Longer "Horror"-able
Quiet as it may be kept, 2024 will mark the year horror was considered legit by the mainstream cinephile community. Horror, and its many sub-genres, usually appeals to a general throng of slasher fans, gore lovers, and big baddies. Yet, there is a more cerebral approach to horror that is bringing in casuals in droves.
While much of the movie-watching world may get spandex fatigue and rom-com monotonous draws, today's avant-garde horror directors are capitalizing on trends and psychological chaos. Sure, there will always be the cash grabs of crap seen in the Poohniverse and the routine satanic visits from beyond (Immaculate and The First Omen, we're looking at you). Yet, the 2024 cavalcade of terror stays with you and forces adults to question what's really under the bed, in the closet, or down that dark, winding road.
Evocative and unexpected, crippling horror films like Cuckoo, Strange Darling, Heretic, Smile 2, and the triumphant sleeper I Saw the TV Glow are ringing in 2025 with the rest of Hollywood with the understanding that January through March aren't the only months they're allowed to be viewed. If you don't believe that, thank the auteur-of-terror-in-chief Robert Eggers about his Yuletide gift to the world. See you at the movies.
4. RIP Sony's Spider-Man Universe
Welp, that's a wrap. Following a lackluster debut for Kraven the Hunter, Sony Pictures finally came to terms with their Achilles heel and bought arch supports. Gone are the keystone cops of the Spider-Man Universe who live to hate Peter Parker but aren't allowed to star with him in a movie.
“They’ve developed what they want to develop for now,” an agent told The Wrap. "It’s really about the next Spider-Man film.”
Although the undeniable surprise hits of the animated Spider-Verse came from Sony Pictures, they understand even the power of Venom or the anticipation of the Sinister Six (which they fumbled like a Tyrannosaurus working as a running back) can keep a franchise alive. Spidey villains are dead. Long live Spidey.
3. Deadpool & Wolverine Stab History
As we have learned in previous years, anything Deadpool is marketing mojo! From 'NSync melodies to heart-hands everywhere, the entire movie of surprise cameos and scorched burns. It was magic.
Had it not been for a remarkable surprise from mental health animated characters ($1.7B for Inside Out 2 was bombastic...hats off to Pixar), Deadpool & Wolverine and its $1.4B would have been the box office leader for 2024. This was a history-making movie.
- Highest-grossing Rated-R film (surpassing its progenitor in 2016)
- Sixth most successful domestic opening at $636M
- First among opening weekends for R-Rated films at $211M
- Fourth largest superhero opening, behind Avengers: Endgame + Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home
- And we'll discuss that trailer in a moment.
2. Doomsday: RDJ is Back (and the Russo Boys too)
When Kevin Feige stoically announced the Russo Brothers were returning to the Avengers fold, we knew the rebound was on, and Doomsday was going to shock the universe. Following their unprecedented work in the Infinity Saga, this is the only duo to save the hapless Multiverse Saga, which Avengers: Doomsday will spark to Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.
What on earth could hold our attention and rekindle our faith regarding Dr. Victor Von Doom? And then we got the mad pop heard 'round the nerd universe. Robert Downey, Jr. with his "new mask, same task" line. Even WWE fans had to bow down to that pop in Hall H.
Few characters have been given more of a chance to succeed in the movies like the first family of comics, The Fantastic Four. Previous movies carried the hype but dropped at the box office with a mighty thud. This time, with RDJ donning the green glow and steel, there is no chance Marvel messes this one up. Doom truly is the master of his fate now.
1. DC Studios is Officially Here
Ah, c'mon! How can a trailer two years in the making and turn out like that NOT be the most memorable, nerdable moment of 2024?! Marvel vs. DC. Snyder vs. Gunn. Justice League vs. Josstice League. All of those banal arguments vanished for a day when DC Studios brought us their longstanding vision of Krypton's last son.
Sure, they all came back with thunderous ferocity, but it was geek splendor to see how people responded to a trailer that held the world in the palm of its hand. James Gunn and Peter Safran had to bring it, which didn't disappoint. No camp, No schmaltz. And a few surprises, too. No one can debate the results--250M views and 1M social posts in 24 hours.
It didn't eclipse our No. 3 slot on the list at 365M views (a historic mark for trailers), but it appears DC Studios may actually be to fill some sizable shoes left by Cavill and Company. Despite the nay-sayers and litany of haters, Superman has proved there is a legacy--one richly deserving of attention still. Face it: Life is better when Superman is flying around. We'll find out if it's the best life on July 11, 2025.