Summary
A24 has become a powerhouse in independent film, showcasing the industry’s most creatively artistic filmmakers, and delivering unique opportunities to Hollywood’s biggest talents. The company dominated the 2023 Oscars, not only reviving the film careers of actors like Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan, but securing them their first big wins as well, forThe WhaleandEverything Everywhere All At Once, respectively. Beyond reigning supreme at award shows, A24 has offered new life for legacy actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Sandler, and Robert Pattinson. The pattern looks to continue with three major A-listers leading upcoming A24 releases, includingThe Smashing Machine.
Timothee Chalamet, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Zac Efron are among the list of actors looking to take advantage of A24’s Oscar success, coming off of the company’s biggest and most expensive movie to-date.Alex Garland’s dystopian thrillerCivil Warwas distributed by A24 with a $50 million budget, but put up impressive numbers at the box office, becoming their second highest-grossing project. With its box office haul, and their eye for innovative audience experiences, plenty of big-named actors are looking to be a part of A24’s future lineup, and it has a high chance of paying off.
5 Best A24 Movies, Ranked
Several of A24 movies have become critically acclaimed, but these five are better than all the rest.
Timothee Chalamet’s Ping-Pong Movie Could Finally Win Him An Oscar
Chalamet Is Teaming Up With Josh Safdie Right After Bob Dylan Biopic
A24 and The Safdie Brothers have proved to be perfect collaborators after the positive reception of their last two features together,Good TimesandUncut Gems.The brothers recently split up ahead of their next Adam Sandler projectto direct their own individual visions, but A24 is still at the head of the table. They recently announced thatJosh Safdie’s next movie will beMarty Supreme, about the American-born hustler turned ping-pong wizard Marty Reisman.It will beproduced and led by Timothee Chalamet, who is also set to portray Bob Dylanin another upcoming biopic,A Complete Unknown, which explores the singer’s impact on electric instrumentation.
Timothee Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Elio in Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 romance dramaCall Me By Your Name, but didn’t win. He has since been nominated for multiple other industry awards, including a Golden Globe forWonka, with no success.
Chalamet is one of the most talked-about actors in Hollywood, and has tackled many iconic roles over the years, from Paul Atreides inDuneto the world’s most famous fictional chocolate maker inWonka. None have led to the Oscar buzz that the early part of his career was full of, when he starred inLady BirdandCall Me By Your Name, which were more favored during award season.If playing Bob Dylan doesn’t capture the Academy’s attention this December,Chalamet returns to A24 with a follow-up performance inMarty Supremethat could be the second chance needed to win Best Actor and create a new legacy for himself.
Dwayne Johnson Is Unrecognizable In The Smashing Machine
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is an extremely influential action star with an impressive list of accolades beyond his movie career, winning wrestling championships, launching top-selling products, and featuring on viral rap singles. However, his acting abilities have often been questioned and attacked by critics as he continues to stay within his comfort zone and out of the indie scene, butThe Smashing Machinecould finally launch Johnson into the Oscars conversation. The movie follows the life and career of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, and is the next collaboration between A24 and the other Safdie brother, Benny.
In early photos that have been released, The Rock appears unrecognizable behind the hair and makeup that transforms him into Kerr,clapping back at the criticism Dwayne Johnson has faced. His production company, Seven Bucks, is also behind the project, and Johnson has been slated for the lead role since the very beginning, indicating thatThe Smashing Machineis very much a passion project for the WWE superstar and actor.
Emily Blunt, a familiar co-star of Johnson’s, was cast as Mark Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, marking the A24 debut for both actors. There’s no way to know if this will have the same impact as some of A24’s other movies, but it is already evident thatwhen the true story releases in 2025, we will see an entirely different side of Dwayne Johnson.
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Zac Efron Has Another Oscars Contender After The Iron Claw
Efron Is Back With A Vengeance After Being Snubbed For Best Actor
High School Musicallaunched Zac Efron’s career nearly 20 years ago, and he has returned to his musical roots with movies likeThe Greatest Showman, but he refuses to be defined by his vocal ability. The last time Efron teamed up with A24, he really got to flex his acting chops, asThe Iron Clawwas an emotional roller coaster that delivered his career-best performance. In the 2023 movie, Efron played Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving member of the famous wrestling family. AfterThe Iron Claw’s positive reception and further success on streaming, Efron was not among the actors nominated for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars.
The actor is reuniting with A24 in the Jody Hill directed celebrity thrillerFamous, where Efron will take on the dual rolesof Hollywood icon James Jansen and an overzealous super-fan. This is the first time in Efron’s career that he will play two characters in the same movie, taking his creative relationship with A24 to the next level. Pushing himself to the limits andlearning to wrestle inThe Iron Clawwasn’t enough to fill the empty space on his trophy shelf, butFamousis a for-sure Oscar contender.A24’s current grip on the award scene could break Efron’s unfortunate Oscars streak in a big way, along with Timothee Chalamet and The Rock, but if the movies stick to their slated 2025 release, only one can actually be crowned a winner.
The Smashing Machine
Cast
The Smashing Machine is a documentary film that delves into the life of Mark Kerr, an athlete celebrated as a dominant ultimate fighter from 1999 to 2001. The film explores Kerr’s struggles with physical injuries and addiction, painting a stark portrait of his personal and professional challenges during this period.
