Eyes on A24

A24's unique style catches the viewer's attention.

By Kaia Mann, Opinion Editor

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022.) (L-R) Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Photo credit: Allyson Riggs

With the stars and franchises of Hollywood no longer having the same box-office pull they once did, A24 has found a way to attract movie goers.

The film distribution and production company, A24 was founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, Fenkel, and John Hodges. After leaving their jobs at different indie film companies, the trio ushered in a new era for film. 

A24 distributed movies like Spring Breakers, and the Bling Ring, featuring acclaimed directors and actors very early into the scene. In 2015 the company achieved critical success with the film, Ex Machina, which won an Oscar for visual effects. Since then, A24 has racked up countless nominations and wins. Everything Everywhere All At Once and Moonlight notably taking home best picture. 

The A24 symbol is enough to start the conversation. When audiences know a movie is coming from a worthy distributor, interests are peaked from the first glance at that logo.

These movies explore queer identity, complex familial relationships, and life's varying perspectives. A common characterization of an A24 film is that it is ambitious and creative, yet still grounded and personal. 

With films Like Lady Bird, Uncut Gems, Midsommar, X, and the Florida Project, the A24 oeuvre is vast. You can guarantee these movies are going to harness a unique voice and creative filmmaking. 

A24 has seen success by giving a platform to new filmmakers. Danny and Michael Philippou were YouTubers who made their directorial debut with the movie Talk To Me, earning over $90 million at the box office.

This amount, well unique for a movie that size, is not unique for A24. Everything Everywhere All At Once made $111 million at the worldwide box office, and many others have made well over $50 million.

Telling intimate yet ambitious stories A24 came up in a landscape dominated by big-budget comic book/blockbuster movies. Audiences are moving away from franchises, and looking for more independent films. Actors are still valued, yet there is a greater emphasis on marketing and production behind the scenes. 

Moviegoers might not buy a $20 ticket to The Iron Claw because Zac Efron is in it. They would, however, buy a ticket because they feel it is a worthy investment, given the reputation of the company behind it.

A24 has curated a specific voice, acting as a guiding hand for consumers. Audiences expect quality from an A24 movie, more so than other distributors. 

Although leading the pack, A24 is not the only company with eyes on it. NEON, Blumhouse, and Focus Features are just a few garnering both critical and audience acclaim, choosing movies that fit their trends. 

Film corporations are committed to their brand. Audiences are able to watch a completely new story, yet know what to expect.

It's time to start paying attention to the companies behind movies. They are the most telling of where a film is destined to go, and of where audiences will follow.