By Kayla Boujja – Contributor

If I were to tell you anything about myself, I’d first say that I’m a massive cinephile. Sometimes it feels like it’s my only personality trait, but that’s a conversation for another day. 

I use Letterboxd to track the films I watch (Letterboxd users, rise up!), and I came in at a whopping 170 in 2024. That means I have a few opinions about last year’s releases. 

Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, was the best film I watched in 2024. Allow me to explain! 

You’ve likely heard the name Luca Guadagnino if you’ve seen Call Me By Your Name. More so if you’ve seen Bones and All. And if you haven’t seen these films, I highly recommend it. Plus they both star Timothée Chalamet. Need I say more? 

Guadagnino generally employs a serious tone in his films and often explores themes of sexuality and love through his work. Bones and All, for example, tells a harrowing tale of two cannibalistic young lovers yearning to find their place in the world as they explore the complexities of their relationship. Call Me By Your Name tells the beautiful story of a young Italian man falling for an older gentleman. What’s particularly engaging about Call Me By Your Name is how it explores the concept of uncertainty in one’s sexuality. Elio (played by Timothée) is falling for a man for the first time and must face the reality of his sexual identity, while Oliver (Elio’s love interest, played by Armie Hammer) views their affair as a simple opportunity to try something new. The intricacies of their relationship are gracefully explored, making Call Me By Your Name another must-watch in Luca’s filmography. 

Though poignant and often poetic, Challengers offers a refreshing break from the usual intensity of Luca’s films. An inherently playful film, Challengers explores a love triangle between two professional tennis players (the female lead being retired) and one less-experienced player. Backed by a high-energy electronic score by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, it is the definition of a Summer Flick. Challengers is often comedic, fast-paced, and constantly sexy. Supported by the likes of Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, another enjoyable aspect of Challengers is that you’ll always have someone nice to look at. Sweaty tennis players galore! Plus, who doesn’t love Zendaya?

Challengers was my favourite watch of 2024, purely because of how fun it is. Above all, if this film is anything, it’s entertaining. Orchestrated by (subjectively) one of the most talented directors of our time, Challengers hit the nail right on the head. No one could have done it better. 

Challengers is shot incredibly well. And while I have you, The Last Note, a film by Eva Corric and Marine Lendez (2 fellow Gaiters) which competed in the BU Film Festival (BUFF) is shot amazingly, too! In terms of great films of 2024, It’s worth checking out. Support our Gaiters! 

Challengers truly is a lighthearted and exciting watch, backed by the likes of three extremely attractive leads and an awesome score. Zendaya’s character is extremely stylish, and there’s a “keep you on the edge of your seat” kiss that occurs in the middle of the film that I won’t spoil. You just gotta see it for yourself!