A24 entertainment company… a studio for us? Them? Or everyone?

A24 produces some of the most formative films, offering a relatable outlook and reflective mirror into the human psyche of young adults — or the emotional voyage that is life itself.

When A24 was founded in 2012, industry giants who had been established for far longer, like Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros, barely noticed the pinprick that was this small independent upstart. Yet founders Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges saw potential in the creation of a new kind of studio.

With unprecedented creative freedom for filmmakers, A24 has become known for its whimsical yet effective approach to motion pictures, acquiring somewhat of a “cult” fanbase.

A24 aims to release expressive, original forms of art through film and prestige TV, arguably creating an auteur-like identity as a studio itself. The company has built a reputation for bold, provocative, and often mind-bending releases that distinguish creator prowess with broader cultural impact.

Some examples of these globally renowned and recognised titles include Moonlight, Midsommar, Uncut Gems, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Mid90s, Lady Bird and The Whale. Notable television programmes alongside these iconic films include Euphoria and Beef.

These works shape culture itself — but what sort of culture, and whose?

These films live in the hearts of young adults and teens, capturing the raw emotions of growing up. Still, their impact extends to anyone who’s ever felt lost, hopeful, or searching for meaning. That’s the power of A24 — it speaks to everyone, but especially to the youth who see themselves reflected on screen.

The power of belonging in Mid90s

The film Mid90s is an interesting perspective into a young boy’s life growing up in California in the 90s.

We are introduced to Sunny Suljics’s character, Stevie, who walks into a skate shop and discovers a whole new world of adolescent culture. He becomes surrounded by a group of older male influences who teach him how to skate, along with other things such as smoking, drinking, and partying.

Externally, as viewers looking in, we can all say that these things are bad. Yet if you flip it on its head, there’s an observation one can make here: there is a camaraderie and a kindred spirit shared between Stevie and his newfound friends.

Stevie just wanted to establish a sense of belonging, regardless of the sacrifices to his mental and physical state. His mental health was always fragile, even before meeting his friends, as he was abused by his brother and would practice different methods of self-harm.

A constant in his life was his mother, whose presence offered occasional moments of care and connection, even amid a home life that was often turbulent and challenging.

After meeting his friends and picking up bad habits, however, his mother starts to notice undesirable changes. Then, an outburst occurs where, for the first time on screen, their relationship is truly tested through a blinding, uncomfortable rage.

The film ends in tragedy when a drunk-driving accident injures the group. Nevertheless, the viewer is presented with a video of all the positive and genuine experiences Stevie and his friends shared over their time together — reminiscent of the times we may have had when we were younger.

This is where A24 builds its strength and power: it leaves the viewer with a feeling of authentic satisfaction.

Overall, we fall in love with Stevie and his friends because they each represent their own struggles — one struggles to go home, another lost a brother — and it all feels truly sincere. Directed by Jonah Hill, the film achieves an honest representation of the struggles many adolescents face, ones that the viewer may recognise from their own experience.

Realism and Rebellion in Lady Bird

Another film by A24 that explores similar themes of adolescent struggle is Lady Bird.

The lead actress, Saoirse Ronan, plays Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a seventeen-year-old girl growing up in Sacramento, California. A key element of Lady Bird’s struggle is her relationship with her mother (played by Laurie Metcalf).

Until the end of the film, Lady Bird conflicts with her mother, fearing she will conform to her mother’s ideals and attributes. Lady Bird fears becoming stuck in a rut, trapped in her supposedly mundane suburban life.

Retrospectively, her mother wants what is best for her daughter, though it may not be presented in the most caring way. Lady Bird’s mother consistently reaffirms the core values any parent would want for their child: a stable income and a steady home.

Granted, to the ears of a rebelling seventeen-year-old who aims high, dreaming of escaping her monotonous lifestyle, this feels suffocating.

Similarly, Lady Bird expresses her individuality in a way that doesn’t fit into the normative wardrobe that the majority of the characters adhere to. She performs her identity, dying her hair pink and insisting on being called “Lady Bird” instead of her birth name, Christine.

The film’s realism and tone make it easy for young viewers to connect with and feel a sense of nostalgia or personal placement within it.

Why A24 resonates so deeply

With all things considered — the innovation and creation of A24 and what they represent, the analysis of Mid90s and how it reflects a troubled male adolescent’s story, and Lady Bird, which displays the struggles of a female adolescent in her pursuit of growing up — it’s clear why A24 films resonate so strongly with students and the youth of today.

So many of their stories replicate real life: unfiltered, raw scenarios that hold a mirror up to the viewer, showing us pieces of ourselves.

 Even when A24 tells surreal stories like Everything Everywhere All at Once, the emotion always feels real. That’s why we keep coming back to these films — for the way they make us, the viewers, feel.

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