HOW A24 BECAME THE COOLEST STUDIO IN HOLLYWOOD.
From indie disruptor to awards-season giant, the rise of a company that changed modern cinema.
WRITTEN BY: MARLEY HEWITT
A24 has been an independent film powerhouse over the past decade, continuing to grow in both influence and acclaim. But how did it reach this level of success?
Founded in 2012 by film executives Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, A24 quickly distinguished itself through innovative marketing strategies - focusing less on traditional advertising and more on digital platforms and social media. They used memes, images, and edits of their films to help skyrocket to popularity.
Some of A24’s earliest releases included A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, The Bling Ring, Spring Breakers, and The Spectacular Now. While these films did not receive major awards or the same level of critical acclaim as later projects, they marked an important starting point for the company. As a way of helping distribution, they signed a deal in 2013 with DirecTV to offer day-and-date releases 30 days prior to a theatrical release. That same year, the studio partnered with Amazon, allowing its films to stream on Prime Video after their physical media releases.
By 2018, A24 had become a recognized name in the film industry largely due to the success of Moonlight; nominated for 8 Academy Awards, winning 3 - including Best Picture. From there, they cemented their name as a film distribution and production powerhouse.
A24 does not succumb to any specific genre, though it has found particular success in horror. Films such as The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Hereditary, highlight the studio’s ability to produce distinctive and unsettling stories that resonate with audiences.
What truly sets A24 apart from other studios is its approach to filmmaking. The company is known for giving directors and producers creative freedom allowing for diverse, intriguing, and new ideas to come out of their catalogue. Another major success came with Everything, Everywhere, All at Once . Which further demonstrated the studio’s commitment to bold, original storytelling.
As for the current era of A24, we have some potential heavy hitters that either just released or will be coming out very soon. The 4 movies that caught my eye for this year are The Moment with Charli XCX, How to Make a Killing with Glen Powell, Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway, and Backrooms with Renate Reinsve. With Kane Parsons making her directorial debut at just 20 years old with Backrooms.
A24 not only lets new creatives shine, it lets creativity shine through each project, creating unique, compelling stories every time. A24 is the future of filmmaking.
