This December marks the end of what was a surprisingly excellent year for entertainment. After 2020-2022 were pretty abysmal, and 2023 dug itself out of the dirt well enough, 2024 delivered in a shockingly huge way. Brat, I Saw the TV Glow, Stereophonic, and Kaos all made their mark over the year, and weren’t even the best of their respective mediums. It seemed like big artists were at the top of their game, whether it be Kendrick Lamar dominating with the diss “Not Like Us” or Nicolas Cage giving a mindblowing performance in Longlegs.

     One must always rise above, however, and our staff have picked out the best of the best in six of the main types of entertainment: albums, books, TV, video games, musicals, and movies.

Best Album: GNX

     Recently released on November 22nd, Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album GNX takes the spot of best album of the year. Demonstrating much versatility in its tracks, showcasing musical diversity was a big theme this year (Tyler the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA deserves a mention here). However, the lyrical genius and production quality gave GNX the win. Featuring SZA in its track “luther”, we hear great musical compositions blended with SZA’s vocals that create a mesmerizing experience. And, the rest of tracks don’t lag far behind as it seems this album has a much more laidback west side vibe contrasting Lamar’s previous albums like Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Moreover, the concept of featuring the 1987 Buick GNX, a limited edition muscle car, added insight into the album’s overall style. “The concept of Kendrick using [the Buick GNX] as cover art on GNX was interesting since the Buick is the most American car out there” said senior and big Kendrick fan, Aryan Rathkanthiwar. “[The album] took a lot of old west coast hip hop and synthesized it… it was really cool to go back”. Overall the production and style is what helped it win over the other amazing albums of this year.

Best Book: The Women

     War books are difficult to write. The intense visuals of battle don’t transfer easily to a paper medium, but Kristin Hannah manages to do so perfectly. The horrors of Vietnam and terrible experiences of veterans are fully transmitted into the book, and it showcases the terror incredibly. The characters who are set up are then suddenly killed off, depicting the way war callously slaughters people in real life. Even when the book depicts the world beyond the war, the fear and paranoia just never stops as characters that previously seemed valiant soon show their true disgusting colors. Hannah’s extremely descriptive writing manages to flow without disrupting the continuity of the story with long exposition. This book is perfect for fans of period pieces, dramas, and war, and even if you aren’t, it’s sure to convince you.

Best TV Show: 3 Body Problem

        As usual, Netflix did not disappoint with TV shows this year, and after many hours of watching, the best one has to be 3 Body Problem. Adapted from the 2008 Chinese novel by Lui Cixin, Netflix spent approximately $20 million per episode and the show spent several weeks on the top 10. The complexity of the plot and well detailed graphics added greatly to an already interesting plot. A blend between sci-fi and thriller, this show is definitely binge worthy as it explores many existential questions of science and reality, and perfectly blends drama and futuristic fiction. Although some viewers criticize the show for not matching the book, what adaptation doesn’t take some creative liberty? You are guaranteed to not walk away disappointed after watching this enthralling show. 

Best Video Game: Helldivers 2

     Sequels dominated the game industry this year, the most spectacular of which easily being Helldivers 2. It throws everything at the wall, making for a totally thrilling and unique experience every round. It’s also extremely cinematic and immersive, with the zealous over-the-top gameplay providing for beautiful visuals and complete chaos. The story of an all-powerful government “spreading democracy” by slaughtering aliens is just futuristic enough to make for great sci-fi and, in today’s world, services to make the digital planet feel all too real. The developers are surprisingly receptive to the community, and the players themselves are much more inviting than most other shooters. All around an outstanding game which will surely inspire a third.

Best Musical: The Great Gatsby

     The Tony awards were overrun with excellence this year, but none stand up to the outstanding Great Gatsby. The stage form of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book feels like it should have been the original, the purest form of Gatsby there is. The songs are insanely fun, from the slow and pensive “My Green Light” to the wild and frenzied “New Money.” The characters, especially Nick and Jordan, are much more fleshed out in this adaptation. Jeremy Jordan, Samantha Pauly, and Noah J. Ricketts give both exciting and powerful performances, but Eva Noblezada as Daisy truly shines and proves herself to be one of the best actors in modern Broadway. An enchanting theater experience sure to run for years to come.

Best Movie: Dune: Part Two

     Despite all the great movies released this year, the best made itself known all the way back in March. Dune: Part Two is a masterpiece. Stunning desert sets, heart-pounding action, and intense and palpable drama reverberate all throughout this film. Zendaya, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem stand out from the excellent supporting cast, but none shine more than Muad’Dib himself, Timothée Chalamet. He plays the transition from naive but well-meaning helper to insane megalomaniacal Jesus figure so cleanly that it’s disturbing. The romance and characters are so much more fleshed out here, and the fight scenes are perfectly choreographed. So much more could be said about its VFX, dialogue, and the way it stays true to the first while being even more magnificent, but it needs to be watched to be believed. Dune: Part Two unequivocally stands as the best movie of the year.