This is a historical, live-style roundup of movie reviews from the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, held September 5–15, 2024. The original page was a regularly updated stream of reactions to films screened in Toronto—not a final ranking of every film at the festival.
What the TIFF 2024 review roundup covers
The roundup brings together short and longer reactions written as films were seen at TIFF. Its opening highlights include The End., The Substance, William Tell, Rumours, U Are The Universe and Dead Talents Society. Earlier coverage also flagged Megalopolis, The Life of Chuck, Nightbitch, The Wild Robot and Rumours as films to watch. The page’s rolling format is useful for sampling critics’ responses, but individual capsules should be read as the views of their writers.
For example, Andrew Webster’s September 7 capsule described William Tell as “quite bland” and said it lost momentum after the familiar apple-shot episode. The roundup’s The Substance entry focuses on Demi Moore’s character using a mysterious cosmetic drug and calls the resulting film nightmarish. Those are attributed critical reactions, not neutral verdicts or evidence of audience consensus. Read the original stream at Mingooland’s TIFF 2024 review roundup.
How to read the different kinds of TIFF reviews
There is no single definitive measure of which TIFF film was “best.” The available coverage offers three different ways to assess films: an individual critic’s response, a member poll after the festival, and an aggregator score for films with enough reviews. Each answers a different question.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Indicator | What it tells you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Individual review | A named critic’s reaction to a particular film, often in a short capsule. | Whether viewers or critics generally agree. |
| TFCA member poll | Which films members of the Toronto Film Critics Association selected as “best of the fest.” | A ranking of every TIFF film or a festival award. |
| Rotten Tomatoes scorecard | A Tomatometer score and critic consensus for qualifying TIFF films, as displayed on the scorecard’s update date. | A fixed verdict, festival award, or complete account of films screened. |
What critics highlighted after the festival
The Toronto Film Critics Association’s post-festival member survey reported 11 films receiving “best of the fest” picks. Only three TIFF debuts appeared among those picks: Life of Chuck, The Gesuidouz and Bring Them Down. Other named selections included Universal Language, Anora, Piece by Piece, The Brutalist, Conclave and Emilia Pérez. This is a member poll, not a comprehensive ranking of the lineup. See the Toronto Film Critics Association survey.
Writing about Universal Language in that survey, critic Anne Brodie said: “Everyday conversation is heightened by the film’s distinctly original dialogue, set pieces and oddities.” Her line conveys one critic’s response rather than a consensus score.
Rank #2
Rotten Tomatoes scores are a separate snapshot
Rotten Tomatoes’ scorecard for films that played at TIFF was updated January 23, 2025. It listed All We Imagine as Light at 100%, Will & Harper at 99% and Universal Language at 95% at that time. These Tomatometer scores apply to films with enough reviews to qualify for the scorecard, and may change as reviews are added or its data is updated. They should not be read as festival awards or as a direct comparison with the TFCA member poll. Check the Rotten Tomatoes TIFF scorecard for its displayed scores and critic consensus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other reviews and the festival’s scale
A September 11 roundup from The GATE provides another sample of critic-led reactions, covering titles including The Piano Lesson, The Wild Robot, Saturday Night, We Live in Time, The Last Showgirl, Conclave, Presence, Seeds and Anora. Like the Mingooland stream, it offers a selection of responses rather than a complete account of TIFF coverage. Read The GATE’s TIFF capsule reviews for that outlet’s takes.
Recommended Free Tools
In an August 30, 2024 preview, Rotten Tomatoes said nearly 300 films were expected during the ten-day festival and identified secondary premieres including Anora, The Substance, Emilia Pérez, Maria, Babygirl and The Room Next Door. “Nearly 300” was a preview estimate, not a final screening count. The festival ran September 5–15, 2024; the preview is available from Rotten Tomatoes.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
