brat: The Substance—address the relationship between the societal expectations of aging and commercial success. Campy without being overly excessive. Both also star women who have been critically overlooked for years.
New Blue Sun: I'm still Here—about rebirth and defying societal expectations. Both star two legends in their respective fields (American hip-hop, Brazilian cinema)
Djesse Vol. 4: The Brutalist—controversially long with an overwhelming amount of thematic material. May not be familiar to the general public.
Short n' Sweet: Wicked—commercially palatable/successful, well-promoted, and cleverly comedic.
Hit Me Hard and Soft: Conclave & Dune—about the balance of individual goals with societal expectations. May be slow for some.
The Tortured Poets Department: Emilia Perez—marred with controversy (anti-Mexican and transphobic material, allegedly blocking other artists from reaching #1), overwhelming amount of thematic material, and very critically polarizing
Cowboy Carter: Nickel Boys & A Complete Unknown—Cowboy Carter is about the structural challenges and high expectations placed on Black Americans. While Beyonce pays homage to her predecessors, she puts her own spin on the country genre.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess: Anora—young, alcohol/drug induced love; giving everything to someone who lets you down. Vastly overperformed commercial expectations.
