Why Your Brand Film Should Look Like an A24 Film
In an age where attention is fleeting and audiences are increasingly immune to traditional advertising, the most effective brand stories are the ones that don’t feel like marketing at all. They feel like cinema. And not just any cinema—but the kind that stays with you, that dares to be gritty, intentional, and emotionally resonant. The kind of storytelling A24 has mastered.
From Moonlight to Uncut Gems to Past Lives, A24 has redefined what cinematic storytelling can be. Their films are moody, intimate, and often hauntingly beautiful. They linger. And that lingering, that emotional echo, is exactly what today’s brands should be striving for when creating content.
Because let’s face it: the average viewer isn’t watching your video thinking about your quarterly goals. They’re wondering if it’s worth their time. If it will make them feel something. And increasingly, they’re gravitating toward brands that communicate with the same emotional intelligence and artistic intentionality they expect from the films they love.
Cinema as Strategy: What A24 Gets Right
At its core, the A24 aesthetic isn’t just about visuals—it’s about values. Their films champion nuance over noise, intimacy over exposition, and authenticity over polish. These choices signal a deep respect for the audience's intelligence and emotional depth. Brands can—and should—take notes.
1. Visual Identity with Intent
A24 films are instantly recognizable not because they follow a template, but because they trust visual storytelling. Whether it’s the eerie stillness of The Witch or the neon chaos of Good Time, every frame is composed with meaning. For brands, this means abandoning the cookie-cutter commercial look in favor of visuals that reflect tone, mood, and character.
When a brand film adopts this cinematic approach, it stops looking like an ad and starts feeling like a story. That shift in perception is critical: audiences are more likely to watch, engage with, and share content that looks and feels like art.
2. Emotional First, Informational Second
In traditional advertising, the message comes first: here’s the product, here’s why it’s great. In A24-style storytelling, emotion leads. You’re invited into a world, a feeling, a character’s internal landscape. The “what” comes second, often unspoken.
For brands, this is a powerful reframing. Instead of starting with the pitch, start with the why. The conflict. The values. How does your brand help someone overcome something real? What emotion drives your customers? These questions lead to more human stories—and ultimately, more meaningful connections.
3. Letting Moments Breathe
Modern marketing often leans into speed: short attention spans, fast cuts, quick payoffs. But A24 takes the opposite approach, embracing silence, tension, and slow builds. This creates a sense of immersion—a rare commodity in a noisy media landscape.
Your brand film doesn’t need to rush. In fact, taking a breath might be the boldest thing you can do. When you give your audience space to feel, they pay closer attention.
Storytelling That Builds Trust
Consumers today are less interested in being sold to and more interested in being seen. They want to know what your brand stands for. They want authenticity, not algorithms. The same cultural shifts that made A24 a household name—conscious consumption, aesthetic literacy, emotional intelligence—are driving a transformation in brand storytelling as well.
By humanizing its narrative, a brand shifts from being a product provider to a community partner. This emotional connection transforms casual viewers into loyal supporters who see the brand as a reflection of their own values.
That’s the power of cinema.
From Ads to Art: A Strategic Advantage
Making your brand film look like an A24 film isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a strategic one. In a saturated market, aesthetic and emotional distinctiveness are differentiators. A24’s signature style communicates quality, thoughtfulness, and creative bravery. Those are powerful traits for any brand to align with.
It also taps into cultural capital. For younger audiences—especially Millennials and Gen Z—A24 represents a brand that “gets it.” By echoing that cinematic language, your brand aligns with a value system that prizes depth, artistry, and emotional honesty. That alignment creates not just viewers, but advocates.
And as storytelling continues to evolve in an era of transparency, slow content, and brand purpose, cinematic storytelling will only become more valuable. Brands that invest in story-forward, visually compelling films will find themselves with more than just content—they’ll have culture-shaping assets that deepen relationships and expand brand meaning.
Let’s Tell Better Stories
Until recently, the idea of making a brand film “feel like cinema” would’ve been considered risky, even indulgent. But now, it’s clear: the riskiest thing a brand can do is blend in. In an attention economy, emotion is currency. And the brands that make us feel something—the ones that approach content creation with the same care and craft as a filmmaker—will rise above the scroll.
So if your next brand film doesn’t look like an A24 movie, maybe it should.
