My Favourite Production Design of 2024 | Set Picks

My Favourite Production Design of 2024

2024 saw the release of some films with truly beautiful production design. From the tulip fields of Wicked to the haunting castle of Nosferatu, here are my top five picks of the year (in no particular order):

1. Wicked

Production Designer – Nathan Crowley

Wicked is the film everyone has been talking about since its release, and rightly so. I’m not going to go into how much I love the film as a whole— instead, I’m just going to focus on the production design.

The first thing I want to mention is how happy it makes me to see the use of practical sets over CGI. Obviously, CGI is still in play to make the world feel more expansive and magical, but I love that all the spaces we see the actors, extras, and dancers interacting with are real and tangible. It makes even the magical world of Oz and Shiz University feel grounded and believable.

Plus, the attention to detail here is extraordinary—I mean, they even planted a field of tulips for the film! I was also really impressed by the technicality of it. For example, the spinning library was so brilliantly done and is such a unique and memorable set piece. The whole thing was just beautiful and magical, and it also felt nicely reminiscent of the 1939 The Wizard of Oz.

Image from Universal Pictures

2. Nosferatu

Production Designer – Craig Lathrop

This was the most recent film I watched that made it onto this list, but as soon as I stepped out of the cinema, I knew it was kicking another film out of my top five!

Nosferatu has a very dark and haunting aesthetic. The wide-open spaces and grand, towering surroundings create an incredibly isolating atmosphere, which is further emphasized by shadow, symmetry, and the consistently cool or dark tones (thank you, lighting and cinematography).

I found the scenes in the castle especially effective in highlighting this. The grand yet empty spaces, filled with dark corners, made everything feel so suspenseful. I also thought the interiors of the characters’ homes were perfect—the textures and patterns struck a perfect balance between historical accuracy and an eerie, ghostly atmosphere.

Image from Universal Pictures

3. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Production Designer – Mark Scruton

Tim Burton is well known for his distinct and quirky style, and this film is no exception. I mean, how could it be, when the original Beetlejuice is probably one of his best in terms of design?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is another film that relied mostly on practical sets, which, again, makes me very happy. This decision makes the crazy and otherworldly locations—such as the afterlife—feel real and tangible. The use of forced perspective in the set builds was also incredibly clever, making the world feel more expansive and unending.

I’m just a huge fan of Burton’s aesthetic—I love films that are playful and exaggerated in their design, and he delivers that every time.

Image from Warner Bros.

4. A Quiet Place: Day 1

Production Designer – Simon Bowles

I watched this one months ago now, so forgive me if my memory is a little blurred, but I really enjoyed this film and absolutely loved the design.

A Quiet Place: Day 1 is a little different from the other films on this list because its design is mostly tied to realism (whereas my favourite sets are usually the opposite). However, it made the cut because I think they did an incredible job of creating a realistic New York City and then destroying it for the apocalyptic scenario. It sounds bleak, but I think it was brilliantly achieved—and it’s also an incredibly impressive feat for the art department.

5. Lisa Frankenstein

Production Designer – Mark Worthington

And finally, I’ve chosen the quirky horror Lisa Frankenstein.

I really enjoyed the design of this film because, while it’s grounded in real-life suburban America, it also exaggerates a lot of elements to make everything feel more playful. Whether it’s the over-the-top, poppy teen-girl bedroom or the ornate dream sequences, every design choice adds something special.

This film also has a lot of fun experimenting with different aesthetics. We get everything from the suburbs—reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands—to Film Noir references in the dream sequences, a gothic graveyard, and even an ultra-neon tanning bed set. The colour palettes are beautiful, and overall, it’s just so much fun! 

Image from Universal Studios

There are, of course, plenty of films from this year that I haven’t seen yet, so if you think I’ve missed any must-see production design gems, please let me know—I’d love to check them out! ★

If you want to know which films I picked last year, here are my 2023 best production design picks.

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