The Rise of Two Indie Powerhouses
The 2010s and 2020s have been a golden era for independent cinema, largely because of two names: A24 and Neon. Ask any cinephile today ‘Who is better, A24 or Neon?’ and you’ll probably get an impassioned argument. Both companies have changed what “indie” means—pushing films into the mainstream while still keeping risk-taking at their core. But their paths couldn’t be more different.
A24: The Lifestyle Brand of Modern Indie Cinema
Origins & Early Identity (2012–2016)
A24 was born in New York in 2012, founded by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges. Early A24 movies vs Neon movies comparisons didn’t exist yet—A24 announced itself with titles like Spring Breakers, The Spectacular Now, and The Bling Ring.
These films made clear what the company wanted to do: elevate auteurs with distinctive voices and then market and sell their work in a way that felt sharp, stylish, and hard to ignore. That’s what makes A24 successful.
Oscar Breakthroughs: Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once
The true leap came in 2016, when Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight became the Best Picture winner after that infamous Oscars mix-up. It was the moment A24 went from distributor to kingmaker.
Six years later, the studio distributed Everything Everywhere All at Once, which didn’t just win Best Picture—it took home Director, Screenplay, and all four acting awards. A24 Oscar wins stood out. No other independent film studio comparison looks the same after that.
Beyond Film: TV, Merch, and Cinephile Community Building
Unlike any of the top independent film distributors, A24 turned its brand into a cultural identity. Through zines, streetwear-style merch drops, repertory screenings, and buzzy projects like Euphoria and Beef, it built something more than a catalog. The A24 lifestyle brand explained: it’s not just about films, it’s about being part of a cinephile tribe.
Neon – The Festival Kingmaker with Global Ambition
Launch and Early Acquisitions (2017–2019)
Neon arrived later, in 2017, founded by Tom Quinn and Tim League. Its first wave included I, Tonya and Ingrid Goes West—sharp, timely projects that put it on the map.
But the studio’s reputation was cemented when it picked up Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. The Parasite movie distributor campaign became legendary, taking the film from Cannes glory to the first-ever Best Picture win for a non-English title.
Parasite to Anora: A Cannes-to-Oscars Pipeline
How did Neon win Best Picture twice? By mastering the festival-to-Oscar pipeline. Parasite in 2020 and Anora in 2025 weren’t accidents—they were the result of a playbook Neon has refined: secure the buzziest film at Cannes, nurture its reputation through careful rollouts, and then push it into awards season with precision. In doing so, the company proved it could go toe-to-toe with the majors, not by outspending them, but by out-strategizing them.
The Palme d’Or Streak (2019–2025)
The real calling card is Neon’s Cannes Palme d’Or streak. From Parasite to Titane to Anatomy of a Fall to Anora, the company has distributed six consecutive winners. No other U.S. distributor can claim that. Neon film distribution history is built on international cinema and bold auteur voices like Bong Joon-ho, Justine Triet, and Sean Baker.
How A24 and Neon Built Their Winning Formulas
A24’s Formula: Auteur + Aesthetic + Audience
A24 works like an in-house curator. It picks directors such as Barry Jenkins, Ari Aster, and the Daniels, pairs them with distinct visual branding, and markets them as events. That’s what makes A24 successful: combining auteur ambition with audience appeal.
Neon’s Strategy: Festival Heat + Global Vision + Precision Campaigns
Neon, by contrast, thrives on curating world cinema. Its bets are films that win juries and critics first, then break out to audiences. This difference between A24 and Neon makes Neon less about lifestyle and more about precision: Cannes heat plus awards campaigns that rarely miss.
Awards Impact: Rewriting Oscar History
A24’s Historic Oscar Sweeps
From Moonlight in 2016 to Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023, A24 has scored two Best Picture wins that defined the last decade. Moonlight proved that a small, intimate story could win the industry’s top prize. Years later, Everything Everywhere went even bigger—becoming the first film to win Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and all four acting awards. As the Everything Everywhere All at Once distributor, A24 showed that indie films could not only compete at the Oscars but also completely dominate.
Neon’s Non-English Language Breakthroughs
Neon’s path looks different but is just as impressive. Parasite in 2020 became the first non-English film ever to win Best Picture, a groundbreaking moment for the Academy. In 2025, Anora proved it wasn’t a one-time event. These Neon Best Picture winners pushed the idea of what an Oscar movie could be, opening the door for more international and daring work.
Which studio won more Oscars: A24 or Neon?
As of the 97th Academy Awards, A24 has collected 21 Oscar wins from 76 nominations, making it the most decorated studio in terms of sheer numbers. Neon, by comparison, has 11 wins from 39 nominations, but its victories carry a different kind of weight. With Parasite in 2020 and Anora in 2025, Neon became the only distributor to claim two Best Picture wins for non-English and unconventional fare, reshaping how the Academy thinks about global cinema.
A24 built a head start with volume and reach, while Neon—though it arrived later—has quickly caught up with fewer but game-changing wins that prove both studios are reshaping cinema in very different, equally impactful ways.
Cultural Reach & Audience Engagement
A24: Cinephilia as Community
A24’s edge is cultural ubiquity. Whether through A24 filmography merch drops or remastered events like Stop Making Sense, it transformed itself into the best indie film studio with mainstream visibility.
Neon: Prestige-First Rollouts
Neon doesn’t do hoodies and tote bags; it does precision marketing. Word-of-mouth campaigns for films like Parasite and Anora built momentum slowly but decisively. That’s why cinephiles trust its curatorial taste.
Are A24 and Neon Still “Indie”?
Are A24 and Neon still indie? Yes and no. A24 now has a billion-dollar valuation and produces in-house, but it still keeps budgets modest and directors central. Neon is smaller but has influence that rivals majors thanks to its festival-first strategy. In today’s landscape, “indie” is less about money and more about creative freedom—and on that front, both qualify.
The Verdict: Two Crowns, Two Visions
Choose A24 If You Value Cultural Ubiquity
If you’re the kind of movie lover who enjoys being part of a community of cinephiles who enjoy debating films online, swapping theories, or lining up for special screenings, A24 is built for you. Its appeal lies in consistency: a recognizable visual style, a stable of familiar directors, and marketing campaigns that always seem to make noise, whether it’s Hereditary trailers that lit up Twitter or limited merch drops that sell out in minutes.
For many fans, A24 offers a reliable identity in a crowded movie landscape. You know what you’re getting: a film that feels stylish, culturally relevant, and designed to be talked about as much as it’s watched.
Choose Neon If You Champion Global Audacity
If you’re the kind of viewer who champions world cinema—someone who loves discovering daring stories from Cannes and watching them rise all the way to the Oscars—then Neon is where your loyalty belongs.
Beyond Parasite and Anora, the company has backed Palme d’Or winners like Titane and Anatomy of a Fall, as well as critical standouts like Spencer and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. These are films that often start with niche cinephile buzz before Neon carefully guides them into the mainstream conversation.
Why We Don’t Need to Pick Just One
The truth? Independent cinema is stronger because both exist. Both are unarguably the two best indie film studios currently. Whether you lean toward A24 directors like the Daniels or Neon directors like Bong Joon-ho, both have proven they’re not just modern indie cinema trends 2020s—they are defining them.
