This is that latest that I’ve ever published a Top 10.
Shoutout to the one person who noticed it hadn’t been published yet. You know who you are.
With that, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2023.
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30
Jan
31
Dec
Film critics have been sharing their own end-of-year “Best of” lists over the last couple weeks and I’ve been puzzled by some of the reactions. There’s been a lot of negativity if certain popular films don’t make the cut or if some (or many) of the choices are films outside the mainstream. Personally, I don’t get outraged or offended if someone’s “Best of” list doesn’t match my own. On the contrary, my hope is to find films that I may have missed or overlooked. If you’re reading this, I can only hope you share that sentiment. Because these may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked or connected with the most.
With that, here are my Top 14 Movies of 2022.
02
Jan
If you’re actually reading this introduction and haven’t already started scrolling through the list, know that I’m damn proud of you. Because this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
But enough preamble. Here are my Top 10 Movies of 2021.
17
Jan
First, a plea: Support your local movie theaters.
I am not ignorant to the fact that I have been incredibly fortunate during one of the most difficult years in our country’s history. As the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the United States, amassing a domestic death toll of 335,000+ and leaving more than 10 million Americans unemployed, I have been healthy, employed, and able to work from home. I do not take that for granted. I have had my fair share of personal struggles related to the pandemic, but they pale in comparison to the dire circumstances facing others.
State and local governments have been forced to implement strict measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and that has had economic ramifications, with businesses struggling to keep their doors open and others forced to close them, either temporarily or permanently.
The theater industry is struggling. Due to public health guidelines advising against large gatherings in enclosed spaces, movie theaters have been forced to operate at reduced capacity or shut down completely. Distributors have largely opted against releasing major motion pictures until theaters are able to screen their films for full capacity audiences, fearing the loss of box office profits.
I understand there are those for whom the home viewing experience is more affordable or convenient, but personally, I don’t want to live in a world without movie theaters. The past year offered an unpleasant preview of what life would be like without the moviegoing experience, and I hated it. It was miserable. I miss settling into a seat in a darkened room with an overpriced bucket of popcorn in my lap, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world for a couple hours and lose myself in the story about to be told on the big screen before me.
Some go to church every Sunday. I go to the movie theater. It is my cathedral.
So if you are able, please consider supporting your local movie theater. If you’re not comfortable going to the movie theater under the current conditions of the pandemic — and I can’t in good conscience encourage you to go as of this writing — I implore you to explore other ways to offer your financial support. Buy a gift card for future use. Purchase concessions to-go. Reach out to theater management and ask if there are other avenues to help keep their doors open, especially if they are an independent theater.
There, I’ve made my pitch. I’ve said my peace.
If you haven’t already skipped ahead, here are my Top 12 Movies of 2020.
07
Jan
Well, here I am, back to 15. It was that kind of year for movies. Ten didn’t seem like enough.
Here is where I offer the usual caveat: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most. For example, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a great film and I think you should go see it. But there were other films I connected with more. In conclusion, go see Little Women.
If you’re still reading by now, here are my Top 15 Movies of 2019:
24
Jan
If I had to guess, you’ve probably already skipped past this part and are now scrolling through the actual list. I can’t say I blame you, because I’d probably do the same thing. I should just be thankful you’re even here! But if you are in fact taking the time to read this part, this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
With that out of the way, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2018.
If I had to guess, you’ve probably already skipped past this part and are now scrolling through the actual list. I can’t say I blame you, because I’d probably do the same thing. I should just be thankful you’re even here! But if you are in fact taking the time to read this part, this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
With that out of the way, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2018.
16
Jan
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By now you’ve no doubt realized this is a Top 15 Movies of 2017 — GASP! — rather than a traditional Top 10. Well, 2017 was not your typical year, for reasons both positive and negative. But in terms of cinema, it proved to be one of the best in recent memory. I’ve never had at least 20 films worthy of inclusion for an end-of-year Top 10 before. I compromised at 15, because 10 is an arbitrary number and this is my blog, after all. I make the rules here. Ultimately, I love talking about the movies I love, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to rescue five more films from being relegated to the obscurity of Honorable Mention.
The usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
Without further adieu, here are my Top 15 Movies of 2017.
17
Jan
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s January. You know what that means: It’s cold out (at least where I live). But January is also the month where I deliver the much anticipated list that a handful of people ask me about each year for lack of a better topic of conversation. Yes, I’m referring to my Top 10 Movies of 2016, which is not telling you anything you don’t already know since you’re reading a post titled “Top 10 Movies of 2016” at this very moment. Before you get started, my usual disclaimer: These may not necessarily be the best movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
So without further adieu, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2016.
06
Jan
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So, I saw a lot of movies last year, as per usual. Some were better than others, as is often the case. As I’ve done the past couple years, I’ve compiled a list here of the ten movies that stood out from the rest. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the resources or the inclination to see every single movie that is released in a given year, but I do the best that I can. These may not necessarily be the best movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
So without further adieu, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2015.