This was a big year for films across all genres, with horrors, dramas and sci-fi epics bringing the goods. There were heavy hitters from big directors, indie horror films that stunned and legacy sequels that revived franchises for a new audience. There’s even a film on here about a clown and his girlfriend that is absolutely fantastic… no, not that one. This year’s list is quite competitive, but every film really earned its spot and still lives rent free in my head. As for those that didn’t quite land a spot, let’s have a look at the honourable mentions.
Honourable Mentions
While it couldn’t quite live up to the perfection of Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller’s latest dive into his Mad Max universe is a thrilling revenge story rich in scope and scale. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga highlights a strong lead performance and a story that’s still entertaining despite being a little too bloated. When it comes to horror sequels, most try to play it safe by riding off the success of the first film and doing the same thing. Not Smile 2, which pushes the boundaries of its world by basing the story in the big city and following a celebrity. That might take away from a bit of the horror, but the quality of the writing and strength of Naomi Scott’s performance goes a long way to making it brilliant. To this day it still surprises me that the Sonic franchise has been as good as it has, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best of the bunch. Full of large-scale actions and comedic hijinks aplenty, this is one of those films that’s great for kids and adults alike. Late Night with the Devil came out of nowhere, the found footage horror flick is refreshingly fun and wonderfully macabre, dedicating fully to presenting itself as a 70s talk show. It’s creepy, intelligent and goes in directions you wouldn’t expect – a must for horror fans looking for something a little different.
#10 – Terrifier 3
The Terrifier franchise isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re one to enjoy a blood-soaked cuppa with a side of guts, gore and sadistic terror, this one’s for you. Terrifier 3 is the best film in the franchise – making full use of expanded budget while not losing that b-movie feel. It’s jam-packed with gruesome kills that will make even the toughest stomachs churn. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not all blood, guts and murder – there’s actually a compelling narrative to go along with it full of mystery and gripping supernatural elements. This film also does a great job at improving the story of those that came before, something that can’t be said about most sequels.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Terrifier 3 by clicking here.
#9 – Alien: Romulus
Keeping it going with the horror genre, this year saw the release of yet another Alien film, this time from director Fede Alvarez. If anyone was going to be responsible for taking the franchise back to its horror roots, it’s Alvarez. While I love the high-concept content of Prometheus, I thoroughly enjoyed going back to the claustrophobic tone of the original in Alien: Romulus. This is a fast-paced ride laced with tension and suspense from start to finish. Of course there’s also stacks of xenomorph action, and the iconic alien is the scariest it has been in a while. As a legacy sequel, it’s loaded with winks, nods and obvious callbacks, but it’s very accessible for fans and newcomers alike. Whether the next Alien film continues this narrative or not, I’ll always be there opening weekend.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Alien: Romulus by clicking here.
#8 – Gladiator II
Speaking of legacy sequels, a follow-up to 2000’s Gladiator wasn’t on my bingo card. While Ridley Scott didn’t direct the Alien film on this list, he did direct Gladiator II, a sequel that does a fantastic job in honouring its predecessor and tying directly in to its story. This is a beautiful film, making use of years of advancements in technology to bring Rome to life like we’ve never seen it before. The cinematography is epic and the action is a blast, plus the story itself is riveting, emotional and character-focused. Paul Mescal is great in the lead role, but it’s Denzel Washington who completely steals the show. Overall this is a companion piece to the original that would make for a thrilling back-to-back viewing, something that can’t always be said about legacy sequels.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Gladiator II by clicking here.
#7 – Deadpool & Wolverine
After all of the hype and anticipation, a wave of relief washed over me when it turned out that Deadpool & Wolverine was as good as expected. As far as superhero films go, this is one of the most purely entertaining features I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. It runs at a quick pace and wastes absolutely no time setting up the action-packed, star-studded adventure. The story makes full use of its multiverse setting to tap into an archive of superhero references, and as a fan of the genre it’s the gift that keeps on giving. The comedy is hilariously effective from beginning to end, with Deadpool’s blabbering personality clashing with Wolverine’s stoic demeanour to laugh-out-loud results. This is absolutely not the most thought-provoking, dramatic film of the year, but it’s absolutely the most fun.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Deadpool & Wolverine by clicking here.
#6 – Nosferatu
What happens when you pair Robert Eggers and a cinematic classic? You get Nosferatu, a spine-chilling gothic horror that’s as alluring and seductive as it is terrifying. Known for his narrative and cinematic style, Eggers imparts his signature on every second of this film. The deep and compelling narrative takes character arcs in directions you wouldn’t expect. If you know the story of Dracula, you know how this all goes down, but the small ways in which Eggers fleshes out the story and characters is phenomenal. But don’t think this is all artistic and thematic – there’s some incredible chills and spine-tingling thrills across the entire film. The sound, score and cinematography combine to create a number of disturbing sequences that will have you frozen in fear.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Nosferatu by clicking here.
#5 – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
The resurrected Planet of the Apes franchise is one of my favourite trilogies of all time, with the second film being on my favourite films of all time. So that led to me going into this film with a skeptical eye. Could it live up to that quality with a new set of characters and creative team behind it? Yes… yes it does. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has expanded the universe beyond the life of Caesar and set up a new story that promises drama and conflict that could rival that which has come before. Loaded with action, thrills and emotion, this narrative introduces a new lineup of characters who you’re immediately attached to thanks to a fast-paced and well-written first act. It doubles as the start of a new trilogy that newcomers can begin with and a sequel that’s fulfilling for returning fans. It’s gripping and emotionally engaging, making for a thrill-packed ride with shocking surprises aplenty.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes by clicking here.
#4 – Anora
Despite not being first on the list, Anora might be the craziest and most surprising film experience I had all year. Going in completely blind is one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. Every direction this narrative takes is a surprise – it’s a whirlwind of tonal shifts and emotional mayhem. From euphoric romance to laugh-out-loud slapstick comedy to deep, gut-wrenching character drama, this movie really does have it all. It’s dark but also beautiful – a wild ride that rewards the viewer at every turn. The dialogue is phenomenal and the performances are equally as mesmerising, led by Mikey Madison who is absolutely electric. Her performance is breathtaking – I was regularly in awe at the rawness of her acting and how she grounds the role even when the narrative gets wild. It’s hard to prep someone for what to expect with this film, because the best approach is to expect nothing. I for one won’t be forgetting this film any time soon.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Anora by clicking here.
#3 – The Substance
Speaking of coming out of nowhere, The Substance is the biggest pleasant surprise of the year. It’s been riding a lot of buzz going into award season, and for good reason. This is a phenomenal body horror feature that’s also much deeper on a thematic level. To put it simply, this movie is batshit insane. Writer/director Coralie Farget has cooked up a film that’s haunting, captivating and comedic all at the same time. Starting from the top, the concept is a brilliant hook, and the opening act introduces it in a way that’s easy to understand and foreshadows some truly harrowing shit. Whenever you think you know where things are going, you don’t – it yanks the rug out from under you and keeps taking things to the next level. The horror elements are chilling, the horror-comedy is refreshing and the thematic elements are very well implemented. Then there’s Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley – these two go back and forth exceptionally and have delivered the best duo of performances all year. All I can say is strap in, because this is an absolute rollercoaster.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of The Substance by clicking here.
#2 – Wicked
The stage production is my favourite of all time, so it was a no-brainer that if this movie stuck the landing it would be high on the list. Thankfully, Wicked is everything I wanted to see from a stage-to-screen adaptation. It stays entirely faithful to the story and characters of the production, while using a new medium to its absolute fullest. It’s grand, full of awe and undeniably phenomenal across the entire film. It’s been made with a lot of love for the original production, with every element from the music to the story and visuals sticking the landing. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are perfectly cast, right down to the fact that their on-screen personalities and chemistry embody the characters so well that it’s uncanny. Not only are their acting performances great, but their singing performances are on another level. This entire film gave me chills, especially in the climax, so if you’re a fan of musicals and you somehow haven’t seen this yet… it’s a must.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Wicked by clicking here.
#1 – Dune: Part Two
The fact that this film came out in February, shot to the top of my list and managed to hold that position throughout the entire year is a testament to its unwavering quality. Dune: Part Two is a spectacle and cinematic masterpiece that somehow improves on the first film, which was my top film of 2021. Denis Villeneuve has crafted a piece of cinematic excellence that is one of the best films of the genre. It’s grand in scope and epic in its narrative, telling a multi-layered story that’s jam-packed with characters and subplots yet blissfully easy to follow. Every single shot is an artwork worth fawning over – the cinematography is the best of the year, linking with impressive sound and a booming score to round out the incredible technical elements. Paired with the first film, this is one of the most riveting sci-fi stories ever put to screen, and could turn into one of the the best sci-fi trilogies with the release of the third film. There’s no film more deserving for the top spot than Dune: Part Two, it’s by far the most impressive feature, and one that keeps calling to me for a rewatch every other day.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Dune: Part Two by clicking here.
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