The Very Best Movies Of 2016, Ranked
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Only movies released in theaters in 2016.
- 12016In the genre-bending action-comedy Deadpool, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary. After being subjected to rogue experimentation that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, he adopts the alter ego Deadpool. With his dark humor and penchant for breaking the fourth wall, Deadpool seeks revenge on the man who nearly destroyed his life. Morena Baccarin stars as Vanessa, Wade's love interest, while Ed Skrein plays Ajax, the villainous subject of Deadpool's wrath. This movie has won several awards including two Critics' Choice Awards and a Golden Trailer award. It's a wild ride through unexpected twists and turns, balancing intense action sequences with sharp wit.More Deadpool
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- #61 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 22016Hidden Figures is an inspiring drama that recounts the untold story of three African-American women working at NASA during the 1960s Space Race. Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. A stirring exploration of race, gender, and scientific innovation, this film illuminates their pivotal roles in a monumental event. Having won multiple awards, Hidden Figures is a testament to these unsung heroes whose calculations helped catapult mankind into space.More Hidden Figures
- #3 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics
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- #12 of 240 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- 32016In the animated adventure Moana, we meet Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), the strong-willed daughter of a chief from a Polynesian village. Chosen by the ocean itself, she embarks on an epic journey to save her people. Guided by her own determination and the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), they traverse the vast seas, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. This Disney film, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, is a delightful blend of mythology and animation that won two Academy Awards for its captivating music and vibrant visuals.More Moana
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- #17 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a riveting interstellar adventure. Set in the expansive Star Wars universe, this standalone film follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a rebellious outcast with a complex past. She's drawn into the Rebel Alliance's daring plan to steal the blueprints of the Empire's Death Star. The film, directed by Gareth Edwards, also features characters like Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a dedicated rebel intelligence officer, and K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), a reprogrammed Imperial droid. It's an engaging mix of action, sci-fi and war drama, showcasing the desperate struggle for freedom against overwhelming odds. The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
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- #226 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 52016A man (Gong Yoo), his estranged daughter and other passengers become trapped on a speeding train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea.More Train to Busan
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- #82 of 108 onThe Best Intelligent Horror Movies
- #5 of 125 onThe Top 100+ Zombie Movies Of All Time
- 62016In the vibrant city of Zootopia, a place where animals coexist in harmony, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), an ambitious bunny cop, teams up with a sly fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve a mysterious case. The movie is an animated thrill-ride, loaded with humor and action, as well as social commentary. Notably, Zootopia won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It's a tale of friendship and determination, showing that no matter what your size or species, anyone can make a difference.More Zootopia
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- #20 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- #5 of 114 on50+ Movies That Need Sequels
- The 2016 action-packed superhero flick Captain America: Civil War features an ideological rift erupting within the Avengers. This factional split is spearheaded by two strong-willed leaders - Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). The plot centers around the regulation of superhuman activities, a proposal that divides the Avengers into opposing camps. This Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, features an ensemble cast including Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Chadwick Boseman in his debut as Black Panther. A thrilling exploration of loyalty and morality set against high-stakes global politics, it's a standout in the superhero genre.
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- 82016Linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. Hoping to unravel the mystery, she takes a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly all of mankind.More Arrival
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- #227 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- 92016In the vibrant, gritty heart of 1970s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys unfolds, a rollicking neo-noir comedy-thriller directed by Shane Black. The film's unlikely duo, rugged enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) and struggling private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling), are forced to collaborate in order to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. This labyrinthine plot thickens into a world of conspiracy and corruption. It's an engaging blend of humor, action, and mystery, punctuated by the chemistry between its leads and their navigation through a captivatingly chaotic era.More The Nice Guys
- #323 of 631 onThe 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
- #31 of 63 onThe Very Best New Noir Movies
- #5 of 136 onThe Best Bromance Movies
- 102016Your Name is a 2016 Japanese romance fantasy anime film directed by Makoto Shinkai. A high school girl in rural Japan and a high school boy in Tokyo experience a strange phenomenon: they occasionally swap bodies, and can't remember what happened when they were switched.More Your Name
- #19 of 148 onThe Most Popular Anime Right Now
- #208 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- #1 of 182 onThe 50+ Best Romance Anime Ever Made (2024 Update)
- 11
Sing
2016Dapper Koala Buster Moon presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. An eternal optimist, and a bit of a scoundrel, he loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Facing the crumbling of his life's ambition, he takes one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world's greatest singing competition. Five contestants emerge: a mouse, a timid elephant, a pig, a gorilla and a punk-rock porcupine.More Sing- #62 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #136 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- #11 of 14 on14 Animated Movies With Overqualified Voice Casts
- 122016The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.More Hacksaw Ridge
- #7 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #8 of 66 onThe Most Patriotic Movies of All Time
- #187 of 307 onThe 295+ Best Movies For Guys
- 132016Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex and Money are three Detroit thieves who get their kicks by breaking into the houses of wealthy people. Money gets word about a blind veteran who won a major cash settlement following the death of his only child. Figuring he's an easy target, the trio invades the man's secluded home in an abandoned neighborhood. Finding themselves trapped inside, the young intruders must fight for their lives after making a shocking discovery about their supposedly helpless victim.More Don't Breathe
- #92 of 396 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- #38 of 108 onThe Best Intelligent Horror Movies
- #3 of 53 onThe Most Horrifying Home Invasion Movies
- 14In the gripping thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) awakens in a bunker after a car crash, held captive by Howard (John Goodman). Howard insists that he's saved her from an apocalyptic event unfolding above ground, rendering the outside world uninhabitable. Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), another bunker inhabitant, confirms this eerie claim. As tension mounts and truths blur, Michelle must navigate deception and danger to survive. This film is a suspenseful exploration of confinement, trust, and survival under extraordinary circumstances. It masterfully blends elements of mystery, drama, and science fiction to create an intense cinematic experience.
- 15In the heartland of Texas, Toby Howard (Chris Pine) and his ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster) embark on a desperate scheme. Their mission: bank robbery. The goal - to save their family ranch from foreclosure. As they dodge law enforcement, their nemesis emerges in the form of Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges), a nearly-retired Texas Ranger who is hell-bent on bringing them to justice. Hell or High Water is a modern western crime thriller that earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It's a story of survival, kinship, and retribution, where the lines between right and wrong blur in the scorching Texan heat.More Hell or High Water
- #127 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #13 of 48 onThe 45+ Best Modern Day Westerns
- #2 of 36 onThe Best "Netflix and Chill" Movies Available Now
- 162016The true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Kroc soon maneuvers himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a multi-billion dollar empire.
- 172016In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Doctor Strange, we follow the journey of an acclaimed neurosurgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). After a devastating car accident damages his hands and derails his career, he embarks on a quest for healing that leads him to the mystical Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Under her tutelage, Strange begins to master the mystic arts, revealing an unseen world of magic and alternate dimensions. As he grows in power, he must confront Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), a rogue sorcerer bent on upsetting the balance of reality. A tale steeped in mysticism and action, Doctor Strange is a unique entry in Marvel's superhero genre.More Doctor Strange
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- #18 of 185 onThe Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
- 182016When Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home, she thought that her childhood fears were behind her. As a young girl growing up, she was never really sure of what was real when the lights went out at night. Now, her little brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that jeopardized her safety and sanity. Holding a mysterious attachment to their mother (Maria Bello), a supernatural entity has returned with a vengeance to torment the entire family.More Lights Out
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- #45 of 62 onThe 60+ Best Supernatural Teen Movies
- #1 of 12 onThe Best Paranormal Movies Streaming on Hulu
- 192015In The Witch, a chilling period horror, a 17th-century New England family (the Plantations) is exiled to the edge of a vast wilderness. The family matriarch, Katherine (Kate Dickie), and her husband William (Ralph Ineson) struggle against nature's harsh realities while raising their five children. Their world spirals into chaos when the youngest child, Samuel, mysteriously vanishes. Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), the oldest daughter, is accused of witchcraft by her own kin as paranoia and despair set in. This film won the Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival for its eerie depiction of puritanical fear and familial suspicion.More The Witch
- #60 of 396 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- #29 of 57 onThe Best Horror Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked
- #43 of 78 onThe Greatest Movies To Watch Outside
- 20
The Jungle Book
2016The Jungle Book, an adventure-packed movie, features Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a young boy raised by wolves. Guided by the stern panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the free-spirited bear Baloo (Bill Murray), he embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery. The journey is not without peril, as Shere Khan (Idris Elba), a fearsome tiger, holds a deadly grudge against him. This film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, thanks to its stunning portrayal of the Indian jungle and its anthropomorphic inhabitants. Despite being set in a wild world, it tells a human story about identity and belonging.More The Jungle Book- #76 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
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- #21 of 59 onThe Best Disney Movies Starring Animals
- 21
Lion
2016Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.More Lion- #162 of 228 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #49 of 63 onThe Greatest Directorial Debuts Of All Time
- #168 of 424 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- 22The Aviator introduces a girl to a world where she rediscovers her childhood and learns that it's human connections that matter most, and that it is only with heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
- 23
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2016In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a British wizard, arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. A few escape, causing chaos in the city. Alongside former Auror, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Newt races against time to retrieve his escaped beasts before they wreak more havoc. The film intertwines fantasy with adventure, showcasing stunning visual effects that won it an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. It serves as a prequel to the much-loved Harry Potter series, introducing audiences to previously unseen corners of J.K. Rowling's magical world. - 242016Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son's (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter.
- Venturing into the spine-chilling realm of the supernatural, The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist is a horror sequel that takes us across the Atlantic to England. Paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), reprise their roles, drawn into a haunting case centered around the Hodgson family in North London. As they delve deeper into the eerie occurrences, they grapple with a malevolent entity known as The Enfield Poltergeist. Directed by James Wan, this film won acclaim for its atmospheric tension and suspenseful storytelling, further solidifying its place in contemporary horror cinema.
- #36 of 396 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- #21 of 108 onThe Best Intelligent Horror Movies
- #12 of 117 onThe Best Horror Movie Sequels
- 26A successful Los Angeles art-gallery owner's idyllic life is marred by the constant traveling of her handsome second husband. While he is away, she is shaken by the arrival of a manuscript written by her first husband, who she has not seen in years. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher who finds a trip with his family turning into a nightmare. As Susan reads the book, it forces her to examine her past and confront some dark truths.More Nocturnal Animals
- #148 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
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- #57 of 63 onThe Very Best New Noir Movies
- 272016Moonlight is a profound, genre-defying drama that unfolds in three acts. The film follows the life of Chiron, portrayed at different stages by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes. In the heart of Miami's rough neighborhood, young Chiron navigates his tumultuous home life and grapples with his emerging sexuality. Naomi Harris plays his drug-addicted mother, while Mahershala Ali shines as the caring drug dealer who becomes a father figure to him. This Oscar-winning masterpiece explores themes of identity, masculinity, and love with nuanced sensitivity and compelling storytelling.More Moonlight
- 282016Conor (Lewis MacDougall) is dealing with far more than other boys his age. His beloved and devoted mother (Felicity Jones) is ill. He has little in common with his imperious grandmother. His father has resettled thousands of miles away. But Conor finds a most unlikely ally when the Monster (Liam Neeson) appears at his bedroom window one night. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth that powerfully fuses imagination and reality.
- 292016In the delightful animated adventure Finding Dory, we follow our amnesiac protagonist Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) on a quest to find her long-lost family. Accompanied by old friends Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (Albert Brooks), they traverse the vast ocean, encountering a host of intriguing characters along the way. Among them is Hank (Ed O'Neill), a cantankerous octopus with a heart of gold. The film, a sequel to the award-winning Finding Nemo, cleverly combines humor and heart. It's an underwater odyssey that explores themes of friendship and self-discovery without losing its buoyant spirit.More Finding Dory
- #86 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- #241 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #82 of 114 on50+ Movies That Need Sequels
- 30Navigating the choppy waters of adolescence, The Edge of Seventeen is a coming-of-age dramedy that centers on high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld). She struggles with typical teenage angst compounded by the death of her father and an increasingly distant relationship with her popular older brother, Darian (Blake Jenner). When Darian starts dating Nadine's best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson), her world spirals into chaos. The movie, directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, beautifully encapsulates the trials of growing up, bolstered by a strong performance from Steinfeld. A candid portrayal of youth and resilience, it offers an authentic glimpse into the tumultuous teen years.
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