The Best Movies of 2020 – Best New Films of the Year | Rotten Tomatoes

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The Best Movies of 2020, Ranked by Tomatometer

Rotten Tomatoes has collected every movie designated Certified Fresh over the past year, creating our guide to the best movies of 2020.

Movies achieve Certified Fresh status by maintaining a Tomatometer score of at least 75% after a minimum number of reviews, with that number depending on how the movie was released. For wide releases (of which there were significantly fewer this year, as you can imagine), the minimum number of reviews is 80. For streaming or limited release movies, that number is 40. And finally, it’s 20 reviews for movies premiering on television. Across all release types, each movie needs at least five of its reviews to be written by Top Critics. Once a movie goes Certified Fresh, the only way to lose it is by dropping below 70%.

So what were some notable movies approved by critics in the most unpredictable, disrupted year in film history? Early in 2020, we saw the likes of The Invisible Man, Emma., and Birds of Prey connect with critics. At one point, January’s Bad Boys for Life hitting Certified Fresh seemed like that was going to be the craziest story of the year.

As theaters shut down two weeks into Onward‘s release, audiences turned to streaming. Over the next eight months, Certified Fresh originals each gave platforms their moment to entertain. Greyhound and On the Rocks shored up on Apple TV+. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Blow the Man Down and The Vast of Night beamed onto Amazon Prime. Hamilton and Black Is King started the conversation on Disney+. David Byrne’s American Utopia danced onto HBO Max, while Palm Springs got weird on Hulu. Netflix covered all the bases with His House, Jingle Jangle, The Platform, Da 5 Bloods, and Enola Holmes. Even boutique streamer Shudder had the year’s viral hit with quarantine-shot Host.

The new normal continues to refine itself, as seen among 2020’s final Certified Fresh releases: Steve McQueen’s series of Small Axe films on Amazon, and prestige Pixar pic Soul going straight into homes. And because awards seasons must not be denied, buzz of Nomadland, One Night in Miami, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom continues into 2021.

Read on for the best movies of 2020, ranked by Tomatometer. Alex Vo

#241

Black Box (2020)
71%

#241
Adjusted Score: 74272%
Critics Consensus: An intriguing debut for writer-director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Black Box compensates for a lack of surprises with strong performances and an emotionally rewarding story.
Synopsis: After losing his wife and memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes... [More]
Directed By: Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour

#240

Mulan (2020)
72%

#240
Adjusted Score: 91031%
Critics Consensus: It could have told its classic story with greater depth, but the live-action Mulan is a visual marvel that serves as a stirring update to its animated predecessor.
Synopsis: To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man... [More]
Directed By: Niki Caro

#239
#239
Adjusted Score: 76210%
Critics Consensus: A fascinating exploration of human connection, Family Romance, LLC sees Werner Herzog following an unconventional path to existentialism.
Synopsis: A man is hired to impersonate the missing father of a 12-year-old girl.... [More]
Directed By: Werner Herzog

#238

The Lodge (2019)
75%

#238
Adjusted Score: 84186%
Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive Riley Keough performance, The Lodge should prove a suitably unsettling destination for fans of darkly atmospheric horror.
Synopsis: During a family retreat to a remote winter cabin over the holidays, the father is forced to abruptly depart for... [More]

#237

Jungleland (2019)
74%

#237
Adjusted Score: 76159%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to muscular work from director/co-writer Max Winkler and his stars, Jungleland punches above its weight in a crowded genre.
Synopsis: When a devastating loss in the ring leaves Lion and his manager/brother Stan in debt to a local crime boss,... [More]
Directed By: Max Winkler

#236

Archenemy (2020)
75%

#236
Adjusted Score: 77414%
Critics Consensus: Archenemy fails to follow through on some of its more interesting ideas, but Joe Manganiello's lead performance and the picture's infectious raw energy make for a fun action-adventure.
Synopsis: Max Fist (Joe Manganiello) is a local drunk who claims to be a superhero from the planet Chromium. He tells... [More]
Directed By: Adam Egypt Mortimer

#235

The Wretched (2019)
74%

#235
Adjusted Score: 79200%
Critics Consensus: The Wretched stirs up a savory blend of witch-in-the-woods horror ingredients that should leave genre fans hungry for a second helping from writer-directors Brett and Drew T. Pierce.
Synopsis: A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent's imminent divorce, faces off with an old witch who has possessed the... [More]

#234
Adjusted Score: 80516%
Critics Consensus: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You may feel like little more than an amiable postscript to its predecessor, but fans of the original should still find this a swoonworthy sequel.
Synopsis: As her relationship with Peter continues to grow, Lara Jean reunites with another recipient of one of her old love... [More]
Directed By: Michael Fimognari

#233

The Other Lamb (2019)
75%

#233
Adjusted Score: 80156%
Critics Consensus: Smartly directed by Malgorzata Szumowska, The Other Lamb uses a young woman's coming-of-age story to explore the powerful hold cults can have on their followers.
Synopsis: A young woman born into an all-female cult beings to question the teachings of her leader.... [More]
Directed By: Małgorzata Szumowska

#232

The Rental (2020)
73%

#232
Adjusted Score: 84087%
Critics Consensus: Some tricky genre juggling makes The Rental a bit of a fixer-upper, but effective chills and a solid cast make this a fine destination for horror fans.
Synopsis: Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying... [More]
Directed By: Dave Franco

#231

The Gentlemen (2019)
75%

#231
Adjusted Score: 89436%
Critics Consensus: It may not win writer-director Guy Ritchie many new converts, but for those already attuned to the filmmaker's brash wavelength, The Gentlemen stands tall.
Synopsis: Mickey Pearson is an American expatriate who became rich by building a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word... [More]
Directed By: Guy Ritchie

#230

Wander Darkly (2020)
75%

#230
Adjusted Score: 80127%
Critics Consensus: Wander Darkly's risks don't always yield rewards, but strong work from Diego Luna and Sienna Miller helps this romance remain consistently alluring.
Synopsis: A traumatic accident leaves a couple in a surreal state of being that takes them on a disorienting journey through... [More]
Directed By: Tara Miele

#229
#229
Adjusted Score: 89579%
Critics Consensus: Pieces of a Woman struggles to maintain momentum after a stunning opening act, but Vanessa Kirby's performance makes the end result a poignant portrait of grief.
Synopsis: Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably... [More]
Directed By: Kornél Mundruczó

#228
#228
Adjusted Score: 91275%
Critics Consensus: Loaded up with action and a double helping of leading-man charisma, Bad Boys for Life reinvigorates this long-dormant franchise by playing squarely to its strengths.
Synopsis: The wife and son of a Mexican drug lord embark on a vengeful quest to kill all those involved in... [More]

#227

Tommaso (2019)
80%

#227
Adjusted Score: 83150%
Critics Consensus: While admittedly a self-indulgent exercise, Tommaso is powerfully anchored by an outstanding central performance from Willem Dafoe.
Synopsis: A broken man searching for stability finds a new life in Italy with a much younger wife. He struggles to... [More]
Directed By: Abel Ferrara

#226
#226
Adjusted Score: 85581%
Critics Consensus: Another agreeable outing for the titular prehistoric clan, The Croods: A New Age may be the missing link for parents between more elevated family-friendly fare.
Synopsis: Searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discovers an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs.... [More]
Directed By: Joel Crawford

#225

Uncle Frank (2020)
77%

#225
Adjusted Score: 83417%
Critics Consensus: Uncle Frank finds writer-director Alan Ball still untangling the modern American family dynamic, aided by standout work from Paul Bettany and Sophia Lillis.
Synopsis: In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her... [More]
Directed By: Alan Ball

#224

Summerland (2020)
78%

#224
Adjusted Score: 84930%
Critics Consensus: In Summerland, the living is a little too easy to raise dramatic stakes -- but Gemma Arterton's performance adds some much-needed extra heat.
Synopsis: A reclusive Englishwoman opens her heart to a young evacuee as World War II rages across the channel.... [More]
Directed By: Jessica Swale

#223

Military Wives (2019)
77%

#223
Adjusted Score: 82796%
Critics Consensus: Like a favorite song you know by heart, Military Wives offers few surprises -- but its pleasures are no less formidable for their familiarity.
Synopsis: Faced with their loved ones serving in Afghanistan, women from different backgrounds come together to form the very first military... [More]
Directed By: Peter Cattaneo

#222

Greenland (2020)
78%

#222
Adjusted Score: 86829%
Critics Consensus: Beware, comets of Greenland: Gerard Butler is here to protect Earth -- and show audiences an improbably entertaining time.
Synopsis: John Garrity, his estranged wife and their young son embark on a perilous journey to find sanctuary as a planet-killing... [More]
Directed By: Ric Roman Waugh

#221

Eternal Beauty (2019)
79%

#221
Adjusted Score: 81106%
Critics Consensus: Eternal Beauty deals unevenly yet honorably with complicated themes, elevated by strong work from the ever-reliable Sally Hawkins and David Thewlis.
Synopsis: After Jane falls into a state of despair over her schizophrenia, she encounters new sources of love and life with... [More]
Directed By: Craig Roberts

#220
Adjusted Score: 79828%
Critics Consensus: The True Adventures of Wolfboy can be frustratingly uneven, but a worthy story and compassion for its characters help make this coming-of-age story's flaws easy to forgive.
Synopsis: Paul lives an isolated life with his father in upstate New York. He finds making friends impossible due to a... [More]
Directed By: Martin Krejcí

#219

12 Hour Shift (2020)
77%

#219
Adjusted Score: 80820%
Critics Consensus: Sharp, twisted, and darkly funny, 12 Hour Shift is an uncommonly clever heist caper with a refreshing female-focused twist.
Synopsis: It’s 1998 and over the course of one night at an Arkansas hospital, a junkie nurse, her scheming cousin and... [More]
Directed By: Brea Grant

#218
Adjusted Score: 104169%
Critics Consensus: With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.
Synopsis: It's open season on Harley Quinn when her explosive breakup with the Joker puts a big fat target on her... [More]
Directed By: Cathy Yan

#217
#217
Adjusted Score: 86174%
Critics Consensus: The Broken Hearts Gallery is a rom-com with few surprises, but plenty of charm -- led by a performance from Geraldine Viswanathan that's easy to love.
Synopsis: Dumped by her boyfriend, a New York art gallery assistant creates an exhibit for souvenirs from past relationships.... [More]
Directed By: Natalie Krinsky

#216

I Am Greta (2020)
79%

#216
Adjusted Score: 83097%
Critics Consensus: Audiences might not learn anything new from I Am Greta, but its stirring chronicle of the young activist's efforts is inspiring.
Synopsis: Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg leads a global movement on the climate change crisis.... [More]
Starring: Greta Thunberg
Directed By: Nathan Grossman

#215

Buffaloed (2019)
80%

#215
Adjusted Score: 82328%
Critics Consensus: This late-capitalism comedy is undeniably uneven, but Zoey Deutch's effervescent performance gives Buffaloed wings.
Synopsis: A woman is desperate to escape her life in Buffalo and finds a way by becoming a debt collector.... [More]
Directed By: Tanya Wexler

#214
#214
Adjusted Score: 85705%
Critics Consensus: Led by Beanie Feldstein's charming performance, How to Build a Girl puts a disarmingly earnest spin on the familiar coming-of-age comedy formula.
Synopsis: A smart and ambitious teen reinvents herself as a music critic.... [More]
Directed By: Coky Giedroyc

#213
Adjusted Score: 88247%
Critics Consensus: Its unusual approach won't be for all viewers, but True History of the Kelly Gang takes a distinctively postmodern look at Australia's past.
Synopsis: An exploration of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they attempt to evade authorities during the 1870s.... [More]
Directed By: Justin Kurzel

#212

Greyhound (2020)
78%

#212
Adjusted Score: 91438%
Critics Consensus: Greyhound's characters aren't as robust as its action sequences, but this fast-paced World War II thriller benefits from its efficiently economical approach.
Synopsis: U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ernest Krause is assigned to lead an Allied convoy across the Atlantic during World War II. His... [More]
Directed By: Aaron Schneider

#211

Koko-di Koko-da (2019)
80%

#211
Adjusted Score: 82378%
Critics Consensus: Using an effectively creepy setting and a beguilingly evasive approach, Koko-Di Koko-Da takes a chilling look at the long tail of grief.
Synopsis: A case of food poisoning derails a family's holiday and forever alters the course of their lives. Years later, the... [More]
Directed By: Johannes Nyholm

#210

Charm City Kings (2020)
79%

#210
Adjusted Score: 81479%
Critics Consensus: Charm City Kings falls shy of more effective similarly themed coming-of-age films, but strong direction and engaging performances make its flaws easy to forgive.
Synopsis: Growing up in West Baltimore, teenage Mouse (JAHI DI'ALLO WINSTON, Queen & Slim, Proud Mary, The Upside) feels the fierce... [More]
Directed By: Angel Manuel Soto

#209

The Platform (2019)
80%

#209
Adjusted Score: 84422%
Critics Consensus: While it may feel muddled at times, The Platform is an inventive and captivating dystopian thriller.
Synopsis: In the future, prisoners housed in vertical cells watch as inmates in the upper cells are fed while those below... [More]

#208

The Old Guard (2020)
80%

#208
Adjusted Score: 96350%
Critics Consensus: The Old Guard is occasionally restricted by genre conventions, but director Gina Prince-Bythewood brings a sophisticated vision to the superhero genre - and some knockout action sequences led by Charlize Theron.
Synopsis: A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ablity to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and... [More]
Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

#207

Porno (2019)
77%

#207
Adjusted Score: 78877%
Critics Consensus: Porno mines sexual repression to produce a laughably lurid -- and genuinely scary -- outing that should delight genre fans in search of a good time.
Synopsis: Four repressed, religious teens and a straight-edge projectionist working at a small-town movie theater in the 1990s discover a secret... [More]
Directed By: Keola Racela

#206

Synchronic (2019)
79%

#206
Adjusted Score: 86852%
Critics Consensus: Synchronic sets off on an intriguingly idiosyncratic sci-fi journey that should satisfy fans of Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson's earlier work.
Synopsis: When New Orleans paramedics and longtime best friends Steve and Dennis are called to a series of bizarre and gruesome... [More]

#205

VHYes (2019)
79%

#205
Adjusted Score: 80385%
Critics Consensus: VHYes is a unique film for specific tastes -- and a rare, albeit grimy gift for viewers who can appreciate its retro aesthetic and absurd humor.
Synopsis: A 12-year-old boy accidentally records television shows over his parents' wedding tape.... [More]
Directed By: Jack Henry Robbins

#204

VFW (2019)
83%

#204
Adjusted Score: 84939%
Critics Consensus: VFW's solid cast, deft direction, and surprisingly weighty subtext add extra heft to a gory thriller that should hold buckets of sanguine appeal for grindhouse fans.
Synopsis: A typical night for veterans at a VFW turns into an all-out battle for survival when a desperate teen runs... [More]
Directed By: Joe Begos

#203

Tigertail (2020)
82%

#203
Adjusted Score: 85998%
Critics Consensus: Uneven yet revealing, Tigertail offers a well-acted -- and ultimately valuable -- look at the immigrant experience in America.
Synopsis: Years of monotonous work and a loveless marriage turns a once vibrant man into a shell of his former self.... [More]
Starring: Hong-Chi Lee
Directed By: Alan Yang

#202

Over the Moon (2020)
82%

#202
Adjusted Score: 87248%
Critics Consensus: Although many of Over the Moon's narrative ingredients will seem familiar, the film's absorbing animation offers colorful compensation.
Synopsis: An adventurous girl builds a rocket ship to meet a mythical goddess on the moon.... [More]
Directed By: Glen Keane

#201

I'm Your Woman (2020)
81%

#201
Adjusted Score: 89631%
Critics Consensus: Smart, sophisticated, and subversive, I'm Your Woman is brought to life by a powerful performance from Rachel Brosnahan -- and finds director Julia Hart in near-total command of her craft.
Synopsis: In this 1970s set crime drama, a woman is forced to go on the run after her husband betrays his... [More]
Directed By: Julia Hart

#200

To the Stars (2019)
82%

#200
Adjusted Score: 84439%
Critics Consensus: Its reach may occasionally exceed its grasp, but To the Stars uses its period setting as an effective backdrop for an insightful look at female friendship.
Synopsis: Under small-town scrutiny, a withdrawn farmer's daughter forges an intimate friendship with a worldly but reckless new girl in 1960s... [More]
Directed By: Martha Stephens

#199
Adjusted Score: 97318%
Critics Consensus: Aided by stellar performances from Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons, I'm Thinking of Ending Things finds writer-director Charlie Kaufman grappling with the human condition as only he can.
Synopsis: Full of misgivings, a young woman travels with her new boyfriend to his parents' secluded farm.... [More]
Directed By: Charlie Kaufman

#198
#198
Adjusted Score: 89226%
Critics Consensus: The Boys in the Band brings the classic stage play back to the screen with a well-acted adaptation containing surprising -- and poignant -- modern relevance.
Synopsis: A visitor turns an evening upside down when he interrupts a gathering of gay men in New York City in... [More]
Directed By: Joe Mantello

#197
#197
Adjusted Score: 86629%
Critics Consensus: Like the grieving Scrabble enthusiast at the heart of its unique story, Sometimes Always Never scores high enough to be well worth a play.
Synopsis: A man searches relentlessly for the missing son he has not seen in years, turning his entire family's life upside-down.... [More]
Directed By: Carl Hunter

#196

The Painted Bird (2019)
81%

#196
Adjusted Score: 86101%
Critics Consensus: Brutally uncompromising in its portrayal of Nazi Germany, The Painted Bird is a difficult watch that justifies its stark horror with searing impact.
Synopsis: A young Jewish boy in Eastern Europe seeks refuge during World War II.... [More]
Directed By: Václav Marhoul

#195
#195
Adjusted Score: 97137%
Critics Consensus: As wholesomely goofy as its heroes, Bill and Ted Face the Music is a rare long-belated sequel that largely recaptures the franchise's original charm.
Synopsis: The ruler of the future tells best friends Bill and Ted they must compose a new song to save life... [More]
Directed By: Dean Parisot

#194

The Whistlers (2019)
83%

#194
Adjusted Score: 88263%
Critics Consensus: The Whistlers finds writer-director Corneliu Porumboiu working in a more crowd-pleasing vein than previous efforts, with thoroughly entertaining results.
Synopsis: A Romanian police officer, determined to free from prison a crooked businessman who knows where a mobster's money is hidden,... [More]
Directed By: Corneliu Porumboiu

#193

Let Him Go (2020)
85%

#193
Adjusted Score: 95956%
Critics Consensus: Let Him Go's uneven blend of adult drama and revenge thriller is smoothed over by strong work from a solid veteran cast.
Synopsis: Following the loss of their son, a retired sheriff and his wife leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young... [More]
Directed By: Thomas Bezucha

#192
#192
Adjusted Score: 86906%
Critics Consensus: A low-key charmer led by Adam Brody's sharp performance, The Kid Detective uncovers dark comedy in a story of unfulfilled childhood potential.
Synopsis: A once-celebrated kid detective, now 31, continues to solve the same trivial mysteries between hangovers and bouts of self-pity. But... [More]
Directed By: Evan Morgan

#191
Adjusted Score: 84216%
Critics Consensus: Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer takes an entertaining -- and ultimately sobering -- look behind the headlines of an American tabloid institution.
Synopsis: Featuring rare archival footage and wild revelations, filmmaker Mark Landsman examines the salacious and shocking stories of the most infamous... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Mark Landsman

#190
Adjusted Score: 87707%
Critics Consensus: You Cannot Kill David Arquette -- nor can you deny the sheer watchability of this unusual and surprisingly affecting documentary.
Synopsis: Branded as the most hated man in wrestling after winning a highly controversial WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 2000, actor... [More]
Directed By: David Darg, Price James

#189
#189
Adjusted Score: 94600%
Critics Consensus: Formally provocative and emotionally raw, She Dies Tomorrow confirms writer-director Amy Seimetz as a filmmaker with a unique -- and timely -- vision.
Synopsis: A woman's conviction that she will die tomorrow spreads like a contagion through a town.... [More]
Directed By: Amy Seimetz

#188

Freaky (2020)
83%

#188
Adjusted Score: 97245%
Critics Consensus: An entertaining slasher with a gender-bending, body-swapping twist, this horror-comedy juggles genres with Freaky fun results.
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler spends her days trying to survive high school and the cruel actions of the popular crowd. But... [More]
Directed By: Christopher Landon

#187

Mank (2020)
83%

#187
Adjusted Score: 103609%
Critics Consensus: Sharply written and brilliantly performed, Mank peers behind the scenes of Citizen Kane to tell an old Hollywood story that could end up being a classic in its own right.
Synopsis: 1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to... [More]
Directed By: David Fincher

#186

The Way Back (2020)
84%

#186
Adjusted Score: 96182%
Critics Consensus: The Way Back's occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck's outstanding work in the central role.
Synopsis: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later,... [More]
Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

#185

Happiest Season (2020)
82%

#185
Adjusted Score: 93924%
Critics Consensus: A jolly good time with heartfelt performances and more than enough holiday cheer, all you'll want for Christmas is Happiest Season.
Synopsis: This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go... [More]
Directed By: Clea Duvall

#184

Scare Me (2020)
84%

#184
Adjusted Score: 86419%
Critics Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and suitably chilling, Scare Me uses its familiar horror setting as the backdrop for a fresh deconstruction of standard genre ingredients.
Synopsis: Two strangers tell scary stories in a Catskills cabin during a power outage.... [More]
Directed By: Josh Ruben

#183
Adjusted Score: 86494%
Critics Consensus: Once Were Brothers my frustrate Band fans looking for a less narrowly focused overview, but the group's music and history remain as engrossing as ever.
Synopsis: The story of a band that went from backing up Bob Dylan to becoming one of the most influential groups... [More]
Directed By: Daniel Roher

#182

The Way I See It (2020)
84%

#182
Adjusted Score: 87271%
Critics Consensus: The Way I See It takes an engaging look back at a political era from the unique perspective of the photographer who documented it from the inside.
Synopsis: Pete Souza captures historic and intimate moments as a photographer for President Barack Obama and President Ronald Reagan.... [More]
Starring: Pete Souza
Directed By: Dawn Porter

#181

The Traitor (2019)
85%

#181
Adjusted Score: 89931%
Critics Consensus: While it doesn't probe particularly far below the surface of its central character, The Traitor tells its fact-based story with enough energy to entertain.
Synopsis: Tommaso Buscetta becomes the first Mafia informant in 1980s Sicily.... [More]
Directed By: Marco Bellocchio

#180
Adjusted Score: 84954%
Critics Consensus: A fun, fast paced film for all, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made celebrates the power of imagination with a delightful sense of humor and just the right amount of bears.
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Timmy Failure and Total, his imaginary 1,500-pound polar bear partner, operate Total Failure Inc., a detective agency in Portland,... [More]
Directed By: Tom McCarthy

#179

Undine (2020)
89%

#179
Adjusted Score: 96534%
Critics Consensus: Undine draws on folklore for a dark fantasy whose murky storytelling is often offset by the enchanting romance at its core.
Synopsis: Christian Petzold (PHOENIX, TRANSIT) boldly reimagines the ancient myth of Undine in this suspenseful tale of romance and betrayal in... [More]
Directed By: Christian Petzold

#178

Mr. Jones (2019)
86%

#178
Adjusted Score: 90893%
Critics Consensus: Flawed yet fundamentally worthy, Mr. Jones peers into the past to tell a fact-based story that remains troublingly relevant today.
Synopsis: Welsh journalist Gareth Jones risks his life to expose the truth about the devastating famine in the Soviet Union in... [More]
Directed By: Agnieszka Holland

#177

Martin Eden (2019)
87%

#177
Adjusted Score: 92153%
Critics Consensus: Martin Eden uses one man's quest for fulfillment as fuel for an ambitious -- and often rewarding -- look at a complex array of social and personal themes.
Synopsis: After Martin Eden meets Elena, he tries to achieve a place among the literary elite through self-education.... [More]
Directed By: Pietro Marcello

#176

Misbehaviour (2020)
86%

#176
Adjusted Score: 91227%
Critics Consensus: Misbehaviour's overall arc will be familiar to fans of feelgood British cinema -- and so will the way it triumphs over formula to tell a thoroughly crowd-pleasing story.
Synopsis: A team of women hatches a plan to disrupt the 1970 Miss World beauty competition in London.... [More]
Directed By: Philippa Lowthorpe

#175
#175
Adjusted Score: 102620%
Critics Consensus: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm proves Sacha Baron Cohen's comedic creation remains a sharp tool for exposing the most misguided -- or utterly repugnant -- corners of American culture.
Synopsis: Released from prison for bringing shame to his country, Kazakh funnyman Borat risks life and limb when he returns to... [More]
Directed By: Jason Woliner

#174
#174
Adjusted Score: 88760%
Critics Consensus: Elevated significantly by Gillian Jacobs' central performance, I Used to Go Here tells a familiar story with considerable charm.
Synopsis: A successful author finds herself deeply enmeshed in the lives of a group of college students after being asked to... [More]
Directed By: Kris Rey

#173

Lingua Franca (2019)
87%

#173
Adjusted Score: 89043%
Critics Consensus: Lingua Franca brings warmth and humanity to its social issue-driven plot with sensitive performances and writer-director Isabel Sandoval's gently empathetic touch.
Synopsis: An undocumented trans Filipino caregiver pursues a marriage to obtain a green card.... [More]
Directed By: Isabel Sandoval

#172
#172
Adjusted Score: 88714%
Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and brought to life by a smartly assembled ensemble, Big Time Adolescence finds fresh pleasures in the crowded coming-of-age genre.
Synopsis: A drug-dealing college dropout becomes a mentor to his best friend -- a straight-laced teen who idolizes him.... [More]
Directed By: Jason Orley

#171

Zombi Child (2019)
85%

#171
Adjusted Score: 88548%
Critics Consensus: If the strain of its ambitious juggling act sometimes shows, Zombi Child remains an entertainingly audacious experience, enlivened with thought-provoking themes.
Synopsis: In 1962 Haiti, a man is brought back from the dead to work on a sugar cane plantation; many years... [More]
Directed By: Bertrand Bonello

#170

Come to Daddy (2019)
88%

#170
Adjusted Score: 92867%
Critics Consensus: Bloody horror with barbed wit, Come to Daddy anchors its brutal violence in a surprisingly mature approach to provocative themes.
Synopsis: A privileged man-child arrives at the beautiful and remote coastal cabin of his estranged father, whom he hasn't seen in... [More]
Directed By: Ant Timpson

#169
#169
Adjusted Score: 96635%
Critics Consensus: A welcome return for director Richard Stanley, Color Out of Space mixes tart B-movie pulp with visually alluring Lovecraftian horror and a dash of gonzo Nicolas Cage.
Synopsis: After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner and his family find themselves battling a... [More]
Directed By: Richard Stanley

#168
#168
Adjusted Score: 92267%
Critics Consensus: A smart, well-acted, and refreshingly messy coming-of-age story, Selah and the Spades suggests a bright future for debuting writer-director Tayarisha Poe.
Synopsis: Five factions run the underground life of a prestigious east coast boarding school. The head of The Spades walks a... [More]
Directed By: Tayarisha Poe

#167
#167
Adjusted Score: 87139%
Critics Consensus: Clear-eyed and comprehensive, The Social Dilemma presents a sobering analysis of our data-mined present.
Synopsis: Tech experts sound the alarm on the dangerous human impact of social networking.... [More]
Directed By: Jeff Orlowski

#166

On the Rocks (2020)
86%

#166
Adjusted Score: 102474%
Critics Consensus: On the Rocks isn't as potent as its top-shelf ingredients might suggest, but the end result still goes down easy -- and offers high proof of Bill Murray's finely aged charm.
Synopsis: Faced with sudden doubts about her marriage, a young New York mother teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to... [More]
Directed By: Sofia Coppola

#165

Yellow Rose (2019)
87%

#165
Adjusted Score: 88989%
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age story with a timely twist, Yellow Rose offers a fresh -- and sweetly rewarding -- perspective on the immigrant experience.
Synopsis: A Filipina teen must decide whether to stay with her family or leave her small Texas town to become a... [More]
Directed By: Diane Paragas

#164

Sea Fever (2019)
87%

#164
Adjusted Score: 91990%
Critics Consensus: If Sea Fever never quite heats up as much as it could, it remains an engrossing, well-acted sci-fi thriller with effective horror elements.
Synopsis: Solitary marine-biology student Siobhán endures a week on a ragged fishing trawler, miserably at odds with the close-knit crew. But... [More]
Directed By: Neasa Hardiman

#163

1BR (2019)
88%

#163
Adjusted Score: 91670%
Critics Consensus: 1BR's occasionally ordinary storytelling is more than outweighed by tight direction, interesting ideas, and an effective blend of horror and thoughtful drama.
Synopsis: New to Los Angeles, a woman moves into a seemingly perfect apartment complex, and soon finds out that there are... [More]
Directed By: David Marmor

#162

Get Duked! (2019)
88%

#162
Adjusted Score: 92367%
Critics Consensus: The rare comedy thriller that's funny as well as thrilling, Get Duked! marks writer-director Ninian Doff as a filmmaker with a bright future.
Synopsis: A camping trip in the Scottish Highlands turns into a fight for survival when four teens become the target of... [More]
Directed By: Ninian Doff

#161

Spaceship Earth (2020)
88%

#161
Adjusted Score: 93838%
Critics Consensus: Spaceship Earth achieves liftoff as an engaging behind-the-scenes record of an audacious experiment -- and settles into orbit as poignant proof of the power of a shared dream.
Synopsis: In 1991 eight visionaries embark on a two-year experiment to quarantine themselves inside Biosphere 2 -- a self-engineered replica of... [More]
Directed By: Matt Wolf

#160
#160
Adjusted Score: 94357%
Critics Consensus: The Trip to Greece sees this series subject to the laws of diminishing returns, but Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan remain reliably enjoying company.
Synopsis: Funnymen Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon travel to restaurants, hotels and ancient landmarks in Greece.... [More]
Directed By: Michael Winterbottom

#159

Shirley (2020)
88%

#159
Adjusted Score: 103012%
Critics Consensus: Elevated by outstanding work from Elisabeth Moss, Shirley pays tribute to its subject's pioneering legacy with a biopic that ignores the commonly accepted boundaries of the form.
Synopsis: A famous horror writer finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple.... [More]
Directed By: Josephine Decker

#158

EMMA. (2020)
86%

#158
Adjusted Score: 100812%
Critics Consensus: Other adaptations may do a better job of consistently capturing the spirit of the classic source material, but Jane Austen fans should still find a solid match in this Emma.
Synopsis: Beautiful, smart and wealthy, Emma Woodhouse navigates her way through misguided matches, romantic missteps and the challenges of growing up... [More]
Directed By: Autumn de Wilde

#157

Swallow (2019)
87%

#157
Adjusted Score: 93801%
Critics Consensus: Swallow's unconventional approach to exploring domestic ennui is elevated by a well-told story and Haley Bennett's powerful leading performance.
Synopsis: A young housewife in a seemingly perfect marriage develops pica, the irresistible urge to ingest inedible objects and material.... [More]
Directed By: Carlo Mirabella-Davis

#156
Adjusted Score: 90435%
Critics Consensus: The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone pulls the audience back into Francis Ford Coppola's epic gangster saga with a freshly -- albeit slightly -- edited version of its final installment.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola

#155
#155
Adjusted Score: 95693%
Critics Consensus: Sorry We Missed You may strike some as tending toward the righteously didactic, but director Ken Loach's passionate approach remains effective.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Ken Loach

#154

Deerskin (2019)
88%

#154
Adjusted Score: 93860%
Critics Consensus: Led by a daring performance from Jean Dujardin, Deerskin finds writer-director Quentin Dupieux working in a more accessible -- yet still distinctive -- vein.
Synopsis: A middle-aged drifter becomes obsessed with a fringed deerskin jacket that seems to hold mystical powers.... [More]
Directed By: Quentin Dupieux

#153

Desert One (2019)
88%

#153
Adjusted Score: 89766%
Critics Consensus: Comprehensive without getting bogged down in details, Desert One offers a fascinating look at a daring military mission that ended in defeat.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Barbara Kopple examines a failed U.S. military operation to rescue hostages in Tehran, Iran, in 1980.... [More]
Starring: Jimmy Carter
Directed By: Barbara Kopple

#152

The Truth (2019)
87%

#152
Adjusted Score: 95308%
Critics Consensus: The Truth may not stand with Hirokazu Kore-eda's best work, but it finds the writer-director revisiting familiar themes with a typically sensitive touch.
Synopsis: A stormy reunion occurs between an actress and her daughter after the actress publishes her memoirs.... [More]
Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda

#151

Les misérables (2019)
88%

#151
Adjusted Score: 97704%
Critics Consensus: Les Misérables transcends its unwieldy story with compelling ideas and an infectious energy that boils over during a thrilling final act.
Synopsis: Members of a Parisian anti-crime squad become overwhelmed by simmering neighborhood tension and violence.... [More]
Directed By: Ladj Ly

#150
#150
Adjusted Score: 103503%
Critics Consensus: News of the World takes a slow but absorbing ride down a comfortingly familiar Western trail, guided by Tom Hanks in peak paternal mode.
Synopsis: Five years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken... [More]
Directed By: Paul Greengrass

#149

Onward (2020)
88%

#149
Adjusted Score: 108185%
Critics Consensus: It may suffer in comparison to Pixar's classics, but Onward makes effective use of the studio's formula -- and stands on its own merits as a funny, heartwarming, dazzlingly animated adventure.
Synopsis: Teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley embark on a magical quest to spend one more day with their late father.... [More]
Directed By: Dan Scanlon

#148

Sputnik (2020)
88%

#148
Adjusted Score: 94387%
Critics Consensus: Effective space alien horror with a Soviet-era twist, Sputnik proves there are still some scary good sci-fi thrillers left in the galaxy.
Synopsis: Summoned to a secluded research facility, a controversial young doctor examines a cosmonaut who returned to Earth with an alien... [More]
Directed By: Egor Abramenko

#147

The Nest (2020)
90%

#147
Adjusted Score: 100640%
Critics Consensus: An effective pairing of period setting and timeless themes, The Nest wrings additional tension out of its unsettling story with an outstanding pair of lead performances.
Synopsis: An entrepreneur and his family begin to unravel after moving into an old country manor in England in the 1980s.... [More]
Directed By: Sean Durkin

#146

Save Yourselves! (2020)
89%

#146
Adjusted Score: 93462%
Critics Consensus: Save Yourselves! doesn't do anything unexpected with its one-joke premise -- but fortunately, that one joke turns out to be consistently funny anyway.
Synopsis: A young Brooklyn couple head to an upstate cabin to unplug from their phones and reconnect with each other. Blissfully... [More]

#145

Banana Split (2018)
89%

#145
Adjusted Score: 91090%
Critics Consensus: Banana Split serves up a sweet comedic dish that serves as a delightful calling card for co-writer and star Hannah Marks.
Synopsis: After a messy break-up with her high school boyfriend, April strikes up an unexpected friendship with his new girlfriend, Clara.... [More]
Directed By: Benjamin Kasulke

#144

Robin's Wish (2020)
90%

#144
Adjusted Score: 92541%
Critics Consensus: Robin's Wish offers an emotional look at the end of a life suddenly cut short -- and pays warm tribute to the brilliant legacy that was left behind.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Tylor Norwood examines the final days of beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams.... [More]
Directed By: Tylor Norwood

#143
#143
Adjusted Score: 93731%
Critics Consensus: The Wolf of Snow Hollow treads somewhat unsteadily between horror and comedy, but writer-director-star Jim Cummings' unique sensibilities make for an oddly haunting hybrid.
Synopsis: A stressed-out police officer struggles not to give in to the paranoia that grips his small mountain town as bodies... [More]
Directed By: Jim Cummings

#142

You Don't Nomi (2019)
90%

#142
Adjusted Score: 93766%
Critics Consensus: It may not change many minds regarding Showgirls, but You Don't Nomi is a solidly entertaining postmortem of an infamous flop.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Jeffrey McHale traces the history of the film "Showgirls."... [More]
Directed By: Jeffrey McHale

#141
#141
Adjusted Score: 108973%
Critics Consensus: An actors' showcase enlivened by its topical fact-based story, The Trial of the Chicago 7 plays squarely -- and compellingly -- to Aaron Sorkin's strengths.
Synopsis: In 1969, seven people were charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the protests at the... [More]
Directed By: Aaron Sorkin

#140
Adjusted Score: 93698%
Critics Consensus: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.
Synopsis: Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on... [More]
Directed By: David E. Talbert

#139

Run (2020)
89%

#139
Adjusted Score: 96508%
Critics Consensus: Solid acting and expertly ratcheted tension help Run transcend its familiar trappings to deliver a delightfully suspenseful thriller.
Synopsis: An isolated teen discovers her mother's sinister secret.... [More]
Directed By: Aneesh Chaganty

#138

Kajillionaire (2020)
90%

#138
Adjusted Score: 102059%
Critics Consensus: Whether you see Kajillionaire as refreshingly unique or simply bizarre will depend on your cinematic adventurousness -- and fans of writer-director Miranda July wouldn't have it any other way.
Synopsis: Two con artists have spent 26 years training their only daughter to swindle, scam and steal at every turn. During... [More]
Directed By: Miranda July

#137

Black Bear (2020)
89%

#137
Adjusted Score: 97859%
Critics Consensus: A fascinating look at the creative intricacies of show business, Black Bear is a provocative, mind-bending experience -- and finds Aubrey Plaza at the top of her game.
Synopsis: A filmmaker plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in pursuit of a work of art that blurs the... [More]

#136

The Climb (2019)
90%

#136
Adjusted Score: 95763%
Critics Consensus: The Climb uses the complicated bond between two friends to dissect male friendships in engaging -- and frequently funny -- fashion.
Synopsis: Two lifelong pals test the boundaries of their friendship when a woman comes between them.... [More]
Directed By: Michael Angelo Covino

#135

Unpregnant (2020)
92%

#135
Adjusted Score: 93990%
Critics Consensus: Unpregnant puts a compelling twist on the road trip comedy -- and treats its sensitive subject with heart.
Synopsis: A pregnant teen and her former best friend embark on a road trip from Missouri to New Mexico.... [More]
Directed By: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

#134

The Booksellers (2019)
90%

#134
Adjusted Score: 92485%
Critics Consensus: Inviting viewers into a fascinating world of bibliophiles, The Booksellers is a documentary that's easy to curl up and get lost in.
Synopsis: A behind-the-scenes look at the New York rare book world and the fascinating people who inhabit it.... [More]
Directed By: D.W. Young

#133

Bull (2019)
89%

#133
Adjusted Score: 92600%
Critics Consensus: An intimate two-hander anchored by a pair of well-matched actors, Bull takes an achingly empathetic look at life on the economic margins.
Synopsis: In a near-abandoned subdivision west of Houston, a wayward teen runs headlong into her equally willful and unforgiving neighbor, an... [More]
Directed By: Annie Silverstein

#132
#132
Adjusted Score: 93739%
Critics Consensus: Sensitive, well-acted, and solidly directed, Words on Bathroom Walls is an admirable addition to a genre that too rarely does justice to its worthy themes.
Synopsis: Diagnosed with a mental illness during his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it... [More]
Directed By: Thor Freudenthal

#131

Blood Quantum (2019)
89%

#131
Adjusted Score: 93268%
Critics Consensus: Blood Quantum blends bloody horror with sociopolitical subtext, taking a fresh bite out of the crowded zombie genre in the bargain.
Synopsis: A zombie virus decimates all of Earth's population except the Mi'qmaq community of Red Crow.... [More]
Directed By: Jeff Barnaby

#130

Luxor (2020)
92%

#130
Adjusted Score: 95393%
Critics Consensus: Led by Andrea Riseborough's layered performance, Luxor empathetically surveys the crossroads between trauma and recovery.
Synopsis: When British aid worker Hana returns to the ancient city of Luxor, she meets former lover Sultan. As she wanders,... [More]
Directed By: Zeina Durra

#129
#129
Adjusted Score: 93197%
Critics Consensus: Cleverly assembled and rich with insight, this dissection of D.B. Cooper's legend offers a compelling case for why -- when it comes to mysteries -- the journey is often more tantalizing than the destination.
Synopsis: Unravelling the mystery surrounding D.B. Cooper, who boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines plane in November 1971 and hijacked the flight... [More]
Starring: Peter Caulfield
Directed By: John Dower

#128
#128
Adjusted Score: 94492%
Critics Consensus: Smart and stylish, The Wild Goose Lake blends B-movie thrills with bold filmmaking choices and thought-provoking social commentary.
Synopsis: A gangster ends up making a mistake that causes every gun on both sides of the law to point at... [More]
Directed By: Diao Yinan

#127

Enola Holmes (2020)
91%

#127
Adjusted Score: 102821%
Critics Consensus: Enola Holmes brings a breath of fresh air to Baker Street -- and leaves plenty of room for Millie Bobby Brown to put her effervescent stamp on a franchise in waiting.
Synopsis: While searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and... [More]
Directed By: Harry Bradbeer

#126

Uncorked (2020)
92%

#126
Adjusted Score: 93931%
Critics Consensus: Like a good wine, once you let Uncorked breathe, its heartfelt tenderness will yield a sweet time.
Synopsis: A young man upsets his father when he pursues his dream of becoming a master sommelier instead of joining the... [More]
Directed By: Prentice Penny

#125

The Willoughbys (2020)
91%

#125
Adjusted Score: 93948%
Critics Consensus: An appealing animated adventure whose silliness is anchored in genuine emotion, The Willoughbys offers fanciful fun the entire family can enjoy.
Synopsis: Neglected by their parents, four old-fashioned siblings venture out into the modern world with their new nanny.... [More]
Directed By: Kris Pearn

#124
Adjusted Score: 95921%
Critics Consensus: Miss Americana provides an engaging if somewhat deliberately opaque backstage look at a pop star turned cultural phenomenon.
Synopsis: Pop singer Taylor Swift reveals intimate details of her life while showcasing backstage and onstage concert footage.... [More]
Directed By: Lana Wilson

#123
#123
Adjusted Score: 116745%
Critics Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and above all scary, The Invisible Man proves that sometimes, the classic source material for a fresh reboot can be hiding in plain sight.
Synopsis: After staging his own suicide, a crazed scientist uses his power to become invisible to stalk and terrorize his ex-girlfriend.... [More]
Directed By: Leigh Whannell

#122
#122
Adjusted Score: 96549%
Critics Consensus: A message movie admirable for its subtlety as well as its execution, The Perfect Candidate faces oppression and powerfully advocates for change.
Synopsis: When Maryam, a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without... [More]
Directed By: Haifaa Al-Mansour

#121
#121
Adjusted Score: 96309%
Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and narratively engaging, Weathering with You further establishes writer-director Makoto Shinkai as a singularly talented filmmaker.
Synopsis: The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly... [More]
Directed By: Makoto Shinkai

#120

Alone (2020)
91%

#120
Adjusted Score: 93967%
Critics Consensus: Alone's minimalistic approach makes this heightened thriller a gripping and suspenseful experience.
Synopsis: A cold-blooded killer hunts a widow in the wilderness after she escapes from his remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.... [More]
Directed By: John Hyams

#119
#119
Adjusted Score: 96499%
Critics Consensus: The Dark and the Wicked delivers on its title with an unsettling horror story whose deep dread and bleak outlook further compound its effective jolts.
Synopsis: Plagued by waking nightmares, two siblings suspect that something evil is taking over their family at an isolated farmhouse.... [More]
Directed By: Bryan Bertino

#118

The Life Ahead (2020)
92%

#118
Adjusted Score: 96519%
Critics Consensus: A classic example of how a talented actor can elevate somewhat standard material, The Life Ahead proves Sophia Loren's star power remains absolutely undimmed.
Synopsis: An aging Holocaust survivor forges a bond with a young immigrant from Senegal who recently robbed her.... [More]
Directed By: Edoardo Ponti

#117

Da 5 Bloods (2020)
92%

#117
Adjusted Score: 110227%
Critics Consensus: Fierce energy and ambition course through Da 5 Bloods, coming together to fuel one of Spike Lee's most urgent and impactful films.
Synopsis: Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of... [More]
Directed By: Spike Lee

#116

The Assistant (2019)
93%

#116
Adjusted Score: 105588%
Critics Consensus: Led by a powerhouse performance from Julia Garner, The Assistant offers a withering critique of workplace harassment and systemic oppression.
Synopsis: Jane, a recent college graduate and aspiring film producer, just landed her dream job as a junior assistant to a... [More]
Directed By: Kitty Green

#115
#115
Adjusted Score: 104809%
Critics Consensus: An engrossing sci-fi thriller that transcends its period trappings, The Vast of Night suggests great things for debuting director Andrew Patterson.
Synopsis: In the 1950s, two kids search for the source of a mysterious frequency that has descended on their town.... [More]
Directed By: Andrew Patterson

#114

Beanpole (2019)
93%

#114
Adjusted Score: 98028%
Critics Consensus: Filmed with impressive skill and brought to life by unforgettable performances, Beanpole takes a heartbreakingly empathetic look at lives shattered by war.
Synopsis: During World War II in Leningrad, the siege of the city is finally over, but life and death struggles continue... [More]
Directed By: Kantemir Balagov

#113

Relic (2020)
92%

#113
Adjusted Score: 105568%
Critics Consensus: Relic ratchets up its slowly building tension in an expertly crafted atmosphere of dread, adding up to an outstanding feature debut for director/co-writer Natalie Erika James.
Synopsis: A woman links her mother's increasingly volatile behavior to an evil presence at their family's decaying country home.... [More]
Directed By: Natalie Erika James

#112
Adjusted Score: 93825%
Critics Consensus: A Good Woman Is Hard to Find, but it isn't difficult to see a star in the making while watching Sarah Bolger's powerful performance in this gritty thriller.
Synopsis: A recently widowed young mother will go to great lengths to protect her children as she seeks the truth behind... [More]
Directed By: Abner Pastoll

#111

Fire Will Come (2019)
90%

#111
Adjusted Score: 92218%
Critics Consensus: Deliberately paced yet richly rewarding, Fire Will Come slowly but surely draws the viewer into its unsettling grasp.
Synopsis: An arsonist gets out of prison and returns to his hometown, a small village hidden in the mountains of rural... [More]
Directed By: Oliver Laxe

#110

Another Round (2020)
93%

#110
Adjusted Score: 105953%
Critics Consensus: Take one part deftly directed tragicomedy, add a dash of Mads Mikkelsen in vintage form, and you've got Another Round -- an intoxicating look at midlife crises.
Synopsis: Four high school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.... [More]
Directed By: Thomas Vinterberg

#109
#109
Adjusted Score: 96212%
Critics Consensus: From the horror of natural disaster to the spirit summoned behind the titular effort, Rebuilding Paradise stirringly depicts one community's perseverance.
Synopsis: Residents of Paradise, Calif., come together to heal their community after a devastating wildfire.... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Ron Howard

#108

Premature (2019)
93%

#108
Adjusted Score: 95096%
Critics Consensus: Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.
Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a... [More]
Directed By: Rashaad Ernesto Green

#107
#107
Adjusted Score: 100140%
Critics Consensus: Led by a charming star turn from Dylan O'Brien, Love and Monsters peers into the apocalypse and finds an action-adventure with surprising emotional depth.
Synopsis: Seven years after the Monsterpocalypse, Joel Dawson, along with the rest of humanity, has been living underground ever since giant... [More]
Directed By: Michael Matthews

#106

Saint Maud (2019)
92%

#106
Adjusted Score: 101703%
Critics Consensus: A brilliantly unsettling blend of body horror and psychological thriller, Saint Maud marks an impressive debut for writer-director Rose Glass.
Synopsis: The debut film from writer-director Rose Glass, Saint Maud is a chilling and boldly original vision of faith, madness, and... [More]
Directed By: Rose Glass

#105

Bacurau (2019)
93%

#105
Adjusted Score: 101427%
Critics Consensus: Formally thrilling and narratively daring, Bacurau draws on modern Brazilian sociopolitical concerns to deliver a hard-hitting, genre-blurring drama.
Synopsis: A few years from now... Bacurau, a small village in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita,... [More]

#104

Be Water (2020)
93%

#104
Adjusted Score: 93832%
Critics Consensus: If Be Water's surface level approach doesn't quite match its subject's depth, it still serves as an appropriate introduction to the almighty Bruce Lee.
Synopsis: Martial arts legend Bruce Lee contends with racism as he tries to land leading roles in Hollywood.... [More]
Directed By: Bao Nguyen

#103
Adjusted Score: 94269%
Critics Consensus: Capital in the Twenty-First Century can't hope to address its subject with the depth of its source material, but the end result remains an eye-opening overview.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Justin Pemberton examines issues related to wealth, power, poverty and inequality.... [More]
Directed By: Justin Pemberton

#102

Working Man (2019)
93%

#102
Adjusted Score: 94385%
Critics Consensus: A too-rare showcase for an ensemble of talented veteran actors, Working Man quietly builds into an absorbing -- and timely -- character study.
Synopsis: An older factory worker continues to work during a shutdown.... [More]
Directed By: Robert Jury

#101

Howard (2018)
94%

#101
Adjusted Score: 95740%
Critics Consensus: Howard serves as a bittersweet tribute to the life and legacy of a brilliant artist whose timeless songs served as the soundtrack for a generation of Disney fans.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Starring: Unknown Actor
Directed By: Unknown Director

#100
#100
Adjusted Score: 95049%
Critics Consensus: We Are Little Zombies mixes the playful and the profane with a stylish and visually inventive look at death, abandonment, and the grieving process.
Synopsis: Four Japanese orphans form a rock band.... [More]
Directed By: Makoto Nagahisa

#99

End of Sentence (2019)
91%

#99
Adjusted Score: 93875%
Critics Consensus: Steered by a pair of powerful lead performances, End of Sentence is a road trip movie that takes audiences on a satisfying emotional journey.
Synopsis: After being released from prison, a young man reluctantly embarks on a journey with his estranged father to spread his... [More]
Directed By: Elfar Adalsteins

#98

Becoming (2020)
93%

#98
Adjusted Score: 96517%
Critics Consensus: It may not get as personal as some viewers might have hoped, but Becoming offers an uplifting look at a pivotal moment in its subject's public life.
Synopsis: Former first lady Michelle Obama discusses her life, hopes and connections with others.... [More]
Directed By: Nadia Hallgren

#97
Adjusted Score: 97373%
Critics Consensus: An intoxicating blend of documentary and fiction, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets surveys the bar-going life with a remarkably sober eye.
Synopsis: On the eve of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and on its final night before closing, a Las Vegas dive... [More]
Directed By: Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross

#96
#96
Adjusted Score: 98196%
Critics Consensus: Led by an outstanding performance from Levan Gelbakhiani, And Then We Danced defeats prejudice with overwhelming compassion.
Synopsis: A male dancer and his partner have been training for years for a spot in the National Georgian Ensemble. The... [More]
Directed By: Levan Akin

#95

Possessor: Uncut (2020)
94%

#95
Adjusted Score: 106706%
Critics Consensus: Further refining his provocative vision, writer-director Brandon Cronenberg uses Possessor's potentially over-the-top premise as a delivery mechanism for stylishly disturbing thrills.
Synopsis: Tasya Vos, an elite, corporate assassin, takes control of other people's bodies using brain-implant technology to execute high-profile targets.... [More]
Directed By: Brandon Cronenberg

#94

Ordinary Love (2019)
93%

#94
Adjusted Score: 98267%
Critics Consensus: Led by strong performances from Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson, Ordinary Love wrings heartrending drama out of one couple's medical travails.
Synopsis: Joan and Tom have been married for many years. An everyday couple with a remarkable love, there is an ease... [More]

#93

The Outpost (2019)
91%

#93
Adjusted Score: 95707%
Critics Consensus: Told with gripping realism, The Outpost is a thrilling technical feat and a worthy tribute to military heroes.
Synopsis: A small unit of U.S. soldiers, alone at the remote Combat Outpost Keating, located deep in the valley of three... [More]
Directed By: Rod Lurie

#92

Babyteeth (2019)
94%

#92
Adjusted Score: 101596%
Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and sensitively directed, Babyteeth offers audiences a coming-of-age story that's messier -- and more rewarding -- than most.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Shannon Murphy

#91

Sylvie's Love (2020)
93%

#91
Adjusted Score: 99743%
Critics Consensus: A romance for the ages, Sylvie's Love wraps audiences in the sweet embrace of its old-fashioned romance and celebration of Black love.
Synopsis: In Sylvie’s Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert... [More]
Directed By: Eugene Ashe

#90

Yes, God, Yes (2019)
92%

#90
Adjusted Score: 98094%
Critics Consensus: Natalia Dyer's charming performance -- and writer-director Karen Maine's sensitive work -- will leave audiences saying Yes, God, Yes to this coming-of-age dramedy.
Synopsis: A Catholic girl finds herself having tempting thoughts after an AOL chat turns unexpectedly racy.... [More]
Directed By: Karen Maine

#89

Hunter Hunter (2020)
94%

#89
Adjusted Score: 96289%
Critics Consensus: Bloody and brutal, Hunter Hunter is a hard-hitting survivalist thriller that ratchets its tension with precision.
Synopsis: HUNTER HUNTER follows a family living in the remote wilderness earning a living as fur trappers. Joseph Mersault (Devon Sawa),... [More]
Directed By: Shawn Linden

#88
#88
Adjusted Score: 97424%
Critics Consensus: It's far more conventional than the life it honors, but John Lewis: Good Trouble remains a worthy tribute to an inspiring activist and public servant.
Synopsis: Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) fights for civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform and immigration.... [More]
Starring: John Lewis
Directed By: Dawn Porter

#87
#87
Adjusted Score: 96931%
Critics Consensus: The Shadow of Violence presents a grimly effective portrait of one man's struggle with divided loyalties, elevated by standout performances from a stellar cast.
Synopsis: A former boxer cares for his autistic son while working as an enforcer for a family of drug dealers in... [More]
Directed By: Nick Rowland

#86
#86
Adjusted Score: 98250%
Critics Consensus: Here's a Beastie Boys Story they had to tell, about three bad brothers you know so well. It started way back in history -- and for new or old fans, it's a must-see.
Synopsis: Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of their band and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary... [More]
Starring: Mike D, Adam Horovitz
Directed By: Spike Jonze

#85

Boys State (2020)
95%

#85
Adjusted Score: 103050%
Critics Consensus: Startling, upsetting, and overall absorbing, Boys State strikingly depicts American political divisions -- and machinations -- taking root in the next generation.
Synopsis: A raucous journey into the heart of democracy captures an unusual rite of passage: 1,100 teenage boys from across Texas... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss

#84

Bad Education (2019)
94%

#84
Adjusted Score: 101588%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by an outstanding Hugh Jackman, Bad Education finds absurd laughs -- and a worthy message -- in the aftermath of a real-life scandal.
Synopsis: A Long Island school superintendent and his assistant are credited with bringing the district unprecedented prestige. Frank is a master... [More]
Directed By: Cory Finley

#83

Nomadland (2020)
93%

#83
Adjusted Score: 118449%
Critics Consensus: A poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden, Nomadland beautifully captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession.
Synopsis: A woman embarks on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession.... [More]
Directed By: Chloé Zhao

#82

The Mole Agent (2020)
95%

#82
Adjusted Score: 98791%
Critics Consensus: Warm and funny, The Mole Agent offers audiences a poignant reminder that it's never too late to forge new connections and embark on new adventures.
Synopsis: An 83-year-old man poses as a resident in a Chilean nursing home to see if he can find signs of... [More]
Directed By: Maite Alberdi

#81
#81
Adjusted Score: 94379%
Critics Consensus: To the Ends of the Earth finds filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa crafting an insightful evocation of the feeling of being far from home.
Synopsis: Yoko (Atsuko Maeda) hosts a popular global travel show yet is cautious and insular like many young Japanese. But she... [More]
Directed By: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

#80
#80
Adjusted Score: 94381%
Critics Consensus: A hauntingly sad story told in dreamlike tones, Song Without a Name further establishes director/co-writer Melina León as a strikingly assured talent.
Synopsis: A woman's newborn daughter is stolen at a fake health clinic.... [More]
Directed By: Melina León

#79

Palm Springs (2020)
95%

#79
Adjusted Score: 109569%
Critics Consensus: Strong performances, assured direction, and a refreshingly original concept make Palm Springs a romcom that's easy to fall in love with.
Synopsis: Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over... [More]
Directed By: Max Barbakow

#78

Black Is King (2020)
94%

#78
Adjusted Score: 97126%
Critics Consensus: Beyoncé is King.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Starring: Beyoncé
Directed By: Beyoncé

#77

Come as You Are (2019)
95%

#77
Adjusted Score: 97050%
Critics Consensus: Come As You Are approaches sensitive subjects with heart and humor, taking audiences on a thoroughly entertaining road trip to a crowd-pleasing destination.
Synopsis: A traveling nurse takes three disabled men on a road trip to Montreal so they can lose their virginity at... [More]
Directed By: Richard Wong

#76
Adjusted Score: 100198%
Critics Consensus: Sheyi Cole shines in Alex Wheatle, a harrowing biopic that barely scratches the surface of a complex life, but does so with empathy and finesse.

Education: Season 5 (2020)
96%

#75
Adjusted Score: 100526%
Critics Consensus: Education casts its hopeful gaze on the future, offering a simple and effective end to the Small Axe series that solidifies Steve McQueen place as a master storyteller.

#74

Mogul Mowgli (2020)
93%

#74
Adjusted Score: 98249%
Critics Consensus: An ambitious portrait of the complicated nature of identity, the challenging and emotionally raw Mogul Mowgli showcases a heartbreaking performance from Riz Ahmed.
Synopsis: MOGUL MOWGLI is the debut narrative feature from award-winning documentary filmmaker Bassam Tariq. It follows the story of a British... [More]
Directed By: Bassam Tariq

#73

First Cow (2019)
96%

#73
Adjusted Score: 107348%
Critics Consensus: First Cow finds director Kelly Reichardt revisiting territory and themes that will be familiar to fans of her previous work -- with typically rewarding results.
Synopsis: Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich... [More]
Directed By: Kelly Reichardt

#72

Soul (2020)
95%

#72
Adjusted Score: 115979%
Critics Consensus: A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed.
Synopsis: Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz... [More]
Directed By: Pete Docter

#71
Adjusted Score: 98283%
Critics Consensus: A hearty cinematic toast with a bittersweet finish, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan pays suitably intoxicating tribute to its subject.
Synopsis: CROCK OF GOLD – A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MACGOWAN deep dives into the life of the tortured Irish vocalist,... [More]
Directed By: Julien Temple

#70

Red Penguins (2019)
96%

#70
Adjusted Score: 97551%
Critics Consensus: Sports and politics collide in Red Penguins, a fascinating documentary exploring the stranger-than-fiction story of professional hockey in post-Soviet Russia.
Synopsis: The Pittsburgh Penguins form a partnership with the Russian national hockey team after the fall of the Soviet Union.... [More]
Directed By: Gabe Polsky

#69

Dating Amber (2020)
94%

#69
Adjusted Score: 96155%
Critics Consensus: Dating Amber colors outside the rom-com lines to tell a sweetly poignant story about friendship and self-acceptance.
Synopsis: A closeted gay teen and his lesbian counterpart pretend to be a couple to avoid suspicion.... [More]
Directed By: David Freyne

#68
#68
Adjusted Score: 98288%
Critics Consensus: Disturbing and thrilling in equal measure, Class Action Park is a raucous chronicle of the infamous waterpark that was as beloved as it was dangerous.
Synopsis: Welcome to Action Park, the notorious 1980s New Jersey water park that long ago entered the realm of myth.... [More]
Starring:

#67
Adjusted Score: 98292%
Critics Consensus: Blessed with the Bee Gees' discography and director Frank Marshall's concise thesis, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is a poignant documentary that persuasively argues the trio's importance in music history.
Synopsis: Brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb find early fame in the 1960s and go on to write over 1,000 songs,... [More]
Directed By: Frank Marshall

#66

Zappa (2020)
96%

#66
Adjusted Score: 99335%
Critics Consensus: As rich and complex as its subject's best work, Zappa honors the life and career of a musical legend without falling into hagiography.
Synopsis: With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, ZAPPA explores the private life behind the mammoth... [More]
Directed By: Alex Winter

#65
#65
Adjusted Score: 98154%
Critics Consensus: A satisfyingly dark noir elevated by stellar acting and a sharp screenplay, Blood on Her Name thrills in the moment and lingers in the memory.
Synopsis: A woman's panicked decision to cover up an accidental killing spins out of control when her conscience demands she return... [More]
Directed By: Matthew Pope

#64
#64
Adjusted Score: 95986%
Critics Consensus: A White, White Day plunges viewers into the darkness of grief and jealousy, led by Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson's brilliantly layered performance.
Synopsis: A police chief becomes obsessed with finding out if his dead wife was having an affair.... [More]
Directed By: Hlynur Pálmason

#63

Feels Good Man (2020)
95%

#63
Adjusted Score: 99036%
Critics Consensus: A cautionary tale on internet culture, Feels Good Man is a compelling look at an artist's journey to salvage his creation.
Synopsis: An animated frog becomes a symbol of hate.... [More]
Directed By: Arthur Jones

#62
Adjusted Score: 99596%
Critics Consensus: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon retains the charm of its small-screen source material while engagingly expanding the title character's world.
Synopsis: When a UFO crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, it's up to Shaun the sheep and his animal friends to help... [More]

#61
#61
Adjusted Score: 102793%
Critics Consensus: The Painter and the Thief uses the unlikely bond between a criminal and his victim as the canvas for a compelling portrait of compassion and forgiveness.
Synopsis: Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova develops an unlikely friendship with the man who stole two of her paintings.... [More]
Directed By: Benjamin Ree

#60

Sound of Metal (2019)
97%

#60
Adjusted Score: 111862%
Critics Consensus: An evocative look at the experiences of the deaf community, Sound of Metal is brought to life by Riz Ahmed's passionate performance.
Synopsis: During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When... [More]
Directed By: Darius Marder

#59

S...house (2020)
95%

#59
Adjusted Score: 98427%
Critics Consensus: A disarmingly tender look at young adult ennui, this Shithouse don't stink.
Synopsis: A lonely college freshman forges a strong connection with his resident assistant during a fraternity party.... [More]
Directed By: Cooper Raiff

#58
Adjusted Score: 97893%
Critics Consensus: Mixing personal reflection and studious research to deliver an impassioned meditation on the U.S. Constitution, Heidi Schreck's play loses none of its verve on screen.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Marielle Heller

#57

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#57

#56

La llorona (2019)
96%

#56
Adjusted Score: 100435%
Critics Consensus: La Llorona puts a fresh spin on the familiar legend by blending the supernatural and the political to resolutely chilling effect.
Synopsis: Alma is murdered with her children during a military attack in Guatemala, but when the general who ordered the genocide... [More]
Directed By: Jayro Bustamante

#55

The Half of It (2020)
97%

#55
Adjusted Score: 102350%
Critics Consensus: For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.
Synopsis: A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.... [More]
Directed By: Alice Wu

#54

Rocks (2019)
97%

#54
Adjusted Score: 99600%
Critics Consensus: A fresh, funny coming-of-age story rooted in realistic characters and anchored with a meaningful message, Rocks is as solid as its title suggests.
Synopsis: A London teen takes care of her younger brother after their mother abruptly leaves.... [More]
Directed By: Sarah Gavron

#53

Farewell Amor (2020)
97%

#53
Adjusted Score: 100639%
Critics Consensus: A striking debut feature for writer-director Ekwa Msangi, Farewell Amor movingly captures the fallout from a long-separated family's reunion.
Synopsis: After 17 years apart, Angolan immigrant Walter is joined in the U.S. by his wife and teen daughter. Now absolute... [More]
Directed By: Ekwa Msangi

#52

The Dissident (2020)
96%

#52
Adjusted Score: 100913%
Critics Consensus: The Dissident offers little catharsis in its unflinching look at a grisly murder -- and gives no quarter in its forceful reminder of the fragility of free speech.
Synopsis: When Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the... [More]
Directed By: Bryan Fogel

Adjusted Score: 105860%
Critics Consensus: An urgent and timely biopic that's as sumptuous as it is searing, Red, White, and Blue is a triumph that gives the undeniably talented John Boyega the starring role he deserves.

#50
Adjusted Score: 99802%
Critics Consensus: Much like the cosmic debris it investigates, Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds is made up of heavy stuff -- but it lights up the screen thanks to Werner Herzog's infectious awe.
Synopsis: A journey across the planet and universe explores how meteorites, shooting stars and deep impacts have awoken wonder about other... [More]
Starring: Werner Herzog

#49

The Last Tree (2019)
98%

#49
Adjusted Score: 99377%
Critics Consensus: Distinctive in terms of content, perspective, and insight, The Last Tree vividly depicts the turmoil of adolescence with remarkable grace.
Synopsis: After growing up in quiet, rural Lincolnshire, teenager Femi struggles with unfamiliar surroundings and cultural differences when he moves in... [More]
Directed By: Shola Amoo

#48

Fourteen (2019)
98%

#48
Adjusted Score: 99607%
Critics Consensus: Fourteen subtly establishes the bond between its main characters -- and the way longtime friendships can erode by a matter of nearly invisible degrees.
Synopsis: Two childhood friends weather life together with varying degrees of success.... [More]
Directed By: Dan Sallitt

#47

The Go-Go's (2020)
98%

#47
Adjusted Score: 99987%
Critics Consensus: Emulating the spirit of punk in form and function, The Go-Go's is a raucous celebration of the pioneering band and a stylistic knockout that will blow viewers' hair back.
Synopsis: The Go-Go's become the first successful, all-girl band to write their own songs and play their own instruments while making... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Alison Ellwood

#46

Disclosure (2020)
98%

#46
Adjusted Score: 100579%
Critics Consensus: Disclosure engrossingly illuminates the history and effects of the way transgender lives are depicted onscreen -- and outlines how much progress still needs to be made.
Synopsis: A look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of this on American culture.... [More]
Directed By: Sam Feder

#45

The Swerve (2018)
96%

#45
Adjusted Score: 98207%
Critics Consensus: Bound together by Azura Skye's riveting work in the central role, The Swerve paints a harrowing portrait of a life unmoored.
Synopsis: A woman with a seemingly perfect life battles insomnia.... [More]
Directed By: Dean Kapsalis

#44

Spontaneous (2020)
96%

#44
Adjusted Score: 99079%
Critics Consensus: A dark teen comedy with an explosive twist, Spontaneous reaffirms Katherine Langford as a rising star -- and marks debuting director Brian Duffield as a filmmaker to watch.
Synopsis: When students in their high school inexplicably start to explode, seniors Mara and Dylan struggle to survive in a world... [More]
Directed By: Brian Duffield

#43
#43
Adjusted Score: 99963%
Critics Consensus: A talented cast and fiendishly frightening premise combine to make Anything for Jackson a must-watch for fans of supernatural horror.
Synopsis: After losing their only grandchild in a car accident, an elderly couple kidnaps a pregnant woman to perform a reverse... [More]
Directed By: Justin G. Dyck

#42

Vitalina Varela (2019)
95%

#42
Adjusted Score: 97596%
Critics Consensus: Rigorous and beautifully composed, Vitalina Varela is a quietly absorbing drama whose placid surface belies hidden depths.
Synopsis: A woman moves from Cape Verde to her deceased husband's shack on the outskirts of Lisbon.... [More]
Directed By: Pedro Costa

#41

Circus of Books (2019)
98%

#41
Adjusted Score: 100270%
Critics Consensus: Like the cheekily named store at this documentary's center, Circus of Books proves there are countless stories below the surface if we're only willing to look.
Synopsis: In 1976 a couple take over an adult book store, and the store becomes the biggest distributor of gay porn... [More]
Directed By: Rachel Mason

#40

Beats (2019)
97%

#40
Adjusted Score: 99494%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and enlivened by an evocative soundtrack and period detail, Beats draws timeless themes out of its specific story and setting.
Synopsis: In 1994 two Scottish friends head out for a final night of partying before they go their separate ways.... [More]
Directed By: Brian Welsh

#39

Extra Ordinary (2019)
98%

#39
Adjusted Score: 102258%
Critics Consensus: A horror/rom-com hybrid that somehow manages to blend its ingredients without losing their flavor, Extra Ordinary more than lives up to its title.
Synopsis: A woman who has supernatural abilities must save a possessed girl.... [More]

#38

Corpus Christi (2019)
98%

#38
Adjusted Score: 102765%
Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive performance from Bartosz Bielenia, Corpus Christi thoughtfully and engagingly examines questions of faith and redemption.
Synopsis: A reformed criminal is prevented from applying to the seminary after his release, so he dresses as a priest and... [More]
Directed By: Jan Komasa

#37

Time (2020)
98%

#37
Adjusted Score: 104944%
Critics Consensus: Time delivers a powerful broadside against the flaws of the American justice system -- and chronicles one family's refusal to give up against all odds.
Synopsis: Entrepreneur Fox Rich spends the last two decades campaigning for the release of her husband, Rob G. Rich, who is... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Garrett Bradley

#36
Adjusted Score: 111627%
Critics Consensus: A singular viewing experience that perfectly captures a moment in time, Lovers Rock is a lovingly-crafted ode to Black joy.

#35
Adjusted Score: 106238%
Critics Consensus: The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.
Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her... [More]
Directed By: Radha Blank

#34
#34
Adjusted Score: 104092%
Critics Consensus: Clever, funny, and original, Blow the Man Down is a cinematic journey that's not to be missed.
Synopsis: Welcome to Easter Cove, a salty fishing village on the far reaches of Maine's rocky coast. Grieving the loss of... [More]

#33
Adjusted Score: 104670%
Critics Consensus: Helmed in elegant and exhilarating style by Spike Lee, David Byrne's American Utopia is a concert film that doubles as a joyously cathartic celebration.
Synopsis: Singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians perform songs from the hit Broadway musical "American Utopia."... [More]
Starring: David Byrne
Directed By: Spike Lee

#32

Hamilton (2020)
98%

#32
Adjusted Score: 109333%
Critics Consensus: Look around, look around at how beautifully Hamilton shines beyond Broadway - and at how marvelously Thomas Kail captures the stage show's infectious energy.
Synopsis: The original Broadway production of the award-winning musical that tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, first secretary of the treasury,... [More]
Directed By: Thomas Kail

#31
#31
Adjusted Score: 115354%
Critics Consensus: Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend -- and Black culture at large.
Synopsis: Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her... [More]
Directed By: George C. Wolfe

#30
#30
Adjusted Score: 118095%
Critics Consensus: A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut.
Synopsis: On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest... [More]
Directed By: Regina King

#29
Adjusted Score: 114589%
Critics Consensus: A singularly rich period piece, Portrait of a Lady on Fire finds stirring, thought-provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance.
Synopsis: In 1770 the young daughter of a French countess develops a mutual attraction to the female artist commissioned to paint... [More]
Directed By: Céline Sciamma

#28

The Fight (2020)
99%

#28
Adjusted Score: 102212%
Critics Consensus: The Fight takes an engaging look at some of the people working on the front lines for the ACLU -- and makes a passionate case for the legal battles they wage.
Synopsis: At a defining moment in American history, a scrappy team of heroic ACLU lawyers battles for abortion rights, immigrant rights,... [More]

#27

On the Record (2020)
99%

#27
Adjusted Score: 102585%
Critics Consensus: On the Record uses harrowing first-person accounts to powerfully and persuasively confront the entrenched sexism of an industry and its culture.
Synopsis: Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering examine the sexual assault allegations against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.... [More]
Directed By: Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering

#26
#26
Adjusted Score: 104277%
Critics Consensus: Totally Under Control does a commendable job of distilling current events into a clear-eyed overview that's as engaging as it is enraging.
Synopsis: Public health officials discuss the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.... [More]

#25

Saint Frances (2019)
99%

#25
Adjusted Score: 103699%
Critics Consensus: Saint Frances approaches an array of weighty issues with empathy, humor, and grace -- and marks star and writer Kelly O'Sullivan as a tremendous talent to watch.
Synopsis: After an abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds friendship with the 6-year-old she's hired to watch.... [More]
Directed By: Alex Thompson

#24

Collective (2019)
99%

#24
Adjusted Score: 105474%
Critics Consensus: Collective presents a darkly effective overview of the cycle of political corruption and public cynicism that takes hold when government abrogates its responsibility to the people.
Synopsis: Directed by Alexander Nanau (TOTO AND HIS SISTERS), COLLECTIVE follows a heroic team of journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Alexander Nanau

Mangrove: Season 1 (2020)
99%

#23
Adjusted Score: 113386%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by strong performances and an even stronger sense of conviction, Mangrove is a powerful indictment of institutional racism.

#22

Miss Juneteenth (2020)
99%

#22
Adjusted Score: 107160%
Critics Consensus: Like a pageant winner walking across the stage, Miss Juneteenth follows a familiar path -- but does so with charm and grace.
Synopsis: A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.... [More]

#21

Wolfwalkers (2020)
99%

#21
Adjusted Score: 108495%
Critics Consensus: A mesmerizing Celtic-inspired adventure, Wolfwalkers offers an epic ethereal fantasy matched by profound philosophies and stellar voice work.
Synopsis: In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to... [More]
Directed By: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart

#20
Adjusted Score: 112681%
Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and directed, Never Rarely Sometimes Always reaffirms writer-director Eliza Hittman as a filmmaker of uncommon sensitivity and grace.
Synopsis: Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin, Skylar, travel across state lines... [More]
Directed By: Eliza Hittman

#19
Adjusted Score: 100498%
Critics Consensus: At the Heart of Gold is a scathing indictment of institutional abuse that sensitively provides victims with a platform to tell their stories.
Synopsis: In 2016 USA Gymnastics was rocked by the revelation that national team doctor Larry Nassar had been abusing young athletes... [More]
Directed By: Erin Lee Carr

#18

Coup 53 (2019)
100%

#18
Adjusted Score: 101495%
Critics Consensus: Rife with the political intrigue promised by its title, Coup 53 is a spellbinding documentary with the heart of a thriller.
Synopsis: The story of Operation Ajax, the CIA/MI6 staged coup in 1953 in Iran that overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh.... [More]
Starring: Walter Murch
Directed By: Taghi Amirani

#17

Mayor (2020)
100%

#17
Adjusted Score: 101674%
Critics Consensus: A clear-eyed look at an extraordinary subject, Mayor makes essential viewing out of one politician's quest to preserve dignity in the midst of bureaucracy.
Synopsis: A look at the life of Musa Hadid, the charismatic mayor of Palestinian city Ramallah, who aspires to lead the... [More]
Starring: Musa Hadid
Directed By: David Osit

#16

Make Up (2019)
98%

#16
Adjusted Score: 99600%
Critics Consensus: Make Up gets under the skin during its eerily unsettling descent into jealousy and paranoia -- and leaves the viewer wanting more from writer-director Claire Oakley.
Synopsis: A teen makes an unsettling discovery about her boyfriend that lures her into a spiral of obsession.... [More]
Directed By: Claire Oakley

#15
#15
Adjusted Score: 101268%
Critics Consensus: Engrossing for casual listeners as well as hardcore fans, Mystify: Michael Hutchence sheds a poignant light on a life and career cut short by tragedy.
Synopsis: Archival footage, private home movies and intimate interviews offer insight into the extraordinary life and career of former INXS singer... [More]
Directed By: Richard Lowenstein

#14

Coded Bias (2020)
100%

#14
Adjusted Score: 102158%
Critics Consensus: Clear, concise, and comprehensive, Coded Bias offers a chilling look at largely unseen side effects of modern society's algorithmic underpinnings.
Synopsis: An exploration into the fallout of MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini's discovery of racial bias in facial recognition algorithms.... [More]
Starring: Joy Buolamwini
Directed By: Shalini Kantayya

#13

A Secret Love (2020)
100%

#13
Adjusted Score: 102335%
Critics Consensus: In telling one couple's story, A Secret Love pays understated yet powerful tribute to a lifetime of choices and sacrifices made in the name of enduring devotion.
Synopsis: A former baseball player keeps her lesbian relationship a secret from her family for seven decades.... [More]
Starring: Pat Henschel
Directed By: Chris Bolan

#12

Rewind (2019)
100%

#12
Adjusted Score: 101491%
Critics Consensus: Rewind pulls at the roots of a family's horrific trauma with a deeply personal documentary that's hard to watch, but worth the effort.
Synopsis: Digging through his father's home videos, a young man reconstructs the story of his boyhood and recalls the abuse he... [More]
Starring: Sasha Neulinger
Directed By: Sasha Neulinger

#11
#11
Adjusted Score: 99799%
Critics Consensus: A striking debut for writer-director Kim Bora, House of Hummingbird delicately captures a turning point in one young woman's life.
Synopsis: In 1994 Seoul when the Seongsu Bridge collapses, 14-year-old Eunhee wanders the city and searches for love.... [More]
Directed By: Bora Kim

#10

City Hall (2020)
98%

#10
Adjusted Score: 100905%
Critics Consensus: A glimpse of local government at work that's as patiently observant as it is engrossing, City Hall adds another insightful gem to master documentarian Frederick Wiseman's filmography.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman examines the rich history of Boston City Hall.... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Frederick Wiseman

#9

Athlete A (2020)
100%

#9
Adjusted Score: 102640%
Critics Consensus: Harrowing yet essential viewing, Athlete A shines an unforgiving light on horrific abuses -- as well as the culture that allowed them to continue unabated for years.
Synopsis: Reporters from The Indianapolis Star expose Dr. Larry Nassar's sexual abuse of young gymnasts.... [More]
Directed By: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk

#8
Adjusted Score: 103073%
Critics Consensus: An absorbing and affectionate tribute to a unique individual, Mucho Mucho Amor should prove fascinating for Walter Mercado fans as well as first-timers.
Synopsis: Puerto Rican astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado discusses his life, career and post-fame seclusion.... [More]
Starring: Walter Mercado

#7
Adjusted Score: 103085%
Critics Consensus: All In: The Fight for Democracy lives up to its title as a galvanizing rallying cry for voters to exercise -- and preserve -- their right to be heard.
Synopsis: Filmmakers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes examine the history of voter suppression and the activists who fight for the rights... [More]
Starring: Stacey Abrams
Directed By: Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus

#6
#6
Adjusted Score: 103437%
Critics Consensus: An illuminating and urgent call to action, Welcome to Chechnya portrays the horrors of the mass persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in the Chechen Republic with tenacity and tenderness.
Synopsis: Activists risk their lives to confront Russian leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his government-directed campaign to detain, torture and execute LGBTQ... [More]
Directed By: David France

#5

Driveways (2019)
99%

#5
Adjusted Score: 102263%
Critics Consensus: Understated yet powerful, Driveways is a character study anchored in fundamental decency -- and a poignant farewell to Brian Dennehy.
Synopsis: A lonely boy goes with his mother to help clean out his late aunt's house.... [More]
Directed By: Andrew Ahn

#4

Host (2020)
99%

#4
Adjusted Score: 104044%
Critics Consensus: Lean, suspenseful, and scary, Host uses its timely premise to deliver a nastily effective treat for horror enthusiasts.
Synopsis: Six friends accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence during an online séance and begin noticing strange occurrences in... [More]
Directed By: Rob Savage

#3
#3
Adjusted Score: 104105%
Critics Consensus: Dick Johnson Is Dead celebrates a life with bittersweet humor and grace, offering a deeply resonant perspective on mortality in the bargain.
Synopsis: A filmmaker and her elderly father stage his death in various ways to help them face his inevitable demise.... [More]
Starring: Dick Johnson
Directed By: Kirsten Johnson

#2

Crip Camp (2020)
100%

#2
Adjusted Score: 105126%
Critics Consensus: As entertaining as it is inspiring, Crip Camp uses one group's remarkable story to highlight hope for the future and the power of community.
Synopsis: A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes teens who have disabilities.... [More]

#1

His House (2020)
100%

#1
Adjusted Score: 106586%
Critics Consensus: Featuring genuine scares through every corridor, His House is a terrifying look at the specters of the refugee experience and a stunning feature debut for Remi Weekes.
Synopsis: A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new... [More]
Directed By: Remi Weekes