The Best Movies of 2019
What a year 2019 has been for movies. We came into it knowing we’d be getting new films from filmmaking heavyweights like Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), and Greta Gerwig (Little Women), and their efforts did not fail to live up to the hype. The year was also filled with its share of surprises from names both known and lesser-known: Sundance favorites The Farewell and Clemency; Jordan Peele’s follow-up to Get Out, the terrifying Us; and superhero flicks like Endgame and Shazam!.
Now, with the year’s releases in the rear-view mirror – and a whole new year of films to anticipate – we’ve collected every Certified Fresh movie from 2019 to create your ultimate guide to The Best Movies of 2019!
In this extensive list, you’ll find recent smashes like Knives Out, Frozen II, and Ford v Ferrari, along with earlier-in-the-year Audience favorites like John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Captain Marvel. There are animated flicks from some of our finest animation houses (Toy Story 4, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Missing Link) along with a round of elevated (Midsommar) and not-so-elevated horror (Midsommar). From the arthouse and indie circuit, you’ll discover a slew of films that got people talking: Parasite, Portrait of a Lady On Fire, The Lighthouse, Jojo Rabbit, among others. And with awards season in full swing, stop by our leaderboard to see who’s racking up the most gold.
Every movie on this guide is Certified Fresh, meaning a minimum number of approved critics – 40 for limited releases, 80 for wides – saw it, reviewed it, and got it up to at least 75% on the Tomatometer. (After becoming Certified Fresh, if a movie subsequently drops below 70%, it loses the designation. Stay above and stay golden!) In addition, a concerted theatrical release is a must for qualification; streaming movies that may have gone to theaters for a week but without independently verifiable screen counts or box office reports were left for our TV rankings.
Now, continue on to discover critic-approved quality films, and be reminded of the ones you want to rewatch, with our list of the very best movies of 2019. And be sure to let us know your favorite 2019 films in the comments. —Alex Vo
Last updated 12/30/19
Best Comedies of 2019 | Best Sci-Fi Movies of 2019
Best Action Movies of 2019
#182
Adjusted Score: 78723%
Critics Consensus: Challenging and rewarding in equal measure, Climax captures writer-director Gaspar Noé working near his technically brilliant and visually distinctive peak.
Synopsis: When members of a dance troupe are lured to an empty school, drug-laced sangria causes their jubilant rehearsal to descend... [More]
Directed By: Gaspar Noé
#181
Adjusted Score: 80655%
Critics Consensus: Thrilling visuals and the substantial chemistry of its well-matched leads make The Aeronauts an adventure well worth taking.
Synopsis: In 1862 headstrong scientist James Glaisher and wealthy young widow Amelia Wren mount a balloon expedition to fly higher than... [More]
Directed By: Tom Harper
#180
Adjusted Score: 77328%
Critics Consensus: The Death of Dick Long mixes dark humor with provocative ideas to produce a sharp blend that's admittedly uneven but uniquely satisfying.
Synopsis: In small-town Alabama, Zeke and Earl scramble to cover up the unlikely and illegal events that led to their friend's... [More]
Directed By: Daniel Scheinert
#179
Adjusted Score: 79385%
Critics Consensus: It may not illuminate much of its subject's inner life, but Halston should still prove a comfortable fit for viewers in search of an entertaining fashion documentary.
Synopsis: At the height of his fame, fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick's empire included couture, ready-to-wear, fragrances, and even uniforms, accessories,... [More]
Directed By: Frédéric Tcheng
#178
Adjusted Score: 79536%
Critics Consensus: The definitive juggalo-infused self-discovery comedy, Family transcends its overly familiar elements with fresh twists and Taylor Schilling's appealing performance.
Synopsis: Kate Stone is career-focused with a brash attitude that keeps relationships at an arm's length. When her estranged brother calls... [More]
Directed By: Laura Steinel
#177
Adjusted Score: 79669%
Critics Consensus: The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot just about lives up to the wild promise of its title, due in no small part to Sam Elliott's world-weary work in the title role.
Synopsis: Decades after ending World War II by assassinating Adolf Hitler in an undercover operation, unsung American hero Calvin Barr is... [More]
Directed By: Robert D. Krzykowski
#176
Adjusted Score: 87683%
Critics Consensus: Its depiction of real-life horror will strike some as exploitative, but Hotel Mumbai remains a well-made dramatization of tragic events.
Synopsis: November 26, 2008 ... terror struck the heart of India. From the producer of Sicario and Wind River.... [More]
Directed By: Anthony Maras
#175
Adjusted Score: 83824%
Critics Consensus: Judy & Punch revisits classic characters from a fresh perspective, marking debuting writer-director Mirrah Foulkes as a filmmaking talent to watch.
Synopsis: A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.... [More]
Directed By: Mirrah Foulkes
#174
Adjusted Score: 78805%
Critics Consensus: Asako I & II's high-concept premise is anchored by thought-provoking themes and confident, compelling work from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Synopsis: Asako meets and falls madly in love with drifter Baku who one day drifts right out of her life. Two... [More]
Directed By: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
#173
Adjusted Score: 95701%
Critics Consensus: Doctor Sleep forsakes the elemental terror of its predecessor for a more contemplative sequel that balances poignant themes against spine-tingling chills.
Synopsis: Struggling with alcoholism, Dan Torrance remains traumatized by the sinister events that occurred at the Overlook Hotel when he was... [More]
Directed By: Mike Flanagan
#172
Adjusted Score: 77630%
Critics Consensus: Admirably eclectic yet more consistent than most horror anthologies, Nightmare Cinema should entertain viewers in the mood for a good old-fashioned creepshow.
Synopsis: Five strangers watch their deepest and darkest fears play out before them in an abandoned theater as the Projectionist preys... [More]
#171
Adjusted Score: 94867%
Critics Consensus: Frozen II can't quite recapture the showstopping feel of its predecessor, but it remains a dazzling adventure into the unknown.
Synopsis: Elsa the Snow Queen has an extraordinary gift -- the power to create ice and snow. But no matter how... [More]
#170
Adjusted Score: 84241%
Critics Consensus: Never Look Away fills its protracted running time with the absorbing story of an incredible life -- and its impact on the singular artist who lived it.
Synopsis: When two German art students fall in love, the girl's father, who has a devastating secret, vows to end their... [More]
Directed By: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
#169
Adjusted Score: 81532%
Critics Consensus: A love story set against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in Russian culture, Leto captures people -- and a generation -- in thrilling flux.
Synopsis: A love triangle emerges around a rock 'n' roll musician, his protege, and his wife in 1980s Russia.... [More]
Directed By: Kirill Serebrennikov
#168
Adjusted Score: 88430%
Critics Consensus: Everybody Knows is somewhat less than the sum of its parts despite the efforts of an outstanding cast - and a disappointing step back for writer-director Asghar Farhadi.
Synopsis: Laura and her two children travel from Argentina to Spain to attend her sister's wedding. The joyful reunion soon turns... [More]
Directed By: Asghar Farhadi
#167
Adjusted Score: 88985%
Critics Consensus: Like the bestselling series of books that inspired it, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark opens a creepy gateway into horror for younger genre enthusiasts.
Synopsis: The shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large in the small town of Mill Valley for generations. It's in... [More]
Directed By: André Øvredal
#166
Adjusted Score: 108436%
Critics Consensus: Packed with action, humor, and visual thrills, Captain Marvel introduces the MCU's latest hero with an origin story that makes effective use of the franchise's signature formula.
Synopsis: Captain Marvel is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her... [More]
#165
Adjusted Score: 79637%
Critics Consensus: Skin could stand to go a bit deeper below its surface, but a worthy story and a committed performance from Jamie Bell make this timely drama well worth a watch.
Synopsis: A young man makes the dangerous choice to leave the white supremacist gang he joined as a teenager. With his... [More]
Directed By: Guy Nattiv
#164
Adjusted Score: 82559%
Critics Consensus: Loro uses the larger-than-life exploits of an infamous public figure to present a messily compelling snapshot of how power attracts -- and corrupts.
Synopsis: A wheeler-dealer weasels his way into the inner circle of Silvio Berlusconi, a wealthy and controversial Italian politician.... [More]
Directed By: Paolo Sorrentino
#163
Adjusted Score: 83050%
Critics Consensus: Photograph enriches the familiar arc of its love story by refreshingly refracting its characters' budding bond through a sociocultural prism.
Synopsis: Pressured by his grandmother to get married, a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee.... [More]
Directed By: Ritesh Batra
#162
Adjusted Score: 86326%
Critics Consensus: It suffers from a somewhat one-sided approach, but Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love is an absorbing glimpse of a fascinating chapter of its subjects' lives.
Synopsis: A story of enduring love between Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse, Marianne Ihlen. Filmmaker Nick Broomfield chronicles their relationship,... [More]
Directed By: Nick Broomfield
#161
Adjusted Score: 102597%
Critics Consensus: Jojo Rabbit's blend of irreverent humor and serious ideas definitely won't be to everyone's taste -- but either way, this anti-hate satire is audacious to a fault.
Synopsis: Jojo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic.... [More]
Directed By: Taika Waititi
#160
Adjusted Score: 81261%
Critics Consensus: The Amazing Johnathan Documentary sets out to survey a magician's final tour -- and ends up pulling off some wildly ambitious tricks of its own.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Benjamin Berman has a difficult time separating truth from fiction as he documents the final tour of a dying... [More]
Directed By: Benjamin Berman
#159
Adjusted Score: 84857%
Critics Consensus: Ruben Brandt, Collector is flawed from a storytelling standpoint, but the eye-catching animation is more than enough to make this offbeat thriller well worth watching.
Synopsis: A psychiatrist who has a roster of criminal patients must exorcise some strange demons.... [More]
Directed By: Milorad Krstic
#158
Adjusted Score: 83791%
Critics Consensus: Knife + Heart wrings giallo-inspired thrills out of a boldly challenging story that defiantly succeeds on its own stylish merits.
Synopsis: In the summer of 1979, Paris-based filmmaker Anne is a producer of third-rate gay porn. After her editor and lover... [More]
Directed By: Yann Gonzalez
#157
Adjusted Score: 85388%
Critics Consensus: Led by typically outstanding work from Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters is a horror/rom-com hybrid that proves the zombie genre still has fresh brains to savor.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Abe Forsythe
#156
Adjusted Score: 93706%
Critics Consensus: Good Boys is undermined by an eagerness to repeatedly indulge in profane humor, but its appealing cast and ultimately thoughtful message often shine through.
Synopsis: Invited to his first kissing party, 12-year-old Max asks his best friends Lucas and Thor for some much-needed help on... [More]
Directed By: Gene Stupnitsky
#155
Adjusted Score: 95647%
Critics Consensus: Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Late Night is a workplace comedy with a lot of heart -- and just as many laughs.
Synopsis: A late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer.... [More]
Directed By: Nisha Ganatra
#154
Adjusted Score: 101258%
Critics Consensus: Just Mercy dramatizes a real-life injustice with solid performances, a steady directorial hand, and enough urgency to overcome a certain degree of earnest advocacy.
Synopsis: After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation.... [More]
Directed By: Destin Daniel Cretton
#153
Adjusted Score: 84940%
Critics Consensus: Greener Grass is far from the first comedy to skewer suburbia -- but it might be among the most bizarre and surreally distinctive.
Synopsis: Soccer moms Jill and Lisa compete for approval and acceptance in a bizarre suburbia while their kids battle it out... [More]
#152
Adjusted Score: 83362%
Critics Consensus: A Faithful Man's lack of tonal commitment may frustrate, but the end results should still prove entertaining for viewers in the mood for a French romantic farce.
Synopsis: A man experiences unanticipated joys and heartbreaks after his wife leaves him for his best friend. When the couple reunites... [More]
Directed By: Louis Garrel
#151
Adjusted Score: 90378%
Critics Consensus: Working with admittedly familiar ingredients, Abominable offers audiences a beautifully animated and overall engaging adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
Synopsis: After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an... [More]
Directed By: Jill Culton
#150
Adjusted Score: 85683%
Critics Consensus: Well cast and beautifully filmed, Sorry Angel explores a young man's sexual awakening with wit, empathy, and a satisfying depth.
Synopsis: A young student and an older writer fall in love in Paris.... [More]
Directed By: Christophe Honoré
#149
Adjusted Score: 86033%
Critics Consensus: Imperfect yet intriguing, The Wind offers horror fans an admirably ambitious story further distinguished by its fresh perspective and effective scares.
Synopsis: Lizzy is a tough, resourceful frontierswoman settling a remote stretch of land on the 19th-century American frontier. Isolated from civilization... [More]
Directed By: Emma Tammi
#148
Adjusted Score: 95484%
Critics Consensus: The Report draws on a dark chapter in American history to offer a sober, gripping account of one public servant's crusade for accountability.
Synopsis: FBI agent Daniel Jones performs an exhaustive investigation into the CIA's use of torture on suspected terrorists.... [More]
Directed By: Scott Z. Burns
#147
Adjusted Score: 97870%
Critics Consensus: A sharp and deceptively layered comedy that's further fueled by the odd couple chemistry of its leads, this Long Shot largely hits its marks.
Synopsis: Fred Flarsky is a gifted and free-spirited journalist who has a knack for getting into trouble. Charlotte Field is one... [More]
Directed By: Jonathan Levine
#146
Adjusted Score: 84108%
Critics Consensus: Its deliberate pace may test the patience, but viewers attuned to Light of My Life's sober wavelength will be rewarded with a thought-provoking chiller.
Synopsis: "Dad" (Casey Affleck) and daughter, "Rag" (Anna Pniowsky) journey through the outskirts of society a decade after a pandemic has... [More]
Directed By: Casey Affleck
#145
Adjusted Score: 85859%
Critics Consensus: As an investigation into a real-life tragedy, Cold Case Hammarskjöld might struggle with discipline -- but it remains an intriguing, entertaining jumble of ideas.
Synopsis: Danish director Mads Brügger and Swedish private investigator Göran Bjorkdahl are trying to solve the mysterious death of Dag Hammarskjöld.... [More]
Starring: Mads Brügger
Directed By: Mads Brügger
#144
Adjusted Score: 84495%
Critics Consensus: Memory - The Origins of Alien offers an entertaining inside look at the making of a classic -- and compellingly analyzes its creation in the context of its era.
Synopsis: An in depth voyage into the sci-fi film "Alien" with the visionary filmmakers who created it. See how one of... [More]
Directed By: Alexandre O. Philippe
#143
Adjusted Score: 86101%
Critics Consensus: A grounded superhero story with more on its mind than punching bad guys, Fast Color leaps over uneven execution with a singular Gugu Mbatha-Raw performance.
Synopsis: Hunted by mysterious forces, a young woman who has supernatural abilities must go on the run when her powers are... [More]
Directed By: Julia Hart
#142
Adjusted Score: 94874%
Critics Consensus: Stylish, provocative, and powerful, Queen & Slim tells a gripping fugitive story steeped in timely, thoughtful subtext.
Synopsis: Slim and Queen's first date takes an unexpected turn when a policeman pulls them over for a minor traffic violation.... [More]
Directed By: Melina Matsoukas
#141
Adjusted Score: 91063%
Critics Consensus: Held together by a gripping lead performance from Elisabeth Moss, Her Smell is challenging and admittedly uneven, but ultimately worth the effort.
Synopsis: Becky Something is a talented but self-destructive musician who seems determined to alienate everyone around her -- even at the... [More]
Directed By: Alex Ross Perry
#140
Adjusted Score: 94689%
Critics Consensus: An action-packed creature feature that's fast, terrifying, and benefits greatly from a completely game Kaya Scodelario, Crawl is a fun throw-back with just enough self-awareness to work.
Synopsis: When a massive hurricane hits her Florida town, young Haley ignores the evacuation orders to search for her missing father,... [More]
Directed By: Alexandre Aja
#139
Adjusted Score: 94735%
Critics Consensus: High Life is as visually arresting as it is challenging, confounding, and ultimately rewarding - which is to say it's everything film fans expect from director Claire Denis.
Synopsis: Monte and his baby daughter are the last survivors of a damned and dangerous mission to the outer reaches of... [More]
Directed By: Claire Denis
#138
Adjusted Score: 100422%
Critics Consensus: Led by a deeply committed performance from Renée Zellweger, Judy captures the waning days of a beloved performer with clear-eyed compassion.
Synopsis: Thirty years after starring in "The Wizard of Oz," beloved actress and singer Judy Garland arrives in London to perform... [More]
Directed By: Rupert Goold
#137
Adjusted Score: 104474%
Critics Consensus: Ambitious, impressively crafted, and above all unsettling, Midsommar further proves writer-director Ari Aster is a horror auteur to be reckoned with.
Synopsis: A young American couple, their relationship foundering, travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where a seemingly pastoral paradise transforms... [More]
Directed By: Ari Aster
#136
Adjusted Score: 93902%
Critics Consensus: Ambitious and visually absorbing, A Hidden Life may prove inscrutable to non-devotees -- but for viewers on Malick's wavelength, it should only further confirm his genius.
Synopsis: Austrian farmer Franz Jägerstätter faces the threat of execution for refusing to fight for the Nazis during World War II.... [More]
Directed By: Terrence Malick
#135
Adjusted Score: 95323%
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
#134
Adjusted Score: 87864%
Critics Consensus: Rust Creek subverts expectations with a surprisingly layered survival drama anchored in a rich setting and a gripping lead performance from Hermione Corfield.
Synopsis: Sawyer is an ambitious, overachieving college senior who has a seemingly bright future. While on her way to a job... [More]
Directed By: Jen McGowan
#133
Adjusted Score: 86837%
Critics Consensus: Led by a quartet of strong performances, Villains offers genre fans a delightfully dark thriller with a sharp comic streak.
Synopsis: Amateur criminals stumble upon a dark secret in a sadistic couple's home.... [More]
#132
Adjusted Score: 88953%
Critics Consensus: The Brink won't change many minds about its subject, but it remains a compelling -- if perhaps difficult to watch -- look at a divisive ideological lightning rod.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Alison Klayman follows political strategist Stephen K. Bannon as he tries to mobilize and unify far-right parties during the... [More]
Directed By: Alison Klayman
#131
Adjusted Score: 90014%
Critics Consensus: Dogman offers a grim character study set apart by Marcello Fonte's performance and director Matteo Garrone's tight grip on the material.
Synopsis: Marcello is a mild-mannered dog groomer who commits petty crimes for Simoncino, a former boxer who terrorizes the neighborhood. When... [More]
Directed By: Matteo Garrone
#130
Adjusted Score: 92657%
Critics Consensus: Led by a winning performance from Isabela Moner, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a family-friendly adventure that retains its source material's youthful spirit.
Synopsis: Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure yet --... [More]
Directed By: James Bobin
#129
Adjusted Score: 91428%
Critics Consensus: The Art of Self-Defense grapples compellingly with modern American masculinity -- and serves as an outstanding calling card for writer-director Riley Stearns.
Synopsis: After getting attacked on the street, Casey enlists in a local dojo that's led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei.... [More]
Directed By: Riley Stearns
#128
Adjusted Score: 97484%
Critics Consensus: Downton Abbey distills many of the ingredients that made the show an enduring favorite, welcoming fans back for a fittingly resplendent homecoming.
Synopsis: The beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from... [More]
Directed By: Michael Engler
#127
Adjusted Score: 104030%
Critics Consensus: Ad Astra takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child.
Synopsis: Thirty years ago, Clifford McBride led a voyage into deep space, but the ship and crew were never heard from... [More]
Directed By: James Gray
#126
Adjusted Score: 89478%
Critics Consensus: Luz takes a refreshingly unique approach to horror possession tropes, elevated by a chilly mood and minimalist scares.
Synopsis: Luz is a young cab driver fleeing from the grasp of a possessed woman, whose confession could endanger the lives... [More]
Directed By: Tilman Singer
#125
Adjusted Score: 86883%
Critics Consensus: The Hole in the Ground artfully exploits parental fears with a well-made horror outing that makes up in sheer effectiveness what it lacks in originality.
Synopsis: One night, Sarah's young son disappears into the woods behind their rural home. When he returns, he looks the same,... [More]
Directed By: Lee Cronin
#124
Adjusted Score: 99703%
Critics Consensus: While it isn't quite as much fun as its predecessor, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part fits neatly into an animated all-ages franchise with heart and humor to spare.
Synopsis: The citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space start to wreck everything... [More]
Directed By: Mike Mitchell
#123
Adjusted Score: 117186%
Critics Consensus: Thrillingly unrestrained yet solidly crafted, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tempers Tarantino's provocative impulses with the clarity of a mature filmmaker's vision.
Synopsis: Actor Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Western, but is now struggling to find... [More]
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
#122
Adjusted Score: 97150%
Critics Consensus: An up-close look at one family's emotional ups and downs, Waves captures complicated dynamics with tenderness and grace.
Synopsis: The epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the... [More]
Directed By: Trey Edward Shults
#121
Adjusted Score: 89496%
Critics Consensus: Elevated by the chemistry and bold performances of its leads, Animals takes a refreshingly frank and impressively ambitious look at female relationships.
Synopsis: Longtime friends and party lovers Laura and Tyler navigate life and love in Dublin, Ireland but find themselves drifting apart... [More]
Directed By: Sophie Hyde
#120
Adjusted Score: 90742%
Critics Consensus: Pavarotti pays entertaining tribute to a towering cultural figure with a documentary whose evident affection for its subject proves contagious.
Synopsis: Featuring never-before-seen footage, concert performances and intimate interviews, filmmaker Ron Howard examines the life and career of famed opera tenor... [More]
Directed By: Ron Howard
#119
Adjusted Score: 90632%
Critics Consensus: It's blunt rather than balanced, but Where's My Roy Cohn? does what it sets out to do, offering a disquieting summary of its subject's life and legacy.
Synopsis: Roy Cohn personified the dark arts of American politics, turning empty vessels into dangerous demagogues.... [More]
Starring: Roger Stone
Directed By: Matt Tyrnauer
#118
Adjusted Score: 88497%
Critics Consensus: A finely layered drama with rich visal allure, Ms. Purple sifts sensitively through the emotional wreckage of a broken family.
Synopsis: A karaoke hostess reconnects with her estranged brother, forcing them to enter a period of intense self-reflection as their single... [More]
Directed By: Justin Chon
#117
Adjusted Score: 89782%
Critics Consensus: What You Gonna Do When the World's On Fire? traces the aftershocks of race-motivated violence in thoughtful, impressionistic fashion.
Synopsis: During the summer of 2017, a string of brutal killings of black men in the United States sent shock waves... [More]
Starring: Dorothy Hill
Directed By: Roberto Minervini
#116
Adjusted Score: 88088%
Critics Consensus: A thrillingly effective update on a classic story, Depraved jolts a familiar monster back to life with a potent blend of timely themes and old-school chills.
Synopsis: A disillusioned field surgeon who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder makes a man out of body parts and brings... [More]
Directed By: Larry Fessenden
#115
Adjusted Score: 90150%
Critics Consensus: Diamantino casts a singularly surreal eye on an ambitious array of subjects, emerging with a cinematic experience as inscrutable as it is unforgettable.
Synopsis: When Portuguese soccer hunk Diamantino blows it in the World Cup finals, he goes from superstar to laughingstock overnight. His... [More]
#114
Adjusted Score: 93926%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and sharply written, Non-Fiction finds writer-director Olivier Assayas working in a comedic vein that channels classic forebears while remaining utterly fresh.
Synopsis: Alain is in his 40s and runs a famous publishing house which publishes novels by his friend Léonard, a bohemian... [More]
Directed By: Olivier Assayas
#113
Adjusted Score: 99202%
Critics Consensus: The Nightingale definitely isn't for all tastes, but writer-director Jennifer Kent taps into a rich vein of palpable rage to tell a war story that leaves a bruising impact.
Synopsis: Clare, a young Irish convict, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness and is bent on revenge for... [More]
Directed By: Jennifer Kent
#112
Adjusted Score: 105866%
Critics Consensus: Led by a career-best performance from Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers is a uniquely empowering heist drama with depth and intelligence to match its striking visual appeal.
Synopsis: Working as a stripper to make ends meet, Destiny's life changes forever when she becomes friends with Ramona -- the... [More]
Directed By: Lorene Scafaria
#111
Adjusted Score: 91448%
Critics Consensus: Synonyms latches onto third-rail issues with thrilling audacity -- and taps into an energy that proves as discomfiting as it is infectious.
Synopsis: A young Israeli man, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary, travels to Paris to flee his nationality.... [More]
Directed By: Nadav Lapid
#110
Adjusted Score: 88681%
Critics Consensus: Patiently constructed and beautifully filmed, Aquarela views man's relationship with water through a sobering -- and awe-inducing -- lens.
Synopsis: From massive waves to melting ice, filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky travels around the world to capture stunning images of the beauty... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Victor Kossakovsky
#109
Adjusted Score: 91910%
Critics Consensus: Stocked with solid performances, Freaks is a clever sci-fi/horror hybrid that suggests a bright future for co-writers/co-directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein.
Synopsis: Kept locked inside the house by her father, 7-year-old Chloe lives in fear and fascination of the outside world. It's... [More]
#108
Adjusted Score: 93216%
Critics Consensus: Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice offers an engaging overview of its subject's career that should entertain fans and the uninitiated alike.
Synopsis: The life and career of singer Linda Ronstadt is traced from her childhood in Tucson through her decades-long career and... [More]
#107
Adjusted Score: 105813%
Critics Consensus: Smart, subversive, and darkly funny, Ready or Not is a crowd-pleasing horror film with giddily entertaining bite.
Synopsis: Grace couldn't be happier after she marries the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious estate. There's just one... [More]
#106
Adjusted Score: 90747%
Critics Consensus: Thematically ambitious and tonally audacious, To Dust tackles universally relatable topics in a bracingly original way.
Synopsis: A Hasidic cantor in upstate New York, distraught by the untimely death of his wife, befriends a local community college... [More]
Directed By: Shawn Snyder
#105
Adjusted Score: 92579%
Critics Consensus: American Woman finds poignant drama in one woman's grueling odyssey, thanks in no small part to Sienna Miller's outstanding work in the leading role.
Synopsis: In a small blue-collar town in Pennsylvania, a 32-year-old woman's teenage daughter goes missing, and she is left to raise... [More]
Directed By: Jake Scott
#104
Adjusted Score: 94158%
Critics Consensus: Potentially insurmountable for viewers not attuned to the director's wavelength, The Image Book is typically confounding - and ultimately rewarding - late-period Godard.
Synopsis: Jean-Luc Godard provides social commentary during a montage of digitally altered, color-saturated film clips.... [More]
Starring: Jean-Luc Godard
Directed By: Jean-Luc Godard
#103
Adjusted Score: 98824%
Critics Consensus: Arctic proves that a good survival thriller doesn't need much in the way of dialogue to get by -- especially when Mads Mikkelsen is the one doing the surviving.
Synopsis: A man stranded in the Arctic after an airplane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of... [More]
Directed By: Joe Penna
#102
Adjusted Score: 96434%
Critics Consensus: Another beautifully animated triumph for Laika, Missing Link is a visual treat with lots of humor, plenty of heart, and even a little food for thought.
Synopsis: Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link -- 8 feet tall and covered in fur... [More]
Directed By: Chris Butler
#101
Adjusted Score: 97531%
Critics Consensus: Brittany Runs a Marathon is an earnest and hilarious dramedy that finally gives Jillian Bell a role worthy of her gifts.
Synopsis: A hard-partying woman receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated... [More]
Directed By: Paul Downs Colaizzo
#100
Adjusted Score: 99641%
Critics Consensus: The Kid Who Would Be King recalls classic all-ages adventures -- and repurposes a timeless legend -- for a thoroughly enjoyable new addition to the family movie canon.
Synopsis: Old-school magic meets the modern world when young Alex stumbles upon the mythical sword Excalibur. He soon unites his friends... [More]
Directed By: Joe Cornish
#99
Adjusted Score: 102446%
Critics Consensus: Like a life-affirming rock anthem, Blinded by the Light hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore.
Synopsis: Javed is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England, in 1987. He writes... [More]
Directed By: Gurinder Chadha
#98
Adjusted Score: 110197%
Critics Consensus: It's going to be a long, long time before a rock biopic manages to capture the highs and lows of an artist's life like Rocketman.
Synopsis: Young Reginald Dwight changes his name to Elton John and collaborates with singer-songwriter Bernie Taupin to become one of the... [More]
Directed By: Dexter Fletcher
#97
Adjusted Score: 100708%
Critics Consensus: Led by outstanding performances from its well-matched leads, The Two Popes draws absorbing drama from a pivotal moment in modern organized religion.
Synopsis: Behind the Vatican walls, Pope Benedict and the future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path... [More]
Directed By: Fernando Meirelles
#96
Adjusted Score: 90621%
Critics Consensus: Plus One reinvigorates the rom-com with an entertaining outing elevated by well-matched leads and a story that embraces and transcends genre clichés.
Synopsis: Longtime single friends agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they are invited to.... [More]
#95
Adjusted Score: 89559%
Critics Consensus: Meeting Gorbachev plays to filmmaker Werner Herzog's endlessly inquisitive strengths -- and reveals the fascinating story of a pivotal political figure.
Synopsis: Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, sits down with filmmaker Werner Herzog to discuss his many achievements. Topics... [More]
#94
Adjusted Score: 92753%
Critics Consensus: Silly yet deceptively smart, Wild Nights with Emily approaches its oft-investigated subject from a unique -- and utterly entertaining -- vantage point.
Synopsis: The secret life of Emily Dickinson.... [More]
Directed By: Madeleine Olnek
#93
Adjusted Score: 98101%
Critics Consensus: Luce brings a stellar ensemble to bear on a satisfyingly complex story that addresses its timely themes in thought-provoking fashion.
Synopsis: A liberal-minded couple are forced to reconsider their image of their adopted son after he writes a disturbing essay for... [More]
Directed By: Julius Onah
#92
Adjusted Score: 99210%
Critics Consensus: Made by a filmmaker in command of her craft and a star perfectly matched with the material, The Souvenir is a uniquely impactful coming of age drama.
Synopsis: A shy film student begins finding her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but... [More]
Directed By: Joanna Hogg
#91
Adjusted Score: 104094%
Critics Consensus: The rare trilogy capper that really works, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brings its saga to a visually dazzling and emotionally affecting conclusion.
Synopsis: When the sudden appearance of a female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup... [More]
Directed By: Dean DeBlois
#90
Adjusted Score: 107866%
Critics Consensus: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum reloads for another hard-hitting round of the brilliantly choreographed, over-the-top action that fans of the franchise demand.
Synopsis: After gunning down a member of the High Table -- the shadowy international assassin's guild -- legendary hit man John... [More]
Directed By: Chad Stahelski
#89
Adjusted Score: 112047%
Critics Consensus: An effortlessly entertaining blend of humor and heart, Shazam! is a superhero movie that never forgets the genre's real power: joyous wish fulfillment.
Synopsis: We all have a superhero inside of us -- it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out.... [More]
Directed By: David F. Sandberg
#88
Adjusted Score: 114136%
Critics Consensus: Hard-hitting, immersive, and an impressive technical achievement, 1917 captures the trench warfare of World War I with raw, startling immediacy.
Synopsis: During World War I, two British soldiers -- Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake -- receive seemingly impossible orders.... [More]
Directed By: Sam Mendes
#87
Adjusted Score: 115360%
Critics Consensus: A breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action, Spider-Man: Far from Home stylishly sets the stage for the next era of the MCU.
Synopsis: Peter Parker's relaxing European vacation takes an unexpected turn when Nick Fury shows up in his hotel room to recruit... [More]
Directed By: Jon Watts
#86
Adjusted Score: 91710%
Critics Consensus: Thoughtful and well-acted, Tel Aviv on Fire highlights the awful absurdity of war -- and proves it's possible to find humor in the midst of cultural conflict.
Synopsis: Salam, a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, works on a popular soap opera. He gets ideas for the show from the... [More]
Directed By: Sameh Zoabi
#85
Adjusted Score: 95903%
Critics Consensus: Uplifting, educational, and entertaining, The Biggest Little Farm is an environmental advocacy documentary with a satisfying side dish of hope for the future.
Synopsis: A couple are followed through their successes and failures as they work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres... [More]
Directed By: John Chester
#84
Adjusted Score: 101114%
Critics Consensus: Free of visual or narrative embellishments, Gloria Bell rests almost completely on Julianne Moore's performance in the title role -- and she's gloriously up to the task.
Synopsis: A free-spirited divorcee spends her nights on the dance floor, joyfully letting loose at clubs around Los Angeles. She soon... [More]
Directed By: Sebastián Lelio
#83
Adjusted Score: 101133%
Critics Consensus: Dark Waters powerfully relays a real-life tale of infuriating malfeasance, honoring the victims and laying blame squarely at the feet of the perpetrators.
Synopsis: A tenacious attorney uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world's... [More]
Directed By: Todd Haynes
#82
Adjusted Score: 97632%
Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and rich with emotion, Invisible Life beguiles in the moment and leaves a lingering, dreamlike impression.
Synopsis: Kept apart by a terrible lie, years pass as two sisters forge their respective paths through their city's teeming bustle,... [More]
Directed By: Karim Aïnouz
#81
Adjusted Score: 92608%
Critics Consensus: Burning Cane is a compelling look at weighty themes -- and a remarkably assured debut from an impressively talented young filmmaker.
Synopsis: An aging mother who lives in cane fields of rural Louisiana, is torn between her religious convictions and the love... [More]
Directed By: Phillip Michael Youmans
#80
Adjusted Score: 93775%
Critics Consensus: Stranger than fiction and just as engrossing, Framing John DeLorean tells its incredible true story in appropriately freewheeling fashion.
Synopsis: The extraordinary life and career of controversial automaker John DeLorean -- from his meteoric rise at General Motors Co. to... [More]
#79
Adjusted Score: 110864%
Critics Consensus: A gripping story brilliantly filmed and led by a pair of powerhouse performances, The Lighthouse further establishes Robert Eggers as a filmmaker of exceptional talent.
Synopsis: Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the... [More]
Directed By: Robert Eggers
#78
Adjusted Score: 95390%
Critics Consensus: Sauvage / Wild takes a clear-eyed look at the life of a sex worker, fueled by Felix Maritaud's performance and writer-director Camille Vidal-Naquet's non-judgmental approach.
Synopsis: A young street hustler leads a debauched life of turning tricks and taking drugs while longing for love.... [More]
Directed By: Camille Vidal-Naquet
#77
Adjusted Score: 92734%
Critics Consensus: A thoroughly entertaining look at the Laurel Canyon scene as well as the musical history surrounding it, Echo in the Canyon is essential viewing for rock doc fans.
Synopsis: A look at how musical groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas & the... [More]
Directed By: Andrew Slater
#76
Adjusted Score: 96383%
Critics Consensus: Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese lives up to its unwieldy title with a delightfully unorthodox look at a pivotal period in its subject's career.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Martin Scorsese chronicles the troubled spirit of America in 1975 along with the joyous music that Bob Dylan performed... [More]
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
#75
Adjusted Score: 97216%
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly candid and disarmingly reflective, David Crosby: Remember My Name offers an absorbing look at its subject's life and career.
Synopsis: With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, singer-songwriter... [More]
Directed By: A.J. Eaton
#74
Adjusted Score: 105540%
Critics Consensus: Much like the sport it celebrates, Fighting with My Family muscles past clichés with a potent blend of energy and committed acting that should leave audiences cheering.
Synopsis: Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to... [More]
Directed By: Stephen Merchant
#73
Adjusted Score: 110977%
Critics Consensus: Ford v Ferrari delivers all the polished auto action audiences will expect -- and balances it with enough gripping human drama to satisfy non-racing enthusiasts.
Synopsis: American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics... [More]
Directed By: James Mangold
#72
Adjusted Score: 99657%
Critics Consensus: Clemency mines serious social issues for gripping drama, brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Alfre Woodard.
Synopsis: Years of carrying out death row executions are taking a toll on Warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares for another... [More]
Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu
#71
Adjusted Score: 109366%
Critics Consensus: Uncut Gems reaffirms the Safdies as masters of anxiety-inducing cinema -- and proves Adam Sandler remains a formidable dramatic actor when given the right material.
Synopsis: A charismatic jeweler makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. In a precarious high-wire... [More]
#70
Adjusted Score: 96593%
Critics Consensus: Giant Little Ones puts a complex and refreshingly nuanced spin on the traditional coming of age drama, further elevated by the admirable efforts of a talented cast.
Synopsis: Franky Winter and Ballas Kohl have been best friends since childhood. They are high school royalty: handsome, stars of the... [More]
Directed By: Keith Behrman
#69
Adjusted Score: 97658%
Critics Consensus: High Flying Bird takes a thoughtful and engrossing look at professional sports that sees Steven Soderbergh continuing to test the limits of new filmmaking technology.
Synopsis: A sports agent pitches a controversial business opportunity to a rookie basketball player during a lockout.... [More]
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
#68
Adjusted Score: 99332%
Critics Consensus: Long Day's Journey Into Night may flummox viewers looking for an easy-to-follow story, but writer-director Gan Bi's strong visual command and technical risk-taking pay off.
Synopsis: A man returns to his hometown after a long absence and searches for a woman he has never been able... [More]
Directed By: Gan Bi
#67
Adjusted Score: 97843%
Critics Consensus: A small-scale drama rich with meaning, Diane offers audiences an uncommonly empathetic and wise look at life -- and stellar work from Mary Kay Place in the title role.
Synopsis: For Diane, everyone else comes first. Generous but with little patience for self-pity, she spends her days checking in on... [More]
Directed By: Kent Jones
#66
Adjusted Score: 102302%
Critics Consensus: There's no shortage of star-is-born stories, but Wild Rose proves they can still be thoroughly entertaining -- and marks its own transcendent moment for lead Jessie Buckley.
Synopsis: Fresh out of prison, a Scottish woman juggles her job and two children while pursuing her dream of becoming a... [More]
Directed By: Tom Harper
#65
Adjusted Score: 103688%
Critics Consensus: An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.
Synopsis: Jimmie and his best friend Mont try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie's grandfather, launching them on a poignant... [More]
Directed By: Joe Talbot
#64
Adjusted Score: 122742%
Critics Consensus: With Jordan Peele's second inventive, ambitious horror film, we have seen how to beat the sophomore jinx, and it is Us.
Synopsis: Accompanied by her husband, son and daughter, Adelaide Wilson returns to the beachfront home where she grew up as a... [More]
Directed By: Jordan Peele
#63
Adjusted Score: 98679%
Critics Consensus: Expertly drawn characters and a strong senes of humanity make Sword of Trust an enjoyable -- if at times meandering -- journey.
Synopsis: A cantankerous pawnshop owner and his man-child employee team up with an out-of-town couple who are trying to hawk a... [More]
Directed By: Lynn Shelton
#62
Adjusted Score: 100268%
Critics Consensus: As visually splendid as it is thought-provoking, Monos takes an unsettling look at human nature whose grim insights leave a lingering impact.
Synopsis: A terrorized American engineer is held captive by teenaged guerilla bandits in a South American jungle.... [More]
Directed By: Alejandro Landes
#61
Adjusted Score: 107262%
Critics Consensus: Honey Boy serves as an act of cinematic therapy for its screenwriter and subject -- one whose unique perspective should strike a chord in audiences from all backgrounds.
Synopsis: When 12-year-old Otis begins to find success as a television star, his abusive, alcoholic father returns and takes over as... [More]
Directed By: Alma Har'el
#60
Adjusted Score: 93163%
Critics Consensus: Entertaining for longtime fans as well as casually interested viewers, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool burnishes the legacy of a brilliant artist.
Synopsis: An exploration of the musician's archival photos and home movies.... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Stanley Nelson
#59
Adjusted Score: 97676%
Critics Consensus: Rafiki tells a familiar story with bracing originality, marking director/co-writer Wanuri Kahiu as a talent to watch.
Synopsis: Kena and Ziki live very different lives in Nairobi. Kena works in her father's shop and awaits the start of... [More]
Directed By: Wanuri Kahiu
#58
Adjusted Score: 96632%
Critics Consensus: Like its subject, Ask Dr. Ruth has a breezy charm that's hard to resist -- and a message that's as important as it is entertaining.
Synopsis: As her 90th birthday approaches, Dr. Ruth Westheimer reflects on her painful past. A survivor of the Holocaust, her career... [More]
Directed By: Ryan White
#57
Adjusted Score: 97734%
Critics Consensus: The Wild Pear Tree uses a young man's post-graduation experience to pose thoughtful, engaging questions about life in modern Turkey -- and the rest of the world.
Synopsis: A father's debts thwart the efforts of a young, ambitious writer to be published.... [More]
Directed By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
#56
Adjusted Score: 99050%
Critics Consensus: As solidly compelling as its subject's best reporting, Mike Wallace Is Here is a worthy tribute and an engrossing look at the changing landscape of modern news.
Synopsis: For over half a century, "60 Minutes" fearsome newsman Mike Wallace went head-to-head with the world's most influential figures. Relying... [More]
Starring: Barney Frank
Directed By: Avi Belkin
#55
Adjusted Score: 99078%
Critics Consensus: Beautifully filmed and inventively choreographed, Shadow is a thrilling and visually sumptuous wuxia epic that finds director Zhang Yimou near peak form.
Synopsis: To finally achieve victory over a rival kingdom, a brilliant general devises an intricate plan involving his wife, a look-alike... [More]
Directed By: Yimou Zhang
#54
Adjusted Score: 101583%
Critics Consensus: The Mustang finds fresh perspectives in a familiar redemption tale brought brilliantly to life by powerful performances from Bruce Dern and Matthias Schoenaerts.
Synopsis: A violent convict is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program centered around the training of wild... [More]
Directed By: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
#53
Adjusted Score: 100216%
Critics Consensus: In Fabric's gauzy giallo allure weaves a surreal spell, blending stylish horror and dark comedy to offer audiences a captivating treat.
Synopsis: A lonely divorcee visits a bewitching London department store to find a dress to transform her life. She soon finds... [More]
Directed By: Peter Strickland
#52
Adjusted Score: 104810%
Critics Consensus: Transit lives up to its title with a challenging drama that captures characters - and puts the audience - in a state of flux and exerts an unsettling pull.
Synopsis: The new masterwork from the director of Phoenix and Barbara. A film by Christian Petzold.... [More]
Directed By: Christian Petzold
#51
Adjusted Score: 123853%
Critics Consensus: Exciting, entertaining, and emotionally impactful, Avengers: Endgame does whatever it takes to deliver a satisfying finale to Marvel's epic Infinity Saga.
Synopsis: Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply... [More]
#50
Adjusted Score: 95941%
Critics Consensus: A cinematic gift for Springsteen fans, Western Stars serves as a worthy companion piece to the album of the same name.
Synopsis: Backed by a band and a full orchestra, Bruce Springsteen performs all 13 songs from his new album "Western Stars,"... [More]
#49
Adjusted Score: 97148%
Critics Consensus: Ray & Liz takes an unflinching look at lives impacted by poverty whose lingering impact is enhanced by writer-director Richard Billingham's refusal to indulge in sentimentality.
Synopsis: Outside of Birmingham, Ray and Liz raise their two sons living on the margins of society, performing extreme rituals and... [More]
Directed By: Richard Billingham
#48
Adjusted Score: 103712%
Critics Consensus: An unpredictable supernatural drama rooted in real-world social commentary, Atlantique suggests a thrillingly bright future for debuting filmmaker Mati Diop.
Synopsis: Arranged to marry a rich man, young Ada is crushed when her true love goes missing at sea during a... [More]
Directed By: Mati Diop
#47
Adjusted Score: 106541%
Critics Consensus: A feelgood adventure brought to life by outstanding performances, The Peanut Butter Falcon finds rich modern resonance in classic American fiction.
Synopsis: After running away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a pro wrestler, a man who... [More]
#46
Adjusted Score: 115087%
Critics Consensus: Much like the beloved TV personality that inspired it, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood offers a powerfully affecting message about acceptance and understanding.
Synopsis: Lloyd Vogel is an investigative journalist who receives an assignment to profile Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers. He approaches the... [More]
Directed By: Marielle Heller
#45
Adjusted Score: 116474%
Critics Consensus: Observing a splintering union with compassion and expansive grace, the powerfully acted Marriage Story ranks among writer-director Noah Baumbach's best works.
Synopsis: A stage director and his actor wife struggle through a grueling divorce that pushes them to their limits.... [More]
Directed By: Noah Baumbach
#44
Adjusted Score: 118528%
Critics Consensus: With a stellar cast and a smart, sensitive retelling of its classic source material, Greta Gerwig's Little Women proves some stories truly are timeless.
Synopsis: In the years after the Civil War, Jo March lives in New York and makes her living as a writer,... [More]
Directed By: Greta Gerwig
#43
Adjusted Score: 96550%
Critics Consensus: Hotel by the River finds writer-director Hong Sang-soo revisiting familiar themes from fresh perspectives -- and telling a story that potently distills his unique creative strengths.
Synopsis: Convinced he's on the verge of death, an aging poet invites his two bickering sons to an isolated hotel for... [More]
Directed By: Hong Sang-soo
#42
#41
Adjusted Score: 99419%
Critics Consensus: The Kingmaker aims a disquieting spotlight at the private life of a divisive public figure -- as well as the ways in which unchecked power seduces and corrupts.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield examines the controversial history of Filipino politician Imelda Marcos and her family.... [More]
Directed By: Lauren Greenfield
#40
Adjusted Score: 99363%
Critics Consensus: A B-movie with an A-level commitment to entertain, Harpoon should hit the target with horror fans in the mood for gory, darkly humorous antics on the open water.
Synopsis: Rivalries, dark secrets, and sexual tension emerge when three friends find themselves stranded on a yacht in the middle of... [More]
Directed By: Rob Grant
#39
Adjusted Score: 99845%
Critics Consensus: Led by standout work from Tessa Thompson, Little Woods tells a grimly absorbing tale that marks a commendable debut for writer-director Nia DaCosta.
Synopsis: In North Dakota, two estranged sisters are driven to extremes when their mother dies, leaving them with one week to... [More]
Directed By: Nia DaCosta
#38
Adjusted Score: 102436%
Critics Consensus: Hail Satan? challenges preconceived notions of its subject with a smart, witty, and overall entertaining dispatch from the front lines of the fight for social justice.
Synopsis: Lucien Greaves co-founds the Satanic Temple, a religious movement that calls for a revolution to save the nation's soul.... [More]
Directed By: Penny Lane
#37
Adjusted Score: 104621%
Critics Consensus: Birds of Passage traces the familiar arc of the drug crime thriller from a different direction that's as visually absorbing as it is hard-hitting.
Synopsis: The origins of the Colombian drug trade, as seen through eyes of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in... [More]
#36
Adjusted Score: 119859%
Critics Consensus: An epic gangster drama that earns its extended runtime, The Irishman finds Martin Scorsese revisiting familiar themes to poignant, funny, and profound effect.
Synopsis: In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran gets involved with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran climbs... [More]
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
#35
Adjusted Score: 99749%
Critics Consensus: Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound pays an all-too-rare tribute to an aspect of filmmaking that's utterly fascinating but often overlooked.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Midge Costin examines how visionary directors work with sound designers to create the most exciting moviegoing experiences.... [More]
Directed By: Midge Costin
#34
Adjusted Score: 100622%
Critics Consensus: Patient in its approach yet stirring in its conviction, By the Grace of God draws soberly gripping cinema from real-life horror.
Synopsis: Three childhood friends question their lives.... [More]
Directed By: François Ozon
#33
Adjusted Score: 103770%
Critics Consensus: First Love's blend of violence, comedy, and romance might seem disparate -- but for director Takashi Miike, it's just another wildly entertaining entry in a filmography full of them.
Synopsis: One night in Tokyo, a self-confident young boxer and a prostitute get caught up in a drug-smuggling plot involving organized... [More]
Directed By: Takashi Miike
#32
Adjusted Score: 99496%
Critics Consensus: Using raw materials left behind by its subject, Love, Antosha takes a thoughtful -- and powerful -- look at a life and career cut short.
Synopsis: Through Anton Yelchin's journals and other writings and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, filmmaker Garret Price looks not... [More]
Directed By: Garret Price
#31
Adjusted Score: 101605%
Critics Consensus: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.
Synopsis: Author Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, history, America and... [More]
Directed By: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
#30
Adjusted Score: 100390%
Critics Consensus: Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché aims an overdue spotlight on a cinematic innovator's career, with the added benefit of absorbing historical context.
Synopsis: The life and work of the first female film director.... [More]
Starring: Jodie Foster
Directed By: Pamela B. Green
#29
Adjusted Score: 122025%
Critics Consensus: Knives Out sharpens old murder-mystery tropes with a keenly assembled suspense outing that makes brilliant use of writer-director Rian Johnson's stellar ensemble.
Synopsis: The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there's one thing that renowned Detective Benoit... [More]
Directed By: Rian Johnson
#28
Adjusted Score: 101734%
Critics Consensus: Led by a standout performance from Ana Brun, The Heiresses takes a thoroughly compelling look at lives little explored by mainstream cinema.
Synopsis: A woman who lost her fortune befriends a younger woman.... [More]
Directed By: Marcelo Martinessi
#27
Adjusted Score: 102765%
Critics Consensus: Tigers Are Not Afraid draws on childhood trauma for a story that deftly blends magical fantasy and hard-hitting realism - and leaves a lingering impact.
Synopsis: When a girl's mother disappears leaving her on her own, she goings a gang of street children, leading to a... [More]
Directed By: Issa López
#26
Adjusted Score: 103013%
Critics Consensus: Treating its timely themes with a deceptively light touch, Woman at War is easy to enjoy in the moment, yet its impact lingers long after the closing credits roll.
Synopsis: Halla is a 50-year-old environmental activist who crusades against the local aluminum industry in Iceland. As her actions grow bolder,... [More]
Starring: Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Jóhann Sigurðarson, Jörundur Ragnarsson, Juan Camillo Roman Estrada
Directed By: Benedikt Erlingsson
#25
Adjusted Score: 114701%
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
#24
Adjusted Score: 108957%
Critics Consensus: In dramatizing Rudy Ray Moore's stranger-than-fiction story, Eddie Murphy makes Dolemite Is My Name just as bold, brash, and ultimately hard to resist as its subject.
Synopsis: Performer Rudy Ray Moore develops an outrageous character named Dolemite, who becomes an underground sensation and star of a kung-fu,... [More]
Directed By: Craig Brewer
#23
Adjusted Score: 111925%
Critics Consensus: Pain and Glory finds writer-director Pedro Almodóvar drawing on his own life to rewarding effect -- and honoring his craft as only a master filmmaker can.
Synopsis: An aging Spanish film director in the middle of a creative crisis revisits memorable events of his past.... [More]
Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar
#22
Adjusted Score: 116364%
Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and fresh, Booksmart does the seemingly impossible by adding a smart new spin to the coming-of-age comedy.
Synopsis: Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high... [More]
Directed By: Olivia Wilde
#21
Adjusted Score: 121471%
Critics Consensus: Heartwarming, funny, and beautifully animated, Toy Story 4 manages the unlikely feat of extending -- and perhaps concluding -- a practically perfect animated saga.
Synopsis: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy... [More]
Directed By: Josh Cooley
#20
Adjusted Score: 99607%
Critics Consensus: A hard-hitting documentary with imagery as powerful as its message, The Cave poses heartbreakingly urgent questions -- and leaves them for the viewer to answer.
Synopsis: As Syria is brutally ravaged by war, a fearless 30-year-old aspiring pediatrician and her team work tirelessly to save lives... [More]
Directed By: Feras Fayyad
#19
Adjusted Score: 98156%
Critics Consensus: A pitch-black thriller with uncommon wit and sophistication, Rojo tells a story as rich and evocative as the deepest shade of its title color.
Synopsis: In the 1970s, a successful lawyer in Argentina has his life unravel when a private detective arrives in town and... [More]
Directed By: Benjamín Naishtat
#18
Adjusted Score: 98245%
Critics Consensus: Too Late to Die Young uses one family's experiences as the foundation for a dreamily absorbing drama with a poignant, lingering warmth.
Synopsis: During the summer of 1990 in Chile, three kids face their first loves and fears.... [More]
Directed By: Dominga Sotomayor
#17
Adjusted Score: 102605%
Critics Consensus: As illuminating as it is accessible, One Child Nation probes a painful chapter in Chinese history with piercing clarity.
Synopsis: After becoming a mother, a filmmaker uncovers the untold history of China's one-child policy and the generations of parents and... [More]
Starring:
#16
Adjusted Score: 103086%
Critics Consensus: Observational, insightful, and ultimately powerful, 3 Faces adds another quietly thought-provoking chapter to writer-director Jafar Panahi's filmography.
Synopsis: Actress Behnaz Jafari is distraught when she comes across a young girl's video plea for help after her family prevents... [More]
Directed By: Jafar Panahi
#15
Adjusted Score: 115241%
Critics Consensus: The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.
Synopsis: Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch... [More]
Directed By: Lulu Wang
#14
Adjusted Score: 103955%
Critics Consensus: Enthralling viewing even for audiences with little to no knowledge of or interest in sailing, Maiden pays powerful tribute to a true pioneer.
Synopsis: In 1989 Tracy Edwards leads the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling yachting competition... [More]
Directed By: Alex Holmes
#13
Adjusted Score: 102017%
Critics Consensus: An encomium that should prove illuminating for casual viewers and satisfying for fans, Varda by Agnès finds a brilliant filmmaker looking back on her own terms.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Starring: Agnès Varda
#12
Adjusted Score: 102734%
Critics Consensus: As intimate as it is heartbreakingly resonant, For Sama powerfully distills the difficult choices faced by citizens of war-torn regions.
Synopsis: A young woman is followed through five years during the revolution in Aleppo, Syria - through love, marriage and motherhood.... [More]
#11
Adjusted Score: 106491%
Critics Consensus: Honeyland uses life in a remote village to offer an eye-opening perspective on experiences that should resonate even for audiences halfway around the world.
Synopsis: A woman utilizes ancient beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of North Macedonia. When a neighboring family tries... [More]
Starring:
#10
Adjusted Score: 107466%
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.
Synopsis: Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972.... [More]
Directed By: Alan Elliott
#9
Adjusted Score: 107158%
Critics Consensus: Ash Is Purest White finds writer-director Zhangke Jia revisiting familiar themes while continuing to observe modern Chinese society with an urgent, empathetic eye.
Synopsis: In an industrial city in China, a young dancer named Qiao falls in love with a mobster named Bin. When... [More]
Directed By: Zhang-Ke Jia
#8
Adjusted Score: 108654%
Critics Consensus: Edifying and inspiring in equal measure, Apollo 11 uses artfully repurposed archival footage to send audiences soaring back to a pivotal time in American history.
Synopsis: Never-before-seen footage and audio recordings take you straight into the heart of NASA's most celebrated mission as astronauts Neil Armstrong,... [More]
Directed By: Todd Douglas Miller
#7
Adjusted Score: 124747%
Critics Consensus: An urgent, brilliantly layered look at timely social themes, Parasite finds writer-director Bong Joon Ho in near-total command of his craft.
Synopsis: Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.... [More]
Directed By: Bong Joon Ho
#6
Adjusted Score: 101481%
Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a breakout performance by Camila Morrone, Mickey and the Bear finds affecting drama at the crossroads of a young woman's coming-of-age journey.
Synopsis: A Montana teenager navigates a loving but volatile relationship with her single, veteran father. In a desperate search for independence... [More]
Directed By: Annabelle Attanasio
#5
Adjusted Score: 102098%
Critics Consensus: Darkly funny and impressively ambitious, Chained for Life is as unpredictable as it is original.
Synopsis: An actress bonds with a young man who has a severe facial deformity.... [More]
Directed By: Aaron Schimberg
#4
Adjusted Score: 102091%
Critics Consensus: The Chambermaid uses one woman's experiences to take audiences inside a life -- and a culture -- that's as bracingly unique as it is hauntingly relatable.
Synopsis: A young chambermaid working in one of the most luxurious hotels in Mexico City enrolls in the hotel's adult education... [More]
Directed By: Lila Avilés
#3
Adjusted Score: 104657%
Critics Consensus: Brainy and bloody in equal measure, One Cut of the Dead reanimates the moribund zombie genre with a refreshing blend of formal daring and clever satire.
Synopsis: Real zombies attack a hack director and a film crew who are shooting a low budget zombie film in an... [More]
Directed By: Shinichiro Ueda
#2
Adjusted Score: 100106%
Critics Consensus: As narratively urgent as it is technically well-crafted, Midnight Family offers an enthralling and disquieting glimpse of healthcare in modern Mexico.
Synopsis: In Mexico City's wealthiest neighborhoods, the Ochoa family runs a private ambulance. As they try to make a living in... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Luke Lorentzen
#1
Adjusted Score: 107176%
Critics Consensus: An impressive technical achievement with a walloping emotional impact, They Shall Not Grow Old pays brilliant cinematic tribute to the sacrifice of a generation.
Synopsis: Using state-of-the-art technology and materials from the BBC and Imperial War Museum, filmmaker Peter Jackson allows the story of World... [More]
Starring: Peter Jackson
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Like this? Subscribe to our newsletter and get more features, news, and guides in your inbox every week.
Movie & TV News
Top Headlines
- Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now
– - 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming
– - 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming
– - Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch
– - Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year
– - Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now
–