Hello all! It’s that time of year again, where we look back at the year that was and select our favorite things! This year we decided to have our list drop in size a little bit down to 25 since we had some decade ending lists to write as well. So enjoy my top 25 movies of 2019 along with a few honorable mentions!
Honorable Mentions
- El Camino/Downton Abbey/Deadwood: The reason these are on the honorable mention list is because it didn’t seem fair to include them on the list of movies that didn’t have the advantage of being based on television series that I loved. With that said, I found each of these to be satisfying conclusions to the shows, with El Camino being my personal favorite of the bunch.
- Dumbo/Aladdin/The Lion King: Similar to the reasoning for those above, it didn’t seem fair to consider these since they are for the most part just straight retellings of movies I have previously seen. Each had strengths and weaknesses, but ultimately, none recaptured the magic of the originals. I didn’t get a chance to see the new Lady and the Tramp but I imagine it would fall into this category as well.
- Glass/The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part/Men in Black: International/X-Men: Dark Phoenix/Godzilla: King of the Monsters/It Chapter Two/Zombieland Double Tap: This group featured sequels to some of my most enjoyed movies/franchises in recent memory, so I was eagerly anticipating most of these. Ultimately, too many of them were just disappointing or didn’t live up to their potential. The Lego Movie and It were probably the closest to making my final list, but ultimately, neither could get there.
- Good Boys: This comedy is basically a pre-teen version of Superbad (one of my favorite comedies of the 21st century) so I had some high expectations for it. Ultimately, it was one of the funnier comedies of the year, and not enough people saw it. One of the tougher omissions from the list.
- Fighting With My Family: Florence Pugh appears more than once on the list of movies that did make the cut, but unfortunately, this based on a true story movie about WWE wrestler Paige was left out. But it is a surprisingly well done sweet film that gives professional wrestling its own underdog story for fans to enjoy. Even if you aren’t a wrestling fan, be sure to check this one out. You may surprise yourself with it.
- Captain Marvel: The first Marvel movie of the year just misses the full list. This movie takes us back in time to the 90’s, and we see Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Along for the ride are a de-aged Nick Fury and Agent Coulson, along with some new faces played by Jude Law and Annette Bening. This movie has some nice effect work along with giving audiences an introduction to this character that I’m sure we will be seeing much more of in the future, but ultimately, felt like an appetizer to the movie that would come later in the year (and later in our list).
- Dolemite Is My Name/Jumanji: The Next Level/Parasite/Bombshell/Judy: I didn’t get a chance to see these before the year ended (along with many others I’m sure, these were just the ones that came to mind), and there is a good shot that some of these could/would have made the list. Alas, I didn’t get to see them, so they are absent.
25: Shazam!
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Is this movie basically just Big with super heroes? Yes. But is Zachery Levi charming enough to make that concept work very well? Also yes. What can I say, the man knows how to rock the smolder. I thought this movie had a lot of heart and piggybacked off of Wonder Woman and Aquaman to get DC trending in the right direction. It had action, it had laughs, and it had enough chemistry with the characters to keep me interested in wherever they want to go with this group in the future.
24: Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw
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The Fast and Furious movies are at their best when they lean into the ridiculousness of this universe, and Hobbs and Shaw is well aware of that fact. Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, and Ryan Reynolds/Kevin Hart (in some of the best cameos of the year) all seem to be having a ball with this ridiculous universe, with this chapter directed by David Leitch (who previously worked on John Wick and Deadpool). Most people either love or hate the Fast movies, but I am a full fledged convert, so seeing Statham and The Rock fight a cybernetic enhanced Idris Elba was a blast for me. Is there substance to this movie? Not particularly. But you will have a fun time, and sometimes, that’s all you need.
23: Always Be My Maybe
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This Netflix original stars Ali Wong and Randall Park with my choice for the greatest cameo of the year in Keanu Reeves playing himself. The thing I really liked about this movie is how it takes several of the rom-com tropes and makes them fresh in today’s age, which is not the easiest task. Wong and Park have remarkable chemistry, and it was great seeing them play off each other. This movie is worth your time if you haven’t already watched it, and even if you have, it’s worth rewatching for Keanu alone.
22: Hustlers
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This movie is one of the most stylish, well crafted crime stories in recent movie history. Featuring possibly a career best performance from Jennifer Lopez, the movie follows a group of strippers (including Constance Wu in a great performance as well) as they steal from clients with deep pockets. They ultimately find out that crime doesn’t pay, but the ride that the viewer goes on is thrilling as we see just how far this scheme can go. Lopez is hoping it can take her to Oscar glory, and while I don’t know if I’m willing to go that far, I can tell you that this is a highly entertaining movie and worth checking out.
21: Yesterday
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As anyone who has read previous years’ versions of this list can tell you, I’m a fan of an original idea. This movie asks the question “what if you woke up in a world where you were the only person to remember the Beatles” and provides a very entertaining movie as the answer. Himesh Patel plays the lead, a struggling musician who passes off the Beatles discography as his own, and gives a very strong performance as he struggles with the morality of that decision. This movie has some twists and turns, but will definitely keep viewers engaged with the journey. Plus, it’s never bad to enjoy Beatles music for two hours.
20: Midsommar
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This is a movie I had a hard time placing. On the one hand, it is impeccably crafted and extremely well acted (Florence Pugh is amazing). On the other hand, this was one of the most disturbing films I can remember watching with some of the most haunting imagery I can recall, and I had an overwhelming sense of dread and anxiety throughout the nearly 3 hour run time (which was probably some of director Ari Aster’s intention). So while I can respect everything that he was trying to do, and he does it well, I have a hard time placing it higher than this (even though it is better made than some of the films ahead of it) because I don’t think I would revisit it as readily as I would for the rest of the list.
19: Spider-Man: Far From Home
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The final film in Phase 3 of the MCU, Spider-Man: Far From Home is a lot lighter than the MCU film that precedes it (we will get to that one later), but it still is a highly enjoyable film with characters we know and love (Tom Holland continues to be a wonderful Peter Parker, and a challenger to Keanu for 2019’s greatest cameo: JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson!!!) and new faces (Jake Gyllenhaal in a delightful turn as Mysterio). This movie had one of my absolute favorite sequences of the year in the Mysterio induced hallucinations that Spider-Man had to overcome. Thankfully Disney and Sony were able to renew their deal to keep Spider-Man in this universe, so we can continue to see great stories like this one.
18: Joker
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While I didn’t think we needed a Joker origin story movie (OR IS IT?), I thought director Todd Phillips found an interesting way to tell the story of the Joker (OR IS IT?) and that Joaquin Phoenix delivers a powerhouse performance as this character (OR IS IT?). Some of the movie’s story telling decisions such as “how much of what we saw actually happened” are an interesting choice, but given what we know about this character and the mayhem he causes, it was a decision that paid off because it fits that he would be an unreliable narrator (OR IS IT?). Sorry if I beat that joke into the ground, but this is a movie about the Joker after all. OR IS IT?
17: Frozen 2
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The long anticipated sequel to the 2013 smash hit, Frozen 2 doesn’t disappoint. Featuring an all new soundtrack of hits written by Robert and Kristen Lopez, this one dives deeper into Elsa’s powers, the bond between Elsa and Anna, and the relationship of Anna and Kristoff. Olaf and Sven are along for the ride once again, and once again, Olaf provides some major comedy (the recap of the first movie was one of my biggest laughs in a theater this year). Fans of the original will not be disappointed in this one, and it’s easy to see why Disney didn’t want to let it go. (Hey, you knew I had to reference it somehow)
16: Rocketman
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While there are no shortages of musical biopics, there were a few things that made Rocketman stand out. First, a wonderful performance by Taron Egerton as the subject, Elton John. Secondly, a willingness to not shy away from the darker moments of the subject’s life. Third, using multiple cast members to perform the music of the subject, which allowed for the music to be showcased in new and interesting ways. And finally, using a film style appropriate to the subject’s larger than life style and personality. By doing so, there was an element of fantastical wonder, not normally seen in a film like this. All in all, you are left with one of the better examples of the musical biopic.
15: Toy Story 4
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When they announced Toy Story 4, I had the same reaction I did when they announced Toy Story 3: a mix of excitement and “The last one was so good, I hope they don’t screw this up.” Of course, at this point, Pixar is synonymous with quality, and they didn’t disappoint here. Blending the old characters (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are once again delightful as Woody and Buzz) with new (hard to pick a single standout between Tony Hale, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Keegan Michael Key, and Jordan Peele), this movie packs laughs (The Plush Rush might be my favorite gag of the year) and tears in equal measure. If this is truly the end of these character’s stories (you never know), it is a fitting end for a long beloved franchise that will live to infinity and beyond.
14: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
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We made our return to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in this film that I found to be charming and delightful. I loved the decision to frame the story as an episode of the beloved television series, which added an element of surrealism that felt right at home in the Kingdom of Make Believe. Matthew Rhys is wonderful as the journalist tasked with profiling Mister Rogers, played beautifully by Tom Hanks. (Side note, Hanks hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since Cast Away in 2000, and I believe it is high time for that drought to come to an end. He is nominated for a Golden Globe this year, his 3rd nomination since the last Oscar nom.) I thought this movie had the amount of heart and care that would make Mister Rogers proud.
13: Ford v. Ferrari
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James Mangold gives us another incredibly well made film in his latest outing, bolstered by terrific performances from Christian Bale and Matt Damon. This movie tells the story of Ford Motors trying to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, an event that had been dominated by Ferrari for years, and to do so, they have to turn to Caroll Shelby and Ken Miles, neither of whom represent what Ford has been known for. This movie has style and heart, with Bale delivering one of the best performances in a storied career. You will feel the adrenaline pumping as you go along for one of the more thrilling rides of the year. (Also, only in the world of movies can we really believe that Ford would be considered an underdog in anything)
12: Uncut Gems
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I say this in the most complimentary way possible: this movie is basically a two hour panic attack. It’s chaotic, there is no let up, and just when you think you have things figured out, it throws you another curve. At the middle of it all, walking a tightrope with no net, is Adam Sandler in a career best performance. He is a corrupt jewelry salesman with a gambling problem and copious amounts of debt, and he is running games all over town as he robs Peter to pay Paul. I think he stands a legitimate chance at an Oscar nomination (though it’s a fairly crowded field), something I thought would never happen in a million years. Regardless if that happens, he can be proud knowing that he has completely reinvented himself as an actor and I hope he continues to take risks like this in the future. We know this character certainly would.
11: Booksmart
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If you were one of the few people to see this in a movie theater (like I was), then you know you saw one of the sharpest comedies in years. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever have fantastic chemistry in the lead roles, and the supporting cast is full of hitters from top to bottom. This movie is a wonderful representation of the high school experience and I found it to be a laugh out loud film. Olivia Wilde shines in her feature film directorial debut, displaying an adept hand throughout. I don’t have much more to say with this one, other than check it out because it deserves your attention.
10: Us
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It’s fair to say that following the success of 2017’s Get Out, whatever project Jordan Peele chose as his followup was going to become one of the most anticipated movies of whatever year it was released. Us did not disappoint in that regard. Lupita Nyong’o gives one of the strongest performances of the year in dual roles in this thriller. Peele continues to be one of the more fascinating people in Hollywood, and if he keeps giving us unique, thought-provoking, well crafted stories like he has so far, then his movies will be even more of a “must-watch” than they already are.
9: Little Women
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As a longtime fan of the source material, and as someone who has been in a production of Little Women, I was eagerly awaiting this adaptation due to the star-studded cast and talented writer director, and it didn’t disappoint me at all. Each of the characters feel alive in a way that some other adaptations have failed to capture. They each have nuanced, distinct personalities, and we see them struggle and triumph together. Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, and Laura Dern all particularly shine, but the costumes, cinematography, and production design will certainly help engross you in the world of these characters as generations of readers have been. To close with the famous words of Moe Szyslak, “They were no longer little girls. They were Little Women.”
8: Marriage Story
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This movie is part director Noah Baumbach’s biographical take of his own divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, and part Kramer vs Kramer for the 21st century, featuring top level performances from the leads, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, and supporting cast (Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta). Driver and Johansson both display a wealth of emotional range in this film and are capable of bringing you to tears and laughter, even within the same scene. They have great chemistry, even if the characters have fallen out of love, and will both be contenders for all the major awards this year (Driver’s star is certainly on the rise, but the case can be made that ScarJo owned 2019). This movie is a very honest portrayal of the trials and tribulations of a marriage and all it entails.
7: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
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Every time I see a John Wick movie, I think “This was awesome, there is no way the next one can be as good as this was.” And every time, they find a way to make it even better. If I need to convince you that these movies are amazing, Keanu Reeves is doing the best work of his career, and that this movie is overflowing with style, action, and a fantastic supporting cast that continues to grow with talent in each installment, then you are probably in the wrong place, because I don’t know I can convince you beyond that. But watch John Wick anyway cause it’s non-stop awesome.
6: Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
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The close of the year also brought the close of the Skywalker Saga (at least that’s what they say for now) but it renewed the biannual discussion that tears the internet apart, and that is whether or not this new movie/new trilogy is good or bad! Well, I already know there are people that disagree with me on this, but I thought this new one was good, and a fitting end to both this trilogy and the overall saga. There were moments that made this lifelong Star Wars fan cry and laugh and cheer, and ultimately, those are the things I want in a great movie. This is not a movie without flaws, but I found the highs carried the lows. But I am totally prepared for scores of people to disagree! Whooohoooo!
5: The Irishman
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Martin Scorsese’s latest film is an epic in every sense of the word. He tells a story spanning decades over a three and a half hour run time, and he uses technology to de-age his actors so they can still play their characters across these various ages. The cast includes a gangster film who’s who, led by Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, all doing some of their best work in years and years. Scorsese is one of the masters of this medium, and he uses all of his ample gifts to give audiences a classic that will be watched again and again for years to come. And thanks to the fact it released directly on Netflix, it’s easier than ever to do so.
4: Knives Out
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If you are looking for an original sharp, stylish, well crafted, funny, tense, clever whodunnit with an all star cast, then look no further than Rian Johnson’s hit Knives Out. This movie feels like a Stefon nightclub description. (This movie’s got everything, murder, doughnut holes, Daniel Craig doing a Southern accent. It also has thirst traps. That’s that thing where Chris Evans wears a cable knit sweater.) I left this movie wanting it to spawn a universe of movies following Craig’s private investigator, but regardless of if that happens or not, we can be sure of two things. First, this movie is one great time from start to finish. Second, Rian Johnson has cemented himself to the point he can do whatever he wants, and if his last two movies are any indication, we are in for a lot more greatness.
3: Jojo Rabbit
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Taika Waititi continues his string of cinematic gold with Jojo Rabbit, a satire about a boy (Roman Griffin Davis) in Nazi Germany who has Hitler as his imaginary best friend (played by New Zealander Waititi) and discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. The concept may not immediately scream comedy gold, but this movie walks the tightrope masterfully, staying hilarious while also not shying away from the darker subject matter a movie set in Nazi Germany would typically include. This movie will have you holding your sides with laughter and also punch you in the gut during some of its more tragic moments. Ultimately though, it is an uplifting story about how love and laughter has the power to conquer evil and ignorance. Please do yourself a favor and watch this movie.
2: Once Upon a Time….In Hollywood
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Quentin Tarantino is easily among my all time favorite directors, so whenever he has a new movie out, it is instantly a must see for me. However, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is something more than that. It is both a nostalgic view of a bygone era of film and television while also a deeply personal reflection of an aging artist wondering his place in the world and in his career as time continues to roll on. Oh, it’s also about the Manson murders. We are dealing with Tarantino after all. Led by some amazing performances by Leonardo Dicaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie (Dicaprio and Pitt are likely locks for Oscar nominations, Robbie may split the vote with her Bombshell performance), this movie is an instant classic that will be enjoyed by fans for a long time to come. It may also be the movie that gives Tarantino his long awaited Best Picture and/or Best Director Oscar, though time will tell.
1: Avengers: Endgame
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The worldwide leader for all time box office earnings is my selection for my favorite movie of the year. This movie was the payoff for a decade of world (read: universe) building, a sequel to the cliff hanger that was Infinity War, and as you can see from the gif selection, there were no shortage of characters that were a part of this story. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I got goosebumps, which are all things I want a movie to be able to do for me. This movie set a personal record for me for most viewings in a movie theater (so I contributed a small part of that worldwide box office record). While the MCU has plans to continue after this, this movie definitely represented the end of an era, with the death or departure of many key characters. With expectations so high, this movie met them all and exceeded them for me. Avengers…ASSEMBLE!
So, there you have it. My selections for my top 25 favorite movies of the year. What were yours? Don’t forget to check out Jason’s list, and look out for our other year end and decade end lists!