With 2016 coming to its inevitable close, we can take this time to ponder how we made it through this trying year. In most cases, no matter what turmoil, tragedy, or crisis we might have faced, it’s safe to say the film industry wasn’t hesitant to give us all our much needed escape from it all. Whether you loved or loathed the selection of movies this year, there were some definite contenders for the best of the best, even if the box office doesn’t reflect it in some cases. We’ve boiled all of them down to what we feel are the gems. These are the five best movies that released in 2016 (Spoiler free!):
5) Arrival
It’s likely you might have passed up seeing ‘Arrival’ this year. If that is the case, you should definitely reconsider. This movie may not have been the most glamorous blockbuster to release, but it really didn’t need to be. ‘Arrival’ is one of the most intelligent and well executed films of 2016. It forces you to “rewire” the way you see your typical “alien invasion” movies. The plot was solid, the characters felt real, and it was a masterfully crafted deconstruction on how humans might react under the circumstances in question. If you’re looking for something a little smarter and cleverer than ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’, you won’t regret seeing this instead.
4) Deadpool
Taking into consideration all the comic book films that have released this year, there’s a reason ‘Deadpool’ stands proudly above the rest. Given a fan’s standpoint, this movie was by far the most accurate, from the super suit to the fourth-wall breaks, even if the “accuracy” didn’t really matter here. The care and love for this project really shines through in both the performances and execution. You can clearly tell this was something Ryan Reynolds and director, Tim Miller, genuinely believed in. It was hilarious, action-packed, and it showed a blatant disregard for the status quo of your usual comic book movies by lampooning the entire genre in way that likely won’t be accomplished again until the sequel.
3) 10 Cloverfield Lane
Despite the most tacked-on and inconsistent ending in movie history, ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ was a fantastic project that likely would not have been seen had producer, J.J. Abrams, not slapped a ‘Cloverfield’ sticker on it. With an unnerving performance from John Goodman and a suspenseful and creepy plot, this movie deserved to be seen by everyone. Unfortunately, the project would have suffered without associating it with a recognized intellectual property. If the connection to the first ‘Cloverfield’ is what kept you from seeing it, rest assured…there isn’t one! If you avoided this movie, you would be remiss not to give it a real shot.
2) The Witch
Among the litany of mediocre horror films to release this year, it’s pretty easy to overlook some that actually deserve an audience. ‘The Witch’ is one of the creepiest and unpredictable horror movies to release in a while. Without divulging too much, it managed to create a constant, overall tone of genuine dread throughout as you watch a family in exile slowly deteriorate mentally. This movie was light on the jump scares, but heavy on the psychological torment. Fair warning, ‘The Witch’ is truly not for the faint of heart. If you’ve been desensitized to real, actual nightmare fuel, then you are not prepared for this.
1) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Shying away from the typical format, ‘Rogue One’ was a darker spin on a historical moment in the ‘Star Wars’ saga. In a bit of a refreshing change of pace, this movie didn’t rely too heavily on the Jedi and Sith, and instead focused more on everyone else. It felt very much like a war movie and less like a fantasy adventure. The plot wasn’t concerned with making everyone funny or well liked, but instead making the characters feel like people entrenched in the heat of war, constantly blurring the line between the greater good and their personal beliefs. With any luck, ‘Rogue One’ will make people rethink how they see ‘Star Wars’ and pave the way for some serious expansion.
