Top 30 Best Films of 2020

2020 might have been a strange year for cinema but it was far from a weak year for the art. Where large blockbusters might have been largely absent from the release schedule, small independent films and especially documentaries really made their impact felt causing me to include 30 films on my best of the year list. As my thoughts will be rather brief here, I highly encourage you to either look at my full review or engage with me on twitter @BP_MovieReviews to further discuss this wild year in cinema and obviously I highly encourage you check out the films included on this list. Also know where I made a great effort to see as much as possible (380 features) know that there are still plenty of films I didn't get the chance to see that could deserve a spot on this list. I am only human however and no matter how much time I put into it, this list wouldn't be perfect. Here are my Top 30 Best Films of 2020!

If applicable click on a poster to see my full review of a film!

#30-La Llorona

Not to be confused with any of the shitty horror films to tell this famous piece of Latin mythology, 2020's La Llorona is a truly inspired horror film highlighting the real potential of the genre. Mixing powerful political history with this famous legend, the film is both thrilling and devastating truly standing as one of the more impressive horror films of the year.

#29-Hamilton

As someone who was incredibly lucky to see Hamilton in person on stage, I already knew the magic of the show going into the Disney+ filmed version and the magic transfers over remarkably well from stage to screen. For those who know the songs this is going to give them everything they want with some of the best technical achievements of any piece of art in the last decade. The show is genius with only a few pacing issues that stop it from reaching even higher on this list.

#28-The Lodge

The Lodge easily takes the award for the most stressful theater experience of the year (a title it would easily hold even without COVID). This thrilling look at religion and how the ghosts from ones past can still haunt to this day will not only have audiences questioning reality from fiction, but also on the edge of their seats with each new development and cold turn.

#27-Farewell Amor

Farewell Amor is a moving and incredibly smart look at the reactionary dysfunction that can grow within individuals and a family which comes as a coping mechanism to hardship. No character is innocent as the film bounces between perspectives with a thoughtful direction and voice connecting the film together.

#26-Rising Phoenix

Coming as the first documentary of this list (and definitely not the last), Rising Phoenix once again proves that Ian Bonhôte truly is one of the most exciting documentary filmmakers working today. The film is a deeply intimate and dynamic look at the Paralympic Games and those who participate in them. The film will leave audiences both emotional and inspired speaking to the power of the filmmaking behind the project.

#25-Sound of Metal

Sound of Metal not only features some of the most impressive sound design ever put to film but also continues to prove the worth of Riz Ahmed as an actor. The film is a shockingly quiet and devastating look at a man forced to make a sacrifice with no option to run or hide from the consequences he faces. The film is incredibly skilled at creating both empathy and anger towards its protagonist and doesn't let go for its entire runtime.

#24-Soul

Pixar had one hell of a year in 2020 and Soul immediately becomes a new classic for the studio. Not only is the animation stunning but the story is powerful and shockingly mature. Asking questions regarding the purpose of life and the importance of passion; the film has a clear understanding of how to capture authentic human experiences and translate them into this animated space in a sense that is clever, funny, and impactful.

#23-The Fight

The Fight is a dynamic documentary that follows a small group of lawyers from the ACLU as they fight for human rights agains the Trump Administration. Not only is this aspect of the film incredibly engaging as each lawyer fights back and forth with the system but the film also is incredibly thoughtful and layered. The film really questions what freedom and equality means and the real sacrifices and dangers of the idea. It isn't afraid to turn around and question the ACLU itself becoming one of the most honest and thought provoking films of the year.

#22-The Trouble With Nature

The Trouble With Nature might have flown under the radar for most but truly is a worthwhile viewing experience. The film is a charismatic meditation on inspiration and motivation that feels genuine and even powerful at times. Not only is the film an incredibly debut feature for director Illum Jacobi, but it also really proves the talents of Antony Langdon who gives one of the best performances of the year.

#21-Clapboard Jungle

Clapboard Jungle is required viewing for anyone with even a slight interest in the filmmaking process specifically when cameras end. Blending Justin McConnell's personal story of trying to get a film through development and into release alongside interviews from various filmmakers that range across nearly all lenses of the filmmaking experience; the film is not only incredibly informative and engaging but also serves as a love letter to the art of filmmaking and why it is worth it for these individuals to go through such hardship for their craft.

#20-Black Bear

Not only does Black Bear give us the best Aubrey Plaza performance since Ingrid Goes West but the film also breaks the traditional norms of storytelling by recontextualizing itself multiple times and making the audience question where the line between fiction and reality really lies. The film is confusing but ultimately feels incredibly rewarding for those who can engage with it and it's world.

#19-Rewind

Rewind is an absolutely haunting look at sexual abuse against children and the scars it leaves even into adulthood. The documentary is one of the most haunting pieces of cinema this year with an incredible craft and honesty that is hard to watch but demands attention.

#18-One Night in Miami

Largely serving as Regina King's directorial coming out party (NOT DEBUT), there is a true sense of poetry within One Night in Miami. Clearly holding its original identity as a stage play close to heart, the dialogue and character dynamics are some of the strongest pieces of writing cinema has seen in 2020 and truly elevates One Night in Miami to being near must watch.

#17-Curtain Up!

Blending an incredibly light hearted yet engaging journey of a young group of students trying to put on a play version of Frozen and a deep dive into Asian American culture specifically in relation to the arts and how the American society has ultimately failed them, Curtain Up! is both one of the most fun and touching films of the year. This is a unique look at the importance of diversity in casting and truly stood out as one of the best documentaries of the year.

#16-New Order

New Order is if nothing else one of the most wild films of the year. A bold new social commentary on capitalist society, the film easily could have felt pretentious but holds on to create a powerful and thought provoking final product.

#15-Bad Education

Where Bad Education might not be quite as stunning as Cory Finley's debut feature Thoroughbreds but still is quite a spectacular feature. Featuring possibly Hugh Jackman's best performance to date, this is a powerful character study that will push audiences and stick with them long after the runtime ends.

#14-Woman of the Photographs

Woman of the Photographs is a brutal yet important look at the impact of social media on modern culture and how it can objectify and create both physical and emotional trauma. It is in no way an easy watch, but it is absolutely worthwhile.

#13-Da 5 Bloods

Da 5 Bloods is a large and often messy Spike Lee joint but also might just be one of his best. With an incredibly wide range of social commentary and the traditional masterclass filmmaking and editing that one should expect from Spike Lee features, the power feels undeniable. The visuals are fantastic and the entire ensemble is spectacular. This is a film that has aged like a fine wine over the year and quite easily takes the title of Netflix's best narrative feature of the year.

#12-Sorry We Missed You

Sorry We Missed You is truly one of the most heartbreaking films of the year. A powerful and relevant look at the sacrifices that come from living in a capitalist society, this movie will hit deep with plenty and truly expose the modern horrors of the modern human experience. Ken Loach has possibly never been better and this demands to be seen.

#11-Circus of Books

Circus of Books takes the title of the best Netflix film of 2020. A powerful and relevant exploration of the LGBTQ+ community both of yesterday and today, the film has an incredibly layered thesis and bounces between an intimate portrait of a LGBTQ+ experience and larger look at the community. This is honest and personable cinema in the best of ways.

#10-Asia

Israel's official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 2021 Oscars is a truly devastating piece of cinema. Capturing a mother and daughter who are coming to terms with the daughters terminal illness, the film features two of the best performances of the year and truly captures a side of the human spirit that is rarely seen on screen. This is worth seeking out and really deserves a larger conversation than it is getting.

#9-Hopper/Welles

Capturing a 1970 conversation between Orson Welles and Dennis Hopper over dinner with both filmmakers at key points in their careers, Hopper/Welles is any cinema lover's dream. The film is a beyond intriguing battle of viewpoints that is analyzing a future that has become our past. There is so much depth here and for what is just a conversation, the film is incredibly rewarding and engaging.

#8-The Five Rules of Success

When it comes to dynamic filmmaking from 2020 look no further than The Five Rules of Success. This is a highly stylistic and unique look at an ex-convict trying to get his life together after being released which features not just a standout vision from filmmaker Orson Oblowitz but also one of the best performances of the year from Santiago Segura.

#7-Me and the Cult Leader

From premise alone, Me and the Cult Leader is one of the most intriguing and shocking films of the year. Pairing a survivor of a brutal terrorist attack with a current leader of the cult which did the same attacks as they journey around Japan sharing stories and getting to know one another, the perspective within this documentary is unlike any other and the deeper thesis the film finds on human connection and emotion is beyond moving.

#6-On the Record

On the Record is possibly the most haunting film of 2020. This is a shocking look at the modern #MeToo movement as music executive Drew Dixon comes forward with her stories of abuse and take aim at those who took advantage of her. This should be mandatory viewing as it finds so many of the nuances and hard truths of this process and stands as a slap in the face for anyone who doesn't feel empathy for these survivors and the struggles they can face as they make their stories heard.

#5-Feels Good Man

It turns out the best documentary of the year is an exploration of the Pepe the Frog meme and its history online. What at first seems like an innocent enough look at the iconic meme turns very quickly into a dark and shocking exposé on the dangerous state of internet culture inclusion but not limited to the modern rise of the Alt-right and Nazi ideals. The film also though is a message of power to the control individuals can have against these ideals and largely just feels must watch as one of the most relevant pieces of cinema in recent memory.

#4-The Father

Florian Zeller's debut feature The Father is one of the scariest films of the year so far. Memory loss is often one of the scariest concepts of the human experience and The Father captures this with some of the strongest editing and performances of the year. The film puts both its characters and the audience in a state of confusion as reality bounces around with it being unclear what is real and what is fantasy. It is truly haunting and stands as not just unique but incredibly well crafted.

#3-Onward

From the moment I saw Onward I knew it would be an instant Pixar classic. With an incredibly powerful yet clever screenplay with substantial consequences and emotional stakes it is hard not to be in tears by the end of the film. The voice acting across the board is incredible and all around Onward immediately jumps to around the top of the list when it comes to Pixar originals which says something considered their quality of work.

#2-Kajillionaire

Featuring what is perhaps the best screenplay of the year, Kajillionaire is a truly stunning effort from all parties involved. Evan Rachel Wood is truly transformative in the lead role while Gina Rodriguez, Debra Winger, and Richard Jenkins are all incredible in their own ways in supporting roles. This is a deeply intimate and personal look at the concept of family and the void the lack of a loving home can leave on an individual that goes against expectations at multiple points and truly is a film that won't leave audience's minds even weeks after seeing the film.

#1-Nomadland

Nomadland is Chloé Zhao's magnum opus. A poignant meditation on the failures of the American dream sees a film that transcends simply being a special film and instead truly becomes a work of art in every sense. From the stunning cinematography to the story which will resonate deeply with so many coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw multiple industries collapse seemingly overnight, this is relevant and speaks to the previously unspoken soul of America becoming the best film of 2020!