The Best Movies of 2025

Hello and welcome back to my Best Movies list! I enjoy writing this every year that I can, and I am excited for a year where I had a cluster at the top and had to figure out what my Best Film was. Fortunately, after awarding my "no-brainer" categories, a clear victor rose to the top, and I cannot wait to share that with you. I have 15 categories to award this year and will share my brief thoughts on each winner. I will also make Oscar predictions with each award despite not yet knowing the nominations.

DISCLAIMER: I did not see every film released in 2025, but I did see every film that I wanted to. I skip films that do not interest me, but I will list out all these at the end of my post along with honorable mentions that did not make my list.

Oscar Predictions for Unincluded Categories

• Animated Short Film - No prediction.
• Casting - Hamnet
• Costume Design - Wicked: For Good
• Documentary Feature Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Documentary Short Film - See above.
• Film Editing - F1
• International Feature Film - Sirât
• Live Action Short Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Makeup and Hairstyling - The Smashing Machine
• Production Design - Wicked: For Good
• Sound - F1

Without further ado, here are the Best Movies of 2025 according to Robert!

Best Cinematic Song: I Lied to You (Sinners)

This song became the heart of Sinners, weaving together enchanting visuals with a soulful tune performed magically by Miles Caton. In a film about music, oppression, and vampires, no scene quite sets the stage for a movie like I Lied to You.

Honorable Mentions: What It Sounds Like (KPop Demon Hunters); and Red Dragonfly (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Song) - I Lied to You (Sinners)

Best Superpowered Team: KPop Demon Hunters

While everybody has (rightfully) raved about the music and stunning animation in KPop Demon Hunters, what truly drew me in was the connection between the trio of chosen sisters. Their bonds, which are challenged, snapped, and rebuilt, show the complexity of relationships and how we often must rebuild trust in one another after it has been broken. They also kick some serious 나귀 throughout and show their immense power, which is fueled by the people of Seoul.

Honorable Mentions: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle; and Superman.

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)

Sinners was shot beautifully on film, which makes the nighttime scenes and firey moments pop in a way that digital recordings struggle to replicate. Arkapaw also made history as the first female director of photography to shoot on IMAX film, which feels late but is welcome nonetheless. Her framing of each shot makes characters pop and set pieces stand out, even during small intimate moments like when Michael B. Jordan's Smoke meets with his estranged wife, Annie (portrayed beautifully by Wunmi Mosaku). This is a gorgeous movie that I barely caught in theaters, and I desperately hope that they will re-release in IMAX (the last re-releases did not reach where I live).

Honorable Mentions: Kim Woo-hyung (No Other Choice); and Larkin Seiple (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Claudio Miranda (F1)

Best Survivor: Julia Garner (Weapons)

Very few films have captured the struggles of a public school teacher like Weapons does, and a lot of credit belongs to Julia Garner for her portrayal of an elementary school teacher. She has so much empathy for her students that her principal (Benedict Wong) must reel her back in, lest she cross professional lines. The emotional and mental burdens of her profession are shown with real care and torment by Garner, and she ultimately carries this film for me and gives it an emotional core.

Honorable Mentions: Chase Infiniti (One Battle after Another); and Miles Caton (Sinners).

Best Comedy: The Naked Gun

I did not expect yet another Hollywood reboot to be any good, but I was pleasantly surprised by how hilarious this film was. Akiva Schaffer directed one of my favorite comedies of the past few decades, Hot Rod, and brings that same energy and silliness to The Naked Gun. In addition, Liam Neeson playing the straight man throughout the film despite escalating bits of ridiculousness (often fed by his own inept actions) had me in stitches, particularly during an interrogation sequence involving chili dogs. If you miss old-school, silly comedies like Airplane or Spaceballs, look no further!

Honorable Mentions: Marty Supreme; and A Minecraft Movie.

Best Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Lee Ja-hye (No Other Choice)

I have watched many of Park Chan-wook's films, and they all have very similar themes, one of which being the struggles of those at the bottom of society to survive, or even to climb out of their designated class. No Other Choice reexamines these struggles while showing the cutthroat world of late-stage capitalism as it exists in South Korea (and throughout the world). It asks the question, "What would you do to keep your place in society?" then follows it down the darkest paths of Seoul. Park's script has a sense of realism, desperation, and biting satire that will make you laugh at the worst situations.

Honorable Mentions: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle after Another); and Zach Cregger (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Original Screenplay) - Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Leading Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Michael B. Jordan is one of the rare modern actors who draws audiences in by name alone, a la John Wayne or Tom Cruise. His latest collaboration with writer-director Ryan Coogler shows exactly why, as he turns in a powerhouse performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore. Smoke thinks ahead and plans for everything, willing to make the tough choices to keep those he loves safe; while Stack oozes charisma and makes sure everyone enjoys themselves in his company. These two wholly different characters are brought vibrantly to life by Jordan and elevate an already magnificent film.

Honorable Mentions: Lee Byung-hun (No Other Choice); and Julia Garner (Weapons).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Leading Role - Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Leading Role - Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You)

Best Visual Effects: Frankenstein

This was the first category that I looked at and instantly knew which film won the award for me. Guillermo del Toro's retelling of The science fiction novel by Mary Shelley blew me away with its spectacular visuals, whether they be a collapsing castle, a thrilling fight on the ice, or the grotesque yet beautiful reconstruction of a human being from corpse parts. I have always loved the book, especially as a story of horror as well as science fiction, but I forgot just how brutal some aspects of the creation of the Creature would be on screen versus on a page. My one biggest critique of this film: it was not released in theaters! Shame on Netflix a hundred times over.

Honorable Mentions: 28 Years Later; and Sinners.

OSCAR PREDICTION: Frankenstein

Best Animated Film: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train (say that 5 times fast) was the first film that I saw in theaters after the start of COVID-19, and it blew me away with its visuals and heartbreaking story. Infinity Castle somehow upped the ante, providing stunning animation, beautiful music, and gut-punches of storytelling as the Demon Slayer series nears its conclusion. Watching this on IMAX with a full house was delightful, as everyone collectively cheered at incredible moments that have built for years (Zenitsu and Akaza in particular) and were dead silent during the tragic moments of loss and grief. Demon Slayer has had the best animation in anime for years now, and Infinity Castle continues that tradition with pride.

Honorable Mentions: KPop Demon Hunters; and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

OSCAR PREDICTION: KPop Demon Hunters

Best Music: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Of course the film about music would win Best Music for me! Göransson researched the history and culture of the blues extensively while composing this film, enlisting the help of his wife, Serena McKinney, and blues producer Boo Mitchell. Their passion and respect for the rich history of the American blues shines through with a beautiful score that no other film could hope to match this year or most any given year.

Honorable Mentions: Marcelo Zarvos (KPop Demon Hunters); and Jo Yeong-wook (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Score) - Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Best Revolutionary: Benicio del Toro (One Battle after Another)

I have long admired the work of del Toro, especially in Sicario, so I was excited to see that he would be in Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film. However, I did not expect him to play a shrewd and smooth mover-and-shaker who protects the immigrant population from oppressive domestic forces on the West Coast of the United States. He is calm, suave, and unshakable; he is ready to handle anything thrown his way as he protects his people and supports the insurgents, even when they fail spectacularly (I'm looking at Leonardo DiCaprio's Rocketman here).

Honorable Mentions: Arden Cho (KPop Demon Hunters); and Isabela Merced (Superman).

Best Director: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

I cannot rave about the visual storytelling and excellent camerawork in Sinners and not tip my hat to its director, Coogler. He has long had a sense of how to make intimate moments feel epic (like Chadwick Boseman's conversation with Michael B. Jordan at the end of Black Panther); and how to make epic moments feel intimate (like the final fight of Creed). Both of these qualities are on full display in Sinners, with tragic conversations between characters in the dark; and explosive fights for survival under the moonlight. Coogler makes entertaining films with deep themes and wonderful characters, much like my all-time favorite director, Steven Spielberg. He has cemented himself as one of the best directors in cinema of the past decade and deserves recognition for it. 

Honorable Mentions: Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein); and Park Chan-wook (No Other Choice).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle after Another)

Best Scene: One last run through the neighborhood (Weapons)

The picture above is not from the scene I am awarding, as I could not find any non-spoiler depictions of it. It happens after a long film showing the dark and sad parts of childhood in the United States, including a 20-minute sequence symbolic of children with drug users for parents right beforehand. Then we get to see vengeance most delightful, culminating in a surprisingly hilarious trek with several expertly-crafted one-shots featuring excellent stuntwork. This ending was an incredible way to finish a great story and a capstone for writer-director Zach Cregger's excellent script.

Honorable Mentions: The Christmas Adventurers Club (One Battle after Another); and a spiritual performance (Sinners).

Best Supporting Actor: Son Ye-Jin (No Other Choice)

Although the film primarily follows the desperate path of Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), the true center of No Other Choice's story is his wife, Lee Mi-ri (Son). She not only becomes the solid foundation of the family when her husband falls to pieces after being let go from his decades-long employment at a paper factory, but also must make multiple moral choices when she begins to learn the truth of her husband's actions. Son has to balance portraying a strong woman who was capable of being a single mother with a woman afraid to fall into poverty and doing her best to keep her family afloat. She balances these aspects of a complex character perfectly and turns in a wonderful performance.

Honorable Mentions: Kevin O'Leary (Marty Supreme); and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Supporting Role - Benicio del Toro (One Battle after Another)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Supporting Role - Teyana Taylor (One Battle after Another)

Best Film: Sinners

If you have read each of my awards so far, it should come as no surprise that my Best Film of 2025 is Sinners. As I said before, many films were clustered at the top of my list (essentially #1-6 are all 9/10s), but Sinners pulled ahead due to its many "no-brainer" category wins. As I thought over this revelation and remembered the film, I became certain that this was the correct choice and that Sinners is my favorite film from this past year. It is beautiful, thrilling, heart-wrenching, action-packed, and terrifying. Sinners continues a long tradition of excellent blockbusters that are horror-adjacent, starting all the way back in 1975 with The blockbuster: Jaws.

I will also highlight one of the biggest reasons for my love of Sinners. Of the many wonderful characters in this film, I loved Smoke and his relationship with Annie. These two characters share a tragic past together, but choose to try to rebuild their future. During the final moments of the film, they reunite in such a way that moved me like no other film this year did, and I cannot wait to watch Sinners again once I own it myself. Without a doubt, Sinners is the Best Film of 2025.

Honorable Mentions: No Other Choice; and Weapons.

OSCAR PREDICTION: One Battle after Another

TL;DR

1. Sinners (Best Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Music, Best Cinematography, Best Cinematic Song)
2. Weapons (Best Scene, Best Survivor)
3. No Other Choice (Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay)
4. One Battle after Another (Best Revolutionary)
5. Frankenstein (Best Visual Effects)
6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle (Best Animated Film)
7. The Naked Gun (Best Comedy)
8. KPop Demon Hunters (Best Superpowered Team)

As promised, here are my honorable mentions and skipped films:

Good, Not Great

• 28 Years Later
• Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
• Marty Supreme
• Mickey 17
• A Minecraft Movie
• The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
• Superman
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Bad or Overrated

• F1 (loved the race scenes in IMAX though)
• Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (delightful garbage)
• Highest 2 Lowest

Skipped or Missed

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• Black Phone 2
• Bugonia
• Hamnet
• If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Nuremberg
• The Phoenician Scheme
• Predator: Badlands
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sirât
• Wicked: For Good
• Zootopia 2

Thank you for reading my Best Movies of 2025! Looking forwards to 2026, I cannot wait to see Dune: Messiah, The Odyssey, and Werwulf. However, I am most excited for Godzilla Minus Zero! Enjoy your year!

The Best Movies of 2024

SHAI-HULUD RISES!

Hello again! It has been a while (23 months!) since I last posted about my favorite films, as I was too busy last year to devote time to my Best Movies like I have done since 2012. In addition, Everything Everywhere All at Once was such a perfect film to me that nearly all movies released in 2023 paled in comparison. I did not see anywhere near as many movies as I usually do during that year, but I will set aside one paragraph to cover my Best Movies of 2023 below (skip it if you want to get onto 2024's list). Afterwards, I will move on to the Best Movies of 2024, which was a much better year in cinema! I am limited for time this year, like last year, so instead of skipping my Best Movies list again, I will make my explanations for each award fairly short.

If you would like a short rundown of my awards, a TL;DR is included at the end of this post that ranks my favorite films of the year along with what awards they received.

DISCLAIMER: I did not see every film released in 2024, nor would I want to. I skip films that do not interest me, and I will list out all these at the end of my post. I also loved making Oscar predictions, so those will be included along with each award. My honorable mentions will also be at the end of this post.

Oscar Predictions for Unincluded Categories

• Animated Short Film - I did not see any this year (so I don't know).
• Costume Design - Wicked
• Documentary Feature Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Documentary Short Film - See above.
• Film Editing - Conclave
• International Feature Film - Emilia Pérez
• Makeup and Hairstyling - The Substance
• Production Design - Wicked
• Live Action Short Film - See Animated Short Film.
• Sound - Dune: Part Two

The (Belated) Best Movies of 2023

1. Godzilla Minus One

I absolutely loved this film as a Godzilla fan and moviegoer. It has way more emotional strength than I expected and tells a thrilling story about surviving war and trauma. The Jaws-esque chase scene in the middle of the film was one of my favorite theater moments that I have ever experienced.

2. John Wick: Chapter 4

This was a fitting and excellent way to end the John Wick saga. There were lots of excellent action sequences, decent storytelling, and the iconic worldbuilding that this franchise has become known for. I would love to see more John Wick films, but this was a perfect ending to the legendary hitman's story.

Without further ado, here are the Best Movies of 2024 according to Robert!

Best Animated Film: Inside Out 2

I was pleasantly surprised that a sequel to Inside Out had just as much emotional intelligence and heartfelt moments as the original. Many people struggle with anxiety nowadays, and Inside Out 2 handles that theme perfectly.

Honorable Mentions: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl; and The Wild Robot.

OSCAR PREDICTION: The Wild Robot

Best Cinematic Song: Defying Gravity (Wicked)

My favorite song from the play made a fantastic finale in film. Cynthia Erivo captures Elphaba's triumphant self-acceptance perfectly, making for a wonderful ending to a great adaptation.

Honorable Mentions: Arrival (Dune: Part Two); and He's Glitchy (Alien: Romulus).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Song) - El Mal (Emilia Pérez)

Best Antagonist: Austin Butler (Dune: Part Two)

Every time that I watched Dune: Part Two (which was many times in theaters), Butler's Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen grew on me more and more. He has many layers that can be peeled back on each viewing, and although he is ruthless towards his enemies, he still has a sense of honor that shines through during his final moments.

Honorable Mentions: Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu); and Margaret Qualley (The Substance).

Best Screenplay: Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

Writing a scathing script that lambasts beauty standards in entertainment would be difficult on its own. Fargeat accomplishes this while also penning a terrifying and absurd body horror film that immediately entered rarified air with John Carpenter's The Thing.

Honorable Mentions: Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts (Dune: Part Two); and Robert Eggers (Nosferatu).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Peter Straughan (Conclave)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Original Screenplay) - Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe (Nosferatu)

I enjoy every role that Dafoe plays, but he elevates his craft whenever collaborating with writer-director Robert Eggers. His turn as the Van Helsing character of Nosferatu's story steals every scene with his charm and weirdness.

Honorable Mentions: David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus); and Zendaya (Dune: Part Two).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Supporting Role - Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Supporting Role - Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Best Visual Effects: Alien: Romulus

I love sci-fi films that embrace old-school practical effects while using CG for the big moments, and Alien: Romulus achieves this perfectly. The creature design alone haunted my dreams for several weeks and created one of the best moments in the Alien franchise.

Honorable Mentions: The Substance; and Dune: Part Two.

OSCAR PREDICTION: Dune: Part Two

Best Ensemble Cast: Dune: Part Two

Everyone performs their best in this epic sci-fi fantasy, with a special nod to meme-favorite Javier Bardem. Even smaller roles like Remi Fadare's priestess are portrayed well, supporting a star-studded cast that shines brightly. 

Honorable Mentions: Nosferatu; and Alien: Romulus.

Best Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke (Nosferatu)

Above all other things, Nosferatu is a beautiful film that embraces its era of cinema. A silent shot of an empty carriage in an avenue took my breath away with its foreboding portraiture, as an example of how many wonderful moments are shot in this movie.

Honorable Mentions: Greig Fraser (Dune: Part Two); and Benjamin Kračun (The Substance).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Lol Crawley (The Brutalist).

Best Leading Actor: Demi Moore (The Substance)

In a slightly meta role, Moore becomes the face of self-hatred and aging beauty in The Substance. She combines moments of fury with moments of fragility so well, none more than her character trying to prepare for a date.

Honorable Mentions: Mikey Madison (Anora); and Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part Two).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Leading Role - Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Leading Role - Demi Moore (The Substance)

Best Music: Hans Zimmer (Dune: Part Two)

So, the Academy ignores Zimmer's wonderful work on Dune, then disqualify his work on Dune: Part Two? I call B.S. and crown Zimmer for the magnificent work he has done on both films, creating some of his most epic scores since Inception.

Honorable Mentions: Benjamin Wallfisch (Alien: Romulus); and Raffertie (The Substance).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Score) - Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist)

Best Director: Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

It is easy to give a double-crown for Fargeat as the writer-director of The Substance. Her directing reminded me of both The Shining and Requiem for a Dream in all the best ways, elevating her status as a true cinematic auteur.

Honorable Mentions: Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two); and Fede Álvarez (Alien: Romulus).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)

Best Scene: Heading Home (Alien: Romulus)

Believe when I say that you are not ready for what is truly the best horror finale since Get Out. This scene at the end of the film had my heart racing and ears ringing with its intensity and terror. I am being purposefully vague so as not to spoil a fantastic experience for those who have not seen Alien: Romulus yet.

Honorable Mentions: Conquering Shai-Hulud (Dune: Part Two); and The Birth (The Substance).

Best Scream Queen: Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu)

Depp shows incredible talent in her portrayal of the haunted lead character, Ellen, especially with all that writer-director Eggers asks of her to do. 2024 was truly the best year for horror films in a very long time, and I struggled to rank one above the other between Nosferatu, The Substance, and Alien: Romulus.

Honorable Mentions: Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus); and Maika Monroe (Longlegs).

Best Film: Dune: Part Two

What a truly magnificent film that director Denis Villeneuve crafted from a novel that was thought to be unadaptable. Not only did Villeneuve create a beautiful and thrilling film, he revitalized many of the novel's characters and gave them depth that was never there before. His work on Chani alone has elevated the Dune films far above the novels, and Zendaya brought her to life with a silent fury that I did not expect from her.

There are so many memorable scenes as well, such as Paul riding Shai-Hulud, his speech in the cave, the final battle, and the final duel (with its heartbreaking conclusion). I loved the first Dune and am stunned to find that Villeneuve one-upped himself in giving us the Best Movie of 2024 in Dune: Part Two.

Honorable Mentions: The Substance; and Nosferatu.

OSCAR PREDICTION: The Brutalist

TL;DR

1. Dune: Part Two (Best Film, Best Music, Best Antagonist, Best Ensemble Cast)
2. The Substance (Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Screenplay)
3. Nosferatu (Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor, Best Scream Queen)
4. Alien: Romulus (Best Visual Effects, Best Scene)
5. Inside Out 2 (Best Animated Film)
6. Wicked (Best Cinematic Song)

As promised, here are my honorable mentions and skipped films:

Good, not Great

Anora

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Deadpool & Wolverine

Longlegs

Twisters

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

Bad or Overrated

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Skipped or Missed

Blitz

The Brutalist - (Never got a chance to see this, though I wanted to)

Challengers

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Gladiator II

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing - (I really wanted to see this, but it wasn't available anywhere near me)

Thank you for reading through my Best Movies of 2024! I am looking forward to another year of great films, with my highest hopes set on Edgar Wright's The Running Man and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.

The Best Movies of 2022

This was a great year in cinema, with many fantastic films released throughout the year along with what I consider to be a masterwork! It would be nice if they drip-fed the Oscar bait films throughout the fall instead of backloading December (as they always do), but I did my best to catch up during January. I then wrote about half of this list before getting too busy to continue, so I am now posting it on the eve of the Oscars! Agh!

As always, if you would like a quick summary of my awards, a TL;DR is included at the end of the blog that ranks my favorite films of the year, along with what awards they received.

DISCLAIMER: I have not seen every film released during 2022, and I did not try to. I skip the movies that do not interest me unless they get significant praise from critics and friends. However, trying to guess who the Academy will award in each category is always a ton of fun, so I will continue doing those predictions. I also decided to put my honorable mentions at the END of the blog instead of the beginning this year in order to perhaps build some more intrigue for each category.

Oscar Predictions for Unincluded Categories

• Costume Design - Elvis
• Documentary Feature Film - A House Made of Splinters
• Documentary Short Film - Stranger at the Gate
• Film Editing - The Banshees of Inisherin
• Makeup and Hairstyling - The Whale
• Production Design - Elvis
• Short Film (Animated) - Ice Merchants
• Short Film (Live Action) - Night Ride

Here are the Best Movies of 2022 according to Robert!

Best Family Film: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

After seeing the first Puss in Boots movie in theaters back in 2011, I assumed that this sequel would be equally as bland and boring. I am so happy to be wrong, because this was one of the most fun and heartfelt animated films that I have seen since Spider-Verse. The recent trend of CG animation towards traditional 2D techniques and anime-style action lines has me so excited for the future of animated films, as it creates far more personality. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish recreates Puss as a feline going through an existential crisis while giving many of the characters their own great emotional moments, especially (surprisingly) Goldilocks. Her story easily elevates the entire film and made it simple to select this movie as the best family film of 2022. It is still in theaters if you have missed it up until now.

Honorable Mentions: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio; and Turning Red.

Best Screenplay: Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

This might be the best screenplay that I have experienced since The Social Network. The dialogue is witty and absurd at times, but then emotional and soulful during other times. The story is insane and insanely creative while still hitting strong thematic beats that moved me to tears many, many times. The Daniels spent nearly a decade writing this film, and their dedication to creating a wonderful story shines through in one of the best films of the 21st century. EEAAO is available to stream on Paramount+ or you can rent it from whatever digital streaming retailer if you have not yet had a chance to experience it.

Honorable Mentions: Charlotte Wells (Aftersun); Jordan Peele (Nope); and Zach Cregger (Barbarian).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, and Ian Stokell (All Quiet on the Western Front)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Writing (Original Screenplay) - Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin)

Most Iconic Character: Daniel Craig (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery)

For the second year in a row, Daniel Craig finds himself in my awards due to his portrayal of a fantastic lead character in a franchise. Last year was for James Bond in No Time to Die, and this year is for Benoit Blanc in Glass Onion. Although the film as a whole was not as great as Knives Out, it was still a fun mystery with piercing social commentary. Watching Blanc struggle to understand how Among Us works while being chastised by the late Angela Lansbury was possibly the funniest scene to come out of the pandemic for me. As Netflix paid an arm and a leg for multiple Knives Out sequels from Craig and writer-director Rian Johnson, that is where you can stream it if you have not yet seen Glass Onion. I was lucky enough to see it in theaters during its one week run!

Honorable Mentions: Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish); and Zoë Kravitz (The Batman).

Best Cinematic Song: Naatu Naatu (RRR)

I typically have not cared for Indian films in the past, but RRR completely surprised me as the most delightful action film of the year! Both of the lead actors, Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr, carry the film with their charisma and bravado, giving a truly heartfelt bromance with amazing action setpieces. Of course, this also includes a fantastic dance sequence where these two Indian revolutionaries show up their British oppressors on the dance floor in an unbridled energy and passion. I am pulling HEAVILY for Naatu Naatu to win the song Oscar this year since RRR was not nominated for Best International Film (a true crime), but I fear that it may not win still. Regardless, this was my favorite cinematic song of the year, and you can catch RRR on Netflix if you have not had a chance to.

Honorable Mentions: Under Pressure (Aftersun); and Unchained Melody (Elvis).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Song) - Lift Me Up (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Best Ensemble Cast: Nope

Jordan Peele's latest film was an amazing homage to classic blockbuster thrillers such as Jaws, Jurassic Park, and others. But while his writing and directing were, of course, important to the film, he also had a tremendous cast to help tell his story. Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya are perfect as the outgoing, quirky sister and strong, silent brother who are dealing with some supernatural events on their ranch. Keith David and Brandon Perea both nail their supporting roles, while Michael Wincott steals the show in his scenes as a slightly insane cinematographer, giving off STRONG vibes of Quint from Jaws or Captain Ahab from Moby Dick. On top of this, you have a tremendous performance from Steven Yeun as a tourist trap owner, whose story actually carries significant importance to the film in unseen ways. Be sure to hop on Peacock to watch Nope, or otherwise rent it how you like, and enjoy the fantastic acting brought by this cast.

Honorable Mentions: Everything Everywhere All at Once; and All Quiet on the Western Front.

Best Animated Film: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

I absolutely love movies made with stop-motion animation, having grown up watching Wallace and Gromit. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Kubo and the Two Strings stand out to me as some of the best films in this genre, as well as most of Laika Studios' catalogue. Guillermo del Toro's interpretation of Pinocchio has that magical feeling that stop-motion brings to an animated film while also embroiling itself in many of del Toro's favorite themes in film. Children are in peril in this film and treated terribly by fascist adults, forcing them to grow up very quickly. By focusing on the background setting of fascist Italy, del Toro has added a lot of political and social commentary to an otherwise simple fable. However, he also has added a lot of the whimsical and bizarre dark fairytale style that has defined his career (such as in Pan's Labyrinth), making both this story and the visuals of it more interesting. Finally, there is a very lovely emotional center of this story that made me cry at multiple moments throughout the movie. I wish so very badly that I could have seen this great film in a theater, but it is still worth watching on Netflix if you can.

Honorable Mentions: Puss in Boot: The Last Wish; and Turning Red.

OSCAR PREDICTION: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Best Leading Actor: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

There is a LOT that is being asked of Yeoh in EEAAO during her portrayal of a Chinese-American woman going through a midlife crisis. Not only is there a lot of relationships being explored with Evelyn (Yeoh), specifically with her daughter and husband, but she is also learning how to navigate and fight in a multiversal way against powerful enemies. Just like the film itself, Yeoh must have the flexibility to portray the huge, world-altering choices of a powerful protagonist while also showing her small connections to the people around her and how it affects all of their lives. There is a grand scope of parallel universes and the instability of their existence being perfectly intertwined with very close relationships and the instability of their existence as well. Such is the paradoxical nature of this magnificent film, with Michelle Yeoh leading the way as its fierce and strong lead.

Honorable Mentions: Paul Mescal (Aftersun); and Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Leading Role - Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Leading Role - Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Technical Effects: All Quiet on the Western Front

I am once again combining several categories to save some time this year, with Technical Effects being representative of both Visual Effects and Sound. I suppose that it is a little stereotypical to give both of these awards to a war film, but All Quiet on the Western Front has some amazing work in both of these fields. The deep rumble of tanks moving towards the trenches or the sound of a man slowly bleeding out in a crater will both haunt me. The suicidal charge across no man's land will always be a gut punch for me to watch, no matter how many WWI movies that I see. However, this film specifically makes every violent action that occurs as horrific as possible. There is no glory and there are no cool moments such as in Saving Private Ryan. We only see the absolute worst of war and its consequences, with a focus on deromanticizing military conflicts. It very much reminded me of what Unforgiven was for the Western genre. Using these technical effects to elevate the horrors of war made this an easy award to hand out. Like most of these films so far, you can watch it on Netflix if you think you will be able to handle its brutality.

Honorable Mentions: Nope; and Top Gun: Maverick.

OSCAR PREDICTION: Sound - Top Gun: Maverick

OSCAR PREDICTION: Visual Effects - Avatar: The Way of Water

Best Emotional Actor: Paul Mescal (Aftersun)

From the very opening scene, I could immediately tell that there was a storm brewing inside of Calum (Mescal) beneath his smiling surface. Depression is often shown in movies and TV shows as this very obvious sadness that the character carries around with them, when in reality it is almost always hidden behind a facade of contentment. Mescal exemplifies this reality perfectly as a very troubled Scottish father who is trying his best to have a fun vacation in Turkey with his daughter (her mother and him are amicably divorced). I empathised very heavily with Calum and his struggles since I am also a father about to turn 30 years old, plus I have a similarly-aged son as his daughter, Sophie. It takes a really special actor to be able to pull these kind of complex and layered emotions off, and that makes this an easy award to hand to Mescal. It seems like you can only rent this movie from digital retailers or Redbox, so do so if you missed this fantastic film.

Honorable Mentions: Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once).

Best Music: Michael Giacchino (The Batman)

I love Nirvana, so I was hooked into this film's score from the first trailer when Something in the Way was combined with a Batman score resembling Danny Elfman's work with Tim Burton. Giacchino has done tremendous work in creating a memorable new score for a new Batman story while still paying homage to his predecessors. I was pleasantly surprised with how good The Batman was overall, despite the story being a thinly veiled retelling of Se7en. As a quick aside, Zoë Kravitz was perfect as Selina Kyle, John Turturro was a scene-stealer as Carmine Falcone, and Jeffrey Wright paired perfectly with Robert Pattinson as a buddy cop duo in Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne. I grew up loving Batman but, as an adult, found issues with a lot of his core beliefs. This movie was definitely the Batman made for people like me, presenting us a Batman and Bruce Wayne that has a much more nuanced take on crime and how to fight it. Definitely go enjoy this movie and its great music on HBO Max. 

Honorable Mentions: M.M. Keeravani (RRR); and Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Music (Original Score) - Carter Burwell (The Banshees of Inisherin)

Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

If the parallel universe theory and Michelle Yeoh's character are the brains and the strength of EEAAO, Quan is ABSOLUTELY its heart and soul. I have never loved a character in a film for their profound goodness more than Quan's portrayal of Waymond, a pushable Chinese-American husband, father, and laundromat owner. He has a heart-wrenching speech towards the end of the film that explicitly acknowledges all of the bad in the world and how he is not ignorant of it nor naive. But he chooses to see the good in the world and to continue to push everyone to love each other. It sounds corny as hell in text form, but packs a whallopping punch when you see it. Quan delivers his performance with such utter sincerity that I am so upset that we lost out on possibly decades of brilliant acting due to racism against him in Hollywood after his childhood performances in The Goonies and Temple of Doom. Here's to wishing him the best and a career revitalization that will give us many more wonderful performances to look forward to!

Honorable Mentions: Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once); and Albrecht Schuch (All Quiet on the Western Front).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actress in a Supporting Role - Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)

OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor in a Supporting Role - Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Scene: The Star Lasso Experience (Nope)

This was one of the most memorable scenes in a film from the past few years for me. As someone with claustrophobia, there is a certain point in this scene that absolutely terrified me and disturbed me in a way that no other film has done. Not only is it the most horrifying scene in a horror-thriller movie, but it also acts as a huge turning point narratively that changes both the genre and the audience's understanding of the film. Jordan Peele never seems to miss with his incredible films, and this one is no different. And to think that this all happens right after ANOTHER super memorable scene about Steven Yeun's character and a chimpanzee.

Honorable Mentions: Trapped in a crater with the enemy (All Quiet on the Western Front); and Gordy's Home (Nope).

Best Existential Actor: Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

The character of Joy Wang carries so many very difficult life questions with her. The existential dread of nothing mattering combined with the self-loathing of feeling like a disappointment create a complex antagonist for her mother, played by Yeoh, to square off against. Hsu brings Joy to the screen with all of the creepiness and absurdity of an all-powerful being with nothing to live for while also giving her an emotional core that many members of both the millennials and zoomers can relate to. The world sucks and life is not worth living, so why even try anymore? This question posed by Hsu's character requires all of the emotional intelligence of her father (Quan) and all of the traumatic experiences of her mother (Yeoh) in order to be answered in a truly satisfying way.

Honorable Mentions: Paul Mescal (Aftersun); and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Cinematography: Gregory Oke (Aftersun)

Gregory Oke and writer-director Charlotte Wells have done their best to make every shot in Aftersun gorgeous, even during the quiet and otherwise inane scenes. Several shots have stuck with me for months after watching this film, especially during the first 5 minutes and the final 5 minutes of the film. Oke and Wells' ability to visually depict what is happening between a father and daughter, including what is happening in the future, has haunted me ever since the credits rolled.

Honorable Mentions: Larkin Seiple (Everything Everywhere All at Once); and James Friend (All Quiet on the Western Front).

OSCAR PREDICTION: James Friend (All Quiet on the Western Front)

Best Directors: Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

I will admit to not being familiar with the work of "the Daniels" before seeing EEAAO. I had heard good things about their previous film, Swiss Army Man, but it seemed too absurd for me. However, for some reason, the absurdity that is embedded into this film by the Daniels pairs perfectly with their existential but heartfelt story. They have crafted a masterpiece of artwork that is also incredibly enjoyable, which is a pairing in film that I have not seen since Get Out back in 2017. Well done, Daniels, and I eagerly await their future works!

Honorable Mentions: Charlotte Wells (Aftersun); and Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front).

OSCAR PREDICTION: Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin)

Best International Film: All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany)

"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell."

General William Sherman spoke those words in regards to the Civil War that he participated in, and yet that quote is still said aloud these hundreds of years later as the world continues to ignore them. These words have been echoed time and time again through many anti-war films such as Full Metal Jacket, the original Best Picture-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, and Paths of Glory (of course there are many other examples; these are just the first three that I thought of). However, that message will NEVER become old, overstated, or overly utilized in cinema so long as horrible wars like the Ukrainian invasion and Yemeni civil war continue to happen around the world. War is devastating and terrible on not just its victims and civilians, but especially on its soldiers and footmen who are often forced into service against their will and severely traumatized for the rest of their lives.

All Quiet on the Western Front shoves these horrors directly into our faces again to remind us that we should never forget them nor ignore them. I have been appalled and disturbed by war films before, but this was the first one that made me emotional over the death of an unnamed character. When the protagonist, Paul, finds himself stuck in a crater with an enemy soldier that he just defeated in melee combat, we suffer with him as he sees the long, drawn-out consequences of his "victory". Moments like this fill this fantastic anti-war film that Germany has blessed the world with. Millions of men died for nothing but the rich's squabbles over land and oil. No life is worth a profit, and that includes the soldiers on both sides.

Honorable Mention: RRR (India).

OSCAR PREDICTION: All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany).

Best Film: Everything Everywhere All at Once

I think that this will be the least surprising entry in my entire list. Everything Everywhere All at Once is an absolute masterwork that I will rewatch and praise for decades to come. But I have already praised EEAAO up and down through six different categories now, so I will simply praise the aspects of the film that I have yet to mention.

Three different actors have won an award from me for their roles in this film, but every single member of the cast is outstanding. Jamie Lee Curtis is both hilarious and touching as a cranky middle-aged IRS agent, while James Hong is charming as a cantankerous grandfather and rebellion leader. Every single actor has multiple roles in the film, and each of these roles have small story arcs that culminate during the final "fight" scene. Both the music and visual effects in this film are amazing as well, matching the bright goofiness of one side of its themes as well as the bleak ennui of the other side. Also, for as much as I have mentioned the absurdity of the movie, I have barely even touched on how funny it is! I full-on belly-laughed multiple times throughout, and have repeatedly done so every time that I have rewatched it.

But at the end of the day, it is not the technical execution, nor the existential dread, nor the silly absurdity of EEAAO that has enraptured me. It is the wholesome heart at the center of the film about our connections with each other. Despite how hurtful those interactions can be, the joyful experiences that we get to have with our loved ones are worth all the other sludge surrounding those moments.

I have cried every single time that Evelyn finally sees her husband, Waymond, for the light in her life that he is.

Waymond: So, even though you have broken my heart yet again, I wanted to say, in another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.

I have cried every single time that Gong Gong finally accepts his daughter, Evelyn, and his granddaughter, Joy, for who they are.

I have cried every single time that Evelyn hugs Joy and decides to just be there for her.

This is a beautiful film about imperfect people, and helps me to see the light in a world where I often find myself on the brink of complete nihilism. And so I have simply one more set of quotes to leave from the best film made in the last decade:

Evelyn: Maybe it's like you said. Maybe there is something out there -a new discovery- that'll make us feel like even smaller pieces of shit. Something that explains why you still went looking for me through all this noise. And why, no matter what, I still want to be here with you. I will always, ALWAYS, want to be here - with you.

Joy: So what? You're just going to ignore everything else? You could be anything, anywhere. Why not go somewhere where your - where your daughter is more than just...this? Here, all we'll get are a few specks of time where any of this actually makes any sense.

Then I will cherish these few specks of time.

Honorable Mentions: All Quiet on the Western Front; and Aftersun.

OSCAR PREDICTION: The Banshees of Inisherin

TL;DR

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once (Best Film, Best Directors, Best Leading Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Existential Actor, Best Screenplay)
2. All Quiet on the Western Front (Best International Film, Best Technical Effects)
3. Aftersun (Best Emotional Actor, Best Cinematography)
4. Nope (Best Ensemble Cast, Best Scene)
5. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Best Animated Film)
6. The Batman (Best Music)
7. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Best Family Film)
8. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Most Iconic Character)
9. RRR (Best Cinematic Song)

Here are some explanations for films that are missing from my awards that some may be wondering about:

Good, not Great

Barbarian

The Black Phone

Elvis

The Fabelmans

Lightyear

Prey

Tár

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Turning Red

Bad or Overrated

The Banshees of Inisherin

The Northman

Skipped or Missed

Avatar: The Way of Water

Babylon

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Jackass Forever

Living

The Menu

Thor: Love and Thunder

The Whale

Women Talking

Thanks for reading my movie awards for this year! I always love writing them and I hope that you enjoyed reading them. I will see you next year for another celebration of both entertaining and artistic cinema!