Joey's 15 Favorite Movies of 2016
2016 is about to come to a close, and it's been a hell of a great year for movies! I saw so many great films this year, and like every year it wasn't easy to come up with my list of favorite movies. I just solidified my top 15 favorite movies of the year, and they include everything from big budget films to small indie gems. I've also included a variety of different genres on my list including action, comedy, drama, adventure, horror, and sci-fi.
If you haven't seen any of the movie on this list, you seriously need to get on that because every movie you'll see on here is an incredible film that I think everyone needs to see, so please take the time to do so! I promise they will not disappoint you!
After you go through my list let me know in the comment section what some of your favorite movies of the year were!
Hacksaw Ridge
The story that this film tells just completely blew me away. It was such a powerful film that was masterfully told by director Mel Gibson. He’s one of the best filmmakers working today, and this film reminds us of that. This film just completely overwhelmed me with emotions, and it’s the one film this year that I watched in theaters five times. That’s how much I loved it.
Doctor Strange
This was the most unique and different film that Marvel has made yet, and it’s one of my favorites! I’ve been a long time fan of Doctor Strange and director Scott Derrickson and Benedict Cumberbatch perfectly brought him to life in this movie. I couldn’t have asked for a better Doctor Strange film. I especially enjoyed the visual insanity! If there was one film to watch in 3D this year, it was this one.
Captain America: Civil War
Over the years, Marvel has been fine-tuning their skills in storytelling and filmmaking, and I can honestly tell you that this is the best film they have made so far. It’s excitingly epic, and it's going to completely blow your mind! Joe and Anthony Russo really turned up the heat on this film and its story was perfectly executed. - Review
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One is an utterly stunning Star Wars film and on my list of favorite Star Wars movies it ends up on the #2 slot right underneath The Empire Strikes Back. It packed a powerful punch and tells an insanely bold story with wonderful and unique characters that I completely fell in love with. I think it set a new standard for Star Wars film, and I hope the films that follow it can live up to that bar. - Review
Kubo and the Two Strings
Laika has perfected the craft of stop-motion filmmaking, and their latest film, Kubo and the Two Strings, is by far the best film they have made so far! Not only is it awesomely designed and exquisitely animated, but it tells a story that was also perfectly crafted. The film offers an explosion of emotions that completely overwhelmed me, and I loved the feels it gave me. - Review
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
This is a brilliantly written and directed film that I know for a fact audiences will love. Waititi has reached a new level of excellence in his filmmaking career with this movie. All of the characters are amazingly wonderful and likable, and you can't help but fall in love with them. Hunt for the Wilderpeople has got everything you want in a movie — action, adventure, comedy, drama, danger, and excitement. I really couldn't have asked for anything more from this movie. In my mind, it was a perfect film. - Review
The Nice Guys
Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling’s The Nice Guys was easily the most fun and comedically entertaining movie of 2016. This movie has it all, and it featured incredible performances by Crow and Gosling. This film might just be my favorite thing that they have done in their careers.
La La Land
Hollywood doesn’t make movies like this anymore! Yeah, I know it’s not a comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, or horror film, but this is a film that any geek with an appreciation for film will absolutely fall in love with. This film is a musical, and it’s overwhelmingly charming in every way. It's also a wonderful tribute to the musicals of old Hollywood. It’s packed full of stuff that I loved from the classic films from the golden age of Hollywood. - Review
Sing Street
I loved Sing Street so much! This was such a joyful uplifting and inspirational film that left me with a glowing happiness. The film came from John Carney, who previously made Once and Begin Again, both of which I thought were great. Sing Street is by far his best film, though, and I absolutely love the music!
Manchester By The Sea
This was the most powerful film of 2016, and it really touched my soul. It tells one of those dramatic stories that really makes you think about life and the trilas and tribulations that we go through. It deeply effected me in a way that changed my outlook on life and pushing through the trials I face the best way that I can. On top of that, Casey Affleck gave the best performance of the year and I hope he wins the Oscar that he’ll be nominated for.
Hell Or High Water
If you missed out on this little gem, then you missed out on one of the best films of the year. This was a modern day western bank heist film that was intense as hell and had some incredible performances by Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges. I’m a big fan of the western genre, and this was just such a brilliantly well-made film.
Arrival
When I went and saw Arrival, I got something that I wasn’t expecting at all. This movie surprised the hell out of me because of how good the story was, and the ending of it caught me completely off guard, which I loved! A lot of movies don’t leave me in awe like this one did. I liked that it wasn’t your typical spectacle sci-fi film. This was just a fantastic story with phenomenal performances.
Deadpool
This is a film that I never thought I’d see happen. Fox was so adamant on not making it for years! But now it exists, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect adaptation of the the Merc with the Mouth. It was a ridiculously fun action film that was just a bast to watch from beginning to end.
The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book was a simply stunning film in both its storytelling and visual awesomeness. It’s a thrilling cinematic adventure full of action, drama, and comedy. It was a meticulously crafted work of art, and it’s the best live-action adaptation from their animated properties. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. - Review
The Conjuring 2
For me, one of the main requirements for a great horror film is that it has to scare the shit out of me. I’ve been watching horror films since I was a kid, so I’ve kinda become desensitized to them. Most horror films don’t freak me out like they used to when I was growing up, so if a movie comes along that scares me now, then that movie is a complete success in my mind. The Conjuring 2 terrified me! - Review