The 25 Best Movies of 2016

Sally Field's return in Hello, My Name Is Doris is a truly welcome one. The actress glows as a lonely hoarder who falls in love with a young hipster from her office. There's real delight in watching Field play Doris's surprise that people like her for who she is. It's a movie about being yourself, but also about knowing when you need to make a change and push yourself in a new direction. Equal parts joyful and sad, Doris's characters feel oh so human, a rarity in recent silver screen forays. But most of all, we will pretty much watch Field in anything. Really.

A Bigger Splash is a pensive, European-feeling indie that follows Marianne, a rock star (Tilda Swinton), and her boyfriend as they vacation on an Italian island. They're joined by her ex, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), and his seductive daughter, played by an especially on-point Dakota Johnson, and the latecomers disrupt the peaceful summer dynamic. Think sex, jealousy, and half-naked bodies laying in the sun; ultimately, the sleepy movie becomes something more thrilling. Swinton is always a joy to watch and her musician character here is reminiscent of David Bowie. To say too much more would spoil this thoroughly enjoyable film. What we can tell you is that Fiennes has a dynamite dance scene: You'll never see Voldemort the same way again.

Bad Moms is an important inclusion here, not because it's the world's most amazing movie (it isn't), but because it acknowledges that motherhood is hilarious. Despite the title, this movie, starring Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, and Kristen Bell, is one of the year's most laugh-out-loud comedies. If it has anything to say, it's "Nobody's perfect" and "Don't judge." Forget what other parents are thinking at school drop-off. The news that a Bad Dads sequel is coming next year is concerning, though. Isn't that just every other comedy movie?

Let's be honest: We have superhero movie fatigue. If 2016 has taught us anything, it's that we don't really need any more movies about supercharged randoms tasked with saving the world from possible destruction at the hands of yet another "meh" villain. But Deadpool is something else entirely. The X-Men spin-off, which star Ryan Reynolds pushed hard to get made, is R-rated, snappy, and full of fast-hitting jokes. It's far more low-key than some of the other comic book flicks this year—sweet relief. How awesome to watch a movie where the hero is kind of a dick, but loves his girl and wants to do some good. Deadpool also addresses cancer in a genuine way that's unexpected for a blockbuster. We're interested in the forthcoming sequel, but please, Hollywood, don't screw it up.

Can your dreams change as you get older? Mike Birbiglia's bittersweet comedy takes on this question in the unforgiving context of show business. In Don't Think Twice, a group of improv actors, played by an ensemble of real comedic performers including Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs, have been waiting for their big break for years. Birbiglia is interested in whether we can know when it's time to pack it up and move on, and whether putting in the hours and effort will ever pay off. There are as many questions here as there are answers, and the movie's ideas transcend the improv world.

Richard Linklater has an uncanny understanding of the school experience. As we've seen in films like Boyhood, he just knows what it's like to be young and walking through the hallways feeling judged and different. In this case, he takes on freshman year of college. This 1980s period piece is fun and kicky, with an overall vibe guaranteed to make you super nostalgic, and a feelgood note we recognized from Linklater's Dazed and Confused. The cast, which includes Blake Jenner and Zoey Deutch, is a pleasure to watch. Everybody Wants Some hasn't received as much attention as Boyhood, but it deserves to.

Paul Feig's remake of Ghostbusters caused a lot of controversy. Like, a lot. Some moviegoers went into the film prepared to dislike it, simply because this time it was women fighting off those unfriendly ghosts. But if you look at this reboot objectively (which you should, fanboys), you'll see a solid, entertaining family flick about four women who use their friendship (and anti-ghost smarts) to come out on top. Kate McKinnon is beyond funny, as usual, and Chris Hemsworth deserves some kind of award for his ditzy performance as the group's secretary. Ignore the message boards and the online commenters and get straight to it.

Saturday Night Live co-head writer Chris Kelly wrote and directed Other People, a sleeper indie flick that feels intimate and relatable. Kelly loosely based the story on the death of his own mother from cancer, and Molly Shannon's performance as the fictional matriarch is both poignant and hilarious. Kelly manages to find humor and truth in the idea of loss and avoids generic cancer-movie tropes. Instead, Other People deals with a range of raw emotions and acknowledges that death doesn't always come with a sweeping orchestral score and grandiose life lessons.

There's been a villain problem in superhero movies lately. Either there's an amazing one (like Loki in The Avengers) or it's some lame character who has no believable motivation for their destructive malice. But in the third Captain America film, Zemo (Daniel Brühl) is an average guy with true motives and purpose. His actions set the Avengers against each other, which makes for enjoyably tense watching, but the movie is really about the larger question of whether superheroes are good or destructive. How much harm do they really do in the name of being helpful? The other takeaway is that we're still waiting for Marvel to announce a Black Widow spin-off. Please?

Did you expect a movie about talking food to be any good? It turns out that Seth Rogen's (very) adult take on animated groceries is not only engrossing, but it also makes some very real points about religion and the way people from different backgrounds interact. The premise is admittedly stupid—some food items believe they are going to the "great beyond" when purchased from the supermarket, but it turns out they are actually being brutally murdered and eaten. But Rogen and his fellow writers give life to these hot dogs and buns (who can't wait to finally be together, wink wink, nudge nudge) and he skewers the idea of unquestioning belief. Admittedly, it's pretty much a stoner movie, but if that floats your boat, the bizarre world of Sausage Party might be for you.

The plot of Irish musical comedy Sing Street is simple: In 1985, Dublin teenager Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) starts a rock band in hopes of impressing his crush and escaping his unenviable family life. For feelgood, bighearted movies, this teen story can't be beat. Sing Street is full of optimism, always a welcome presence these days, and the songs are seriously memorable. Director John Carney also made the similarly buoyant flicks Begin Again and Once. Even if you're not usually a "musicals person," give it a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised.

If you read Roald Dahl's heartwarming The BFG as a child, you'll likely be entranced by this big-screen adaptation. Sure, it's a little long, but we know Steven Spielberg can't help himself—and we forgive him. Bright and imaginative, the movie introduces us to a lovable giant you'll want as a bestie. The titular Big Friendly Giant is played in motion capture by Mark Rylance, who won an Oscar last year for Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, and his facial expressions are wonderfully expressive. But the MVP of the film is young actress Ruby Barnhill, who plays the BFG's friend Sophie better than we could have ever imagined. By the final scenes, you'll be tearing up at this story about love and family: something we can all relate to, no matter how old.

As we mentioned, 2016 was full of terrible remakes, which means we originally didn't look too kindly on this live-action retelling of Disney's The Jungle Book. But director Jon Favreau proved all the skeptics wrong with a beautifully made, dramatic film that marks the debut of Neel Seth (Mowgli). While the story may be familiar, this time everything feels bigger and more colorful. There's more at stake, with characters who seem more real than animated, and Mowgli's relationships with his animal companions are deeply compelling. The Jungle Book makes you reconsider the line we've drawn between man and beast, and it's obvious why Disney has greenlit a sequel. Make sure you watch it on a big screen (i.e. not your phone).

What if all single people were banished from cities and forced to find a soulmate in 30 days lest they be transformed into an animal and loosed in the woods? It sounds nuts, but that's the premise of The Lobster, a strange, compelling movie that will leave you both thoughtful and super depressed. It stars Colin Farrell in his most impressively understated performance to date. There is something truly sad and reflective about the narrative, which takes some violent and surprising turns, despite the movie's billing as a comedy. The film arrived in Europe last year, but those of us Stateside had to wait until 2016. Thank goodness it did eventually arrive—it's the kind of movie that stays with you.

For some reason, not a lot of moviegoers saw Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe's hilarious detective caper, but The Nice Guys is truly one of the most entertaining movies of the year. The pair play private eyes in 1970s Los Angeles who team up to solve the mysterious death of a porn star. It's violent, ridiculous, and so much fun, especially as Gosling's Holland March and Crowe's Jackson Healy banter and bicker with each other. Bonus points go to actress Angourie Rice, who plays March's daughter, Holly; her fast-talking wit easily makes her the film's best character. Director Shane Black, who previously made Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3, gives the movie a stylish edge (you'll covet the costumes). Also: Did we mention it stars Ryan Gosling?

We were skeptical when the trailers for The Shallows first emerged. Blake Lively fighting a shark? Mostly while wearing a tiny bikini? Hmmm. But The Shallows is a legitimately awesome movie. You'll be utterly drawn in by the clever human-versus-shark battle, which ends with a real "Hell yeah!" moment. Nancy (Lively) is one of very few characters in this flick, and the actress carries the entire thing with only the help of an adorable bird she names Steven Seagull. (Get it?) If you skipped this one, go back and rent it. In fact, grab all your friends and throw a viewing party. You'll be cheering for Lively to kick some shark ass.

There are disaster movies, and then there is this disaster movie, which was first released in Norway last year. After a 250-foot-high tidal wave, a geologist and his family brace for survival. Nice and simple. No apocalypses, aliens, or zombies here (not that there's anything wrong with those). Instead, The Wave tells a more intimate—and in some ways, more terrifying—story. Will there be enough time for the family to escape? Will they make it out alive? Let's just say that if you have nightmares about massive walls of water afterwards, we won't blame you.

The Witch first terrified audiences at Sundance in early 2015 and finally got wider distribution earlier this year. Starring newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy, the movie is set in 17th-century New England, and follows a Puritan family who encounter a supernatural being in the woods. Without relying on the overly bloody aesthetic typical of current horror flicks, it's still dark and carefully paced. Instead, The Witch is more psychologically affecting. It also has the feel of an instant classic, perhaps because it's painstakingly historically accurate. There's a slow build, but after watching this one, you may never sleep again. Or, at least, you may never sleep in the vicinity of the woods again.

Leave it to a kids' movie to address racial profiling in an empathetic way. Zootopia is a clever, poignant animated tale about why you shouldn't judge people by their appearance or their differences. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a spunky rabbit who joins the police force and must prove herself to doubting colleagues. From bunny to fox and lion, the various species are subject to various stereotypes, and eventually Judy learns that there's no such thing as inherent behavior in anyone just because of who they are. Plus, it's just a really fun watch.

Love and Friendship is based on Jane Austen's novel Lady Susan, and in many ways it's typical of an Austen story. Kate Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon, a manipulative, seductive woman who is willing to do basically anything to win the man she wants. Drama ensues, with ornate costumes to match. Much credit to director Whit Stillman, who manages to capture the manners and detail of the period while making the story itself feel somewhat timeless. For a historical flick, it's surprisingly funny, and there's a sense that the characters are aware just how ridiculous their actions are. Add it to your queue immediately.