First of all, my apologies for the delay. Normally, I try to wrap up this project in early January but due to laziness, I decided to hold off on posting this list to the public until now. With the pandemic in full effect and my entire social life being put on hold due to lockdown, I felt that now was as good of a time as any to stop procrastinating on this.
For this year's countdown, I collected 450 different top-ten lists from film critics (up from 425 last year). Most of the critics whose lists I used were American, although as with every year there were plenty from Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia that I used as well. Since different countries have films released at different dates, some films which already appeared in the 2018 countdown will make re-appearances. Also, several films which hit the festival circuit make appearances, and likely will again once they get their official commercial release. The points system that I used in years past remains. I may do a separate post in the future listing all the critics top-ten lists that I used, but who knows.
So let's get to it! The year 2019 was certainly a great one for the cinema, and I'd say that (for the most part) a lot of the films at the top of the rankings deserve to be there. It was also an interesting year to see the narrative of cinema continue to change, as it seems like there were more female directors than ever represented at the top, more non-white directors represented at the top, and also more films released directly to streaming services (particularly Netflix) represented at the top. It will definitely be interesting to see what legacy these twelve months will have on the future of this art and this industry.
As we do every year, we begin the rankings at #85...
41 points
Due to the different theatrical releases by country as well as some critics getting access to watch a film in a festival a year before other critics can, seeing a movie appear on the countdown for two consecutive years in nothing unusual. However, this is the first time that a movie appeared on the countdown in the exact same position as a year ago (#84) with almost identical points totals (41.5 points in 2018, 41 points in 2019).
84(tie). THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF EURIDICE GUSMAO (dir: Karim Ainouz)
41 points
A story about two sisters' trials and tribulations living in 1950s Rio de Janeiro. This movie premiered as part of the Un Certain Regard competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it won top prize.
83. THE HOTTEST AUGUST (dir: Brett Story)
42 points
A documentary on the current climate and political crises of our time, with various New Yorkers being interviewed on their feelings about it during what was (at that time) the hottest August in recorded history.
81(tie). IN MY ROOM (dir: Ulrich Kohler)
45 points
A German drama about a photographer (Hans Low) who has to deal with a new life as the world's lone male following an unexpected calamity. The movie was first screened at Un Certain Regard at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
81(tie). BIRDS OF PASSAGE (dir: Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra)
45 points
From the man that brought you Embrace of the Serpent (#44 in our 2016 poll) comes this tale about the origins of the Colombian drug trade, as told from the perspective of the nation's indigenous population.
80. BORDER (dir: Ali Abbasi)
45.5 points
Speaking of the Un Certain Regard at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, this is the film that won grand prize that year. Not only that, it also ended up getting nominated for an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Styling. This is the second appearance for Abbasi's feature, after appearing at #78 in our 2018 poll.
77(tie). OUR TIME (dir: Carlos Reygadas)
46 points
A story about a dysfunctional relationship, with all the affairs and uncontrollable jealousy that comes with it. This film is the latest from Mexican auteur Carlos Reygadas, who also stars in the movie alongside his real-life partner, Natalia Lopez.
77(tie). DOCTOR SLEEP (dir: Mike Flanagan)
46 points
Ewan McGregor stars as Dan Torrence, the son of The Shining's Jack Torrence, who continues to deal with the fallout of the events that occurred at the Overlook Hotel many years ago. While not much anticipated upon release, this sequel to the Stephen King novel (most famously adapted to screen by Stanley Kubrick in 1980) managed to develop a small but passionate fanbase among some circles of critics since its release.
77(tie). 3 FACES (dir: Jafar Panahi)
46 points
The much-lauded Iranian director Jafar Panahi (whose films have already appeared on our countdown in three separate occasions) stars as himself alongside acclaimed actress Benhaz Jafari in this road movie where they try to find a young girl who sent a video to Jafari asking to free her from her conservative family. The film was produced despite the Iranian government still not allowing Panahi to make films. It won Best Screenplay at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
76. DARK WATERS (dir: Todd Haynes)
46.5 points
A dramatic re-telling of the true story of Robert Bilott, the former corporate lawyer turned activist who set out to prove that DuPont was purposefully poisoning the waters of towns, their consumers, as well as their workers with the chemicals in their products.
75. GIVE ME LIBERTY (dir: Kirill Mikhanovsky)
48.5 points
Featuring a largely amateur cast, this movie tells the story of a chaotic day in the life of a transportation worker for the disabled (played by Chris Galust). A triumph of independent filmmaking, the movie ended up nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards, winning the John Cassevetes Award for best feature made under $500,000.
74. THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (dir: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz)
49.5 points
A heartwarming story about the budding friendship between two outlaws: Tyler, who is on the run from an arson charge, and Zak, a patient with Down Syndrome who escaped from his state-run facility in order to become a professional wrestler. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen play the lead roles.
71(tie). DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE (dir: S. Craig Zahler)
52 points
Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn star as two disgraced police officers who turn to crime in order to provide for their families following getting sacked due to controversial circumstances. This is Zahler's second straight feature to make the countdown, after Brawl in Cell Block 99 appeared at #69 in the 2017 countdown.
71(tie). BLACK MOTHER (dir: Khalik Allah)
52 points
An experimental documentary in which the photographer Khalik Allah (who shot, directed, and edited this picture) paints a complex and emotional portrait of Jamaica and its people.
71(tie). AMAZING GRACE (dir: Sydney Pollack)
52 points
The long-awaited documentary about the singer Aretha Franklin singing gospel songs at L.A.'s New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in 1972. This film made its wide release following the passing of both Franklin as well as its director, Sydney Pollack.
70. HEIMAT IS A SPACE AND TIME (dir: Thomas Heise)
54 points
Listed at a running time of over 210 minute, this expansive documentary aims to explore the history of what happened to director Thomas Heise's family during the course of the chaotic 20th Century.
68(tie). LIBERTE (dir: Albert Serra)
56 points
Set in the woods of Germany years before the French Revolution, this shocking film attempts to show a radical group of proto-libertarians as they engage in their wildest and darkest sexual desires.
68(tie). JUST DON'T THINK I'll SCREAM (dir: Frank Beauvais)
56 points
A personal essay documentary in which the director details his experience in Paris after spending years living in solitude in the French countryside.
67. ROLLING THUDER REVUE: A BOB DYLAN STORY BY MARTIN SCORSESE (dir: Martin Scorsese)
59 points
The year 2019 was a big one for legendary American filmmaker Martin Scorsese, as well as his partnership with Netflix, with this documentary being an example of that. Released a few months before The Irishman, this film recounts Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour, as he spent months in the late '70s traveling the United States and doing concerts in small, intimate settings. This is Scorsese's second documentary about Bob Dylan, with his first being 2005's No Direction Home.
66. I DON'T CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BARBARIANS (dir: Radu Jude)
61 points
A dark satire in the vein of The Act of Killing, in which there's an attempt to recount the Romanian army's ethnic cleansing of Jews and Roma on the Eastern Front during World War II.
65. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (dir: Barry Jenkins)
63 points
Although there was no Best Picture nomination for Barry Jenkins' follow-up to Moonlight, there was continued appreciation of his James Baldwin adaptation from the various European and Australian critics who ended up catching it for the first time in 2019. The film previously appeared at #7 in our 2018 countdown.
64. BAIT (dir: Mark Jenkin)
63.5 points
A story of the tensions between the local townspeople at an English fishing village and the tourists that visit annually.
63. AMERICAN FACTORY (dir: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichart)
65.5 points
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, it's the story of the opening of the new Fuyao factory near Dayton, Ohio and the various issues experienced by its workers and managers during the first few years. This movie is one of the first features produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions in their newly minted partnership with Netflix.
62. LES MISERABLES (dir: Ladj Ly)
68.5 points
Set within the commune of Montlfermeil in France, the drama follows the lives of local policemen and the community of mostly black and brown immigrant families they monitor. The film was director Ladj Ly's first feature, and it not only got a spot on the main competition of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, it also earned the Jury Prize. It also won the Cesar Award for Best Feature, and immediately earned comparisons to such classic as La Haine and Do the Right Thing. Not bad for a debut, I must say.
61. PETERLOO (dir: Mike Leigh)
69.5 points
Mike Leigh's telling of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre, in which several British forces charged onto a peaceful pro-democracy rally in Manchester, England and killed several onlookers. This is Mike Leigh's first appearance on the countdown since Mr. Turner (#19 in the 2014 countdown)
60. READY OR NOT (dir: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett)
70 points
Samara Weaving stars in her breakout role as the newly married wife of a tabletop game heir who must stay alive for twelve hours and avoid being killed by her new, rich in-laws.
59. THE BEACH BUM (dir: Harmony Korine)
73 points
Director Harmony Korine's long-anticipated follow-up to Spring Breakers (#21 on the 2013 countdown) in which he continues to use South Florida as his setting. This time, he tells the story of cult poet Moondog (Matthew McConaughey in a role seemingly tailor-made for him) and his wild adventures. Also starring Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, Snoop Dogg, and Zac Efron, among others.
58. THE TWO POPES (dir: Fernando Meirelles)
73.5 points
Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play the popes Benedict XVI and Francis, in a story about their relationship during the period between Benedict XVI's announcement as Pope and his resignation amid scandal in 2013.
56(tie). I LOST MY BODY (dir: Jeremy Clapin)
75 points
A French animated feature in which a hand attempts to reconnect with the body it was cut off from. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards
56(tie). BACURAU (dir: Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendoca Filho)
75 points
One of the many standouts at a rather exceptional 2019 Cannes Film Festival, this Brazilian drama tells the story of a village beset upon a group of dangerous American mercenaries hunting for sport. Expect this to appear again in the 2020 countdown once it picks up a theatrical release in the states.
55. DIANE (dir: Kent Jones)
76.5 points
A few years after making the documentary Hitchcock/Truffaut, critic turned filmmaker Kent Jones directs his first drama about the turbulent life of a middle-aged Massachusetts woman (played by Mary Kay Place in an awards-winning performance).
54. BEANPOLE (dir: Kantemir Balagov)
78 points
Winner of the Best Director award at Cannes' Un Certain Regard, a harrowing story about two female hospital workers dealing with life in the Soviet Union following the Second World War. Like with Bacurau, I expect to see this movie make a re-appearance on next years lists as it makes its release in North America.
53. CLIMAX (dir: Gaspar Noe)
86.5 points
A group of French dancers finish rehearsing their routine and decide to have a party. This leads to essentially a two-hour downward spiral to hell, with various chaos and horror abound.
49(tie). TOY STORY 4 (dir: Josh Cooley)
89 points
While it did not receive the same amount of top 10 appearances as the three previous entries of the franchise did (Toy Story 3, by comparison, finished #4 in the 2010 countdown), this newest Toy Story installment still racked up a bunch of praise from the critics as well as a Best Animated Feature victory at the Oscars to boot. Pretty impressive given how most movie number-fours are regarded as terrible and cheap cash-grabs among their fanbase.
49(tie). MARTIN EDEN (dir: Pietro Marcello)
89 points
An Italian re-telling of the book by Jack London, which has since earned plenty of praise from the critics who viewed it in fall's festival circuit.
49(tie). JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (dir: Chad Stahelski)
89 points
Keanu Reeves' John Wick keeps on John Wicking, murdering every assassin that he can get his hands on. The franchise is now a perfect 3-for-3 in countdown appearances, after placing #70 in 2014 and #49 in 2017.
49(tie). ASAKO I & II (dir: Rysuke Hamaguchi)
89 points
A woman (played by Erika Karata) falls in love with a man (played by Masahiro Higashide) on first sight, yet disappears suddenly from her life. Two years later, she meets a man (also played by Higashide) with the same facial features. As you would expect, that kind of plotline leads to some messy conclusions in the end.
48. I WAS AT HOME, BUT (dir: Angela Schanelec)
91 points
Maren Eggert played Astrid, a middle-aged mother of two, as she deals with her life following the death of her husband. The film won Schanelec the award for Best Director at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival.
46(tie). THE FAVOURITE (dir: Yorgos Lanthimos)
92.5 points
The 2018 countdown's #3 film makes a re-appearance, with newer critics getting a taste of the sparkling palace conflicts and the award-winning performance of Olivia Coleman as England's Queen Anne.
46(tie). HONEY BOY (dir: Alma Har'el)
92.5 points
Shia LaBeouf makes his second appearance on the countdown, this time starring in a drama in which he wrote the screenplay and plays the role of a man based on his father. Also starring FKA twigs and Lucas Hedges.
45. FOR SAMA (dir: Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts)
98.5 points
A documentary about the Syrian Civil War through the eyes of Waad Al-Kateab, a resident of Aleppo during the uprising years. This film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
44. THE IMAGE BOOK (dir: Jean-Luc Godard)
102 points
Leave it to the 89-year old Godard to turn out another beloved film essay adored by the critics. This time, it's a 90 minute feature which examines various different concepts, from the film world's portrayal of Muslims to film's failures in relation to capturing The Holocaust. It previously appeared at #51 in our 2018 countdown.
43. SYNONYMS (dir: Nadav Lapid)
115 points
Winner of the Golden Bear at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival, this Parisian-set drama tells the story of an Israeli ex-pat and his new life living in the city and being friends with a married couple of artists.
42. ROCKETMAN (dir: Dexter Fletcher)
121 points
A musical retelling of the life of famous English musician Elton John, starring Taron Egerton. This was Paramount's attempt to cash on the success of 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody, and although it did not make as much money or win as many Oscars as the Freddie Mercury biopic, it still made bank for Paramount while collecting more critical praise and help get Egerton some awards (including the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy).
41. MONOS (dir: Alejandro Landes)
128.5 points
An expansive drama on the Colombian civil war as told from the perspective of a group of teenage soldiers who kidnap an American doctor (played by Julianne Nicholson) and take her hostage.
40. AN ELEPHANT SITTING STILL (dir: Hu Bo)
130.5 points
I've already said enough about the movie last year, when it placed #48 on the countdown. I'll just add that it remains a shame that this is the last thing that we'll ever see from Hu Bo, a life tragically cut short.
39. THE NIGHTINGALE (dir: Jennifer Kent)
141.5 points
The director of The Babadook (#22 in the 2014 countdown) tells the story of the early days of colonial Australia with all the violence, rape, and struggles that came with it. Aisling Franciosi stars as Clare, an Irish convict who travels across the Tasmanian wilderness with the help of an aboriginal man (played by Baykali Ganambarr) in order to enact revenge on the British officer who raped her and murdered her husband.
38. UNDER THE SILVER LAKE (dir: David Robert Mitchell)
142.5 points
Despite the success of his previous film, It Follows (#23 in the 2015 countdown), A24 decided to treat this new movie of his (a noirish thriller starring Andrew Garfield) with the utmost contempt, first deciding to push back its release by a year and then finally letting American audiences see it in theaters with as little publicity as possible. And that's a shame, because there's a lot in this movie that will earn it a cult following for decades to come.
37. LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (dir: Bi Gan)
146.5 points
Previously #69 in the 2018 countdown. A puzzling movie that features one of the most extraordinary one-take sequences put out in recent memory.
36. DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (dir: Craig Brewer)
153 points
A story of the life of Rudy Ray Moore, famous comedian turned actor of several beloved blacksploitation movies. It's a film so good, it brought Eddie Murphy's acting talents back into the spotlight and earned him his best reviews in over a decade.
34(tie). HONEYLAND (dir: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov)
154 points
A documentary about a small family of beekeepers living in the mountains of North Macedonia. It was not only nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Award, it even got the Oscar nomination for Best International Feature as well (a rarity for a documentary).
34(tie). LA FLOR (dir: Mariano Llinas)
154 points
Llinas' 808 minute epic (the longest movie in Argentinian history) appears on the countdown for the second straight year, after appearing at #81 in the 2018 countdown.
33. HER SMELL (dir: Alex Ross Perry)
163 points
The collaboration between director Alex Ross Perry and actress Elisabeth Moss continues to produce magic. This time, Moss portrays a world-famous rock musician dealing with drug addiction and other conflicts which are leading to her downfall.
32. FORD VS. FERRARI (dir: James Mangold)
164 points
Matt Damon and Christian Bale play members of a Ford autoracing team looking to defeat the legendary machines of Ferrari in a Formula 1 battle. The movie was nominated for several Oscars, and is the second-straight movie by Mangold to appear on the countdown (following Logan, which appeared at #21 back in the 2017 countdown).
31. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (dir: Marielle Heller)
169.5 points
Matthew Rhys stars Tom Junod, an Empire writer who writes a cover story on childrens television entertainer Mister Rodgers (played by Tom Hanks). This marks the second straight year with a Heller movie on the countdown (following last year's Can You Ever Forgive Me? appearing at #21) and third straight overall (2015's The Diary of a Teenage Girls appeared at #20 at that year's countdown).
And that wraps up Part 1. Be sure to check out Part 2 when it appears tomorrow. Peace out!
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