Top 10 Movies 2019

January 19, 2020 at 4:07pm
By Jason Stettner

It was yet another stacked year for movies with so many incredible theatrical or home releases arriving throughout the entirety of the calendar. Working from that, across the multiple mediums we compiled a list of the best featuring a wide selection of genres and titles for the films that we most enjoyed.

These are definitely the best of what we watched in terms of quality and even just generally the time we spent viewing them. Keep in mind that everyone's list is different, this collection includes anything that released within the calendar year. Sure, other films should have probably made the list, but these are all experiences that we truly did enjoy viewing. With that, here are our top 10 movies of 2019.

#10: Ready or Not

I had no idea this movie was even releasing until the day I went to go and see it when it hit theaters, this really was a pleasant surprise. It’s a great horror film that leans on survival elements as one woman deals with trying to make it through the night moments after getting married. It’s rather wild, has some good laughs and is very well shot.

#9: Ad Astra

This is a calm, silent and intense film about one man trying to find out what exactly happened to his father. It’s a slow build that takes us on a journey across the solar system in the near future. It has some high stakes, while still being an intimate tale following one many looking for something that’s left a hole in him his entire life.

#8: Toy Story 4

The legacy of this franchise is hard to live up to, but somehow they continue to deliver meaningful moments. This one largely focused on Woody, as he tried to understand that maybe there’s more out there than just being a toy. Understanding how he’s done everything he needs to in service of the kids, and maybe it’s time that he finds something for himself. Forky is fun too.

#7: Frozen II

I had never watched the full first film until the day prior to seeing this one and they’re actually quite well done. The animation work is excellent, and this sequel is a mature build upon the first. It’s about the relationship of two sisters, and how they deal with issues. There’s a good supporting cast, interesting songs and a beautiful animated world.

#6: Jojo Rabbit

While this is a comedy, Jojo Rabbit brings some rather dark and grim tones to it. It’s about war, something that’s never pretty and while it has bright moments it does remind you whenever it can that things aren’t great. It’s also about learning that maybe things aren’t exactly how they’re told to you, and it’s wacky too which is fun.

#5: Avengers: Endgame

The culmination of everything that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been building towards, and they nail it. This is a large scale movie that brings the action, feels dark enough to match the state of the universe and has all of the best heroes come together in the most perfect of ways. It’s a mission where things have never been so grim, and it’ll take a team effort to deal with. The scale is amazing, the narrative is well handled and it perfectly concludes one part of this perhaps never ending series.

#4: The Lighthouse

This is quite a film, it’s largely two guys just chilling at a lighthouse. It’s also much more than that, but that’s the general summary. There are themes of madness, ocean based mysteries and it’s an experience you will never forget. The style of how this shot only adds to the insanity, and it’s truly one insane movie. It’s beyond anything you could expect, or even understand.

#3: Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

Well, it’s a Quentin Tarantino film, so it hits expectations and brings one unique twist to all of it. Set in a magical time within Hollywood, watch various perspectives that come together for what seems like a meandering time, until it hits hard and insane. This is beautifully shot, with excellent acting so many stand out scenes.

#2: Booksmart

This is one remarkable film that looks at younger female friendship and brings the laughs too. This is one that I’ve watched a number of times, and it’s still just as good. It may seem like a typical everything goes wrong sort of night, but it’s deeper than that and it’s impactful. It has an excellent soundtrack, is stunning in terms of how it was shot and the acting is great. This is full of surprises, and so many interesting moments.

#1: Joker

This was entirely surprising, it looked great but I would have never anticipated the movie taking the top spot on this list for the year. It’s a very well done origin story, and also an intense look at the state of mental illness in modern society. It’s all about the building of a mad man, one that’s trying to do the right thing and having the system ultimately fail him. An incredible performance from the lead Joaquin Phoenix, which is only further amplified by the gorgeous cinematography.

Those are the top 10 movies of 2019 featuring a wide range of films, perhaps some surprises as well. Hopefully a good variety, showcasing something distinct you might want to watch. Check out a selection of ten games below, or our awards hub to see what took home the top prizes from the site for this past year.

Read 10 Best Games of 2019
View our Movie Awards 2019