These Are The Best Movies Of 2020

2020 looked like it was going to be a pretty great year for movies; big studios like Marvel had a full slate of upcoming projects, a new James Bond film was on the horizon, and numerous untold blockbusters waited to delight audiences. However, when COVID-19 — a particularly contagious and insidious form of coronavirus — swept the globe in early 2020, the world came to a standstill as citizens took to their homes and stayed inside in an attempt to slow its spread. This was bad news for movie theaters and moviegoers alike; with large gatherings discouraged in order to stem the spread of the virus, consumers turned their attention to the top shows and best video games of 2020, and going to movies suddenly started looking like a thing of the past.

With many movies delayed until later in the year or shelved indefinitely, the future of the entertainment industry remains in flux, but Hollywood will almost certainly find a way to get new releases out to the public, whether that means theaters finding a way to reopen when the crisis passes or more films going directly to streaming. With that said, by the time movie theaters shuttered due to coronavirus, plenty of great films had already hit theaters. Here are the best movies of 2020 so far — and we'll keep updating the list as more are released.

After his stint as Batman and a string of personal issues, including a public divorce, a stint in rehab, and struggles with addiction, Ben Affleck made his return to the big screen in 2020 with The Way Back, which reunites the star with Gavin O'Connor, his director on The Accountant. Affleck stars as Jack Cunningham, an alcoholic separated from his wife Angela (The League's Janina Gavankar) who gets the chance to coach his old high school's basketball team. However, when he gets closer with Dan (Al Madrigal), a teacher at this school, his addiction threatens to derail this new opportunity, and Jack must work even harder to defeat his demons and help his team achieve victory.

Affleck was extraordinarily open in advance of the film's release about how therapeutic the experience was for him, and in terms of his performance, it certainly paid off for him to confront his darkest impulses through art. Critics overwhelmingly praised his performance, saying the role was clearly a personal effort; if he can bring that level of emotion to subsequent projects, his acting comeback appears to be well under way.

In the wake of Parasite's popularity, mainstream American audiences might be more willing to watch subtitled films, and anyone looking to explore more international cinematic efforts should definitely check out the historical drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Directed by French filmmaker Céline Sciamma, the film stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel as Marianne, a young painter, and Héloïse, who is about to be married to a nobleman in Milan and needs a portrait painted. Typically, Héloïse refuses to sit for any painter, but after forming a bond with Marianne, she agrees to sit for the portrait, and when Héloïse's mother leaves the remote house, the two begin a passionate relationship.

Thanks to Sciamma's precise and careful direction and Merlant and Haenel's incredibly moving performances — all three were nominated for Cesar Awards, along with the film itself — Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which earned nearly universal acclaim, is an emotional, gripping journey. If you want to transport yourself to France and a different time without even leaving your home, cue up Portrait and settle in for a truly moving and beautifully told love story.

Directed and written by Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always tells the story of Autumn Callahan (Sidney Flanagan), a 17-year-old struggling with an unwanted pregnancy. After visiting a crisis pregnancy center, she's given literature on adoption rather than termination, but because she still knows how she wants to handle the situation, she gets help from her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) and the two run away to New York City. Trying to terminate her pregnancy leads Autumn through a series of obstacles, from money to secondary clinics and invasive questions about her sexual past, illustrating how difficult it can be for women to get the reproductive health procedures they want and need.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always earned overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, who praised its grace and compassion and Wittman's careful approach to such sensitive material. Reproductive health is still a battle, even in 2020, which this film beautifully illustrates in a careful and sympathetic way.

Pixar has been making excellent, emotionally stirring, and visually stunning films for decades, so it's no surprise that Onward is one of the best films of the year. With a voice cast that includes heavy hitters like Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tom Holland, and Octavia Spencer, Onward tells the story of two young elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Holland and Pratt, respectively) living in a fantasy world who set out on a mission to find a magical artifact that they think could possibly bring back their father, who tragically passed away. Together, they try to regain their magical skills, and perhaps potentially revive their dad.

A tearjerker with plenty of heart, Onward was unsurprisingly yet another critical hit for the Disney-owned studio. If you're a fan of Pixar's previous films, Onward might not be at the top of the pack along with movies like Toy Story or Up, but it definitely won't disappoint.

Netflix has been crushing it lately with teenage romantic comedies like The Kissing Booth and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and in 2020, The Half of It joined the canon, albeit with a progressive and encouraging twist. Written and directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It serves as a modern spin on the legend of Cyrano de Bergerac — who writes love letters to the object of his affection on behalf of a handsome but dull romantic rival — and stars young up-and-comer Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu, a smart but lonely high schooler on the verge of going to college. However, when popular jock Paul (Daniel Diemer) asks Ellie to help him woo the local deacon's daughter, the equally popular Aster (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie finds herself with two new friends and a whole new set of problems, particularly when she develops feelings for Aster herself.

Critics adored Wu's sweet, sensitive take on teenage love and sexual identity, calling the film an "uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story" and concluding that "The Half of It has everything." If you're looking for a feel-good movie with plenty of heart, The Half of It will be a perfect fit.

Charlize Theron's career has spanned genres and decades, but her reinvention as a headlining action hero may be her most exciting move yet, a tradition she continues in the Netflix original film The Old Guard, based on a comic book by the same name. In the film, Theron plays Andromache of Scythia, an Ancient Greek fighter who goes by Andy and leads an intrepid group of immortal soldiers on secret missions across the world, quietly intervening in dangerous situations. 

The squad realizes in the course of their latest mission that they've been tricked by one of their regular CIA contacts (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who has filmed their deaths and rebirths. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Nile Freeman (outstanding newcomer KiKi Layne) is killed in battle, only to realize she can come back from the dead. Once Nile finds the group, they must work together to stop a pharmaceutical executive, Steven Merrick (Harry Potter alum Harry Melling), from performing tests on them to try and discover the secret of immortality.

Directed by Love & Basketball and Beyond the Lights auteur Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard was received well by fans and critics alike, who praised Theron's central performance as well as the excellent action sequences. Theron is one of the best action stars working today, so if you're a fan of her kick-ass roles, The Old Guard is a perfect pick for your next movie night.

You're probably familiar with classic time loop movies like Groundhog Day or television shows like Russian Doll, but Hulu's romantic comedy Palm Springs serves as an entirely new and original take on this twisting, turning genre. The film stars Andy Samberg as Nyles and Cristin Milioti as Sarah, who end up reliving Sarah's sister's wedding every single day in the California resort town of Palm Springs. Having set an immature yet hilarious record during its bidding war at Sundance in January of 2020, Palm Springs is helmed by director Max Barbakow and written by Andy Sciara, all while proudly showing off Samberg's irreverent, goofy influence. Meanwhile, Milioti shines as a troubled, messy thirty-something trying to figure out her life, which is further complicated when she accidentally joins Nyles' endless time loop.

Bolstered by terrific supporting performances from J.K. Simmons, June Squibb, Meredith Haggerty, Camila Mendes, and more, Palm Springs is as delightful as it is carefully plotted. Reliving the same day forever definitely isn't fun, but you'll certainly want to relive your time with Sarah and Nyles when the film ends.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared at a 2009 White House poetry event and announced that he was working on a hip-hop musical about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, he was met with chuckles, but when the Broadway show arrived in New York in 2015, Miranda ultimately got the last laugh. Hamilton ultimately became one of the biggest shows in the Great White Way's history, raking in crazy profits, winning Grammy and Tony Awards, and drawing every huge celebrity into its audience... but unfortunately, that made tickets all the more difficult to get, especially if you wanted to see the original Broadway cast.

Luckily, Miranda (who also played Hamilton in the show's initial run) had the foresight to film the original cast, and in June of 2016, the entire original production was filmed across several shows. Though the filmed version of Hamilton was originally slated for a theatrical release, the powers that be at Disney+ decided their subscribers needed a little cheering up, and the film arrived on the streaming service just in time for Independence Day. In the end, the Hamilton movie captures the best moments of the now-legendary musical perfectly — with plenty of close-ups to boot, showing off moments that would have been tough to see from a faraway seat — and critics and fans alike praised it soundly, proving the fervor around Hamilton may never die down.

Known for projects like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and his recent novel Antland, writer and filmmaker Charlie Kaufman is all about pushing boundaries. That's certainly evident in his latest cinematic effort, I'm Thinking of Ending Things. This Netflix film, which stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, and David Thewlis, among other talented actors, tells the story of a young woman (Buckley) who takes a weekend trip with her boyfriend, Jake (Plemons), to meet his parents (Thewlis and Collette). However, as the movie progresses, viewers start to wonder what's real and what's not, thanks to the film's dreamlike quality, surreal sequences, and constantly shifting plot. Adapted from a novel by Iain Reid, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a bizarre yet fascinating trip that will keep you engaged and guessing for the entire run time, and critics agree.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things turned out to be yet another hit for Netflix, with critics and fans praising Kaufman's mind-bending narrative, Buckley's star-making performance, and the movie's overall statement on the human condition. If you're ready to scramble your brain in the most enjoyable way, check out I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

After gaining international fame and acclaim as the powerful, mysterious Eleven in Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand young stars — and her 2020 film project Enola Holmes proved to be a perfect vehicle for this burgeoning talent. Brown leads the film, which is adapted from the first novel of Nancy Springer's book series of the same name, as the younger sister of famed sleuth Sherlock (played by Henry Cavill) and government stooge Mycroft (Sam Claflin). After a blissful childhood with her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), Enola is an intensely educated, sharp-eyed teenager, and when Eudoria disappears, only Enola can put together the clues to find her.

It's no surprise that Brown blew both critics and fans away in her turn as Sherlock Holmes' talented younger sister, with critics declaring, "Enola Holmes brings a breath of fresh air to Baker Street — and leaves plenty of room for Millie Bobby Brown to put her effervescent stamp on a franchise in waiting." Whether you're a fan of Stranger Things or the classic Holmes stories, you'll find something to love about this new spin on familiar material.

Television and film writer Aaron Sorkin never shies away from difficult, morally complicated stories — a trend he continued when he took on the real story told in The Trial of the Chicago 7. Set in the 1960s, Sorkin's film boasts an all-star cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Michael Keaton, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeremy Strong, and Mark Rylance, among others, and tells the true story of seven men protesting the Vietnam War. After crossing state lines, the defendants were accused of inciting riots and fomenting conspiracy after tensions flared at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Sorkin's knack for wordplay, his top-notch cast of performers, and his smart direction earned accolades for the film, which hit Netflix weeks after its initial theatrical release on September 25. Ultimately, critics praised the movie, calling it "an actors' showcase enlivened by its topical fact-based story" and noting that it "plays squarely — and compellingly — to Aaron Sorkin's strengths." If you're a fan of The West Wing, historical dramas, or both, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a perfect pick.

Emmy Award-winner Sarah Paulson had a pretty good year in 2020 thanks to buzzy projects like Netflix's Ratched and FX's Mrs. America, and Hulu's Run proved to be yet another success for this talented performer. Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, who also penned the screenplay alongside Sev Ohanian, Run tells the story of Chloe (Kiera Allen), a homeschooled teenager whose overprotective mother Diane (Paulson) keeps her locked in their home at all times. Told that she suffers from a chronic illness, Chloe begins to suspect her mother hasn't been entirely honest without her throughout her life, especially as she hopes to start college and move out.

Paulson struck gold once again with Run, with critics praising her performance as well as the thriller's intense twists and turns. After Run's premiere, critics wrote that the film was elevated by its "solid acting and expertly ratcheted tension," and that ultimately, the film "transcend[s] its familiar trappings to deliver a delightfully suspenseful thriller." If you love a good thriller, you'll want to run, not walk, to watch Run.

After a few years working in television on projects like House of Cards and Mindhunter, acclaimed director David Fincher returned to film for his first movie since 2014's Gone Girl, bringing his Old Hollywood epic Mank to Netflix. Using a screenplay from his late father Jack, Fincher dives deep into the story behind the legendary film Citizen Kane, examining the strife and working relationship between famed filmmaker Orson Welles (played by Tom Burke) and Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman). As the two work to create the film of their dreams, similarities emerge between Kane's main character and powerful newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance), causing problems for the duo.

There's no question that Fincher is one of the most acclaimed directors of his generation, and Mank continues his tradition of well-received films. After the film dropped on Netflix in early December, critics wrote that the movie is "sharply written and brilliantly performed," looking "behind the scenes of Citizen Kane to tell an old Hollywood story that could end up being a classic in its own right." Whether or not you're a fan of Citizen Kane, Mank is guaranteed to keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Produced by and starring venerated actor Frances McDormand — who took home her second Oscar in 2017 for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Nomadland presents a stunning look at a woman living in isolation as audiences accompany her on a cross-country journey. The film, directed by Chloé Zhao (who also helmed The Eternals for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, arriving in late 2021), tells the story of McDormand's Fern, who loses her job and decides to spend her days traveling through the American West. The movie also features some real-life nomads who choose to live their lives on the road, including characters played by Bob Wells, Linda May, and Swankie.

Critics have gushed over Zhao's stark, smart direction and McDormand's unsurprisingly great leading performance (with the actor emerging as a front-runner for the 2021 Academy Awards), writing that the film is "a poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden" that "beautifully captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession." Whether you simply miss traveling or dream of living on the road, Nomadland is a quiet, introspective, and gorgeous drama you won't want to miss.

Pixar's original stories are pretty much always touching, deeply heartfelt tales of humanity, love, and loss, and their 2020 release, Soul — which hit Disney+ on Christmas Day — is no exception. As the film begins, music teacher and aspiring jazz pianist Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) finally gets his big break when he's invited to play at a club with the legendary Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett), but just hours before the show, he falls down a manhole and suffers near-fatal injuries. Finding himself in the afterlife, Joe must team up with the troublesome lost soul 22 (Tina Fey) to return to his body, make the show, and achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a successful professional musician.

Thanks to a stellar voice cast and a pitch-perfect story and direction by Pete Docter (who also helmed the introspective Inside Out), Soul proved to be yet another hit for Pixar, with critics calling the movie "a film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold" that "proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed." Grab the tissues, prepare yourself for an intense emotional journey, and check out Soul.

Crafted by writer-director Emerald Fennell — who helmed season two of the popular series Killing Eve and also appeared on The Crown as a young Camilla Parker-Bowles — Promising Young Woman is a searing, unsettling, and clever look at vengeance and retribution in the post-#MeToo era. Carey Mulligan leads the film as Cassie Thomas, a young woman who works at a coffee shop by day and hunts down apparent "nice guys" by night, playing drunk until the men prey on her and she can take her revenge. In doing so, she believes that she's honoring her late best friend, who was assaulted and never recovered.

Flanked by supporting performers Connie Britton, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Adam Brody, Max Greenfield, Alison Brie, Bo Burnham, Chris Lowell, and Laverne Cox, among others, Mulligan shines in Fennell's film, and critics have taken notice. After the film's theatrical release on Christmas Day 2020, critics wrote that the film is a "career highlight" for the actor, calling it "a boldly provocative, timely thriller" as well as "an auspicious feature debut for [Fennell]." Promising Young Woman might not be an easy watch, but it's a necessary one.