We assembled some friends and colleagues to contribute lists of their favorite feature films of the year. Festival and international films from 2018 were eligible if they were distributed in the United States in 2019. 2019’s festival and international films were likewise eligible, even if they have not yet reached distribution.
See also: our contributors’ Top 10 Films of the Decade.
Libbie Anderson | Writers Guild of America West
#10. THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN
#9. UNCUT GEMS
#8. HER SMELL
#7. BOOKSMART
#6. THE FAREWELL
#5. KNIVES OUT
#4. PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
#3. PARASITE
#2. TRANSIT
#1. LITTLE WOMEN
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE: the Keanu Reeves dinner scene
- THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN: Áila and Rosie’s cab ride to the safe house
- HER SMELL: Becky Something performs a piano cover of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”
- HUSTLERS: Destiny climbs in to Ramona’s fur coat
- KNIVES OUT: everything Toni Colette is doing in this movie
- THE LIGHTHOUSE: “Ye love me lobster!”
- MARRIAGE STORY: Charlie sings Sondheim’s “Being Alive”
- PARASITE: Ki-Jung pretends to be an art therapist
- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE: “Page 28”
- TRANSIT: “You love him, yet you’re abandoning him.” / “He is not my son.” / What difference does that make? She is not my wife.”
*****
Wesley Caldwell | Producer
#10. US
#9. KNIVES OUT
#8. THE IRISHMAN
#7. MARRIAGE STORY
#6. BOOKSMART
#5. MIDSOMMAR
#4. PARASITE
#3. HONEY BOY
#2. UNCUT GEMS
#1. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: the minute of silence
- DOCTOR SLEEP: Rose the Hat astro-projects
- HONEY BOY: the phone call with mom
- THE IRISHMAN: Jimmy Hoffa meets with a very late and disrespectful Tony Pro
- KNIVES OUT: Marta drinks her coffee
- MARRIAGE STORY: the back-and-forth between attorneys Nora and Jay
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD: Los Angeles lights up to The Rolling Stones’ “Out of Time”
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD: Rick Dalton meets Sharon Tate
- UNCUT GEMS: Howard tells KG he’s going to win the basketball game
- US: the other family shows up
*****
Dave Cowden | Walt Disney Studios
#10. WAVES
#9. 1917
#8. UNCUT GEMS
#7. MONOS
#6. BIRDS OF PASSAGE
#5. PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
#4. ATLANTICS
#3. THE LIGHTHOUSE
#2. A HIDDEN LIFE
#1. THE SOUVENIR
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- 1917: Schofield sits down against a tree after his journey, framing him just as he was introduced
- THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE: Casey sports his yellow belt informally
- ATLANTICS: the girls confront the business owner in his home
- THE DEAD DON’T DIE: “I’m thinking zombies.”
- THE FAREWELL: Nai Nai waves goodbye as Billi’s car drives away
- A HIDDEN LIFE: “What do I write?”
- THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO: Jimmie and Montgomery skip the bus and ride into town on a skateboard
- THE LAUNDROMAT: Jürgen and Ramón break the fourth wall
- UNCUT GEMS: Howard releases his captives after a betting win
- WAVES: Emily and her father share a moment while fishing
*****
Mike Dillon | CTVA 102 Instructor/Programmer
#10. CATS
#9. A HIDDEN LIFE
#8. PARASITE
#7. CHAINED FOR LIFE
#6. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
#5. PAIN AND GLORY
#4. TRANSIT
#1. CLIMAX
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- 1917: Schofield sprints across the battlefield
- AQUARELA: the rescue workers attempt to save a drowned man
- AVENGERS: ENDGAME: the Avengers assemble
- BLINDED BY THE LIGHT: Javed serenades Eliza / “Thunder Road”
- DOGMAN: Marcello revives a frozen dog
- GRETA: Greta chews gum/Huppert chews scenery
- JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM: the Chinatown knife fight
- OUT STEALING HORSES: the logs are released into the river
- PLUS ONE: “I’m catching up on old episodes of BONES.”
- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE: Marianne dries her canvases by the fire
*****
Madi Edson | Orion Pictures
#10. MICKEY AND THE BEAR
#9. CRAWL
#8. SAINT MAUD
#7. KNIVES OUT
#6. CHILD’S PLAY
#5. THE FAREWELL
#4. MIDSOMMAR
#3. HONEY BOY
#1. PARASITE
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- JOKER: The Joker dances before his television appearance
- MIDSOMMAR: Dani cryies on her boyfriend’s lap
- MIDSOMMAR: the bear reveal
- PARASITE: the basement reveal
- PARASITE: Ki-Jung first cons the Parks
- SAINT MAUD: the flash of reality during Maud’s sacrifice
- US: the dancing scene in The Underground
*****
Daniel Love | Sony Home Entertainment
#10. WHERE’S MY ROY COHN?
#9. KNIVES OUT
#8. LITTLE WOMEN
#7. THE IRISHMAN
#6. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
#5. PAIN AND GLORY
#4. PARASITE
#3. PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
#2. UNCUT GEMS
#1. THE LIGHTHOUSE
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- THE BEACH BUM: Moondog tries the potent plant
- THE FAREWELL: the family karaoke scene
- GLORIA BELL: Gloria dances with strangers
- THE IRISHMAN: Russ eats his lunch
- KNIVES OUT: Benoit Blanc rolls up his sleeves
- THE LIGHTHOUSE: the Fresnel lens goes “ALTERED STATES”
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD: Cliff makes Brandy dinner
- PARASITE: Ki-jung teaches art therapy
- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE: the final scene / Héloïse hears the music
- UNCUT GEMS: Howard holds the stone / “Oh my god, I’m gonna…”
*****
Aaron Neuwirth | Out Now with Aaron and Abe
#10. MARRIAGE STORY
#9. TRANSIT
#8. 1917
#7. MIDSOMMAR
#6. HIGH FLYING BIRD
#5. US
#4. UNCUT GEMS
#3. PARASITE
#2. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
#1. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Favorite On-Screen Moments:
- AD ASTRA: the moon chase
- AVENGERS: ENDGAME: Thor talks to his mother
- FORD V FERRARI: the test drive with Mr. Ford
- GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS: Rodan’s rebirth
- MARRIAGE STORY: Charlie sings Sondheim’s “Being Alive”
- MIDSOMMAR: the cliff dive ritual
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD: the Spahn Ranch sequence
- PAIN AND GLORY: the final shot
- TOY STORY 4: the plush rush
- US: Red’s story
*****