Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.

2016

A.V. Club: Noel Murray: The Best Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Manchester by the Sea - Kenneth Lonergan

Noel Murray: The Best Films of 2016, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also The 10 Best Documentaries of 2022The 10 (or 11) Best Documentaries of 2021The Best Films of 2021The Best Films of 2020The Best Films of 2019Top 15 Films of 2018Best Films of 2017The Best Films of 2015Top 15 Films of 201415 Best Films of 2012Best Films of 2011]


This list contributes to:

Keith Phipps: Top 15 Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Moonlight - Barry Jenkins

Keith Phipps: Top 15 Films of 2016, as posted to Twitter

[see also 2023202220212010s20182017201420122011]

Verge: Tasha Robinson: 15 Best Movies of 2016

31 December 2016

La La Land - Damien Chazelle

Tasha Robinson: 15 Best Movies of 2016, as published by The Verge

[see also 20232022201920182017201420122011]

Metro: Matt Prigge: 25 Best Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Toni Erdmann - Maren Ade

Matt Prigge: 25 Best Films of 2016, as published by Metro

[see also 201520122011]

Glenn Kenny: 50 Noteworthy Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Cosmos - Andrzej Zulawski

Glenn Kenny: 50 Noteworthy Films of 2016 (released in the United States)

[see also 2022202120202010s201920182017201520132012]

Another ten, in no particular order

Fifteen more, in little particular order

Should be seen by every citizen of the United States at the very least

Stuff that was amazing but wasn’t made in 2015/16

Keyframe Daily: David Hudson: Top 13 Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Toni Erdmann - Maren Ade

David Hudson: Top 13 Films of 2016, as published by Fandor’s Keyframe Daily

[see also 2019201820172015]

Honorable Mentions

Michael Sicinski: Top 10 Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Cemetery of Splendor - Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Michael Sicinski: Top 10 Films of 2016 (limited to “poll-eligible” films)

[see also 25 Great Experimental Films of 2023The Best Experimental Films (That I Saw) in 2022The 30 Best Avant-Garde Feature Films of the 2010sTop 50 Films of 2018Top 30 Experimental Films of 2018Top 25 Films of 2017Top 12 Films of 2014Top 10 Films of 2013Top 12 Films of 2012]

Shelly Kraicer: 12 Best Films of 2016

31 December 2016

Shelly Kraicer: 12 Best Films of 2016

Slate: Dana Stevens: Top 15 Movies of 2016

31 December 2016

Dana Stevens: Top 15 Movies of 2016, as published by Slate

[see also 202320222021202020192018201720152014201320122011]

1-10, in chronological order

11-15 Runners-Up, in alphabetical order

Chicago Tribune: Michael Phillips: 20 Best Movies of 2016

31 December 2016

Moonlight - Barry Jenkins

Michael Phillips: 20 Best Movies of 2016, as published by The Chicago Tribune

[see also 202320222021202020192018201720152014201320122011]

11-20 Alphabetically