Worst2First: The 160 Films I Saw in 2019

Worst2First: 

The 160 Films I Saw in 2019

During 2019, I watched 160 films, and they range from the most amazing films I've ever seen to ones I wish never existed, and I've ranked them all from worst to first.

The images have different colors for how I originally graded them:

Red = D+, D, D-

Yellow = C+, C, C-

Blue = B+, B, B-

Green = A, A-

Purple = A+

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

Trading in the classic slasher excitement for a heavy-handed feminist message, "Black Christmas" doesn't hold a Christmas-strand candle to the original, and manages to insult pretty much everyone with its heavy-handed message over any cohesive storyline.

Proving itself incapable in every way, "Playmobil: The Movie" should've never been made, offering absolutely nothing of value, and wastes the talents of some of the actors.

With a tumultuous story behind the scenes, "Wonder Park" fails to deliver any wonder at all, except for the wonder of how a film like this was made in the first place - but at least the kids will enjoy the bright dizzying colors.

If you have kids who really want to see "UglyDolls," I highly suggest you just put in a film like "Toy Story" and they'll never know the difference - and you'll be spared from a completely boring, dull, unmemorable movie that just strings together concepts from other better animated films.

Following the line of every other haunted house Halloween attraction film, "Haunt" fails to deliver any thrills or chills as they methodically follow the same pattern of other films before it, reducing it to a mere shell of what could've been.

In an unintentional way, "Jexi" does indeed play to our current world climate about our dependency on our phones, because we'll be staring at our little screens while the film plays in the background due to its complete ineptitude to deliver any laughs whatsoever.

They say when you play with fire you're bound to get burned, and watching "Playing With Fire" will burn you because you'll loose the precious time you could've spent doing something more productive, fun, or meaningful - like watching paint dry.

The only thing I could think of doing after "After" is trying to find a way to forget what I just saw, but thankfully a few minutes afterward my memory was erased by itself - the only residual memory is it being full of terrible performances and a PG-version of "Fifty Shades."

For a horror movie that provides an app that'll tell you when you die, "Countdown" should've downloaded the app itself, as it would've just come up as 00 - dead on arrival.

Despite the name recognition of Dennis Quaid, "The Intruder" doesn't allow him to really play the role of a psychopath, but rather sits comfortably in its predictability, resulting in a forgettable, safe, and absolutely dull outing.

Sticking true to the typical evil child story, "The Prodigy" fails to distinguish itself from the myriad of other like-minded films, resulting in a totally forgettable, boring, dull film you'll struggle to remember even before the closing credits start.

I'll just quote a line from the movie to summarize..."Okay.  Alright.  That happened."

Too pretentious for its own good, this film is marred by a desire to be something more than what it was, and provided to be a box office bomb for its leads.

Much like its soulless protagonist, "Hellboy" is a soulless reboot designed to bring in a crowd who loves CGI blood and violence, but lacks anything close to a cohesive storyline or the magic of Guillermo del Toro's original films.

 

Despite a truly frightening concept, "The Curse of La Llorona" is cursed by a simplistic story, cardboard characters, and cheap jump scares that makes me think the film should've been called "The Curse of La Ll-snore-a."

Seen as "Big" through the eyes of African American women, "Little" is heightened by the dedicated performances of the three main actresses, but dragged down by a bland script that offers very little laughs and even less surprises.

I have no idea what Tom Hooper or any of the big name stars were thinking in bringing "Cats" to the big screen, but it turned into a total mess with the sole exception of Jennifer Hudson's powerhouse performance, and otherwise it's just a meowful mess.

A generic faith based film that jogs through most of its too-long runtime before collapsing before the finish line.

The film lives up to its title, as it arrives DOA and provides a note: Do Not Resuscitate.  Tyler Perry's final outing as the lovable Madea falls as flat as the jokes, and provides something only a little better than your average soap opera.

Being a senior citizen should be the time where you look back on your life with fondness and appreciate what lies ahead, but it seems that the acclaimed actresses in "Poms" have looked back at their stellar careers and see this and wonder, "is this the best that's left?"

While it offered some fun set designs, it ultimately failed to deliver any true thrills or chills.

Trudging along like waning seasons of reality singing shows, "Teen Spirit" doesn't offer anything unique or exciting, and in the end will be as memorable as any winner of "The Voice" or any winner after Carrie Underwood on "American Idol."

Taking a unique spin on a classic children's show and making them bloodthirsty killers, "The Banana Splits Movie" splits from the typical reboot and instead sets out to literally split people open, resulting in a bloody good time if you don't take anything you see seriously.

While many films are terrible for good reasons, "Men in Black: International" isn't terrible for that reason - it's terribly boring, offering nothing new, intellectual, or even humorous, making us all wish we were neuralysed so we won't have to remember it.

Ending on a whimper, "Dark Phoenix" turns off the lights on the long-gestating "X-Men" franchise to prepare it for a true phoenix rising within the MCU, and will be one of those forgettable films in the franchise that most people will claim never existed.

Perhaps I put too much expectations, but a biopic about the most intellectual, creative writer ever, you'd expect something magical to it - but instead it becomes ordinary, dull, and - worst of all - unmemorable.

It's easy to compare this post-apocalyptic Netflix original to "A Quiet Place," because it's pretty much exactly the same - without great acting, effects, or story.

Providing only one side to the hotly debated abortion issue, "Unplanned" tells the story of a woman who used to be a director for Planned Parenthood who became pro-life after witnessing an abortion herself.  The film was heavy handed in its story, not providing more than their side, and gave production values that belonged more to a Lifetime original than a big-screen film.

The uplifting true story of a kid who came back from the brink of death should've been a compelling, feel-good story, but was muddied by the overuse of faith and prayer to make him better in lieu of anything else.

Better than its predecessor, "47 Meters Down: Uncaged" makes full use of its claustrophobic setting, making the film a beautiful window-dressing that's hiding a mediocre, subpar story inside - but at least it's got some tense, claustrophobic moments.

Somehow loosing something in translation, "The Goldfinch" worked extremely well as a novel but couldn't translate to the big screen despite big-named actors both in front of and behind the camera, resulting in a mediocre film that's dull, lifeless, and way too long.

Gina Rodriguez is shaping up to be a great action hero, but this film is muddied by a tired script, lack of characterization, and an all-too-simple plot.

Although the comedic chemistry between Dave Baustista and Kumil Nanjiani resonates, there's not enough banter between the two to give "Stuber" more than a two-star rating due to the film's tired premise, lackluster writing, and predictable outcome.

If you want to make a female-led spy film, you need to make it stand out from the countless other films of the style, but Luc Besson's tired effort seemed like a shadow of his classic "La Femme Nikita" that doesn't deliver anything new or memorable to make it stand out from the crowd.

While trying to create something new for a new generation, "Charlie's Angels" fails to deliver anything more than an over-the-top female empowerment story, but at least the three main leads are likable and talented enough to make it something a bit better than a total dud.

Far from being captivating, this alien takeover sci-fi film lacks action and character development, telling its story through dark, muddied shots and delivers a lot of plot holes - but at least it had John Goodman.

While I eagerly waited for the conclusion to the Firefly family, "3 From Hell" sent the savage family out with a whimper than a bang, offering nothing more than a few grotesque kills and trying to be edgy in a world that's already moved way ahead of them.

With the wasted talents of Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, "The Hustle" doesn't just hustle the mark in the film, but the audience as well, providing a few chuckles and giggles but nothing worth the ticket admission.

"The Best of Enemies" fails to really deliver the story of the unlikely friendship of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis, and instead focuses on Ellis and how he saved the day at the end, so if you want to find out the real story between these two, check out a YouTube documentary.

Changing the script from the original, "Child's Play" is an almost wholly new entity where it centers on the dangers of technology through the eyes of a maniacal killer doll, but since comparisons were made to the original, fails to produce something memorable for the right reasons.

More than just a story about a former hero who's seemingly fallen, "Angel Has Fallen" proves how much the franchise as a whole has fallen, resorting to a predictable, bland script and actors too tired to even be there anymore - but at least there's a decent amount of mind-numbing action.

Despite it seemingly like a childish version of the King Arthur legend, this film had surprising heart and humor, a fantasy action adventure the entire family can watch together.

Sophia Lillis proved she has the acting chops after "It," and manages to bring the iconic female detective to life in a family friendly mystery filled with heart, humor, and important life lessons.

Once an iconic action character, John Rambo has become a shell of himself, and while he still maintains his blood lust, his heart died years ago - and hopefully Stallone will hold to the film's title and let this be the Last Blood.

While the film tries to elevate the concept of love and fate, "The Sun is Also a Star" suffers from repetitive, expositional dialogue that culminates in an obvious ending, but at least the two leads chosen had decent chemistry.

Film, like art, is subjective, and "Velvet Buzzsaw" does do a decent job at satirizing the high falutin art world, but reduces itself to a paint-by-numbers copy of what could've been a grand work of horror art.

With a continual feeling of dread, "Them That Follow" features some decent performances set against the backdrop of the mysterious snake handling religion that builds its secrets to a deadly climax - it just takes too long to get there.

While the film had a lot of promise, "Yesterday" failed to deliver the important questions it subtly asked, and instead relegated itself to another merely passable love story with some catchy tunes thrown in-between.

With the major talent in front of (and behind) the screen, I expected something a lot better, but "Last Christmas" still gave some yuletide cheer with its upbeat message and strong performances.

Offering little in the realm of intriguing storytelling, "Gemini Man" is saved by some decent action sequences and seeing Will Smith fighting himself, but ultimately turns out hollow and simplistic.

Maybe it's a story of a woman dealing with a hidden mental illness, or it's about a woman who just plain doesn't like people, but "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" doesn't really shed light on what's going through the character's mind, and really should've been titled "What's Up, Berandette?"

Haley Lu Richardson shines a light on the tragic disease of cystic fibrosis, but the film itself is muddied by a generic script and seemingly purposeful emotional manipulations by the end.

Offering a few laughs and a great performance by Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, "Little Monsters" starts off well but slowly descends to a mind-numbing by-the-books zombie attack that, much like the villainous zombies, leaves you braindead by the end.

While far from his classic comedy, Adam Sandler's "Murder Mystery" offers more than a few laughs as it tackles the whodunit genre with comedic timing and suspense, along with the friendly chemistry of Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.

Despite headlining some of today's most prolific actors playing the roles of some of America's most famous inventors, "The Current War: Director's Cut" doesn't quite cut it in the ways of storytelling, choosing to spread itself too thin by telling too much story in too little time.

While it's clearly not the best in the franchise, "Shaft" adds a more comedic turn to the long-running series and provides several laugh-out-loud moments especially with Samuel L. Jackson and the OG-Shaft Richard Roundtree.

Despite boasting a strong vocal cast that gives great performances and top-notch animations, "The Addams Family" is bogged down by a generic story and typical beats that culminate in an unmemorable film focusing on one of America's most uniquely loving families.

Offering a layered meaning that you probably won't understand until after looking it up, "In the Tall Grass" serves as a decent Stephen King adaptation that could've been shorter, but still provides some deeply cerebral thought processes and some great cinematography.

Surprisingly better than I expected, "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" balances humor, heart, and adventure in a way that makes it very entertaining for adults and kids alike, a film that parents won't mind sitting through with their children as it tells an important lesson about life, delivered by another terrific performance by the young Isabela Moner.

Despite their other work, the Kendrick brothers deliver a thoughtful, intriguing story that's still faith-based but not jammed down your throat, and delivers a terrific performance from a young newcomer who truly overcame the odds and won over my heart.

While the film didn't necessarily have to be on the big screen, "The Angry Birds Movie 2" is a fun little adventure that'll keep adults and children entertained, providing decent laughs and a fun action adventure.

More than just another Liam Neeson vengeance film, "Cold Pursuit" adds a dark humor feel and could've been something more spectacular if it focused on a few stories and didn't branch out to several ones.

Essentially "The Good Liar" is a strange concoction of a slightly suspenseful feel coupled with some offbeat moments that leaves you feeling odd about it at the end, and it would've been a complete bust if not for the stellar performances by Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren.

Thanks to the majestic Taraji P. Henson, "What Men Want" becomes something a bit more than an ordinary gender-swap sequel and gives you a likeable character (even in her worst times), and provides more than enough laughs.

While it was ambitious and wholly unique, "Under the Silver Lake" was dragged down by too many plots and inconsistencies that meandered in too many directions and went too long - but it was still a unique ride to say the least.

While it doesn't offer much in the ways of exciting storytelling, "The Report" sheds light on one of the darkest moments in modern history, told through the eyes of a real American hero delivered by the impeccable Adam Driver.

Utilizing compelling CGI and fast-paced editing, "The Aeronauts" is a high air adventure featuring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones that'll have you thankful you're rooted in the ground.

Possibly working better an episodic series, "The Secret Life of Pets 2" proves that returning to the well solely because the original made money doesn't necessarily mean you'll strike gold twice, but due to some great voice work and comedic timing, still provides some humor and heart.

Delivering gut punch after gut punch, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" shows us how important it is to have man's best friend at our side, and showcases what selfless love really is - through the eyes of a dog.

While missing some of the heart of the original (not to mention the racist Jim Crow crow), "Dumbo" still manages to entertain during its run, but not enough to make you want to follow it around to the next town it travels to.

The chemistry between Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston is perfect, and allows you to really feel for both characters as they form the most unlikely of friendships, leaving you with a smile on your face.

With an excellent performance by Chadwick Boseman and nonstop action, "21 Bridges" continues the tradition of cop action films that deliver an enjoyable time, but also doesn't add anything new or exciting to make it memorable for long.

Mixing horror with mystic Jewish traditions, "The Golem" tells a story that many people have never heard, and while its small budget doesn't allow it to fully flourish, what it does give is a compelling - and surprisingly profound - horror story.

With another stellar performance by Naomie Harris, "Black and Blue" tells the often unheard of stories of the fears African Americans face and the sometimes crooked cops who stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

Blending beautiful CGI with live-action seems old hat nowadays, and "Pokemon Detective Pikachu" carries this new tradition by incorporating classic video game characters to the real world and provides a passable detective story with the added plus of Ryan Reynolds voicing the iconic Pikachu.

When you get the talents of Isabelle Huppert and Chloe Grace Moretz, you get something magical - even if it's a bit longer than it should've been, it's still an intense cat-and-mouse game with high stakes and even higher risks.

Asking the question "what if Superman was evil," "Brightburn" delivers the answer with gusto, a superhero horror film filled to the brim with graphic violence and death that also holds true to the traditional horror trope characters. 

Angelina Jolie again shines as Maleficent, even if her screen time is cut short due to other characters having their due, and providing a story that's balanced between a wedding and a war that escalates both to an exciting conclusion - even though the entire thing isn't really necessary.

While it doesn't tread any new ground in the world of children's animated storytelling, "Abominable" provides an emotional tale told through likeable characters and gives some visually stunning animated moments.

Despite the three previous outings, "Dark Fate" returns to its "Terminator" roots and provides an adequate predecessor to the historic "Judgment Day," but is sometimes pulled down by its repetitive action nature.

Bringing life to some of the most scary stories ever told to children, "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" really turns up the fright with its tales, but muddies itself when it tries to tie them all together.

Delivering a rousing, emotional story about the unrelenting love of a dog and its owner, "A Dog's Journey" tells a beautiful story through different lifetimes about how our four-legged friends bring comfort and unconditional love through every moment of our lives.

Bring a box of tissues for this inspiring story of a lovable dog who beats insurmountable odds to find her way back home to her human.

Thanks to the talent of three young actors, "Good Boys" manages to keep the goodwill going throughout a slightly longer-than-needed runtime that provides some great belly laughs as well as thoughtful insights you wouldn't expect to find.

Moreso a modern day Underground Railroad tale than Bonnie and Clyde, "Queen and Slim" offers a compelling narrative that's more relevant today than ever, supplied by two impeccable performances that transforms their characters before our eyes.

Surprising the world by releasing a film to Netflix, Michael Bay's "6 Underground" has all the hallmarks of a hot summer action blockbuster, right in the comfort of your own home, and exhibits everything he's best known for - especially lots of explosions.

Offering a unique spin on the classic horror novel, this film focuses a lot on young Ellie and the cemetery itself, offering a slow-burn horror that spirals into utter insanity in the end.

With three tremendous performances at its heart, "I Am Mother" serves up many debates and thoughts told through its careful, intelligent script and offers a tense thriller throughout where you don't know what the truth really is.

With such an amazing title, I expected something cheesy and campy, but instead I got a surprisingly dramatic story about the struggles of a war-weary soldier delivered to perfection by the amazing Sam Elliott.

If you don't compare this to the original, you'll find "The Lion King" to be a fully satisfying live-action remake, filled with great vocal performances, an emotional story, moving songs, and some of the most beautiful visuals you've seen on screen in a long time.

Zac Efron transforms into the serial killer monster Ted Bundy in this unflinching, unnerving film that documents the life of the man through the eyes of his former flame Liz, showing him as a charming, charismatic monster who manipulated everyone around him.

While the franchise has stumbled in the past, "Annabelle Comes Home" returns to the "Conjuring" roots in telling a compelling haunted house story with incredibly capable actors, a stylized set design, and, most importantly, terrifying ghouls and spirits that never relent on their victims - or the audience as well.

You might think this is just another cut-rate b-rated zombie horror film, but the story goes much deeper than the first sequence would have you believe.  If you can last through the opening groan-fest, you'll be treated to a wholly unique look at the zombie subgenre, and maybe even appreciate the opening again after fully understanding its purpose.

Rebel Wilson nails it as a cynical single woman who hates romantic comedies but finds herself in one, in a film that simultaneously pokes fun at and also in a sense respects the rom-com subgenre.

With a very capable performance by Mark Ruffalo, "Dark Waters" sheds light on the evils of greedy corporations and the lengths they go to in order to make a buck, even at the cost of the environment - and especially human lives.

Led by a powerhouse performance by Aleksandra Cwen, "Hagazussa" blends isolation with insanity, delivering a surreal experience filled with enthralling music and stunning visuals, but nothing compares to Cwen's own body performance.

With three acclaimed actresses holding the reigns, "The Kitchen" centers on three women who take on the mafia and create their own, crafting a powerful tale of redemption, power, and success in the seedy underworld of Hell's Kitchen.

If you go into the film blind, you'll find "The Perfection" to be a nearly perfect psychological thriller that takes many twists and turns you don't see coming, culminating in an unforgettable shocking conclusion. 

While taking a more light-hearted tone to the DC Universe, "Shazam!" ignites the spirit in all young people who hopes to be a superhero, and shows us what would happen if it actually occurred - before resulting in typical citywide violence.

Not without its faults, "Aladdin" still delivers an exciting and fun adventure that manages to both pay homage to the original yet make it its own, as long as you don't spend too much time pining for the original.

Typically spinoffs are terrible, but "Hobbs & Shaw" works extremely well due to four charismatic leads, top-notch action, and knowing the audience doesn't come to a "Fast and Furious" movie for scripted dialogue and Shakespearean soliloquies - they just want to see fast cars, explosions, and friendly banter.

Mixing in amazing CGI with action-packed moments and a strong female lead, "Alita: Battle Angel" far exceeds its typical generic story and elevates it to an exciting moviegoing experience.

Giving all her A-list abilities, Octavia Spencer elevates "Ma" from a traditional throwaway, forgettable horror revenge film and creates something a lot better, a film that will keep you guessing to the end, even if it ends kinda abruptly.

While the film itself serves as a powerful character study of a seemingly nonredeemable man, "The Mustang" proves that no one is beyond salvation, and sometimes the most unique methods of rehabilitation produce the best results.

With a shorter runtime that keeps the film crisp and tight, "Crawl" is another creature feature summer hit that's heightened by its two main stars and provides a non-stop thrill ride that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

When they focus on the true clash of the Titans, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" provides an exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled thrill-ride that's the benchmark for a summer blockbuster, but when it focuses on the humans, it turns into just another world-ending flick - needless to say, it needed more monster action.

Having a more sci-fi bend than the original, "Happy Death Day 2U" keeps the comedy amped up and delivers another terrific performance by Jessica Rothe as our favorite sorority girl heroine. 

If you're going into "Ad Astra" expecting some action epic set in space, you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you're expecting a well-crafted slow-burn thoughtful story delivered with impeccable visuals and score, then you'll enjoy this tour-de-force Brad Pitt-helmed space epic.

In a cinematic world of superheroes and larger-than-life biopics, "Homeless Ashes" tells an important story that's often unheard - the stories of the homeless, whose stories are just as important and offers powerful testimonies about the resilience of the human spirit despite living in a world of hopelessness.

With a solid lead role, "Rocketman" manages to blend the fantasy and wonder of the life of Elton John, and strips it all away to show a flawed man who just longs for love, but feels it's impossible to achieve - and then witness his redemption and rise to living the life of an icon.

A new underdog story, "Hustlers" delivers strong performances (especially by Jennifer Lopez) and tells the story of how a group of strippers turned the tables on Wall Street hotheads and hustled them out of money that doesn't even belong to them - but still it's hard to root for them, since they're breaking the law, but harder to root against them because deep down you feel that the ends might justify the means.

If you're looking for an uplifting movie to fuel your spirit, "Amazing Grace" should be at the top of the list, due to Aretha Franklin's ethereal singing that captures your soul and transcends you to the presence of God Himself.

A beautiful new type of documentary, "Apollo 11" fully immerses us in the events that led up to the historic launch and takes us to the moon and back, and re-ignites our desire to reach for the stars ourselves.

A fantastic end to Shyamalan's trilogy featuring stellar performances and his trademark cerebral script that will have you re-watching it to decipher the hidden clues buried within.

You don't have to be an expert in the series to appreciate "Downton Abbey," as from start to finish we're treated with top-notch performances, beautiful costumes, a strong story, and most importantly the most elegant setting you can imagine.

Five years later, we realize that while everything isn't awesome in Bricksburg, everything is still awesome with the sequel, delivering another fun, action-packed adventure with an inspired deep meaning.

A fitting end to an entertaining and heartfelt animated trilogy, "The Hidden World" delivers all the action, humor, and emotion you'd expect from the concluding work of a decade-long franchise.

Despite what you think you know, "Richard Jewell" manages to shed an intimate light into the life of a real-life hero whose name became tarnished by an unjust media and government investigation before being exonerated and living out his life, delivered with amazing performances and a strong, seasoned director at the helm.

Another tale told in beautiful stop-motion animation, Laika once again provides a visually beautiful story about the importance of finding your home, no matter where it may lead.

Set to the counter-culture music of Bruce Springsteen, "Blinded by the Light" shines in telling the story of a Pakistani family as they struggle through a depression-era 1987 England, showcasing tremendous talent and a story that hits all the right notes and will leave you with a smile on your face.

Taking a gamble in releasing ten years after the original, "Zombieland: Double Tap" manages to maintain its heart and humor due to the return of the four lovable characters and also heightens the danger, but also gives more laughs and an enjoyable zombie road trip along the way.

Much like a video game it portrays, "Jumanji: The Next Level" raises the stakes and gives us new locales and enemies, but maintains a small sense of normalcy with its charismatic actors who once again work well together and seem to have the time of their lives.

"Midway" tells an important - if not often forgotten - story about the skirmish in the Pacific that turned the tide of the war, told through the lens of Roland Emmerich's immersive effects-laden touch while also providing decent performances that combines for an unforgettable experience that showcases the best Americans have to offer.

Serving as the first female-led MCU film, "Captain Marvel" shines as more than just an origin story, but one that includes intense action and humor, featuring Brie Larson as the titular hero that will easily spearhead the next phase of the MCU.

What makes or breaks a horror film is the story and how it's performed, and "Ready Or Not" excels on both ends - it provides a unique, fresh take on the slasher subgenre while providing its own dark comedy, and brings it all together with compelling, humorous, and intelligent performances by all the players assembled.

Providing another thrilling chapter to the MCU, "Far From Home" gives us a deeper, emotional performance by Tom Holland, along with the much-needed addition of Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio that gives an action-packed spectacle we've come to expect and appreciate.

An excellent biopic about the WWE star Paige, from her eccentric family upbringing to her big shot, showing that chasing your dream isn't always easy, but not something you should give up on.

An unflinching look at the true-life terrorist attack at the Taj in Mumbai, "Hotel Mumbai" manages to take you into the hotel and make you feel like a hostage yourself, in a pulse-pounding drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel emotionally invested in the characters. 

Providing a strong exclamation point to the conclusion of one of Stephen King's most iconic works, "It Chapter Two" delivers the humor, drama, and horror in equal measures and gives us stellar performances by the entire cast.

A story delivered with compassion, nuance, and unflinching reality, "Brittany Runs a Marathon" is more than just the story of an overweight girl who struggles with loosing weight, but also delves into the deep psychological reasons for them, culminating in a powerfully surprising performance by Jillian Bell and a film that'll have you cheering.

With pitch-perfect performances by Matt Damon and Christian Bale, "Ford v Ferrari" is filled with intense car races mixed with volatile drama that really immerses you in the world of race car driving, and provides a classic David vs. Goliath battle with generally good guys to root for.

A powerful story filled with emotional resonance, "Honey Boy" takes us behind the curtain into the life of an emotionally scarred actor who hits rock bottom but manages to pull himself up through dealing with past emotional trauma.

Thanks to another tremendous performance by Tom Hanks, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" teaches us the lifelong lessons of Mr. Fred Rogers - be kind, be loving, be forgiving - and leaves us captivated and our hearts full by the end.

With three impeccable leading female performances, "Bombshell" gives a darkly humorous look into the world of Fox News and the eventual downfall of its founder Roger Ailes, who sexually harassed his female employees until they took a stand and stood against the establishment.

Once again lending her writing and directing talents to the big screen, Jennifer Kent proves that she's got what it takes to deliver a top-notch film, as "The Nightingale" is almost unwatchable due to its severe nature, but also due to the effortless, emotional performances by the actors.

Judy Garland was the most talented actress of her time, but behind the scenes she dealt with the harshest of realities life offered, and Renee Zellweger gave her a strong, emotional performance that'll be remembered as her best performance, and also served as a powerful tale of how appearances aren't always as they seem.

Offering another fitting conclusion to the franchise, "Toy Story 4" teetered on the edge of being unnecessary, but managed to deliver another memorable film that'll more than delight old and young alike.

Regardless of what you'd expect a sequel to be, "Frozen II" manages to once again capture the magic, love, and sold storytelling of the original delivered with perfect performances and dazzling animations that send our characters on an all-new adventure that provides important life lessons for themselves - and us as well.

The third time's the charm for this action-packed spectacle, providing the best film in the franchise thanks to a solid script, another great Keanu Reeves performance, and especially the stylized, highly choreographed action sequences that sets this franchise apart from every other action film out there.

Expressing the true value of human friendship and the power of your dreams, "The Peanut Butter Falcon" delivers a classic Mark Twain-style adventure infused with tremendous performances and a beautifully shot film that'll leave you with a smile long after leaving the theater.

A unique, dazzling, and downright unnerving non-linear journey, "High Life" contains unforgettable imagery and profound performances that require deep thought and allows the viewer to really experience this claustrophobic world and the characters who reside in it.

Cinema allows audiences to see stories of real life heroes they normally wouldn't have heard before, but "Harriet" is different in that mostly everyone knows of the life of Harriet Tubman, but it's something all the more magical seeing it play out on the big screen thanks to a career-defining performance by the amazing Cynthia Erivo.

Touching on important issues about ordinary life, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" is a wholly unique film filled with heartfelt, emotional performances and is a lovely ode to one of America's best cities.

Creating its own path to the coming-of-age subgenre, "Booksmart" lives up to its title in every way, providing a smart, inventive, and downright hilarious film that's easily viewed again and again, delivered with heart and humor by a strong, capable, young cast.

Offering a fresh, unique, and absolutely insane tale of your worst nightmares come to life, "Midsommar" makes use of all its talents to give us a once-in-a-lifetime tale that heightens it to the greatness of other horror greats like "The Shining" and "The Wicker Man."

Featuring two thespians at the height of their respective games, "The Two Popes" serves as the most fascinating dialogue-driven films in recent memory, as you see two differing ideologies spar and come together in magical ways.

Jordan Peele again delivers a thought-provoking, intellectual horror film about a family of doppelgangers who traumatize their counterparts, and provides some deeper meanings than what lies on the surface.

Offering his own unique spin on the whodunit genre, Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" is a modern day mystery that hearkens back to the classics while giving the audience something they haven't seen in this type of genre before, filled with refreshing performances and a razor-sharp script that'd make Agatha Christie proud.

Thanks to powerful performances by Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen, "The Farewell" tells a delicate story about an elderly woman's last days and the importance of family, while offering some light-hearted moments that offers a well-rounded film where we feel like we're a part of the family as well.

Easily Adam Sandler's best performance ever, "Uncut Gems" grabs you from the first moment to the last, keeping you on the edge of your seat in eager anticipation and excitement as the story weaves a rich tapestry of suspense, thrills, and downright insanity.

And now my top ten films of 2019...

Offering one final story in the epic Skywalker Saga, "The Rise of Skywalker" serves as the ultimate fan service to its generations of loyal followers, while providing enough action-packed pieces and tender moments that'll make even the most uninitiated feel like they're part of the group.

On paper it might seem like a terrible idea, but "Jojo Rabbit" works as a satirical look at the Nazis due to its blend of humor and heart, honoring the darkest time in world history and not making light of it, but still providing a funny demeanor with an emotional message at its heart.

Offering his own unique story as well as providing a love letter to the town he loves, "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" packs an emotional punch that blends comedy, drama, action, and horror in a way only Tarantino could combine, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt at the top of their respective games.

Taking a risk in bringing to the big screen a novel that's been shown time and again, Greta Gerwig's "Little Women" sets itself apart from its counterparts with an awards-worthy cast, smart, witty script, and excellent set designs and storytelling structure.

Mike Flanagan had an uphill climb from the start, but the result is nothing short of magical - as "Doctor Sleep" will undoubtedly become a modern-day horror classic in the decades to come due to its stellar script, superior performances, and standout atmosphere that beautifully balances Stephen King's original vision and Stanley Kubrick's ideas into a cohesive conclusion.

Offering a deeply personal look at the heartbreak of divorce, "Marriage Story" is a film like no other, delivered with perfect performances and a deeply intimate story that leaves you spellbound.

"The Lighthouse" proves that Robert Eggers is no one-hit-wonder, as he once again delivers an unrelenting spiraling descent into sheer madness and terror, delivered in the purest cinematic experience with awards-deserving performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.

One of those rare films that can truly be hailed a masterpiece, "Joker" steps above its divisive topic and delivers a deep, personal, powerful character study on one of pop culture's most iconic villains and provides the best performance ever by Joaquin Phoenix.

Epic in its scale, scope, performances, and everything in between, "The Irishman" is a masterpiece of mobster cinema, one that needs to be seen, and is the true epitome of films "they don't make anymore."

The culmination of ten years, twenty-two movies, and countless characters, "Endgame" served as the perfect fan service to the MCU fandom, as well as providing some of the most epic fighting ever, along with some of the best performances the franchise has to offer.