In many aspects, this was a year to forget. The whole entertainment industry felt the wrath of the coronavirus pandemic and movie theaters were forced to close their doors because of the restrictions imposed around the world. Although most of the movies released this year were viewed on smaller screens, these projects filled with hope, drama, sorrow, fear and humor helped people cope with the global health crisis.
There were many great movies released this year that got us hooked with their unique storylines and astounding direction. There were some which simply took our breaths away. Let’s take a look at 20 of the best feature films that were released in 2020.
10. "Da 5 Bloods" (directed by Spike Lee) - Spike Lee’s impactful take on racism makes “Da 5 Bloods” one of the most important films of the year. The movie's plot follows four Vietnam War veterans who return to the country in search of the remains of their squad leader, as well as the treasure they buried while serving in the country. “Da 5 Bloods” is masterfully shot and the decision to shoot the movie in three aspect ratios is a pure work of genius by the legendary filmmaker. Challenging, thought-provoking and downright chaotic, the film is an ode to all Black men who fought for the democratic freedoms of South Vietnam during the war.Da 5 Bloods/ Netflix1. "Nomadland" (directed by Chloe Zhao) - Zhao's idea of immersing herself in a rural American subculture seems to have done wonders for the filmmaker. "Nomadland" follows the story of a woman named Fern (played by Frances McDormand) who has lost everything during the Great Recession. Fern embarks on a journey and starts living as a modern-day nomad. The film makes you strongly empathize with its characters and manages to encourage viewers to consider a nomadic life. McDormand is pure genius and blends into her character so well that viewers don't feel like they are watching a fictional character on the screen. The movie is a masterclass in the art of filmmaking and all its aspects. Nomadland/ Searchlight Pictures2. "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" (directed by Eliza Hittman) - A 17-year-old girl named Autumn (played by Sidney Flanigan) is faced with an unintended pregnancy. Autumn visits the local medical facility and sees that she is not able to get any kind help. She decides to travel to New York City with her cousin Skyler (played by Talia Ryder) and have an abortion. But things get uncomfortable when viewers discover that Autumn has been a victim of physical and sexual abuse throughout her teenage life. "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" hit the viewers in many different ways. Flanigan as Autumn is awe-inspiring and the way she molds her emotions throughout the movie is breathtaking. Director Hittman has made one of the most important films of this generation. Focus Features/Twitter3. "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (directed by Aaron Sorkin) - The film follows the lives of the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors charged with conspiracy and inciting riots at the 1969 Democratic National Convention. Sorkin's brilliant direction and impeccable writing are two of the key reasons why this movie is such an extraordinary tale of struggle, politics, police brutality and injustice. Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman steals the show, while Mark Rylance's performance proves why he is one of the best actors in Hollywood today. Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Frank Langella have also done splendid work in their respective roles. The Trial of the Chicago 7/ Netflix4. "First Cow" (directed by Kelly Reichardt) - Based on the novel "Half Life" by Jonathan Raymond, "First Cow" is a spellbinding account of two men who dream of earning a lot of money through various means. The travelers, while residing in Oregon, decide to steal the milk of the region's first cow and use it to bake honey biscuits. Half of the people who would watch this movie might not end up liking it because of its slow pace. However, the amazing cinemtography, story, characters and direction will keep the viewers interested on what's going to happen next. A great watch for all the moviegoers who have the patience to undergo a slow yet beautiful journey. First Cow/Twitter5. "Minari" (directed by Lee Isaac Chung) - The recent Golden Globes controversy has made people curious about the movie and why it hasn't been allowed to compete in the best picture category. A semi-autobiographical on director Lee Isaac Chung's life, "Minari" shows the journey of a Korean family trying to rebuild its life in rural America during the 1980s. One of the most critically-acclaimed movies of 2020, "Minari" shows how human behavior works. With superb performances from Steven Yeun and Yeri Han, the film offers an engaging view of immigrants and all the hardships they go through while building their lives from the scratch. A modern-era masterpiece.A24/Twitter6. "Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm" (directed by Jason Woliner) - The first "Borat" film was widely praised for its content and Sacha Baron Cohen's mind-boggling performance. Over 14 years after the release of the original movie, Cohen returned for the sequel "Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm" earlier this year. The second title sees Cohen's character Borat Sagdiyev returning to the U.S. to gift a present to Mike Pence, the outgoing vice president of U.S. The film perfectly captures the current political weather of the nation and mixes it with a lot of humor and feelings. Cohen is amazing as Borat, but a new character introduced in the movie took viewers' breaths away. Maria Bakalova as Tutar, Borat's daughter, is the breakout star of 2020. It is not easy to shine bright when Cohen stands next to you, but Bakalova manages to overshadow Cohen in various parts of the movie. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm/ Amazon Studios7. "One Night In Miami" (directed by Regina King) - King’s first movie as a director, “One Night In Miami” tells the fictionalized meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke in a Miami hotel room in February 1964, celebrating Ali’s surprising win over Sonny Liston. The film is a powerful reflection of such larger-than-life icons and fascinates people with its unique and thought-provoking plot. The contrasting feelings of how these legendary figures should use their stature in the civil rights movement of the ‘60s makes the movie one pivotal moment for Black Americans. King has used the platform to showcase how the characters are questioning their own ideologies even when history wants them to stand together and lead the movement against the injustices they and their community face regularly.One Night In Miami/ Amazon Studios8. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (directed by George C. Wolfe) - The movie is truly a celebration of Black culture and one of its most iconic voices, Ma Rainey. Based on August Wilson’s play of the same name, the movie talks about various subjects such as artistic control, commercial exploitation and systemic racism. Led by superlative performances from Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” shows how management wanted to control Ma’s artistic liberties and how she took them head-on with her music and strong character. It also marks the last movie of Boseman, who died following a lengthy battle with colon cancer. The actor has been praised for his impeccable acting and has already won best actor prizes at the Boston Society of Film Critics awards and Los Angeles Film Critics Association awards.Ma Rainey's Black Bottom/ Netflix9. "Another Round" (directed by Thomas Vinterberg) - The movie chronicles the journey of four high-school teachers, trying to improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood. The movie, originally titled “Druk,” is a Danish drama that sees Mads Mikkelsen going to his roots to deliver one the most captivating pieces of cinema in recent history. Director Vinterberg beautifully captures the intoxicating celebration of life and a relaxed examination of midlife crisis in this genuinely moving venture. The film has already won numerous accolades, including Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival earlier this year, and is being touted as one of the favorites to win the best foreign-language film award at the Oscars in 2021. Another Round/ Nordisk Film20. "The Invisible Man" (directed by Leigh Whannell) - Based on the novel of the same name, “The Invisible Man” was one of the last movies to hit theaters before the pandemic kicked in and the COVID-19 cases began to rise across the U.S. The movie tells the story of Cecilia Kass (played by Elisabeth Moss), who tries to get out of a violent relationship by drugging her abusive boyfriend and escaping his highly-secured home. Adrian Griffin (played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen) fakes his death and becomes invisible to torment her as she starts experiencing bizarre events around her. The film was praised for its inventive modernization of the novel written by H.G. Wells and its dramatic way of showing how people are abused in disastrous relationships. The Invisible Man/Twitter11. "Sound Of Metal" (directed by Darius Marder) - Riz Ahmed as Ruben is a recovering heroin addict who plays in a band with his romantic partner Lou (played by Olivia Cooke). Everything changes when he suddenly loses 80% of his hearing in the middle of a tour. The doctor suggests that he take a break from touring as he can’t be exposed to loud music. Ahmed’s multi-layered performance successfully takes the viewers into the world of a tormented drummer trying to come to terms with losing his hearing not long after overcoming addiction. Directed by Marder, the movie is subtle, layered and perfect.Amazon Studios/Sound Of Metal12. "Many" (directed by David Fincher) - A fictional drama revolving around Herman J. Mankiewicz’s struggle to complete the screenplay of “Citizen Kane,” Fincher’s “Mank” is an ode to the golden era of Hollywood. The project features an extraordinary script and mind-blowing performances by Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried, making it one of the most gorgeous pieces of cinema in recent times. "Mank” is Fincher’s first feature film after “Gone Girl” which was released in 2014, and has surely made a comeback with a bang.Mank/Twitter13. "Soul" (directed by Pete Docter, Kemp Powers) - Possibly the most aptly named movie of the year, “Soul” follows the beautiful journey of Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), a passionate jazz pianist and music teacher whose life hasn’t gone the way he expected. Gardner’s soul is transported to another realm after being involved in a horrific accident. His life changes for good when he helps someone find their passion and soon discovers how it feels to have a soul. The film is a joy to behold and features a wide range of heart-warming songs. Destined to be a classic, “Soul” is an emotional cinematic celebration on many levels.Disney +/Twitter14. "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" (directed by Charlie Kaufman) - Based on the novel of the same name by Ian Reid, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is undoubtedly one of the most nerve-wracking movies of 2020. The film follows the story of a young woman (portrayed by Jessie Buckley) who is referred to by several names, including Lucy, Lucia and Ames. The woman travels with her new boyfriend Jake (portrayed by Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents on their farm. However, things take a U-turn when she begins to question everything about her relationship with Jake. The film is an unsettling psychological horror that dares to be more experimental than others in the genre. Strong screenplay mixed with brilliant performances by Buckley and Plemons makes this movie a compelling watch.I'm Thinking Of Ending Things/ Netflix15. "Wonder Woman 1984" (directed by Patty Jenkins) - The film faced a lot of delays due to the pandemic and in the end, the makers decided to release it on the big-screen and HBO Max simultaneously. The adventures of “Wonder Woman” continues in the movie that offers vibrant escapism to fans who are still waiting for things to get better during such challenging times. Jenkins and Gal Gadot weave magic with their vision and super performances. Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord and Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva/Cheetah are also terrific in their respective roles. There are many moments in the movie that would make everyone realize how important it is to have a good heart and compassion. Gadot will surely make you cry in some scenes. Yes, this movie is not as epic as the first one, but it is an amazing movie nonetheless, and one which leaves you with some “hope” for this world. Wonder Woman/DC16. "Bacurau" (directed by Kleber Mendonca Filo, Juliano Dornelles) - “Bacurau” is one of those movies that don’t hold itself back from showing violence and bloodshed. Vengeance, heroics, breathtaking sequences and justice all have a place in this weird western film. It premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and won the jury prize while receiving universal acclaim from the critics as well as the audience. The movie is already being considered as a favorite in the best foreign-language category and has already emerged victorious at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and Online Film Critics Society Awards this year.Kino Lorber/Twitter17. "The Assistant" (directed by Kitty Green) - The movie tackles the subject of “workplace harassment” beautifully. In “The Assistant,” a recent college graduate named Jane (played by Julia Garner) lands her dream job as a junior assistant to a really powerful media mogul. It becomes very clear to Jane that her boss is facilitating a culture of sexual harassment in the company. The film takes inspiration from Harvey Weinstein and the many sexual harrassment accusations against him. Garner is riveting as Jane in the movie that addresses the systemic oppression that prevails in the entertainment industry and how women are still facing pathetic behavior from some of the powerful men in the business.The Assistant/Twitter18. "The Father" (directed by Florian Zeller) - Led by stellar performances from Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, “The Father” presents a devastatingly accurate and empathetic portrayal of dementia. The movie tells the story of an 80-year-old man named Anthony (played by Hopkins) who refuses to use the help of his daughter Anne (played by Colman) as dementia continues to make him doubt his loved ones. The film is a heartbreaking piece that puts Hopkins in the spotlight. He is surely going to be a frontrunner in the best actor category at next year’s Academy Awards. Pro tip: have a box of tissue ready while seeing the movie.The Father/ Sony Pictures Classics19. "Tenet" (directed by Christopher Nolan) - Touted as one of the most-anticipated movies of the year, “Tenet” certainly lived up to the hype. It’s hard to tell the synopsis in just a few lines because it is filled with complex stories and mind-boggling facts. The movie is boosted by strong performances from John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki. The film is an entertaining, time-slipping spectacle with complex timelines. It might take some multiple viewings to understand the entire premise of the movie, but it does not fail to give you goosebumps with its depth and visually-stunning action sequences.Tenet/Twitter
