The best kind of cinematic experiences offer two movies for the price of one, but I am not talking about a double feature. I am talking about one film that shifts its tone so dramatically at one point in the story that it almost feels like it becomes a new movie entirely. The following are some of the best flicks that gave audiences an evolutionary experience in one sitting.

Parasite (2019)

One of cinema's biggest surprises of 2019 is writer and director Bong Joon-ho's Best Picture Oscar winner, Parasite, which, at first, is presented as a smart and quirkily funny economic satire about a poor family conning their way into a wealthy family's lives. At the almost exact halfway point, the Korean-language film becomes a bleak cautionary tale when the main family's taste of the high life suddenly begins to unravel before their eyes.

Predator (1987)

If not for its ominous title and opening shot of a strange ship entering Earth's atmosphere, you might assume that Predator is a simple military action thriller. Its sci-fi elements become most apparent when Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch and his crew members are slowly picked off one by one by one of the most terrifying extraterrestrials in cinematic history.

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Director Edgar Wright and star and co-writer Simon Pegg made their breakthrough with a relatively grounded sitcom called Spaced, which might lead one to assume that their first cinematic collaboration would be a relatively grounded comedy. Indeed, Shaun of the Dead feels like nothing more than a simple rom-com for a good while before it becomes apparent to the audience and our characters, through darkly hilarious circumstances, that London has become overrun with hungry, reanimated corpses in the instant horror-comedy classic.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Roberto Benigni is a master of both broad comedy and tender drama and utilizes both brilliantly as the co-writer, director, and star of the World War II film and Oscar winner, Life is Beautiful. He plays a father anyone would be proud to have named Guido, whose clumsy nature and charming courting of the future mother of his son provides some lighthearted comfort, until it becomes a devastating tragedy when the film depicts the Holocaust through his family's eyes.

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

If you take out Cassius Green's (Lakeith Stanfield) uncanny "white voice," Sorry to Bother You feels like a relatively grounded economic satire set in the world of telemarketing at first. It becomes clear that Boots Riley's dazzling debut is not quite set in the real world when things take an unapologetically bizarre, surreal turn near the end.

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

Temple of Doom may be one of the lower-ranked Indiana Jones movies by many, but I have always admired the prequel, especially for being such a dramatic departure from its predecessor. Of course, it does feel like the same fun, breezy action-adventure story that Raiders of the Lost Ark is in its first half, but once Indy (Harrison Ford), Willie (Kate Capshaw), and Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) come across the Thuggee Cult, it's a straight-up horror flick.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi achieves an astonishing balance act with the way he pokes fun at the politics of 1930s Germany in Jojo Rabbit. In fact, the Oscar-winning period satire does such a good job establishing itself as a lighthearted comedy that its tragic turns in the second half are especially shocking.

Man On Fire (2004)

In its earliest moments, director Tony Scott's Man on Fire establishes itself as an uplifting redemption tale, following a depressed former CIA agent (played by Denzel Washington) and his healing bond with the young girl he is hired to protect (played by Dakota Fanning). However, it becomes a gritty revenge movie when the child is kidnapped and our hero moves heaven and earth to find her.

Psycho (1960)

Those who saw Psycho when it was first released might have assumed the title refers to Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) and her choice to go on the run with stolen money. Of course, the Alfred Hitchcock thriller's true purpose is revealed when Crane makes a stop at the Bates Motel, which turns out to be her final destination.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Director Robert Rodriguez and writer and star Quentin Tarantino collaborate on a gritty crime drama about a pair of ruthless brothers (played by George Clooney and Tarantino) on the run who take a vacationing family hostage. Once they reach their intended destination, a mysterious roadside bar, From Dusk Till Dawn suddenly erupts into a crazy vampire movie.

Audition (1999)

Takashi Miike's Audition is one of the most shocking Japanese horror films of all time, particularly because it presents itself as a redemptive romantic drama at first. Widowed Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) hosts a fake movie casting call to find a new wife and immediately falls for Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina), whom he eventually discovers is a brutal sadist when she subjects him to her torturous hobbies.

Click (2006)

Click proved that Adam Sandler was making a move toward more mature films by having its story slowly evolve into something more mature than its first half. The sci-fi comedy indulges in the same childish humor the SNL star was best known for before his character's truly universal remote and its auto-fast forward function begin to take over his life in surprisingly heartbreaking ways.

True Romance (1993)

Quentin Tarantino was not yet a household name when a film he penned called True Romance was released, so audiences could not prepare themselves for its wild twists and turns. Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) and Alabama Whitman's (Patricia Arquette) indulgent but irresistibly charming pairing promises a sweet, lighthearted comedy before things turn violent.

Fresh (2022)

Without any prior knowledge of its plot, Fresh seems like nothing more than a funny, yet frighteningly realistic, rom-com until 30 minutes in its when its opening titles finally kick off and it becomes frightening for another reason. Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) believes her horrific dating streak has ended when she meets Steve (Sebastian Stan), until she discovers his shocking true intentions for her.

Lost Highway (1997)

One of the most infamously discombobulating David Lynch movies, Lost Highway, begins as a story about a married couple (played by Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette) suffering from a bizarre and distressing situation, among other personal matters. However, things get even stranger when Pullman's character is inexplicably transformed into a younger mechanic, played by Balthazar Getty, who suddenly becomes the new protagonist.

Barbarian (2022)

Writer and director Zach Cregger was not even sure what type of story he was going to tell when he began penning Barbarian as a writing exercise, which certainly explains its subversive shifts in tone. It starts off feeling more like a rom-com with an otherwise terrifyingly awkward meet-cute (Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård's characters meet at a mistakenly double-booked Airbnb) before revealing itself as a grotesque horror flick when they discover the house is hiding a secret.

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Despite its somber tone and gradual pacing, die-hard fans of the genre would agree that S. Craig Zahler's Bone Tomahawk, depicting a trip to rescue a doctor kidnapped from her 19th-century village, is one of the best Western movies of its time. Once Kurt Russell's Sheriff Hunt and his comrades come across the kidnappers, a tribe of indigenous cannibals, it becomes one of the best horror movies of its time, let alone one of the most hauntingly brutal.

About Time (2013)

In the category of great time travel movies, About Time, starring Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, who discovers the ability to travel through time runs through his family, is one of the funniest, most uplifting, and most romantic entries, particularly when he falls for Mary (Rachel McAdams). However, at one point, it takes a heartbreaking turn into a story of loss.

Sinners (2025)

In Eric Eisenberg's Sinners review for CinemaBlend, he says he cannot decide if he loves Ryan Coogler's period film more as a crime drama or as a horror movie. Most critics and audiences would agree that the vampire-infested second half of this tale about twin gangsters (both played by Michael B. Jordan) returning to their home in the Jim Crow-era South is as strong and powerful as its more grounded first half.

Titanic (1997)

James Cameron's Oscar-winning historical blockbuster Titanic saves its breathtaking dramatization of the eponymous luxury passenger ship's tragic sinking in 1912 for its second half. Much of the story up to that point is a sweeping romance, following the passionate love affair between two fictional passengers: the wealthy, engaged Rose Butaker (Kate Winslet) and the impoverished, charming artist, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Co-writer and director Scott Glosserman's criminally overlooked horror-comedy, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, is a brilliant send-up of classic slasher movie tropes filmed predominantly in a documentary style. That is, until the final act when the title character (played by Nathan Baesel) embarks on his big murder spree, and the film becomes a more traditionally dramatic masked killer flick.

Shutter Island (2010)

One of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's best collaborations, Shutter Island, seems like a standard detective noir, following US Marshals Teddy Marshall (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) investigating a disappearance at the eponymous mental health facility. However, the shocking plot twist, which I will let you find out on your own, changes the story into something else entirely.

Terms Of Endearment (1983)

Writer and director James L. Brooks' Oscar-winning adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel, Terms of Endearment, is one of the most traumatically shocking tearjerkers in cinematic history, particularly for the way its heatbreaking plot points sneak up on you. The Oscar-winning film is largely a light dramedy focusing on Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her relationship with her daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), until the film shifts to a story of grief and loss when Emma is diagnosed with cancer.

Primal Fear (1996)

At first, the main pull of Primal Fear is Richard Gere's central character, defense attorney Martin Vail, and his moral flexibility and craving for an attention-grabbing case. The plot takes a bewildering turn near the end of the legal drama when the truth about Vail's client, a young murder suspect named Aaron (Edward Norton in his debut), is revealed

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

A perfect example of movie marketing that misled its audience is Bridge to Terabithia, which was promoted as a fun family film following Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) and Jess' (Josh Hutcherson) adventures in the eponymous fantasy realm. That description does match the tone of the film, but only up to a point when tragedy turns it into a traumatic gut-punch.

Overlord (2018)

Early on, Overlord was assumed to be an unofficial cinematic adaptation of the Call of Duty video games' zombie level, but it is not exactly that. In fact, the World War II-era combat drama remains relatively grounded for much of the first half before revealing its imaginative take on real-life, horrific experiments in reanimation.

Something Wild (1986)

Director Jonathan Demme's Something Wild certainly wears its darker properties on its sleeve throughout, but the story of a straightlaced businessman (played by Jeff Daniels) roped into an adventure with a free-spirited woman (played by Melanie Griffith) is largely outweighed at first by its fun, breezy romantic elements. However, it does begin to gradually evolve into a more earnest and alarming thriller once Ray Liotta shows up as the female lead's convict ex-husband.

The Wailing (2016)

Do not underestimate the blood-curdling twists and turns in store in the acclaimed Korean horror movie, The Wailing. You may feel safe to let your guard down by the comedic elements of this cop drama before its true identity as a harrowing supernatural thriller is unveiled.

Miracle Mile (1988)

You might have forgotten about the '80s movie Miracle Mile, which is a quirky comedy following Harry Washello (Anthony Edwards) and his blossoming romance with Julie Peters (Mare Winningham). Things change when Harry overhears evidence that the United States is launching a nuclear war with the Soviet Union and races against time to get him and Julie to safety.

Very Bad Things (1998)

Writer and director Peter Berg's feature debut, Very Bad Things, is a precursor to The Hangover, but takes things in even darker directions. It starts off as a light, funny party movie about five friends enjoying a bachelor party in Las Vegas, until an accidental murder brings the fun to a screeching halt and causes the story to descend into a maddening thriller.

Downsizing (2017)

In my opinion, Alexander Payne's Downsizing is, unfortunately, a go-to example of a disappointing movie with a great concept, namely a scientific breakthrough that helps people become more financially solvent by shrinking to five inches tall. The issue for me is that it shifts from a sci-fi economic satire to an environmental PSA in such a sudden, jarring succession.

Fantastic Four (2015)

There are many reasons why Josh Trank's Fantastic Four is one of the most critically reviled superhero movies of all time, but I don't consider its shift into a body horror movie to be one of them. In fact, portraying Marvel's superhero family as victims of their amazing abilities could have worked well had the film not used up so much time as a slow-paced inter-dimensional expedition thriller first, and so weakly tried to wedge in a generic comic book movie finale at the end.

Hebrew school and middle school were where I learned about the murders of six million Jews during the Holocaust. It’s always been scary for me to learn what happened to my people and what true evil is capable of. While World War II movies like Schindler’s List and The Pianist portray the brutal realism of the Holocaust, I also prefer WWII movies that know how to balance the horror of that dark time with moments of humanity. As a Jew, I have to talk about five movies that have personally helped me cope with the horrors of WWII.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

When one of the greatest Italian movies, Life is Beautiful, first came out, critics didn’t like seeing comedy shown in a Holocaust story. What reviewers may not have realized was that the film's comedic elements were not meant to be the least bit offensive. Director/actor Roberto Benigni used humor to mock the horrific practices of Nazis. One example was when his character, Guido, gave a fake translation of the Nazi’s orders to protect his son while they were in a concentration camp.

In Life is Beautiful, starting out with Guido and Giosuè being taken to the concentration camps, we’re introduced to our lead characters as everyday people. We see the comical and smart Guido woo a beautiful teacher and start a wonderful family with her before the Nazis sent Jews to the camps.

Another reason why Life is Beautiful melts my heart is the riveting father/son story. When Guido and Giosuè got arrested, the loyal father pretended they were participants in a game who gained points by hiding from the guards and keeping quiet, with the winner going home in a tank. He did this to shield his son from the atrocities of the camps. By the end of the movie, I saw myself crying warm tears with a mix of sadness for those who didn’t survive in the camps and happiness for those who did.

Life is Beautiful is streaming on your MGM+ subscription.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Another WWII movie that uses satire to portray Nazism is Jojo Rabbit. Director and actor Taika Waititi portrayed a goofy version of Adolf Hitler who was the figment of a young Nazi youth’s imagination. The New Zealand filmmaker felt that comedy was the best approach to tell the story of WWII as a new way to get audiences to learn about the horrors of that dark period.

Comedy truly was a genius approach as Taika Waititi’s version of Hitler was like a parody of the German dictator and better highlighted the Nazi party leader’s lunacy and inhumanity. The same went for all of the other Nazi characters whose gun-crazy, over-the-top attitudes towards their dedication to their regime made them look ridiculous more than feared.

Jojo Rabbit was also refreshing for me to watch, seeing the transition of Jojo’s dangerous beliefs. He was originally forced to believe that killing Jews was for the good of Germany until he built a connection with a Jewish girl his mother hid in their home. We see Jojo was just a confused kid whose love he had for his mother and friendship he built with his new friend wouldn’t be behavior a Nazi would commit. While the human cost of hate came in full force, we also witnessed the healing power of empathy.

Jojo Rabbit is streaming on your Hulu subscription.

Jacob the Liar (1975)

The German war film Jacob the Liar may not be a comedy, but it still brings out some feel-good vibes. In the ghetto of German-occupied Poland, Jakob saved his friend from taking his own life by telling him of a news report he heard about the Soviet Army making its way towards Germany for liberation. After that piece of news brought hope to the ghetto, Jakob decided to give everyone fake news to give people hope.

The character of Jakob may not have been a fighter or a revolutionary. However, he committed the heroic act of giving people in the ghetto something to look forward to. Poland being occupied by the Nazis still stood, but the world looked a little brighter to everyone who listened to Jakob. The film's lead character even brought joy to a little girl he took in, Lina, who listened attentively to Jakob’s stories and no longer felt scared. The movie raised the ethical question of whether telling lies is wrong if they can save a person’s life.

Jakob the Liar is available on your Kanopy subscription.

The Great Dictator (1940)

If any classic actor who dominated the '20s and '30s is capable of making you laugh, it’s filmmaker Charlie Chaplin. The English comic may not have known Hitler’s full atrocities when he made The Great Dictator, but it’s still a great satire of the power-hungry Nazi leader.

In one of the best dual-role comedies, Charlie Chaplin portrayed both a persecuted Jewish barber and the cold-hearted dictator of the fictional country of Tomainia, Adenoid Hynkel. The silent film star didn’t hold back in this, his first "talkie," making fun of Hitler’s well-known traits like his salute, as well as creating a nonsensical language for him. Despite The Great Dictator being Chaplin’s first sound film, his physical comedy still came into play through satirizing Hitler, like the iconic scene where Hynkel humorously waltzed with a globe.

One important scene that can easily make me smile isn’t comedic, but one of the most powerful speeches I’ve heard in a movie. As the Jewish barber disguised himself as the Tomainian dictator, he delivered a speech with its meaning still resonating today about a deep need for the end of tyranny, racism, and hatred. We are left with hope to work harder at creating a more compassionate world.

The Great Dictator is available on your Max subscription.

The Producers (1967)

On the first try, Mel Brooks made a really good movie called The Producers that would show audiences what a pro he is with satires. It’s definitely something to watch when you need a pick-me-up about two con men who try to cheat investors by creating a flop in hopes of keeping all of the extra money for themselves. Believing a musical glorifying Hitler would bomb, you could imagine their surprise when audiences took it as a satire and made it a hit! I guarantee you the hilarious tune “Springtime For Hitler” will stay in your head for hours after the movie.

The beauty of The Producers is Mel Brooks’ way of using comedy to dismantle the power of Nazis and rob the German dictator of his fearsome vibe. With Brooks being Jewish himself and a WWII veteran, he allowed Jewish characters to manipulate the system, outsmart everyone, and expose how ridiculous fascism was by making it laughable. This movie didn't ignore the horrors of the past, but used humor as a weapon against hate to turn Hitler into a joke so he’s never taken seriously again.

The Producers is available on your Kanopy subscription.

It saddens me whenever I think about the millions of Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust. But when I watch an uplifting movie that takes place during that dark place in history, I’m reminded about the Jewish custom of using humor as an act of defiance. Each one of these movies helps me cope with the horrors of WWII seeing Nazis terror stripped away with farce as well as witnessing characters bring hope to those who need it.

The Beatles are without a doubt the most popular rock and roll band in history. As such, it’s unsurprising that their music has been featured in a lot of movies. Still, it’s not as many as you might think, as the band members and their estates have been careful about who and where they license their music. There won’t be any Beatles movies on this list (that would be cheating), but otherwise here is a list of movies that feature Beatles music in the soundtrack. 

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023)

The first time we meet “old” Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny in the 1960s (after the opening flashback), he is awoken by his neighbors blaring The Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour.” Grumpy old Dr. Jones isn’t happy about the situation, but the blaring horns that open the song are a great alarm clock.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

One of the most memorable moments in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is Ferris (Matthew Broderick) on a float in a huge parade downtown. First, he lip-synced to “Danke Schoen” by Wayne Newton, before tearing down the house (or streets of Chicago) by lip-syncing to The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout.” Why there was a parade at all is anybody’s guess. 

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

It’s hardly surprising that a movie named after a Beatles song (“Glass Onion”) would feature some of the band’s music. Not only is the movie’s namesake played as the credits role at the the end, but the host of the murder mystery party, Miles Bron (Edward Norton) also plays “Blackbird” by the band as his guests arrive. He claims to be playing it on the guitar that Paul McCartney wrote the song on, as well. Only a billionaire… 

The Social Network (2010)

Appropriately, the Beatles song “Baby, You’re A Rich Man” concludes David Fincher’s The Social Network about the founding of Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg is indeed a very rich man. The original soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is augmented by this song at the end, and a White Stripes song at the beginning. 

Minions (2015)

Minions, the spinoff of the Despicable Me franchise, is set in the 1960s and you can’t portray that decade without a little Beatles music, right? In the movie, the Minions themselves perform the Beatles hit “Revolution” in their unique language, leaving the rest of us to wonder what they are singing about. John Lennon was singing about the protests of the ‘60s, but the Minions probably weren’t. 

Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

The Beatles have had a few movies with titles taken from the names of their songs like 1987’s Can't Buy Me Love with Patrick Dempsey. It’s not the best movie of the bunch, but it’s far from the worst. Of course, the titular song appears in it, but not until the credits at the end of the movie.

Argylle (2024)

The Apple original Argylle has the distinction of being the movie that first got to use what The Beatles are calling their “last” song. “Now and Then” was released in November of 2023 and the movie weaved the melody in and out of the film's score. It’s a powerful way to use a “new” Beatles song. 

The World According To Garp (1982)

1982’s The World According to Garp starring Robin Williams starts with the bouncy “When I’m 64” by The Beatles. The song immediately pulls you into the movie and the 1960s setting. There may not be a bigger “Boomer” song than this one, and it works wonderfully in the movie. 

Yesterday (2019)

Of course a movie about the Beatles never existing is going to feature Beatles music, right? Well, in Yesterday (another film named after a song), a man discovers that he’s entered an alternate universe and the Beatles have never existed. He starts playing their songs, claiming he wrote them, and becomes famous. There are flaws so big you in the plot could drive a truck through them, but it’s a sweet movie and a decent love story, so we’ll let it pass. 

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

One of the most interesting covers of a Beatles song to appear on film unsurprisingly comes from the mind of Wes Anderson. After failing to get permission to use “Hey Jude” in The Royal Tennebaums, Anderson turned to Mark Mothersbaugh, the composer responsible for the unique scores in Anderson’s movies. Mothersbaugh enlisted his “Mutato Muzika Orchestra” to record a new version of “Hey Jude” and frankly, it works better than the original would have. It fits the movie and Anderson’s style to a T. 

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Few in Hollywood today have as unique a mind as Taika Waititi and this has never been more evident than the brilliant Jojo Rabbit. Right out of the box viewers know it's going to be a different kind of movie when the director plays the German version of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles, which the band recorded themselves in 1965. “Komm, gib mir deine Hand” plays over old footage of The Third Reich, essentially comparing the rise of Hitler with Beatlemania. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but wow does it! 

A Bronx Tale (1991)

The Beatles song “Come Together” is a classic and it can fit so many situations. One great use of it in movies comes from A Bronx Tale when Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) confronts a biker gang as it plays in the background. 

I Am Sam (2001)

No list could be complete without including I Am Sam. The movie’s entire soundtrack is Beatles songs. Here’s the catch though - none of them are the original. The Beatles wouldn’t license the songs to the movie, so the producers of the Sean Penn-led movie created an amazing tribute album with covers of the songs by the likes of The Black Crowes, Stereophonics, Sheryl Crow, and more. 

The Music Never Stopped (2011)

The Music Never Stopped is a movie all about the power of music. It’s specifically about the power of the Grateful Dead’s music, but, The Beatles are also present. As Henry (JK Simmons) and his son Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) listen to music together in an attempt to bond, a lot of songs are played in the movie, including “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles. 

Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)

We couldn’t make this list and not include one of the wildest Easter Eggs on film. In the legendary animated short Bambi Meets Godzilla, the baby deer meets his demise when Godzilla’s foot stomps on him. The sound sampled that lingers seemingly forever at the end is the final note of The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life.” 

Shampoo (1975)

The Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn comedy Shampoo hasn’t aged all that well, but one thing that is timeless is the music in it. The soundtrack includes The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, and three Beatles songs, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” and “Yesterday.”

Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man doesn’t have any Beatles songs directly in it but in one of the best scenes in the movie, a a Fab Four song plays a crucial role. When Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) and Charlie (Tom Cruise) finally start to bond, it’s over a shared memory they have of Raymond singing “I Saw Her Standing There” to Charlie when Charlie was a baby. It’s a wonderful moment in the scene and it goes to show how powerful the Beatles music can be. 

Superman III (1983)

“Roll Over Beethoven” was one of The Beatles’ easiest hits. Though it’s a song written by Chuck Berry, John and the lads make it their own. It even found its way into a questionable sequel in the early Superman franchise starring Christopher Reeve when it popped up in Superman III. Great song; bad movie, all due respect to the great Richard Pryor. 

Dinner For Schmucks (2010)

In Dinner For Schmucks, Steve Carell plays an idiot, so fittingly the movie’s opening credits have “Fool On The Hill” playing over them. It was reported that the producers of the film paid over a million dollars for the song, but Paramount pushed back and said it was less than that. We may never know, but it clearly wasn’t cheap.   

The Parent Trap (1998)

In the Lindsey Lohan-led remake of Disney’s The Parent Trap, The Beatles song “Here Comes The Sun,” written by George Harrison, plays during a scene in London. The sun even includes one of the twins and their mother walking across the famous crosswalk at Abbey Road that the band walked across on the cover of the album by the same name. 

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

Director David Fincher’s The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button takes places over decades, but when Benjamin (Brad Pitt) and his wife move into their first apartment, The Beatles “Twist and Shout” plays in the background. Nothing evokes the 1960s quite like the Fab Four. 

I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)

We said at the beginning that there wouldn’t be any Beatles movies on this list, but we’re pushing it with I Wanna Hold Your Hand by director Robert Zemeckis. It’s not a Beatles movie, in that the lads expressly don’t appear in this 1978 box office bomb, but it is about them. It’s actually a pretty funny movie that should have been a bigger hit. It also features no less than 17 Beatles songs, which has to be a record. 

Mask (1985)

1985’s Mask starring Eric Stoltz as Rocky Dennis and Cher as his mother is a really underrated movie based on a true story about a boy born with a rare bone disorder. It also features are fantastic classic rock soundtrack with songs by Bruce Springsteen, the Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, and yes, of course, The Beatles. Two songs feature prominently in the movie, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “Girl.”

Boss Baby (2017)

The character Tim in Boss Baby has a moment that anyone who grew up with Baby Boomer parents can relate to when his parents sing The Beatles’ “Blackbird” to him to put him to bed. Yep, been there, done that! 

Love Actually (2003)

It probably won’t come as a surprise that the cheesy example of a Beatles song in a movie is Love Actually which features a cover of the song “All You Need Is Love” in a wedding scene that comes with a side of diabetes it’s so sugary sweet. Okay, okay, it’s cute, but wow it is over the top!

Withnail and I (1987)

Withnail and I is a vastly under appreciated movie these days. Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann star in this dark comedy that has been influencial on directors, but almost completely forgotten about by the public. It was also rare in the '80s for The Beatles to license their songs, but the movie was good enough to earn the band's respect and allow "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." 

Ghosted (2023)

2023's Ghosted wasn't very well received and is mostly a forgettable movie, despite the star power of Ana de Armas and Chris Evans. However, one really great thing about the movie is the music. The soundtrack is full of bangers, including the George Harrison-penned "Taxman" by The Beatles. 

Not Fade Away (2012)

In Not Fade Away, David Chase shows a different side of life in New Jersey in the 1960s than The Many Saints Of Newark. The film is about friends who start a garage band and model themselves after the British Invasion bands. Of course, that means The Beatles and two of their songs are featured, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and their cover of "Please Mister Postman."

Ghost Town (2008)

2008's Ghost Town was Ricky Gervais' first leading role in a film and it's actually pretty funny, though few remember it these days, it seems. It features "I'm Looking Through You," which is kinda perfect for a movie about ghosts, right?

Bowling For Columbine (2002)

Micheal Moore's hard-hitting and controversial Bowling For Columbine was an examination of America's gun culture in the wake of the Columbine Massacre and Moore obtained the rights to use "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" from The Beatles for the documentary. 

Coming Home (1978)

Director Hal Ashby was nominated for Best Director for the oft-overlooked Coming Home starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern. Ashby was apparently a huge Beatles fan and worked their songs into a few of his movies, including this one, which had two, "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Hey Jude."

Lassie (1994)

The beloved TV show Lassie was one of a number of franchises from the '60s that has been brought back over the years. The 1994 movie of the same name... isn't great, but it did have some great music, including "In My Life" by The Beatles. 

Music in movies is important and while The Beatles are careful who they license their music to, if they do, you're in for a treat, as these movies show. 

Returning to the spotlight in the new 2022 Netflix movie schedule entry, Senior Year, is Rebel Wilson boasting a new look, but the same side-splitting funny bone. She plays Stephanie Conway, who falls into a coma when she is 17-years-old (as played by fellow Aussie and Spider-Man: No Way Home star Angourie Rice) and wakes up 20 years later still determined to finish high school, reclaim her spot as cheerleading captain, and be crowned prom queen.

Seeing the hilarious Australian native lead a new comedy has inspired us to remember some of her previous greatest hits, such as the Pitch Perfect movies - which, a decade ago, earned her an instant ticket to the American mainstream. In fact, let’s start with that fun, infectious, musical franchise as we take a look at some of our favorite Rebel Wilson movies, below.

The Pitch Perfect Movies (Amazon Rental)

A typically reclusive aspiring musician (Academy Award nominee Anna Kendrick) steps out of her comfort zone to join her college’s famous a cappella choir, leads them to victory in a European competition during her senior year, and reunites with them once more (or so we thought) on an overseas tour for the USO.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In the scene-stealing role of the self-proclaimed “Fat Amy,” Rebel Wilson was easily the breakout star of the Pitch Perfect cast in 2012, and more than likely the most essential reason why audiences came back for Pitch Perfect 2 three years later and 2017’s Pitch Perfect 3, which - with a TV series in the works - will not be the last we see of the Barden Bellas, after all.

Buy the Pitch Perfect trilogy on Amazon.

Bridesmaids (Amazon Rental)

After her lifelong best friend (Maya Rudolph) gets engaged and asks her to be her maid of honor, a cash-strapped, lovelorn pastry chef (star and co-writer Kristen Wiig) begins to reconsider what she really wants in life while also finding herself in a competition with a wealthy, overbearing fellow bridesmaid (Rose Byrne).

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: A year before starring in Pitch Perfect, Rebel Wilson appeared alongside another hilarious female ensemble, the Bridesmaids cast, as Brynn - one half of the siblings who toss Wiig’s character, Annie, out of their apartment - in this Academy Award nominated modern comedy classic.

Rent/Buy Bridesmaids on Amazon.

A Few Best Men (Amazon Rental)

After falling in love with and becoming engaged to a woman he met while on vacation (Laura Brent), a young Australian man (Xavier Samuel) asks his three closest mates (Kevin Bishop, Tim Draxl, and Love Actually cast member Kris Marshall) to all serve the duties of the best man, only for them to fail miserably at the task.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In the same year she starred in Bridesmaids, Rebel Wilson appeared alongside a hilarious ensemble of fellow Aussies and Brits, but as a bridesmaid herself this time, in A Few Best Men - an uproarious comedy from the writer of the original Death at a Funeral, Dean Craig, and the director of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Stephan Elliott.

Rent/Buy A Few Best Men on Amazon.

Bachelorette (Starz)

After a woman they used to pick on in high school (Rebel Wilson) asks them to be in her wedding party, three lifelong best friends (Kirsten Dunst, Lizzie Caplan, and Isla Fisher) throw the bride a bachelorette party that quickly spins out of control.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: A year after starring in Bridesmaids, Wilson once again starred alongside another hilarious female ensemble, but as the woman about to walk down the aisle this time, in Bachelorette - a comedy with a healthy amount of raunch and heart written and directed by Emmy-nominated Russian Doll co-creator, Leslye Headland.

Stream Bachelorette on Starz.
Rent/Buy Bachelorette on Amazon.

How To Be Single (HBO Max)

After going through a tough break-up, a young New Yorker (Dakota Johnson) receives help navigating the life of a singleton from her friend and co-worker (Rebel Wilson). 

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In 2016, Wilson starred alongside yet another great ensemble of funny women (also including Alison Brie and Leslie Mann), but this time as the one who specializes in partying like there is no tomorrow, in How to Be Single - a fun, often romantic, and somewhat cleverly informative comedy based on the book by Liz Tuccillo.

Stream How To Be Single on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy How To Be Single on Amazon.

Jojo Rabbit (Amazon Rental)

A young boy (Roman Griffin Davis) who aspires to be the ideal Nazi - going as far as having Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) as an imaginary friend - begins to reconsider his beliefs after befriending a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) whom his mother (Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson) has been secretly keeping in their home in World War II-era Germany.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: Another Oscar-nominated (and Oscar-winning) film on Rebel Wilson’s resume is Jojo Rabbit - director Taika Waititi’s quirky and powerful adaptation of Christine Leunens' novel, Caging Skies, in which Wilson plays a devoted member of the Nazi regime named Fraulein Rahm.

Rent/Buy Jojo Rabbit on Amazon.

Isn’t It Romantic (Amazon Rental)

A New York City architect (Rebel Wilson) who despises romantic comedy movies for the unrealistically positive expectations they can often lead to sees her worst nightmare come to life when a head injury from a mugging incident sends her into a world defined by all the common elements of her least-favorite film genre.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In one of her first lead movie roles, Wilson uses her signature comedic energy to poke fun at some of cinema’s most iconic rom-coms and all their most prevalent tropes in 2019’s Isn’t it Romantic - a fun send-up from director Todd Strauss-Schulson that also reunites Wilson with her Pitch Perfect co-star, Adam Devine.

Rent/Buy Isn’t It Romantic on Amazon.

Small Apartments (Amazon Prime, Tubi)

After accidentally killing his landlord (Peter Stormare), a lonely, reclusive man (Matt Lucas) struggles to hide the evidence, but finds his attempts interrupted by an eccentric detective (Billy Crystal) on his tail, the sudden death of his brother (James Marsden), and the other unusual adventures of his neighbors.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In 2012, Rebel Wilson starred alongside a funny star-studded ensemble (also including James Caan, Juno Temple, and Johnny Knoxville) in Small Apartments - a bizarre, twisted dark comedy based on the novel by Chris Millis that also reunites Wilson with her Bridesmaids co-star, Matt Lucas.

Stream Small Apartments on Amazon Prime.
Stream Small Apartments on Tubi.

Struck By Lightning (Tubi, Peacock)

On the day he is killed by a bolt of lightning, a snobbish, ambitious high school senior (former Glee cast member Chris Colfer) recounts to the audience the story of how he blackmailed several of his classmates into contributing to his literary magazine as part of his plan to get out of his hometown and lead a successful writing career.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: Based on a book that star Colfer wrote himself and directed by Brian Dannelly, Struck by Lightning is a dark coming-of-age comedy from 2012 also starring Rebel Wilson as Malerie Baggs - a friend of the central character, Carson Phillips, whom she helps to carry out his blackmailing scheme.

Stream Struck By Lightning on Tubi.
Stream Struck By Lightning on Peacock.
Buy Struck By Lightning on Amazon.

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Disney+)

A wooly mammoth (Ray Romano), a sloth (John Leguizamo), and a sabretooth tiger (Denis Leary) became separated from the rest of their diverse “herd” in the midst of a cataclysmic storm that sends them on a dangerous quest to return home while literally drifting across unfamiliar waters.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: Also in 2012, Rebel Wilson leant her voice to the role of the bullish kangaroo known as Raz in Ice Age: Continental Drift - the action-packed fourth installment of the long-running animated franchise from Blue Sky Studios.

Stream Ice Age: Continental Drift on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Ice Age: Continental Drift on Amazon.

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb (Disney+)

When the ancient tablet that brings the exhibits of the Museum of Natural History to life by sundown begins to show signs of corrosion, a veteran security guard (Ben Stiller) travels to London, where the key to saving the magic may be, only for things to go awry when an animated wax figure of Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) runs amok.

Why it is worth checking out if you like Rebel Wilson: In 2014, Rebel Wilson joined the cast of another popular franchise of family movies (made in live-action this time) as a security guard for the British Museum named Tilly in director Shawn Levy’s Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb - the third and final installment of the funny fantasy comedy series inspired by the children’s books from author and illustrator Milan Trenc.

Stream Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb on Amazon.

After streaming these titles and Senior Year - available to watch on Netflix as of Friday, May 13, 2022 - be sure to be on the lookout for what Rebel Wilson has in store next. Now in post-production is The Almond and the Seahorse, the directorial debut of actor Celyn Jones and cinematographer Tom Stern that also stars Charlotte Gainsborough.

If you are reading this, chances are you have watched Silent Night already, and you’re looking for more movies like it. At first, you would think that Camille Griffin’s Christmas black comedy about a family celebrating one final holiday before the end of the world would be in a category of its own, but there are movies out there that share a few similarities. Below is quick yet comprehensive list of movies from genres ranging from dystopian thrillers to end-of-the-world movies, and much much more. Let’s bring in the holiday cheer with an eclectic bunch…

Love Actually (2003)

Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the 2003 Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually follows a dozen or so characters seeking love and new beginnings around the holidays. With a who’s who of British acting talent from around the turn of the 21st Century, this beloved comedy is as entertaining as it is maddening at times.

Why it’s worth checking out: Okay, you are probably trying to figure out what Silent Night and Love Actually have in common besides both featuring Keira Knightley. But, there a few things both movies have, like the way they tackle the United Kingdom’s love of all things Christmas and those group suicides in the final act (just kidding about that part). All joking aside, Camille Griffin has gone on the record to say her pitch reference was Love Actually meets Melancholia.

Rent/Buy Love Actually on Amazon.

Melancholia (2011)

Lars Von Trier’s 2001 psychological drama, Melancholia, follows a broken family, played by Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Kiefer Sutherland, as they prepare for a planet to crash into Earth, a collision that will wipe out all life. The movie also touches on depression, marital issues, and existential dread in the face of death.

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the things that works best with Melancholia is the way in which it plays with your expectations. Even though the movie tells you explicitly that the world is coming to an end, you have this thought in your head the whole time that something is going to work out and all will be saved. Like Silent Night,  though, there is no such luxury or escape from death and the movie is about coming to terms with your own, inevitable mortality.

Stream Melancholia on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Melancholia on Amazon.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

The 2012 end-of-the-world romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World follows Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell) and Penny Lockhart (Keira Knightley), two neighbors who strike up a close-knit friendship over the course of three weeks while they await an asteroid crashing into the planet. As they attempt to make amends with their pasts and leave nothing unsaid, the pair become inseparable. 

Why it’s worth checking out: A lot of the drama in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is similar to that seen in Silent Night. Both movies feature characters who are dying to fulfill their dreams and say things they’ve always wanted to get off their chest. And, while both are crude and have unsavory characters, they delicately touch on how people will do anything to share one last tender moment before their demise.

Stream Seeking a Friend for the End of the World on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World on Amazon.

The Lobster (2015)

Released in 2015, Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian romantic black comedy The Lobster is one of the most surreal movies you’ll see, and follows a man named David (Colin Farrell), who has 45 days to fall in love or he’ll be forced to spend the rest of his life as an animal of his choosing. 

Why it’s worth checking out: This truly bizarre movie, even when compared to the rest of Yorgos Lanthimos’ work, is something to behold. Like Silent Night, it finds the perfect combination of comedy and abject horror. There are times throughout both movies where the subject matter would be too much to take if it weren’t for expertly timed hilarious moments.

Stream The Lobster on Showtime.
Rent/Buy The Lobster on Amazon.

Children Of Men (2006)

With society on the brink of chaos following years of infertility caused by a mysterious pandemic, Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a revolutionary-turned-bureaucrat is given the remarkable task of escorting a pregnant woman (the first in nearly 20 years) to safety. If the human race is to survive to see a better tomorrow, this broken man with a dark past must succeed.

Why it’s worth checking out: Although it’s not a Christmas movie and doesn’t focus on an end-of-the-world type situation, Children of Men leaves you with similar feelings as Silent Night, because of mysterious forces, characters with nihilistic views, and the balance between hope and dread. All of this creates one of the best movies on Amazon Prime.

Stream Children of Men on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Children of Men on Amazon.

Contagion (2011)

The world is thrown into chaos in Contagion when a deadly and fast-moving virus spreads across the globe, killing tens of millions. Steven Soderbergh’s sobering pandemic thriller shows just how quickly things can go awry when the natural order of the world is brought to an end.

Why it’s worth checking out: Like Silent Night, this 2011 thriller is absolutely terrifying in its depiction of a world-ending event and just how quickly humanity can crumble. No one is safe in Contagion, and that is shown time and time again with deaths of major characters, played by actors who you would think were invincible.

Stream Contagion on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Contagion on Amazon.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi’s 2019 dramedy Jojo Rabbit follows a young boy who is torn between staying true to the Nazi Germany regime, and his love for his mother (Scarlett Johansson), who is hiding a young Jewish girl in their home. Over the course of the movie, Jojo turns to his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Waititi) for companionship and guidance. 

Why it’s worth checking out: Although he plays an entirely different character in Jojo Rabbit than he does in Silent Night, Roman Griffin Davis is the moral center of each film. Despite barely being a teenager, the young actor carries himself like a seasoned pro at this point, and is in full command of his emotions and the screen throughout both performances.

Rent/Buy Jojo Rabbit on Amazon.

Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve’s breathtaking and thought-provoking sci-fi alien drama, Arrival, follows linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) as she attempt to communicate with extraterrestrials that have landed on Earth. Louise and her team race against time (and the threat of global war) to understand the aliens and to figure out why they came to Earth in the first place.

Why it’s worth checking out: Just like Silent Night, Arrival is one of those movies where it’s better to know little to nothing at all going in, which allows you to be genuinely surprised by its twists and turns. It’s far more dramatic than Camille Griffin’s Christmas black comedy, but the film’s conversations about exploring the danger and beauty of the unknown make it a great companion piece. 

Stream Arrival on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Arrival on Amazon.

Take Shelter (2011)

Jeff Nichols’ 2011 psychological thriller Take Shelter follows Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon), a man who is driven to brink of madness after having nightmares and experiencing hallucinations of the apocalypse. In an attempt to protect his wife (Jessica Chastain) and daughter (Tova Stewart), Curtis builds a storm shelter, which puts his marriage in a tough spot and makes him the laughing stock of town.

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the best Michael Shannon movies, Take Shelter does a tremendous job of showing just how far someone will go to protect the ones they love from suffering. And, like Silent Night, this 2011 thriller has one of those endings that will have you talking about it for hours.

Stream Take Shelter on Starz.
Rent/Buy Take Shelter on Amazon.

Brazil (1985)

In an attempt to escape his boring life as a bureaucrat, Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) drifts off into a daydream world in which he becomes the hero he could never be in reality. But, as he continues to dive deeper and deeper into this fantastical world, Sam begins to lose his grasp on reality and his sanity begins to suffer.

Why it’s worth checking out: Brazil is without a doubt one of the most bizarre movies set during the Christmas season and uses the holiday in such a manner that is rarely seen. If you were a fan of how Silent Night used Christmas as a way to bring everyone together for the apocalyptic ride, then you have to watch Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi cult classic.

Stream Brazil on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Brazil on Amazon.

This Is The End (2013)

And then there is This is the End, the 2013 end-of-the-world comedy written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. This crude, hilarious, and gory as all hell doomsday film follows Jay Barauchel, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Rogen, and other notable stars playing caricatures of themselves attempting to survive the apocalypse at Franco’s mansion. 

Why it’s worth checking out: This is the End plays like Silent Night if you took out all of the niceties, drama, and children, and instead had a group of man-children trying to save themselves from the inevitable. It has laughs and surprises around every corner and somehow manages to have a lot of heart.

Stream This is the End on Starz.
Rent/Buy This is the End on Amazon.

Well, this should be a good place to start if you want more movies like Silent Night. However, in the event you want more ways to kill a few hours, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, which is full of great options. 

From inspiring a young Nazi to change his heart in Jojo Rabbit, to keeping her head up as her youth fades away right in front of her in Old, Thomasin McKenzie has been taking the world by storm in just the last couple of years. It is almost hard to believe that the 21-year-old New Zealander just received her first-ever top-billed lead role in a feature film, with writer and director Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, in 2021. However, her career up to this point boasts a great deal of variety, such as her very first acting credit.

Existence (Tubi)

A woman (Loren Taylor) seeks help from a dangerous man known only as a “Rider” (Matthew Sunderland), in order to escape her oppressed existence in a war torn New Zealand.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: In 2012, Thomasin McKenzie was a pre-teen when she made her acting debut with a small role in the post-apocalyptic thriller Existence - the debut and sole feature-length film of co-writer and director Juliet Bergh that was also filmed on the beautiful landscape that is the actress’ home country.

Stream Existence on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Existence on Amazon.

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (HBO Max, Peacock)

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is put to the ultimate test of bravery as he, Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen), their dwarfish comrades, elvish allies, and an army of orcs prepare for war against a looming evil threat.  

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Though she is not very easy to spot, in 2014 teenage Thomasin McKenzie shared the screen with her own mother, fellow New Zealand actress Miranda Harcourt, in the third installment of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of Rings prequel trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, in the role of her onscreen daughter.

Stream The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies on HBO Max.
Stream The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies on Peacock.
Rent/Buy The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies on Amazon.

The Changeover (Amazon Prime)

A teenage girl (Erana James) tries to protect her family from an evil entity (Timothy Spall) that threatens her family’s safety by means of possessing her younger brother.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: The New Zealand-based, 2017 supernatural horror movie The Changeover (among some of the best movies on Amazon Prime) was even more of a family affair for Thomasin McKenzie, who not only appeared in it with her grandmother, Kate Harcourt, but was directed by both her mother and father, Stuart McKenzie - who also wrote the screenplay based on Margaret Mahy’s Carnegie Medal-winning novel of the same name.

Stream The Changeover on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy The Changeover on Amazon.

Leave No Trace (Hulu)

A teenage girl (Thomasin McKenzie) chooses to live with her military veteran father (Ben Foster), who is suffering from PTSD, in a park forest in Portland, Oregon, until outside forces threaten to put them back into society.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Director Debra Granik, also the co-writer and director of 2011’s Winter’s Bone, adapted Peter Rock’s novel, My Abandonment, into Leave No Trace - a moving father-daughter story that first inspired American audiences to take notice of Thomasin McKenzie’s talent in 2018.

Stream Leave No Trace on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Leave No Trace on Amazon.

The King (Netflix)

After spending most of his life not bothering to acknowledge his royalty, a young prince (Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet) is forced to prove his worth as a leader when he is crowned the King of England after the death of his tyrant father.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Director David Michôd, also the writer and director of 2010’s Animal Kingdom, collaborated with star Joel Edgerton on the script for 2019’s The King - one of the best original movies on Netflix - which is a loosely fictionalized, but highly thrilling, account of Henry V’s reign that also stars Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Philippa of Denmark.

Stream The King on Netflix.

Jojo Rabbit (Amazon Rental)

After spending most of his life committed to proving his worth among the Nazis, a precocious German boy (Roman Griffin Davis) begins to question everything he believes in after discovering that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a teenage Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their home during World War II.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Writer, director, and star Taika Waititi (also the writer, director, and star of a few Marvel movies) won an Academy Award for adapting Christine Leunens’ novel Caging Skies into 2019’s Jojo Rabbit - a clever and heartfelt revisionist history dramedy in which Thomasin McKenzie dazzles as the spunky Jewish refugee responsible for the title character’s change of heart. 

Rent/Buy Jojo Rabbit on Amazon.

True History Of The Kelly Gang (Showtime)

A bushranger (1917 cast member George MacKay) leads a revolt against the rule of the English in 19th-Century Australia.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant adapt Peter Carey’s novel, True History of the Kelly Gang, into a subversive, loosely factual account of the life of Ned Kelly (released in 2019) that also stars Thomasin McKenzie as a created character who conceives a child with the legendary Australian outlaw.

Stream True History Of The Kelly Gang on Showtime.
Rent/Buy True History Of The Kelly Gang on Amazon.

Lost Girls (Netflix)

A mother (Academy Award nominee and Office cast member Amy Ryan) goes on a desperate search to locate her missing daughter, a sex worker, which ends up calling attention to the murders of several other young women of the same profession in the Long Island area.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Director Liz Garbus and screenwriter Michael Werwie adapted the shocking true (and still unsolved) mystery of the Long Island serial killer (or Craigslist Ripper) into the gripping Netflix original crime drama Lost Girls, which also stars Thomasin McKenzie as the younger sister of victim Shannan Gilbert.

Stream Lost Girls on Netflix.

Old (Amazon Rental)

A family of four and other vacationers find themselves trapped on a serene beach that is somehow causing all of them to age at an alarmingly rapid rate.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Thomasin McKenzie: Writer and director M. Night Shyamalan adapted the acclaimed French graphic horror novel, Sandcastle, into Old - a bizarre, fascinating, and sometimes even fun 2021 thriller that stars Thomasin McKenzie as a 12-year-old girl named Maddox as she is aged to appear 16 years old.

Rent/Buy Old on Amazon.

Old was only the first of two new horror movies starring Thomasin McKenzie released in 2021 (the second being Last Night in Soho), which effectively earns her a sweet spot among her generation’s leading, most talented, and greatest horror scream queens.  

It was over a year ago that Taika Waititi took the stage at the 92nd Academy Awards to accept the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, but he's evidently not done taking home trophies thanks to his work on the incredible 2019 movie Jojo Rabbit. Today the actor/writer/director/producer now finds himself one step closer to being called an EGOT winner, as he was announced as the new owner of a Grammy this afternoon, given the prize for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media. His acceptance speech was broadcast straight from the set of the in-production Thor: Love And Thunder, and he honestly seemed more confused than anything to be receiving the honor. You can watch his reaction to the Grammy win in the video below:

Like other award shows that have been broadcast in the last year, the 63rd Annual Grammys was done as a mix of in-person and virtual presenters and winners, and Taika Waititi tuned in to accept his award from a trailer in Australia. While he was clearly a touch weirded out to be getting an award for a film that was released nearly a year-and-a-half ago, the eligibility period for the program stretched back to September 1, 2019, and the Jojo Rabbit soundtrack was released on October 18, 2019. Waititi had some pretty stiff competition in the category, with other titles including Frozen 2, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Bill And Ted Face The Music, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

The soundtrack for Jojo Rabbit includes a trio of tracks from composer Michael Giacchino, but also an eclectic mix of non-contemporary music that proved a tremendous asset for the film – with special treats including German versions of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles ("Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand") and "Heroes" by David Bowie ("Helden"). Other outstanding artists on the album include Tom Waits, Ella Fitzgerald, and Roy Orbison. It joins a great legacy as a winner in the 21-year-old category, with past victors including La La Land, Frozen, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Now that he has an Oscar and a Grammy, Taika Waititi is now only a Emmy and a Tony away from being one of the few in history to ever win the highest honors in film, television, music, and theatre, and it doesn't seem all that impossible that he could one day be a part of that special club. While he didn't walk away with a prize, just last year he was up for two Emmys, including Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (for The Mandalorian Season 1) and Outstanding Comedy Series (as a producer on What We Do In The Shadows). And while he hasn't done anything for Broadway just yet, it's not hard to believe at all that he could one day enter that space and do some amazing work.

As noted, Taika Waititi is currently hard at work filming Thor: Love And Thunder (read more about it in our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide), and that undertaking is a behemoth one; however, it's not even his first movie after the aforementioned Jojo Rabbit. In fact, his next directorial effort released is expected to be the sports comedy Next Goal Wins (though it doesn't presently have a set release date), so it really has been a long time since his work on Jojo Rabbit commenced. However, if you missed the film upon its initial release, Jojo Rabbit is available to stream on HBO Max, or purchase digitally at any major retailer – and the latter can also be said about its Grammy-winning soundtrack.

Based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens, Jojo Rabbit walked a fine line between comedy and tragedy in its oddly whimsical coming-of-age look at a young boy learning about the realities of his world while living in WWII Germany, accompanied by an unlikely father figure in the form of a wisecracking imaginary Hitler. It's a tricky balance for a dark satire with many dramatic elements, but for many viewers, it proved to be a success. It earned nearly $100 million at the box office worldwide and it turned writer/director/co-star Taika Waititi into an Oscar winner for his adapted screenplay.

In a cast filled with newcomers and established talents, Jojo Rabbit's general success served as a launching pad for its youngest stars, while also proving to be another critical and commercial success for its award-recognized veterans, including Scarlett Johansson, who was Oscar-nominated for her performance. Now that it's been one year since its release, what is the cast of Jojo Rabbit up to now? Let's find out now!

Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo)

As our titular child protagonist, Jojo, Roman Griffin Davis provides Taika Waititi's satire with the inquisitive and comical childlike perspective through which we see the changing landscape of Germany amid the final days of WWII. The lead performance wasn't merely Davis' breakthrough role; it was also his introductory part. And he made a good impression. The child actor received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. Additionally, Davis won the Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer.

Certainly, given his acutely comedic and emotionally vulnerable work in this Oscar-winning farce, Roman Griffin Davis seemingly has a promising future ahead of him. But, at the moment, the up-and-coming teenage actor has only one additional credit to his name: the forthcoming Christmas comedy Silent Night, which also stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Annabelle Wallis, and Lily-Rose Depp.

Thomasin McKenzie (Elsa)

In the role of Elsa, a teenage Jewish girl hiding in Rosie's attic who helps Jojo learn the error of his hateful thinking brought on from a wayward childhood under the Nazi regime, Thomasin McKenzie plays a key dramatic role in this darkly farcical film. The young actress found her breakout role in 2018's acclaimed Leave No Trace, though it's this prominent performance in this Best Picture-nominated movie that propelled her rising career further. Prior to both of these films, McKenzie appeared in New Zealand's soap opera, Shortland Street. Other notable credits on her resume include The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The King, and The Cul De Sac. Additionally, McKenzie appeared in The True History of the Kelly Gang and Lost Girls earlier this year.

Next, Thomasin McKenzie stars in The Power of the Dog, Last Night in Soho, The Justice of Bunny King, and M. Night Shyamalan's Old, which is now filming.

Scarlett Johansson (Rosie)

Playing Rosie, Jojo's good-hearted mother who's secretly hiding a Jewish woman in her home, Scarlett Johansson played an emotional role in Jojo Rabbit. The actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for this performance, one of her first Oscar recognitions alongside her Best Actress nomination for Marriage Story that same year. She has also garnered praise for her past performances in Her, Match Point, Lost In Translation, Under the Skin, The Prestige, Vicky Christina Barcelona, and Ghost World.

Additionally, Scarlett Johansson is well-known for her performances in films like Don Jon, The Nanny Diaries, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, In Good Company, The Island, He's Just Not That Into You, We Bought a Zoo, Chef, Lucy, and Ghost in the Shell. Also, she plays a recurring role as Black Widow in the MCU.

Next, as noted here, Scarlett Johansson plays the title role in Marvel's Black Widow and she'll be heard in Sing 2. She'll also star in Bride, an artistic re-imagining of Bride of Frankenstein's lore, and she's expected to star in the upcoming Little Shop of Horrors remake.

Taika Waititi (Adolf)

In addition to writing and directing Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi adopted the role of an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, who serves as a sarcastic (and poor) mentor figure and loyal companion to our propaganda-believing young protagonist. Now an Oscar-winning filmmaker thanks to this film, his profile only continues to balloon, though he was previously known for directing Thor: Ragnarok, where he also played the part of Korg.

Additionally, Taika Waititi co-helmed What We Do In The Shadows, which he also starred in, and called the shots on Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Eagle vs. Shark. His other acting credits include Green Lantern and Avengers: Endgame, where he reprised his role as Korg. Additionally, Waititi can be heard in Disney+'s The Mandalorian, which he also helped direct.

Next, Taika Waititi co-wrote, produced, and directed Next Goal Wins, which is in post-production. He also has roles in Free Guy and The Suicide Squad. And he's set to direct Thor: Love and Thunder and an upcoming Star Wars movie.

Sam Rockwell (Captain Klenzendorf)

Playing the part of Captain Klenzendorf, the army officer who runs the Hitler Youth camp, Sam Rockwell plays a prominent adult role in this child-based coming-of-age comedy. An Oscar-winning actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and nominated for his portrayal of George W. Bush in Vice, Rockwell is also known for Moon, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Matchstick Men, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Choke, Frost/Nixon, Iron Man 2, Seven Psychopaths, Charlie's Angels, Galaxy Quest, The Green Mile, The Way Way Back, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Recently, Sam Rockwell played Bob Fosse in FX's Fosse/Verdon, which he also produced. He was also seen in Richard Jewell and heard in Trolls World Tour and Disney+'s The One and Only Ivan. Next, he's in talks to play Merle Haggard in a biopic. Additionally, he'll be seen in The Heart and heard in The Adventures of Drunky.

Archie Yates (Yorki)

In the role of young Yorki, Jojo's best friend, Archie Yates provided a scene-stealing performance in Jojo Rabbit. Similar to his co-star, Roman Griffin Davis, Yates made his screen debut in his comical supporting role, and even in a cast of proven talents, he was easily among the standouts. Additionally, alongside Davis, the child actor received a Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Actor.

Shortly after Jojo Rabbit's release, it was announced that Archie Yates would frontline an upcoming Home Alone reboot, which would debut on Disney+. Joined by Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney, Yates plays Max, a different character to Macaulay Culkin's Kevin, as this movie tells a separate story in that universe. Written by SNL's Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell, and directed by Dan Mazer, this reboot is currently in post-production. Additionally, Yates was heard in this year's animated short film, Paper Birds.

Stephen Merchant (Deertz)

In the role of Deertz, a Gestapo agent, Stephen Merchant provided a surprisingly menacing role in Jojo Rabbit's midsection. Considering his history as a comedic performer, it was intriguing to see him use his lanky figure to menacing results. Most prominently, Merchant is best known as the co-creator, co-writer, and co-director of BBC's The Office, which inspired the popular American version of the same name.

Additionally, Stephen Merchant was the star, writer, director, and creator of HBO's Hello Ladies, and he also co-created Extras and Life's Too Short. He co-wrote and co-directed Cemetery Junction and, most recently, wrote and directed Fighting with My Family. And he co-developed Lip Sync Battle.

Meanwhile, as an actor, Stephen Merchant starred in Hot Fuzz, Logan, Hall Pass, and The Girl in the Spider's Web. Next, Merchant will write, direct, and star in BBC's The Offenders. He's also filming a role in Lockdown.

Rebel Wilson (Fräulein Rahm)

As Fräulein Rahm, an instructor of the League of German Girls in the Hitlerjugend camp, Rebel Wilson is one of the most famous faces in Jojo Rabbit, though she only has a limited role. Best known for her work in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, Wilson also starred in How to Be Single, Isn't It Romantic?, The Hustle, Pain & Gain, Bachelorette, Bridesmaids, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Grimsby, and, most recently, Cats.

In addition to these big screen titles, Rebel Wilson created and played the lead in ABC's short-lived Super Fun Night. The actress was also a series regular on The Wedge back in 2006-2007. She now hosts two new reality competition series, Pooch Perfect and LOL: Last One Laughing, as of this year. Additionally, she starred in Les Norton last year. Next, Wilson is expected to star in The Almond and the Seahorse.

Alfie Allen (Finkel)

Playing the part of Finkel, Captain Klenzendorf's second-in-command, Alfie Allen appears frequently throughout Jojo Rabbit. The younger brother of musician Lily Allen, and the inspiration for her 2006 single, "Alfie," the actor has been forging a career for himself throughout the past two decades, but he finally found fame through his long-standing role as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, for which he was Emmy-nominated in 2019. Additionally, Allen is known for his antagonistic role in the original John Wick. His other notable credits also include Atonement, The Predator, Elizabeth, The Other Boleyn Girl, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, and Hulu's Harlots.

Most recently, Alfie Allen was seen in How To Build A Girl and the mini-series, White House Farm, which was also known as White House Farm Murders and The Murders at White House Farm, earlier this year. Next, he stars in Night Teeth and La Cha Cha.

Luke Brandon Field (Christoph)

In the role of Christoph, a bully who gives Jojo the nickname that's seen in the title, Luke Brandon Field plays a small-but-distinctive role in Jojo Rabbit. This movie is quite easily the actor's most high-profile, though his other credits include the TV series, You Look Stunning Too, as well as indie films like One Last Night, Bob Thunder: Internet Assassin, American Poltergeist, Blackwood, Magic Boys, Where the Road Meets the Sun, and this year's All for Nikki. He also provided a voice in The Legend of Joan of Arc.

Next, Luke Brandon Field stars in the short film, In the Dark. He's currently filming a role in Whisper and he'll also soon appear in The Other Prince of Wales.

Did you love Jojo Rabbit? Who was your favorite actor from Taika Waititi's award-winning period piece farce? Please be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Filmmaker Taika Waititi has had one hell of a last couple years. 2020 alone has been one of the more eventful ones so far, from winning an Academy Award for writing Jojo Rabbit, to recently being confirmed to helm an upcoming Star Wars movie. All of that came after reports in 2019 that he would return to the Marvel franchise he reinvented for its fourth installment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

With the unbelievable amount of trust the two biggest fandoms in cinema have instilled in him (no pressure, buddy), the New Zealand-born filmmaker is one of the hottest names behind (and even in front of) the camera. Of course, in a career spanning more two decades and includes an onscreen debut in a candy bar ad, it clearly took the 44-year-old a little bit of time to get there, leaving many of his achievements that do not involve Norse gods, galactic conflict and historical satire criminally overlooked.

As fascinated as you may already be by Taika Waititi, believe me when I say you have not seen anything yet. Of the following seven mind-blowing facts, a few of them do relate to some of his more well-known work, but they are nonetheless equally astonishing.

Taika Waititi’s Father Was A Founding Member Of Satan’s Slaves

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, on August 16, 1975, Taika Waititi was already destined to be an artistic visionary as the son of a teacher (his mother) and a painter (his father). But that is not particularly why he referred to his parents relationship as "the weirdest coupling ever." In an interview with Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah for the premiere episode of their podcast Visitations, the Lord of the Rings actor was shocked when the the Jojo Rabbit director revealed that his father was also a founding member of notorious biker gang Satan's Slaves. After his parents split when Waititi was 5, they still remained very supportive of their son's artistic aspirations, which would eventually earn him the 2017 title of "New Zealander of the Year."

Taika Waititi Is Tight With Flight Of The Conchords

A film that brought Taika Waititi closer to the American mainstream (pre-Thor: Ragnarok) is the 2014 vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, which he co-starred, co-wrote and co-directed with fellow Kiwi, Jemaine Clement, whom some may recognize as the other half of Flight of the Conchords, with Bret McKenzie. He has been close with "New Zealand's fourth most popular folk parody duo" since they were all part of the five-man comedy troupe known as So You're a Man, which performed on stages throughout New Zealand and Australia in the mid-1990s. Waititi also collaborated with the musical comedians on several episodes of their short-lived HBO sitcom and re-teamed with Clement to produce two televisions series spun-off from What We Do in the Shadows, including the FX show of the same name and Wellington Paranormal, which follows two police officer characters from the original film.

Taika Waititi Once Tried His Hand At Architectural Design

Taika Waititi's artistic endeavors are not limited to creating laughter onstage or through exciting action films, having created the cover art the for the album Shanks' Pony by Kiwi band Age Pryor (who made an appearance in his 2007 film Eagle vs. Shark), and illustrated Jo Randerson's collection of short stories The Keys to Hell. In fact, he once attempted to bring his talent to his hometown's public by collaborating with New Zealand architectural firm Wraight & Associates to propose a sculpture for the Wellington City Council's Wellington Gateway project. While plans to erect the structure were eventually scrapped over budgetary and air travel safety concerns, Waititi's design still managed to win a New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Gold Award in 2010.

Taika Waititi Consulted An Actual Theoretical Physicist About Space For Thor: Ragnarok

I have rarely known anyone so bold to write off Thor: Ragnarok as just another mindless blockbuster spectacle. It would be ignorant to assume such a thing, especially when you consider how seriously the project was taken by director Taika Waititi, who also provides the voice of rock-skinned optimist Korg and performed motion capture for fire giant Surtur. I mean, he even went as far as double checking the comic book film's depiction of space travel for accuracy with help from someone who studies such topics for a living. That someone is Clifford Johnson, a Los Angeles physics professor and lifelong comic book reader whom Marvel Studios has come to with questions of how to make a universe of super-powered vigilantes more believable on numerous occasions.

Taika Waititi Directed Parts Of Jojo Rabbit While In His Hitler Uniform

To honor his career-long tradition of acting in the films he directs, for Jojo Rabbit, his Oscar-winning World War II Germany-set satire inspired by Christine Leunens' novel Caging Skies, Taika Waititi cast himself as the title character's (Roman Griffin Davis) doofy imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. Of course, putting in double duty like that left the multitasker less opportunities for wardrobe changes, meaning he would spend at least some days leading the production dressed as the Führer. Waititi revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that certain characteristics shared with the infamous dictator made playing the hallucinatory comic relief feel "weird," and described publicly giving orders to crew members in full costume as "a sad day," which must have made working on The Mandalorian a therapeutic experience.

Taika Waititi Sometimes Directed The Mandalorian In His Pajamas

In addition to directing its first season finale, Taika Waititi made a sneaky appearance on the smash hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian as bounty hunting droid IG-11. Merely providing the voice of the mechanical rival-turned-ally to Pedro Pascal's titular hero gave the director a certain freedom that he took full advantage of while calling the shots for his episode. Star Carl Weathers, who plays Bounty Hunters' Guild agent Greef Karga, had the following to say to SyFy Wire about Waititi's unique directorial style:

I doubt pajamas will become part of the normalized dress code on Star Wars projects, but of all the people who can pull them off on set, Taika Waititi is surely one of the few.

One Of Taika Waititi’s Inventions Makes Men’s Fashion More Convenient

Taika Waititi has proved time and time again through the dazzling originality of films such as Boy or Hunt for the Wilderpeople that he has one of the most inventive minds in the movie business today. What's lesser known is his knack for creating inventions that would prove miraculously helpful or just utterly amusing. Waititi revealed in his own 2010 TEDx presentation his developments of an emory board guitar neck that sharpens your nails as your play music, a necktie that buttons into your shirt to prevent it moving with the wind, and a few other inventions that the world may not be ready for yet.

So, what do you think? Have I brought you out of the shadows and into a deeper understanding of Taika Waititi, or should I have conducted a more thorough hunt? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more information and updates on the versatilely talented filmmaker as well as more in-depth trivia about your favorite celebrities here on CinemaBlend.

It’s been almost a year and a half since M. Night Shyamalan’s last movie came out, with Glass failing to impress commercially, but nonetheless standing out as a commercial success. Now with his time exploring superhero archetypes over, Shyamalan has been hard at work putting his next movie together, and word’s come in on who’s being looked at to comprise the main cast.

According to Variety, Jojo Rabbit’s Thomasian McKenzie is in talks to to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s yet-to-be-titled movie. Eliza Scanlen Aaron Pierre, Vicky Krieps and Alex Wolff are also in negotiations to join this project, which, in addition to directing, Shyamalan is also writing and producing, as well as financing the movie himself, like he did with The Visit, Split and Glass.

Eliza Scanlen is arguably best known for playing Beth March in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. The actress also appeared in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects and will be seen soon in the Netflix movie The Devil All the Time. In addition to playing Elsa Korr in Jojo Rabbit, Thomasin McKenzie’s credits include The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Leave No Trace, The King and the upcoming Last Night in Soho.

Aaron Pierre recently played Dev-Em in the short-lived Syfy series Krypton, and he’s also attached to the upcoming Amazon series The Underground Railroad. Vicky Krieps starred alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread, and also had a supporting role in The Girl in the Spider’s Web.

As for Alex Wolff, most of you will likely recognize him from the recent Jumanji movies as Spencer, one of the four teenagers who get sucked into the eponymous video game. Wolff also starred in the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band, and has appeared in Patriots Day, Hereditary and Bad Education.

Since no plot details have been revealed about M. Night Shyamalan’s next movie, it’s hard to say how any of these actors will be used. Still, since most of these people are younger actors, that could provide a clue about what to expect, like that the story is perhaps set at a college. But hey, that’s just me spitballing, so ideally some concrete information will be provided soon.

Originally the plan was for the next M. Night Shyamalan flick to come out on February 26, 2021, but it was taken off the Universal Pictures calendar last month because filming can’t begin anytime soon. So instead, Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody will fill that February slot, and it remains to be seen when Shyamalan’s cinematic tale will arrive now, be it later in 2021 or potentially not until 2022. The goal is reportedly to begin rolling cameras by the end of the year.

In addition to delivering Glass to the masses in January 2019, M. Night Shyamalan has also been busy with the Apple TV+ series Servant, which stars Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free and Rupert Grint. Season 1 aired from last winter, and a second season has been ordered, but production was halted in March due to current events.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie, and keep track of what’s slated for this year with our 2020 release schedule.

Massive spoilers for Netflix's Lost Girls.

Over the past few years Netflix has become a behemoth in the streaming world. Besides its television content, the service has been aggressively putting out new movies, including originals and projects that it earned the distribution rights to. The most recent of Netflix's original movies is Liz Garbus' Lost Girls. Focusing on the rea-life story of murder victim advocate Mari Gilbert, who was on the search for her missing daughter back in 2010 and was involved in the investigation of the Long Island serial killer. The Office alum Amy Ryan gives a stunning and emotional performance in Lost Girls, and there's a variety of tear-inducing scenes throughout the movie's 95-minute runtime.

The stakes of Lost Girls is immediate from the start, with the dark subject matter and characterization of grief no doubt triggering strong emotions for Netflix subscribers. But there were three scenes in particular that really had me welling up. So without further ado, three moments from Netflix's Lost Girls that reduced me to a puddle.

Posting At The Police Department

Amy Ryan's character Mari Gilbert is a no nonsense spitfire in Lost Girls, balancing two jobs to support her family. And when her daughter Shannan goes missing, Mari is forced to buckle up and use her life skills to bring justice and attention to the situation. Eventually Shannan's disappearance gets some play from the media, although the reports all preface that she's a prostitute, rather than simply a victim. The matriarch of the family soon grows tired of the media coverage and lack of action from local police, and storms into the station.

From there Amy Ryan's protagonist covers a local police bulletin board with missing person notices about her Shannan. She makes enough of a scene that Gabriel Byrne's Commissioner Richard Dorman engaged with Mari and tries to get her to calm down. It's no use, and she vows to return every day until her daughter is found. What's more, she tells the officer to never refer to her daughter as as prostitute again.

The Support Group

Shortly after having her scuffle with the police mentioned above, Mari Gilbert ultimately decides to meet with a group of people whose loved ones went missing under similar circumstances. The group comes into play thanks to her middle daughter Sherre, payed by Jojo Rabbit star Thomasin McKenzie. They meet at a local Chinese food restaurant, and exchange eerily similar stories. Each actor plays the scene with a ton of pain, and get the chance to shine as a supporting cast.

This scene is a tear jerker as you watch each member of the group share their story. Younger actress Miriam Shor is almost unrecognizable Lorraine, who ends up being one of Mari's closest friends in the group. They also mobilize almost immediately, which has the potential to inspire some tears of joy. The missing women's loved ones support each other, and they gain strength and momentum in their movement.

'I'm Going To Take You Home'

Throughout Lost Girls' runtime, Amy Ryan's character Mari is singularly focused. She's hoping to find the answers behind her daughter's disappearance, either good or bad. Unfortunately, closure doesn't come for the Gilbert family. At least, until after a time jump and a fortunate set of events. Mari's frenemy Commissioner Richard Dorman does end up doing the right thing, presumably in penance for how seemingly shoddily the original investigation into Shannan's disappearance was handled. He pushes for local marsh lands to be searched, which results in Shannan's body finally being found.

One of Lost Girls' final sequences sees Mari and Sherre go to see Shannan's final resting spot, seeing what was left of her remains. Her skeleton is a harrowing and emotional sight, made all the more heartbreaking with Amy Ryan and Thomasin McKenzie's performances. Mari weeps in relief and grief, telling her late daughter that she's going to "take you home". The family's long ordeal was finally over, although Lost Girls' epilogue revealed that she would be meeting a horrifying fate herself just years later.

Lost Girls is currently streaming on Netflix, and is the #4 most popular movie on the streaming service a the time of writing. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The 2020 Oscars are almost upon us, as tonight’s celebration of the best movies at the box office in 2019 will eventually reveal the latest winner to claim the Academy Award for Best Picture. Of course, while most studios are probably prepared to take a financial bath in the name of such a prestigious honor, it still wouldn’t hurt for the nine nominated films to make some money for the accounting department’s troubles.

Out of curiosity, we took the nine Best Picture nominees and, in an exercise of comparative superiority, ranked them by their worldwide grosses to date. While some of these movies are still in theaters (and the figures listed are as of Friday, February 7), this is where the order currently stands.

Those results are sealed in their own metaphorical envelopes, even though their contents are known to the world. But, we didn’t gather together here for no good reason, so let’s open the results together, shall we? Here now are the 2020 Best Picture nominees, ranked from lowest grossing to highest.

#9. Marriage Story

Global Box Office: $2,300,000 (Estimated)

Marriage Story is one of two movies in the 2020 Oscars crop that is a bit hard to peg with an exact figure in terms of box office grosses. We say this because thanks to the film being a Netfilx-distributed title, theatrical release is pretty limited, which is strike one for any sort of total accuracy.

Still, without Netflix releasing its numbers for North American theatrical release, and the limited release in international territories bringing in what it did, Marriage Story is at the bottom of the best picture nominee pile in terms of its settlement with moviegoers. Though who knows what the planned Chinese theatrical release will do for those numbers, should it still take place as planned, in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis.

#8. The Irishman

Global Box Office: $8,000,000 (Estimated)

On a similar scale to Marriage Story, director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman was put into a limited release in North America, due to continuing disagreement between Netflix and major theatrical exhibition chains. Though even with that particular stumbling block, there was a substantial gain to be had over its streaming service sibling.

Many independent theaters, as well as a month long exclusive run at New York’s Belasco Theatre, helped The Irishman bringing a rather impressive sum, on top of some interesting first week viewership numbers on their native platform. But again, this is based off of an estimate, as Netflix has not released the figures for how much this film made at this time.

#7. Jojo Rabbit

Global Box Office: $65,465,404

Moving into the lowest ranking wide release competitor, writer/director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit took in the lowest amount of money for a widely released 2020 Best Picture nominee. This end result ended up performing in favor of the international audience, as the split that makes up the $64.5 million result is slightly higher in that particular column.

Grossing roughly $28.6 million domestically and $36.9 million internationally, Jojo Rabbit started modestly in a mid-October limited release platform on the domestic front. By time the film started its wide release strategy, there was definitely a buzz, but the film only ever cracked into the top 10 a handful of times.

#6. Parasite

Global Box Office: $163,119,346

Examining the balance between domestic and international grosses is going to be particularly interesting in some cases when discussing 2020’s Oscar nominees for Best Picture. One case in point is co-writer/director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which performed modestly in domestic theaters, but cleaned up around the world.

Out of the total $163.1 million, only $33.2 million came from the U.S. The rest of the phenomenal result for this hotly buzzed candidate to upset the Best Picture race came from the foreign market, which brought in over 10 times the film’s budget.

#5. Little Women

Global Box Office: $164,616,717

From the word go, writer/director Greta Gerwig’s Little Women has been a box office assassin. Delivering consistently fantastic results, the film actually skipped a limited release platform and started out as a wide release.

What’s even more impressive is that Little Women is one of those cases where the domestic box office outweighs the international figures. Seeing as the film has recently crossed the $100 million mark it was predicted to clear earlier this week, the $64.6 million brought in internationally is not too far behind, but distant enough for this to be a bit of a surprise.

#4. Ford v. Ferrari

Global Box Office: $222,197,462

No matter if you call it Ford v. Ferrari, like those in the US do, or Le Mans ’66, like most of the rest of the world, director James Mangold’s racing biopic has been hell on wheels. Though if you want to compare the finish line results on those same dividing lines, the results aren’t too far off.

With the domestic tally weighing in at $115.6 million and the international result clocked at a solid $106.9 million, those numbers have a variance around $8.7 million between the two. Thanks to this real life story of racing superiority and love of sport, it looks like the box office has found something the world can agree on once again.

#3. 1917

Global Box Office: $253,119,104

As far as the Best Picture nominees for 2020 are concerned, the World War I epic 1917 is sitting pretty as the odds on favorite for who will take home the Academy Award for Best Picture. Co-writer/director Sam Mendes’ vision of a real time fight to the front has impressed critics and audiences, and did so with a pretty impressive showing.

Considering the film opened in limited release on Christmas day, and went into wide release on January 10, the fact that it’s at a cumulative total of $253.1 million so far is something pretty special. It’s the result of another pretty close horse race between domestic an international box office, with $122.5 million coming from the domestic side and the international portion giving $130.6 million to the cause.

#2. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Global Box Office: $373,967,035

While writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood may have shown the fortunes of Leonardo DiCaprio’s actor/bon vivant Rick Dalton on the decline, the film itself was met with some pretty warm results upon its summer release. In fact, those extra months may have helped propel it to the runner up spot of this year’s Oscar nominees.

$142.1 million came in from the domestic grosses, with $231.8 million roaming in from overseas, which probably explains part of why Once Upon A Time In Hollywood did so well at the Golden Globes this past January. But have domestic audiences and professionals noticed the film enough to make it a winner at The Oscars? We’re ready to make some frozen margaritas and find out ourselves.

#1. Joker

Global Box Office: $1,071,869,171

Out of this year’s Best Picture nominees, there was one winner at the box office that cleared the rest of the competition by leaps and bounds. While it may have started out as a joke to some, co-writer/director Todd Phillips and Warner Bros quickly proved that the Joker was no laughing matter in terms of box office firepower.

Not only was the $335.1 million domestic haul and its complementary $736.8 million result of Joker’s box office punchline enough to make it the most profitable comic book movie of all time, it was also what made the DC Comics anti-hero picture the highest grossing R-rated film of all time. Beating out Deadpool 2 for those particular honors, it was enough to make everyone sit up and take notice.

The box office results of 2020's Best Picture nominees tells one story, but what will the narrative unfolding during tonight's Oscars look like? There's only one way to find out, and that's by watching the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, which start tonight at 8 PM ET on ABC!

A few weeks ago, we published a piece titled “The Top 10 Films Of 2019, According To CinemaBlend” – a feature generated by analyzing the average out-of-five scores given to every film members of our staff saw in the previous calendar year. It’s become a bit of a tradition on the site, as we’ve run similar articles annually going back to 2015, and last year we even introduced a new mid-year variant.

Now we’ve taken that same general idea and applied it in a new direction: ranking the nominees for Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards.

All nine of the films up for the top prize at the Oscars were seen by at least 18 members of the CinemaBlend staff, many of us working hard in recent weeks to catch up with titles we missed last year (explaining why the rankings and scores here are slightly different than those in the Top 10 of 2019 feature). Our final analysis? It’s most definitely a crop of movies that we seriously dig. Without further ado, let’s dive into the rankings!

#9. Ford v Ferrari

Average Score: 3.8055556/5

It can’t really be said that James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari was CinemaBlend’s “favorite” new release of 2019, placing 27th overall in our site-wide ranking, but it’s certainly a film that our staff appreciates. It’s a story that’s pretty basic as far as sports movies go, but also one hell of a ride thanks to incredible and tense action sequences and fantastic performances from both Matt Damon and Christian Bale. We wouldn’t be surprised in the least if it wound up winning some major technical awards during the Oscars (it’s nominated in three other categories), but it’s not exactly our number one pick for Best Picture.

#8. Joker

Average Score: 4.0909091/5

Todd Phillips’ Joker stunned the film world when it wound up earning more Academy Award nominations than any other 2019 release earlier this month – a grand total of 11. Because of this, it’s unlikely that the movie walks away from the show totally empty handed (Joaquin Phoenix has some strong odds in the Best Actor category), and there are select members of the CinemaBlend staff who would whole-heartedly cheer if it were to win the biggest prize of the night. Controversial as the comic book adaptation may be, it earned no score below a three in our company survey… though also didn’t end up with an average particularly close to the top.

#7. The Irishman

Average Score: 4.1136364/5

Martin Scorsese might be 77 years old, but he still makes films with the energy of a 20-year-old, and The Irishman is a truly stunning piece of work. It took the filmmakers years and years to actually get the project made, ultimately needing technology to catch up with his grand vision, and what he has created fits every definition of epic. As many have pointed out, it’s definitely what you might call “a lot of movie,” requiring a three-and-a-half hour runtime to tell its story, and that surely dinged its final score, but it most definitely is a piece of art that is greatly appreciated in the CinemaBlend offices.

#6. Marriage Story

Average Score: 4.2272727/5

Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story just missed out on the holy quintinity of Academy Award nominations – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress – as Baumbach didn’t get the nod in that second category, but it richly deserves all of its recognition. Both Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver some of the best work of their respective careers with emotional and captivating performances, and it’s fascinating that every viewer who watches it takes something different away from the central conflict and story. Four of the 22 members on the staff who saw it give it 5/5 scores, and nobody gave it lower than a 3.5.

#5. Jojo Rabbit

Average Score: 4.2857143/5

The CinemaBlend staff is filled with movie fans who are very much on the same wavelength when it comes to the wild and hilarious sensibilities of Taika Waititi, and being a film that is very much pure Taika, Jojo Rabbit was most definitely one of our team’s most beloved features from last year (hence it ranking at #6 on our end-of-year list. The World War II satire does a remarkable job executing a very complex tone – finding cartoonish comedy in Nazi-controlled Germany – and it’s stunning how it’s able to have your rolling with laughter one minute, and crying the next. It’s a powerful and relevant piece of work, and a favorite among the crop of Best Picture nominees.

#4. Little Women

Average Score: 4.3095238/5

Coming out at the very, very end of 2019, not everyone on the CinemaBlend staff had the opportunity to see Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, and as a result it just missed out being on our Top 10 of 2019. That’s changed in the weeks since, though, and the result has been an improved average score that demonstrates it as one of our team’s favorites among the Best Picture nominees. This is a film that is sweet, stunning, and overloaded with charm – brought to life with brilliant performances from the entire ensemble. And no, we don’t know why Greta Gerwig didn’t get a Best Director nomination either.

#3. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Average Score: 4.3260870/5

While Quentin Tarantino owns two Academy Awards (both for writing), three of his movies have been up for Best Picture in the past, and none of them have won. That means that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood winning this year would be a long overdue achievement for the filmmaker – and there’s not a person on the CinemaBlend staff that would be overly upset with the turn of events. In totality it’s a beautiful and loving tribute to the legendary titular city/industry, but also an exciting piece of revisionist history that features some of the best performances we saw on the big screen last year.

#2. Parasite

Average Score: 4.5476190/5

Alfonso Cuarón's Roma wound up turning a lot of heads when it became the first foreign language film in years to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, and just 12 months later Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite makes us question why it isn’t the norm (it’s pure hubris to assume all of the greatest movies are English-speaking). While the story is set in South Korea, the true power of its satire is that it’s universal in its themes, and it weaves a brilliant story that whacks you upside the head halfway through with a twist you could never see coming. It’s surprising, witty, clever and powerful right up to the end.

#1. 1917

Average Score: 4.5952381/5

World War I is easily one of the most extensively covered international events in cinematic history, and yet director Sam Mendes – in collaboration with genius cinematographer Roger Deakins – found a whole new way to let audiences experience the conflict with 1917. The combination of the single take photography with the ticking clock plotline creates a phenomenal immersive experience unlike anything found in your typical war movie, and just the way it’s all pieced together is magnificent. We here at CinemaBlend love it, and collectively as a team it’s our favorite to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

How would you rank this year’s class of nominees for Best Picture at the Oscars? Hit the comments section to let your voice be heard, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more of our award season coverage!

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This Sunday, the 92nd annual Academy Awards are set to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The anticipated awards ceremony includes many competitive categories, including the Best Supporting Actress race in Oscars 2020. It's been a tough race filled with many deserving performers (along with the well-noted absence of Jennifer Lopez, who was snubbed for her celebrated turn in Hustlers), but only one actress will walk away with the gold prize. And while there are predictions in place for who is expected to win, we here at CinemaBlend have our favorites in this category. There's no telling until Sunday if our pick matches the evening's recipient, but here's who we would like to see receive the acting prize.

When it comes to tallying the votes, a number of writers and editors at CinemaBlend ranked their favorite performances from one to five, with the number one pick being their favorite, and number five being their least favorite. After tallying up the scores based on the averages, a conscious was made. The ranking serves as a composite of everyone's collective picks, not merely the choices of any one individual person. It should also be noted that, when it comes to picks three and four, there was a tie in place. Therefore, we differentiated the choices based on which nominee received the most #1 votes. Without further ado, this is CinemaBlend's official ranking of 2020's Best Supporting Actress nominees!

#5. Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Average Rank: 4.5714286

An exceptional talent with over a hundred acting credits to her name, Kathy Bates is a legend of the big and small screen, and the Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell is actually the fourth she's earned over her impressive career. Having received previous nominations for 2002's About Schmidt, 1998's Primary Colors, and 1990's Misery (for which she won Best Actress), Bates' latest performance represents another humane, moving performance from the acting veteran.

She plays Bobi Jewell, the fearful, deeply concerned matriarch of the title character who finds her life turned on its head when her son becomes a nationwide humble hero to the target of public, federal and media scrutiny when he's perceived as a potential local terrorist. It's a credit to a number of the movie's dramatic performances, including Paul Walter Hauser and Sam Rockwell in addition to Bates, that Richard Jewell can find its emotional center. Through another engaging performance from this acclaimed actress, the movie provides an intimate look at this '90s scandal.

#4. Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Average Rank: 3.1428571

Ever since she arguably stole the show in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street it's been apparent that Margot Robbie is set to become a big time star. Sure enough, the rising talent has only continued to prove herself in a variety of different movies, including Z For Zachariah, Mary Queen Of Scots, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and I, Tonya, for which the Australian actress received her first Oscar nomination. Even the biggest critics of Suicide Squad agreed that her work as Harley Quinn was aces. A mere couple years later, Robbie has now received her second Academy Award nomination for Bombshell, and it's attention well-deserved.

In the Jay Roach-directed film, Margot Robbie plays a composite character: Kayla Pospisil, a low-level Fox employee hoping to rise up in the ranks of the television news station. Following a traumatic incident with Roger Ailes, the character must reconcile with the insidious underbelly of this toxic work environment. The actress provides another engrossing and devastating performance, one that continues to show the range and depth she will bring into her future roles.

#3. Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Average Rank: 3.1428571

An acting heavyweight with over four decades of experience under her belt, Laura Dern continues to prove herself as one of the most consistent talents in the business. Therefore, it's only fitting that actress is considered the overall frontrunner in this category for her supporting role in Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story. Having previously been nominated twice before for her work in 1991's Rambling Rose and 2014's Wild, Dern's third nomination for her dazzling turn in this acclaimed dramedy is another standout, providing the performer with a prominent, punchy, and typically dryly funny character as the divorce lawyer on Scarlett Johansson's side of the custody battle.

Laura Dern's Nora Fanshaw is a straight-shooter and unafraid to be bold and harsh, but also there to be supportive and caring when the moment calls for it. Having established herself in classic movies like Jurassic Park, Wild At Heart, Blue Velvet and more, Dern is a bright, well-proven talent who consistently gave exceptional performances in her career. This year, Dern could finally get her Oscar due, even if she did end up in the middle of the pack of CinemaBlend voting.

#2. Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

Average Rank: 2.4285714

This year, Scarlett Johansson is nominated in not one, but two separate Oscar acting categories for her performances in Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. The A-list actress has become a real box office draw through action blockbusters like Lucy and the various movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wherein she played Natasha Romanoff, i.e. Black Widow. But it's notably Johansson's performances in movies like Lost in Translation, Under The Skin, and more that prove both her comedic and dramatic talents. It was only a matter of time before she was due to receive Oscar consideration, and for her part in Taika Waititi's anti-hate satire the nomination is well earned.

While Johansson certainly brought the fireworks with Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story, many viewers were taken aback by her deft mix of humor and pathos in Jojo Rabbit, where she played Rosie, the title character's wise, warm maternal mentor. Scarlett Johansson's tender, affecting supporting role made the farcical dramedy's third act all-the-more devastating in its emotional catharsis.

#1. Florence Pugh, Little Women

Average Rank: 1.7142857

Florence Pugh had a great year. The young actress already proved her talents through an extraordinary performance in 2017's Lady Macbeth, along with standout roles in The Outlaw King and the TV mini-series The Little Drummer Girl, but it was her three strong performances in Fighting with My Family, Midsommar, and Greta Gerwig's Little Women that showcased the powerhouse potential of this exceptional young talent. While she's set to become an even bigger name through her upcoming performance in Marvel's Black Widow, the actress received her first Oscar nomination for the aforementioned Little Women, and it's CinemaBlend's pick for this year's Best Supporting Actress prize.

The latest adaptation of the classic piece of literature finds Florence Pugh playing the role of Amy March, the youngest March sister. In the role, Pugh flawlessly captures the wild range of emotions found in this turbulent young woman, from her stubbornness, her fiery temper, and her wild burst of emotions, to her gradual maturity, where she became more reserved, intuitive, patient, and forlorn (and in doing so totally changing many fans' long-held opinions of the character. It's an exceptional performance that showcased the great dramatic range in this talented actress, and is our favorite of the five nominees competing for Best Supporting Actress.

Who is your pick for Best Supporting Actress? Let us know in the comment section below which nominated actress you'd love to see walk away with the gold statue during this Sunday's ceremony. Also, be sure to tune in to ABC on Sunday, February 9th, at 8 PM EST to find out who'll win the award, be on the look out for more of our breakdown of the major Academy Award categories as we get closer to the big day!

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CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn commission when you click on or make purchases via links. Also, don't gamble if you can't afford to lose the money you're gambling. Nothing is ever a sure thing, and if losing the money is going to hurt, don't put it in jeopardy. This article should in no way be considered surefire advice or the sign you need to start gambling. It's not. Use your head.

I like gambling. I also like movies. Unfortunately, the world does not let these things overlap nearly enough. If you’re into betting on sports, cards or playing the ponies, the options are almost limitless. There are even sites where you can place bets on The Academy Awards (you can sign up here!). There are so many businesses with greedy outstretched hands just waiting to take your money, but apart from some fantasy box office leagues, the options on movies are typically limited. As far as I know, there aren’t any casinos offering futures bets on Rotten Tomatoes scores, though if that exists, please please post about it in the comment section.

The Academy Awards, however, is the one event a year in the movie space that is widely and consistently gambled on. Much of the action comes in the form of friendly ballot pools, and if the people I speak to participating in these pools are a fair representation, almost everyone is terrible at it. So, I’m here to help, at least on all the categories that aren’t short films or documentaries or involve sound awards. You’re on your own there.

For all the major and semi-major categories, I’m going to give you my choice as to who I think is going to win and who is the most intriguing option for the odds. Now, if you’re not a degenerate gambler, you’re probably saying to yourself, “Why would you ever pick something that’s probably not going to win?” Good question. It all depends on what you’re gambling on. If you’re filling out an office pool in which the only goal is to get the highest number of winners, then you should always pick the nominee you think is going to win. If you are being offered odds in a particular category, though, then the goal is to find someone who you think is more likely to win than their odds indicate.

Let me give you an overly simple and stupid example to prove my point. Let’s say your sister-in-law says she’s going to paint her bathroom, but she doesn’t tell you what color she’s choosing. Now, she’s probably going to choose some version of grey. Most of her house is grey, but you also know her favorite color is blue and now again, she gets a little crazy and tries something out of the ordinary. So, let’s say the odds of grey are 2 to 1. That means if you bet $10 and win, you get $20 back. But let’s say the odds on blue are 20 to 1. That means if you bet $10, you get $200 back. If you think there is a reasonable chance that it’ll be blue, even if it will probably be grey, you should bet on blue because the payoff is so much higher.

Make sense? Then let’s roll…

Best Picture

To me, this is the deepest and strongest Best Picture field in a long time. There were a ton of great movies in 2019, and there was actually a pretty solid overlap between movies critics enjoyed and movies fans enjoyed. You can technically gamble on any of the 9 nominees, but there are really only 4 options in play: 1917 (-250), Parasite (+275), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (+800) and Joker (+1600). Joker might seem tasty at 16 to 1, but it hasn’t won many lead-up awards and there are a lot of people who hate this movie for feeling too much like early Martin Scorsese and for allegedly not being deep enough.

I think Parasite is definitely in play. It’s a really well-liked movie and there are some who would love to see the top honor go to a non-English film. That being said, some Academy voters embarrassingly won’t watch it because it has subtitles and others will just select it for Best International Film and consider it a way to reward two different movies. So, if it were me, I’d roll with the favorite and just get a terrible return on 1917 or I’d consider Once Upon A Time In Hollywood as a surprise win paying you back 8X.

What Will (Probably) Win: 1917

What I’d Gamble On: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Best Director

No offense to Martin Scorsese or Todd Phillips, but they should be happy with their nomination and except nothing more. The Irishman has completely run out of steam and while I think Phillips did a nice job with Joker, most of what people like about that movie is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance. So, the real options here are Sam Mendes (-1400), Bong Joon-Ho (+550) and Quentin Tarantino (+1200). I could see a longshot case for Tarantino getting this partially because Once Upon A Time is great and partially as a celebration of his career since he’s allegedly only making one more movie, but he just hasn’t won many of the precussor awards. He lost at the Critics Choice (Mendes and Joon-Ho tie), the Golden Globes (Joon-Ho) and the Directors Guild (Mendes). So, let’s throw him out.

Everything about 1917 screams well-directed movie. You can just see the elite level of planning and the direction in what was accomplished. He deserves to be the favorite and will probably win, but Bong Joon-Ho is very much alive. He seems to be very well-respected and well-liked in the industry, and if enough voters power through the subtitles, he could win. I think there’s like a 1 in 3 shot he takes this, which is worth it from a gambling standpoint.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Sam Mendes

Who I'd Gamble On: Bong Joon-Ho

Best Actor

Joaquin Phoenix is the overwhelming favorite here at (-2500). That means you’d have to bet $25 to win back $1. That’s really rough and hard to make worth it, especially when Adam Driver is only (+1000) for Marriage Story. I could maybe talk myself into flushing money down the toilet if he was (+2000) or something, but I just don’t think he actually wins 1 out of 10 times. Sometimes you just need to pass.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Joaquin Phoenix

Who I'd Gamble On: Nope. Nope. Nope.

Best Actress

Renee Zellweger (-2000) has been dominate throughout the awards season. She’s won the SAG, Critics Choice and Golden Globe, as well as top honors from other critics groups. It would be an awfully big surprise if she didn’t pick up the Oscar, especially since her nearest competitor Scarlett Johansson (+750) is double nominated in Best Supporting, which means she may split some of her own vote since many Academy members will not want to select her twice.

Who Will Probably Win: Renee Zellweger

Who I'd Gamble On: I'd Sit This One Out

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt (-2400) is almost certainly going to win here, but this is one of the few acting categories in which I would still consider putting in some money. Joe Pesci (+900) is definitely the clear second place. He’s well-liked by the Academy (he won previously for Goodfellas), and he’s picked up the occasional award during this season, most notably the New York Film Critics Circle. Given everyone thought we’d never see him again as well, he also has a nice coming out of retirement narrative going for him.

+900 is a little weak on the payout. I’d love to see something like +1200, but I do think Pesci has a non-zero chance. So, if you feel like pushing your luck, I’d certainly try this over betting against Zellweger or Phoenix.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Brad Pitt

Who I'd Gamble On: Joe Pesci

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern (-1600) is considered the weakest of the four acting frontrunners, but real talk, -1600 is still pretty damn strong. She is the prohibitive favorite and should be after winning at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and the Critics Choice Awards. It also feels like her year given she’s never won before and also turned in a very solid performance in Little Women, another well-liked Best Picture nominee. If you want to bet against her, Margot Robbie (+850) and Florence Pugh (+1000) are considered the strongest alternatives. It’s honestly hard to imagine either of them winning.

Many thought if Robbie was nominated it might be for her performance in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and while Pugh is spectacular in several older Amy Little Women scenes, most people seem to agree she seemed a little old for the young Amy scenes. I’m not super confident in Dern, but I just don’t know that I’m confident enough in anyone else to vote for them.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Laura Dern

Who I'd Gamble On: I'd Move Along

Best Animated Featured

Here we go! This is the first category in which I’m running to put my money in. I love Toy Story 4 (-150). It’s considered the favorite here and should be because it’s the best and most famous movie in the category, but voters do not seem to like it nearly as much as the general public. Maybe it’s because it’s the 4th installment in the series. Maybe there’s just some fatigue against Disney right now, given Frozen 2 was somehow not even nominated.

Toy Story 4 lost at the Golden Globes to Missing Link. It lost at the Annie Awards to Klaus and lost at the BAFTAs to Klaus. I’m not saying Toy Story 4 is definitely going to lose. It could easily win, but I’m certainly not betting on something that probably has a less than 50% chance of winning when I’m getting -150 odds. That’s insane. Give me Klaus (+125) or even Missing Link (+950).

Who Will (Probably) Win: Toy Story 4... I Guess

Who I'd Gamble On: Klaus

Best Cinematography

1917 (-2000) almost even feels too low. That’s crazy to say given it was a really strong year for cinematography. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (+1400) is just a treat visually, especially in a lot of the scenes on Hollywood sets. Joker (+1400) also has a really effective, almost grainy quality to the way it was shot, and The Irishman (+2000) and especially The Lighthouse (+1400) are beautiful-looking movies too. Everyone involved with the cinematography should be really proud of themselves here, but 1917 was stitched together to look like it was almost shot in one take. It could have come off as so gimmicky and stupid, but it doesn’t because it’s all planned out so well. I also haven’t heard anyone talk about getting a headache or getting too confused which has been a problem with some extended tracking shots, especially chaotic tracking shots, in the past.

Who Will (Probably) Win: 1917

Who I'd Gamble On: Nothing

Best Costume Design

Every nominee in this category is either a period piece or looks in such a way that it’s meant to make you feel like it’s a period piece (Joker +4000). That’s not surprising since the Academy isn’t giving out awards for going to Banana Republic and buying bland button-up shirts. The frontrunner here is Little Women (-300), and that’s probably deserved. Not only did we get period appropriate costumes, we also got period appropriate costumes for the characters at two different points in their teenage/ early adulthood years. There’s a hell of a lot of difference between how 13-year-olds dress and how 17-year-olds dress. It’s not like the characters went from 37 to 41 over the course of the movie.

I think both Jojo Rabbit (+275) and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (+600) are very much in play, especially since Dolemite Is My Name wasn’t nominated for I have no idea what the hell reason. I like Jo Jo as a slepper pick here. The costumes in that movie are fantastic, especially everything associated with Scarlett Johansson. There’s also a good balance between war stuff and fashionable old timey clothes.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Little Women

Who I'd Gamble On: Jojo Rabbit

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

I will give you exactly one reason I think Bombshell (-600) is going to win and exactly one reason I don’t think it’s going to win. Are you ready? In the not going to win column, people really don’t like voting for movies they didn’t like that much, and I don’t think Bombshell was that well liked. It didn’t get a Best Picture nomination, nor did it pick up any non-acting technical nominations outside of this one. On the going to win column though, they made Charlize Theron look exactly like Megyn Kelly. I mean… just look at the pictures. It’s stunning. How could you vote against that?

Joker (+400) is considered the strongest competition here. His makeup certainly looks good, and there’s some good work done with the side characters. I guess I wouldn’t be shocked, but for me, it’s Bombshell.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Bombshell

Who I'd Gamble On: Passssss

Best Original Screenplay

This is a really fascinating category. Parasite (-200) is considered the favorite with Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (+150) also a strong contender. If Quentin Tarantino would win, he’d tie Woody Allen for the most Oscar screenplay wins. I think many thought his victory was almost a foregone conclusion, but Parasite has really been coming on strong over the past few weeks. The buzz is building and more and more people are seeing it.

I’m not a big bet on the favorite guy, but I feel great about Parasite and -200 is not that bad. If you want to go crazy, I also don’t hate Knives Out as a wild longshot at +4500. That movie is really well liked, and it was very widely seen.

Who Will Probably Win: Parasite

Who I'd Gamble On: Parasite (Or Knives Out As A Fun Longshot)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jojo Rabbit (-250) is definitely the frontrunner, but I’m not really sure it should be a -250 frontrunner. There was a lot of frustration and outrage when Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director for Little Women. She’s nominated here for the screenplay. She did good work on it, and on top of that, I think a lot of voters would like to see her have a moment on stage. Little Women (+180) should be considered a real threat here and offers a way better return on your money. The Irishman (+900) is a really, really great screenplay in my opinion, but at some point, we need to just admit that movie has lost all its momentum.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Jojo Rabbit

Who I'd Gamble On: Little Women

Best Editing

There are three live choices here, and I have no idea who is going to win. Parasite (-125) is certainly a well edited movie, and there is a lot of love for it, given the six nominations. Ford V Ferrari (+130) is a much less popular movie, but its great editing is also a bit more noticeable. Those racing scenes are so well put together. They find the perfect balance between showing speed and chaos but also letting the viewer understand what’s going on. The Irishman (+550) is also a very well edited movie, and this is Thelma Schoonmaker’s 8th nomination, which tells you how much voters like her.

I’m going to go with Parasite here because I like picking the more well-liked movie, but I think any of these three are decent picks. I’d stay away from Jojo Rabbit (+3000) and Joker (+3500), both of which feel like sucker bets.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Parasite

Who I'd Gamble On: Parasite

Best Original Song

This has to be Elton John for Rocketman (-850), right? I realize Rocketman wasn’t particularly well-liked by the Academy and didn’t get nearly as many nominations as it deserved (sorry Taron Egerton), but there’s also no real competition here. Harriet (+550) is, I guess, the biggest spoiler possibility, but I don’t think people like that movie very much either, at least outside of Cynthia Erivo’s performance. The same could be said for Frozen 2 (+1000), which wasn’t even nominated for Best Animated Feature. “Into The Unknown” is also way worse than “Let It Go”, and deep down, everyone knows that.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Rocketman

Who I'd Gamble On: Not This Category

Best Production Design

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (-200) has incredible production design. The movie is visually beautiful, and there are so many great little details in the backgrounds of shots. It also moves to a lot of different locations. Parasite (+400), however, does a spectacular job of utilizing its house. By the end of the movie, you have a really good sense of the location almost as an additional character. 1917 (+250) also does an amazing job with all of its trenches and a few scenes that are indoors. I wouldn’t be mad if any of these movies won.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Who I'd Gamble On: Parasite

Best Visual Effects

This category has already gone through so many changes to conventional wisdom. First, it was widely assumed Avengers: Endgame (+190) would win as a way to say thank you to such a well-liked movie that would probably miss out elsewhere. Then The Irishman (+500) came out and people liked the effects way, way better than expected; so, that seemed like a pretty clear winner. Then 1917 (-125) came out and quickly emerged as a threat in basically every category. Now it’s considered the leader here. I’m not entirely sure that’s fair. I think Endgame and The Irishman probably both did more complicated things, but it’s hard to bet against 1917. Still, I’m going to do it here. I think this is the category where the Academy nods at Marvel and how much Endgame worked. That’s the movie I’d bet on, and I kinda think it would be the favorite too.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Avengers Endgame

Who I'd Gamble On: Avengers Endgame

Best Score

This is one of the biggest surprise categories for me. The score from Joker (-450) is nice. It's very well done, and I'm certainly not opposed to it winning, but I'm a bit surprised 1917 (+300) hasn't been stronger in the lead-up. Not only is the movie likely going to dominate on Oscar night, it's composer Thomas Newman's 15th nomination! 15! He's never won either. This could have finally been his moment to celebrate, but I just don't think I can bet against Joker. Outside of Joaquin Phoenix, this seems to be the one part of the movie everyone loves. It's not going to get a ton of votes for Best Picture, and if people want to reward something about the movie outside of the acting, I think it's going to be this.

Who Will (Probably) Win: Joker

Who I'd Gamble On: Passsss

The 2020 Oscars are almost here, and this year's show promises to be an exciting one. There are several great movies nominated in all of the major categories, and while there are some clear front runners, none of the big contests look to have entirely obvious winners. One of the more competitive races is Best Adapted Screenplay, where the writers of four films also nominated for Best Picture will go up against each other alongside a movie with two of the strongest acting performances of the year.

As you can imagine, there are a lot of opinions about this year's Academy Awards around CinemaBlend, and so, in an attempt to let everybody's voice be heard, the staff here at the site was given the chance to rank the nominees in the eight biggest Oscar categories. In the case of Best Adapted Screenplay, every member of the CinemaBlend staff that saw all of the nominated titles ranked each of the five nominees from most to least deserving (a "1" being the best, and a "5" being the lowest). Those scores have been averaged, and those averages have generated the order you see below.

#5. Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, Joker

Average Rank: 4

Joker made a lot of headlines before it was released, and it made just as many after we had all seen it. It was certainly an unlikely sort of film to wear the label "comic book movie," but for many that was exactly what made it so intriguing. While a majority of the praise has been reserved for Joaquin Phoenix's Golden Globe-winning performance, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided that the script was also worthy of recognition, giving it one of the five slots in the Adapted Screenplay category – though only one on-staff voter felt it is the film most deserving to take home the trophy.

Joker is a deep dive into the world of an unstable man and with each step that world, and Arthur Fleck, unravel further. It would likely be a compelling character drama even if the DC comics character names weren't included, and it's only because it's based on a DC property that the script qualifies as an adapted work; the story is not based on any specific previous version of the character. While Joker is arguably a strong favorite in some other categories, its placement here on our list shows just how stiff this competition is.

#4. Anthony McCarten, The Two Popes

Average Rank: 3.6666666

The Two Popes is, by far, the simplest of the films nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. It's a movie that consists almost entirely of scenes featuring just two people sitting in a room and having a conversation. On the one hand, not a lot happens, but on the other, to make such an idea even work you need to have a pair of exceptional performers, and they need to have a dynamite script to work with. Both Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce are nominated in acting categories, and Anthony McCarten's script, essentially the third pillar of this production, is fittingly nominated as well.

With The Two Popes not securing a Best Picture nomination, it feels like the film could be the long shot in the screenplay race, but at the same time the film's simplicity lets the script shine in ways that some of the others on this list might are unable to do. Whether or not you know anything about the Catholic Church, there's something truly compelling about the conversations of faith and life and football that these two men have. And what's most impressive is that none of these conversations actually happened, as the film is based on Anthony McCarthen's fictionalized play, The Pope. The Two Popes is more like a thought experiment that considers what would have happened if these two men of deep faith ever truly sat down to talk – and though impressive, not our top pick for this particular prize.

#3. Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit

Average Rank: 2.8333333

As of this writing, it is unclear exactly what form of madness writer/director Taika Waititi is suffering from. However, that's one of only a few explanations for the existence of Jojo Rabbit, a film about a member of the Hitler Youth near the end of World War II who has an imaginary friend that takes the form of Adolf Hitler himself, played by Waititi. The film is a biting satire on the dangers of conformity and tribalism that makes the audience laugh, cringe, and cry in equal measure. The balancing act is delicate, but the script never waivers in its focus, and never feels heavy handed.

The Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar will be Taika Waititi's personal time to shine if he takes it home. While Jojo Rabbit is up for Best Picture, he personally missed out on a Best Director and Best Supporting Actor nomination, so this is his only shot at an individual award this year. Several on the CinemaBlend team think this is actually the Best Adapted Screenplay of the year, with a third of our voters ranking it at the top, though there were some that place it lower in the stack, resulting in its middle of the pack spot.

#2. Steven Zaillian, The Irishman

Average Rank: 2.3333333

Based on the book I Head You Paint Houses, Martin Scorsese's The Irishman tells the story of a gangster who claims to have been the one who shot Jimmy Hoffa. It's a story about a man that spends most of his life in organized crime, so it's far from shocking that Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro were the right people for this particular job. From a screenplay standpoint, though, the most surprising thing about it is just how strong the movie is, even with its hefty three-and-a-half hour runtime.

There are those that have argued The Irishman is too long, but you won't find many of them around CinemaBlend. Nearly half of voters called this one the best adapted screenplay of the year. However, there were enough differing opinions to keep it out of the top spot., making our pick...

#1. Greta Gerwig, Little Women

Average Rank: 2.1666667

Greta Gerwig may have been left out of the Best Director conversation this year at the Academy Awards, but if CinemaBlend has its way (at least collectively) she'll leave the Oscars this Sunday with the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. What makes Gerwig's script for Little Women so remarkable is that she takes the story – the most well known on this list prior to its adaptation and one of the most well known in American literature – and makes it feel entirely new. Gerwig makes people love a character they've hated for over 100 years. She should get a prize for that alone.

Greta Gerwig's Little Women screenplay does what arguably every great adaptation should do: take something that already exists, and look at in a new way to present a new and wholly original perspective. If the Academy agrees, then Gerwig may in fact win the Oscar.

Have you seen all of this year's nominees in the Best Adapted Screenplay category? Hit us up in the comments with your ranking, and answer the poll below with your number one pick. Also, stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming days as we dive into more of the major categories!

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Awards season is upon us. The 2020 Academy Award Nominations have been announced! This year the field is competitive with plenty of surprises and snubs. So, we decided to partner with AMC to give readers a chance to show off their ballots. We want to know who you think will take home the coveted awards. Just let us know who you think will win in each category below! One ballot will be randomly selected to receive two $40 gift cards courtesy of AMC on Monday, February 10th.

And if you haven't been able to check out all the movies yet, please consider heading over to AMC theaters. Many of the nominees are still playing, and there's no experience quite like seeing a great movie in a crowded theater. You can grab tickets here.

As for the ballot below, it's simple. Just go through each category and choose who you think is going to win, not necessarily who you think should win. Then give us an email address so we can contact you if you're the winner. You may also receive other content-related emails from us. They're great, but if you have bad taste or just don't like a cluttered inbox, you can opt out at anytime. Good luck!

Official Rules: Just fill out the above ballot and leave your email address so we can copy you. The giveaway ends at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 9th. The winner is chosen at random and will be notified via email and given 3 days to respond. Only U.S. residents over the age of 18 may apply. Prize packs will be emailed directly to the winner. No purchase necessary. Participants can be disqualified for any reason. Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification and subsequent mockery. Any shipping issues are not the responsibility of CinemaBlend. Good luck!

This week, the Academy made the big announcement that everyone has been waiting for: the Oscar 2020 nominations. The Academy Awards nominations went as expected. Joker has been dominating award season and the Oscars was no exception. It received the most Oscar nominations with 11. Luckily, for those who want to watch Joker before the Academy Awards airs, it’s among the Oscar nominated films that are already streaming.

Many of the Academy Award nominated films have months before they’ll appear on major streaming service. However, there are still a ton of Oscar nominated films that are already streaming, giving you plenty to watch before the big show.

Joker

Nominated for: 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Actor in a Leading Role

Todd Phillips directs Joaquin Phoenix in one of the most discussed films of 2019, Joker.

Joker adds some humanity to one of DC Comics most infamous villains. It shines a light on Gotham's society and makes the audience wonder if Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is really the villain or victim of the story. Joker is available to rent or purchase on various major streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video and Google Play. Stream it HERE.

The Irishman

Nominated for: 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Directing

The Irishman stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. Based on the real life story of Frank Sheeran, The Irishman is a crime drama from legendary film director Martin Scorsese. It follows Frank (Robert De Niro) as he goes from truck driver and WWII veteran to a hitman involved with the Buffalo crime family. As a Netflix original movie, The Irishman is available to stream on Netflix. Stream it HERE.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Nominated for: 10 Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Cinematography, and Best Picture

Quentin Tarantino pays tribute to the golden age of Hollywood with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Set in 1969, TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) deal with the changing industry and the effects it has on them as professionals. Margot Robbie also stars in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino’s latest film is available to rent or purchase digitally on most major streaming video platforms (Vudu, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, etc.). Stream it HERE.

Marriage Story

Nominated for: 6 Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role

In Marriage Story, Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) are going through a divorce, and Noah Baumbach shows all the agony, devastation, and healing that comes with the process. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver give two of the most raw and emotional performances of their careers in Marriage Story. Marriage Story is one of Netflix’s many originals that received Oscar nominations this year. Stream it HERE.

Parasite

Nominated for: 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best International Feature Film

Bong Joon-ho co-wrote and directed Parasite, a portrait of two families and the class system that liberates and shackles them. Parasite is an international gem that is a social commentary film, thriller, and black comedy. Parasite is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming video platforms. It’ll be available to rent on January 28. Stream it HERE.

The Two Popes

Nominated for: 3 Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Adapted Screenplay

The Two Popes is a Netflix original film based on the Anthony McCarten play The Pope. It follows two popes with vastly different views, and shows how they must find a middle ground for the future of the Catholic Church. Anthony Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce plays Pope Francis. The Two Popes is available to watch on Netflix. Stream it HERE.

Harriet

Nominated for: 2 Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Original Song

Cynthia Erivo stars in Harriet, a film based on the life of Underground Railroad conductor and Moses to her people Harriet Tubman. It follows her journey as she frees slaves all across America. Janelle Monae and Leslie Odom also star in Harriet. The movie will be available to rent on January 18. Stream it HERE.

Honeyland

Nominated: 2 Academy Awards: Best International Feature Film and Best Feature Documentary

Honeyland is a documentary film about beekeeper Hatidze Muratova, who finds her livelihood and life thrown into disarray when a new family moves nearby. Hatidze embraces the new family giving them advice and affection, but soon the patriarch realizes the opportunity with selling honey and becomes competition for her beekeeping and honey business. Honeyland is available to stream through a Hulu subscription. Stream it HERE

Judy

Nominated for: 2 Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Renee Zellweger takes on the iconic singer and actress Judy Garland in Judy. The film goes through Judy’s struggles and triumphs as a woman constantly under the watchful eye of the public. Rent or purchase Judy, Renee Zellweger’s return to award season, on Amazon Prime Video and multiple other streaming platforms. Stream it HERE.

Toy Story 4

Nominated for: 2 Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song

Toy Story 4 brings together Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and the gang for one more adventure. The toys face the challenge of finding a new purpose, visit old friends, and combat new enemies. Toy Story 4 isn’t available on Disney+ yet, but it is available to rent or buy on multiple video platforms, including Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video. Stream it HERE.

Pain And Glory

Nominated for: 2 Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best International Feature Film

Pedro Almodovar teams up once again with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz for Pain and Glory. Antonio Banderas plays Salvador Mallo, a film director facing a creative, personal, and mental crisis, so he begins to recall important people and moments in his life. Pain and Glory is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video and other video platforms. The film will be available to rent on January 21. Stream it HERE.

Breakthrough

Nominated for: Best Original Song

This is Us’s Chrissy Metz stars in Breakthrough, a movie about a woman’s faith being tested when her adopted son, played by One Day at Time’s Marcel Ruiz, after falling through a frozen lake, struggles to survive. Topher Grace, Mike Colter, and Josh Lucas also star. Breakthrough is available to stream on HBO Now or Go, and it’s available to purchase on multiple streaming platforms, like Amazon Prime Video and FandangoNow. Stream it HERE.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature Film

Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless go on one final adventure in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It’s the final installment of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Hiccup tries to find a Dragon utopian place called “The Hidden World,” and Toothless begins to bond with a female dragon called Light Fury. See how the journey ends in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which is available on Hulu. Stream it HERE.

I Lost My Body

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature Film

The French animated film I Lost My Body follows a severed hand trying to make his way back to the man who owns it, Naoufel (Dev Patel). It’s the journey of Naoufel falling in love with Gabrielle (Alia Shawkat) and how that might have led to the separation from his hand. It also highlights important moments through the hand and Naoufel’s life. Netflix acquired the rights to I Lost My Body, and it is available to stream on there. Stream it HERE.

Klaus

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature Film

Netflix’s Klaus is a retelling of the origin story of Santa Claus. It stars Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, and Will Sasso. The film follows Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), the spoiled son of a Postmaster General, and a giant toymaker named Klaus (J.K Simmons). The two men work together to deliver homemade toys to the children of Smeerensburg and restore the town’s joy. Stream Netflix’s family animated adventure Klaus HERE.

Missing Link

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature Film

In Missing Link, Zach Galifianakis voices Mr. Link, a lonely 8 feet tall furry creature who leaves his home to find his long lost relatives. Mr. Link soon forms a trio with Sir Lionel (Hugh Jackman) and Adelina (Zoe Saldana). Together they form their own family. Missing Link is available to stream through a Hulu subscription. Stream it HERE.

Jojo Rabbit (Available February 4)

Nominated for: 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit follows a German boy, Jojo (Roman Griffin), as he starts to challenge his beliefs when he learns that his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) has been hiding a Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), in the attic. His imaginary friend, Hitler (Taika Waititi) makes things even more complicated. Jojo Rabbit isn’t currently streaming, but it’ll be available on February 4, a few days before the Academy Awards. Available soon HERE.

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood (Available February 4)

Nominated for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

In A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Tom Hanks takes on the role of TV legend Fred Rogers, also known as Mister Rogers. The film is about Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod (Matthew Rhys)’s friendship. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood will be available to purchase on February 4. Available to stream soon HERE.

Better get to streaming all these Oscars 2020 nominated films soon, because the Academy Awards airs on February 9 at 8:00pm EST.

As of this week's announcements, the 2020 Academy Awards will see 34 individual movies fight it out for honors throughout the Oscars’ various categories of distinction. Out of those 34 movies, there are 18 that scored only a single nomination to their credit, with four films having only two to their name.

But when it comes to those last 12 films we’re going to mention by name, we’ve got heavy hitters that have received at least three nominations, with the high water mark boosting one film up to 11 nominations. From Joker to The Two Popes, and every film in-between, these films are the most represented in this year's class of contenders.

Now let's open the envelopes and run down what movies got the most Oscar nominations in 2020. And the most prolific nominees are…

Joker (11 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Film Editing, Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Best Score, Best Picture, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing & Best Adapted Screenplay

Arthur Fleck’s transformation from social misfit into the figure head of a chaotic movement is the premise behind co-writer/director Todd Phillips’ Joker. A radical reinterpretation of the DC Comics villain, Phillips is nominated for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as being a co-nominee for the film’s Best Picture honors as one of its producers.

But that’s only the beginning of the steamrolling Joker has given the rest of the field, as Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur has landed him a Best Actor nomination at this year’s Oscars. This is Phoenix’s fourth nod overall, and the third in this particular field. Depending on who you talk to, this could be his best chance to finally take home some gold, as well as the overall movie to beat at 2020’s Academy Awards.

1917 (10 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Best Score, Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects & Best Original Screenplay

Inspired by stories his grandfather told him about the First World War, director Sam Mendes’ recent hit 1917 is a film that takes place during a real time race against time to deliver an important message. As we follow Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield (Dean-Charles Chapman & George MacKay, respectively) through the battlefield and into the trenches, perilous obstacles are presented to our protagonists, and there’s no room to cut away from the action.

That approach to 1917’s narrative is undoubtedly why, on top of Best Picture honors, the film has gotten crucial Oscar nominations as Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects. Mendes himself is also well represented, as he shares the Best Picture nomination, and also has additional nods for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, alongside co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (10 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing & Best Original Screenplay

In the lazy, hazy days of 1969, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) try to get a handle on life as only characters in a Quentin Tarantino film could. But rather than go for what folks consider the typical QT picture, Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood plays mostly as a mix of nostalgia and self-reflection. Of course, there’s still plenty of Tarantino-isms, and that’s part of why the man could make history with his potential third win for Best Original Screenplay this year.

Put that together with DiCaprio and Pitt being nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, and this is another thoroughbred to watch out for at this dog and pony show. Altogether, 10 nominations have made their way into the hands of this particular film, and if it plays its cards right, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood could be a big winner, thanks to a slew of technical nominations.

The Irishman (10 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor (x2,) Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Film Editing, Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects & Best Adapted Screenplay

A dream project for director Martin Scorsese, The Irishman fulfills a promise the man had so often made to bring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino onto the screen in the same picture. Showcasing the life and times of mob hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro,) the Netflix original is a story of friendship, family, and guilt.

It’s also an acting powerhouse when it comes to the 2020 Academy Awards, as both Pesci and Pacino will be duking it out for Best Supporting Actor honors this year. Not to mention, Scorsese himself has a Best Director nomination that compliments his producer’s honors in the Best Picture nomination. But if there was an award this film should want to win, besides its major nominations of course, it would be that of Best Visual Effects, as it took a lot of impressive work to de-age the main cast for this generational epic.

Jojo Rabbit (6 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing & Best Production Design

Shifting gears into the next tier of competitors, director Taika Waititi’s anti-hate satire Jojo Rabbit has found itself in a pretty good niche when it comes to this year’s Oscar nominations. The story of young Jojo (Roman Griffin) and his confrontation of the Nazi ideals that took Germany by storm during World War II, this dramedy is a heartwarming laugh riot.

While Waititi himself missed out on a directing nomination in 2020’s Academy Awards race, the man does have two nominations, as a producer of the film as well as the writer of its Best Adapted Screenplay. But as far as Oscar history is concerned, Jojo Rabbit is where Scarlett Johansson sees the first two nominations ever in her career, with a nod for Best Supporting Actress headed her way.

Little Women (6 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Score, Best Picture & Best Adapted Screenplay

You may have heard about our next nominee, as writer/director Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a silent but deadly box office powerhouse as of late. The story of the March Sisters and their relationships during the difficult years after their father’s passing, the film was snubbed when it came to Gerwig’s directorial efforts.

However, Gerwig herself does have a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay, along with other impressive nominations going to Saoirse Ronan for Best Actress and Florence Pugh for Best Supporting Actress. Rounding out the field are 2020 Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design, Best Score, and Best Picture; all of which bring Little Women’s awards profile to an exciting level of anticipation.

Marriage Story (6 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Score, Best Picture & Best Original Screenplay

Also frozen out of the director’s race is Greta Gerwig’s husband Noah Baumbach, who sees himself earning a similar backdoor into the Oscar nominations race in 2020 with his latest film, Marriage Story. Baumbach not only has a Best Original Screenplay nomination to contend for at this year’s Academy Awards, but he also has a producer’s credit that allows him to potentially win if this movie wins Best Picture.

Loosely based on his own experiences with divorce, Marriage Story also sees Adam Driver being nominated for the honors of Best Actor and Scarlett Johansson picking up a Best Actress nod herself. The pair’s incendiary chemistry, both in love and ruin, helped propel this film to prestige glory, as well as studio Netflix to an impressive 24 nominations overall - the most that any studio/distributor has seen in the Oscar nominations of 2020.

Parasite (6 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Director, Film Editing, Best International Film, Best Picture, Best Production Design & Best Original Screenplay

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho finds himself breaking into the Academy Awards this year, as his dark comedy thriller Parasite is up for 6 Oscar nominations. A story of deception, and all of the consequences that come with such a practice, this particular movie has found itself winning over critics and audiences alike. So the news that it has garnered nominations for both Best Picture and Best International Film should be no surprise.

And as for Bong Joon-ho himself, he’s personally up for a potential Best Director trophy, as well as honors for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. Though if you were to place your bets on which big ticket category Parasite is most likely to win, you might want to place some money on the Best International Film category; if Roma’s Oscar fate last year is any indication.

Ford v Ferrari (4 Nominations)

Nominated For: Film Editing, Best Picture, Best Sound Editing & Best Sound Mixing

Rounding out the field of Academy Awards nominees for 2020 are the last handful of films that have seen 3 to 4 nominations land in their respective buckets. And in the case of Ford v Ferrari, the bulk of those honors come from technical awards, as Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing are three of the four honors it’s vying for.

The story of how American automotive legend Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and English race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) collaborated on the car that would help a Ford win the 1966 Le Mans event, Ford v Ferrari missed out on a lot of other potential nominations, including acting honors for both Damon and Bale. But the film did manage to crash the party in the Best Picture nominations, which means that director James Mangold could still walk away with a trophy if the night pans out the right way.

Bombshell (3 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress & Best Makeup/Hairstyling

Out of the three actors that make up the core cast for director Jay Roach’s Bombshell, two performers found themselves walking away with Oscar nominations. Those aren’t bad odds if you’re Best Actress nominee Charlize Theron or Best Supporting Actress nominee Margot Robbie.

But somehow, Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Gretchen Carlson, in a story about the misconduct of Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) and others at Fox News, was a no show when it came to nominations. With one other nod for Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Bombshell has clearly impressed the judges with its acting talents, and could be a spoiler in either race when you consider Olivia Colman's surprise Best Actress win for The Favourite last year.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (3 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Score, Best Sound Editing & Best Visual Effects

While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker isn’t a major contender at this year’s Academy Awards, the 2020 Oscar nominations do see the film helping to set a new record. With his 52nd nomination for Best Score, composer John Willams is now the most nominated person living in Academy Awards history, with Walt Disney still holding the record at 59 nods.

As the concluding chapter of the Skywalker Saga happens to, oddly enough, be under the purview of the late Disney’s studio, it seems fitting that this great honor would accompany the almost assured nominations this film was going to garner in Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

The Two Popes (3 Nominations)

Nominated For: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor & Best Adapted Screenplay

For a movie named The Two Popes, there’s an argument to be made that this Netflix original has the most impressive track record for this year’s Academy Awards nominations. We say this because as there are only two popes in this dramatized meeting between Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce,) the fact that both have been nominated is pretty spectacular.

With Pryce in the running for Best Actor and Hopkins competing for Best Supporting Actor, The Two Popes will have its hands full when it comes to this year’s acting races. Though additional excitement is thrown in as writer and previous nominee Anthony McCarten is up for Best Adapted Screenplay honors in 2020’s Oscar nominated class.

The field competing for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards is pretty wide, based on the top contenders above. We'll see what the future holds when the ceremony takes place on February 9th, as it will be aired on ABC at 8 PM ET.

And we're off! The 2020 Oscar nominations were announced this morning, and there are probably some movies on that list you haven't seen yet -- and maybe some you wouldn't mind watching again before the big show. The 92nd annual Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 9, on ABC. You may not have time to watch every single nominee on the list, and some Best Picture movies like frontrunner 1917 and Little Women just came out in theaters and don't seem to be available for streaming before Oscar night. (That could change, though.)

Every Monday I recommend stuff to stream, so today I'm picking 10 must-watch Oscar nominees that are either already available to stream or will be ready for home viewing before Oscar night.

Joker

Joker led the 2020 pack with 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Best Director for Todd Phillips, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and more. Fun fact: Bradley Cooper is one of the producers, so if Joker wins Best Picture, he can accept. Joker is already out on digital for streaming at Amazon Prime, FandangoNOW, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube, etc. It's also available on Blu-ray with special features and commentary.

The Irishman

Netflix did very well for itself with Oscar nominations this year. Martin Scorsese's The Irishman earned 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor nods for Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, but nothing on the Best Actor front for Robert De Niro. Since The Irishman is a Netflix movie, that's where you can stream it. I know some people are trying to cut back on subscriptions, including to Netflix, and they're hoping The Irishman (and Marriage Story, etc.) gets a Blu-ray or DVD release. Roma became the first Netflix movie to get a DVD/Blu-ray release thanks to the Criterion Collection, with that special edition releasing in February. Fingers crossed for more.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earned 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino, Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt, and more. Here's hoping Pitt gets to make another classic speech, like he did at the Golden Globes. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is already on digital and disc. You can stream it on Amazon, FandangoNOW, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play, etc. If you just want to rent it, you can pay $6 on Amazon or buy it for $13.

Marriage Story

Marriage Story, like The Irishman, is a Netflix film, so that's where you can stream it. Marriage Story got six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Adam Driver, Best Actress for Scarlett Johansson, Best Supporting Actress for Laura Dern -- whether you wanted her to get the nod or not -- and Best Original Music Score and Original Screenplay. Johansson had never been nominated for an Oscar before and now she's nominated twice -- one nod for this movie, and the other for a movie listed below.

Parasite

As director Bong Joon-ho put it at the Golden Globes, don't let the "one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles" stop you from watching foreign films like Parasite! The movie was nominated for both Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, plus Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Film Editing -- including that intentional continuity error. Parasite will be available for streaming Tuesday, January 14 -- aka the day after the Oscar nominations -- on Amazon and other digital platforms. The film will be released on Blu-ray/DVD on January 28.

Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari didn't get any acting nominations for Christian Bale or Matt Damon, but it was nominated for the top prize of Best Picture, along with Best Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, and Film Editing. If you haven't had a chance to watch it on the big screen, or you want to watch again at home, you'll have the chance soon. Ford v Ferrari is coming to digital platforms on January 28, so that's when you can stream it wherever you tend to rent or buy titles. If you want to wait for DVD/Blu-ray, you'll have to wait until after the Oscars on February 11.

Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi's dramedy set in Nazi Germany was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Scarlett Johansson, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Film Editing. Jojo Rabbit is something of a surprise to me to get so many nods, even though it did get great reviews and audience scores. It didn't make much at the box office, but maybe after these Oscar noms it can get a re-release and pick up some money. Otherwise, people who haven't seen it yet will have to wait until it arrives on digital February 4, including Amazon, and then DVD/Blu-ray February 25.

The Two Popes

The Two Popes just showed up on Netflix on December 20, a few days before Christmas. Most of the Netflix chatter this year has been about The Irishman and Marriage Story, but it's worth watching this one if you haven't streamed it yet. Jonathan Pryce plays Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, with Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI. Both men were nominated for Oscars -- Pryce as Best Actor and Hopkins for Best Supporting Actor. I was hoping this would happen for Pryce, since he's 72 and this is his first Oscar nomination. It's very much earned, as you'll see. Since The Two Popes is a Netflix film, that's where you can stream it.

Judy

Renée Zellweger won the Best Actress in a Drama award at the Golden Globes, so she might be a frontrunner to win the Best Actress category at the Oscars for her role as Judy Garland. Judy was also nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The movie, following Garland later in her life, is currently available for streaming on Amazon, YouTube, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Vudu, or wherever you tend to rent/buy movies to stream. You can also check it out on Blu-ray/DVD if you prefer physical copies.

Harriet

Harriet was nominated for two Oscars -- Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo as Araminta "Minty" Ross/Harriet Tubman, and Best Original Song for "Stand Up." Kasi Lemmons' film earned an A+ CinemaScore from moviegoers polled opening night and got solid reviews from critics. Still, it didn't get a huge release in theaters so many fans may be unfamiliar with the movie and now curious to see first-time nominee Cynthia Erivo in the role. You can watch the movie on digital January 14 and check it out on DVD/Blu-ray on January 28. The release will feature extras including feature commentary and a deeper look into Harriet Tubman's story.

Of course, there are many more nominees you should stream if you have the time and if they are available before the February 9 broadcast. I hope you've seen the animated nominees, including Netflix's Klaus but also Missing Link and more. You can use Kanopy to stream Sama, which is nominated for Best Documentary. Kanopy is free to users nationwide who hold a partnered public or academic library card. Check out the full list of 2020 Oscar nominations and just schedule yourself out for the next month!

If you're looking for more streaming recommendations, I share suggestions every Monday and there are A LOT of past features you can check out:

• 5 Excellent Keanu Reeves Roles Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Sci-Fi TV Shows To Watch On Netflix: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 5 Documentary Series To Watch On Netflix: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 5 British TV Comedies On Netflix You Should Bloody Well Watch: Our Streaming Recommendations

• 3%, Occupied, Harlots, and Other Streaming Recommendations

• 5 Robert Downey Jr. Movies To Love 3000 On Netflix

• 5 Chris Evans Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Ryan Reynolds Roles Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon

• 5 Will Smith Movies Worth Streaming Right Now On Netflix And Beyond

• 5 Refreshingly Non-Toxic Reality TV Shows Worth Streaming On Netflix

• 5 Joaquin Phoenix Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix And Amazon Ahead Of Joker

• 5 Stripper Movies Worth Streaming In Honor Of Jennifer Lopez's Hustlers

• The 5 Best Space Movies To Stream In Honor Of Brad Pitt's Ad Astra

• 11 Unbelievable True Crime Series Worth Streaming On Netflix

• 8 Movies With 100 Percent Ratings Worth Streaming Before Netflix's The Irishman

• 7 Paul Rudd Movies Worth Streaming On Netflix Before Living With Yourself

• 8 Movies With Twist Endings Worth Streaming On Netflix After Fractured

• Where To Stream Firefly And 10 Other Great Shows Cancelled After One Season

• Whodunit? 7 Murder Mysteries Worth Streaming On Netflix

• 12 Royal TV Shows Like Netflix's The Crown: Our Jolly Good Streaming Recommendations

• 11 Best Gangster Movies Worth Streaming Along With Netflix's The Irishman

• 11 Best Tom Cruise Action Movies Worth Streaming As We Wait For Top Gun: Maverick

• 13 Adam Driver Movies Worth Streaming, Including Netflix's Marriage Story (But Not Star Wars)

• 8 Carrie Fisher Movies Worth Streaming As Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Opens

• 8 TV Shows Worth Streaming On Netflix As You Wait For The Witcher Season 2

• 10 Disney+ Shows Worth Streaming As We Wait For The Mandalorian Season 2

What 2020 Oscar nominees do you plan to watch ASAP?

The year 2019 is over and the "Roaring Twenties" are finally upon us (we need a new name for this decade, btw). The Golden Globe Awards have been dished out and the top 10 movies of the CinemaBlend team have been announced. The year was a rollercoaster release-wise, front loaded with superhero blockbusters accompanied by a fourth quarter filled with award contenders. Disney alone had six films that made over a billion dollars. Despite the money made by the mouse, the 2019 box office still fell short of the previous year, although not by much.

While the dollars and cents might not have added up, emotions and opinions were definitely not short-changed in 2019. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 films of 2019 from each member of the CinemaBlend staff who saw at least 50 new releases. Be sure to let us know your favorite film of the past year in the poll or comments section below!

Although 2019 closed the door on two of the biggest sagas to ever hit the big screen, 2020 is shaping up to be another blockbuster year, from the beginning of the MCU's Phase 4 to a resurgence of both classic and new horror movies. Make sure to let us know your favorite film of the year by using the poll or comments section below and keep up with everything new dropping this year with our 2020 release date schedule.

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I saw a lot of movies this past year. This isn’t exactly abnormal, as I see a lot of movies every year (it’s quite literally my job), but 2019 was significant in that I watched more new releases than ever before. From January until now, I watched 157 samples of what ultra-modern cinema has to offer, and, as you would expect, it was often a roller coaster in terms of quality. But while some of what I witnessed was downright abysmal, there were more than a few opportunities for me to affirm my absolute love for film.

When a say “more than a few,” I definitely mean more than 10, which made crafting this list an incredible challenge (note: I probably write this every year, but I repeat it because it’s constantly true). I only finally settled on the order last night, and I even still may wind up flipping some stuff around as I write and my deeper thoughts about a particular title are brought to the surface. There was a tremendous amount of material to appreciate for someone with my particular taste in 2019, and ranking the abstract feeling that I get from great film was never going to be easy.

It’s rough not having room here to fully dive into my appreciation for Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, James Gray’s Ad Astra, Craig Brewer’s Dolemite Is My Name, Riley Stearns' The Art Of Self Defense, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart, and Trey Edward Shults' Waves, but these are the best and my most favorite movies of 2019.

10. In Fabric

Not everyone is going to be on-board with Peter Strickland’s In Fabric. It is a very specific kind of genre film with a very specific sensibility, and not everyone is going to respond to the material. That being said, I very much am part of the audience that this film is trying to reach, and in that effort it did tremendously well. These kinds of strange, stylistic throwbacks don’t come around all that often, but here we have an awesome one that is slick, silly, and creepy.

You can’t really take a film about a haunted dress all that seriously, but that’s something that In Fabric bizarrely recognizes as it simultaneously makes you both giggle and jump out of your seat. It’s a fully committed giallo film, accented with flashy colors, pulpy characters, and a dash of the supernatural, but also comes at those details with a modern mindset – allowing them to play both as originally intended, and also with a slight smile. It’s a joy, and a sensory delight.

9. Ready Or Not

While I laughed a lot watching some great comedies this year (some still to come on this list), there were few movies I had as much fun with as Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s enchanting horror adventure Ready Or Not. All the way through it is sparkling with imagination, as its truly original tale plays out with fantastic twists and turns along the way.

It features an ensemble full of scene-stealers, with Melanie Scrofano as coked-up Emilie and Adam Brody as the brooding, torn Daniel leading the supporting cast, but Samara Weaving is the true breakthrough star as the extraordinarily badass Grace. By the end of the film, as she is covered in blood wearing her shredded wedding dress and yellow Converse All-Stars, she has all the makings of a horror franchise star, haunted and tormented by the devilish Mr. Le Bail. Hopefully the cinema gods will deliver on that front, but for now we have an instant comedy horror classic that I can’t wait to enjoy again and again for many years to come.

8. Doctor Sleep

By the time I was sitting in a theater waiting for the lights to go down and Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep to start playing, I was ready to burst with anticipation. Flanagan is a filmmaker who has fascinated me for many years now, and I love the Stephen King novel – though simultaneously I fully recognized the immense challenge of both reworking the book into movie form, and operating as a sequel to one of my all-time favorite horror films: Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.

I left my screening blissful, and even having seen the movie again since I still can’t believe how remarkable it is. All of the changes that are made from the source material – both those necessary because of The Shining and otherwise – vastly improve the story, and on top of getting a satisfying conclusion for Dan Torrance, we also get to meet what is now one of the all-great big screen Stephen King villains in Rebecca Ferguson’s Rose The Hat. A fan couldn’t ask for a better adaptation than this one… and the fact that we’re getting a Director’s Cut is icing on the absolutely delicious cake.

7. Parasite

When the first trailer for Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite dropped earlier this year, I clicked play in response to the massive wave of buzz the movies received following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival… but then quickly stopped it about 20 seconds in. I was already excited for the film simply because of the writer/director’s past work, and was satisfied just getting a taste of what his next movie was promising to deliver – excited to just wait and take in the whole experience while in the theater. It’s a move I’m grateful I made, because few titles this year so wonderfully unfold as this one, packing in shock after shock.

As soon as you get comfortable with Parasite being one thing, it becomes something else, and the way in which it builds on both its narrative and satire is satisfying and eye-opening. It tackles universal subject matter in both ingenious and intense ways, creating a particular balance in tone that never lets you know which way things are going to turn next. It’s a perfect film for our current moment in history, and Bong Joon-ho’s greatest movie to date.

6. Midsommar

Ari Aster’s Hereditary fell just short of making my Top 10 list for 2018, but make no mistake: I was instantly convinced of the writer/director’s immense talent. His sophomore effort arriving just a year later, Midsommar had my curiosity as soon as I learned about its premise – though a big part of what I love about it is how it totally belies what you expect from its plot. While it certainly has the hints of The Wicker Man that you anticipate, as well as moments of pure, terrible dread, at its heart the movie is really a dark comedy about a break-up, and is frequently as funny and weird as it is brutal and horrific.

Florence Pugh had an incredible year in 2019, also delivering excellence in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family, but it’s with the extreme emotions required to bring Dani to life that she demonstrates just how special she is. Astor’s script puts the character through an odd and special hell that is perfectly accentuated by Jack Reynor as the asshole boyfriend Christian, and it’s all given a surreal feeling courtesy of the constantly-present sun. The level of detail is outstanding (only rivaled by Jordan Peele’s Us this year), and every rewatch is guaranteed to reveal new layers that were imperceptible on the first go-round.

5. Avengers: Endgame

The incredible feat accomplished by Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Endgame this year is only accentuated by the controversy and mixed response to both the final season of Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. As demonstrated by the failings of those two projects, it’s tremendously hard to craft a capstone for a complex, years-long, beloved story, and yet the conclusion of what has been dubbed the Infinity Saga is both epic and completely satisfying, ultimately doing absolutely everything it needs to do.

There was no film that I thought more about in the first half of this year, wondering how the Marvel Cinematic Universe would bounce back after Thanos’ horrific snap, and I was ecstatic to experience a blockbuster with an entirely new tone compared to Avengers: Infinity War, and endlessly smart and clever applications of its impressive roster of heroes. It’s an impeccable goodbye to many of the characters I’ve loved watching on the big screen in the last decade, and an exciting demonstration that Marvel can not only still surprise an audience, but will continue to do so for many years to come.

4. Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit is a film that dances on the head of a pin. There is obviously not a lot to laugh about in regards to the events of World War II and fascism’s rise in Germany, and yet Waititi uses it as a background for the funniest movie of 2019. It’s stunning to watch the film do its balancing act, able to make you laugh out loud and then put you on the precipice of crying, and it says everything about how far the writer/director has come as a filmmaker.

Looking back on his filmography, Taika Waititi has been changing things up tonally from the start of his career behind the camera, but Jojo Rabbit is his best crafted work to date, and his sharpest. It’s sweet and beautiful, with Scarlett Johansson delivering a delightful performance unlike anything we’ve seen from her, and poignant and emotional – taking full advantage of its loaded setting. I admire it as much as I enjoy it, and that has stayed true through multiple viewings.

3. The Lighthouse

I enjoy splashy visual effects and sweeping, epic stories as much as anyone, but my demands for drama are actually very simple. Regardless of genre, I can be completely satisfied watching two characters relate to each other as they are locked in a location together for an extended period of time. Of course, it helps if one of them is a shady figure with a mysterious past, and the other is actively trying to drive the other one insane. In other words, Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is a film perfectly tailored to my tastes, and one that I absolutely love.

Following The Witch, Eggers is quickly proving himself as a stylistically fascinating filmmaker, as we dive into a whole new era with this story, and it manages to feel both entirely authentic and fantastically heightened. It’s both gritty and gross, and weirdly hilarious at times, with Willem Dafoe delivering one of the most amazing performances of the year and of his career as the grizzled Ephraim Winslow. It’s a movie that can be thoroughly enjoyed thanks to its head-spinning descent-into-madness tale, and also endlessly dissected for all of its ambiguous meanings and conclusions.

2. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino is the filmmaker who truly inspired my deep love of film when I was younger – so every new release of his comes with a special level of anticipation unlike anything I experience for any other kind movie. I’m always prepared to be amazed, but also remarkably vulnerable to be disappointed. Obviously at this point you’ve already figured out which of those two emotional responses I had to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

The film is inarguably the most ambling in terms of narrative that Tarantino has ever produced, however, it’s able to pull off that looser feeling with some of his most finely tuned and engaging characters – all of whom are brought to life with turns that deeply remind us of just how incredible the performers can be. It’s an experience that makes you want to step through the screen and into its world, and while the third act is easily one of the most exciting of the filmmaker’s career (high praise given the existence of both Inglourious Basterds and Kill Bill), there’s also a special sadness that comes part and parcel with it as a result of knowing that the end credits are coming and the lights will soon be back on.

1. Uncut Gems

A bizarre thing happened to me a few weeks ago when I watched Josh and Bennie Safdie’s Uncut Gems for the first time. Every part of me recognized that Adam Sandler’s protagonist, Howard Ratner, is a true blue scumbag, willing to flush his entire life away on a big enough gamble… and yet I unconsciously found myself literally pumping my fist and silently celebrating with the character every time a significant shot was sunk in the basketball game around which the entire third act hinges. Looking at my hand, and understanding my desire to pair the gesture with an out-loud cheer, I realized I was watching what I would ultimately call my favorite film of 2019.

The genuine feeling of rip-your-hair-out panic that Uncut Gems is able to generate is otherworldly, as Howard stacks gamble on top of gamble, never once recognizing that one thing going wrong will destroy everything. It’s strange to think that a movie could have that kind of effect, but it’s a credit to both the atmosphere that the Safdie brothers are able to generate, and the brilliant performances from the whole cast. It’s a cinematic experience that should give away dental guards with each ticket sold, but even without it’s worth the damage done grinding your teeth.

So those are my Top 10 movies of 2019… what are yours? Tell us how many films you’ve seen this year and how you would rank your favorites in the comments section below.

We are now coming to the end of what has been a fascinating year in cinema. There were certainly some significant disappointments, particularly in the realm of highly anticipated sequels, but also a tremendous number of cinematic delights. It’s been a wild mix, and our staff collectively has experienced all of the various ups and downs. Over the last 12 months, at least one member of the CinemaBlend team saw 234 of the new releases that arrived in 2019 – and this is now the place where we celebrate what we as a group see as the cream of the crop.

For the past few years our team members have maintained a screening log for all of the new films that are released, registering an opinion post-screening with a rating between one and five. It’s based on the statistics from that log (namely the average score, weighing every opinion equally) that we have compiled this Top 10 list – counting only titles seen by at least four people on staff. Some really amazing features populate the #15 through #11 slots, including Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman (4.167/5), Craig Brewer’s Dolemite Is My Name (4.2/5), Rian Johnson’s Knives Out (4.206/5), Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz’s The Peanut Butter Falcon (4.214/5), and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (4.278/5), but these films are the ones we feel are the best of 2019.

#10. Marriage Story

Average Score: 4.28125/5

Scarlett Johansson is essentially the ruler of this list with three films landing in the rankings, and what’s seriously impressive is that she gives a different and compelling performance in each one. It’s hard to pick the best one, but her turn in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story is really remarkable – as is the rest of it. Starring opposite Johansson, Adam Driver continues to prove himself a special talent, and their dynamic both together and apart in this story captivating and real. You’d think that a movie that entirely centers on divorce proceedings would be a drag and emotionally exhausting, but instead you’re more swept away in the character and drama, left hoping that the two leads can find peace amidst conflict. It’s a complicated and powerful work, and the response with audiences taking sides has been fascinating.

#9. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Average Score: 4.30952381/5

Back in late July we ran our mid-year version of this feature titled “The Top 10 Films Of 2019 So Far, According To CinemaBlend,” and while most of the films on that list wound up being beat out by fall releases, Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood not only held out, but has seen its average score go up with an additional five votes counted. It’s really hard not to love this fantastic taste of the movie world in 1969, with some phenomenal performances bringing to life remarkable characters (Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth are instant icons), and the writer/director putting a revisionist spin on real events that allow for a spectacular and shocking finale. It’s one of the great gems in Tarantino’s brilliant filmography, which is saying something given the tremendous caliber of his work.

#8. Doctor Sleep

Average Score: 4.375/5

In a vacuum, the idea of any filmmaker making a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining seems patently insane. The 1980 movie is heralded as one of the greats of the horror genre, and someone would have to be out of their mind going into a follow-up knowing that they would have to create something comparable. But that’s what makes Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep such a miracle. Not only did the writer/director successfully weave a fantastic story about recovery through the tale of an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor), and introduce a spectacular monster with Rose The Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), but he even managed to create a pop culture peace between Kubrick’s work and author Stephen King – who has never been shy about his dislike of The Shining film. It’s a stunning and impressive, and one of our team’s favorites of the year.

#7. The Lighthouse

Average Score: 4.388888889/5

The equation that sums up the narrative of Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is a simple one. Two lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe), strangers at first, are sent to man an isolated lighthouse together, and due to a savage storm find themselves trapped with no communication to the outside world. It’s a perfect recipe for pure, uncut madness, and that’s precisely what the film delivers. As everything spirals out of control, the nature of reality becomes endlessly interpretable, and it’s hard not to watch it all with a feeling of delight that only bonkers cinema can deliver. It’s an experience that both delivers belly laughs and tension that pins you to the back of your chair, and best of all it stays with you long after the house lights have gone up and you’ve left the theater. It hasn’t entirely left our collective minds since it came out this fall, hence its placement on this list.

#6. Jojo Rabbit

Average Score: 4.4/5

This being end of the decade, cinephiles have spent recent months reflecting on the last 10 years of movies, and Taika Waititi is a name that sticks out in a massive way. He was still finding his voice as a writer/director in 2010 when he release his second feature, Boy, but now – following amazing movies What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Thor: Ragnarok – he is at the top of his game, and Jojo Rabbit proves it. Waititi demonstrates wonderful auteur flair with the feature, as his very particular comedic sensibilities shine, but what particularly stands out is genius tonal balancing act, as the film is successful at both producing belly laughs and sob-level tears. It’s a unique cinematic experience that only the Kiwi filmmaker could provide, and it has us practically panting in anticipation for what he is going to deliver in the 2020s.

#5. Avengers: Endgame

Average Score: 4.4375/5

The year of pop culture we all just collectively experienced featured some super controversial conclusions to major big screen sagas and epic television series, and it all just makes Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Endgame that much easier to appreciate and love. The filmmakers at Marvel Studios were faced with a stunningly daunting task in trying to craft a capstone blockbuster that would fully reflect on the 21 films that preceded it, and the artfulness with which it’s done is mind-boggling. In addition to being a rambunctious, fun blockbuster, it’s also a beautiful tribute to some brilliant character work and performances we’ve seen in the decade-plus since Jon Favreau’s Iron Man. It’s a special ending and a tearful goodbye in many respects, but at the same time also has us over-the-moon excited to see what the franchise’s future will hold.

#4. Uncut Gems

Average Score: 4.611111111/5

If you consider yourself a film fan, you should definitely start getting comfortable hearing the names Josh and Benny Safdie. The sibling filmmakers have been starting to attract real attention in recent years, with 2017’s Good Time landing them on a number of radars, but now in 2019 they have crafted their big breakout with Uncut Gems. This is a movie that is arguably only really safe to watch while attached to a blood pressure monitor, as once it has its hooks in it shakes you with unrelenting tension until you’re ready to go into cardiac arrest. Playing a detestable human being in protagonist Howard Ratner, Adam Sandler delivers what can be called the greatest performance of his career, making you want to tear your hair out as he stacks risky gamble on top of risky gamble. It’s one of the most thrilling cinematic experiences of the year, and one we can’t wait to have over and over again in repeat viewings.

#3. Waves

Average Score: 4.7/5

Actor Kevin Harrison Jr. had an impressive breakout year in 2019, and while his awesome work in Luce won’t be specifically discussed here, his turn in Trey Edward Shults' Waves is equally impressive. This is a drama that repeatedly punches you in the heart, depicting some hardcore and serious family issues with Harrison Jr.’s Tyler at the center of it all, but it’s also constructed with incredible and impactful style – featuring constantly shifting aspect ratios, epic rotating shots, a killer soundtrack, and an awesome score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s aesthetically daring, but purposeful in each of its choices, and builds in unexpected and fascinating ways. It’s utterly compelling, and Sterling K. Brown delivers what is arguably the best supporting performance of the year. In short, film in 2019 didn’t get much better than this.

#2. 1917

Average Score: 4.722222222/5

Roger Deakins is unquestionably one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, and his collaborations with director Sam Mendes have represented some of his greatest work to date. That said, 1917 still ranks as a phenomenal achievement. Filmmakers have struggled for decades finding the proper ways to portray the realities of war, are with its single-shot style this one truly throws you into the mud of No Man’s Land in its depiction of World War I. You’re holding your breath from the very first minute as you learn about the ticking clock scenario led by news that troops are marching into a trap disguised as a strategic retreat, and the brilliant choreography of the camera wrapped around the performances of George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman is enrapturing. It’s a whole new way to experience war on the big screen, and it’s a powerful representation.

#1. Parasite

Average Score: 4.75/5

About an hour into Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite you think you have a good grip on where things are headed. The lower class family played by Woo-sik Choi, So-dam Park, Kang-ho Song, and Hye-jin Jang have successfully infiltrated the world of the upper class Park family, and are celebrating their apparent victory… but then, in an instant, everything changes. It’s one of the most phenomenal big screen left turns of the year, and just part of what makes the film so incredible. The way in which the drama escalates is one thing, but the script is also endlessly clever, the dialogue witty, and the cinematography is gorgeous. It’s risky for any movie to build up expectations, and then become something completely different the way this movie does, but the way in which it’s done here is miraculous – and every step of the way it sharpens its satirical bite and class warfare commentary. It’s brilliant, and CinemaBlend’s Number One movie of the year.

How many of these films have you seen? Of those you haven’t, what are you excited to check out. Of those you have, which are your favorites? Hit the comments section below with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more of our Top 10 lists and End-Of-The-Year features!

Scarlett Johansson has done everything from battling giant spiders in Eight Legged Freaks to saving the world alongside the Avengers in the MCU to becoming the object of a tech-obsessed divorcee in Her. Also considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, the star of the upcoming Black Widow movie (set to release on May 1, 2020) has proven herself to be one of Hollywood’s strongest performers over a 25-year career, from a brief role in 1994’s North to her Golden Globe-nominated performance in 2019’s Marriage Story. But which of ScarJo’s movies is her crowning achievement?

It is no easy task, but I have managed to span the actress’ illustrious filmography down to what I believe are the 10 films on her resume that not only utilize her talents to the best of her ability, but prove she is rarely one to choose a role unwisely… rarely being the key word. Without further ado, these are the best Scarlett Johansson movies, ranked from worst to best.

10. The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (2004)

Scarlett Johansson has lent just her distinct voice in movies to great acclaim in roles, such as hypnotic python Kaa in Jon Favreau’s remake of The Jungle Book, former show dog Nutmeg in Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, and another that will appear later on this list. Her first voice acting role comes from a film that was a personal favorite of mine at a younger age which manages to delight me and other fans of iconic Nicktoon even today: The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie.

In the first big screen adventure of Nickelodeon’s porous animated icon, Scarlett Johansson provides the voice of Mindy, the teenage daughter of King Neptune (Jeffrey Tambor), who tries to help SpongeBob Squarepants (Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) retrieve her father’s stolen crown before the accused Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) is punished. The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie could be considered the funniest of the goofy Bikini Bottom fry cook's adventures and is easily the most exciting.

9. The Avengers (2012)

She was introduced into the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an undeniably explosive entrance in 2010’s Iron Man 2. However, Scarlett Johansson’s first moment to really shine as Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, came when she effortlessly stood out among the boys while defending the planet alongside them in The Avengers.

Joss Whedon’s 2012 action-packed spectacle marked the historic moment of seeing some of Marvel’s greatest heroes share the big screen for the first time, which became an astounding critical and commercial achievement. Even in its quieter moments, The Avengers never lets down on its intensity, especially when Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow confronts the captured Loki (Tom Hiddleston) for a revealing discussion.

8. Jojo Rabbit (2019)

In the fall of 2019, Scarlett Johansson collaborated with Taika Waititi, the New Zealand-born director of 2017’s hit Thor: Ragnarok. However, her role in Waititi’s Golden Globe-nominated Jojo Rabbit, which also stars fellow MCU alum Sam Rockwell, is a far cry from superhero fare.

In the bold World War II-era satire, Jojo Rabbit, Roman Griffin Davis plays the title character: a lonely German boy whose only friend is an oafish version of Adolf Hitler who only exists in his imagination. Jojo’s world turns upside down when he discovers that his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic from the Nazi regime.

7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Many consider the beginning of the MCU being taken more seriously than your average comic book film at the time was when Joe and Anthony Russo were hired to tackle the sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. What they did put Chris Evans’s man-out-of-time Steve Rogers and Scarlett Johansson’s resilient warrior Natasha Romanoff in a complex, gritty, ‘70s-style spy thriller with top-notch action sequences and a grounded sense of humanity that only blockbusters had dared to touch at the time.

While Chris Evans may play the title character, I think Captain America: The Winter Soldier is just as much a Black Widow movie as it is a Captain America movie, as he and Scarlett Johansson find themselves on the run after S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised and its director, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), is supposedly killed by an infamous assassin known as The Winter Soldier. The film also sees Black Widow at the peak of her espionage persona in the MCU, which I hope to see more of in her upcoming solo film.

6. The Prestige (2006)

After Batman Begins put the British director on the map as a master of bankable and mature cinema, Christopher Nolan followed that up by r-eteaming with Christian Bale and casting first-time collaborators Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson for The Prestige. The mind-bending period film depicts the friendship-turned-rivalry of two 19th-century magicians (Jackman and Bale) as they dedicate their lives to being the better illusionist.

Scarlett Johansson, adopting a British accent, assumes the role of the film’s femme fatale, Olivia, who finds herself becoming a pawn in Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman’s battle of wits on the magic show stage. The Prestige is beautifully designed hot-cooker cinema that keeps you guessing its secrets from the beginning to its unbelievable conclusion.

5. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

Scarlett Johansson has had the pleasure of working with many of the industry’s most acclaimed filmmakers, from Woody Allen to Wes Anderson. She was only 17 when she was cast in Joel and Ethan Coen’s film noir tribute The Man Who Wasn’t There.

Gorgeously shot in black and white, The Man Who Wasn’t There is one of the Coen Brothers’ most overlooked gems, following a barber (Billy Bob Thornton) whose suspicions of his wife’s (Frances McDormand) adultery lead to craft a blackmailing scheme that only sends his life on an unexpected downward spiral in 1940s California. Scarlett Johansson’s screen time is minimal, but her daring role of teenage Birdy Abundas, who shows unwanted affection for middle-aged Thornton’s character, is essential to some of the amusingly melancholy film’s most memorable and darkest moments.

4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Even with the release of Black Widow on the horizon, I still have a feeling that, years from now, we will be looking back on Scarlett Johansson’s time playing Natasha Romanoff in the MCU, and this film will be the one we will talk about the most. As a film more deserving of being called an event movie than blockbusters of any year do, Avengers: Endgame sees the heroes who survived Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) cataclysmic Infinity Gauntlet snap reuniting for a literal race against time in hopes to reverse the moment.

Anthony and Joe Russo’s Avengers: Endgame has far more screen time dedicated to Scarlett Johansson than its direct predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War, and for good reason. ScarJo’s performance sees Black Widow at her most vulnerable, helpless in a world with most of her friends gone, but still strong enough to later give her life to the depths of Vormir to acquire the Sole Stone in an emotionally paralyzing moment that cements Natasha Romanoff as one of the boldest Avengers.

3. Marriage Story (2019)

What this film and the following two entries on this list have in common is how they exhibit Scarlett Johansson’s ability in expressing raw, almost dreaded emotions associated with romance. What sets Marriage Story apart from the other two is that its take on romance is often funny and not particularly unique in conception, but is a challenging experience due its brutally honest execution.

From writer and director Noah Baumbach, this Netflix original movie chronicles the ending of parents Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole’s (Scarlett Johansson) marriage. Featuring two Golden Globe-nominated performances by its leads, Marriage Story is an often hilariously recognizable yet devastatingly authentic opposition to the traditional romantic comedy.

2. Lost In Translation (2003)

In yet another comedy on Scarlett Johansson’s resume with untraditionally dark romantic themes, ScarJo plays Charlotte, a young woman who follows her emotionally absent photographer husband, John (Giovanni Ribisi), to Tokyo. At her hotel, she meets Bob Harris (Bill Murray), a faded, middle-aged movie star starring in a promotional campaign exclusive to Japan, who finds a new sense of liveliness in Charlotte’s presence.

Lost In Translation is as much a quirky, often fun, comedy as it is a thought-provoking, sometimes off-putting, drama depicting a mismatched friendship that evolves into something even more unlikely. An Oscar-winning achievement for writer/director Sofia Coppola, the film also put Scarlett Johansson on the map as one of Hollywood’s most sought after talents and helped her earn her first Golden Globe nomination.

1. Her (2013)

I mentioned earlier that Scarlett Johansson has lent her voice talents to great acclaim before. This is defined most exquisitely by her breathtaking performance as Samantha, the disembodied voice of Theodore’s (Joaquin Phoenix) digital personal assistant, in Her.

Writer and director Spike Jonze, whose screenplay for this winning dramedy won an Academy Award in 2014, ponders the idea of if a person could fall in love with Siri (a concept that is not as ludicrous as it sounds) as an exploration of how far our obsession with technology may take us in the near future that is just as heartbreaking, yet more endearing than, an episode of Black Mirror. Her is also a master class in acting, with Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson displaying an astonishing chemistry while never being in the same room.

Few and far between does Hollywood see a powerhouse like Scarlett Johansson: a woman of stunning beauty and stunning versatility who has mastered her craft and shown up some of the best that cinema has offered as of late. We have mentioned several of her best films above, but what is your favorite, or what do you feel should have been mentioned?

This poll is no longer available.

At this stage in Taika Waititi’s career, the making of Jojo Rabbit practically feels like him showing off. The evolution that he’s undergone as a feature filmmaker over the last 12 years is absolutely extraordinary, as his movies never fail to find a stunning balance of humor and heart. Just prior to this movie he proved so on arguably the biggest stage in the world, helming the hilarious and captivating Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure Thor: Ragnarok, but now he has followed up that blockbuster work with what is his best film to date yet.

Being a satire that takes on some serious issues in a serious time, the movie has a high wire to walk as far as balancing tones, but Taika Waititi makes it look absolutely effortless as he dances back and forth on that high wire dressed up as Adolf Hitler. It’s a film built with a brilliant script, by a filmmaker with a fantastic and unique vision, working with a cast of amazing stars, all of whom are putting everything up on the big screen in one the best releases of 2019.

Transporting audiences to truly one of the worst periods in human history for a whole lotta laughs, Jojo Rabbit takes audiences back to Germany during World War II, and tells its story through the eyes of Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis). Jojo is an imaginative, determined, and naïve 10-year-old, and while he is a gentle soul who can’t even remember how to tie his shoes properly, he is also a fully-committed nationalist proudly signed up to be a part of the Hitler Youth.

Not truly understanding the stakes of anything he believes, he is infatuated with Nazism, and even has Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) as an imaginary friend – albeit not so much a realistic replica, so much as one formulated from the mind of a 10-year-old child. Unfortunately for him, he fails to impress any of officers as his training camp – including the disillusioned Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell), the toadyish Finkel (Alfie Allen), or the brash Fräulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson) – and things get even worse when a brash overcorrection of sorts during a grenade exercise goes horribly wrong.

With Jojo’s dreams of serving as part of Adolf Hitler’s personal guard dashed, and kids his age having even more reasons to pick on him, it seems like he might be at rock bottom… but then he discovers a massive secret. His vivacious, supportive, loving mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), has been hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) inside the far wall of his deceased sister’s old room.

Believing all of the horrible propaganda spread by Nazis, Jojo is at first terrified by this surprise revelation, and it doesn’t help that Elsa threatens the safety of his mother should she be discovered. As his fear wanes, though, he starts to see an opportunity in interviewing the girl in hopes of writing the definitive book on Jews. As they continue to talk, his perspective starts to broaden, while the world around them begins to violently change.

Thanks to geniuses like Charlie Chaplin and Mel Brooks, there is tremendous precedent for this kind of satire, and one of the most incredible things about Jojo Rabbit is that rather than wilting in the shadow of the greats, Taika Waititi has crafted a film worthy of the legacy. He knows all the right notes to hit as he applies his spectacular brand of absurd – never straying too far from reality – and it not only creates regular laugh-out-loud scenes, but also gives him the power to stop your heart with a perfectly applied dramatic beat.

Jojo Rabbit obviously has a particular advantage in its favor given that, as you may have noted, it is outfitted with an outrageously talented ensemble of actors – but what’s even more next-level about the work is that the movie both plays to each of their comedic strengths, while also offering impressive character depth. For example, in retrospect it is awe-inspiring to reflect on the trajectory that’s experienced by Sam Rockwell’s Captain Klenzendorf through the story. We are introduced to him as a half-blind, recently-demoted bumbler who is excessively cynical about the fact that he has to work with children, and it’s so easy to imagine a different film only allowing him to play that note over and over again.

Instead, there’s a tremendous and subtle transformation that totally changes the way we look at him by the end of the story.

As the lovely Rosie, Scarlett Johansson delivers one of the greatest performances of her career, showcasing a bright, optimistic energy that’s not typical of her characters. More than just having the spirit of a mother who wants to do what’s best for her child, there is a wonderful theatricality about her that evokes vaudevillian sensibilities – whether she’s trying to quietly sneak through a hallway, or quickly applying a charcoal-dust beard from the fireplace so that Jojo can have a chat with his absent father (a scene that also showcases an excessively sweet chemistry between Johansson and Roman Griffin Davis). It’s a wonderfully-written role beautifully enhanced by an excellent turn.

Comparing Jojo Rabbit to Taika Waititi’s directorial debut, Eagle vs. Shark, it’s also amazing to see how far he has come stylistically and developing his personal style. It’s not only recognizing how to visually get the most laughs out of a set-up (which he clearly knows), but also playing with character perspective (adding a bit of flair when imaginary Adolf shows up), and establishing stunning foreshadowing imagery that you pick up on over the course of the movie.

To say that Taika Waititi is slowly becoming one of the best filmmakers working today would be a lie, because there is nothing slow about it. The world has recognized his talent, and now he’s using that spotlight to show audiences what he can really do. Jojo Rabbit is a showcase of a director at the height of his powers, and it’s a remarkable thing to see.

While Jojo Rabbit now exists as the sixth film directed by Taika Waititi, it’s a project that was written before three of those movies were actually made. The script for the World War II-set satire notably made The Black List in 2012 – the annual list of the most popular unproduced screenplays in Hollywood – but Waititi had to wait a full seven years to get it made.

If you were in his shoes, you might think that the significant time gap would be at least a bit frustrating, but the truth is that he doesn’t see it that way. Instead, Taika Waititi is actually happy that it took nearly a decade to get made, because he feels he used that period to become a better filmmaker more equipped to handle the material.

I sat down with Taika Waititi at the Los Angeles press day for Jojo Rabbit earlier this month, and opened our conversation asking about the extended spell between his original drafts of the movie and actually getting to shoot it. He noted that the new film probably wouldn’t have been the same as it is now had he had the chance to shoot and cut it back in 2012, but also added that the timetable for the project wasn’t exactly a new experience:

To help you with the math their, that means Taika Waititi wrote Boy around 2005/2006; What We Do In The Shadows around 2009/2010, and Hunt For The Wilderpeople in 2011/2012. Thor: Ragnarok is an exception because he didn't write the script, as those duties belonged to the credited Eric Pearson.

With the exception of Boy (which came out in 2010), Taika Waititi had the opportunity to make all of those films in between the writing and filming of Jojo Rabbit – and it’s interesting to note that those movies employ a wide variety of tones and allowed the filmmaker to explore multiple genres. They were experiences that he feels ultimately made him a better director, and that in combination with getting a bit of extra perspective on the script made the wait worth it. Said Waititi,

You can watch Taika Waititi discuss the time period between Jojo Rabbit’s script being written, and actually being produced by clicking play on the video below!

Loosely based on author Christine Leunens' novel “Caging Skies,” Jojo Rabbit centers on a young boy named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) who lives with his vivacious mother (Scarlett Johansson) in Germany towards the end of World War II. Jojo is a naïve follower of Nazism, having Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi) as an imaginary friend, and being enrolled in the Hitler Youth program… but that all becomes a serious conflict when he discovers that his mother has been hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their house.

It’s a movie that essentially exists as a tonal high wire act, but it’s pulled off masterfully by the writer/director. And seeing what an amazing job he did, we can really be thankful that it stayed in the metaphorical oven as long as it did.

Jojo Rabbit is now playing in limited release, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interviews with Taika Waititi and the movie’s cast!

Taika Waititi is best known to audiences for his unique comedic sensibilities, but what makes Jojo Rabbit such a fascinating movie for the filmmaker is the way in which it balances tonal extremes. Being a satire that features the writer/director playing an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, there are many incredibly funny scenes, but they are brilliantly intertwined with dramatic and horrific moments of reality that creep in.

What the film does in this respect is fascinating, but that’s not only a viewpoint coming from this audience member – it’s also a sentiment that I recently learned is also shared by really the entire cast:

Earlier this month I went to the Los Angeles press day for Jojo Rabbit, and while sitting down with Scarlett Johansson, Thomasin McKenzie, Roman Griffin Davis, Stephen Merchant, Sam Rockwell, and Alfie Allen one aspect of the movie I asked all of them about was Taika Waititi’s approach to tone. And while they had different perspectives on it, at the end of it all it was an aspect of the film that impressed all.

For Scarlett Johansson – who plays the mother of the titular Jojo, an imaginative, naïve child swept up in the Nazi movement during World War II in Germany – the specialness of Jojo Rabbit and it’s approach to both humor and dark drama was something that she recognized even before production started and she read Taika Waititi’s script. She admitted that just briefly describing the plot of the film makes it sound a bit odd, but that she knew from the start that it was a balancing act that the movie would be able to pull off:

Continuing, she noted that the way that you read a script doesn’t always perfectly translate to what you wind up seeing in the finished cut of any given film, but she never doubted the skills of Taika Waititi to adapt the material. Said Johansson,

In contrast, Stephen Merchant, who plays a committed Nazi who conducts house-by-house searches for Jews in hiding, wasn’t fully sure how it was all going to play out until he actually saw the finished film – but then he was in absolute awe of its genius. He may not have been able to fully conceive of Taika Waititi’s singular vision for Jojo Rabbit when he was on set, but he was floored by it when he saw how it came together:

Further adding to the compliments, Stephen Merchant – who notably co-created the legendary series The Office – and this incredible thing to say about his Jojo Rabbit director:

It really is a stunning piece of work, and one that you can now experience for yourself. Jojo Rabbit is now out in limited release, and it’s definitely one that you’ll want to see.