We watch movies for a living. These were the 17 films that left us speechless this year.

The film year can perhaps be summed up in one fact: “Sinners” is the only film on the Top 10 list of highest-grossing films in the United States that is not based on an existing intellectual property and is not part of a popular franchise.

That alone is reason enough for the Ryan Coogler-directed film to be on this list, which is full of other totally original films. The Southern Gothic horror set in the Jim Crow South was one of the most talked-about films this year, right up until the last minute, as it racked up coveted nominations for the 2026 awards season and was left off some top lists.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t some worthy adaptations that caught our attention, like “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” and “Wicked: For Good.” But there’s something special about several of the lesser-known films on this list that also deserve your attention.

In this year-end roundup, News staff talk about their favorite movies of the year, including popular animated films, gripping documentaries, and compelling scripted dramas. Be sure to add them to your watchlist if you haven’t seen them yet.

‘Bring her back’

A24

Talk about a movie that scared the hell out of me. “Bring Her Back” takes grief to a whole different level with Sally Hawkins’ chilling portrayal of an adoptive mother still mourning the death of her daughter. After taking in two siblings along with a troubled orphan she already cares for, Laura (Hawkins) secretly and sinisterly summons a demon to perform a resurrection ritual to bring her daughter back to life.

I probably cringed and squirmed for the better half of this movie because it was that disturbing. I still wince every time I think about that brutal scene where they ate a knife. But as creepy and disturbing as the film is, all the gore serves to portray the all-consuming emotions that the loss of a loved one brings and, in desperate times, what it might drive one to do. — Man

‘Elio’

pixar

“Elio” seems like one of the Pixar films that has fallen asleep the most in the last decade; However, the film is smart, touching and relatable for both children and adults. The animated story tells the story of 11-year-old Elio (Yonas Kilbreab), who is being raised by his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña) after the death of his parents. Elio becomes obsessed with life in outer space and is eventually abducted by aliens. He meets Glordon (Remy Edgerly), a worm-like alien with a lot of teeth who is being pressured to become a warlord like his father. Elio and Glordon quickly become friends because they both feel misunderstood. At the end of a long adventure, they both learn a lesson: sometimes you can find connection in the most unexpected places. — Ireland

‘Hamnet’

Agata Grzybowska

“Hamnet” is one of the most devastating films of the year, packed with spectacular performances from its cast; Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Jacobi Jupe, Joe Alwyn, Olivia Lynes and Noah Jupe will make you cry. While Buckley dominates the female lead nominations for the 2026 awards season, it’s Jacobi Jupe’s heartbreaking performance that doesn’t get talked about enough.

The Chloé Zhao-directed film is an adaptation of author Maggie O’Farrell’s novel “Hamnet,” a 16th-century fictional story about William Shakespeare’s son Hamnet, his death from the plague and how it inspired the play “Hamlet.” This movie will tear you apart, but it’s one of the best things you’ll see all year. — Ireland

‘If I had legs I would kick you’

A24

Masterful storytelling and acting is the best way to describe what writer-director Mary Bronstein and Rose Byrne accomplish in “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.” This intense but brilliantly honest portrait of a Grade A maternal breakup didn’t make as much noise as the blockbusters that dominated film discourse this year, but it surely deserves all the praise. Byrne’s standout performance as Linda, an exhausted mother and therapist losing control of her life, impressively juggles dark humor and drama simultaneously. And Bronstein’s script, inspired by her own life, does an incredible job of rooting the audience in Linda’s perspective throughout the film in a way that allows us to empathize with her bad decisions, even when we feel like we shouldn’t. It’s a heartbreaking depiction that goes beyond the sacrifices of motherhood and shows what happens when you completely lose your sense of self. — Man

‘John Candy: I ​​liked it’

Courtesy of Prime

“John Candy: I ​​Like Me” is poignant as it paints a portrait of its hilarious and kind subject: actor and comedian John Candy. The documentary is told through the stories of some of Candy’s loved ones, including his wife and children, along with a handful of actors and comedians who worked closely with him. Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Mel Brooks and Macaulay Culkin, among many others, appear in the documentary to share funny anecdotes and touching moments about Candy. Directed by actors Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds, the film introduces us to John Candy, the family man, who faced crippling anxiety throughout his life, ever since his father died on his fifth birthday. Often our most tortured comedians bring audiences so much joy and laughter, and Candy was never lacking in achieving both through her work. “John Candy: I ​​Like Me” is a touching ode to him and his talent. — Ireland

‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’

netflix

It’s pretty easy to see why”K-Pop Demon Hunters” dominated the Netflix charts (and the box office) for a long time. The animated musical is an addictive global sensation; it follows the K-pop supergroup Huntr/x (Rumi, Mira and Zoey) as they protect their fans from a major threat: the Saja Boys, a rival boy band formed by demons. The film’s soundtrack includes several earworms: “Golden”, “What It Sounds Like”, “Soda Pop”, “Your Idol” and more, made it to the top of the film Billboard’s songs chart and the album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 in September. It’s a testament to how ubiquitous the series and its songs were this year, and talk about the film won’t end anytime soon: It’s been nominated for a few Golden Globe Awards. there is already a sequel planned by 2029.

‘The long walk’

leonsgate

Any Stephen King adaptation is sure to get people talking. But it’s not the source material itself that makes “The Long Walk” such a compelling watch. The gruesome concept of making a contest forcing young people to walk non-stop or face death is, in fact, as brutal to watch as it sounds. However, the brotherhood that develops between Cooper Hoffman’s Ray Garraty and David Jonsson’s Peter McVries as they push each other to stay the course makes the film easier to digest, even in its most graphic (and disgusting) scenes. Jonsson’s performance is perhaps the most striking when it comes to conveying the film’s emotional depth, but don’t trust Hoffman. The duo adds a sense of hope to this bleak story, even if it is short-lived. — Man

‘On becoming a guinea fowl’

Chibesa Mulumba/A24

“On Becoming A Guinea Fowl” begins with Shula (played beautifully and effortlessly by Susan Chardy) driving through the streets of Zambia in a futuristic gold helmet, sunglasses, and a big black suit that looks like a garbage bag a la Missy Elliot in the “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” music video. It’s a funny, fleeting moment before he passes by his uncle, Fred, lying dead in the middle of the street. The film that follows is a searing look at pain, the dark secrets we keep, and how harmful traditions can perpetuate trauma. The 95-minute dark comedy ends in a surprisingly chaotic manner and now that it’s streaming on HBO Max, everyone should add it to their must-watch list. — Ireland

‘One battle after another’

Warner Bros.

Let me start by saying that “One Battle After Another” is by no means a perfect film, as some critics would have you think. Paul Thomas Anderson makes many interesting decisions in his fast-paced epic action comedy, some of which continue to provoke cinematic discourse, namely its problematic racial themes upon which much of the plot is based, which would definitely use some analysis on the director’s part.

HoweverThose issues aside, I found the movie very entertaining and I understand why so many others find it very entertaining as well. On the one hand, the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and rising star Chase Infiniti help complete a plot that ranges from focusing on a group of radical revolutionaries to the search for a father and daughter facing the consequences of their past. The high-octane sequences of car chases and shootouts also add more excitement to the film as it begins to tackle heavier themes like white supremacy and immigration crackdowns. “One Battle After Another” is packed, indeed, but it is fun to watch. — Man

‘One of those days’

Ana Maria News

It feels like It’s hard to say that we haven’t had a proper buddy comedy starring two black women in over 25 years, but thankfully, “One of Them Days” broke the drought this year with a fun movie that’s as funny as it is endearing. The film directed by Lawrence Lamont and produced by Issa Rae follows best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) on the brink of eviction after the latter’s boyfriend wastes their rent money. His ridiculous search for money to pay his ruthless owner leads to a wild series of misadventures that turns into, well, one of those days.

Palmer and SZA are the comedy duo we never knew we needed in this movie (although their infamous “Saturday Night Live” sketch was a clue). And Syreeta Singleton’s script brought her humor and charm to life (as well as the rest of the hysterical cast) in a way that made her characters feel so real and relatable. my. It’s funny; “One of Them Days” made me realize that we’ve been deprived of black female buddy comedies for too long. But thanks to its success, which helped greenlight an upcoming sequel, it looks like the tide in Hollywood might be turning in our favor. — Man

‘Pee-Wee as himself’

HBO

Many celebrity documentaries can seem like simply nostalgic looks at a famous person’s life, nothing more than a highlight reel with some commentary on the most talked-about moments in pop culture. Fortunately, “Pee-Wee As Himself” manages to be much more than that: it is a gripping look at the life of Paul Reubens, the pop culture icon who wore a trademark gray plaid suit with a red bow tie. The two-part documentary, directed by Matt Wolf, known for creating projects built from massive archives, delves into Reubens’ personal story, his rise from small comedy circles to Hollywood’s main stage, and his sordid legal troubles. “Pee-Wee As Himself” centers Reubens on his own story in a rich portrait of his life. If you loved Pee-Wee, getting to know Reubens through this lens is very satisfying. — Ireland

‘Sinners’

Warner Bros.

I admit that “Sinners” is a movie that I initially had to like. Ryan Coogler’s entirely original script is packed with deeply personal messages about black ancestry and the power of blues music to represent pain, defiance, and community. Not to mention the vampire story that turns this suffocating Southern story into a fascinating horror film, where twin brothers (magnificently played by Michael B. Jordan) who escaped from the North discover that the same evil stalks them at home. I was mesmerized and overwhelmed at the same time the first time I saw the film. But that’s what made me want to watch it again and again and again. It makes sense why the film became one of the most talked about films of the year and is rightfully winning awards, especially with standout performances from newcomer Miles Caton and the rest of the supporting cast, including Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson and Jack O’Connell. — Man

‘Sentimental value’

Neon

With his latest film “Sentimental Value,” Norwegian writer-director Joachim Trier captures a moving story of a family entangled in a generational habit of hurting, abandoning, and subsequently attempting to repair the wounds of the people they love most. Co-written with Eskil Vogt, the film follows sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) who reunite with their famous father (Stellan Skarsgård) when he decides to make a film about their complicated family history.

Although it seems like an emotionally heavy conceit, there is a surprising lightness and comfort throughout; A vulnerable scene between the sisters towards the end of the film simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together. Reflecting the picturesque but imperfect family home at the center of the story, watching this film is like stepping into my own childhood home; It holds good and bad memories, which are nevertheless comforting in their own way. –– alexandra

‘Cunning lives! (also known as The Burden of the Black Genius)’

Stephen Paley

Questlove is becoming something of an expert in music documentaries, but with “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)” he goes beyond simply chronicling the life and legacy of a famous musician. The film is not a linear timeline of everything the Sly and the Family Stone leader accomplished, but rather an exploration of his subtitle, and not just through Sly Stone. Figures like Chaka Khan, André 3000 and the late D’Angelo appear in interviews to discuss what it means to be black and famous and the responsibility that comes with it. Of the many celebrity documentaries we’ve received lately, this outlier seems the most honest. — Man

‘Songs from the hole’

netflix

“Songs From the Hole” is another documentary with an authentic perspective because it is the literal manifestation of its title. Partly a visual album, the Contessa Gayles-directed film recalls how formerly incarcerated musician JJ’88 was sentenced to life in prison at age 15 for murder, only to have his brother murdered three days later. Struggling to process his grief while in solitary confinement (aka the Hole), JJ’88 wrote the songs that became “Songs From the Hole.” The film visualizes these themes as JJ’88 imagined them behind bars with vibrant music videos that help tell his story.

Meanwhile, the documentary part presents the musician’s narration, as well as interviews with members of his family, to tell who JJ’88 really is. “Songs From the Hole,” also created in collaboration with executive producer Richie Reseda, is a deeply moving testament to the healing power of music. What makes the film especially unique is that it focuses not on one man’s experience of imprisonment, but on his path to forgiveness and redemption. — Man

‘Arms’

Warner Bros.

There is a certain excitement in a movie that can really make you scream out loud in a movie theater. That’s part of the magic of “Weapons,” Zach Cregger’s terrifying horror mystery. When 17 elementary school children disappear from a town, everyone wonders who exactly is behind their disappearances, and the reveal is satisfyingly unhinged. It’s a gory, scary, and disturbing movie that had audiences asking for more, and luckily, it worked. Cregger said he is planning a prequel centered on Aunt Gladys, a wicked portrayal of Amy Madigan. I can’t wait. — Ireland

‘Evil: forever’

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Speaking of “Wicked” performances, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo wowed audiences with their stellar performances as Glinda and Elphaba in “Evil: forever“, Part 2 of Jon M. Chu’s whimsical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 fantasy novel. In this installment, audiences got to see more of the “Wizard of Oz” story on film, with a look at Dorothy Gale and the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. For those of us unfamiliar with the Broadway production, there were charming moments at every turn. For “Wicked” fans like the News contributor Sara Hunter Simansonthe second film captured the same magic that made the musical “Wicked” resonate more than 20 years ago. — Ireland

CORRECTION: This story has been modified to correctly identify actor Jonah Wren Phillips in the second photo.