M
Monica Castillo
Guest
The Best Movies Directed By Women of the 21st Century
The latest: For our 2026 update, we’ve added 25 movies marked Certified Fresh with an 85% and above, including Chloe Zhao’s Oscar-winning Hamnet, Nia DaCosta’s chilling 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Mary Bronstein’s Sundance Film Festival premiere If I had Legs I’d Kick You, Hikari’s deeply emotional comedy/drama Rental Family, and Geeta Gandbhir’s gut-wrenching documentary The Perfect Neighbor.
For Women’s History Month, Rotten Tomatoes is commemorating the work of women directors throughout the 21st Century. Our guide to the 270 best-reviewed movies by women filmmakers since 2000 includes documentary marvels like Nanfu Wang’s One Child Nation and Kirsten Johnson’s Cameraperson as well as unforgettable narrative features like Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Ava DuVernay’s Selma. The movies on the list cover an expansive breadth of topics, characters, and stories. They dispel the fallacy that women directors can only tell one type of story, one gorgeous image after moving story after another.
Women have been shaping cinema since its earliest days. Silent era pioneers like Alice Guy-Blaché and Lois Weber blazed a trail as influential as their male counterparts; screenwriters like Francis Marion and editors like Margaret Booth were celebrated for their work, and Booth would go on to be one of the most influential voices on the MGM Studio lot. But as the film business became more lucrative, women were largely and unceremoniously pushed out of the creative and decision-making side of filmmaking. While many broke through with incredible work — among them Dorothy Arzner, Elaine May, Agnès Varda, and Kathryn Bigelow, who became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director for her film The Hurt Locker — the decades after the silent era and through the end of the 20th century saw filmmaking, especially in the mainstream, increasingly dominated by men.
The past two decades have seen some great movement, though, and some major milestones hit (that Oscar win for Bigelow; Patty Jenkins’ historic work on Wonder Woman). The directors on this list include Lulu Wang, whose touching movie The Farewell won critical and industry acclaim, as well as Céline Sciamma for her latest film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. (Now, if only the Academy would acknowledge their efforts…). There’s also Waad Al-Kateab, who with fellow director Edward Watts, brought her searing personal experience of the Syrian conflict to viewers around the world in For Sama, and Dominga Sotomayor Castillo, who took audiences with her back to 1990s Chile in her coming-of-age drama Too Late to Die Young. Sabaah Folayan’s feature debut Whose Streets? sits near Agnès Varda’s final documentaries Varda by Agnès and Faces Places.
To make the list, we looked at the top Certified Fresh films rated 85% and above directed by women since 2000, including those in directing teams. For our 2025 update, we’ve added Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Mary Bronstein’s If I had Legs I’d Kick You, Hikari’s Rental Family, and Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor.
Enjoy the following list as a guide to some of the best movies by women directors so far this century. No two movies are alike in their ability to entertain, inform or reach us. – Monica Castillo
Page 1: Movies from 2020-present | Page 2: Movies from 2010-2019 | Page 3: Movies from 2000-2009
#1
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Critics Consensus: A direct continuation of 28 Years Later that ups the gore while deepening the dread, The Bone Temple is finely adorned by Nia DaCosta's unnerving direction as well as Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell's inspired performances.
Synopsis: Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later -- but turning that world on its head -- Nia... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Jack O'Connell, Erin Kellyman
Directed By: Nia DaCosta
#2
The Chronology of Water (2025)
Critics Consensus: Navigating a journey of emotional healing with impressive fluidity, Kristen Stewart's feature directorial debut is ably shouldered by Imogen Poots' bracingly naturalistic performance.
Synopsis: Oscar-nominated actor Kristen Stewart makes her feature directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, an unflinching portrait of womanhood, survival, and artistry at the fragmented... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, Tom Sturridge
Directed By: Kristen Stewart
#3
Come See Me in the Good Light (2025)
Critics Consensus: Come See Me in the Good Light is an emotionally searing yet gently radiant portrait of Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley's navigation of terminal illness that never loses sight of the warmth, humor, and love that defined their relationship.
Synopsis: "Come See Me in the Good Light" is a poignant and unexpectedly funny love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Megan Falley, Andrea Gibson
Directed By: Ryan White
#4
Cover-Up (2025)
Critics Consensus: Cover-Up shines a light on Seymour Hersh's remarkable career and the pugnacious commitment it required, making for an absorbing and instructive treatise on journalistic responsibility.
Synopsis: Cover-Up is a political thriller that traces the explosive career of Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh. Urgent and deeply reported, Cover-Up is both a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Seymour Hersh
Directed By: Mark Obenhaus, Laura Poitras
#5
East of Wall (2025)
Critics Consensus: Earnestly dedicated to the women depicted on screen, East of Wall displays the grit and grind of living life as it comes in the Badlands while never muddying its subjects.
Synopsis: A rebellious South Dakotan rancher makes hard decisions related to her fractured family, financial uncertainty and unresolved grief, all while providing refuge for a group... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tabatha Zimiga, Porshia Zimiga, Scoot McNairy, Jennifer Ehle
Directed By: Kate Beecroft
#6
Folktales (2025)
Critics Consensus: Folktales may skim the surface of its subjects' growing pains, but is most resonant in its heartwarmingly pleasant, canine-abundant exterior.
Synopsis: In Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's life-affirming documentary, teenagers converge at a traditional folk high school in Arctic Norway where they must rely... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
#7
Hamnet (2025)
Critics Consensus: Breaking hearts and mending them in one fell swoop, Hamnet speculates on the inspiration behind Shakespeare's masterpiece with palpable emotional force thanks to Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal's astonishing performances.
Synopsis: From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, HAMNET tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Directed By: Chloé Zhao
#8
Hedda (2025)
Critics Consensus: Reveling in Tessa Thompson's commanding turn as Hedda, Nia DaCosta's smoldering update on Henrik Ibsen's seminal play locates a bracingly contemporary pulse within a classic text.
Synopsis: From writer/director Nia DaCosta comes a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's classic play. HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Nicholas Pinnock
Directed By: Nia DaCosta
#9
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025)
Critics Consensus: Liable to leave audiences in a cold sweat, this fever dream immersion into parental stress connects with thunderous force thanks to Rose Byrne's gutsy star turn and director Mary Bronstein's uncompromising vision.
Synopsis: With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Christian Slater
Directed By: Mary Bronstein
#10
It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025)
Critics Consensus: A comprehensive and graceful retrospective of an artist who was gone far too soon, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley will leave audiences celebrating what was while reflecting on what could have been.
Synopsis: IT'S NEVER OVER: JEFF BUCKLEY, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (DELIVER US FROM EVIL, JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE, WEST OF MEMPHIS), covers the life... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Amy Berg
#11
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025)
Critics Consensus: Conveying complex emotions through a deceptively simple story and dynamic colors, Little Amélie is an enchanting animated feature that brims with wisdom.
Synopsis: The world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grobois, Laetitia Coryn, Marc Arnaud
Directed By: Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
#12
Left-Handed Girl (2025)
Critics Consensus: A warm tour through Taipei distinguished by its lived-in cultural specificity and relatable family dynamics, Left-Handed Girl is a winning first solo feature from writer-director Shih-Ching Tsou.
Synopsis: A single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei after several years of living in the countryside to open a stand at a buzzing... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Janel Tsai, Nina Ye, Shi-Yuan Ma, Brando Huang
Directed By: Shih-Ching Tsou
#13
Lesbian Space Princess (2025)
Critics Consensus: Combining a proudly queer coming-of-age story with a wild sense of humor, Lesbian Space Princess is a raucous animated adventure with a big heart to go along with its rebellious spirit.
Synopsis: A space princess is thrust out of her sheltered life and into a galactic quest to save her bounty hunter ex-girlfriend from Straight White Maliens.
Starring: Shabana Azeez, Bernie Van Tiel, Gemma Chua-Tran, Richard Roxburgh
Directed By: Leela Varghese, Emma Hough Hobbs
#14
The Mastermind (2025)
Critics Consensus: Kelly Reichardt crafts a heist film at her own laconic pace with The Mastermind, a contemplative crime drama that glides along Josh O'Connor's effortless watchability and a sumptuously vintage aesthetic.
Synopsis: Celebrated filmmaker Kelly Reichardt (First Cow, Showing Up) directs an unforgettable Josh O'Connor in THE MASTERMIND, her latest Cannes triumph. In a sedate Massachusetts suburb... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gaby Hoffmann, Josh O'Connor, John Magaro, Hope Davis
Directed By: Kelly Reichardt
#15
Merrily We Roll Along (2025)
Critics Consensus: Buoyed by spirited performances, this presentation of Merrily We Roll Along helps further vindicate one of Stephen Sondheim's rare commercial misses as a rightful gem in the maestro's canon.
Synopsis: Spanning three decades, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends -- writer Mary and lyricist... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Natalie Wachen, Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez
Directed By: Maria Friedman
#16
Mistress Dispeller (2024)
Critics Consensus: Functioning equally well as a sociological survey and an intimate character study, Mistress Dispeller is an absorbing documentary filled with fresh insights into the complexities of marriage.
Synopsis: In China, a new industry has emerged devoted to helping couples stay married in the face of infidelity. Wang Zhenxi is part of this growing... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Elizabeth Lo
#17
The Perfect Neighbor (2025)
Critics Consensus: As gripping as it is deeply unsettling, The Perfect Neighbor lays bare the systemic failures and the quiet terror embedded in American legal systems with surgical precision.
Synopsis: A seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence. Police bodycam footage and investigative interviews expose the consequences of Florida's "stand your ground"... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Geeta Gandbhir
#18
Prime Minister (2025)
Critics Consensus: Brisk, insightful, and gently crafted, Prime Minister offers a persuasive and inspiring portrait of Jacinda Ardern.
Synopsis: Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's 40th Prime Minister, led her nation through unprecedented challenges, implemented bold policies, and became the second leader in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jacinda Ardern
Directed By: Lindsay Utz, Michelle Walshe
#19
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025)
Critics Consensus: Finding moments of joy and levity even under dire circumstances thanks to its endlessly compelling subject, Fatma Hassona, this documentary helps put a deeply human face on a wide scale tragedy.
Synopsis: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk offers an intimate, first-hand perspective on life under siege in Gaza, captured through video calls between director... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Fatma Hassona, Sepideh Farsi
Directed By: Sepideh Farsi, Fatma Hassona
#20
Rental Family (2025)
Critics Consensus: A sweet-natured dramedy about faking human connection until you make it, Rental Family provides Brendan Fraser an ideal showcase for his sensitive star power while backing him up with a terrific ensemble.
Synopsis: Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman
Directed By: HIKARI
#21
Sister Midnight (2024)
Critics Consensus: Mocking the pressures of matrimony with a sly wink, Sister Midnight is a thrilling genre-bender that's impossible to predict.
Synopsis: A newly arranged marriage sees an oddball couple shoved together in a small Mumbai shack with paper-thin walls. They are alone, awkward and together. Cranky... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam, Smita Tambe
Directed By: Karan Kandhari
#22
Sorry, Baby (2025)
Critics Consensus: Carrying off difficult subject matter with a light touch and wry sense of humor, Sorry, Baby triumphantly announces writer-director and star Eva Victor as a formidable talent.
Synopsis: Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on... for everyone around her, at least.
Starring: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch
Directed By: Eva Victor
#23
The Surrender (2025)
Critics Consensus: Extracting a maximum amount of creepy mood from a simple setup while reaching surprising poignancy as a mother-daughter story, The Surrender is a victorious feature debut from writer-director Julia Max.
Synopsis: A fraught mother-daughter relationship is put to a terrifying test when the family patriarch dies and the grieving mother hires a mysterious stranger to bring... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Colby Minifie, Kate Burton, Neil Sandilands, Vaughn Armstrong
Directed By: Julia Max
#24
The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)
Critics Consensus: Illuminated by Amanda Seyfried's sterling performance, The Testament of Ann Lee accepts The Shakers' founder on her own terms and reaches its own rhapsodic highs as a result.
Synopsis: From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin
Directed By: Mona Fastvold
#25
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
Critics Consensus: Taking a hammer and chisel to a quintessential fairy tale, The Ugly Stepsister's masterful application of gore and subversion are the stuff that nightmares are made of.
Synopsis: In a twisted take on the classic Cinderella story, 'The Ugly Stepsister' follows Elvira as she battles to compete with her insanely beautiful stepsister. In... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli
Directed By: Emilie Blichfeldt
#26
The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025)
Critics Consensus: Incorporating real-life elements that are as difficult to witness as they are impossible to forget, The Voice of Hind Rajab is a harrowing docudrama that makes a powerful appeal to humanity.
Synopsis: Volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society stay on the phone with a 6-year-old girl who gets trapped in a car in war-torn Gaza.
Starring: Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, Amer Hlehel
Directed By: Kaouther Ben Hania
#27
V/H/S Halloween (2025)
Critics Consensus: Consistently unnerving as it cycles through a series of shorts that are more treat than trick, V/H/S Halloween is one of the most purely enjoyable cassettes in the franchise yet.
Synopsis: A collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival.
Starring: David Haydn, Anna McKelvie, Samantha Cochran, Natalia Montgomery Fernandez
Directed By: Bryan M. Ferguson, Anna Zlokovic, Paco Plaza, Chris 'Casper' Kelly
#28
The Substance (2024)
Critics Consensus: Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore's finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat.
Synopsis: Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You, only better in every way. You should try this new product, it's called The... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Hugo Diego Garcia
Directed By: Coralie Fargeat
#29
My Old Ass (2024)
Critics Consensus: A humorous cocktail with a twist of coming-of-age drama, My Old Ass doesn't throw out the wisdom with the reckless abandon of youth, and the effects are hallucinogenic.
Synopsis: In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler
Directed By: Megan Park
#30
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Critics Consensus: Lust and violence collide to powerfully pulpy effect in Love Lies Bleeding, a well-acted addition to writer-director Rose Glass' growing body of exceptional work.
Synopsis: From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco
Directed By: Rose Glass
#31
The Fire Inside (2024)
Critics Consensus: Equal measures inspiring, and enraging, this typical sports drama knows how to take a hit and dole them out with enough emotion and vigor to stoke The Fire Inside.
Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, a high school Junior from... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Olunike Adeliyi, De'Adre Aziza
Directed By: Rachel Morrison
#32
The Devil's Bath (2024)
Critics Consensus: A squirm-inducing period piece that locates true horror in both mind and spirit, The Devil's Bath might be Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz's most chilling directorial effort yet.
Synopsis: In 1750 Austria, a deeply religious woman named Agnes has just married her beloved, but her mind and heart soon grow heavy as her life... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anja Plaschg, David Scheid, Maria Hofstätter, Natalija Baranova
Directed By: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
#33
Vermiglio (2024)
Critics Consensus: Painterly and patient, Vermiglio carefully observes its provincial milieu to such absorbing effect that audiences will feel like they've become a part of the community.
Synopsis: The lush and breathtaking beauty of the Alps, filmed with painterly grace under natural light from frigid winter to redemptive spring, provides the physical and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tommaso Ragno, Giuseppe De Domenico, Carlotta Gamba, Roberta Rovelli
Directed By: Maura Delpero
#34
In the Summers (2024)
Critics Consensus: In the Summers homes in on emotional insights even as its narrative wanders, suggesting a bright future for writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza.
Synopsis: Siblings Violeta and Eva live in California with their mother, but every summer they travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to spend time with their... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Residente, Sasha Calle, Lio Mehiel, Dreya Castillo
Directed By: Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio
#35
Santosh (2024)
Critics Consensus: Shahana Goswami bristles with unforgettable intensity in Santosh, a nervy procedural that asks the hard questions about a culture's social hierarchy.
Synopsis: A government scheme sees newly widowed Santosh inherit her husband’s job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a lowcaste... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Nawal Shukla, Pratibha Awasthi
Directed By: Sandhya Suri
#36
Black Box Diaries (2024)
Critics Consensus: A deeply personal and courageous act of vulnerability created through an exercise of revelations makes Black Box Diaries a testament of Shiori Itō's commitment to truth and justice for all.
Synopsis: BLACK BOX DIARIES follows director and journalist Shiori Ito's courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Shiori Ito
Directed By: Shiori Ito
#37
Good One (2024)
Critics Consensus: A beautifully acted depiction of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Good One confronts difficult emotions and yields a striking feature debut for writer-director India Donaldson.
Synopsis: In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy, Sumaya Bouhbal
Directed By: India Donaldson
#38
Girls Will Be Girls (2024)
Critics Consensus: A deeply felt coming of age tale that gleans insightful societal commentary from its intimate details, Girls Will Be Girls announces writer-director Shuchi Talati as a talent to watch.
Synopsis: In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira discovers desire and romance; but her sexual, rebellious awakening is disrupted by her mother... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron, Kajol Chugh
Directed By: Shuchi Talati
#39
Ghostlight (2024)
Critics Consensus: A small film that elicits a huge emotional response, Ghostlight is a deeply moving and superbly acted meditation on grief.
Synopsis: When melancholic construction worker Dan (Keith Kupferer) finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater's production... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Dolly De Leon
Directed By: Kelly O'Sullivan, Alex Thompson
#40
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (2024)
Critics Consensus: A vibrant exploration of family and social mores, On Becoming a Guineau Fowl marks another superb effort from writer-director Rungano Nyoni.
Synopsis: On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Susan Chardy, Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Chungu Bwalya
Directed By: Rungano Nyoni
#41
The Colors Within (2024)
Critics Consensus: Exuberant in both its palette and sound, The Colors Within gets the band together to deliver a kaleidoscopic celebration of human connection.
Synopsis: Totsuko is a high school student with the ability to see the 'colors' of others. Colors of bliss, excitement, and serenity, plus a color she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sayu Suzukawa, Akari Takaishi, Taisei Kido, Yui Aragaki
Directed By: Naoko Yamada
#42
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight (2024)
Critics Consensus: Tackling thorny themes with fierce intelligence and a wonderful performance by Lexi Venter, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight is a striking feature debut from writer-director Embeth Davidtz.
Synopsis: "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" thrusts us into the tumultuous world of 8-year-old Bobo, whose childhood unfolds on her family's Rhodesian farm, now... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zikhona Bali, Ilana Cilliers, Andreas Damm, Lexi Venter
Directed By: Embeth Davidtz
#43
Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024)
Critics Consensus: A gripping and unsettling documentary, Apocalypse in the Tropics offers a sobering reflection on the dangerous erosion of democratic boundaries as religious extremism intertwines with political power.
Synopsis: When does a democracy end, and a theocracy begin? In APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS, Petra Costa investigates the increasingly powerful grip that faith leaders hold... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Petra Costa, Jair Bolsonaro, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Directed By: Petra Costa
#44
Every Little Thing (2024)
Critics Consensus: Gentle as a hummingbird and full of worldly wisdom, Every Little Thing is a life-affirming documentary about recognizing the worth of even the tiniest creatures.
Synopsis: Author and rehabber Terry Masear wants to save every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. Terry takes in the most fragile of patients through her volunteer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Terry Masear
Directed By: Sally Aitken
#45
All We Imagine as Light (2024)
Critics Consensus: Capturing the here and now of modern India with the spontaneity of a candid photograph, All We Imagine as Light is a lustrous achievement that announces Payal Kapadia as an essential filmmaker.
Synopsis: The light, the lives, and the textures of contemporary, working-class Mumbai are explored and celebrated by writer/director Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prize at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon
Directed By: Payal Kapadia
#46
From Ground Zero (2024)
Critics Consensus: An eclectic collection of short films that capture both the joy and pain of a people persevering through wartime, From Ground Zero has a cumulative emotional impact that proves unforgettable.
Synopsis: 22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza following the attacks on October 7, 2023, revealing stories beyond the headlines. Through a... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Reema Mahmoud, Muhammad Al Sharif, Ahmed Hassouna, Islam Al Zeirei
#47
Superboys of Malegaon (2024)
Critics Consensus: A tribute to classic films while being a very good one in itself, Superboys of Malegaon is a charming dramedy that will resonate with anyone who's ever been inspired to pick up a camera.
Synopsis: Superboys of Malegaon is a film based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from the town of Malegaon. The residents of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora
Directed By: Reema Kagti
#48
Hoard (2023)
Critics Consensus: Finding treasure in others' trash, Hoard is a beautifully acted and sweetly humanist debut for writer-director Luna Carmoon.
Synopsis: Seven-year-old Maria and her mother live in their own loving world built on sorting through bins and collecting shiny rubbish. One night, their world falls... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joseph Quinn, Samantha Spiro, Hayley Squires, Cathy Tyson
Directed By: Luna Carmoon
#49
Banel & Adama (2023)
Critics Consensus: Marrying cultural specificity with lush visuals, this romance marks an impressive debut for writer-director Ramata Toulaye Sy.
Synopsis: Banel and Adama are fiercely in love. The young couple lives in a remote village in northern Senegal. For them, nothing else exists except each... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Khady Mane, Mamadou Diallo, Binta Racine Sy, Moussa Sow
Directed By: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
#50
Fancy Dance (2023)
Critics Consensus: An urgent drama grounded in its observant depiction of reservation life, Fancy Dance establishes director/co-writer Erica Tremblay as a rising filmmaking talent.
Synopsis: Since her sister's disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham
Directed By: Erica Tremblay
#51
Tiger Stripes (2023)
Critics Consensus: A clever and stylish riff on the body horror that is puberty, Tiger Stripes is an exuberant allegory for personal agency as well as an impressive debut for writer-director Amanda Nell Eu.
Synopsis: The first amongst her friends to hit puberty, Zaffan, 12, discovers a terrifying secret about her body. Ostracized by her community, Zaffan fights back, learning... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zafreen Zairizai, Deena Ezral, Piga, Shaheizy Sam
Directed By: Amanda Nell Eu
#52
Tótem (2023)
Critics Consensus: A heartfelt film that tells a poignant story without straying into sentimentality, Tótem is a life-affirming triumph for writer-director Lila Avilés.
Synopsis: In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for the birthday party for her father, Tona, led by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Naíma Sentíes, Montserrat Marañón, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza
Directed By: Lila Avilés
#53
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Critics Consensus: A smart, solidly crafted procedural that's anchored in family drama, Anatomy of a Fall finds star Sandra Hüller and director/co-writer Justine Triet operating at peak power.
Synopsis: For the past year, Sandra, her husband Samuel, and their eleven-year-old son Daniel have lived a secluded life in a remote town in the French... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner, Antoine Reinartz
Directed By: Justine Triet
#54
Past Lives (2023)
Critics Consensus: A remarkable debut for writer-director Celine Song, Past Lives uses the bonds between its sensitively sketched central characters to support trenchant observations on the human condition.
Synopsis: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Seung-ah Moon
Directed By: Celine Song
#55
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
Critics Consensus: Effervescent and refreshingly frank about the travails of puberty, this long-awaited adaptation does full justice to Judy Blume's seminal novel.
Synopsis: For over fifty years, Judy Blume's classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie
Directed By: Kelly Fremon Craig
#56
Bottoms (2023)
Critics Consensus: Propulsive and over-the-top, Bottoms is an instant high school comedy classic that feels both current and nostalgic.
Synopsis: BOTTOMS, a refreshingly unique raunchy comedy, focuses on two girls, PJ and Josie, who start a fight club as a way to lose their virginities... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber
Directed By: Emma Seligman
#57
Rye Lane (2023)
Critics Consensus: Good news, rom-com fans: Anyone looking for a smart, funny, and heartwarming new addition to the canon can find it waiting on Rye Lane.
Synopsis: Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson), two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London... View Full Synopsis
Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Charlie Knight, Simon Manyonda
Directed By: Raine Allen Miller
#58
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age comedy that sidesteps simple nostalgia, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah finds fresh humor in adolescent anxiety -- and suggests a bright future for star Sunny Sandler.
Synopsis: Stacy and Lydia are BFFs who've always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs. However, things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler
Directed By: Sammi Cohen
#59
Joy Ride (2023)
Critics Consensus: Joy Ride isn't afraid to shock with its gross-out gags, but this road trip's real surprise is how successfully it blends its raunchy humor with real heart.
Synopsis: The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. When Audrey's (Ashley... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Stephanie Hsu, David Denman, Ashley Park, Annie Mumolo
Directed By: Adele Lim
#60
Reality (2023)
Critics Consensus: Reality's narrow scope and gripping fact-based story add up to a riveting showcase for Sydney Sweeney in the title role.
Synopsis: On a Saturday afternoon, in June 2017, Reality Winner, a 25-year-old in cut-off jeans, is confronted at her Georgia home by the FBI. A cryptic... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton, Marchánt Davis, John Way
Directed By: Tina Satter
#61
The Starling Girl (2023)
Critics Consensus: Sensitively and intelligently crafted by writer-director Laurel Parmet, The Starling Girl is a well-told coming-of-age story centering around a young woman's struggles with her spiritual faith.
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Jem Starling struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist Christian community in rural Kentucky. Even her greatest joy of dancing with the church... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman, Jimmi Simpson, Wrenn Schmidt
Directed By: Laurel Parmet
#62
Scrapper (2023)
Critics Consensus: Like a cold treat on a hot day, Scrapper delivers two scoops of a sweet father-daughter dramedy best consumed when in need of a hug.
Synopsis: This vibrant and inventive father-daughter comedy follows Georgie (Lola Campbell), a resourceful 12-year-old girl who secretly lives alone in her flat in a working class... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lola Campbell, Alin Uzun, Harris Dickinson, Ambreen Razia
Directed By: Charlotte Regan
#63
You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and above all entertaining, You Hurt My Feelings finds writer-director Nicole Holofcener as sharply perceptive as ever.
Synopsis: From acclaimed filmmaker Nicole Holofcener comes a sharply observed comedy about a novelist whose long standing marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed
Directed By: Nicole Holofcener
#64
How to Have Sex (2023)
Critics Consensus: A powerful debut for Molly Manning Walker, How to Have Sex authentically captures female adolescence and friendship with sobering effervescence.
Synopsis: Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday -- drinking, clubbing and hooking up, in what should be the best summer of their lives.
Starring: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Samuel Bottomley, Lara Peake, Shaun Thomas
Directed By: Molly Manning Walker
#65
birth/rebirth (2023)
Critics Consensus: Firmly rooted in classic horror, Birth/Rebirth uses a familiar framework to tease at fundamental fears from a chillingly relatable angle.
Synopsis: Rose (Marin Ireland) is a pathologist who prefers working with corpses over social interaction. She also has an obsession -- the reanimation of the dead.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Judy Reyes, Marin Ireland, A.J. Lister, Breeda Wool
Directed By: Laura Moss
#66
Four Daughters (2023)
Critics Consensus: Four Daughters' unique approach to documenting real-life horror is a formal gamble that only underscores the bravery and resilience of its subjects.
Synopsis: This riveting exploration of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters, unpacking a complex family history through intimate... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hend Sabry, Olfa Hamrouni, Eya Chikahoui, Tayssir Chikhaoui
Directed By: Kaouther Ben Hania
#67
Earth Mama (2023)
Critics Consensus: Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore.
Synopsis: With two children in foster care, Gia, a pregnant single mother pitted against the system, fights to reclaim her family. In her close-knit Bay Area... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster
Directed By: Savanah Leaf
#68
Shayda (2023)
Critics Consensus: An understated yet impactful story of female empowerment, Shayda establishes first-time feature filmmaker Noora Niasari as a remarkably assured talent.
Synopsis: SHAYDA, a brave Iranian mother, finds refuge in an Australian women's shelter with her six-year-old daughter. Over Persian New Year, they take solace in Nowruz... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Mojean Aria, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen
Directed By: Noora Niasari
#69
A Thousand and One (2023)
Critics Consensus: A tribute to parental devotion and a testament to Teyana Taylor's talent, A Thousand and One presents a heart-wrenching portrait of perseverance in the face of systemic inequity.
Synopsis: A THOUSAND AND ONE follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross
Directed By: A.V. Rockwell
#70
Girl Picture (2022)
Critics Consensus: Sensitively written and beautifully acted, Girl Picture captures the whirlwind of teenage emotions without sacrificing narrative maturity and depth.
Synopsis: Best friends Mimmi and Rönkkö work after school at a food court smoothie kiosk, frankly swapping stories of their frustrations and expectations regarding love and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Aamu Milonoff, Linnea Leino, Sonya Lindfors, Cécile Orblin
Directed By: Alli Haapasalo
#71
Till (2022)
Critics Consensus: Till reframes an historically horrific murder within a mother's grief, brought heartwrenchingly to life by Danielle Deadwyler's tremendous performance.
Synopsis: Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14 year old... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett
Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu
#72
Sissy (2022)
Critics Consensus: Sissy weaves timely themes into its rich blend of horror and dark humor, topped off by terrific work from a talented cast led by Aisha Dee.
Synopsis: Cecilia and Emma were tween-age BFFs who were going to grow old together and never let anything come between them, until Alex arrived on the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Aisha Dee, Yerin Ha, Lucy Barrett, Hannah Barlow
Directed By: Hannah Barlow, Kane Senes
#73
Turning Red (2022)
Critics Consensus: Heartwarming, humorous, beautifully animated, and culturally expansive, Turning Red extends Pixar's long list of family-friendly triumphs.
Synopsis: In "Turning Red", Mei Lee is a confident, dorky thirteen-year-old torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. And as if... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park
Directed By: Domee Shi
#74
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Critics Consensus: Sexual awakening stories aren't in short supply, but Good Luck to You, Leo Grande proves you can still tell one with a refreshing -- and very funny -- spin.
Synopsis: In GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson (Love, Actually) embodies the candor and apprehension of retired teacher Nancy Stokes,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Isabella Laughland, Charlotte Ware
Directed By: Sophie Hyde
#75
Aftersun (2022)
Critics Consensus: Led by Frankie Corio's tremendous performance, Aftersun deftly ushers audiences to the intersection between our memories of loved ones and who they really are.
Synopsis: At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall, Kayleigh Coleman
Directed By: Charlotte Wells
#76
Hatching (2022)
Critics Consensus: A message movie in a hard horror shell, Hatching perches between beauty and revulsion -- and establishes director Hanna Bergholm as a bright new talent.
Synopsis: In HATCHING, 12-year-old gymnast, Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), is desperate to please her image-obsessed mother, whose popular blog 'Lovely Everyday Life' presents their family's idyllic existence... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Siiri Solalinna, Sophia Heikkilä, Jani Volanen, Oiva Ollila
Directed By: Hanna Bergholm
#77
Piggy (2022)
Critics Consensus: Brought hauntingly to life by Laura Galán's committed performance, Piggy deftly deploys genre thrills in service of sharp social commentary.
Synopsis: With the summer sun beating down on her rural Spanish town, Sara hides away in her parent's butcher shop. A teenager whose excess weight makes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Laura Galán, Richard Holmes, Carmen Machi, Irene Ferreiro
Directed By: Carlota Pereda
#78
Deadstream (2022)
Critics Consensus: Proof that there's still life in the found-footage gimmick, Deadstream is a scarily good bit of B-movie fun.
Synopsis: After a public controversy left him disgraced and demonetized, a washed up internet personality tries to win back his followers by livestreaming himself spending one... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, Jason K. Wixom, Pat Barnett
Directed By: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
#79
Nanny (2022)
Critics Consensus: Led by Anna Diop's strong central performance, the smartly disquieting Nanny is a promising debut for writer-director Nikyatu Jusu.
Synopsis: In this psychological horror fable of displacement, Aisha (Anna Diop), a woman who recently emigrated from Senegal, is hired to care for the daughter of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector
Directed By: Nikyatu Jusu
#80
You Can Live Forever (2022)
Critics Consensus: Narratively subtle and beautifully acted, You Can Live Forever finds soulful drama at the intersection of sexual orientation and religious faith.
Synopsis: In the early '90s, gay teen Jaime is sent to live with her devout Jehovah’s Witness relatives after the death of her father. Jaime makes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anwen O'Driscoll, June Laporte, Jennifer Laporte, Liane Balaban
Directed By: Sarah Watts, Mark Slutsky
#81
Leonor Will Never Die (2022)
Critics Consensus: A delightfully unique tribute to the transporting power of cinema, Leonor Will Never Die marks director/co-writer Martika Ramirez Escobar as a talent to watch.
Synopsis: Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the Filipino film industry after creating a string of successful action films, but now her household struggles... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rocky Salumbides, Sheila Francisco, Bong Cabrera, Anthony Falcon
Directed By: Martika Ramirez Escobar
#82
The Unknown Country (2022)
Critics Consensus: Lily Gladstone's outstanding performances powers The Unknown Country through some narrative drift to its ultimately profound destination.
Synopsis: Reeling from a devastating loss, Tana (Lily Gladstone) is pulled back into the world by an unexpected invitation to her cousin's wedding. She packs up... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lily Gladstone, Raymond Lee, Ali Lopez-Sohaili, Richard Ray Whitman
Directed By: Morrisa Maltz
#83
Chile '76 (2022)
Critics Consensus: Chile '76 is an intriguing historical noir that radiographs Pinochet's patronizing and patriarchal society through the eyes of a steely bourgeoise woman who dares to take a stand.
Synopsis: Chile, 1976. Carmen heads off to her beach house to supervise its renovation. Her husband, children and grandchildren come back and forth during the winter... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Aline Küppenheim, Nicolás Sepúlveda, Hugo Medina, Alejandro Goic
Directed By: Manuela Martelli
#84
Other People's Children (2022)
Critics Consensus: Other People's Children perceptively explores motherhood outside traditional biological confines and delivers sobering truths with an ample side of levity.
Synopsis: Rachel is 40 years old, with no children. She loves her life: her high school students, her friends, her ex, her guitar lessons. When she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Virginie Efira, Roschdy Zem, Victor Lefebvre, Chiara Mastroianni
Directed By: Rebecca Zlotowski
#85
War Pony (2022)
Critics Consensus: With subtlety and authenticity, War Pony tracks the lives of two young Indigenous men and cements the two women behind the lens, Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, as talents to watch.
Synopsis: At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself. Whether it's siphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jojo Bapteise Whiting, LaDainian Crazy Thunder, Ashley Shelton, Robert Stover
Directed By: Riley Keough, Gina Gammell
#86
Falcon Lake (2022)
Critics Consensus: Moody, sensitive, and subtly layered, Falcon Lake captures the intoxicating horror of young love.
Synopsis: A shy teenager on a summer vacation experiences the joy and pain of young adulthood when he forges an unlikely bond with an older girl.
Starring: Joseph Engel, Sara Montpetit, Monia Chokri, Arthur Igual
Directed By: Charlotte Le Bon
#87
Revoir Paris (2022)
Critics Consensus: Further distinguished by Virginie Efira's superb performance, Revoir Paris explores trauma's aftermath with devastating tenderness.
Synopsis: After an idyllic date night full of red wine and a late-night motorcycle ride home, Mia (Virginie Efira) stops at a Parisian bistro to take... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Virginie Efira, Benoît Magimel, Grégoire Colin, Maya Sansa
Directed By: Alice Winocour
#88
Saint Omer (2022)
Critics Consensus: A gut-punching contemplation of a woman's immigrant experience, Saint Omer puts a mother on the stand and the audience in the jury box to find humanity in the inhumane.
Synopsis: Saint-Omer court of law. Young novelist Rama attends the trial of Laurence Coly, a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter by abandoning her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kayije Kagame, Guslagie Malanda, Valérie Dréville, Aurélia Petit
Directed By: Alice Diop
#89
Women Talking (2022)
Critics Consensus: While Women Talking sometimes forsakes entertaining drama in favor of simply getting its points across, its message is valuable -- and effectively delivered.
Synopsis: Do nothing. Stay and fight. Or leave. In 2010, the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling a brutal reality with their faith.
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Judith Ivey
Directed By: Sarah Polley
#90
Blue Jean (2022)
Critics Consensus: Bridging times past with issues that are still current, Blue Jean resonates intellectually and emotionally thanks to thoughtful direction and authentic performances.
Synopsis: England, 1988 -- Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing gays and lesbians, forcing Jean, a gym teacher, to live a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun
Directed By: Georgia Oakley
#91
Amanda (2022)
Critics Consensus: A is for Amanda, an amusingly absurd coming-of-age comedy that offers poignant observations and positions director Carolina Cavalli as a talent to watch.
Synopsis: Born into an upper-class family with a doting mother who foots the bill for her indolent lifestyle, 24-year-old combative Amanda (emerging talent Benedetta Porcaroli) searches... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Benedetta Porcaroli, Galatéa Bellugi, Michele Bravi, Monica Nappo
Directed By: Carolina Cavalli
#92
Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022)
Critics Consensus: A bone-chilling body horror, Huesera offers genre fans a twisted take on What to Expect When You're Expecting.
Synopsis: Valeria's joy at becoming a first-time mother is quickly taken away when she's cursed by a sinister entity. As danger closes in, she's forced deeper... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Natalia Solián, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Batalla, Mercedes Hernández
Directed By: Michelle Garza Cervera
#93
Klondike (2022)
Critics Consensus: Klondike offers a bleak portrait of a war-torn Ukrainian village with the mordant wit of someone who understands that for civilians, the mundanities of life must go on.
Synopsis: July 2014. Expectant parents Irka and Tolik live in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, disputed territory in the early days... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Oksana Cherkashyna, Sergey Shadrin, Oleg Shcherbina, Oleg Shevchuk
Directed By: Maryna Er Gorbach
#94
Alcarràs (2022)
Critics Consensus: While it may lack a narrative punch, Alcarràs captures this rural world and its heritage with a gripping sense of nostalgia for things forever gone.
Synopsis: In a small village in Catalonia, the peach farmers of the Solé family spend every summer together picking fruit from their orchard. But when plans... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Berta Pipó, Jordi Pujol Dolcet, Anna Otin, Xènia Roset
Directed By: Carla Simón
#95
Vesper (2022)
Critics Consensus: More visually impressive than narratively engaging, Vesper rewards patient viewers with immersive world-building and intelligent ideas.
Synopsis: After the collapse of Earth's ecosystem, Vesper, a 13-year-old girl struggling to survive with her Father, must use her wits, strength and bio-hacking abilities to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Raffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan, Rosy McEwen, Richard Brake
Directed By: Kristina Buozyte, Bruno Samper
#96
One Fine Morning (2022)
Critics Consensus: Finely wrought to a fault, One Fine Morning presents a subtle, well-acted look at life and love.
Synopsis: Sandra, a young mother who raises her daughter alone, pays regular visits to her sick father. While she and her family fight tooth and nail... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud, Nicole Garcia
Directed By: Mia Hansen-Løve
#97
Pray Away (2020)
Critics Consensus: Pray Away presents a compassionate picture of the damage wrought by so-called conversion therapy -- on its subjects as well as its proponents.
Synopsis: Five evangelicals in the 1970s break away and form Exodus International, a group that claims that gay people can become straight through prayer and conversion... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Kristine Stolakis
#98
Shiva Baby (2020)
Critics Consensus: A ruefully funny calling card for debuting director Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby transcends its sitcom setup with strong performances and satisfying insights.
Synopsis: While at a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend.
Starring: Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Danny Deferrari
Directed By: Emma Seligman
#99
Together Together (2021)
Critics Consensus: Together Together explores love and parenthood from unexpected angles, capturing a broad spectrum of emotions through Patti Harrison and Ed Helms' starring performances.
Synopsis: When young loner Anna is hired as the gestational surrogate for Matt, a single man in his 40s who wants a child, the two strangers... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, Tig Notaro, Julio Torres
Directed By: Nikole Beckwith
#100
V/H/S/94 (2021)
Critics Consensus: V/H/S/94 gets the franchise back on track with a gory buffet of shorts that should delight horror anthology fans.
Synopsis: A Shudder Original Film, V/H/S/94 is the fourth installment in the hit horror anthology franchise and marks the return of the infamous found footage anthology... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Hopkins, Christian Potenza, Kyal Legend, Devin Chin-Cheong
Directed By: Simon Barrett, Steven Kostanski, Chloe Okuno, Ryan Prows
#101
Passing (2021)
Critics Consensus: While Passing's delicate approach has a dampening effect on its story, debuting director Rebecca Hall makes the most of an impressive cast -- and handles thorny themes with impressive dexterity.
Synopsis: In 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who's passing as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård
Directed By: Rebecca Hall
#102
The Souvenir Part II (2021)
Critics Consensus: Drawing on another terrific performance from Honor Swinton Byrne, The Souvenir Part II continues its story with profound emotional complexity and elegant storytelling.
Synopsis: In the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Honor Swinton Byrne, Jaygann Ayeh, Tilda Swinton, Richard Ayoade
Directed By: Joanna Hogg
#103
El Planeta (2021)
Critics Consensus: El Planeta taps into real-life economic anxiety to present a darkly humorous glimpse of life spent teetering on the edge of financial ruin.
Synopsis: Amidst the devastation of post-crisis Spain, mother and daughter bluff and grift to keep up the lifestyle they think they deserve, bonding over common tragedy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ale Ulman, Amalia Ulman, Nacho Vigalondo, Genoveva Garcia Castanon
Directed By: Amalia Ulman
#104
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)
Critics Consensus: Like the show whose groundbreaking creation it commemorates, Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street is as enlightening as it is purely entertaining.
Synopsis: Street Gang will take us inside the minds and hearts of the Sesame Street creators to help us understand not only how they produced this... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joan Ganz Cooney, Fran Brill, Christopher Cerf, Emilio Delgado
Directed By: Marilyn Agrelo
#105
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (2021)
Critics Consensus: An affecting profile of screen legend Rita Moreno, Just a Girl is at once a sharp critique of the industry's crushing inequities and a beautiful homage to an artist who never backed down despite the odds.
Synopsis: Over a 70+ year career, Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rita Moreno, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Norman Lear, George Chakiris
Directed By: Mariem Pérez Riera
#106
Plan B (2024)
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When a one night stand with her awkward neighbor leaves her pregnant, a young woman decides to quickly sleep with a successful businessman and tell... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jamie Lee, Jon Heder, Michael Lombardi, Shannon Elizabeth
Directed By: Brandon Tamburri
#107
In the Same Breath (2021)
Critics Consensus: Gripping and clear-eyed, In the Same Breath captures history as it's being written -- and governmental failures as they amplify worldwide tragedy.
Synopsis: IN THE SAME BREATH recounts the experiences of people on the ground in the earliest days of the novel coronavirus and the way two countries... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Nanfu Wang
#108
The Novice (2021)
Critics Consensus: A remarkable first feature for writer-director Lauren Hadaway, The Novice paints a thrilling -- and disturbing -- portrait of obsession.
Synopsis: Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Isabelle Fuhrman, Amy Forsyth, Dilone, Kate Drummond
Directed By: Lauren Hadaway
#109
Petite Maman (2021)
Critics Consensus: Small in narrative scope but deeply impactful, Petite Maman is a delicate, powerfully acted meditation on grief.
Synopsis: Céline Sciamma continues to prove herself as one of the most accomplished and unpredictable contemporary French filmmakers with her follow up to PORTRAIT OF A... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nina Meurisse, Margot Abascal, Stéphane Varupenne, Joséphine Sanz
Directed By: Céline Sciamma
#110
The Rescue (2021)
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The Rescue chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bancha Duriyapunt, Apakorn Youkongkaew, Anan Surawan, Woranan Ratrawiphukkun
Directed By: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
#111
Attica (2021)
Critics Consensus: Attica revisits the titular riot with intelligence, compassion, and anger, presenting a version of events that honors history as much as it exemplifies the art of documentary filmmaking.
Synopsis: During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Clarence Jones
Directed By: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry
#112
Becoming Cousteau (2021)
Critics Consensus: As visually thrilling as it is edifying, Becoming Cousteau pays fitting tribute to a pioneering explorer and environmental advocate.
Synopsis: Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationist: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Directed By: Liz Garbus
#113
Julia (2021)
Critics Consensus: Befitting the culinary aesthetic favored by the brilliant chef it honors, Julia uses fresh, simple ingredients to create a sumptuous documentary feast.
Synopsis: JULIA tells the story of the legendary cookbook author and television superstar who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: José Andrés, Julia Child
Directed By: Julie Cohen, Betsy West
#114
Hive (2021)
Critics Consensus: Anchored by Yllka Gashi's outstanding performance, Hive leads viewers on one woman's fact-based quest for self-determination in a patriarchal society.
Synopsis: HIVE is a searing drama based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha
Directed By: Blerta Basholli
#115
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021)
Critics Consensus: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror takes a fascinating deep dive that'll leave like-minded viewers making numerous new additions to their streaming queues.
Synopsis: WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED is the first feature-length documentary on the history of folk horror, exploring the phenomenon from its beginnings in a trilogy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Piers Haggard, Lawrence Gordon Clark, Jeremy Dyson, Alice Lowe
Directed By: Kier-La Janisse
#116
CODA (2021)
Critics Consensus: CODA's story offers few surprises, but strong representation and a terrific cast -- led by Emilia Jones' brilliant performance -- bring this coming-of-age story vividly to life.
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the sole hearing member of a deaf family -- a CODA, child of deaf adults. Her life revolves around acting... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez
Directed By: Sian Heder
#117
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.
Synopsis: Severe, pale-eyed, handsome, Phil Burbank is brutally beguiling. All of Phil's romance, power and fragility is trapped in the past and in the land: He... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Directed By: Jane Campion
#118
Happening (2021)
Critics Consensus: A tough but rewarding watch, Happening puts a personal face on an impossibly difficult choice and its heart-rending aftermath.
Synopsis: France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet Klein, Luàna Bajrami, Louise Orry-Diquéro
Directed By: Audrey Diwan
#119
Hellbender (2021)
Critics Consensus: Hellbender stirs a boiling cauldron of adolescent angst, serving up a coming-of-age story with dark horror overtones.
Synopsis: A teen and her mother live simply in a home in the woods, spending their time making metal music. A chance encounter with a fellow... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zelda Adams, Toby Poser, Lulu Adams, John Adams
Directed By: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser
#120
Neptune Frost (2021)
Critics Consensus: Bursting with ideas and ambition, Neptune Frost is difficult to describe -- and just as hard to resist.
Synopsis: In an otherworldly e-waste camp made of recycled computer parts, a subversive hacking collective attempts a takeover of the authoritarian regime exploiting the region's natural... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cheryl Isheja, Bertrand Ninteretse, Eliane Umuhire, Elvis Ngabo
Directed By: Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman
#121
The Pink Cloud (2021)
Critics Consensus: An eerily relevant debut from writer-director Iuli Gerbase, The Pink Cloud reaches into the emotional fault lines of pandemic life and comes away with striking observations about human behavior.
Synopsis: A mysterious and deadly pink cloud appears across the globe, forcing everyone to stay home. Strangers at the outset, Giovana and Yago try to invent... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Eduardo Mendonça, Girley Paes, Kaya Rodrigues, Renata de Lélis
Directed By: Iuli Gerbase
#122
The Fallout (2021)
Critics Consensus: Empathetic and well-acted, The Fallout uses the aftermath of teen trauma to grapple with the experience of grief.
Synopsis: Bolstered by new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances, high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) begins to reinvent herself, while re-evaluating her relationships with her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp
Directed By: Megan Park
#123
We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021)
Critics Consensus: Narratively challenging and visually haunting, We're All Going to the World's Fair adds a uniquely ambitious and unsettling entry to the crowded coming-of-age genre.
Synopsis: Late on a cold night somewhere in the U.S., teenage Casey (Anna Cobb in her feature debut) sits alone in her attic bedroom, scrolling the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Cobb, Michael J. Rogers
Directed By: Jane Schoenbrun
#124
Murina (2021)
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age story with a uniquely sunny noir spin, Murina deftly explores dark themes against a deceptively idyllic setting.
Synopsis: Tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when an old family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gracija Filipovic, Danica Curcic, Leon Lucev, Cliff Curtis
Directed By: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
#125
Anaïs in Love (2021)
Critics Consensus: The main character may be hard to like, but Anaïs in Love offers a well-acted and breezily humorous take on its admittedly well-worn themes.
Synopsis: ANAIS IN LOVE is a buoyant French comedy from filmmaker Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet. Boasting a playfully magnetic performance by star Anaïs Demoustier, the film follows a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anaïs Demoustier, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Denis Podalydès, Jean-Charles Clichet
Directed By: Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet
#126
Clara Sola (2021)
Critics Consensus: Discomfiting and dreamy, Clara Sola brings a sensual surreality to a story of oppressed autonomy, with debuting star Wendy Chinchilla Araya providing a mesmerizing focal point.
Synopsis: In a remote village in Costa Rica, 40-year-old Clara endures a repressively religious and withdrawn life under the command of her mother. Her uncanny affinity... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Flor María Vargas Chaves
Directed By: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
#127
The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
Critics Consensus: The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.
Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Welker White, Reed Birney, Radha Blank, Peter Kim
Directed By: Radha Blank
#128
Totally Under Control (2020)
Critics Consensus: Totally Under Control does a commendable job of distilling current events into a clear-eyed overview that's as engaging as it is enraging.
Synopsis: Public health officials discuss the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starring: Alex Gibney, Taison Bell, Michael Bowen, Rick Bright
Directed By: Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger
#129
Miss Juneteenth (2020)
Critics Consensus: Like a pageant winner walking across the stage, Miss Juneteenth follows a familiar path -- but does so with charm and grace.
Synopsis: A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.
Starring: Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Lori Hayes
Directed By: Channing Godfrey Peoples
#130
Kajillionaire (2020)
Critics Consensus: Whether you see Kajillionaire as refreshingly unique or simply bizarre will depend on your cinematic adventurousness -- and fans of writer-director Miranda July wouldn't have it any other way.
Synopsis: Two con artists have spent 26 years training their only daughter to swindle, scam and steal at every turn. During a desperate and hastily conceived... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger
Directed By: Miranda July
#131
Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and directed, Never Rarely Sometimes Always reaffirms writer-director Eliza Hittman as a filmmaker of uncommon sensitivity and grace.
Synopsis: Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin, Skylar, travel across state lines to New York City on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ryan Eggold, Théodore Pellerin, Sharon Van Etten, Sidney Flanigan
Directed By: Eliza Hittman
#132
Athlete A (2020)
Critics Consensus: Harrowing yet essential viewing, Athlete A shines an unforgiving light on horrific abuses -- as well as the culture that allowed them to continue unabated for years.
Synopsis: Reporters from The Indianapolis Star expose Dr. Larry Nassar's sexual abuse of young gymnasts.
Starring: Maggie Nichols, Jerry Moran, Jennifer Sey
Directed By: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
#133
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (2020)
Critics Consensus: An absorbing and affectionate tribute to a unique individual, Mucho Mucho Amor should prove fascinating for Walter Mercado fans as well as first-timers.
Synopsis: Puerto Rican astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado discusses his life, career and post-fame seclusion.
Starring: Walter Mercado
Directed By: Kareem Tabsch, Cristina Costantini
#134
All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020)
Critics Consensus: All In: The Fight for Democracy lives up to its title as a galvanizing rallying cry for voters to exercise -- and preserve -- their right to be heard.
Synopsis: Filmmakers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes examine the history of voter suppression and the activists who fight for the rights of U.S. citizens.
Starring: Stacey Abrams
Directed By: Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus
#135
Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
Critics Consensus: Dick Johnson Is Dead celebrates a life with bittersweet humor and grace, offering a deeply resonant perspective on mortality in the bargain.
Synopsis: A filmmaker and her elderly father stage his death in various ways to help them face his inevitable demise.
Starring: Dick Johnson, Chad Knorr, Kevin Loreque, Ana Hoffman
Directed By: Kirsten Johnson
#136
Relic (2020)
Critics Consensus: Relic ratchets up its slowly building tension in an expertly crafted atmosphere of dread, adding up to an outstanding feature debut for director/co-writer Natalie Erika James.
Synopsis: A woman links her mother's increasingly volatile behavior to an evil presence at their family's decaying country home.
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote, Chris Bunton
Directed By: Natalie Erika James
#137
One Night in Miami (2020)
Critics Consensus: A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut.
Synopsis: On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., Eli Goree
Directed By: Regina King
#138
Les Nôtres (2020)
Critics Consensus: Les Nôtres deftly hits expected beats to tell a story of betrayal whose finely calibrated direction and performances make it all the more harrowing.
Synopsis: To the tight-knit community of Sainte-Adeline, Quebec, Magalie appears as a normal suburban high school sophomore surrounded by friends. But this popular teenage girl is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Émilie Bierre, Marianne Farley, Judith Baribeau, Paul Doucet
Directed By: Jeanne Leblanc
#139
Beginning (2020)
Critics Consensus: A striking debut from director/co-writer Dea Kulumbegashvili, Beginning grapples convincingly with complex ideas while offering a brilliant showcase for star Ia Sukhitashvili.
Synopsis: A missionary's life spirals out of control after extremists burn down a Jehovah's Witnesses church in a remote Georgian village.
Starring: Ia Sukhitashvili, Rati Oneli, Kakha Kintsurashvili
Directed By: Dea Kulumbegashvili
#140
Beans (2020)
Critics Consensus: Beans opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio.
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Beans is on the edge: torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence; forced to grow up fast and become the tough Mohawk warrior she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kiawentiio, Violah Beauvais, Rainbow Dickerson, Joel Montgrand
Directed By: Tracey Deer
#141
Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation (2020)
Critics Consensus: Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation lives up to its title with an absorbing and revealing look at a pair of American literary giants.
Synopsis: The work, lives, and personal journeys of iconic American artists Truman Capote and Tennesee Williams coalesce with creative combustion in this innovative dual-portrait documentary. Filmmaker... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Zachary Quinto, Jim Parsons
Directed By: Lisa Immordino Vreeland
#142
Holler (2020)
Critics Consensus: It's hard not to hear echoes of similarly desperate stories, but Holler drowns them out with strong performances and palpable empathy.
Synopsis: In a forgotten pocket of Southern Ohio where American manufacturing and opportunity are dying up, a determined young woman finds a ticket out when she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jessica Barden, Pamela Adlon, Gus Halper, Austin Amelio
Directed By: Nicole Riegel
#143
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
Critics Consensus: A heartwarming look at the way a meaningful bond can transcend just about any barrier, this documentary will leave you asking your friends to come and see My Octopus Teacher with you.
Synopsis: A diver swims with an octopus that lives in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa.
Starring: Craig Foster
Directed By: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
#144
True Mothers (2020)
Critics Consensus: True Mothers uses an intractable conflict to explore the bonds of parenthood with director/co-writer Naomi Kawase's usual sensitivity and grace.
Synopsis: An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.
Starring: Arata Iura, Hiromi Nagasaku, Aju Makita, Reo Sato
Directed By: Naomi Kawase
#145
Wildfire (2020)
Critics Consensus: Anchored by the believable bond between its leads, Wildfire tells a heartfelt and realistic story of sisters peering into their family's past.
Synopsis: Two reunited Irish sisters uncover secrets from their mother's past.
Starring: Nika McGuigan, Nora Jane Noone, Martin McCann, Kate Dickie
Directed By: Cathy Brady
#146
Wildland (2020)
Critics Consensus: Wildland reaches past the familiar tropes of its gangster drama setup to tell an evocative and refreshingly original coming-of-age story.
Synopsis: Following a car accident, which kills her mother, 17-year-old Ida moves in with her estranged aunt and her aunt's grown sons. The home is filled... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sandra Guldberg Kampp, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Joachim Fjelstrup, Elliott Crosset Hove
Directed By: Jeanette Nordahl
#147
Lucky (2017)
Critics Consensus: Lucky is a bittersweet meditation on mortality, punctuating the career of beloved character actor Harry Dean Stanton.
Synopsis: A 90-year-old atheist has outlived and out-smoked his contemporaries, and as he comes to terms with his own mortality, he searches for ever-elusive enlightenment.
Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch, Ron Livingston, Ed Begley Jr.
Directed By: John Carroll Lynch
#148
Never Gonna Snow Again (2020)
Critics Consensus: Led by Alec Utgoff's impressive starring performance, Never Gonna Snow Again blends elements of sci-fi, satire, and surreal drama with an assured hand.
Synopsis: On a gray, foggy morning outside a large Polish city, Zhenia (Alec Utgoff), a masseur from the East, enters the lives of the wealthy residents... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alec Utgoff, Maja Ostaszewska, Agata Kulesza, Weronika Rosati
Directed By: Małgorzata Szumowska
#149
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (2020)
Critics Consensus: Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President warmly -- and tunefully -- highlights a rarely explored facet of the 39th U.S. President's tenure.
Synopsis: A portrait showing how Jimmy Carter's lifelong passion for music gave him an unexpected edge as a presidential candidate. Through folk, soul, gospel, jazz and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jimmy Carter, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson
Directed By: Mary Wharton
#150
Spring Blossom (2020)
Critics Consensus: An enchanting debut for writer-director-star Suzanne Lindon, Spring Blossom captures first love with fittingly delicate beauty.
Synopsis: Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is sixteen. She is bored with people her own age. From the outside, everything appears lovely in her charmed world, but the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Suzanne Lindon, Arnaud Valois, Frédéric Pierrot, Florence Viala
Directed By: Suzanne Lindon
#151
I Carry You With Me (2020)
Critics Consensus: A remarkable feature debut for director Heidi Ewing, I Carry You with Me finds universally resonant themes in a specific, richly detailed time and place.
Synopsis: Based on true love, this decades spanning romance begins in Mexico between an aspiring chef (Armando Espitia) and a teacher (Christian Vázquez). Their lives restart... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Armando Espitia, Christian Vazquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz
Directed By: Heidi Ewing
#152
Slaxx (2020)
Critics Consensus: A slim-cut slice of bizarre horror, Slaxx effectively balances quirk with gore -- and has the good sense to get out before its oddball premise starts showing its seams.
Synopsis: A possessed pair of jeans is brought to life to punish the unscrupulous practices of a trendy clothing company. Shipped to the company's flagship store,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Romane Denis, Brett Donahue, Sehar Bhojani, Stephen Bogaert
Directed By: Elza Kephart
#153
Identifying Features (2020)
Critics Consensus: A slow-burning descent into desperation, Identifying Features uses one shattered family's ordeal to offer a harrowing look at the immigrant experience.
Synopsis: A middle-aged woman embarks on an increasingly dangerous journey to locate her son, who's gone missing after leaving Mexico to find work in the United... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mercedes Hernández, David Illescas, Juan Jesús Varela, Ana Laura Rodríguez
Directed By: Fernanda Valadez
#154
Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020)
Critics Consensus: Quo Vadis, Aida? uses one woman's heartbreaking conflict to offer a searing account of war's devastating human toll.
Synopsis: Bosnia, July 11th 1995. Aida is a translator for the United Nations in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jasna Đuričić, Izudin Bajrovic, Boris Ler, Dino Bajrovic
Directed By: Jasmila Zbanic
#155
The Stylist (2020)
Critics Consensus: A slasher with flair and crafty patience for the kill, The Stylist marks writer-director Jill Gevargizian as an uncommonly sharp genre filmmaker.
Synopsis: We all dream of being someone else... but for Claire (Najarra Townsend, Contracted), that dream goes from an obsession to a living nightmare. Hairstylist by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brea Grant, Najarra Townsend, Millie Milan, Sarah McGuire
Directed By: Jill Gevargizian
#156
Slalom (2020)
Critics Consensus: Led by Noée Abita's outstanding central performance, Slalom offers a moving account of oppression and abuse in the guise of mentorship.
Synopsis: This riveting, Cannes-selected #MeToo drama from debut filmmaker Charlène Favier follows the relationship between a teenage ski prodigy and her predatory instructor, played by frequent... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Noée Abita, Jérémie Renier, Marie Denarnaud, Muriel Combeau
Directed By: Charlène Favier
#157
Nomadland (2020)
Critics Consensus: A poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden, Nomadland beautifully captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession.
Synopsis: A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad after losing everything in the Great... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie
Directed By: Chloé Zhao
#158
Promising Young Woman (2020)
Critics Consensus: A boldly provocative, timely thriller, Promising Young Woman is an auspicious feature debut for writer-director Emerald Fennell -- and a career highlight for Carey Mulligan.
Synopsis: Nothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be -- she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life by night.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Laverne Cox, Bo Burnham, Clancy Brown
Directed By: Emerald Fennell
#159
Stray (2021)
Critics Consensus: Stray takes a patient, meditative look at the lives of Istanbul's stray dog population -- and uncovers truths of the human condition in the process.
Synopsis: STRAY explores what it means to live as a being without status or security, following three strays as they embark on inconspicuous journeys through Turkish... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Elizabeth Lo
#160
Gagarine (2020)
Critics Consensus: Balancing whimsy-tinged magic realism against serious themes of community and displacement, Gagarine is as bracingly original as it is ultimately poignant.
Synopsis: Teenager Youri (gifted newcomer Alseni Bathily) has lived his whole life in the tight-knit community of Gagarine, even being named after the famed Russian cosmonaut... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alséni Bathily, Lyna Khoudri, Jamil McCraven, Finnegan Oldfield
Directed By: Fanny Liatard, Jérémy Trouilh
#161
Tove (2020)
Critics Consensus: Tove's conventional approach to depicting the life of a singular talent is offset by Alma Pöysti's outstanding performance in the title role.
Synopsis: Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson. Modern art, dizzying parties and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alma Pöysti, Krista Kosonen, Shanti Roney, Joanna Haartti
Directed By: Zaida Bergroth
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