Nick Kush’s Top 10 Best Movies of 2020

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For all the time spent lamenting the end of cinema post-March, there were still plenty of great movies to see in 2020. This year marked the largest number of new movies I’ve seen in a calendar year as a critic since started MovieBabble in 2016, and to be honest, I didn’t miss the many mega-blockbusters that were pushed to 2021. If there’s one thing I’ll remember 2020 for (you know, other than COVID), it’s the time spent discussing projects that would have most likely been footnotes in a crowded marketplace. Remember when we talked about Palm Springs for a week straight? What a time.

Although, I doubt 2020 will go down as the year of the indie for many. Instead, it may be the year of streaming content. Or, the year streaming matured. Netflix continues to dominate, and carried much of the film discourse this year with its original content; Disney+ is now over a year in and humming along; HBO Max and Peacock launched; Quibi launch…and folded (RIP to a King); The Criterion Channel continues to be a godsend; Hulu now has Disney ties; Boutique services like Shudder are getting better and better at curating content to their specific audiences. Also, what the hell were we supposed to do all year besides sitting on our couches and stream?

Whatever ultimately becomes 2020’s defining trait, below is a very, very long list of my favorite films of the year, starting with three separate groups of honorable mentions. (I continue to be indecisive.) And as with last year and every year moving forward, there are three guarantees: death, taxes, and changes to my end-of-the-year lists. All lists of this kind are very in-the-moment, so now would be the time to prepare your grains of salt.

Let’s get to the list:

The “Very Solid Movies That Deserve Some Type of Recognition for Their Craft” Group

Higher Love

Come to Daddy

The Swerve

Disappearance at Clifton Hill

Palm Springs

The Dark and the Wicked

Freeze Frame

i’m thinking of ending things

Education

The Beach House

Feels Good Man

Tesla

Coded Bias

Color Out of Space

Selah and the Spades

The Half of It

Possessor

A Secret Love

The Way Back

Emma.

A Thousand Cuts

La Llorona

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

Disclosure

Da 5 Bloods

Swallow

The “I Really, Really Like These Movies But There’s a Few Slightly Better Movies Out There” Group

Red, White and Blue

The Forty-Year-Old Version

Mank

The Assistant

Babyteeth

Farewell Amor

One Night in Miami

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Saint Frances

The Vast of Night

The “Impossibly Tough Omissions that Might be in My Top 10 if You Asked Me Tomorrow” Group

Sound of Metal — Much of the praise is going to Riz Ahmed for his astonishing performance (and for good reason; it’s one of the best performances of the year), but let’s not forget Paul Raci’s profound work in his supporting role.

Residue — I’m a little peeved at Netflix for not marketing this film harder. For all of the movies to tackle gentrification in recent years, Residue is one of the most distinct and meticulously crafted. And as someone who lived in D.C. for a short time, its ideas about the city pack a major punch.

She Dies Tomorrow — This may be the most 2020 movie out there. Amy Seimetz’s passion project is overflowing with existential fear, and she knows that there’s something oddly funny about that too.

Yes, God, Yes — Wonderfully goofy and insightful thanks to Karen Maine’s assured direction and writing. Somehow, it manages to tackle blind faith and get plenty of mileage out of a salad tossing joke.

Nomadland — Bruh I still can’t get over how Chloé Zhao is going from directing this beautifully understated docudrama to The Eternals. Regardless, this movie marks Zhao as one of the most important humanist directors working today.

Another Round — I love me some dancin’ Mads Mikkelsen.

Welcome to Chechnya — The most horrifying movie of the year.

On the Record — A necessary document of the #MeToo movement that expertly explores the power dynamics involved in the workplace.

Dick Johnson is Dead — Between Cameraperson and Dick Johnson is Dead, Kirsten Johnson continues to find fascinatingly offbeat ways to explore life and death. If you don’t tear up during Dick Johnson, we can’t be friends.

Wolfwalkers — Gorgeous animation, and it also has maybe one of the best group hugs ever put to screen???

And now, let’s get to the top 10: