There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness. – Frank Capra
Welcome to my annual year-ender list of cinema!
I’ve been a fan of the cinema since 1998, and I’ve been an official cinephile since 2005. I’ve been doing this year after year because why not? It’s fun, it’s celebratory, and the arts of motion pictures should be celebrated.
I initially intended to do a much shorter list, but there’s just too much cinematic greatness in 2017 that needed to be highlighted, it’s just a shame to leave them out. It took me a long time (over a year) to come up with this list, and the idea of releasing it on March (you know, graduation) sounded timely to me.
DISCLAIMER:
I obviously have not seen all the thousands of films released in 2017, so there’s no way I can claim that this list is universal. These are based from what I have seen — but there’s fairly plenty. I tried to be as objective and as diverse as possible.
Here are my top 40 picks for the best films of 2017:
40. Good Time
Elara Pictures | Rhea Films
DISTRIBUTOR: A24
DIRECTOR: Ben Safdie, Josh Safide
SCREENPLAY: Josh Safide, Ronald Bronstein
CAST: Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben Safdie
COUNTRY: United States
39. Beauty and the Beast
Walt Disney Picture | Mandeville Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
SCREENPLAY: Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos
CAST: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
COUNTRY: United States
38. Bar Boys
TropicFrills Film Productions | Wild Sound Studios
DISTRIBUTOR: Quantum Studios
DIRECTOR: Kip Oebanda
SCREENPLAY: Kip Oebanda
CAST: Rocco Nacino, Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano
COUNTRY: Philippines
37. Loving Vincent
Breakthrough Productions | Trademark Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Altitude Film Distribution
DIRECTORS: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman
SCREENPLAY: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, Jacek Dehnel
CAST: Robert Gulaczyk, Douglas Booth, Jerome Flynn, Saoirse Ronan
COUNTRY: Poland | United Kingdom | United States
36. Spider-man: Homecoming
Columbia Pictures | Marvel Studios
DISTRIBUTOR: Sony Pictures Releasing
DIRECTOR: Jon Watts
SCREENPLAY: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
CAST: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya
COUNTRY: United States
35. 100 Tula Para Kay Stella
Viva Films
DIRECTOR: Jason Paul Laxamana
SCREENPLAY: Jason Paul Laxamana
CAST: Bela Padilla, JC Santos
COUNTRY: Philippines
34. Colossal
Voltage Pictures, Route One Entertainment, Union Investment Partners, Sayaka Producciones, Brightlight Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: Neon
DIRECTOR: Nacho Vigalondo
SCREENPLAY: Nacho Vigalondo
CAST: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens
COUNTRY: Canada
33. Phantom Thread
Annapurna Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: Focus Features, Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Paul Thomas Anderson
SCREENPLAY: Paul Thomas Anderson
CAST: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
32. The Florida Project
Cre Film, Freestyle Picture Company, Cinereach, June Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: A24
DIRECTOR: Sean Baker
SCREENPLAY: Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker
CAST: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince
COUNTRY: United States
31. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Film4, New Sparta Films, HanWay Films
DISTRIBUTOR: A24
DIRECTOR: Yorgos Lanthimos
SCREENPLAY: Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou
CAST: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone
COUNTRY: Ireland
30. Patay na si Hesus
T-Rex Entertainment Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Columbia Pictures Philippines
DIRECTOR: Victor Villanueva
SCREENPLAY: Fatrick Abada
CAST: Jaclyn Jose, Vincent Viado, Chai Fonacier, Melde Montañez, Mailes Kanapi
COUNTRY: Philippines
29. Darkest Hour
Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Focus Features, Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Joe Wright
SCREENPLAY: Anthony McCarten
CAST: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup, Ben Mendelsohn
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
28. Logan
Marvel Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, Kinberg Genre, Hutch Parker Productions, The Donners’ Company
DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox
DIRECTOR: James Mangold
SCREENPLAY: Scott Frank, James Mangold, Michael Green
CAST: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant
COUNTRY: United States
27. Blade Runner 2049
Columbia Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.
DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve
SCREENPLAY: Hampton Fancher, Michael Green
CAST: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto
COUNTRY: United States
26. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Marvel Studios
DISTRIBUTOR: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
DIRECTOR: James Gunn
SCREENPLAY: James Gunn
CAST: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
COUNTRY: United States
25. A Ghost Story
Sailor Bear, Zero Trans Fat Productions, Ideaman Studios, Scared Sheetless
DISTRIBUTOR: A24
DIRECTOR: David Lowery
SCREENPLAY: David Lowery
CAST: Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck
COUNTRY: United States
24. Love You to the Stars and Back
ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema
DIRECTOR: Antoinette Jadaone
SCREENPLAY: Antoinette Jadaone
CAST: Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia
COUNTRY: Philippines
23. Girls Trip
Will Packer Productions | Perfect World Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Malcolm D. Lee
SCREENPLAY: Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver
CAST: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tiffany Haddish
COUNTRY: United States
22. Deadma Walking
T-Rex Entertainment
DISTRIBUTOR: OctoArts Films
DIRECTOR: Julius Alfonso
SCREENPLAY: Eric Cabahug
CAST: Joross Gamboa, Edgar Allan Guzman
COUNTRY: Philippines
21. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Blueprint Picture, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Film4 Productions, Cutting Edge Group
DISTRIBUTOR: Fox Searchlight Pictures
DIRECTOR: Martin McDonagh
SCREENPLAY: Martin McDonagh
CAST: Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson
COUNTRY: United States
20. The Big Sick
FilmNation Entertainment | Apatow Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Amazon Studios, Lionsgate
DIRECTOR: Michael Showalter
SCREENPLAY: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
CAST: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher
COUNTRY: United States
19. Wonder Woman
DC Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros. Pictures
DIRECTOR: Patty Jenkins
SCREENPLAY: Allan Heinberg
CAST: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen
COUNTRY: United States
18. It
New Line Cinema, Ratpac-Dune Entertainment, Vertigo Entertainment, Lin Pictures, KatzSmith Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros. Pictures
DIRECTOR: Andy Muschietti
SCREENPLAY: Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman
CAST: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård
COUNTRY: United States
17. The Disaster Artist
New Line Cinema
DISTRIBUTOR: A24 | Warner Bros. Pictures
DIRECTOR: James Franco
SCREENPLAY: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
CAST: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver
COUNTRY: United States
16. The Beguiled
American Zoetrope | FR Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Focus Features
DIRECTOR: Sofia Coppola
SCREENPLAY: Sofia Coppola
CAST: Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrel, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning
COUNTRY: United States
15. mother!
Protozoa Pictures
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures
DIRECTOR: Darren Aronofsky
SCREENPLAY: Darren Aronofsky
CAST: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer
COUNTRY: United States
14. Dunkirk
Syncopy Inc.
DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros. Pictures
DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan
SCREENPLAY: Christopher Nolan
CAST: Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy
COUNTRY: United States
13. Wonder
Lionsgate | Mandeville Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Lionsgate
DIRECTOR: Stephen Chbosky
SCREENPLAY: Jack Thorne, Steve Conrad, Stephen Chbosky
CAST: Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Izabela Vidovic, Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin
COUNTRY: United States
12. Okja
Plan B Entertainment
DISTRIBUTOR: Netflix
DIRECTOR: Bong Joon-ho
SCREENPLAY: Bong Joon-ho, Jon Ronson
CAST: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Yoon Je-moon
COUNTRY: South Korea, United States
11. I, Tonya
LuckyChap Entertainment, Clubhouse Pictures, AI Film
DISTRIBUTOR: Neon
DIRECTOR: Craig Gillespie
SCREENPLAY: Steven Rogers
CAST: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan
COUNTRY: United States
10. 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten
Cinema One Originals | VY/AC Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema
DIRECTOR: Petersen Vargas
SCREENPLAY: Jason Paul Laxamana
CAST: Khalil Ramos, Ethan Salvador, Jameson Blake, Ana Capri
COUNTRY: Philippines
9. Mudbound
Elevated Films | Joule Films
DISTRIBUTOR: Netflix
DIRECTOR: Dee Rees
SCREENPLAY: Virgil Williams, Dee Rees
CAST: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jonathan Banks, Garrett Hedlund
COUNTRY: United States
8. Lady Bird
Scott Rudin Produtions
DISTRIBUTOR: A24
DIRECTOR: Greta Gerwig
SCREENPLAY: Greta Gerwig
CAST: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet
COUNTRY: United States
7. God’s Own Country
British Film Institute
DISTRIBUTOR: Orion Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn Pictures, Picturehouse Entertainment
DIRECTOR: Francis Lee
SCREENPLAY: Francis Lee
CAST: Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
6. Get Out
Blumhouse Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Jordan Peele
SCREENPLAY: Jordan Peele
CAST: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Lakeith Stanfield, Catherine Keener
COUNTRY: United States
5. Baby Driver
Working Title Films
DISTRIBUTOR: TriStar Pictures | Sony Pictures Releasing
DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright
SCREENPLAY: Edgar Wright
CAST: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Eiza González, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal
COUNTRY: United States
4. Bliss
Artikulo Uno Productions | Quantum Films
DIRECTOR: Jerrold Tarog
SCREENPLAY: Jerrold Tarog
CAST: Iza Calzado, Ian Veneracion, TJ Trinidad, Adrienne Vergara, Michael de Mesa
COUNTRY: Philippines
3. The Shape of Water
TSG Entertainment | Double Dare You Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Fox Searchlight Productions
DIRECTOR: Guillermo Del Toro
SCREENPLAY: Guillermo Del Toro
CAST: Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer
COUNTRY: United States
2. Coco
Walt Disney Pictures | Pixar Animation Studios
DISTRIBUTOR: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
DIRECTOR: Lee Unkrich
SCREENPLAY: Adrian Molina, Matthew Aldrich
CAST: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Edward James Olmos
COUNTRY: United States
1. Call Me By Your Name
Frenesy Film Company | La Cinéfacture
DISTRIBUTOR: Sony Pictures Classis
DIRECTOR: Luca Guadagnino
SCREENPLAY: James Ivory
CAST: Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlberg
COUNTRY: Italy, United States
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