The 90th Academy Awards are coming up this Sunday, and we’ll soon see which movies that came out in 2017 were good enough to earn Oscar gold. Unsurprisingly, in the 12 months of 2017, there were good movies, bad movies, and movies that were just … okay. Thankfully, the good ones stood out from the rest. We watched as an Amazon demigoddess battled the God of War during World War I; we witnessed the evacuation of thousands of British troops off a beach in France during World War II; we saw humans and highly-intelligent apes clash for supremacy in a post-apocalyptic world; and we fans of a galaxy far, far away saw our beloved Princess onscreen one last time. Out of the many movies that came out this year, I have formed this, my list of my top 10 favorite movies of 2017.
Before I go any further, a few things to keep in mind with this list:
- I will only be considering movies that were released in 2017 (seems like an obvious thing, but I thought I’d throw it out there).
- I did not see every movie that came out in 2017. I’m only human, and as much as I love movies, there are only so many I can see in a given year.
- This list is based entirely on my opinion. Your top 10 favorite movies of 2017 may very well be different from mine. In fact, I’d be more surprised if my list was the same as everyone else’s. Everyone takes different things from movies, and different movies stick with people for different reasons. If you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with my list, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below. Please remain civil.
- While I will do my best to keep my blurbs about each of these movies spoiler-free, some may make mention of important plot points, so, in case you haven’t seen these movies: SPOILER ALERT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. You have been warned.
Now, without further ado, these are my Top 10 Films of 2017:
#10. John Wick: Chapter 2
I’m not usually a big fan of action movies that feature lots of fighting and lots of blood and gore. But what the John Wick film series has over a lot of action movies is that it does a fantastic job of building a larger world in a smart way. It doesn’t pander to the audience in terms of its world-building; it shows, rather than tells, elements of this high-class world of underground assassins and trusts the audience to follow along. It doesn’t spend time over-explaining the world, and just lets people sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The result is a world filled with highly-trained killers who feel like old acquaintances, any one of which could have a spinoff movie made about them if the people behind the John Wick franchise so choose. Every performance, both in terms of acting and fight choreography, is stellar, and while a few of the more violent moments are difficult to watch, I still find myself in awe of the world of John Wick: Chapter 2.
#9. The Lego Batman Movie
It’s telling when a movie that is a spinoff of a movie based on toys proves to be a better comic book movie than Justice League. That is precisely what happened with The Lego Batman Movie, a comic book movie that is a better representation of the main character and his history than the live-action movie that came out later the same year. If you enjoyed The Lego Movie’s brand of humor and animation, then you’ll get a kick out of this movie which focuses on the Lego version of the Caped Crusader defending the Lego version of Gotham City from the Lego versions of many of Batman’s greatest foes. This movie may not be quite as good as The Lego Movie, but its tributes to Batman’s storied history and the heart and humor that go into it make for a worthy successor to that 2014 surprise hit. The Lego Batman Movie is a fun film for the whole family with no assembly required.
#8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The successor to the wildly successful Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 takes what was good about the first movie and builds on it, while also adding in more of the humor one has come to expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the first film was about the Guardians of the Galaxy coming together, the sequel is about the group staying together and reaffirming the family-like dynamic between them. Like our heroes, the audience learns that family goes beyond blood relations, and that sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you all along. Add in the hilarious and adorable Baby Groot, the overly dramatic and overly comedic Drax, some of Marvel’s classic quippy humor, and another stellar soundtrack, and you’ve got another hit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
#7. Dunkirk
The movie that had the least amount of dialogue of any movie I saw this year, Dunkirk is the first Christopher Nolan film I’ve seen in years (no, I haven’t seen Interstellar yet, though I have every intention to at some point). Set in the eponymous coastal city in France, Dunkirk’s main draw is the way the film interweaves three different perspectives into a tense and thrilling fight for survival. We follow several troops as they attempt to get aboard a ship to get home; we follow a man and two local boys as they take their boat to rescue survivors; and we see two Royal Air Force spitfires patrolling the skies while attempting to eliminate threats to the evacuating British forces. While it can be a bit confusing to follow these interwoven timelines at first, you quickly get used to it. The movie also makes use of the actors’ physical performances, especially when there is very little dialogue for characters to convey their feelings; the film has some of the best show, not tell, of a film that I’ve seen in awhile. If you haven’t seen Dunkirk yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice; see it, but make sure you watch it on a big enough TV, since this is a movie that needs a big screen.
#6. Baby Driver
Edgar Wright, the director behind the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy, brings us one of the best car-centric films of 2017, Baby Driver. The driving scenes alone are worth the price of admission, as is the soundtrack that plays throughout them. Ansel Elgort makes for a likeable and compelling main character, and the supporting cast all add to the criminal world that Elgort’s Baby has to navigate and attempt to escape. For those who may choose to avoid this movie due to its cast including recently-disgraced actor Kevin Spacey, rest assured that his role takes a back seat to Elgort and the rest of the cast. Thrilling car chases, a good balance between humor, action, and drama, and a fantastic soundtrack to accompany it all, Baby Driver is a fun ride from start to finish. Buckle up, turn on the tunes, and enjoy the ride.
#5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
My favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of 2017, and the first Spider-Man movie I’ve seen in theaters, Spider-Man: Homecoming reaffirms Tom Holland as my favorite actor to portray your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Holland builds upon his excellent supporting role from 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, making him believable as the web-slinging hero who is still trying to find his way through the world of heroes and villains. This movie brings Spider-Man back down to Earth by portraying him as an awkward teenager who wants to move up to the big leagues (i.e. the Avengers), but is not quite ready. And while there is a big villain in this movie, played phenomenally by Michael Keaton, the film mostly deals with Peter Parker attempting to balance being a normal kid and being a superhero. That alone makes this film stand out from other MCU movies, whose other heroes don’t really care about keeping their private and public identities separate. Given that this is a Marvel movie, there are plenty of lighthearted and comedic moments, and while there are nods to other MCU movies, the film also feels self-contained, allowing it to stand on its own merits. Great action, great humor, and a stellar cast all make Spider-Man: Homecoming my favorite MCU movie of 2017.
#4. Logan
I didn’t really get into the X-Men movies until X-Men: First Class, but I went back to see the previous films after that one, and grew to appreciate Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Logan, better known as the Wolverine. As a person who got into these movies later in life, I can say that Logan is not only a great superhero movie, but also a fantastic movie in its own right. It is both connected to and detached from the more colorful and lighthearted superhero films that came before it, allowing director James Mangold to do his own thing. Hugh Jackman’s final portrayal of Logan is a masterful piece of acting, that, in some circles, may have been worthy of Oscar gold. Also bringing powerful performances are Patrick Stewart as an old and ailing Charles Xavier (Professor X), and newcomer Dafne Keen as Laura/X-23. This movie takes its time, and during that time, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and when the credits start to roll, you’ll want to watch it again. Logan has claws, and this film isn’t afraid to use them to stab you right in the heartstrings.
#3. War for the Planet of the Apes
I got into this franchise in the lead-up to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and grew to love this new series of Apes movies. War for the Planet of the Apes brings us a satisfying conclusion to this first trilogy of films. Andy Serkis continues to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance as Caesar, and Woody Harrelson’s Colonel acts as the perfect counter to Serkis’s Caesar. The performance capture and CGI for the apes has never been more convincing; never in this movie did I think “that’s a person in a motion capture suit;” I was always thinking “that’s a real ape I’m watching onscreen.” But beyond the visual effects and excellent performances, it is a story that draws you in and makes you root for Caesar’s apes while also torn between wanting to see humanity survive and wanting to see this particular militia of humans go extinct. Those who are looking for an all-out war in this movie may be disappointed, as the real war and battle take place between two leaders who, in their own ways, just want to see their factions survive. This film makes the rebooted Planet of the Apes trilogy one of the strongest in recent Hollywood memory, and one of my favorite movies of 2017. Apes together strong.
#2. Wonder Woman
The one true saving grace of the DC Extended Universe, Wonder Woman is a truly wonderful film to behold. Building off of her first appearance in Batman v. Superman, Gal Gadot is phenomenal as Diana, Princess of Themyscira, and truly lives up to her character’s superhero moniker (even though she is never referred to as “Wonder Woman” in the movie). Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor also works well as a contrast to Diana’s naive view of the world, while both soldier and Amazon learn from each other. The fish out of water story that can be tiresome in other films is surprisingly fresh in this movie, and Wonder Woman has a few things that some of the other DCEU films lack: fun, color, and hope, to only name a few. Despite the fact that Wonder Woman features a pretty typical villain, this is the first DCEU film that I can say I like without having a major “but” attached to it. As many people have said, one particular scene, the No Man’s Land sequence, is inspiring, and definitely worth the price of admission, but it’s hardly the only moment in the movie that could be described as “worth the price of admission.” That fact alone is why Wonder Woman is my second-favorite movie of 2017.
#1. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
One of the most anticipated movies of 2017, both for the pedigree of the saga that came before it and for the sudden and tragic loss of its princess in December 2016, the Force is strong with Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. As Luke Skywalker himself says in the film, this movie “is not going to go the way you think,” and that’s just the way I wanted this movie to go. While I acknowledge that this movie isn’t perfect, I will defend it against anyone who says that The Last Jedi is a bad movie; because as far as Star Wars movies goes, this is definitely one of the better ones. The visuals are top-notch, including a few scenes that may now be some of my favorites in the entire saga. The acting is excellent all across the board, especially from Mark Hamill, who gives one of the best performances of his career as an old and weary Luke Skywalker. The fight scenes are all exciting and action-packed, from fights involving lightsabers to fights involving walkers and starfighters. The music, though this goes without saying at this point, is the same superb work that one expects from the Maestro of the Movies, John Williams. But beyond the space battles and deep dives into the spirituality of the Force, the biggest lesson that The Last Jedi teaches its heroes and its audience is that failure is a natural and important part of life. In the words of a certain long-dead Jedi Master, “the greatest teacher, failure is.” Finn and Rose’s mission to Canto Bight fails; Rey’s plan to turn Kylo Ren from the dark side fails; and even though some members of the Resistance survive to fight another day, their plan to hold out until their allies could come to their aid ultimately fails. But they adapt, they survive, and each person learns from his or her failure. That, to me, is the biggest takeaway from The Last Jedi: people can make plans, learn lessons, and take every precaution possible, and still fail. But the thing that makes our heroes all the more admirable is that they keep going, and they don’t let these failures get them down for long. Just as the First Order is relentless in their pursuit of the Resistance, our heroes are relentless in their pursuit of hope for tomorrow. The Last Jedi saw the spark of hope return to the Resistance, the Jedi, and the Star Wars franchise as a whole. The Force is strong with this one, which is why Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is my favorite movie of 2017.
So, there you have it, folks: the top 10 movies I saw last year. I know that my list and your list will be wildly different from each other, and that’s okay. As I said at the beginning, this is my list, comprised of my opinions, and all about what films stuck with me after I walked out of the movie theater. If there’s a movie that came out last year that you think I should’ve seen, feel free to leave it in the comments below. Enjoy watching the Oscars this Sunday, and I’ll see you at the movies.