Fiercely original films, female-focused stories and theatrical-first releases had the clear edge in released Thursday and topped by Searchlight Pictures鈥�
In a cinematic landscape where it often seems only franchise films have a shot at traditional box office success, were all original 鈥� and most did find robust audiences in theaters, despite the fact that moviegoing has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Writer-director about feuding friends in Ireland has been a clear favorite of critics鈥� groups and industry voting bodies since its decorated in September. The Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson starrer continues to find new audiences now that it鈥檚 available on streaming.
Second place went to the year鈥檚 Cinderella story, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert鈥檚 anarchic, multiverse-hopping an A24 release and that became a
Focus Features鈥� 鈥淭谩r,鈥� challenging with placed third. It鈥檚 the only film in the top five that has struggled at the box office.
Although the top three may sound like many critics鈥� lists, things took a representative, crowd-pleasing turn with the next several films. movie thriller snagged fourth place and Gina Prince-Bythewood鈥檚 rounded out the top five. Both are major studio films (Universal and Sony respectively) from Black directors with Black actors in the lead.
The list also included the biggest blockbusters of the year, (No. 7) and (No. 16, tied); big studio releases like (No. 8) and (No. 14) and myriad international films like the prominently featured at No. 6.
Netflix did break into the top 10 with a crowd-pleaser of its own: starry, comedic whodunit
Female-directed films centered on women鈥檚 stories were also prominently represented. In addition to 鈥淭he Woman King,鈥� as an Agojie warrior, with Claire Foy, Rooney Mara and Jessie Buckley landed in ninth place. semi-autobiographical settled in 11th place, followed closely in 15th by Venice Film Festival-winning about activist and photographer Nan Goldin 鈥� the only documentary in the top 25.
Further down the list were two very different biopics exploring systems of injustice 鈥� (No. 19), about the New York Times reporters who exposed the sexual misconduct and (No. 22) about the mother of the
With seven films from female directors, accounting for 28% of the list, representation is slightly better than the industry as a whole, which 鈥� according to a recent study by San Diego State University 鈥� was at 24% for the top grossing films of 2022. Nine films were also directed by non-white directors.
Two prestigious offerings that left critics quite divided, Darren Aronofsky鈥檚 featuring as a 600-pound man, and a sprawling and raucous film about Hollywood in the silent film era starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, made the list. 鈥淭he Whale鈥� tied with the 鈥淎vatar鈥� sequel for 16th place, while 鈥淏abylon鈥� placed 18th.
Many genres were represented in the top 25, including horror (鈥淣ope鈥�) and satire with (No. 21). 鈥淕lass Onion鈥� (No. 10) in the bunch; there was also the (No. 12), as well as two stop-motion animation offerings ( at No. 13 and at No. 20).
Movies also hailed from many countries around the world including Poland, with at No. 23, and Iran with which rounded out the list at No. 25.
Panahi鈥檚 film has been as acclaimed as any on the list, and topped several prominent Its relatively lower ranking is perhaps due in part to a later release date 鈥� Dec. 23, when the panelists鈥� ballots were due 鈥� and its more limited availability to critics outside of major markets like New York and Los Angeles.
All told, Films that just missed the Top 25 included, in order, 鈥淓mily the Criminal,鈥� 鈥淭he Batman,鈥� 鈥淭he Menu,鈥� 鈥淏ones and All鈥� and 鈥淏lack Panther: Wakanda Forever.鈥�
At the bottom of the list, with one point each, were several starry ensembles from high-profile directors: and Both were technically bested by which got two points total.
鈥擫indsey Bahr, The Associated Press
