Another year has come to an end and with it comes another look at the best of movies of 2016.

But first let me preface this by saying I have not seen all movies that were released in the past year, and frankly it would be impossible for me to do so. That being said, I have tried (and seen) a majority of the releases that I originally planned on watching at least, which brings me to my next point.

Needless to say, this list is heavily influenced by my personal taste, and therefore some of you will likely disagree, which is totally fine.

It was a bit difficult for me to create this list because I enjoyed a fair amount of movies in 2016, and unfortunately there isn’t just much room for a list of ten. On why I decided to limit myself to a top 10 list is a topic for another day. Anyway, I consider these ten movies highly recommendable, and an absolute must-watch. And finally, there’s another section in this post for the movies that didn’t make the cut.

10. HELL OR HIGH WATER

In this neo-western tale of cops vs. robbers, two brothers start robbing a certain chain of banks in West Texas. That premise alone doesn’t sound too engaging from the get go, but Hell or High Water just absorbs you with its surprisingly complex narrative and superb acting from its cast.

Jeff Bridges, who plays a Texas Ranger whose close to retirement, is tasked on chasing down these robbers, playing up the John Wayne cowboy character who’s hellbent on catching the bad guys. The final exchange by Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges, coupled with the beautiful Texan setting, is as tense as it could get in this film, and it makes Hell or High Water just a little more real. When two ideals believing they’re in the right clash together, it’s hard to have a clear decision on who to root for, but that’s what makes this a worthwhile thriller.

It’s always a treat to see a crime story that has actual character development and a gripping story, which seems to be missing in these last few years.

9. DEADPOOL

If there’s one thing people can agree on about the terrible X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, it’s that Ryan Reynolds was perfectly cast as Deadpool. The “true” Deadpool never made it on the film much to the fans’ dismay, instead we got what the studio executives vision of what Deadpool should be.

After spending a decade in development hell, Deadpool finally hit the big screen and it’s one of the best and refreshing superhero movies in recent memory. It’s fun to see a superhero film turn the whole genre on its head so effortlessly with unapologetic humor and fourth-wall breaking antics, which is Deadpool’s whole schtick to begin with.

The best thing about Deadpool, however, is its accurate portrayal of the character. Considering 20th Century Fox’s shoddy treatment of lesser known X-Men characters, we have Ryan Reynolds, who fought for the movie for 10 years, and the Deadpool team’s dedication to thank for its success.

8. SING STREET

Ah, the joys of youth and music and the freedom it brings. Sing Street is a coming-of-age film set in 1980s Ireland about a young boy  who forms a band to impress a girl. Relatively typical plot, however, the charm comes from feel-good aspect of the film and it’s further elevated by its lovely cast, with catchy tunes that will surely get stuck on your head for days.

Sing Street strikes the right chords with its ambitious, and contagious, optimism. Director John Carney perfectly captures the magic and rebelliousness of teen romance and the bond created through brotherhood, using the power of creativity through music. It sends the message of believing in yourself to create something wonderful, and for a lot of us, it’s just something we need to make it though.

And lastly, Irish Seth Rogen. ‘Nuff said.

7. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

This film seemed to slip by almost everybody’s radar when it came out. Most likely overshadowed by bigger blockbusters at the time, Kubo and the Two Strings barely broke even in the box office, and yet and it’s one of the most engaging movies of the year.

A young boy named Kubo goes on a quest to search for a magical samurai armor that’s said to defeat the evil Moon King. It’s an interesting fairy tale rooted in Japanese culture that’s surprisingly original, and also offers the right mix of humor and character.

Charming and equally fascinating, Kubo and the Two Strings is the underrated hit of the year that captivates with its beautiful animation and inspiring mythical story that sends out a very powerful message.

6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

With a cast this big you could practically call it an Avengers movie. But it’s a remarkable feat that Captain America: Civil War still manages to center the main conflict around the titular hero.

Packed with a compelling story and all around great performances from an established cast we’ve come to love over the years, Marvel Studios’ third outing into Captain America’s heroic years brings a satisfying adventure that just reminds you why superhero movies are here to stay. Captain America: Civil War is a deserving closure to the Captain America trilogy.

5. ARRIVAL

It’s easy to fall into the assumption that Arrival would just feature a regular alien invasion plot. But with Denis Villanueve on the helm (whose body of work is slowly getting more impressive with every release), you can expect something much deeper is going to unfold. In fact, the “alien invasion” are not even that important in the grand scheme of the film.

Instead, Villanueve uses the premise as a platform to deliver a science-fiction mystery that studies extraterrestrial communication, as well as a mature and thoughtful exploration of unity, relationships, and family on an emotional level. Arrival is a thought-provoking flick that rises above the bloat of the recycled space/aliens dynamic of the genre, a genre-defining experience that showcases what science-fiction could truly achieve.

4. THE NICE GUYS

Shane Black’s latest buddy comedy The Nice Guys is one of the funniest and just downright entertaining films all year, and it’s all thanks to the unlikely pairing of its lead cast. In the same vein as Black’s other buddy flick Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe form a partnership to solve the disappearance of a teenage girl.

The duo’s irresistible chemistry and comedic timing feels genuinely natural, and it’s visually obvious that the leads are having the time of their lives throughout the film. Having Angourie Rice serve as much of an essential role to the story as its leads is a testament to the film’s strong character development.

With well-developed characters and an engaging script, The Nice Guys serves as a fitting callback to the buddy comedies of the past. If anything deserves a sequel, this absolutely needs one fast.

3. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Rogue One is one of the most anticipated movies this year, and it definitely does not disappoint. It’s actually a surprising move from Disney/Lucasfilm to even make this into a full-length film. It’s essentially a war movie set in the Star Wars universe, which is the kind of story usually reserved for books and TV shows. Nevertheless, bringing supplementary stories into films is a welcome change of perspective from the main episodes.

Told from the soldiers’ point of view, Rogue One explores the horrors of war and the sacrifices made just to retrieve the Death Star plans. Even the Rebels resort to questionable methods for the cause, as perfectly portrayed by the script. Not everything is black and white in war.

With stunning visuals and cinematography, Rogue One probably offers the best ground and space battles between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. Despite being a spin-off, the impressive performance from its strong cast and fresh narrative captures the same magic we fell in love with in the Original Trilogy .

2. ZOOTOPIA

It should come as no surprise to see a Disney movie in this list. Every year they keep cranking out movies that just hit the right spots. This year’s Zootopia however, might just be the most original and just overall entertaining in a long time.

Filled with a thoughtful script and witty humor, its compelling plot mixed with the usual Disney charm makes it a well-rounded animated film. The cast gives the characters life, and the pairing of Judy and Nick adds a classic buddy comedy feel. Beyond the youthful visuals and well-crafted gags, it is surprisingly a great homage to the detective noir genre of the 1940’s.

Zootopia is the best film Disney has put out in years, and it’s certainly up there with the classics. There’s much here for kids to like that adults will appreciate as well.

1. LA LA LAND

If I could describe La La Land in just one word, it would just be: magical. This movie perfectly combines great performances, a wonderful soundtrack and a heartfelt story – a feat that’s absolutely easier said than done.

But behind the movie’s charming aesthetics and enthusiastic musical setpieces is a complex, brilliantly written romance that’s a little too grounded in reality. Director Damien Chazelle’s penchant for endings that hit you from left field, however fitting it may be, is certainly one of the director’s greatest skills.

La La Land will leave you with tears in your eyes, but you’ll all be better for that I’m sure.

Others

2016 had a lot of films that I immensely enjoyed. Sadly, most of them didn’t make my personal top 10 (it was hard enough as it is) as I tried to make it as diverse as I could. However, I’d still recommend the movies listed below a watch, even at least once. These films are still worth your time in my opinion, and you could still probably appreciate a thing or two about them.

DOCTOR STRANGE

Marvel Studios have certainly come a long way ever since the taking on a gamble with Iron Man in 2008. In the span of eight years, superheroes like Captain America, Thor and Hawkeye have become household names in mainstream pop culture. And now you can add Doctor Strange to that list.

These solo films are a great to take a step back from the grandiose scale of established Marvel films like Avengers and the recent Civil War, and let some characters breathe on their own. While origin movies can be tiresome at times, it’s balanced by the performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, although Cumberbatch’s American accent can be jarring at times.

Unfortunately, the movie’s big bad, Kaecilius, suffers from Marvel Studios’ well-maintained tradition of treating its villains like fodder. Nevertheless, Doctor Strange is trippy adventure to the visually stunning supernatural dimensions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

DON’T BREATHE

Don’t Breathe is taut horror thriller that, in the tired home invasion genre, offers something simple but fresh. Three teens attempt to rob a blind man’s house, but soon discover that they’re in way over their heads, and find something far more sinister going on.

What makes Don’t Breathe stand out is the effortless way it mixes the worn formula of home invasions and elements of heist films, adding a grey layer to the audience’s natural inclination to root for a clear protagonist.

The film never resorts to cheap jumpscares to deliver edge-of-the-seat thrills. Instead, director Fede Alvarez relies on the claustrophic surroundings and brilliant tracking shots that bring out the suspense further. Case in point, the scene where everything goes dark is a treat to watch.

THE SHALLOWS

Survivor flicks are a constrained genre which makes it a little tricky to get right. Everything relies on a strong protagonist that can carry the whole film. And Blake Lively successfully does that in The Shallows.

The plot is practically non-existent in this film. It’s a straight-up “woman vs. shark” narrative, but the way Lively’s character desperately tries to survive is enjoyable enough to warrant a watch.

STAR TREK BEYOND

Being the third iteration in the rebooted franchise, it’s apparent that the series has finally found its footing in Star Trek Beyond. The cast appear visually comfortable in their roles, and the story, while familiar, is an undoubtedly amusing.

Star Trek Beyond leaves behind the unnecessarily convoluted plot of the previous entry, Into Darkness, and takes comfort in delivering a simple, yet highly entertaining, sci-fi adventure. With J.J. Abrams stepping down from the director’s chair, Justin Lin takes the reigns and successfully brings it back to its established roots. On the other hand, screenwriters Simon Pegg (who also plays Scotty in the film) and Doug Jung brilliantly group the cast in pairs as a way to let their characters shine in their own ways, while also allowing each of them to evolve.

While it’s not that talked about unlike other pop culture giants in the past year, Star Trek Beyond is still a solid watch for viewers looking for good fun. It’s a strong contender for being the best one in the rebooted series.

SAUSAGE PARTY

Let’s just get this out of the way, Sausage Party is unapologetically offensive. Even for people who’ve seen most films produced by Seth Rogen and his friends, this animated film about sentient food searching for an existential truth stretches everything to the limits.

Several of the jokes (as stereotypically raunchy as it may be) still garner some laughs – the running gag of the douche using food puns is admittedly hilarious – and a few scenes are ingenious homages to pop culture. And when you think a joke is tame enough, the film would deliver something even filthier later on. If anything, watch Sausage Party for the “climax” scene near the end, which is a culmination of everything it’s been building up to.

Ultimately however, its heavy-handed religious implications, along with a meandering plot at times, do not fully achieve its purpose as a satirical social commentary, although admirable in concept. It’s a funny movie no doubt, but it’s essential to know what to expect going in.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

10 Cloverfield Lane is a big departure from its found-footage monster film predecessor, considering it’s the “spiritual successor” to 2008’s Cloverfield. While it’s set in the same universe, it’s clearly a different kind of movie altogether. Nevertheless, it’s still a well-crafted thriller that jumps seamlessly between tense situations and unexpected dark humor, leaving you to judge whether Howard (John Goodman) speaks the truth or just a plain psychopath.

It’s amazing what this movie has achieved within a constrained setting, and with just a small cast. John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s brilliant performances just suck you in, elevating the edge-of-seat thrills even more.

It takes an abrupt change in tone near the end, and how you perceive it could very well be affected by whether you’ve seen Cloverfield or not. Either way, 10 Cloverfield Lane‘s does its job perfectly: a psychological thriller that’s suspenseful enough to leave you curious.