Good… but not great.
That is the best way I can describe the movies (that I’ve seen) that have come out in 2020. Due to the pandemic, theaters across the country have been closed or running on fumes. Studios tried different measures to combat it but ultimately most of the big-budget blockbuster films were delayed and we were left with a bunch of straight-to-streaming movies that were good… but not great.
In fact, some of the best movies that were released in 2020 came from some of our best filmmakers and from people and studios that I consider to be some of my personal favorites. But even those movies, the ones that came from names like Nolan, Fincher, Apatow, and Sorkin, were all just good… but not great.
My total for the year is up to 75 as of now. I say “as of now” because there are several movies that are considered 2020 movies (for awards purposes) that I simply just haven’t had access to, so I will continue adding to the list until awards season comes to a close. At that point, I will have a full Logey’s post like you’ve all grown to admire (or at least give a courtesy click to). You can expect that sometime in March/April.
For now, I have for you a breakdown of 20 movies from the year that I think are worth a watch. These aren’t the 20 best movies of the year but rather 20 of the ones that I got the most out of and that I believe need to be seen by others. Not all of these movies are for everyone so I tried to give some recommendations as to who should watch each particular movie. Some of them I’m sure you’ve already seen (because what else did you have to do in 2020?) but I’m sure you’ll come across at least a few that you haven’t. And because it’s 2020, just about all of these should be available to you through a streaming service.
Enjoy!
Clouds — Drama/Music — Disney+
A personal favorite of mine from 2020, Clouds tells the story of Minnesota teenager Zach Sobiech whose song becomes a viral sensation just before he loses his battle with cancer. Following the likes of The Fault in Our Stars and Five Feet Apart before it, this musical drama is sure to pull at all of your heartstrings.
Who Should See It?: Anyone looking for a good, happy cry. Bring the tissues.
Dick Johnson is Dead — Documentary — Netflix
Easily the best documentary of 2020, Dick Johnson is Dead is from the mind of filmmaker Kirsten Johnson who shows us a variety of ways that her father Richard, who is suffering from dementia, could die. I know how this sounds dark but take my word for it, this film is phenomenal. It uses dark humor and very imaginative set pieces to tell a really beautiful story that will touch all of your emotions. Another one to have the tissue box handy.
Who Should See It?: I get that maybe documentaries aren’t for everyone but this one is something special. It’s such a great story and it feels like so much more than your standard, run-of-the-mill doc. Seek it out. I guarantee you won’t regret it.
Enola Holmes — Action/Adventure — Netflix
Millie Bobby Brown stars as Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock, in this adventure movie about the younger Holmes trying to follow in the footsteps of her successful older sibling. Brown is great in the lead role.
Who Should See It?: Anyone looking for something to do on a Friday night in. Good for families with older kids.
Extraction — Action — Netflix
One of the year’s best big-budget, action flicks. Chris Hemsworh stars in this film with a script from Joe Russo and it absolutely doesn’t disappoint. 2020 may have robbed us of a lot of blockbuster films but Netflix came in the clutch with this one in April. The film as a whole is good but the 12-minute long one-shot action sequence is the highlight.
Who Should See It?: Fans of action movies of any kind.
Happiest Season — Romcom/Holiday — Hulu
A holiday romcom that dropped on Hulu in November, Happiest Season shows us about love and acceptance while giving plenty of laughs along the way.
Who Should See It?: Anyone in need of some happiness around the holidays (or anytime, really).
The Invisible Man — Horror/Thriller/Sci-Fi — HBO Max (as of 1/15)/Buy/Rent/On-Demand
One of very few films I watched in a theater in 2020 (and the day I purchased my useless 2020 refillable popcorn bucket), Elizabeth Moss gives a great performance in this retelling of a classic horror trope. The film leans heavy on the sci-fi but it’s a strong entry into the Dark Universe catalogue.
Who Should See It?: Horror/Thriller buffs for sure but even if horror isn’t your thing, I still say this is worth a watch. Teeters more on the side of thriller, in my opinion.
The King of Staten Island — Comedy — HBO Max (as of 1/15)/Buy/Rent/On-Demand
Judd Apatow keeps opening up the door for young comedians to shine on the big (err… small) screen and he excels at it again with this Pete Davidson-led comedy/drama. Loosely based on Davidson’s actual life, The King of Staten Island has plenty of laughs but also has a lot of heart. Davidson is great in the lead role but Marisa Tomei and Bill Burr are the MVPs.
Who Should See It?: If you’re a fan of Apatow movies, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well. Some people may not be huge Davidson fans but he really does give a strong acting performance.
Mank — Historical Drama — Netflix
Mank is about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his life leading up to and while he is writing Citizen Kane. This movie has JUST ABOUT everything. It’s well-written, it’s well-directed, it has great performances, it’s shot well, it’s edited well, and it has a great score. It is likely going to receive plenty of praise when awards season comes around…
Who Should See It?: … But this film is certainly not for everyone. For a director that has been behind several crowd-pleasing and super digestible films over the past 25 years, he certainly takes a different direction with Mank. This one almost requires that you have a familiarity and appreciation for 1930s and 40s Hollywood which immediately takes a lot of people (myself included) out of it. It’s still a great movie and I have a hard time not recommending it but I’m just not sure I can suggest it to everyone. If you do decide to give it a go, and I do encourage you to do so, make sure you at least familiarize yourself with Citizen Kane if you haven’t already.
On The Rocks — Drama/Comedy — AppleTV+
Bill Murray and Rashida Jones team up for a great comedy/drama about a father helping his daughter trail her husband and his suspicious activities. Directed by Sofia Coppola, On The Rocks is a charming father/daughter movie with plenty of laughs and heart.
Who Should See It?: Honestly, anyone that has access to AppleTV+. (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?)
Onward — Animation/Adventure — Disney+
One of two Pixar releases we got during 2020, this one had a very brief theatrical run that was cut short due to the pandemic. Disney decided to graciously release it onto Disney+ in April (significantly earlier than a film like this normally would have), which pleased many shut-in families. Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus lend their A-list voices to this fantasy film about a pair of brothers trying to learn a little bit more about their deceased father.
Who Should See It?: I would imagine that most families with access to Disney+ have already seen this film but if you haven’t, you definitely should.
Over the Moon — Animation — Netflix
An animated fantasy film about a girl who builds a spaceship to meet a moon goddess, Over the Moon provides some of the year’s best visuals and some decent music as well.
Who Should See It?: Families with younger kids will likely get a kick out of this one. Lots of music, colors, and even some jokes for the adults.
Palm Springs — Romantic Comedy — Hulu
The year’s premier romantic comedy, Palm Springs uses a Groundhog Day-esque time loop to tell a fun and captivating story about two people (played by Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti) that meet at a wedding in Palm Springs over, and over again. Easily one of my favorite films of the year.
Who Should See It?: Anyone looking for a good laugh.
The Prom — Musical — Netflix
Taken from the Broadway stage show of the same name, The Prom is the story of a group of narcissistic theater actors that decide, on a whim, to head to Indiana to help a girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom. This film consists of an all-star cast featuring names like Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, and Keegan-Michael Key but none of those names shine brighter than debut actress Jo Ellen Pellman in the lead role of Emma. The Prom is a flawed film and it’s been divisive amongst those that have watched it but I found it to be just entertaining enough and it has some catchy tunes.
Who Should See It?: Musical theater fans, first and foremost. Not everyone will respond well to this but if you just let loose and not expect to be blown away, I think most people can have a good time with it. It’s better than Cats (actually I can’t confirm that because I never bothered to watch Cats but I can assure you that this is better).
Shithouse — Comedy/Drama — On-Demand
This is the most under-the-radar film on the entire list. Written and directed by Cooper Raiff, Shithouse tells the story of a college freshman that struggles with homesickness and ends up spending the night with his sophomore RA, who just needed someone to hang out with. Raiff, who also stars in the film, is one of the many up-and-comers that are featured here but it’s Dylan Gelula that drives the story and is incredible on screen as Maggie. Oh, and by the way, Cooper Raiff was only 22 years old when he was directing/writing/acting in this already award-winning feature film.
Who Should See It?: This film won’t blow anybody’s socks off but I’m absolutely going to recommend it to anyone that’s looking to kill 90 minutes. It’s very much worth it, especially when it’s ultimately available on a streaming service. This will really hit home for those that have experienced the feeling of homesickness, particularly in college.
Soul — Animation — Disney+
The second film we got in 2020 from Pixar Studios, Soul tells the story of a middle school music teacher (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who is on a mission to reunite his soul with his body after they are accidentally separated (*whispers, obviously* he dies). This film is just as visually beautiful as you would expect from Pixar and it has some great voice work from Foxx and Tina Fey. Soul is another great entry into the Pixar filmography but I would put it just outside of the studio’s top ten.
Who Should See It?: Surprisingly, not kids. I mean, obviously this is an animated film from Pixar so kids are going to watch it and that’s okay. There’s nothing about it that is inappropriate or that contains adult material. However, where Pixar usually produces films for kids that have content inside of it for adults, this film is really more for the adults with some stuff thrown in for the kids. Most of it will go over their heads.
The Sound of Metal — Drama — Prime Video
One of the year’s best films and easily one of the year’s best performances, The Sound of Metal features Riz Ahmed in a story about a heavy-metal drummer that loses his hearing and struggles to cope with the change. Ahmed’s performance and the use of incredible sound mixing really put you into the shoes of the character and you feel everything he’s feeling. While slow at times, The Sound of Metal is an incredible film that flew under the radar in 2020 but deserves all the praise it’s already received.
Who Should See It?: Not for everyone but this one is an excellent film that a lot of movie fans will enjoy.
Tenet — Action/Sci-Fi — Buy/Rent/On-Demand
Christopher Nolan’s 2020 release was much-discussed throughout the year, primarily due to the fact that it was the only major film to be released to theaters during the pandemic. A technical masterpiece that will take multiple viewings to really fully grasp it (see: nearly every Nolan movie ever), even a second or third tiered Nolan film is worthy of plenty of praise.
Who Should See It?: Anyone that’s looking to go on a fun, Nolan-style ride. Tenet has its flaws but still worth a watch now that it’s available for home viewing.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 — Historical Drama — Netflix
Aaron Sorkin returns to what he does best: writing courtroom/legal dialogue. Sorkin tells a compelling story and is anchored by strong performances by its ensemble cast. Expect this film to be a contender come award season.
Who Should See It?: Fans of historical, courtroom dramas that are driven by snappy dialogue and strong performances. Even if you aren’t one of those, there’s plenty in this one for most viewers.
The Way Back — Drama/Sports — HBO Max (as of 1/15)/Buy/Rent/On-Demand
A solid sports drama from director Gavin O’Connor (Warrior, Miracle, The Accountant). Ben Affleck returns to form and gives one of his greatest performances to date.
Who Should See It?: Anyone who’s a fan of Affleck, sports movies, or a good redemption arc.
Wolfwalkers — Animation — AppleTV+
An animated movie out of Ireland, Wolfwalkers debuted on AppleTV+ to very little attention but it deserves far more. It’s not a style of animation we see much of anymore but it’s incredibly well done and has a very touching story to go with it.
Who Should See It?: If you happen to have access to AppleTV+, this one is worth a watch. We’ve had some really wonderful animation in films in 2020 and Wolfwalkers is certainly no exception.
As I said earlier, there will be more movie coverage as we get deeper into the awards season. There are still several films that I haven’t been able to get to that are sure to be featured heavily when the Logey’s do come around. Check back later for more!
