10 Best Movies of 2017
5. Logan
Deadpool might have done it first, but Logan managed to prove that there is a high demand for R-rated superhero movies. It proved to be a fitting goodbye to Hugh Jackman as well, who has been around since the genre exploded in the new millennium. Other actors have come and gone from roles, but he’s always going to be the Wolverine. I almost feel sorry for whoever takes on the role next, because he’s going to have some big claws to fill. Logan wasn’t your typical superhero film either. There were no flashy costumes, no world-threatening plots to battle, no oversexualized love interests. It was just a man on his last legs trying to do the right thing one more time.
4. Blade Runner 2049
I’m a huge fan of the original Blade Runner, so it fills my heart with joy that I can legitimately include this long-awaited sequel on the list of the best movies of 2017. What made it such a great sequel is that director Denis Villeneuve clearly understood the original movie and used that understanding to expand on the themes without simply regurgitating them. This is also probably my favorite performance from Ryan Gosling (besides his role in The Good Guys). In fact, the whole cast was spectacular in this, especially Harrison Ford who made a triumphant return as the Blade Runner who dreamt of unicorns. One of the few sequels this year that didn’t fail audiences.
3. Coco
Of course Pixar managed to make one of the best movies of 2017, However, it’s not just on this list because it’s an outstanding film. Coco is a movie that we desperately needed in a time when racism has gone mainstream. With a President that made building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico a cornerstone of his campaign, Pixar dove into the rich culture of the Mexican people and gave us a film that was essentially a huge middle finger to the ignorant masses who supported the policy. Coco proved that social commentary doesn’t have to be heavy handed and that movies are a great way to open our eyes to the beauty of the world.
2. Wonder Woman
Continuing the trend of great movies with strong social messages, Wonder Woman is by far and away the best thing to come out of the DCU (and that’s coming from a die-hard Batman film). Gal Gadot proves that she is the hero that we all need and is more than capable of shouldering the weight of her own film with grace. Not only that, but it proved that the age-old belief that audiences don’t want to see female lead action films couldn’t be less true. This was a year for breaking the mold with superhero movies and that’s why I couldn’t be happier to put Wonder Woman on this list of the best movies of 2017! Here’s hoping for more strong women on screen in the coming years.
1. Get Out
Coming in at the very top of the best movies of 2017 is the film that the year should be remembered for. Jordan Peele transitions from on-screen funny man to the thought-provoking director with his debut feature that shows the horror of racism. A movie that was delightfully uncomfortable for the privileged in the audience, Get Out has a strong message that is carefully intertwined with all the tropes we love about the horror genre (the good ones at least). While social commentary is no stranger to the big screen, this film manages to do so in a way that appealed to both sides of the issue in such a way that allows it’s message to be fully absorbed by the audience. I know I certainly had my fair share of white guilt afterwards, but damn if I didn’t want to see it again. That’s why Get Out is Stars & Popcorn’s best movie of the year.
There you have it. Sure there are a lot of films that received critical praise that is missing from this list. But going to the movies isn’t always about the stars. In fact, after the horror show, 2017 was for so many people, I believe it’s the popcorn that saved our sanity. What were some of your favorite movies of the year? Do you have any unique recommendations that people might have missed? Be sure to comment below with your top picks so we all have something to fill the first month of the year with.