2017 was a great year for movies. There were a lot of movies that lived up to expectations, some that disappointed, and others that were complete surprises. From dramas to horror to superhero blockbuster films, there were a lot of great movies that were released in 2017. While 2017 was a year filled with disasters and political disputes, one thing that helped get us through the year was great entertainment.
Here is my personal list of the top 10 best movies of 2017. There were some movies this year that I missed that a lot of people thought were great such as Call Me By Your Name and Molly’s Game, but unfortunately, I have not seen them yet. Before I get to the list, here are some honorable mentions that just missed the list.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spiderman: Homecoming
- It
- The Shape of Water
- Wonder Woman
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- Wonder
- Dunkirk
- Brigsby Bear
- The Big Sick
- Ingrid Goes West
- Good Time
- Detroit
- The Lego Batman Movie
10. War For The Planet of The Apes
This is the third and final entry in the Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy and it ends the trilogy in a spectacular fashion. It may not have delivered on the action promised in the trailers, but it delivered a powerful character study of Caesar. Andy Serkis provides another powerful performance as the lead ape and he is fantastic. Woody Harrelson also provides a really good villain for this film.
The special effects used on the motion capture for the apes are some of the best effects ever put to film. This movie also hits a very strong emotional cord and it can be heartbreaking at times. I still think Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the best in the trilogy, but this one comes close and ends the trilogy triumphantly.
9. John Wick: Chapter 2
The first John Wick was a pleasant surprise and the second one is even better. It features a great adventure for Wick, but it also expands the world that the assassins live in. It shows that the world of assassins in this movie is a total global organization with its own rules and leaders.
Keanu Reeves proves that after all these years, he is still an action star. The gun fights and hand-to-hand choreography are very well done and can be absolutely brutal at times. It also ends in a way that got me very excited for Chapter 3. Hopefully, the third chapter is just as good as this one.
8. Thor: Ragnarok
Finally! A Thor movie that is really fun. Marvel has been on a crazy hot streak and this movie continues it. It features great performances from returning cast members like Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Hiddleston, but it also has some great new faces such as Jeff Goldblum and Cate Blanchett.
The action is great fun and this movie has so much humor that works. Director Taika Waititi shows that his comedy style can work really well in an action movie. It is one of the funniest Marvel movies and one of the best in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
7. The Disaster Artist
The Room is one of the worst movies ever made, but this movie definitely does not follow that status. The film tells the story of the making of The Room and the friendship between Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero. James Franco is fantastic as Wiseau and does an uncanny impersonation of him.
His brother, Dave Franco, is also great as Sestero. The film not only does a great job at exploring their friendship, but it is also a somewhat inspiring tale about the benefits of following one’s passion. It answers the question of what the hell the people behind The Room were thinking.
6. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This wins the award for the best performances in a movie this year. Every single cast member is fantastic in this movie. Frances McDormand is one of the strongest female characters ever put to film. She is extremely tough but does have a soft side to her. Woody Harrelson is also great in this movie as the police chief.
Sam Rockwell has one of the best character arcs in a film this year. I hated him at the beginning of the movie, but I was somewhat sympathetic towards him at the end. The script is really great in this movie as well. This movie has a lot of shocking moments and can be upsetting, but it also features some great comedy. I left this movie with conflicting emotions, but the one thing I knew for sure was that this movie is great.
5. Blade Runner 2049
Director Dennis Villeneuve has proven to be one of the best directors working in the business and this film shows why. This movie is a bit slow, but I was consistently entertained due to how beautiful every single shot was in this movie. The cinematography in this movie is some of the best that I’ve ever seen in a film.
Even the special effects are really well done in this movie. It also features great performances from Robin Wright, Ryan Gosling, and Harrison Ford. The score by Hans Zimmer is also remarkable and one of his best. It does a great job at being a sequel to Blade Runner while also bringing something fresh and new.
4. Wind River
Wind River is a movie that is very impactful. It is extremely real, brutal, and doesn’t shy away from showing very violent details. It features the best performances I have seen from both Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Taylor Sheridan does an amazing job at directing this movie.
It takes place in a cold, desolate environment and Sheridan makes you feel that throughout the movie. It is a heartbreaking movie, but the text shown at the end of the movie shows why this movie is so important.
3. Get Out
Famous comedy sketch actor, Jordan Peele’s, directorial debut is a horror movie. Sounds like a strange combination. However, this movie knocks it out of the park. Not only is it very suspense-filled, but it provides an interesting perspective on racism today. It contains an original message without overdoing the message.
The film also features great performances throughout from its cast. It is also a really good blend of different genres like horror and comedy. The twist towards the end of this movie is really surprising and makes you ask certain questions about current society. Peele did an excellent job with this movie and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
2. Baby Driver
Director Edgar Wright has shown that he has a very distinct way of directing movies and this movie is a perfect showcase of his abilities. Wright does things with music in this movie that have never been done in other movies and he does it perfectly. The soundtrack is perfect and it always fits the scene in which it is played.
Baby Driver also features great performances from its star cast such as Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, and Lily James. The action is also very well done and is very energetic. This is one of the most fun movies of the year and it never took its foot off the gas pedal for the whole movie.
1. Logan
Logan is not only the best movie in the X-Men franchise, but it is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. It is very unique in the fact that it doesn’t focus on explosions and great action scenes, but it provides a character study of Logan and everything that he has been through.
However, the action scenes are still very well done and are extremely brutal. The R rating helps show a more realistic version of Wolverine and the violence that he can create. It is Hugh Jackman’s last time as Wolverine and luckily he can hang up his claws after giving his best performance.
In addition, Patrick Stewart also gives his best performance as Professor Xavier and newcomer Dafne Keen shows that she is an absolute badass. The film also ends with one of the most emotionally impactful moments of 2017. This movie set a new standard for storytelling in superhero movies and I’m fully satisfied if this is the final time that we will see Jackman as Wolverine.
