Top 87 Ranked

Best Movies of 2016

Modern Classics and Award Winning Cinema

Explore the best cinema from a year of groundbreaking storytelling. Discover top rated dramas, animation, and indie hits in our curated movie rankings.

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About Movies in 2016

When we look back at the cinematic landscape of 2016, we see a year that felt like a bridge between the old guard of prestige filmmaking and a bold, neon-soaked future. It was a period defined by a strange, electric energy in the air. While the world outside the theater felt increasingly fractured and unpredictable, the movies responded with a mixture of comfort food, heartbreaking realism, and visionary escapism.

At the heart of the 2016 conversation was a singular showdown at the Academy Awards that people still talk about today. The battle between La La Land and Moonlight was more than just a chaotic envelope mix-up. It represented two different souls of cinema. Damien Chazelle’s La La Land offered a lush, primary-colored tribute to the golden age of Hollywood, proving that the classical musical could still make audiences swoon. Meanwhile, Barry Jenkins gave us Moonlight, a triptych of identity and yearning that pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. When Moonlight eventually took home Best Picture, it signaled a shift in whose stories the industry deemed essential.

The year was also a high-water mark for science fiction that actually asked the big questions. Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival arrived at a moment of global tension, offering a thoughtful meditation on language, grief, and diplomacy that felt vital. On the other end of the genre spectrum, George Miller’s influence from the previous year was still being felt, but 2016 carved out its own space for visceral thrills with films like Green Room and the unexpected sensory overload of The Neon Demon.

Animation reached a sophisticated peak as well. Disney’s Zootopia managed to tackle complex social allegories through the lens of a buddy-cop movie, while Moana solidified a new era of musical excellence for the studio. Simultaneously, Kubo and the Two Strings pushed the limits of stop-motion artistry, reminding us that hand-crafted cinema still possessed a soul that digital pixels often struggled to replicate.

What makes 2016 truly stand out in memory, however, is the explosion of original horror and independent voices. This was the year of The Witch, which introduced the world to Anya Taylor-Joy and a new brand of atmospheric folk horror. We also saw Raw, a French coming-of-age story that pushed boundaries, and Manchester by the Sea, a film so devastating in its portrayal of grief that it became an instant touchstone for dramatic acting.

Culturally, we were also seeing the superhero genre begin to experiment with its own identity. Deadpool broke the fourth wall and the box office, proving that R-rated irreverence had a massive audience. Inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War managed to juggle a dozen heroes while maintaining a grounded emotional core.

Ultimately, 2016 was a year where every weekend seemed to offer something that demanded to be discussed. It was a year of incredible texture, where blockbusters had brains and small indie films had massive hearts. It remains a favorite for film fans because it felt like a year where the medium was firing on all cylinders, refusing to be cynical and choosing instead to be brave, beautiful, and deeply human.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
87
2016 in Collateral Beauty (2016)
Collateral Beauty
2016

Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.

Drama
Romance
1h 37m
David Frankel
86
2016 in Shin Godzilla (2016)
Shin Godzilla
2016

When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

Action
Science Fiction
2h 0m
Shinji Higuchi
Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, Kengo Kora
85
2016 in Zoolander 2 (2016)
Zoolander 2
2016

Derek and Hansel are modelling again when an opposing company attempts to take them out from the business.

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84
2016 in Ben-Hur (2016)
Ben-Hur
2016

A falsely accused nobleman survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him.

Action
History
2h 5m
Timur Bekmambetov
Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro, Morgan Freeman
83
2016 in The Magnificent Seven (2016)
The Magnificent Seven
2016

Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma Cullen and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm for help. Chisolm recruits an eclectic group of gunslingers to take on Bogue and his ruthless henchmen. With a deadly showdown on the horizon, the seven mercenaries soon find themselves fighting for more than just money once the bullets start to fly.

82
2016 in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
2016

A sorority moves in next door to the home of Mac and Kelly Radner who have a young child. The Radner's enlist their former nemeses from the fraternity to help battle the raucous sisters.

Comedy
1h 32m
Nicholas Stoller
Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Chloë Grace Moretz
81
2016 in Gods of Egypt (2016)
Gods of Egypt
2016

A common thief joins a mythical god on a quest through Egypt.

Action
Adventure
2h 7m
Alex Proyas
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites, Gerard Butler, Chadwick Boseman
80
2016 in Now You See Me 2 (2016)
Now You See Me 2
2016

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their mind-bending spectacles, the Four Horsemen resurface only to find themselves face to face with a new enemy who enlists them to pull off their most dangerous heist yet.

79
2016 in The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
The Legend of Tarzan
2016

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

78
2016 in Jason Bourne (2016)
Jason Bourne
2016

The most dangerous former operative of the CIA is drawn out of hiding to uncover hidden truths about his past.

Action
Adventure
77
2016 in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
X-Men: Apocalypse
2016

After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.

Action
Adventure
76

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

75
2016 in Spectral (2016)
Spectral
2016

A special-ops team is dispatched to fight supernatural beings that have taken over a European city.

Science Fiction
Thriller
1h 49m
Nic Mathieu
James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, Gonzalo Menendez, Max Martini
74
2016 in Allied (2016)
Allied
2016

In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war.

Action
Drama
73
2016 in Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Hail, Caesar!
2016

When a Hollywood star mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer to get him back.

Comedy
Crime
1h 46m
Joel Coen
72
2016 in The Young Pope - A Tale of Filmmaking (2016)
The Young Pope - A Tale of Filmmaking
2016

The documentary film that follows the production of the TV series “The Young Pope” by Paolo Sorrentino produced by HBO, Sky, Canal + and Wildside. Nastro d’Argento 2017 – Silver Ribbon Italian Film Critics Award: Nomination for Best Documentary.

Documentary
57m
Fabio Mollo
71
2016 in Warcraft (2016)
Warcraft
2016

The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people, and their home.

Action
Adventure
2h 3m
Duncan Jones
Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper
70
2016 in Captain Fantastic (2016)
Captain Fantastic
2016

Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, beginning a journey that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent.

Adventure
Drama
1h 58m
Matt Ross
Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso
69
2016 in Money Monster (2016)
Money Monster
2016

Financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes over their studio.

Thriller
Drama
68

As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.

Crime
Thriller
2h 8m
Gavin O'Connor
Ben Affleck, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons
67
2016 in Sausage Party (2016)
Sausage Party
2016

Hot dog Frank leads a group of supermarket products on a quest to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they become chosen to leave the grocery store.

Adventure
Animation
1h 29m
Greg Tiernan
66
2016 in The Great Wall (2016)
The Great Wall
2016

European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.

Action
Adventure
1h 43m
Zhang Yimou
Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau
65
2016 in The Girl on the Train (2016)
The Girl on the Train
2016

Rachel Watson, devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.

Crime
Mystery
1h 52m
Tate Taylor
Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Luke Evans
64
2016 in The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
The Secret Life of Pets
2016

The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.

Family
Comedy
1h 26m
Chris Renaud
Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate
63
2016 in Midnight Special (2016)
Midnight Special
2016

A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.

Adventure
Drama
1h 52m
Jeff Nichols
62
2016 in Love & Friendship (2016)
Love & Friendship
2016

From Jane Austen’s novella, the beautiful and cunning Lady Susan Vernon visits the estate of her in-laws to wait out colorful rumors of her dalliances and to find husbands for herself and her daughter. Two young men, handsome Reginald DeCourcy and wealthy Sir James Martin, severely complicate her plans.

Drama
Romance
1h 34m
Whit Stillman
Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, Morfydd Clark, Emma Greenwell
61
2016 in Inferno (2016)
Inferno
2016

After waking up in a hospital with amnesia, professor Robert Langdon and a doctor must race against time to foil a deadly global plot.

Mystery
Thriller
Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan
60
2016 in American Honey (2016)
American Honey
2016

A restless teenager escapes her troubled home and joins a traveling crew of young drifters selling magazines across the American Midwest. Immersed in a world of reckless partying, risky hustles, and fleeting romances, she searches for freedom and belonging on the open road.

Drama
2h 43m
Andrea Arnold
Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough, Arielle Holmes
59
2016 in Race (2016)
Race
2016

Based on the story of Jesse Owens, the athlete whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.

Drama
History
2h 14m
Stephen Hopkins
Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton
58
2016 in Ghostbusters (2016)
Ghostbusters
2016

Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.

Action
Fantasy
1h 57m
Paul Feig
57
2016 in The Invitation (2016)
The Invitation
2016

Will and his new girlfriend Kira are invited to a dinner with old friends at the house of Will’s ex Eden and her new partner David. Although the evening appears to be relaxed, Will soon gets a creeping suspicion that their charming host David is up to something.

Thriller
Horror
1h 40m
Karyn Kusama
Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michiel Huisman
56
2016 in The BFG (2016)
The BFG
2016

An orphan little girl befriends a benevolent giant who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world.

Adventure
Family
55
2016 in Queen of Katwe (2016)
Queen of Katwe
2016

A young girl overcomes her disadvantaged upbringing in the slums of Uganda to become a Chess master.

Drama
2h 4m
Mira Nair
Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, Martin Kabanza
54
2016 in The Wailing (2016)
The Wailing
2016

A stranger arrives in a little village and soon after a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman is drawn into the incident and is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.

Horror
Mystery
2h 36m
Na Hong-jin
Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Jun Kunimura
53
2016 in The Innocents (2016)
The Innocents
2016

Poland, 1945. Mathilde, a young French Red Cross doctor, is on a mission to help the war survivors. When a nun seeks for her help, she is brought to a convent where several pregnant sisters are hiding, unable to reconcile their faith with their pregnancy. Mathilde becomes their only hope.

Drama
History
1h 55m
Anne Fontaine
Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza, Vincent Macaigne
52
2016 in Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Ouija: Origin of Evil
2016

In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her two daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.

Horror
1h 39m
Mike Flanagan
Parker Mack, Annalise Basso, Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson
51

In 1974, television reporter Christine Chubbuck struggles with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.

Drama
2h 3m
Antonio Campos
Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Maria Dizzia
50
2016 in Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
Everybody Wants Some!!
2016

A comedy that follows a group of friends as they navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.

Comedy
Blake Jenner, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin
49
2016 in Neruda (2016)
Neruda
2016

It’s 1948 and the Cold War has arrived in Chile. In the Congress, prominent Communist Senator and popular poet Pablo Neruda accuses the government of betraying the Party and is stripped of his parliamentary immunity by President González Videla. The Chief of Investigative Police instructs inspector Óscar Peluchonneau to arrest the poet. Neruda tries to escape from the country with his wife, the painter Delia del Carril, but they are forced to go underground.

Drama
1h 48m
Pablo Larraín
Gael García Bernal, Luis Gnecco, Mercedes Morán, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
48
2016 in The Light Between Oceans (2016)
The Light Between Oceans
2016

A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from an adrift rowboat.

Drama
Romance
2h 13m
Derek Cianfrance
Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Bryan Brown
47
2016 in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
2016

Mike and Dave are young, adventurous, fun-loving brothers who tend to get out of control at family gatherings. When their sister Jeanie reveals her Hawaiian wedding plans, the rest of the Stangles insist that the brothers bring respectable dates. After placing an ad on Craigslist, the siblings decide to pick Tatiana and Alice, two charming and seemingly normal women. Once they arrive on the island, however, Mike and Dave realize that their companions are ready to get wild and party.

Comedy
1h 38m
Jake Szymanski
Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza
46
2016 in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
Florence Foster Jenkins
2016

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress, who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.

Comedy
Drama
1h 50m
Stephen Frears
45
2016 in Deepwater Horizon (2016)
Deepwater Horizon
2016

A story set on the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded during April 2010 and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

44
2016 in Café Society (2016)
Café Society
2016

The story of a young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love, and finds himself swept up in the vibrant café society that defined the spirit of the age.

43
2016 in I, Daniel Blake (2016)
I, Daniel Blake
2016

A middle aged carpenter, who requires state welfare after injuring himself, is joined by a single mother in a similar scenario.

Drama
1h 40m
Ken Loach
Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Briana Shann, Dylan McKiernan
42
2016 in Passengers (2016)
Passengers
2016

A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.

Drama
Romance
1h 56m
Morten Tyldum
41
2016 in A United Kingdom (2016)
A United Kingdom
2016

The inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth defied family, Apartheid and empire - their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world.

Drama
History
1h 51m
Amma Asante
David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Tom Felton, Jack Davenport
40
2016 in Sing (2016)
Sing
2016

A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.

Family
Comedy
1h 48m
Garth Jennings
39
2016 in The Salesman (2016)
The Salesman
2016

Forced out of their apartment due to dangerous works on a neighboring building, Emad and Rana move into a new flat in the center of Tehran. An incident linked to the previous tenant will dramatically change the young couple’s life.

Drama
Thriller
2h 5m
Asghar Farhadi
Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Babak Karimi, Mina Sadati
38
2016 in 20th Century Women (2016)
20th Century Women
2016

In 1979 Santa Barbara, California, Dorothea Fields is a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie, at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women – Abbie, a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields' home and Julie, a savvy and provocative teenage neighbour – to help with Jamie's upbringing.

Drama
1h 58m
Mike Mills
37
2016 in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2016

In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America with a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American wizarding authorities after Newt, and threatens to strain even further the state of magical and non-magical relations.

Fantasy
Adventure
2h 13m
David Yates
Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol
36
2016 in Green Room (2016)
Green Room
2016

A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing an act of violence at a skinhead bar.

Horror
Crime
1h 35m
Jeremy Saulnier
Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart, Alia Shawkat
35
2016 in Your Name. (2016)
Your Name.
2016

High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.

Animation
Romance
1h 46m
Makoto Shinkai
Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryo Narita, Aoi Yuuki
34
2016 in The Eagle Huntress (2016)
The Eagle Huntress
2016

Follow Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rise to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been typically been handed down from father to son for centuries.

Family
Documentary
1h 27m
Otto Bell
Daisy Ridley, Nurgaiv Aisholpan, Nurgaiv Rys, Alma Dalaykhan
33
2016 in Don't Think Twice (2016)
Don't Think Twice
2016

An improv group deals with several crises, including the loss of their lease and one member hitting the big time.

Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Mike Birbiglia
Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Gethard, Kate Micucci
32
2016 in Fences (2016)
Fences
2016

In 1950s Pittsburgh, a frustrated African-American father struggles with the constraints of poverty, racism, and his own inner demons as he tries to raise a family.

Drama
Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo
31
2016 in Lion (2016)
Lion
2016

A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

Drama
1h 58m
Garth Davis
30
2016 in The Nice Guys (2016)
The Nice Guys
2016

A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

Comedy
Crime
1h 56m
Shane Black
Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer
29
2016 in Sully (2016)
Sully
2016

On 15 January 2009, the world witnessed the 'Miracle on the Hudson' when Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 souls aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and career.

Drama
History
Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Anna Gunn, Holt McCallany
28
2016 in Loving (2016)
Loving
2016

In 1958, in the state of Virginia, the idea of interracial marriage was not only considered to be immoral to many, it was also illegal. When Richard and Mildred fall in love, they are aware of the eyes staring at them and the words said behind their backs. It's when they get married, however, that words and looks become actions, and the two are arrested. The couple decide to take their case all of the way to the Supreme Court in order to fight for their love. Based on a true story.

Drama
Romance
2h 3m
Jeff Nichols
Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Michael Shannon, Marton Csokas
27

Susan Morrow receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband – a man she left 20 years earlier – asking for her opinion of his writing. As she reads, she is drawn into the fictional life of Tony Hastings, a mathematics professor whose family vacation turns violent.

Drama
Thriller
1h 56m
Tom Ford
Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
26
2016 in Jackie (2016)
Jackie
2016

An account of the days of First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, in the immediate aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963.

Drama
1h 40m
Pablo Larraín
Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup
25
2016 in Sing Street (2016)
Sing Street
2016

A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes.

Romance
Drama
1h 45m
John Carney
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Ben Carolan
24
2016 in Swiss Army Man (2016)
Swiss Army Man
2016

Alone on a tiny deserted island, Hank has given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a dead body washes ashore, and he soon realizes it may be his last opportunity to escape certain death. Armed with his new “friend” and an unusual bag of tricks, the duo go on an epic adventure to bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

Comedy
Drama
1h 37m
Daniel Kwan
23
2016 in Finding Dory (2016)
Finding Dory
2016

Dory is reunited with her friends Nemo and Marlin in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Adventure
Animation
1h 37m
Andrew Stanton
Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Ed O'Neill, Hayden Rolence
22

After a catastrophic car crash, a young woman wakes up in a survivalist's underground bunker, where he claims to have saved her from an apocalyptic attack that has left the outside world uninhabitable.

Thriller
Science Fiction
1h 44m
Dan Trachtenberg
John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
21
2016 in Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange
2016

After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.

Fantasy
Adventure
1h 55m
Scott Derrickson
Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong
20

Following the events of Age of Ultron, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man or Captain America, which causes an epic battle between former allies.

19
2016 in A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls
2016

12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.

Fantasy
Adventure
1h 48m
J. A. Bayona
Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell
18
2016 in Toni Erdmann (2016)
Toni Erdmann
2016

Convinced that his daughter has forgotten how to laugh, a father shows up unannounced while she's living abroad and bombards her with outrageous jokes.

Comedy
Drama
2h 42m
Maren Ade
Sandra Hüller, Peter Simonischek, Michael Wittenborn, Thomas Loibl
17
2016 in Silence (2016)
Silence
2016

In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.

Drama
History
16
2016 in Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool
2016

The origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Action
Adventure
1h 48m
Tim Miller
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller
15
2016 in Paterson (2016)
Paterson
2016

A week in the life of Paterson, a poet bus driver, and his wife Laura, a very creative artist, who live in Paterson, New Jersey, hometown of many famous poets and artists.

Drama
Comedy
Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Rizwan Manji, Barry Shabaka Henley
14
2016 in Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Hacksaw Ridge
2016

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Drama
History
13
2016 in Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and the Two Strings
2016

Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.

Animation
Adventure
1h 42m
Travis Knight
Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Brenda Vaccaro, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
12
2016 in Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures
2016

The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Why it ranks

This crowd-pleasing historical drama recalibrates the Space Race narrative to spotlight the essential brilliance of the Black women ignored by history books. It succeeds through sheer infectious energy and a refusal to let the weight of its themes dampen its celebratory spirit.

11
2016 in Moana (2016)
Moana
2016

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the demigod to set things right.

Adventure
Comedy
1h 47m
Ron Clements
Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison
Why it ranks

Disney transcends its traditional princess formula by centering on a navigational epic rooted in oceanic folklore and ancestral duty. The result is a mythic, visually ravishing adventure that swaps romance for a rigorous journey of self-actualization.

10
2016 in The Witch (2016)
The Witch
2016

In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.

Horror
Fantasy
1h 32m
Robert Eggers
Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw
Why it ranks

Robert Eggers debuted with an unsettlingly rigorous piece of folk horror that feels unearthed rather than produced. By committing to period-accurate dialect and a suffocating atmosphere of religious paranoia, the film achieves a primal, slow-burn terror.

9

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.

Action
Adventure
2h 13m
Gareth Edwards
Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen
Why it ranks

Felicity Jones anchors the spectacle with a grounded, flinty desperation that prevents Jyn Erso from becoming a simple archetype. The role transitioned her from period-piece darling to a formidable action lead capable of carrying a massive franchise on her weary shoulders. She finds the bruised soul within the rebellion, trading theatrical heroics for a gritty, lived-in resilience.

8
2016 in The Founder (2016)
The Founder
2016

The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.

Drama
History
1h 55m
John Lee Hancock
Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Linda Cardellini
Why it ranks

Michael Keaton weaponizes his signature manic energy to portray Ray Kroc as a desperate striver turned corporate shark. He sheds the redemption of Birdman for a performance defined by a cold, shark-like grin and a relentless, predatory charisma that marks a definitive late-career shift into darker, more cynical territory. It is a masterful study in how easily mid-century ambition can curd into pure, unadulterated greed.

7
2016 in Zootopia (2016)
Zootopia
2016

Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.

Animation
Adventure
1h 49m
Byron Howard
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate
Why it ranks

In an era of disposable animation, this sophisticated noir-coded comedy tackles systemic prejudices with surprising sharpness. Its world-building is impeccably detailed, serving as a vibrant conduit for a timely sociological critique hidden within a buddy-cop romp.

6
2016 in The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden
2016

1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.

Thriller
Drama
2h 25m
Park Chan-wook
Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Why it ranks

Park Chan-wook crafts a labyrinthine masterpiece of erotic deception and opulent production design. This kinetic, structural marvel keeps the audience perpetually off-balance, blending Hitchcockian suspense with a deliciously subversive feminist streak.

5
2016 in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Manchester by the Sea
2016

After his older brother passes away, Lee Chandler is forced to return home to care for his 16-year-old nephew. There he is compelled to deal with a tragic past that separated him from his family and the community where he was born and raised.

Drama
2h 18m
Kenneth Lonergan
Why it ranks

Kenneth Lonergan avoids every cliche of the grief-stricken drama, opting instead for a jagged, stubbornly honest portrayal of stagnant trauma. The film’s power lies in its refusal to offer easy catharsis, favoring the cold, salt-crusted authenticity of a life interrupted.

4

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

Drama
Science Fiction
Why it ranks

Denis Villeneuve elevates first-contact science fiction into a cerebral, linguistically driven meditation on time and empathy. It is a rare feat of genre filmmaking that prioritizes intellectual awe over spectacle, ending in a profound emotional crescendo.

3
2016 in Moonlight (2016)
Moonlight
2016

The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.

Drama
1h 51m
Barry Jenkins
Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders
Why it ranks

Barry Jenkins delivers a masterclass in sensory storytelling, utilizing a lush, quiet intimacy to explore the fracturing of identity. This triptych vibrates with a rare tenderness, proving that the most specific internal struggles can yield the year's most universal resonance.

2
2016 in La La Land (2016)
La La Land
2016

Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

Comedy
Drama
2h 9m
Damien Chazelle
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt
Why it ranks

Damien Chazelle breathes technicolor life into the cinematic landscape, revitalizing the Golden Age musical with a bittersweet, modern pulse. It is a soaring tribute to the dreamers that balances nostalgic artifice with a stinging, grounded emotional reality.

1
2016 in Hell or High Water (2016)
Hell or High Water
2016

A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.

Western
Crime
1h 42m
David Mackenzie
Why it ranks

This lean modern western resurrected the spirit of 1970s genre cinema through Taylor Sheridan’s sparse, muscular screenplay. It captures the desperation of the American fringe with a gritty poetry, fueled by a palpable sense of place and economic weariness.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The list features notable 2016 dramas like "Moonlight," "Manchester by the Sea," and "Hacksaw Ridge," each acclaimed for their impactful storytelling and emotional depth. These films explore complex human experiences, contributing significantly to the year's critical acclaim.

Yes, 2016 animation highlights include "Zootopia," "Moana," and "Kubo and the Two Strings." These films are celebrated for their inventive storytelling, stunning visuals, and meaningful messages that resonate with both children and adults.

This curated 2016 movie listicle showcases a diverse range of genres including drama, romance, science fiction, thriller, animation, and historical films. This variety reflects the year's dynamic cinematic landscape and its blend of both mainstream and indie hits.

"The Handmaiden" and "Hidden Figures" stand out for their powerful female leads and themes, showcasing women's resilience and complexity. These films highlight diverse narratives that challenged traditional gender roles in 2016 cinema.

The list includes thought-provoking 2016 science fiction films like "Arrival" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." Both films offer unique takes on the genre, blending compelling characters with imaginative world-building that captivated audiences and critics alike.

Yes, "Hacksaw Ridge" is the prominent war film featured, recognized for its intense portrayal of heroism and the realities of combat. Directed by Mel Gibson, it earned critical acclaim for its gripping narrative and powerful performances.

The list captures 2016's cinematic trends, highlighting a blend of nostalgic storytelling with bold, innovative films like "La La Land" and "The Witch." It mirrors the year's tension between traditional filmmaking and the push towards new, vibrant narratives in cinema.
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