My 2020 Movies Ranking

 -          The Year of the Streaming Service

I am not going to go into the year that 2020 was, but without a doubt, it has changed (to what degrees we are yet to fully witness) the way movies are distributed and consumed. Movies scheduled for release beyond the sleeper months of January and February, saw their fates swing between several rescheduled release dates and distribution on streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Netflix having bought and sometimes produced its own films in previous years had a head start and this is evident in the list below.

The lockdown and downtime experienced by me during the year saw me watch a record 79 films released this year! 

Was quality affected by the pandemic and lockdown? I do not think so as what I observe is that majority of the bigger, big production (blockbuster type) movies have been pushed back to 2021 and 2022 in some cases; so, we therefore have a concentration of small to mid-budget movies that would have featured in early spring featuring throughout the year.

So, I rank the movies of the year that I have seen in my own preferred order. This order is based on the following: the movie's plot, how compelling it is, the wow/entertainment factor, whether it meets my expectations and how rewarding the viewing experience is.

Apologies for not going into greater synopsis of some of the titles this year but I hope you are still encouraged to watch the ones you have not seen. 

Allow me to begin with 3 movies that are unranked because they were too bad for even I to finish watching:

• I Am Thinking of Ending Things
• The 2nd
• Christmas Crossfire

 Ok let’s go, I present my 2020 movies ranking...

 

 79.          The Invisible Man

Poor plot and character development, even Elisabeth Moss’ acting chops couldn’t save this for me as I expected a lot more from this movie.

 

78.          Spell

Tepid horror fare.

 

77.          The Last Thing He Wanted

The entire film was pointless in my opinion and bordered on masochism for the viewers.

 

76.          His House

Not a bad movie for some but for me it did not deliver to the heights that I had expected, despite the lovely Wunmi Mosaku being in it.

 

75.          Vampires vs. The Bronx

Oh this started so well! Then it quickly tapered into mediocrity. I would love to see this remade with a bigger budget as it has some promise.

 

74.          Dangerous Lies

This had its moments like so many others in its genre and I kind of enjoyed it.

               

73.          Tesla

               

72.          Intuition

                A fairly good Argentinian police procedural with twists and turns.

 

71.          You Should Have Left

 

70.          The Rhythm Section

An unbelievable plot and premise make this action thriller featuring Blake Lively, Jude Law, and Sterling K. Brown fall flat.

 

69.          Rebecca

Netflix oh! Good acting by all involved but it was a waste of time as the mystery and its reveal fell flat.

 

68.          Love and Monsters

This could have been way better but it was basically a less compelling Zombieland.

 

67.          Love, Marriage, Repeat

Groundhog Day meets British wedding day romcom with less conviction.

 

66.          Guns Akimbo

Someone wrote that Daniel Radcliffe has made so much money from the Harry Potter movies that he now gets to do whatever he likes and acts in any project that tickles his fancy; I agree.  

 

65.          Fantasy Island

One of the few movies to come out earlier in the year before the lockdown. I had great expectations for this but Blumhouse let me down.

 

64.          Deathstroke Knights & Dragons (Animation)

 

63.          Raat Akeli Hai

               

62.          The Babysitter 2

The first part was loads of fun, this just seemed forced and could have been better.

 

61.          Inheritance

It was good to see my man Simon Pegg in this role. Perhaps the script in the hands of a better production team would have been more on the money.

60.          Fatman

Slowly but surely, Mel Gibson is making his way back A-list movies. Fatman is a different and interesting take on the person of Santa Claus, featuring Walton Goggins as a Santa Claus hating hitman.

 

59.          The Lift Boy

Feel good fare without the usual accompanying melodrama.

 

58.          Rattlesnake

Poorly cast, this ranks this high for the production quality and does nothing to improve on the beloved original.

57.          Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (Animation)

 

56.          Triggered

55.          Honest Thief

Liam Neeson strikes again as a retiree with a very special set of skills.

 

54.          Wonder Woman 1984

Meh movie that does a great disservice to the first part and Pedro Pascal’s career.

53.          Lego DC: Shazam!: Magic and Monsters (Animation)

52.          The Tax Collector

I think this film suffers from an identity crisis and it shows in the actors’ performances. Great preview but the inconsistency sets it back terribly.

 

51.          We Can Be Heroes

Robert Rodriguez doing Robert Rodriguez kiddie stuff.

 

50.          The Decline

49.          Altered Carbon: Resleeved (Animation)

48.          A Fall from Grace
A movie so bad that it keeps you watching until the end.

 

47.          The Peninsula

Standalone sequel to the greatness that is Train to Busan. It does not reach the dramatic heights of its prequel despite the use of CGI.

 

46.          Superman Red Son

45.          Waiting for the Barbarians

Could be viewed as boring but the performance of Mark Rylance gave it greater life.

 

44.          Ludo

Had a good laugh with this one!

 

43.          The Vanished

A good mystery to be solved.

               

42.          Unhinged

Road rage raised to the power of 100, starring Russel Crowe.

 

41.          Tenet

.14          Tenet

40.          The New Mutants

39.          Bad Hair

Hahaha!! This was fine comedic horror. The writer director Justin Simien is going to go places.

38.          Coffee and Kareem

37.          Like a Boss

36.          The Match

35.          Project Power

Shows that movies about having superpowers can be so different from the superhero fare.

 

34.          The Lovebirds

Hilarity! And yes, Issa Rae is fine!

 

33.          Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (Animation)

Enjoyed this!

 

32.          Sonic the Hedgehog

Jim Carrey is back bitches!!! And no, we can’t wait for the sequel!

 

31.          Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

30.          Way Back

29.          Mosul

28.          Seriously Single

Hahahahaha!!! Abeg, South Africans sabi.

27.          Bloodshot

26.          Citation

25.          The Trial of the Chicago 7

24.          Spenser Confidential

23.          Greyhound

22.          Hubie Halloween

21.          Greenland

I like Mr. Butler. 2012 remake?

20.          The Call

The Lake House meets Psycho, Korean style.

 

19.          Eurovision Song Contest: The Fire Saga

I was surprised at how much I was invested in this movie! Loooooool!!!

18.          The Old Guard

17.          Rogue

16.          Oloture

15.          Alive

Do Koreans make the best Zombie movies in general? I think they do.

14.          My Spy

This brought plenty laughs and smiles to my face.

13.          Mulan

What can I say? I am biased.

12.          Next Boss Level

I totally loved this film! Edge of Tomorrow lite. Frank Grillo should definitely keep at it!

11.          Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Powerful dialogue and acting by everyone especially the late Chadwick Boseman with themes that resonated with me.

10.          The Midnight Sky

George Clooney knows how to make movies sha.

9.            Run

The incredible Sarah Paulson does it again.

8.            The Devil All The Time

A film that allows its star cast of mostly non-Americans, showcase their acting chops around a plot that carries you along like a proper film should.

7.            Extraction

6.           The Half of It

The indie (coming of age) drama of the year in a time when independent films are being outfeatured by superhero, blockbuster fare.

 

5.            Escape from Pretoria

Based on a true story about the compelling tale of two white South African political prisoners trying to escape prison, following their violent/militant protests against the apartheid government in 1979. A very good dramatic turn by Daniel Radcliffe, whom I swear is living his best life!

4.            The Hunt

Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! Probably the one film directly affected by the pandemic as it was released in theatres the same week the lockdown was announced in the US. The Hunt was also initially scheduled for release in September 2019 but had to be delayed because of the mass shootings in Ohio and Texas, as well as direct criticisms from Donald Trump. What other reason do you need to see it then? Ok, maybe the total badassery of Betty Gilpin.

 

3.            Bad Boys for Life

This was the closest to a blockbuster that 2020 had (no, Tenet and WW84 do not count) and we are sure glad we saw it before the lockdown situation! A perfectly balanced and realistic action flick that aged in tandem with its audience from the first part and highlights growing old as cops, a bit reminiscent of the later Lethal Weapon movies but with more candour.

2.            The Banker

If you haven’t seen The Banker, do try to. Years ago, I stated that Anthony Mackie was one of the best African American actors of his generation but it has been a pity that over the years he has not quite lived up to it. The Banker showcases him doing some proper acting alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Nia Long and Nicholas Hoult – talk about Falcon, Nick Fury and Dr, Hank McCoy walking into a bar.

1.            The Gentlemen

Of course, it had to be Guy Ritchie’s movie to top my 2020 films list.

And that's it folks. We look forward to the world moving on from the Corona virus so that we may enjoy the big screen in its fullness!