2020 has been a very interesting time, especially for the entertainment world. Because of the ongoing pandemic, we haven’t been able to go to the movies basically since … March. Film studios and Directors had hoped that this would all be resolved and we’d be able to get back to it. Films release dates were pushed back countless times until ultimately, they had to face reality and put them straight to streaming services.
We know it sucked tremendously, because we love the movies and some films were made to be seen inside of a theatre but this is where we are. It’s not all bad, though because there was most certainly no shortage of awesome films in 2020.
After We Collided
The sequel all Afternators including us, had been waiting for, and it did not disappoint. As I have said multiple times, After We Collided is my favorite book in Anna Todd’s After series and even though we didn’t get a theatrical release, it was still well worth the long wait. We finally got the book Hessa moments we had been waiting for and that’s partly because of Roger Kumble, the amazing director behind one of my all time favorite films Cruel Intentions.
Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin our Tessa and Hardin, truly brought their A-game this time around and we were thoroughly impressed with both of their performances.
Birds Of Prey
Birds of Prey is just an all-around fun film. Harley Quinn has always been a favorite of mine in the DC world and Margot Robbie does an amazing job portraying her. Harley Quinn is an unconventional superhero who plays by her own set of rules, and I love that. This film is full of an all-star cast of badass females all working together to bring down their enemies. It’s a rollercoaster of a good time, and we love everything about it.
Emma
We already told you that we’re suckers for Jane Austen here at Fangirlish, so you should have expected that Emma would make our list. This film is a delight and we’ve watched it quite a bit during quarantine because it’s one of those films that just puts a smile on your face and to top it off, it’s Jane Austen done right and we love that.
Hamilton
Yes, we realize Hamilton is actually a Broadway show, but because it was released and marketed as a film this year, it counts. Hamilton is absolutely amazing and deserves all the recognition and praise it receives. The cast is extremely talented and the musical numbers have remained stuck in our heads for months. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius and the release of Hamilton for the entire world to finally be able to see it in the comfort of our homes was one of the best gifts of 2020.
Happiest Season
A romantic comedy during Christmas time about a same-sex couple starring Kristen Stewart? Count us all the way in. We love this film because it’s more than just a holiday movie, it’s about acceptance and being true to who you are.
The Invisible Man
This was actually the last film I saw inside of a theatre, just before we went into lockdown mode back in March. The Invisible Man was a creepy film and it wasn’t your average scary film. It was more psychological because of the way that silence and the camera angles were utilized through a majority of the film. It heightened the tension and made the scares that much more intense.
Love And Monsters
We love Dylan O’Brien. He’s just such a delight and he is incredibly talented with so much range (see American Assassin). There is just something about him, he commands the screen in whatever he’s in and he’s just a sweetheart and a cutie pie we want to give the biggest hug. Love and Monsters is a film that’s sort of fitting for our current situation. Obviously we aren’t being attacked by giant bug monsters or anything like that but, we are a bit isolated from our loved ones like Joel is. We love this film because although it’s an adventure story, it teaches the importance of appreciating what you have while still never settling for less.
The Old Guard
We love this movie so much and it ranks pretty high on our list of the best films of 2020. The fact that it’s an action flick directed by a female with some badass female leads only adds to that. We love this whole cast and there aren’t enough words to describe just how great this film is. The action sequences are iconic and we love the fight scene on the plane that takes place between Andy (Charlize Theron) and Nile (KiKi Layne). We would also be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge just how much we loved Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and their relationship.
The Photograph
Because we deserve a little romance in our lives despite not being able to ya know, hug and kiss each other. It’s still nice to watch other people fall in love right? The Photograph is a lovely film and Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield have amazing onscreen chemistry. This was a touching love story with an amazing soundtrack and this movie definitely put us in our feels.
Tenet
When things with this pandemic started to look a teeny bit better, I made a trip to the movies to watch Tenet in IMAX (yes, I wore my mask). I said early on that this, and After We Collided would be the only films that would get me back in a theatre and I meant it. Turns out I once again made it to a movie theatre before our second lockdown came, and it was worth it. Tenet is a mind-bendy film that if I’m being honest, I cannot describe. It’s got a lot going on but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It leaves you with tons of questions that’s for sure but the special effects are a sight to behold plus, we get John David Washington and Robert Pattinson on screen so that’s a win right there.
Honorable Mention
Gabriel’s Inferno Parts One, Two, and Three
Okay, I had to add these to this list because Gabriel’s Inferno is by far one of the best book to screen adaptations I have seen from Passionflix. Based on Sylvain Reynards popular series, this film was broken into three parts in order to get the whole story from book one told and it was amazing and so beautiful. Like I said earlier, we couldn’t find love this year but, it was fun to watch people do it onscreen. Giulio Berrutis portrayal of Gabriel is perfection and Melanie Zanetti brought so much heart, innocence, and fierceness to Julianne. Their chemistry is also unreal.
Wonder Woman 1984
Okay, so we know it’s not even out yet but we loved the first Wonder Woman film and had things been different we know it would have made this list. The trailer looks incredible, so consider this a preemptive mention. Technically, we can have it here since the film releases on December 25th on HBO Max.
What do you think of this list? Are any of these films your favorite? What films should be on this list? Tell us in the comments.
Hands down… Gabriel’s Inferno us the winner. After movie 1, the buzz never died down for movie number two and three! WINNER 🏆🏆🏆