The Absolute Best Movies of 2017

Some years deliver a handful of memorable films; this one overflowed with standouts across genres, budgets, and countries. From audacious debuts to masterful late-career swings, studios and independents alike turned out projects that made a lasting mark on audiences and the industry. Below is a curated tour through the releases that defined the year, spotlighting who made them, where they were crafted, how they were put together, and how they resonated in theaters and at festivals.

Each entry includes concrete details—key creatives, casts, production backgrounds, festival premieres, release strategies, formats, and box-office performance—so you can quickly learn the essentials behind every title. No hot takes, just the facts that shape why these films continue to matter.

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Written and directed by Jordan Peele, ‘Get Out’ was produced by Blumhouse Productions and QC Entertainment, with Universal Pictures handling distribution. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, and Bradley Whitford. Principal photography took place in and around Mobile, Alabama, with Toby Oliver as cinematographer, Jason Blum among the producers, and Michael Abels providing the score for his first narrative feature. The production employed Arri Alexa cameras and leaned on practical effects over heavy digital work.

‘Get Out’ premiered at Sundance before expanding to a wide theatrical rollout by Universal. Made on a reported budget well under major-studio norms, it became a significant commercial success relative to cost and built strong word-of-mouth through targeted marketing and trailer drops across digital platforms. It later earned Writers Guild, Directors Guild, and Academy recognition, particularly for Peele’s original screenplay and Kaluuya’s lead performance.

‘Dunkirk’ (2017)

Christopher Nolan wrote and directed ‘Dunkirk’, produced by Syncopy and distributed by Warner Bros. The ensemble includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and Harry Styles. Hoyte van Hoytema shot the film using large-format 65mm and IMAX cameras, with a mix of practical effects, real aircraft, and seafaring vessels to depict evacuation operations. Editor Lee Smith and composer Hans Zimmer were central collaborators, with sound design emphasizing dynamic range and spatial detail.

The production utilized location work in Dunkirk, France, and the Netherlands, supplemented by set builds in the UK. ‘Dunkirk’ opened in premium formats, including IMAX 70mm screenings that highlighted its capture medium. It performed strongly worldwide and secured multiple guild and Academy nominations and wins across editing, sound, and technical categories.

‘Lady Bird’ (2017)

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, ‘Lady Bird’ stars Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, and Timothée Chalamet. The film was produced by IAC Films and Scott Rudin Productions, with A24 handling domestic distribution. Sam Levy served as cinematographer, and Nick Houy edited the film, which was largely shot on location in Sacramento, California, drawing on specific neighborhood and parochial-school settings to ground the narrative.

‘Lady Bird’ premiered on the fall festival circuit and expanded through a platform release strategy, growing from limited screens into wide distribution based on strong attendance and audience retention. The film received multiple nominations from critics’ groups and major academies, particularly for Gerwig’s screenplay and Ronan and Metcalf’s performances.

‘The Shape of Water’ (2017)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by del Toro and Vanessa Taylor, ‘The Shape of Water’ was produced by Fox Searchlight Pictures, TSG Entertainment, and Double Dare You. The cast includes Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, and Doug Jones. Principal photography took place in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, with Dan Laustsen as cinematographer and Alexandre Desplat composing the score. Practical creature effects and prosthetics were combined with digital enhancements to realize the amphibian character.

The film premiered on the festival circuit, where it collected a top prize at Venice, and then opened in a platform rollout through Fox Searchlight. It became a box-office success on a mid-range budget, and later received widespread industry recognition across categories including production design, score, and best picture and director honors for del Toro.

‘Call Me by Your Name’ (2017)

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, ‘Call Me by Your Name’ is based on the novel by André Aciman, with a screenplay by James Ivory. The production, led by Frenesy Film Company and RT Features with distribution by Sony Pictures Classics, stars Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, and Michael Stuhlbarg. Filming took place in Lombardy, Italy, emphasizing natural light and period detail, with Sayombhu Mukdeeprom as cinematographer and Sufjan Stevens contributing original songs.

The film bowed at Sundance and Berlin before a gradual platform release in North America and international markets. It earned numerous accolades from guilds and academies, with particular attention to Ivory’s screenplay and Chalamet’s lead performance, and it performed strongly in specialty theaters with sustained per-screen averages over multiple weeks.

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ (2017)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ features Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell. Produced by Blueprint Pictures with distribution from Fox Searchlight Pictures, the film was shot in and around Sylva, North Carolina, standing in for the fictional Missouri town. Ben Davis served as cinematographer, Carter Burwell composed the score, and film editing was handled by Jon Gregory.

The film premiered at Venice and Toronto, followed by a domestic release through a platform strategy that expanded nationwide. It achieved notable box-office results for a character-driven drama and earned significant industry recognition, including acting and screenplay honors from multiple organizations and major awards bodies.

‘Blade Runner 2049’ (2017)

Denis Villeneuve directed ‘Blade Runner 2049’, with a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. The production was mounted by Alcon Entertainment with distribution by Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures Releasing in different territories. Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford lead the cast, joined by Ana de Armas, Robin Wright, and Sylvia Hoeks. Roger Deakins served as cinematographer, utilizing large-format digital capture, extensive practical sets, and carefully designed lighting to create the film’s visual palette.

Principal photography took place in Hungary at Origo Film Studios and on location builds, with production design by Dennis Gassner and visual effects by multiple vendors coordinating under a unified look-development plan. The film received wide theatrical release in premium formats and subsequently secured industry recognition, including awards for cinematography and visual effects.

‘Logan’ (2017)

Directed by James Mangold, ‘Logan’ stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, and Boyd Holbrook. The film was produced by Marvel Entertainment and TSG Entertainment, with distribution by 20th Century Fox. Cinematography by John Mathieson emphasized naturalistic lighting and location-based shooting in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi, complemented by practical stunt work and restrained digital effects. Marco Beltrami composed the score.

‘Logan’ opened wide with an R rating, positioned as a character-driven entry in the X-Men franchise. It achieved strong global box-office performance and received awards-season recognition, notably for its adapted screenplay. Home-release editions included an alternate black-and-white version that highlighted the film’s contrast-driven visual approach.

‘Coco’ (2017)

Disney and Pixar’s ‘Coco’ was directed by Lee Unkrich and co-directed by Adrian Molina, with a screenplay by Molina and Matthew Aldrich. The voice cast includes Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Alanna Ubach. The production involved extensive cultural research trips to Mexico, with character design and lighting developed to represent Día de Muertos traditions. Michael Giacchino composed the score, and the film used Pixar’s rendering tools to achieve complex lighting and particle effects.

The film premiered in Mexico ahead of its domestic launch, accompanied by a global marketing campaign that included music-driven promotional releases. ‘Coco’ became a significant box-office success for an animated feature and earned awards for animated feature and original song across major ceremonies and guilds.

‘The Florida Project’ (2017)

‘The Florida Project’ was directed by Sean Baker and produced by June Pictures and Cre Film, with distribution by A24. The cast includes Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, and Valeria Cotto. Cinematography by Alexis Zabe emphasized saturated color and wide-angle compositions, with filming centered around budget motels near the Walt Disney World area in Kissimmee, Florida. The production mixed professional actors with first-time performers and used a compact crew.

The film premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and followed a limited release model that expanded based on critical and audience momentum. It received industry recognition, particularly for Dafoe’s supporting performance, and maintained strong specialty box-office legs over several months of theatrical play.

‘Phantom Thread’ (2017)

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, ‘Phantom Thread’ stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, and Lesley Manville. The film was produced by Annapurna Pictures and Ghoulardi Film Company. Anderson served as his own cinematographer with Michael Bauman and a small camera team, employing 35mm film capture and period-accurate production and costume design led by Mark Tildesley and Mark Bridges, respectively. Jonny Greenwood composed the orchestral score.

Filming took place in and around London and the English countryside, using historic homes and bespoke workshop sets. ‘Phantom Thread’ received a platform release through Focus Features, followed by international rollouts. The film earned multiple nominations and wins for costume design, score, and performances across industry awards.

‘Baby Driver’ (2017)

Edgar Wright wrote and directed ‘Baby Driver’, produced by Working Title Films, Big Talk, and Media Rights Capital, with Sony Pictures distributing. The cast includes Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey. Principal photography occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, with Bill Pope as cinematographer. The production designed action sequences around pre-cleared tracks and precise on-set playback, integrating practical driving stunts with rhythmic editing by Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos.

The film premiered at SXSW prior to a wide theatrical release. It achieved strong box-office returns relative to its mid-range budget and later received nominations for editing, sound mixing, and sound editing from major academies and guilds. A home-release package included extensive behind-the-scenes materials on stunt coordination and music integration.

‘The Big Sick’ (2017)

Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, ‘The Big Sick’ was produced by Apatow Productions and Good Universe, with Amazon Studios and Lionsgate overseeing distribution. The cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano. Filmed primarily in New York City, the production balanced location shooting with interior sets, featuring cinematography by Brian Burgoyne and a score by Michael Andrews.

The film premiered at Sundance, where Amazon acquired distribution rights, and then followed a platform release approach that expanded nationwide. It performed well at the specialty box office and garnered awards-season recognition, particularly for the original screenplay, along with nominations from writers’ and actors’ guilds.

‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ (2017)

Directed by Matt Reeves, ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ stars Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Amiah Miller, and Steve Zahn. The film was produced by Chernin Entertainment with distribution by 20th Century Fox. Production took place in British Columbia and Alberta, utilizing extensive performance-capture work supervised by Weta Digital, with Michael Seresin as cinematographer and Michael Giacchino composing the score.

The film opened in premium formats including IMAX and Dolby Cinema and delivered strong international grosses for the franchise. It received industry recognition for visual effects and sound, with attention to Weta Digital’s character work and the integration of location photography and digital environments.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

Taika Waititi directed ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, and Mark Ruffalo. Filming took place primarily in Queensland, Australia, with additional photography in Atlanta. Javier Aguirresarobe served as cinematographer, and the production combined large-scale stage builds with extensive visual effects by multiple vendors.

The film launched with global day-and-date strategies in several territories, contributing to robust opening grosses. It received nominations and wins from visual-effects societies and recognition for production design and costuming across craft guilds, alongside strong home-media and merchandise performance.

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)

Directed by Jon Watts, ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Robert Downey Jr. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, with distribution by Sony Pictures Releasing. Shooting occurred in Atlanta and New York, with Salvatore Totino as cinematographer and Michael Giacchino composing the score. The production integrated practical wire work with digital doubles for key set pieces.

The release strategy included an extended global rollout with premium-format screenings. The film achieved strong box-office performance and drew recognition from visual-effects organizations and stunt guilds, while also serving as an early entry in the character’s integration within the broader franchise slate.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017)

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The ensemble cast includes Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher. Principal photography took place at Pinewood Studios in the UK with location shoots in Ireland and Bolivia. Steve Yedlin served as cinematographer, Neal Scanlan supervised practical creature effects, and John Williams returned as composer.

The film launched globally with extensive premium-format availability, including IMAX screenings. It posted top-tier worldwide grosses and received awards recognition for sound, score, and visual effects, with nominations and wins across industry bodies and craft guilds.

‘Wonder Woman’ (2017)

Patty Jenkins directed ‘Wonder Woman’, produced by DC Films, Atlas Entertainment, and Cruel and Unusual Films, with distribution by Warner Bros. Gal Gadot stars alongside Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, and Connie Nielsen. Production took place in the UK and Italy, with Matthew Jensen as cinematographer and Rupert Gregson-Williams composing the score. The film combined large-scale set pieces with second-unit work for action sequences.

The release included premium formats and a broad international footprint. ‘Wonder Woman’ achieved major box-office milestones for the franchise and received recognition from guilds and academies for production design, costumes, and technical craft, along with strong ancillary and home-media performance.

‘It’ (2017)

Directed by Andy Muschietti, ‘It’ adapts the Stephen King novel and stars Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Bill Skarsgård. The film was produced by New Line Cinema, KatzSmith Productions, Vertigo Entertainment, and Lin Pictures, with distribution by Warner Bros. Principal photography took place in and around Toronto and Port Hope, Ontario, with Chung Chung-hoon as cinematographer and Benjamin Wallfisch composing the score.

The film opened in early fall and set records for a horror release in multiple territories. It maintained strong holds in subsequent weekends and received attention for makeup, production design, and sound, along with a wide-reaching marketing campaign that utilized viral imagery and targeted social ads.

‘I, Tonya’ (2017)

Directed by Craig Gillespie, ‘I, Tonya’ stars Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney. The film was produced by Clubhouse Pictures, LuckyChap Entertainment, and AI Film, with distribution by Neon. Cinematography by Nicolas Karakatsanis utilized a mix of Steadicam and handheld work to stage ice-skating sequences, supplemented by digital face-replacement techniques and stunt doubles. The score and music supervision blended period tracks with original compositions.

The film premiered at Toronto and rolled out via a platform release that expanded during awards season. It achieved strong per-screen averages and received industry recognition, including acting wins and nominations, as well as acknowledgments for editing and hair and makeup.

‘Mudbound’ (2017)

Directed by Dee Rees and based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, ‘Mudbound’ stars Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Jason Clarke, and Mary J. Blige. The film was produced by Macro and acquired by Netflix following festival screenings. Cinematographer Rachel Morrison utilized period lenses and a muted palette to reflect rural Mississippi settings, with on-location shoots in Louisiana. Tamar-kali composed the score.

‘Mudbound’ released on Netflix with a limited theatrical run to qualify for awards consideration. The film received recognition from multiple academies and guilds, with nominations for cinematography, adapted screenplay, and supporting performances, and it became a reference point for streaming-led awards campaigns.

‘Darkest Hour’ (2017)

Directed by Joe Wright, ‘Darkest Hour’ stars Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Ben Mendelsohn. The film was produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures in various territories. Bruno Delbonnel served as cinematographer, and Dario Marianelli composed the score. The production is noted for extensive prosthetic makeup work by Kazu Hiro, enabling transformative character presentation.

The film premiered on the fall festival circuit and expanded in theaters during the winter corridor. It achieved solid box-office returns and received significant awards attention, including wins and nominations for makeup and hairstyling, cinematography, and lead performance, with strong international play.

‘The Disaster Artist’ (2017)

Directed by James Franco, ‘The Disaster Artist’ adapts the book by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell, chronicling the making of ‘The Room’. The cast includes James Franco, Dave Franco, Alison Brie, and Ari Graynor. The film was produced by New Line Cinema, Point Grey Pictures, Good Universe, and RatPac-Dune, with distribution by A24. Brandon Trost handled cinematography, and the production recreated specific sets and costumes to mirror the source events.

The film premiered at SXSW and received a platform release that expanded nationwide. It earned strong specialty box-office results and garnered awards-season recognition, particularly for its adapted screenplay, with additional acknowledgments from critics’ groups and guilds.

‘The Post’ (2017)

Directed by Steven Spielberg, ‘The Post’ stars Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, and Tracy Letts. The film was produced by Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Participant Media, with 20th Century Fox and Universal handling distribution in different regions. Janusz Kamiński served as cinematographer, with a score by John Williams. Production moved quickly from greenlight to release, utilizing a condensed schedule and period newsroom sets.

The film opened in limited release before expanding wide during the winter holiday corridor. It performed well at the domestic box office for an adult-skewing drama and secured nominations from major academies and guilds, including recognition for lead acting and best picture categories.

‘Good Time’ (2017)

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, ‘Good Time’ stars Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Taliah Lennice Webster, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film was produced by Elara Pictures and Rhea Films, with distribution by A24. Sean Price Williams served as cinematographer, using 35mm and available light to capture New York City settings, and electronic duo Oneohtrix Point Never provided the score, which later received an industry award.

‘Good Time’ premiered at Cannes in competition and followed with a late-summer release in North America. It earned strong notices for editing and music at critics’ groups and maintained sustained specialty-box-office performance, leading to expanded theater counts in select markets.

Share your own picks and what we missed in the comments!