The Absolute Best Movies of 2019

Great movies didn’t just fill theaters this year—they defined the cultural conversation, crossed languages and genres, and showcased filmmakers working at the top of their craft. From intimate character studies to large-scale epics, studios and independents alike delivered stories that traveled the world, packed festivals, and earned recognition across major guilds and academies.

Below is a curated lineup of twenty-five standouts, organized for easy browsing. Each entry highlights concrete details—who made it, who starred, where it premiered, how it performed, and what honors it picked up—so you can quickly see what sets each project apart and decide what to watch next.

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Bong Joon Ho directed and co-wrote ‘Parasite’ with Han Jin-won, with a principal cast that includes Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, and Park So-dam. The film was produced by Barunson E&A and distributed internationally by CJ Entertainment and NEON after premiering in Competition at Cannes, where it won the Palme d’Or.

‘Parasite’ became a global box-office success and won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and International Feature, among other prizes. Key craft credits include cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo, editing by Yang Jin-mo, and production design by Lee Ha-jun, with Jung Jae-il providing the score.

‘1917’ (2019)

Directed by Sam Mendes and co-written with Krysty Wilson-Cairns, ‘1917’ stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with supporting roles from Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The film was produced by Neal Street Productions, DreamWorks Pictures, and Amblin Partners, and released by Universal Pictures.

The production is noted for its illusion of a single continuous take, captured by cinematographer Roger Deakins. It earned multiple Academy Awards, including Cinematography, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects, with Thomas Newman composing and Lee Smith editing.

‘Joker’ (2019)

Todd Phillips directed and co-wrote ‘Joker’ with Scott Silver, featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro, alongside Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, and Brett Cullen. It was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, and BRON Creative, with a Venice Film Festival premiere where it won the Golden Lion.

The film achieved major box-office milestones worldwide and won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Original Score (Hildur Guðnadóttir). Technical highlights include cinematography by Lawrence Sher, editing by Jeff Groth, and production design by Mark Friedberg.

‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, and Heyday Films, it was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing following a high-profile Cannes premiere.

At the Academy Awards it won Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt) and Production Design, with additional nominations across picture and craft categories. The film’s crew includes cinematographer Robert Richardson, editor Fred Raskin, and production designer Barbara Ling, with music supervision by Mary Ramos.

‘The Irishman’ (2019)

Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian from Charles Brandt’s nonfiction book, ‘The Irishman’ stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. The film was produced by Sikelia Productions and Tribeca Productions with funding from Netflix, which handled its limited theatrical run and streaming release.

It received numerous nominations from major guilds and the Academy across categories including Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor. The production’s de-aging visual effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic, with Rodrigo Prieto as cinematographer and Thelma Schoonmaker as editor.

‘Marriage Story’ (2019)

Noah Baumbach wrote and directed ‘Marriage Story’, led by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson with Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta. It was produced by Heyday Films and RT Features, and released by Netflix after festival screenings at Venice, Telluride, and Toronto.

Laura Dern won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the film earned additional nominations for Picture, Actor, Actress, and Original Screenplay. Randy Newman composed the score, Robbie Ryan handled cinematography, and Jennifer Lame served as editor.

‘Jojo Rabbit’ (2019)

Written and directed by Taika Waititi, ‘Jojo Rabbit’ stars Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Taika Waititi. It was produced by Fox Searchlight Pictures and filmed primarily in the Czech Republic, with a Toronto International Film Festival premiere.

The movie won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and received several additional nominations. Mihai Mălaimare Jr. served as cinematographer, Tom Eagles edited, and Mayes C. Rubeo designed costumes, with a soundtrack featuring curated period tracks.

‘Ford v Ferrari’ (2019)

James Mangold directed ‘Ford v Ferrari’, with a cast led by Christian Bale and Matt Damon and supporting turns from Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, and Tracy Letts. Produced by Chernin Entertainment and TSG Entertainment, it was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

The film earned Academy Awards for Film Editing and Sound Editing and received nominations for Best Picture and Sound Mixing. Phedon Papamichael handled cinematography, Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland edited, and Marco Beltrami composed the score.

‘Little Women’ (2019)

Greta Gerwig wrote and directed ‘Little Women’, starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, and Timothée Chalamet. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Regency Enterprises, and Pascal Pictures, it was released by Sony Pictures Releasing.

The film won the Academy Award for Costume Design and received nominations for Picture, Actress, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, and Score. Yorick Le Saux served as cinematographer, Nick Houy edited, and Alexandre Desplat composed.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ features an ensemble including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo. Produced by Marvel Studios, it was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The release set multiple global box-office records and received an Academy Award nomination for Visual Effects. Key technical leads include cinematographer Trent Opaloch, editors Jeffrey Ford and Matthew Schmidt, and composer Alan Silvestri.

‘The Farewell’ (2019)

Written and directed by Lulu Wang, ‘The Farewell’ stars Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Tzi Ma, and Diana Lin. The film was produced by Big Beach and Depth of Field, with A24 handling domestic distribution following a Sundance Film Festival premiere.

Awkwafina won a Golden Globe for her performance, and the film received numerous nominations from critics’ groups and guilds. Anna Franquesa Solano was the cinematographer, Michael Taylor edited, and the score was composed by Alex Weston.

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)

Céline Sciamma wrote and directed ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel. Produced by Lilies Films and distributed by Pyramide and NEON, it premiered in Competition at Cannes.

The film won the Best Screenplay award and the Queer Palm at Cannes, with wide festival and art-house distribution. Claire Mathon handled cinematography, Julien Lacheray edited, and the production is noted for minimal non-diegetic music, emphasizing sound design.

‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie and written with Ronald Bronstein, ‘Uncut Gems’ stars Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, and Julia Fox. It was produced by Elara Pictures and IAC Films, with A24 distributing.

The film secured extensive critics’ awards and guild recognition, particularly for acting and editing. Darius Khondji served as cinematographer, Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie edited, and Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) composed the score.

‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Rian Johnson wrote and directed ‘Knives Out’, featuring a cast that includes Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Christopher Plummer. The film was produced by MRC and T-Street and released by Lionsgate after a Toronto International Film Festival premiere.

It received an Academy Award nomination for Original Screenplay and was a strong worldwide earner relative to its budget. Steve Yedlin handled cinematography, Bob Ducsay edited, and Nathan Johnson composed the score.

‘Us’ (2019)

Jordan Peele wrote and directed ‘Us’, starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and Evan Alex. It was produced by Monkeypaw Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.

The film delivered significant box-office returns and amassed awards recognition for acting, score, and production design. Mike Gioulakis served as cinematographer, Nicholas Monsour edited, and Michael Abels composed the music.

‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)

Robert Eggers directed and co-wrote ‘The Lighthouse’ with Max Eggers, starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. It was produced by A24, Regency Enterprises, and RT Features, with a Directors’ Fortnight screening at Cannes and subsequent release by A24.

The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Cinematography for Jarin Blaschke’s black-and-white work. Louise Ford edited, Craig Lathrop handled production design, and Mark Korven composed using unconventional instrumentation to shape the soundscape.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

Directed by Olivia Wilde and written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman, ‘Booksmart’ stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. It was produced by Annapurna Pictures and Gloria Sanchez Productions and released by United Artists Releasing.

The film appeared on numerous year-end lists and received Writers Guild and Golden Globe nominations. Jason McCormick served as cinematographer, Jamie Gross edited, and Dan the Automator contributed to the soundtrack.

‘Rocketman’ (2019)

Dexter Fletcher directed ‘Rocketman’, written by Lee Hall and starring Taron Egerton as Elton John with Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard. It was produced by Marv Films, Rocket Pictures, and New Republic Pictures, and released by Paramount Pictures.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. George Richmond was the cinematographer, Chris Dickens edited, and Giles Martin served as music producer.

‘Pain and Glory’ (2019)

Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, ‘Pain and Glory’ stars Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz with Asier Etxeandia and Leonardo Sbaraglia. It was produced by El Deseo and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics in North America following its Cannes Competition premiere.

Antonio Banderas won Best Actor at Cannes, and the film received Academy Award nominations for International Feature and Actor. José Luis Alcaine handled cinematography, Teresa Font edited, and Alberto Iglesias composed the score.

‘Toy Story 4’ (2019)

Josh Cooley directed ‘Toy Story 4’, with a screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom and voices from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, and Tony Hale. It was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Patrick Lin and Jean-Claude Kalache led cinematography (layout and lighting), Axel Geddes edited, and Randy Newman returned as composer.

‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (2019)

Chad Stahelski directed ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, written by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams, with Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, and Laurence Fishburne starring. Lionsgate distributed the film, produced by Summit Entertainment and Thunder Road Pictures.

The film expanded the franchise’s global box office and introduced new stunt and action set-pieces coordinated by 87Eleven. Dan Laustsen was cinematographer, Evan Schiff edited, Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard composed, and Kevin Kavanaugh handled production design.

‘Midsommar’ (2019)

Ari Aster wrote and directed ‘Midsommar’, starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, and Will Poulter. A24 produced and distributed the film, with much of the shoot staged in Hungary.

The project earned extensive craft and performance recognition from festivals and critics’ groups. Pawel Pogorzelski served as cinematographer, Lucian Johnston edited, and The Haxan Cloak (Bobby Krlic) composed the score.

‘A Hidden Life’ (2019)

Written and directed by Terrence Malick, ‘A Hidden Life’ stars August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, and Matthias Schoenaerts. It was produced by Elizabeth Bay Productions and Studio Babelsberg, with Fox Searchlight handling distribution after a Cannes Competition premiere.

The film received awards for cinematography and was cited across international festivals. Jörg Widmer served as cinematographer, Rehman Nizar Ali and Sebastian Jones edited, and James Newton Howard composed the score.

‘Hustlers’ (2019)

Lorene Scafaria wrote and directed ‘Hustlers’, starring Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, and Lili Reinhart. It was produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions and Annapurna (later STXfilms handled distribution), with principal photography in New York.

The film was a strong commercial performer and received major nominations for Jennifer Lopez across multiple awards bodies. Todd Banhazl served as cinematographer, Kayla Emter edited, and Jason Collins oversaw makeup effects.

‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ (2019)

Dean DeBlois wrote and directed ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’, featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, and F. Murray Abraham. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and released by Universal Pictures.

The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Animated Feature and accumulated significant worldwide grosses. Cinematography (layout and lighting) was led by Gil Zimmerman, John K. Carr edited, and John Powell returned as composer.

Share your own picks for the year in the comments and tell us which titles you think belong on this list.