The Absolute Best Movies of 2012

The year was packed with ambitious studio spectacles, bold independent breakthroughs, and international standouts that traveled the festival circuit before reaching wider audiences. From globe-trotting espionage to intimate character studies, filmmakers pushed craft in cinematography, sound, visual effects and editing while stars and newcomers alike anchored unforgettable roles. Awards bodies, critics’ groups and audiences took notice, sending many of these titles across theaters worldwide and onto countless year-end ballots.

Below is a curated lineup of twenty-five essential releases, spanning action, drama, comedy, animation and documentary. Each entry notes who made it, who starred, where it premiered or was produced, and what distinctions it earned—so you can trace how these projects came together and what achievements set them apart.

‘Argo’ (2012)

Directed by Ben Affleck and produced by Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, ‘Argo’ adapts Tony Mendez’s memoir and the article “The Great Escape” into a tense rescue procedural. The film stars Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman, with a screenplay by Chris Terrio and production design recreating Tehran and Hollywood settings through extensive location work in Los Angeles and Istanbul. Warner Bros. handled distribution, with Alexandre Desplat providing the score and Rodrigo Prieto serving as cinematographer.

‘Argo’ premiered at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals before a wide release, earning the Academy Award for Best Picture alongside wins for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The ensemble received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast, and the film was recognized by the Producers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America, solidifying its status across major guilds.

‘Django Unchained’ (2012)

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, ‘Django Unchained’ features Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. The production combined location shoots in California and Louisiana, with cinematography by Robert Richardson and costumes by Sharen Davis. The film’s soundtrack weaves original compositions with curated tracks, a Tarantino hallmark, and was released by Columbia Pictures and The Weinstein Company in different territories.

Christoph Waltz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and Tarantino won Best Original Screenplay for ‘Django Unchained’, while the film secured multiple nominations across major categories including cinematography and sound. The project achieved strong box office results worldwide and received Golden Globe and BAFTA recognition, underscoring its reach beyond domestic markets.

‘Lincoln’ (2012)

Steven Spielberg directed ‘Lincoln’ from a screenplay by Tony Kushner, inspired by Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book “Team of Rivals.” Daniel Day-Lewis leads an ensemble that includes Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Janusz Kamiński handled cinematography, John Williams composed the score, and Rick Carter oversaw production design, with DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox managing distribution across different regions.

‘Lincoln’ earned Academy Awards for Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Best Production Design, alongside nominations in directing, screenplay and supporting categories. The film also received recognition from the American Film Institute and collected guild honors in areas such as costume design, hair and makeup, and art direction, reflecting its meticulous period craftsmanship.

‘Life of Pi’ (2012)

Ang Lee directed ‘Life of Pi’, adapting Yann Martel’s novel with a screenplay by David Magee. Suraj Sharma stars, supported by Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Rafe Spall. Claudio Miranda’s digital-first cinematography, Rhythm & Hues’ visual effects work on the tiger character Richard Parker, and Mychael Danna’s score were central to the production. Principal work took place in Taiwan and India, with 20th Century Fox distributing.

‘Life of Pi’ won multiple Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score. The film was a strong global performer, released in multiple formats including 3D, and was honored by BAFTA and the Golden Globes, particularly for its technical achievements and adaptation of complex source material.

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler and Joel Edgerton. The production staged Middle East and South Asia settings through shoots in Jordan and India, with Greig Fraser handling cinematography and Alexandre Desplat composing the score. The film was produced by Annapurna Pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures.

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ received Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress (Jessica Chastain), and it won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing in a rare tie. The film was widely recognized by critics’ groups for screenplay and direction, collected Writers Guild and Producers Guild nominations, and opened in a platform release strategy ahead of broader rollout.

‘Skyfall’ (2012)

Sam Mendes directed ‘Skyfall’ for Eon Productions, with Daniel Craig returning as James Bond alongside Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph Fiennes. Roger Deakins served as cinematographer, Thomas Newman composed the score, and Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan handled the screenplay. Location work spanned the United Kingdom, Turkey and Shanghai, with MGM and Sony Pictures Releasing distributing.

‘Skyfall’ became the highest-grossing entry in the Bond franchise at the time and won Academy Awards for Best Original Song (Adele and Paul Epworth for the title track) and Best Sound Editing, plus a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. The production earned additional nominations for cinematography and score, with accolades from guilds recognizing stunt coordination and visual effects.

‘The Avengers’ (2012)

Marvel Studios’ ‘The Avengers’ united characters introduced in earlier installments, directed and written by Joss Whedon. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston. Filming took place in New Mexico, Ohio and New York, with Seamus McGarvey as cinematographer, ILM leading visual effects, and Alan Silvestri composing the score. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed.

‘The Avengers’ set opening-weekend records in multiple territories and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. The film’s production pipeline coordinated multiple effects vendors and second-unit teams, and its marketing campaign integrated character-focused materials, tie-in merchandise and promotional partnerships that reinforced the shared-universe strategy.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Christopher Nolan directed ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ from a screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, with a story by the director and David S. Goyer. The cast features Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine. Wally Pfister shot on a mix of IMAX and 35mm, Hans Zimmer composed the score, and production traveled to Pittsburgh, New York, Los Angeles, India and the United Kingdom.

Distributed by Warner Bros., ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ was a major global box office success and closed the trilogy with extensive practical effects and large-format photography. The film received nominations and awards from technical guilds for visual and sound work, and its home-media release highlighted IMAX sequences that expand to full-frame on compatible displays.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)

Written and directed by David O. Russell, ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ adapts Matthew Quick’s novel and stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. The Weinstein Company distributed the film, which was shot in the Philadelphia area with cinematography by Masanobu Takayanagi and music supervision that blends classic pop with an original score by Danny Elfman.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ received nominations across all four acting categories as well as Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay, and Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress at the Academy Awards. It earned audience awards on the festival circuit and performed strongly in limited release before expanding wider on positive word-of-mouth and awards recognition.

‘Amour’ (2012)

Michael Haneke wrote and directed ‘Amour’, starring Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant with Isabelle Huppert in a key supporting role. The French-language production was financed through European partners including France, Austria and Germany, with cinematography by Darius Khondji and distribution in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics. The film premiered at Cannes, where it received the Palme d’Or.

‘Amour’ won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and earned additional nominations including Best Picture, Director and Actress. The film collected César Awards and European Film Awards, and it was widely distributed across art-house circuits, with restored editions later prepared for repertory screenings and home-video releases.

‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (2012)

Directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Roman Coppola, ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ features Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, with supporting turns by Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. Robert Yeoman handled cinematography, Alexandre Desplat composed the score, and the production shot in Rhode Island, using distinct color palettes and period-accurate props. Focus Features managed domestic distribution.

‘Moonrise Kingdom’ opened the Cannes Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The soundtrack combines original compositions with selections by Benjamin Britten and Hank Williams, and the film performed well in specialty markets, remaining a long-running presence in independent theaters before wider home-media availability.

‘The Master’ (2012)

Paul Thomas Anderson wrote and directed ‘The Master’, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Mihai Mălaimare Jr. shot the film on 65mm, lending unusually high-resolution imagery for a contemporary drama, and the score was composed by Jonny Greenwood. The project was produced by Annapurna Pictures and Ghoulardi Film Company, with The Weinstein Company distributing in North America.

‘The Master’ premiered at Venice and Toronto, where Phoenix and Hoffman shared acting prizes. It received Academy Award nominations for all three principal actors, as well as recognition from critics’ groups for cinematography and score. Roadshow presentations in select cities showcased 70mm exhibition, and the film’s release included special format engagements.

‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ (2012)

Directed by Benh Zeitlin and co-written with Lucy Alibar from Alibar’s play “Juicy and Delicious,” ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ stars Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry. The film was produced by Court 13 and Cinereach with nonprofessional regional casting, and Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin composed the score. Cinematography by Ben Richardson and practical, handmade production design set it apart on the festival circuit.

‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Actress (Quvenzhané Wallis), and was released by Fox Searchlight, which shepherded an extensive platform rollout supported by community screenings and educational outreach.

‘Holy Motors’ (2012)

Leos Carax wrote and directed ‘Holy Motors’, with Denis Lavant performing multiple roles alongside Édith Scob, Kylie Minogue and Eva Mendes. The French-German co-production features cinematography by Caroline Champetier and Yves Cape and uses Paris locations in highly stylized segments. The film premiered at Cannes and was distributed by Les Films du Losange in France and Indomina in the United States.

‘Holy Motors’ appeared on numerous critics’ lists and received César Award nominations, including Best Director. The project toured international festivals before theatrical runs in Europe and North America, and a later restoration expanded its availability on streaming and boutique Blu-ray labels known for art-house releases.

‘Looper’ (2012)

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, ‘Looper’ stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. The film was financed as a US-China co-production, with portions shot in Louisiana and Shanghai, and Steve Yedlin served as cinematographer. Endgame Entertainment and DMG Entertainment produced, while TriStar Pictures and FilmDistrict handled North American distribution.

‘Looper’ opened the Toronto International Film Festival and earned nominations from genre and technical guilds for its editing and makeup effects. The production’s international financing model and location incentives were widely covered, and the film performed well in both domestic and Chinese markets, aided by a marketing campaign tailored to different regions.

‘Les Misérables’ (2012)

Tom Hooper directed ‘Les Misérables’ from the stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer, itself based on Victor Hugo’s novel. The cast includes Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne, with Working Title Films producing and Universal Pictures distributing. The production recorded live vocals on set, an uncommon approach for large-scale movie musicals.

Anne Hathaway won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the film earned additional Oscars for Makeup and Hairstyling and Sound Mixing, with nominations in Best Picture and other categories. The soundtrack topped charts in multiple territories, and the movie achieved strong box office totals worldwide, supported by holiday-season release timing.

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (2012)

Stephen Chbosky adapted and directed ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ from his own novel, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. The production shot in the Pittsburgh area with cinematography by Andrew Dunn and music supervision featuring alternative and classic tracks integral to the story. Summit Entertainment handled distribution.

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ earned Independent Spirit Award recognition and several critics’ association honors for ensemble and adapted screenplay. The film performed strongly in limited release, expanding as word spread through school screenings and book tie-in campaigns, and it later became a staple of teen-focused streaming catalogs and educational discussions.

‘The Raid: Redemption’ (2012)

Directed by Gareth Evans and starring Iko Uwais, ‘The Raid: Redemption’ is an Indonesian action film produced by Merantau Films. Yayan Ruhian served as fight choreographer alongside Uwais, showcasing pencak silat martial arts, with cinematography by Matt Flannery. Sony Pictures Classics distributed in North America, including an alternate score by Mike Shinoda and Joseph Trapanese for that market.

‘The Raid: Redemption’ premiered at festivals including Toronto and SXSW before theatrical rollout. The film received awards from genre festivals for action choreography and editing, and it influenced subsequent action productions that sought similar close-quarters staging, leading to sequels and expanded international distribution for Indonesian filmmakers.

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ (2012)

A Walt Disney Animation Studios production directed by Rich Moore, ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch. Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee co-wrote the screenplay, and the film blends CG animation with cameo appearances from licensed video-game characters. Henry Jackman composed the score, and Disney handled global distribution, including 3D and IMAX engagements.

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and won the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. The film’s home-media release included extensive behind-the-scenes materials on character design and game-world environments, and it spawned a sequel and related theme-park and consumer-products tie-ins.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ (2012)

Peter Jackson directed ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel. Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins, with Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage and a large ensemble. The production utilized high-frame-rate exhibition in select theaters, extensive Weta Digital visual effects and New Zealand locations.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ received Academy Award nominations for Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design and Visual Effects. The film launched a trilogy for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, with a global marketing campaign leveraging fan events, production diaries and location tourism partnerships that boosted New Zealand’s screen industry profile.

‘The Hunger Games’ (2012)

Directed by Gary Ross and based on Suzanne Collins’s novel, ‘The Hunger Games’ stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks. Lionsgate produced and distributed, with cinematography by Tom Stern and shooting locations in North Carolina. T-Bone Burnett oversaw music production alongside composer James Newton Howard.

‘The Hunger Games’ opened to strong box office and established a major franchise for Lionsgate, leading to sequels and expanded licensing. The film secured nominations from guilds for makeup, costume and sound, and its soundtrack and companion album featured notable artists, driving cross-promotion between film and music markets.

‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012)

Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, ‘Cloud Atlas’ adapts David Mitchell’s novel with a structure spanning multiple storylines and casts actors in different roles across segments. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent and Doona Bae lead the ensemble. The international co-production involved financing from European partners, with Frank Griebe and John Toll sharing cinematography duties.

‘Cloud Atlas’ premiered at Toronto and received nominations from the Golden Globes and Saturn Awards, particularly for score and makeup. Warner Bros. distributed in North America with additional partners overseas, and the film’s production was noted for its make-up design, modular sets and a cross-unit workflow coordinating parallel directing teams.

‘Searching for Sugar Man’ (2012)

Malik Bendjelloul directed ‘Searching for Sugar Man’, a documentary about musician Rodriguez, produced by Red Box Films and Canfield Pictures. The film combines interviews and archival materials with sequences shot on Super 8 and a smartphone app to complete final pick-ups, a production detail later discussed in filmmaker talks. Sony Pictures Classics handled distribution.

‘Searching for Sugar Man’ won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and collected honors at Sundance and the BAFTAs. The film’s release renewed global interest in Rodriguez’s recordings, leading to chart re-entries and expanded tours, while the soundtrack album introduced the artist to new markets through coordinated label partnerships.

‘Rust and Bone’ (2012)

Directed by Jacques Audiard and co-written with Thomas Bidegain from Craig Davidson’s short stories, ‘Rust and Bone’ stars Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts. The French-Belgian production features cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine and a score by Alexandre Desplat, with distribution by Sony Pictures Classics in North America and UGC Distribution in France.

‘Rust and Bone’ premiered at Cannes and received César and BAFTA nominations, including acting recognition for Marion Cotillard. The film enjoyed strong performance in European markets and specialty theaters, and its release featured prominent festival Q&As and press highlighting Schoenaerts’s preparation and Cotillard’s collaboration with visual-effects teams.

‘The Impossible’ (2012)

Directed by J.A. Bayona and written by Sergio G. Sánchez, ‘The Impossible’ stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland. The Spanish production company Apaches Entertainment worked with Summit Entertainment on distribution, with extensive water-tank work in Spain and location shooting in Thailand. Óscar Faura served as cinematographer and Fernando Velázquez composed the score.

‘The Impossible’ earned Naomi Watts an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and received Goya Award recognition in Spain. The film’s release included wide international distribution, with significant attention to its practical effects and sound design, and its home-media extras covered production challenges of large-scale water sequences and family consultation.

Share your own essential picks from that year in the comments!