Are you a movie junkie like us, or do you just have some spare time to watch something totally amazing? Whatever your situation, catch some of our fave flicks as of late! These are what we consider to be the best movies of 2017 and beyond–some are even Oscar-nominated!

And don’t worry, this is a spoiler-free zone!

GIPHY

ACTION

Baby Driver

source: filmjabber.com

Genre: Action, Drama

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic-93% Audience-86%

Synopsis: A young man (Ansel Elgort) becomes a getaway car driver after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey).

One of our favorite things about this one is the action and stunts but also above all, the soundtrack and the cinematography..basically everything. We’re not fans of Kevin Spacey, but thankfully, his part is minimal. Ansel Elgort stars as the young getaway driver with a depressing past, struggling to escape the path he’s on and fall in love.

Where to watch: Google Play, iTunes, Youtube

 

Wonder Woman

source: variety.com

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 92% Audience- 88%

Synopsis: An Amazonian princess (Gal Gadot) trains to become a fierce warrior swearing to protect the people of her island. A man (Chris Pine) crashes his plane on their hidden Island and marks the beginning of their battle to save mankind in the post-WWII era.

If you’re a superhero or comic junky, or just a fan of anything that’s action-packed, this one’s a must-watch. There aren’t many female superheroes to look up to, but Wonder Woman has always been the symbol of hope and strength we’ve all grown up admiring. Gal Gadot does an amazing job of portraying Wonder Woman as the strong and compassionate superhero saving mankind from itself. The film features amazing special effects, drama, romance, and special guest superheroes of the DC Comics family. You won’t be disappointed.

Where to watch: HBO, Amazon

Logan

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 93% Audience- 90%

Synopsis: In 2029, the world is almost rid of all mutants. Their kind is no longer welcomed and seen as threatening to mankind. Our beloved X-men member, Logan (Hugh Jackman), struggles to survive and keep a very ill Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and fellow mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant) alive and under the radar. He’s drawn out of hiding as a mysterious woman begs him to shepherd a special young girl to safety.

Critics, audiences and even we agree that Logan is the X-men film you must watch. It’s action-packed, heartfelt, and will make you cry–even if you’re not a diehard X-men fan. This film was meant as a last hurrah for Hugh Jackman, but we hope to see him in something else again after this performance. The storyline is well thought-out, subtly raises awareness to societal issues, and even nostalgic nods to past X-men movies.

Where to watch: Netflix, HBO, Amazon

Spider-man: Homecoming

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 92% Audience- 88%

Synopsis: A young Peter Parker aka Spider-man (Tom Holland) embarks on his newfound superhero adventures while balancing adolescent life. With a little help from his friend Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), he’s able to unleash if full potential and mature into a superhero the world can depend on.

Yes, another Spider-man movie, and you all are wondering: “Is this one really going to be better?” Why, yes, yes it is–much better. Tom Holland is the best Spider-man yet, capturing the youth and innocence of a high school student trying to balance friends, love life, and you know–superheroing. Just like every Marvel movie, this one didn’t disappoint and certainly surpassed all expectations from all Spider-mans before. Tom Holland’s a keeper.

Where to watch: Amazon, Starz

Blade Runner 2049

source: latimes.com

Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 87% Audience- 81%

Synopsis: A long-awaited sequel to the original blade runner, blade runner 2049 takes place 30 years afterward with an LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling). Officer K unearths clues and secrets of the society they live in that makes him question everything. He embarks on a journey to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), the former LAPD blade runner.

Okay, yes this is a sequel, and yes, the original Blade Runner is a film from 1982 depicting the world in 2019 (funny, right?) We recommend watching Blade Runner before Blade Runner 2049 for some backstory. Most of the events of Blade Runner 2049 will make more sense knowing what occurred in the original, but you’ll still enjoy the action-packed and mysterious storyline of Blade Runner 2049 regardless. Also, who can deny watching anything with Ryan Gosling in it?

Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes

Wind River

source: redcarpetref.com

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 87% Audience- 91%

Synopsis: A death has occurred on a Native American Reservation and a local hunter (Jeremy Renner) discovers the body of a local girl. He and a FBI rookie (Elizabeth Olsen) begin an investigation of the mysterious death.

This film had us on the edge of our seats as the mysterious murder is unraveled before our eyes. It’s filled with emotions, dark pasts, and a harsh reality of events that occur on Native American Reservations all the time. Fair warning, this is a pretty dark film and will leave you a little disheartened.

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon, Vudu

DRAMA

Okja

source: theveganizers.com

Genre: Drama, Sci-fi

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic –  85% Audience – 81%

Synopsis: Okja is a story of a young girl who is one of several pig farmers of the world to be the caretaker of a very special animal, Okja, for 10 years. The story takes a turn when she is forced to turn over Okja to Mirando Corporation, a multinational conglomerate promising the consumer world great things from her experimental animals.

Where to watch: Netflix

Lady Bird

source: nme.com

Rotten Tomato Scores: 92% Tomatometer; 77% Audience Score

Synopsis: The film gives a refreshing look back on the growing pains of our teen years, played by talented young actress Saoirse Ronan, as lovable ‘Ladybird’ navigating her senior year of high school. Yes, it goes through the hiccups of friendships made & lost, awkward prom dates, and losing it for the first time.

Why we liked it: We could all relate so deeply with the characters, because it shows for an objective perspective the sacrifices parents make and the actions they take out of love that we oftentimes take for granted in our teens.

Where to Watch: iTunes, Amazon

Dunkirk

Genre: Drama

Rotten Tomato Scores: 93% Tomatometer; 81% Audience Score

Synopsis: The German army has allied soldiers, the British empire, and France surrounded in World War II. As British soldiers are evacuating the country, just a stretch of sea back home, chaos and destruction ensue.

Christopher Nolan really knows how to pluck my heartstrings. Even having prior historical knowledge of what went down at Dunkirk won’t tarnish the intensity and suspense accomplished in this WWII film. Dunkirk is a visually stunning cinematic experience: the minimal dialogue allows you to focus on the shifting perspectives and the respective action that plays out with each protagonist. The score has that signature Hans Zimmer sound that gives you goosebumps.

Why we liked it: it’s not your typical war movie. This one had us on the edge of our seats, rooting for the soldiers to survive. The innocence of the young soldiers and patriotism captured in the characters are what really drive the emotional aspect of the film home.

Where to watch: DVD, Amazon, iTunes

Darkest Hour

Genre: Drama

Rotten Tomato Scores: 86% Tomatometer; 83% Audience Score

Synopsis: Britain is on the brink of an invasion by Nazi German attacks as defeat in France becomes imminent. Soldiers at Dunkirk are stranded against incredible odds and their fate is in the hands of the British parliament, spearheaded by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Why we liked it: Without the outstanding performance of Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, this film would just not be the same. We loved the theatrics of it all, the personal perspective of Winston Churchill and Parliament members, and emotion you feel for the people of Britain in that era. 

Where to watch: iTunes, Amazon

Arrival

source: theatlantic.com

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 94% Audience- 82%

Strange and mysterious dome-shaped spacecrafts land across the globe, only the top team of experts lead by linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) are asked by the government to help investigate and have the aliens answer the important question: Why are they here?

Communication is the most important aspect of any relationship. So how does the outside world communicate? If it’s not war, it’s finding a universal language of power and peace that can change or even save humanity forever. Adams is such a delight (as always) and stars alongside Jeremy Renner in one of the most engaging and endearing alien movies that’s not just a typical ‘alien’ movie. All it takes is a little understanding.

COMEDY

The Disaster Artist

source: kcci.com

Genre: Comedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 91% Audience- 88%

Synopsis: This adapted screenplay of the notorious film, The Room (directed, produced, written and starring Tommy Wiseau), revives the cult favorite. James Franco stars as Tommy Wiseau, alongside his James’s brother Dave as Greg Sestero.

This telling of the real-life scenes behind the making of The Room is not only cringe-worthy but oh-so-hilarious at the same time. Although we thought this was an amazing movie, we’d like to say that in light of the Time’s Up movement and the allegations put forth against James Franco, we will support every reader who doesn’t watch this film in protest to the actor’s actions. On to the next. 

Where to watch: Amazon

I, Tonya

source: rollingstone.com

Genre: Comedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 90% Audience- 89%

Synopsis: Tonya Harding’s infamous figure skating career and its controversial fall come to life on the big screen with the help of Margot Robbie and Academy Award Winner Allison Janney.

We probably all know the tale: a famous American figure skater in the 90s issues an attack on a fellow skater training on the same Olympic team (pipe to the knee, NBD). But Tony Harding’s story is SO. MUCH. MORE. The relationships in this film are simultaneously twisted, dark, utterly heartbreaking, and hilarious. Shout out to the parrot!

Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes

Girl’s Trip

source: defendernetwork.com

Genre: Comedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critic- 90% Audience- 75%

Synopsis: Long distance best friends link up for a girls trip reunion in New Orleans for the Essence Festival, where you guessed it – things are bound to get a little wild.

The hilarious newcomer on the scene Tiffany Haddish just might become your new BFF that’ll inspire you to stop GAF about the small stuff and let loose – depending on your definition of loose. It’s about the true bond of sisterhood – being by each other’s side when things get tough or using a crazy, drunk night out to just forget about it. Also starring Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

ANIMATED

Disney Pixar’s Coco

source: latintimes.com

Rotten Tomatoes score: Critics-97%, Audience-95%

We’re in love with the Coco! First of all, we couldn’t personally say if Disney paid respect to latin culture to the tee, but a huge YES to Disney representing other cultures in their latest Pixar film.

After Miguel is forbidden by his family to do the one thing he loves, playing music, he goes behind their back during Dia de los muertos to prove his talent, but ends up getting stuck in the land of the dead. The movie is so touching, bringing together what keeps us grounded the most – our families and the lives of the people we want to remember. If there’s any Oscar nominated movie you need to watch and want to be truly touched by, it’s this one!

 

HORROR

Get Out

source: indiewire.com

Genre: Horror

Rotten Tomato Scores: 99% Tomatometer; 87% Audience Score

Synopsis: Nothing makes audiences feel more uncomfortable than underlying tones of racism, politics, and overcompensating in the horror genre that hits America in its sensitivities today, as a young interracial couple played by notable actor Daniel Kaluuya and actress Allison Williams, take a visit to her character’s hometown for the weekend with her parents.

Watching Get Out reminds us of the pervasive, unnerving feeling I always get when I watch Rosemary’s Baby: there’s something clearly wrong, but you can’t quite place your finger on it, and you’re nervously at the edge of your seat. But more than that, Get Out addresses systematic racism overtly as well as through insane symbolism you may not catch in your first viewing. All in all, this movie is thought-provoking and terrifying on so many levels. Directed by popular comedian, Jordan Peele (from Key & Peele), it’s no surprise it has just the right amount of comedy mixed in with a whole lot of sketchiness, which you feel the whole entire movie – trust no one. 

Where to watch: iTunes, Amazon

It

source: Hindustan Times

Genre: Horror

Rotten Tomato Score: Critic- 85%; Audience- 84%

A modern remake of Stephen King’s legendary novel as your childhood fears come to life with  the clown known as Pennywise or IT, the ultimate evil-spirited clown responsible for the disappearances of young kids in the small town of Derry, Maine.

Ugh, clowns. Even if you loved them (but how could you possibly?) they look creepy AF. This movie scarred our childhood memories and has became even more violent, more horrific, and more gruesome than we remember. The movie is SO unsettling that it broke records for the highest-grossing opening for an R-rated horror movie. So whatever you do, PLEASE don’t follow the red balloons!