Box Office Theory Forum’s Top 100 Disney Movies

[cannastop]

5 hours ago, YM! said:

Turning Red under Frozen is a disappointment 

Eh I'm just surprised both are so low.

[Arlborn]

21 hours ago, Eric Web said:

#208 - Bridget Jones' Diary (170 points, 3 lists)

 

 

#201 - Good Morning, Vietnam (179 points, 5 lists)

 

So low??

 

 

 

19 hours ago, 4815162342 said:

How could you monsters not include The Waterboy

 

Maybe I am remembering it wrong(someone should make a summary of the top 100 so far), but there seems to be a distinct lack of (non-animated) comedies in this top 100 so far, what a sad world.

 

(on a personal note, Waterboy is a great comedy but only made it on my top 125, sorry)

[Eric Prime]

#200 - Taare Zameen Par (179 points, 2 lists)

 

#199 - The Love Bug (180 points, 4 lists)

 

#198 - The Secret World of Arrietty (181 points, 6 lists)

 

#197 - Never Cry Wolf (197 points, 5 lists)

 

#196 - Raya and the Last Dragon (183 points, 7 lists)

 

#195 - Pretty Woman (186 points, 8 lists)

 

#194 - The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (188 points, 4 lists)

 

#193 - Farewell My Concubine (188 points, 3 lists)

 

#192 - Brave (189 points, 8 lists)

 

#191 - The Three Caballeros (189 points, 4 lists)

[Eric Prime]

#47

No Country for Old Men

1,007 points, 18 lists

"What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"

 

Box Office: 171.6M

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Metacritic: 91

Awards: 4 Academy Awards and 4 nominations, 3 BAFTA Awards and 6 nominations, 3 Critics Choice Awards and 2 nominations, 2 Golden Globe Awards and 2 nominations, 3 National Board of Review Awards

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "This movie is a masterful evocation of time, place, character, moral choices, immoral certainties, human nature and fate. It is also, in the photography by Roger Deakins, the editing by the Coens and the music by Carter Burwell, startlingly beautiful, stark and lonely."

 

Its Legacy: The first and only time Joel and Ethan Coen won the Academy Award for Best Director. Competed for the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The Best Film of 2007 by the National Board of Review. Contextualized themes and locations found in Blood Simple and Fargo in a whole new way. Made Javier Bardem a household name. Revitalized Cormac McCarthy's work for a whole new generation. Gave Stephen Root a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Serving as one of, if not the darkest Coen Brothers movie ever made, this one captures a lot of the strong ideas and personality films like Blood Simple and Fargo achieved, and features some really amazing characters that hold the piece together into something special. Josh Brolin is great as Llewelyn Moss, a man caught up in a situation he had no idea he would get into, and Tommy Lee Jones as the stern sheriff investigating the madness is as fantastic as you would expect. But yeah, the best character of the bunch, the best part of the movie in fact, is Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh.

 

Everybody’s talked about how good a character Anton is. I have done this too. But I guess I can regurgitate these statements once again. Basically the human equivalent of The Terminator, Anton is a brilliant, calculated individual who is also utterly terrifying. He is a man who kills and murders for the simplest, pettiest of reasons. And in some cases, he is doing this despite arguably not wanting to. But something in him compels him to kill for whatever reason. Somtimes for as simple as not predicting how a coin falls. It’s a testament to the writing of the Coens and Javier Bardem that such a complex character was pulled off so perfectly, but their hard work is the reason the film is still popular nearly two decades later.

 

This has served as one of the most popular Coen releases ever, with it even being the film that garnered them Oscar gold in the Best Director category, for good reason. It’s gorgeous, it’s well-paced, it’s dramatic, it’s scary, it’s wonderfully-acted. Does everything you want for a dark, depressing drama like this and it will still be considered a masterclass work of the Coens and of the GOATed movie year of 2007 for the rest of time.

 

[Eric Prime]

#46

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

1,014 points, 23 lists

"Chewie... we're home."

Box Office: 2.071B

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Metacritic: 80

Awards: 5 Academy Award nominations, 1 BAFTA Award and 3 nominations, 5 Empire Awards and 4 nominations, 1 Grammy Award, 4 MTV Movie Awards and 7 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: The epic return of Star Wars for a new generation. Earned the biggest opening weekend of all time. Introduced fan favorites like Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, etc. Exposed how Star Wars fans are the worst people ever, yet again. Set the pace for even more Star Wars movies to come...for a while. Sold 8 million copies on Blu-Ray and DVD. Gave Max Von Sydow a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Once upon a time, a man named George Lucas made a giant empire off a silly kids movie. Then people thought he was trash, he got bored of all the money he made and sold it to Disney, who decided to create chaos with every decision they made. Including such horrid actions like putting women in these silly kids movies. And then everybody was miserable. The end.

 

But for a while, things started on a tremendous high with The Force Awakens. The film returned back to basics, almost to a fault, as we saw everything that made Star Wars awesome. Epic battles, high-stakes drama, complex yet identifiable characters, and a rollicking adventure that can appeal to the young and young at heart. Characters like Rey, Kylo Ren, and Finn have already established themselves as fan-favorites, and the rebellious spirit of Star Wars, one that tells us that evil governments must be taken down and to avoid repeating the sins of the past, is just as powerful and prescient as ever.

 

And hey, you may not like everything that Star Wars has been up to these days, but the franchise is now bigger than ever, with tons of comics, shows, and new eras to explore, all of which have garnered new fans young and old and will continue to thrive for decades to come. Sadly, we’re never getting a new Star Wars movie ever again, so I guess things will end here. Pity.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#45

Wreck-It Ralph

1,021 points, 24 lists

"I'm bad, and that's good! I will never be good, and that's not bad! There's no-one I'd rather be... than me."

Box Office: 496.5M

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Metacritic: 72

Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 5 Annie Awards and 5 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award nomination

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "More than in most animated films, the art design and color palette of "Wreck-It Ralph" permit unlimited sets, costumes and rules, giving the movie tireless originality and different behavior in every different cyber world. Wreck-It Ralph, who seems not a million miles separate from Shrek, makes a lovable guide through this arcade universe."

 

Its Legacy: One of the most successful video game movies of all time. Showed Disney Animation could do more than princess fare. Introduced Sonic the Hedgehog to cinema. Earned the biggest opening weekend in WDAS history. Earned the Best Animated Film Award by the 2012 National Board of Review. Appeared in several video games. Earned a sequel in 2018. Gave Jane Lynch a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Hyped up on release as the Roger Rabbit of video games, Walt Disney Animation Studios took a fun “what do video game characters do when they aren’t in the game” premise and pumped out an action-packed and hilarious thrill ride for the gamer in all of us. The film serves as a fun look at the wacky rides gaming has gone through in the decades. From Ralph, our Donkey Kong-centric villain who wants to be good, to him going to games like the Halo-esque Hero’s Duty and the colorful candy-flavored world of Sugar Rush. It allows an exciting look at all types of games and gives viewers a fun adventure with interesting and creative locations. All the while taking full advantage of the conventions, tropes, and trappings of the video game format that’s funny and creative, whether you’re a gamer or not.

 

It all of course is tied into a heartfelt story of a big, scary guy who just wants the world to see him as more than just the label he was given. He’s somebody with emotions and feelings, and just wants the world to see him for who he is. Not be treated as the loser bad guy for once. And all the while, he learns to accept that what makes him an outcast and hated is what truly makes him special. And hopefully, the rest of the world will soon see that.

 

Add on tons of awesome cameos from Sonic to Q*Bert, and you got a great animated feature that still has a strong fan following over a decade later...is it weird to anybody movies like Wreck-It Ralph are over 10 years old now? Because it’s weird to me.

 

 

[cannastop]

1 hour ago, Eric Web said:

Revitalized Cormac McCarthy's work for a whole new generation

I would say that this movie popularized Cormac McCarthy work like never before.

[ZeeSoh]

Disappointed with how low Ready or Not is. That was an amazing and entertaining movie. 

[DAR]

4 hours ago, Eric Web said:

#200 - Taare Zameen Par (179 points, 5 lists)

 

#199 - The Love Bug (180 points, 4 lists)

 

#198 - The Secret World of Arrietty (181 points, 6 lists)

 

#197 - Never Cry Wolf (197 points, 5 lists)

 

#196 - Raya and the Last Dragon (183 points, 7 lists)

 

#195 - Pretty Woman (186 points, 8 lists)

 

#194 - The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (188 points, 4 lists)

 

#193 - Farewell My Concubine (188 points, 3 lists)

 

#192 - Brave (189 points, 8 lists)

 

#191 - The Three Caballeros (189 points, 4 lists)

Never Cry Wolf made five lists.  If you can find a way please watch, it’s a wonderful film.

[Eric Prime]

#190 - Cruella (191 points, 7 lists)

 

#189 - Bolt (193 points, 5 lists)

 

#188 - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (195 points, 6 lists)

 

#187 - The Talented Mr. Ripley (198 points, 3 lists)

 

#186 - Treasure Planet (199 points, 10 lists)

 

#185 - Saving Mr. Banks (201 points, 4 lists)]

 

#184 - Oliver and Company (202 points, 5 lists)

 

#183 - The Rescue (205 points, 4 lists)

 

#182 - The Aviator (217 points, 7 lists, avg. ranking #63)

 

#181 - The Rescuers (217, 7 lists, avg. ranking #55)

[Eric Prime]

#44

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

1,036 points, 20 lists

"I got a jar of dirt, I got a jar of dirt, and guess what's inside it!"

Box Office: 1.066B

Rotten Tomatoes: 53%

Metacritic: 53

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 3 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award and 4 nominations, 4 Empire Award nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award nomination, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 2 MTV Movie Awards and 2 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: The third-highest grossing film of all time. Solidified Pirates of the Caribbean as one of Disney's most profitable franchises. Caused the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to change significantly. The highest-selling DVD of 2006. The first film to use the 2006-2022 Disney Studios logo. Boasts groundbreaking VFX technology. The highest-grossing Disney film until Toy Story 3. Gave Geoffrey Rush a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Coming fresh off of what was once thought to be Disney’s biggest flop, Dead Man’s Chest was positioned to be Disney’s golden boy. They had their own Matrix/Harry Potter to call their own, and were willing to put everything into it. A gigantic budget, groundbreaking VFX, and was shot concurrently with the third movie, At World’s End, a tactic that showed confidence that this was going to be a big deal franchise. And it all depended on Dead Man’s Chest sticking the landing. Which...it kind of did?

 

Reviews were very mixed at the time, and there’s still plenty who don’t care for how this sequel, and all the other ones, fared out. However, it didn’t matter. It broke box office records, the third-highest grossing film of all time in fact. And despite its flaws, there was a lot to like and admire here. And 18 years later, it’s one of those blockbusters that really stands out in the current era of CGI sludge and shared universes.

 

The old cast is back and do their fun schticks, but one of the coolest introductions was the one and only Davy Jones. Bill Nighy is dripping in bravado and camp in this performance, while also being drenched in some of the best performance capture work ever seen in the movies. The tentacles move around his face effortlessly, and the textures used on him make him look believable and tactile, as if he really was in the world the pirates inhabited. It’s the kind of impressive VFX tech that only very, very, very few characters since then have matched in the almost two decades since its release.

 

Meanwhile, we also have some incredible action, as director Gore Verbinski used his $225 million budget to his fullest advantage. An epic fight against a Kraken, Jack Sparrow running away from evil cannibals, a giant swordfight on a water wheel? This is the kind of stuff that seemed impossible to pull off in a live-action blockbuster, but Verbinski did it. And we are all better off for it, as it results in some of the most incredible action to ever hit modern-day blockbuster cinema.

 

So yeah, Dead Man’s Chest has a lot going for it. Enough to make this list at least. But how does it stack up with the other films? Well, guess we’ll save that for later.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#43

Scream

1,059 points, 20 lists

"No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!"

Box Office: 173M

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

Metacritic: 65

Awards: 3 Saturn Awards and 3 nominations, 1 MTV Movie Award and 1 nomination

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "What did I think about this movie? As a film critic, I liked it. I liked the in-jokes and the self-aware characters. At the same time, I was aware of the incredible level of gore in this film. It is *really* violent. Is the violence defused by the ironic way the film uses it and comments on it? For me, it was. For some viewers, it will not be, and they will be horrified. Which category do you fall in? Here's an easy test: When I mentioned Fangoria, did you know what I was talking about?"

 

Legacy: The film that saved horror forever. Bolstered the career of actors like Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lilliard, Rose McGowan, etc. Made Kevin Williamson a hot item, later resulting in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's Creek. Ghostface became an icon of slasher cinema. Caller ID was increased by 300% after the film's release. Criticized for making the youths violent post-Columbine. Created a gigantic franchise with several sequels, almost all of which became box office juggernauts. Gave Henry Winkler a paycheck.

 

Commentary: In 1996, horror movies were in a huge rut. Critics turned their noses up a them, while audiences stayed away. The constant supply of Friday the 13th movies, Halloween movies, and Elm Street movies have gotten stale and tired. They were all the same, there were no surprises, they fell into the same boring ol’ cliches and tropes. They just weren’t scary. And even horror diehards grew tired of these films. But at the genre’s lowest point, both creatively and commercially, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson gave us the shot in the arm the genre needed. And it was glorious.

 

In many ways the Deadpool of the 90s, Scream lampooned and satirized all the tropes and conventions slashers were being criticized for, resulting in a film that was on the same level as its audience. These characters knew what would happen if they followed what other movie characters did, so they aren’t going to do it. This not only meant the film was very witty and funny and satirical, but also meant the dangers were all the more terrifying and real. Add on some great characters portrayed by Hollywood’s then youngest and brightest rising stars, and it really was no wonder why it became a WOM sensation.

 

This film was full of so much personality and creativity and charm that it singlehandedly made horror cool and interesting to a new generation of moviegoers. Slashers like Chucky and Halloween returned to box office highs, other teen-centric horror hits like I Know What You Did Last Summer became popular, The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project were leggy sensations. It was this film that made the genre grow up, act more sophisticated, and stop falling into the same boring tropes that made audiences disinterested in the whole genre. And sure enough, between Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes, James Wan, A24, and so on, horror is the most reliable genre in today’s complicated and confusing moviegoing market.

 

Scream itself would also benefit with tons of sequels. And speaking of, just as a reminder, please donate to the people of Gaza and the nation of Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

 

https://irusa.org/middle-east/palestine/

[Eric Prime]

#42

The Avengers

1,133 points, 18 lists

"Puny god."

Box Office: 1.519B

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Metacritic: 69

Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 1 Annie Award and 1 nomination, 1 BAFTA Award nomination, 5 Empire Award nominations, 3 MTV Movie Awards and 3 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: ""Comic-Con nerds will have multiple orgasms," predicts critic David Edelstein in New York magazine, confirming something I had vaguely suspected about them. If he is correct, it's time for desperately needed movies to re-educate nerds in the joys of sex. "The Avengers" is done well by Joss Whedon, with style and energy. It provides its fans with exactly what they desire. Whether it is exactly what they deserve is arguable."

 

Legacy: Had the highest opening weekend in box office history. Solidified the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a successful experiment. Mark Ruffalo's debut as Bruce Banner. The first Marvel movie to reach $1 billion at the box office. Made the Marvel heroes household names and boosted the box office numbers for Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Earned three sequels, with two more on the way. Is the main reason we have four more phases of Marvel with more phases to come. The finest example of a shared universe. Boosted shawarma sales exponentially. Has the greatest Marvel post-credits scene of all time. Turned Kevin Feige into Papa Feige. Gave Cobie Smolders a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Man, remember the good ol’ days when the idea of combining six heroes from separate movie franchises into one movie was the most mindblowing idea ever? How we all thought audiences could never handle these many characters in one frame? That there was no way to set up all these heroes in a way that was easy to follow for newcomers, yet still continued story arcs set up in random, unrelated movies? We really had no idea how quaint things actually were back then, huh?

But yeah. Anyways. Avengers. The first one. Man, what a great freaking blockbuster. A perfect example of how to make one that’s effective, action-packed, crowdpleasing, yet still engrossing to those who aren’t into flash and pomp and circumstance. It’s a pretty simple story when you get down to it. A bunch of heroes with wacky personalities stop this one bad dude from taking over the world. But what we got was full of laughs, full of personality, full of creativity, and full of great character moments.

 

Say what you will about Joss Whedon, believe me I have, but his understanding on how to work with ensemble casts is taken full advantage of here. All the heroes are given their moment to shine. Whether it be in their clashing personalities, their story arcs, or just having awesome lines or fighting sequences. My favorite parts are your favorite parts. I love Tony acting casual towards Loki, I love Thor’s drama over fighting his brother, I love Hulk smashing Loki to the ground, I love Cap’s transformation from outsider to leader, I love Natasha’s opening scene. It’s so packed with exciting moments, awesome sequences, and great beats that solidified these characters as cinematic icons and made this crazy MCU idea worth it.

 

And yeah, after this film, we had tons of beautiful and amazing MCU goodness, with even more awesome characters joining the fray in future Avengers movies. But it’s times like these where you have to remember where it all started. And what started was still, frankly, incredible.

 

 

[Human]

I remember when The Avengers came out.

 

Me: Is Spider-Man there.

 

My sisters: No (explanation to why).

 

Me: Have fun. 

 

Being from a family of nothing but DC people has its interesting parts in this world of the MCU.

[ListenHunnyUrOver]

5 hours ago, Eric Web said:

#43

Scream

1,059 points, 20 lists

"No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!"

Box Office: 173M

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

Metacritic: 65

Awards: 3 Saturn Awards and 3 nominations, 1 MTV Movie Award and 1 nomination

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "What did I think about this movie? As a film critic, I liked it. I liked the in-jokes and the self-aware characters. At the same time, I was aware of the incredible level of gore in this film. It is *really* violent. Is the violence defused by the ironic way the film uses it and comments on it? For me, it was. For some viewers, it will not be, and they will be horrified. Which category do you fall in? Here's an easy test: When I mentioned Fangoria, did you know what I was talking about?"

 

Legacy: The film that saved horror forever. Bolstered the career of actors like Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lilliard, Rose McGowan, etc. Made Kevin Williamson a hot item, later resulting in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's Creek. Ghostface became an icon of slasher cinema. Caller ID was increased by 300% after the film's release. Criticized for making the youths violent post-Columbine. Created a gigantic franchise with several sequels, almost all of which became box office juggernauts. Gave Henry Winkler a paycheck.

 

Commentary: In 1996, horror movies were in a huge rut. Critics turned their noses up a them, while audiences stayed away. The constant supply of Friday the 13th movies, Halloween movies, and Elm Street movies have gotten stale and tired. They were all the same, there were no surprises, they fell into the same boring ol’ cliches and tropes. They just weren’t scary. And even horror diehards grew tired of these films. But at the genre’s lowest point, both creatively and commercially, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson gave us the shot in the arm the genre needed. And it was glorious.

 

In many ways the Deadpool of the 90s, Scream lampooned and satirized all the tropes and conventions slashers were being criticized for, resulting in a film that was on the same level as its audience. These characters knew what would happen if they followed what other movie characters did, so they aren’t going to do it. This not only meant the film was very witty and funny and satirical, but also meant the dangers were all the more terrifying and real. Add on some great characters portrayed by Hollywood’s then youngest and brightest rising stars, and it really was no wonder why it became a WOM sensation.

 

This film was full of so much personality and creativity and charm that it singlehandedly made horror cool and interesting to a new generation of moviegoers. Slashers like Chucky and Halloween returned to box office highs, other teen-centric horror hits like I Know What You Did Last Summer became popular, The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project were leggy sensations. It was this film that made the genre grow up, act more sophisticated, and stop falling into the same boring tropes that made audiences disinterested in the whole genre. And sure enough, between Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes, James Wan, A24, and so on, horror is the most reliable genre in today’s complicated and confusing moviegoing market.

 

Scream itself would also benefit with tons of sequels. And speaking of, just as a reminder, please donate to the people of Gaza and the nation of Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

 

https://irusa.org/middle-east/palestine/

Wes Craven you will always be famous.

[Eric Prime]

#180 - Nightmare Alley (217 points, 5 lists)

 

#179 - Sky High (219 points, 7 lists)

 

#178 - 10 Things I Hate About You (220 points, 4 lists)

 

#177 - Muppet Treasure Island (222 points, 5 lists)

 

#176 - Sister Act (223 points, 5 lists)

 

#175 - Air Force One (224 points, 4 lists)

 

#174 - The Village (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #56)

 

#173 - Father of the Bride (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #47)

 

#172 - Ant-Man (227 points, 7 lists)

 

#171 - The Piano (228 points, 4 lists)

[JustLurking]

2 minutes ago, Eric Web said:

#180 - Nightmare Alley (217 points, 5 lists)

 

#179 - Sky High (219 points, 7 lists)

 

#178 - 10 Things I Hate About You (220 points, 4 lists)

 

#177 - Muppet Treasure Island (222 points, 5 lists)

 

#176 - Sister Act (223 points, 5 lists)

 

#175 - Air Force One (224 points, 4 lists)

 

#174 - The Village (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #56)

 

#173 - Father of the Bride (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #47)

 

#172 - Ant-Man (227 points, 7 lists)

 

#171 - The Piano (228 points, 4 lists)

Just wanted to let you all know you are bad people for keeping 10 things I hate about you off this list.

[Eric Prime]

#41

Black Panther

1,141 points, 23 lists

"Hey Auntie."

Box Office: 1.349B

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 88

Awards: 3 Academy Awards and 4 nominations, 2 BET Awards and 7 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award, 3 Golden Globe Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards and 6 nominations, 10 NAACP Image Awards and 6 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Legacy: Boasts the biggest February opening and the then-fifth-biggest opening weekend of all time. The ninth-biggest film of all time on its release. Boosted Black Panther into the A-list of superheroes overnight. Praised as an iconic piece of Black representation in cinema. Named one of the best films of 2018 by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute. The first superhero movie nominated for Best Picture. The first MCU movie to win an Oscar. Solidifed Chadwick Boseman as a movie star. Recieved a sequel and forthcoming television series. Gave Sterling K. Brown a paycheck.

 

Commentary: I’ve told this story several times on BOT, but I will continue to share this story again. When I first saw Black Panther in the theater, it was one of those amazing, seminal moviegoing experiences that changes your life. A giant crowd all abuzz and hype for an epic atrofuturist adventure full of political intrigue, stylish espionage, powerful representation, and superhero goodness? It was a project that seemed to promise so much and had no way to offer all its potential. And yet it did. Really did. And to this day, it still serves as one of my favorite blockbusters ever and one of my favorite movies ever.

 

It’s the kind of perfect package that you wish Hollywood would give, but only seldom achieves. It’s a movie that’s action-packed, hilarious, and full of epic, crowdpleasing moments, with incredible production design, stunning costumes, and an all-star cast who all bring their A-game. All the while, tackling issues of representation, the African diaspora, colonialism, class divisions, fatherhood, rebellion, anti-monarchy, and isolationism vs. globalism. All of this is explored in-depth in a way that’s understandable for a child audience, while never feeling patronizing or simplistic for older audiences. That takes serious talent to pull off.

 

And yeah, with this great cast and great drama comes an incredible array of characters. The  wize Zuri, the kind Ramonda, the playful Shuri, the level-headed Nakia, the brash M’Baku, the determined W’Kabi, the fierce Okoye, the vengeful Killmonger. And yes, there is of course the incredible Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. An incredible hero, a perfect package of kind, noble, brave, quick-witted, and even a touch dorky. The perfect blank slate for the audience, asked to listen to so many characters with different ideas and viewpoints, allowing us all to enjoy what director Ryan Coogler has achieved and what he has tried to say. I just wish we could have seen Chadwick just a little bit longer.

 

The film was a phenomenon unlike any other, even outgrossing the star-studded Infinity War at the domestic box office. It elevated Black Panther as one of Marvel’s most iconic and beloved heroes almost overnight, and with Wakanda Forever also being a huge success, the characters and world of Wakanda will endure as one of the greatest places in blockbuster cinema history, with plenty of amazing adventures to come. Thank you Chadwick. We all miss you.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#40

Soul

1,170 points, 25 lists

"Don't worry, they're fine. You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on Earth is for."

Box Office: 122.2M

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Metacritic: 83

Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 1 nomination, 7 Annie Awards and 3 nominations, 2 BAFTA Awards and 1 nomination, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 1 Grammy Award and 2 nominations, 4 NAACP Image Awards and 5 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Legacy: The first of the Pixar Plus Trilogy. One of the highest-viewed movies on streaming in 2020. Features Pixar's first Black lead. Gave Jon Batiste an Oscar. Considered one of the top 10 films of 2020 by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute. Gave Phylicia Rashad a paycheck.

 

Commentary: As the initial film in the Pixar Plus Trilogy, many were outraged that Soul would be placed as a streaming release. Yet in 2020, a year full of hardships, anguish, and terror, having this drop on Christmas Day, for the world to enjoy in the comfort of their home, was the perfect remedy. A film that is here to remind us about what really matters in life.

 

This contemplative, existential feature from Monsters Inc. director Pete Docter focuses on a man who dealt with tons of rejection, tons of failure, and seems to die at a low point. Yet as we follow the man’s journey, the man is named Joe, it’s here we discover that, at the end of the day, how our lives end up isn’t what matters. Because yes indeed, this Disney film ironically tells us that life isn’t a fairytale. We don’t get some miraculous happily ever after that ends our story. We are often asked to repeat the mundane, give up on things we want, and adapt in a world that isn’t fair. And that’s okay.

 

What’s important about life is what you do with it and how you give back to the people you love. Your happiness isn’t dependent on some sort of goal or stacking yourself up to something greater than yourself. It’s about enjoying what’s around you. Whether it be the friends in your life, the music you love, or the simple joys that come from just enjoying food or reading or watching others or just...sitting. As long as you make the most out of your life and enjoy what the world offers you, big or small, you can live a satisfying one. Even if it’s boring to most.

 

This movie hasn’t quite resonated with the kids nor have the same longevity on Disney+ like the more kid-centric Luca or Turning Red, and that’s more than fine. Because while the message might not seem important to some, it is more than important for others. And it was something that definitely hit a lot of BOT members hard, as this was far and away the most popular of the Pixar Plus Trilogy. And perhaps, as these kids get older, they find more to love and admire in this complex, yet powerful storytelling.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#39

The Sixth Sense

1,207 points, 20 lists

"I see dead people."

 

Box Office: 672.8M

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Metacritic: 64

Awards: 6 Academy Award nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "I have to admit I was blind-sided by the ending. The solution to many of the film's puzzlements is right there in plain view, and the movie hasn't cheated, but the very boldness of the storytelling carried me right past the crucial hints and right through to the end of the film, where everything takes on an intriguing new dimension. The film was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, whose previous film, "Wide Awake," was also about a little boy with a supernatural touch; he mourned his dead grandfather, and demanded an explanation from God. I didn't think that one worked. "The Sixth Sense" has a kind of calm, sneaky self-confidence that allows it to take us down a strange path, intriguingly."

 

Legacy: The film that made M. Night Shyamalan an icon. The breakout performance of Hayley Joel Osment. Bruce Willis' highest-grossing film. The second film, after Titanic, to hit $20 million five weekends in a row. #44 in AFI's Top 100 Movie Quotes. #89 in AFI's Top 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition). Features one of the greatest twist endings in movie history. The most successful DVD of 2000. Gave Toni Collette a paycheck.

 

Commentary: So full disclaimer, gonna let it all out here...The Sixth Sense is my favorite film of all time. Not just Disney, but films in general. I guess technically speaking it’s not the most iconic film ever made, nor the film with the most impactful legacy. But for me, everything about this is like a Swiss watch. A perfectly crafted, well-designed, perfectly executed feature film that gives you a phenomenal ghost story and a fantastic insight into the insecurities we all face. Especially those who feel like outsiders and outcasts even within our own family.

 

The premise is a compelling one, providing plenty of chills and frights, but also an emotional crux that makes this endearing to people who typically don’t like scary movies. This is not only executed with some incredible horror set pieces that are unnerving and full of mystery, but backed by a trio of expert performances and characters. Willis does well as the audience surrogate, trying to figure out how to fix Cole’s predicament, while his complicated relationship with his wife, who seemingly wants nothing to do with him anymore, gives us a reason to be invested in his own personal struggles and why he wants to help Cole.

 

Cole meanwhile is portrayed with incredible grace and nuance by the young Hayley Joel Osment. The fear in his eyes is unlike anything you have ever seen and the stress he is put in every situation is palatable. And it’s also through Osment’s kindly, innocent appearance that everything is further sold. Nobody deserves such a burden, and seeing it on somebody so youthful and sweet tugs at the heartstrings and gives the viewer a strong drive. And through it all, the best performance of the film is Toni Collette as Cole’s mother Lynn. This is a woman who simply just wants an understanding. An understanding of her son, an understanding on why he’s acting so strange, and an understanding why her family life is falling apart. All to experience happiness and security that her son will be okay. And it all culminates in one final scene between mother and son that still makes me teary-eyed, especially as somebody whose autism puts me in a tight situation where I can’t fully communicate how I see the world to my own mother. I can really relate to that. And it’s all done in a slick package with tons of twists and turns that keep viewers guessing and invested all throughout the story. Including the one twist that everybody knows about. 

 

There is a lot to say about M. Night Shyamalan and his films afterwards. And believe me, I have said my own words on some of his less-than-stellar productions. But I always find them fascinating at the very least. There’s nobody else in Hollywood quite like him, for better or worse. And even in his worst movies, there’s some strong elements that make me glad I saw them. And I’m always going to be at his movies, every single time. Because I feel like I have to do this to the man who made my favorite movie and is a major reason why I am on this forum in the first place.