A wide release is defined as a movie that plays in over 600 theaters…meaning it was a bit of a lighter crowd this year, considering 2020’s state of exhibition affairs. The silver lining: Movies released in the pre-pandemic January-March window muscled their way in for a display of critically-beloved might, like the surprise thriller The Invisible Man, Pixar’s sentimental road trip comedy Onward, DC’s Birds of Prey, and real-life drama Just Mercy. We saw some mid-year signs of revitalization with Bill & Ted Face the Music, before awards seasons trucked on valiantly with Nomadland, Judas and the Black Messiah, and Promising Young Woman.
The order of the rank below reflects the Adjusted Score as of February 28, 2021. Scores might change over time.
« Previous Category Next Category »
#1
The Invisible Man(2020)
91%
#1
Critics Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and above all scary, The Invisible Man proves that sometimes, the classic source material for a fresh reboot can be hiding in plain sight.
Synopsis: After staging his own suicide, a crazed scientist uses his power to become invisible to stalk and terrorize his ex-girlfriend. [More]
Starring:Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid
Directed By:Leigh Whannell
#2
Nomadland(2020)
93%
#2
Critics Consensus: A poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden, Nomadland beautifully captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession.
Synopsis: Nevada kırsalındaki bir şirket kasabasının ekonomik çöküşünün ardından Fern, minibüsünü doldurur ve yola koyularak modern bir göçebe olarak geleneksel toplumun [More]
Starring:Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie
Directed By:Chloé Zhao
#3
Judas and the Black Messiah(2021)
96%
#3
Critics Consensus: An electrifying dramatization of historical events, Judas and the Black Messiah is a forceful condemnation of racial injustice -- and a major triumph for its director and stars.
Synopsis: FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, [More]
Starring:Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback
Directed By:Shaka King
#4
Promising Young Woman(2020)
90%
#4
Critics Consensus: A boldly provocative, timely thriller, Promising Young Woman is an auspicious feature debut for writer-director Emerald Fennell -- and a career highlight for Carey Mulligan.
Synopsis: Nothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be -- she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a [More]
Starring:Carey Mulligan, Laverne Cox, Bo Burnham, Clancy Brown
Directed By:Emerald Fennell
#5
Onward(2020)
88%
#5
Critics Consensus: It may suffer in comparison to Pixar's classics, but Onward makes effective use of the studio's formula -- and stands on its own merits as a funny, heartwarming, dazzlingly animated adventure.
Synopsis: Teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley embark on a magical quest to spend one more day with their late father. [More]
Starring:Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer
Directed By:Dan Scanlon
#6
The Personal History of David Copperfield(2019)
92%
#6
Critics Consensus: The Personal History of David Copperfield puts a fresh, funny, and utterly charming spin on Dickens' classic, proving some stories truly are timeless.
Synopsis: The life of David Copperfield is chronicled from his youth into adulthood. [More]
Starring:Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi
Directed By:Armando Iannucci
#7
News of the World(2020)
88%
#7
Critics Consensus: News of the World takes a slow but absorbing ride down a comfortingly familiar Western trail, guided by Tom Hanks in peak paternal mode.
Synopsis: Five years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken [More]
Starring:Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Mare Winningham, Michael Angelo Covino
Directed By:Paul Greengrass
#8
Just Mercy(2019)
85%
#8
Critics Consensus: Just Mercy dramatizes a real-life injustice with solid performances, a steady directorial hand, and enough urgency to overcome a certain degree of earnest advocacy.
Synopsis: After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. [More]
Starring:Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan
Directed By:Destin Daniel Cretton
#9
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)(2020)
79%
#9
Critics Consensus: With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.
Synopsis: It's open season on Harley Quinn when her explosive breakup with the Joker puts a big fat target on her [More]
Starring:Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett
Directed By:Cathy Yan
#10
(2020)
83%
#10
Critics Consensus: As wholesomely goofy as its heroes, Bill and Ted Face the Music is a rare long-belated sequel that largely recaptures the franchise's original charm.
Synopsis: The ruler of the future tells best friends Bill and Ted they must compose a new song to save life [More]
Starring:Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Kristen Schaal, Samara Weaving
Directed By:Dean Parisot
« Previous Category Next Category »
More Golden Tomato Awards 2020
More Golden Tomato Awards 2020
