The movies I love are those I can’t stop thinking about, even years after first seeing them. In descending chronological order of their release date, my favorite movies are:
2025: Weapons
Funny just as much as it is terrifying. I have seen the movie a few times and I still can’t quite put my finger on why I am drawn to this absurd story.
2024: happyend
Loved this film. Dystopian, hilarious, and bittersweet. It shows Japan in all its normalcy and status quo, thereby making the characters and their stories unequivocally relatable.
2024: The Substance
Glossy but grotesque, hilarious but frightening, so little dialogue but so much said. I couldn’t stop thinking about this film for weeks after seeing it.
2024: Civil War
This is a film I will never rewatch. It made me nauseated, I couldn’t sleep the night I saw it in the theater, and I wanted to spend the next day in utter silence. And yet, I think about it regularly—it was the first movie in which war didn’t feel like a spectacle to me but like a sickening brutality.
2023: A Thousand and One
Teyana Taylor should have been nominated for and should have won the Oscar for Best Actress in this movie. Great acting and incredible writing.
2023: All of Us Strangers
This movie is like a drug. Not only did I see it multiple times while it was playing in theaters, but I also experienced severe emotional hangover each time I finished watching it. A painfully sad but intoxicatingly beautiful film.
2022: The Menu
Funny, grotesque, and topical. I think most people will see this as a movie about class disparities, but I think it’s much more of a commentary on the self-destructive pursuit of one’s artistry. Plus, as someone living in San Francisco, I really loved the satire of the foodie scene.
2022: Everything Everywhere All at Once
This was an overwhelming movie, and I had to see it twice to fully process it. That said, I kept thinking about the plot for days after watching it. The multi-layered themes and messages are truly thought-provoking and universal, and the sheer absurdity of almost every scene is just brilliant.
2022: Scream 5
While I was never a die-hard fan of the Scream franchise, the 2022 sequel surpassed all my expectations: gory, scary, and hilarious all the same time with brilliant commentary on modern social dynamics.
2020: Dick Johnson Is Dead
My favorite film that I got to see at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. Riveting, quirky, and genre-bending, this is one of the most thought-provoking documentaries I’ve seen.
2020: Another Round
Brilliant representation of mid-life crisis. I loved Mads Mikkelsen in this one. The writing and directing was exceptional: I didn’t feel bored or distracted at all during the movie.
2019: Atlantics
Randomly stumbled on an interview with the movie’s cast in Dazed magazine, and thankfully decided to watch the movie afterwards. A haunting and gripping film that beautifully explores the core of Senegal’s history through a gothic plot that’s at once so unique and yet so accessible.
2019: The Report
A masterpiece of a thriller. This is what the 2017 movie The Post wanted to be, but never managed to. Performances here are outstanding, the pacing is superb, and the balance between dry political details and strong character development is exquisite.
2019: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
I am probably in the minority here, but this is actually my favorite Tarantino movie. It not only captures the essence of old Hollywood but of past, present, and future California as well.
2019: Parasite
Extraordinary, unpredictable, and nerve-wracking, Parasite is humorous, disturbing, and eye-opening all at once. It’s a movie that reshaped and elevated my perception of a well-designed plot and character development.
2019: Midsommar
Extraordinarily beautiful and allegorical movie about grief and toxic relationships that cuts deep. A very unique horror film.
2019: Knives Out
Brilliant comedy with Daniel Craig in a surprisingly hilarious role. The plot itself is predictable and not groundbreaking, but the dialogues are witty, the characters are captivating, and the entire film itself is simply fun to watch. Which cannot be said for its sequel, unfortunately.
2018: Hereditary
At first, I didn’t enjoy Hereditary and found its flow too fragmented and despondent. But there was something about the movie that made me rewatch it, and only after the second time did I fully appreciate the underlying message–that unprocessed tragedy and grief can have devastating impact on human beings. Absolutely brilliant use of music in this movie, and Toni Collette’s performance is outstanding.
2018: Annihilation
Unsettling and beautiful at once. Garland did an incredible job of making biology—or mutations, I guess—be a persistent source of horror in this film.
2018: Cold War
Saw this movie twice in the same week when it was released to US audiences. Absolutely heartbreaking and visceral, Cold War showcases the spiraling damage of destructive love through the lens of music. It was a movie that left me thinking about its characters for weeks.
2018: The Favourite
I am not a big fan of Lanthimos’ movies, but this is such an exceptional piece of cinematic art. Outrageous, hilarious, and strangely so timeless and relevant, The Favourite is an example of a brilliantly done black comedy.
2017: Call Me By Your Name
An aesthetic masterpiece, Call Me By Your Name delivers exceptional and emotional plot that taps into the jarring intersection of lust, infatuation, and love.
2017: Get Out
With a gut-wrenching plot that’s interwoven with lurking details of brilliant granularity, Get Out is an instantaneous modern horror masterpiece.
2017: Joan Didion – The Center Will Not Hold
Another fantastic documentary that explores Joan Didion’s life and career, showing us the dichotomous nature of this prolific American writer: icy and matter-of-fact yet empathetic and nurturing.
2017: A Ghost Story
A gorgeous and enthralling story of love and loss, A Ghost Story is a movie that can be painful to watch at times and, in my opinion, demands to be watched in complete solitude. A film that will surely provide some food for thought.
2016: Arrival
My favorite sci-fi movie, which successfully disturbs our conception of time and explores the idea that we, as humanity, might be far more connected than we think. Stunning performance from Amy Adams as well.
2016: Elle
Isabelle Huppert at her best. This is a haunting movie with an incredibly complex character development that can surely lead to polarized opinions. I found the movie spectacular, incisive, and courageous.
2015: Amy
Without any doubt, the best documentary I’ve ever seen (though I might be biased since I’m a big fan of her music). A saddening story about one of our biggest talents and a gripping depiction of how cruel and insensitive the world can be to celebrities. On a side note, you can also read my opinion article on the importance of her music.
2015: Spotlight
With brilliantly executed script and outstanding character development, Spotlight is both a nerve-wracking drama and a heartbreaking thriller, whose genre-defying plot offers a painful insight into the sinister underlying nature of Boston’s puritanical community.
2015: Sicario
Beautiful cinematography and fantastic writing. This is a nerve-wracking movie in the best way possible.
2015: Carol
Infatuation at its best (or, I guess, worst?). I have no idea how she did it, but the way Rooney Mara portrayed Therese’s lovesickness in the second part of the film broke my heart. So beautifully done.
2015: Dior and I
A must-see for fashion fans. But, even those who are not into the world of fashion will find this film entertaining: much like Amy mentioned above, this is a superb documentary. Educational, incisive, humorous, and even suspenseful.
2015: Spy
In general, I tend to not like comedies that have been released in the last few years, but Spy succeeds at delivering crass humor in an intelligent manner that will surely elicit heartfelt laughter.
2014: Birdman
A lot happens in this experimental movie, which can surely be overwhelming, but it is nonetheless a satirical gem that highlights Keaton’s acting abilities.
2014: Interstellar
This epic movie can at times be too grand for its own good, but Interstellar’s script has enough bravery to explore scientific concepts that often seem far too removed from our mundane reality. The result is an unequivocally majestic and audacious film.
2014: The Babadook
A stunning portrayal of grief and the necessity of acceptance in the grieving process. An unsettling but a fully cathartic movie.
2014: Iris
A multi-layered documentary that offers a glimpse into the playful and ageless mind of Iris Apfel, the geriatric starlet whose impeccable style and unwavering passion for life will energize viewers of all ages and demographics.
2013: Blue Jasmine
Fantastic performance from both Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins that visualizes the dismal downfall of a Manhattan socialite. Above all, Blue Jasmine is a fantastic representation of human resilience in times of absolute loss.
2013: Gravity
Showcasing wonderful cinematography, jaw-dropping musical compositions, and a plethora of suspenseful moments, Gravity is a fantastic sci-fi movie that shows how insignificant and yet important our lives can be.
2013: Coherence
An incredible sci-fi thriller that gets progressively more horrifying and surreal, Coherence goes beyond the mere entertainment that is the intersection of entertainment and possibility. It taps into the human psyche of its characters and highlights the discomforting human desire for self-preservation, with just a $50K film budget.
2012: Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present
Spectacular documentary that always makes me cry. So visceral and so groundbreaking at the same time, this is performance art at its best. I wish I had been there to experience this piece in person.
2012: In Vogue: The Editor’s Eye
A light and entertaining watch, In Vogue: The Editor’s Eye juxtaposes the formidable characters that have led the artistic development of Vogue for years. An informative documentary that illustrates how much we owe to the creative geniuses behind this magazine.
2011: Lady Gaga — The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden
Epic. Forever grateful that I got to experience this tour live. Even if you’re not a devout Gaga fan, you should dedicate two hours to this masterpiece (you can watch for free on YouTube). My favorite moment is seeing Gaga quickly sip Gatorade backstage while her team helps her switch into a new outfit, all in the span of just a few seconds so that she can get back on stage and perform the next song.
2011: The Descendants
Ironic and funny, The Descendants is the only Clooney movie in which, I think, his acting abilities are fully realized. A wonderful representation of a father’s love for two daughters who are as equally lost in the turbulence of their mother’s unexpected accident as their dad.
2010: Black Swan
Delving into the psychotic downward spiral of a young and aspiring performer, Black Swan is a gripping psychological thriller.
2010: The King’s Speech
The King’s Speech can surely be classified as an Oscar-bait production, but I think it’s a wonderful film that displays a man of widespread power in the most vulnerable environment, all bolstered by Colin Firth’s incredible acting.
2009: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Although it is not an exact replica of the sixth book, The Half Blood Prince is, in my opinion, the best adaptation of the Harry Potter novels. From witty dialogues and fantastic character development to somber atmosphere and impending doom that would occur after Dumbledore’s death, this film is surely a gem for all Potter fans.
2009: The September Issue
Another must-watch for every fashion fan, The September Issue sheds light on the small bubble that has been created by Wintour and Vogue, and how, ironically, it influences the everyday lives of people across the world.
2008: Burn After Reading
Dark and humorous, Burn After Reading is a typical Coen brothers’ movie. The unexpected plot twists and fast-paced interactions between characters provide continuous entertainment, while Brad Pitt’s character undoubtedly steals the spotlight in this film.
2006: Pan’s Labyrinth
Much can be said about del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, one of the most hauntingly beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. In the end, it’s a heartbreaking narrative about the power of fantasy and naivety in times of rising darkness.
2004: Mean Girls
I don’t think my father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel, would be too pleased to hear about this.
2002: Panic Room
Surely not the best thriller movie out there, but this movie holds a special place in my heart as it was the first suspenseful movie I was able to watch on my own as a kid. Brilliant performance from Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart.
2001: Spirited Away
Charming, confusing, and mind-boggling, this animated film is a fantastic metaphor for so many universal and timeless messages that we all need to be reminded of from time to time.
1980: The Shining
The tagline on the poster says it all: frightening and borderline sickening, The Shining remains one of the best horror movies of all times. Jack Nicholson’s performance in this film cannot be easily forgotten.
1963: The Birds
A horror masterpiece from the one and only: Alfred Hitchcock. So bizarre and yet so realistic, The Birds never seizes to catch my full attention.
The cover image has been designed by Clare Zhang. You can follow her digital art on Instagram or her website.