Fiercely original films, female-focused stories and theatrical-first releases had the clear edge in released Thursday and topped by Searchlight PicturesB次元官网网址�

In a cinematic landscape where it often seems only franchise films have a shot at traditional box office success, were all original B次元官网网址� and most did find robust audiences in theaters, despite the fact that moviegoing has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Writer-director about feuding friends in Ireland has been a clear favorite of criticsB次元官网网址� groups and industry voting bodies since its decorated in September. The Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson starrer continues to find new audiences now that itB次元官网网址檚 available on streaming.

Second place went to the yearB次元官网网址檚 Cinderella story, Daniel Kwan and Daniel ScheinertB次元官网网址檚 anarchic, multiverse-hopping an A24 release and that became a

Focus FeaturesB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭谩r,B次元官网网址� challenging with placed third. ItB次元官网网址檚 the only film in the top five that has struggled at the box office.

Although the top three may sound like many criticsB次元官网网址� lists, things took a representative, crowd-pleasing turn with the next several films. movie thriller snagged fourth place and Gina Prince-BythewoodB次元官网网址檚 rounded out the top five. Both are major studio films (Universal and Sony respectively) from Black directors with Black actors in the lead.

The list also included the biggest blockbusters of the year, (No. 7) and (No. 16, tied); big studio releases like (No. 8) and (No. 14) and myriad international films like the prominently featured at No. 6.

Netflix did break into the top 10 with a crowd-pleaser of its own: starry, comedic whodunit

Female-directed films centered on womenB次元官网网址檚 stories were also prominently represented. In addition to B次元官网网址淭he Woman King,B次元官网网址� as an Agojie warrior, with Claire Foy, Rooney Mara and Jessie Buckley landed in ninth place. semi-autobiographical settled in 11th place, followed closely in 15th by Venice Film Festival-winning about activist and photographer Nan Goldin B次元官网网址� the only documentary in the top 25.

Further down the list were two very different biopics exploring systems of injustice B次元官网网址� (No. 19), about the New York Times reporters who exposed the sexual misconduct and (No. 22) about the mother of the

With seven films from female directors, accounting for 28% of the list, representation is slightly better than the industry as a whole, which B次元官网网址� according to a recent study by San Diego State University B次元官网网址� was at 24% for the top grossing films of 2022. Nine films were also directed by non-white directors.

Two prestigious offerings that left critics quite divided, Darren AronofskyB次元官网网址檚 featuring as a 600-pound man, and a sprawling and raucous film about Hollywood in the silent film era starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, made the list. B次元官网网址淭he WhaleB次元官网网址� tied with the B次元官网网址淎vatarB次元官网网址� sequel for 16th place, while B次元官网网址淏abylonB次元官网网址� placed 18th.

Many genres were represented in the top 25, including horror (B次元官网网址淣opeB次元官网网址�) and satire with (No. 21). B次元官网网址淕lass OnionB次元官网网址� (No. 10) in the bunch; there was also the (No. 12), as well as two stop-motion animation offerings ( at No. 13 and at No. 20).

Movies also hailed from many countries around the world including Poland, with at No. 23, and Iran with which rounded out the list at No. 25.

PanahiB次元官网网址檚 film has been as acclaimed as any on the list, and topped several prominent Its relatively lower ranking is perhaps due in part to a later release date B次元官网网址� Dec. 23, when the panelistsB次元官网网址� ballots were due B次元官网网址� and its more limited availability to critics outside of major markets like New York and Los Angeles.

All told, Films that just missed the Top 25 included, in order, B次元官网网址淓mily the Criminal,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Batman,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Menu,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淏ones and AllB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏lack Panther: Wakanda Forever.B次元官网网址�

At the bottom of the list, with one point each, were several starry ensembles from high-profile directors: and Both were technically bested by which got two points total.

B次元官网网址擫indsey Bahr, The Associated Press