The 25 Films That Defined 2016

July 1, 2026

The 25 Films That Defined 2016

2016 delivered one of the strongest collections of films in recent memory. It was a year where thoughtful dramas, unforgettable comedies, ambitious blockbusters and standout animated films all found their place. Whether you were looking for something intimate or spectacular, there was no shortage of great cinema.

This collection brings together 25 films that made 2016 such a memorable year. From the emotional power of Manchester by the Sea and the breathtaking science fiction of Arrival to the charm of Sing Street and the energy of Deadpool, every film offers something different. You'll also find award winners, overlooked favourites, family adventures and international masterpieces, making this a watchlist that celebrates just how varied modern cinema can be. (Not in order)

Arrival

Arrival (2016)

Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery • 1h 56m

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

American Honey

American Honey (2016)

Drama • 2h 43m

A restless teenager escapes her troubled home and joins a traveling crew of young drifters selling magazines across the American Midwest. Immersed in a world of reckless partying, risky hustles, and fleeting romances, she searches for freedom and belonging on the open road.

Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water (2016)

Western, Crime, Drama • 1h 42m

A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.

Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Drama, Thriller • 1h 57m

Susan Morrow receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband – a man she left 20 years earlier – asking for her opinion of his writing. As she reads, she is drawn into the fictional life of Tony Hastings, a mathematics professor whose family vacation turns violent.

Paterson

Paterson (2016)

Drama, Comedy, Romance • 1h 58m

A week in the life of Paterson, a poet bus driver, and his wife Laura, a very creative artist, who live in Paterson, New Jersey, hometown of many famous poets and artists.

Sing Street

Sing Street (2016)

Romance, Drama, Music, Comedy • 1h 45m

A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes.

Zootopia

Zootopia (2016)

Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy • 1h 49m

Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.

I, Daniel Blake

I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Drama • 1h 40m

A middle aged carpenter, who requires state welfare after injuring himself, is joined by a single mother in a similar scenario.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Adventure, Comedy, Drama • 1h 41m

Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book (2016)

Family, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy • 1h 46m

A man-cub named Mowgli fostered by wolves. After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan, Mowgli is forced to flee the jungle, by which he embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of the panther, Bagheera and the free-spirited bear, Baloo.

Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Drama • 2h 18m

After his older brother passes away, Lee Chandler is forced to return home to care for his 16-year-old nephew. There he is compelled to deal with a tragic past that separated him from his family and the community where he was born and raised.

Deadpool

Deadpool (2016)

Action, Adventure, Comedy • 1h 48m

The origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Drama, History, War • 2h 19m

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures (2016)

Drama, History • 2h 7m

The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Moonlight

Moonlight (2016)

Drama • 1h 51m

The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.

Toni Erdmann

Toni Erdmann (2016)

Comedy, Drama • 2h 42m

Without warning a father comes to visit his daughter abroad. He believes that she lost her humor and therefore surprises her with a rampage of jokes.

20th Century Women

20th Century Women (2016)

Drama • 1h 58m

In 1979 Santa Barbara, California, Dorothea Fields is a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie, at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women – Abbie, a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields' home and Julie, a savvy and provocative teenage neighbour – to help with Jamie's upbringing.

The Nice Guys

The Nice Guys (2016)

Comedy, Crime, Action • 1h 56m

A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange (2016)

Fantasy, Adventure, Action • 1h 55m

After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.

Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Animation, Adventure, Family • 1h 42m

Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Action, Adventure, Science Fiction • 2h 13m

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.

Don't Breathe

Don't Breathe (2016)

Horror, Thriller • 1h 29m

A group of teens break into a blind man's home thinking they'll get away with the perfect crime. They're wrong.

La La Land

La La Land (2016)

Comedy, Drama, Romance • 2h 9m

Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Adventure, Action, Science Fiction • 2h 27m

Following the events of Age of Ultron, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man or Captain America, which causes an epic battle between former allies.

The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden (2016)

Thriller, Drama, Romance • 2h 25m

1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sook-hee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.

Curated by

Beck

@beckgun

Movie Critic

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