Ranked roundup
The best films of 2020
25 ranked · updated June 2026
The cinematic landscape of 2020 was defined by intense emotional journeys, ranging from the sweeping romantic arcs of the Gabriel's Inferno trilogy to profound explorations of existential purpose and human fragility. This collection highlights the year's most compelling narratives that masterfully balanced personal redemption, terminal tragedy, and supernatural spectacle.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score combining each title's average rating and rating count (minimum 200 ratings to qualify, weighted toward titles with more votes), filtered to films released in 2020.
Gabriel's Inferno
This film earns its top spot through its raw and uncompromising exploration of forbidden passion and the difficult, necessary path toward personal redemption.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
The film secures its high ranking by blending high-stakes supernatural action with a poignant, deeply moving commitment to duty, honor, and selfless sacrifice.
Soul
Soul masterfully earns its place by using a vibrant, musical backdrop to pose profound existential questions about the true nature of human passion and purpose.
Gabriel's Inferno: Part II
This sequel continues the series' success by deepening the complex emotional stakes of its central romance through a compelling narrative of second chances.
The Father
The Father is essential viewing for its harrowing, technically precise portrayal of cognitive decline that forces the audience to experience the disorientation of memory loss.
Life in a Year
Life in a Year captures the devastating beauty of unconditional love, focusing on the urgency of living fully despite the shadow of a terminal diagnosis.
Gabriel's Inferno: Part III
The conclusion of the trilogy provides a satisfying resolution to its central themes of academic romance and the enduring power of personal transformation.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
This entry is recognized for its uncompromising, dark vision of intergalactic conflict that centers on the heavy cost of sacrifice in superhero storytelling.
Wolfwalkers
Wolfwalkers stands out for its breathtaking animation and its thematic focus on the tension between encroaching civilization and the untamed spirit of nature.
Clouds
Clouds earns its spot by offering a sincere, biographical look at the intersection of musical legacy and the grace found in facing a terminal illness.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
This film is included for its stylish, brutal take on classic themes of revenge and redemption within a dark, supernatural martial arts framework.
Miraculous World: New York, United HeroeZ
This feature highlights the importance of global connection and heroism, successfully blending superhero tropes with a lighthearted, coming-of-age cultural exchange narrative.
The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie
The Gentlemen is a standout for its sharp, stylized dialogue and intricate power struggles that define the high-stakes world of British organized crime.
A Whisker Away
Tomotaka Shibayama
This anime is featured for its creative use of magical realism to explore an adolescent identity crisis and the complexities of unrequited love.
Sound of Metal
Darius Marder
Sound of Metal is a profound character study that earns its place by honestly portraying the internal struggle of finding identity after a life-altering disability.
Common questions
What are the best animated films released in 2020?
The top animated films of 2020 include the high-stakes supernatural action of 'Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train', the existential musical fantasy 'Soul', the folklore-inspired 'Wolfwalkers', and the magical realism anime 'A Whisker Away'.
Are there any romantic dramas on the list of 2020's best movies?
Yes, the list features several prominent romantic dramas, most notably the 'Gabriel's Inferno' trilogy, which explores forbidden love and redemption, alongside 'Life in a Year', which depicts a poignant romance set against the backdrop of a terminal illness.
Which 2020 movies deal with the theme of terminal illness?
Several films on the list address the theme of terminal illness, including 'Life in a Year', which follows a teenager's attempt to provide a lifetime of memories, and 'Clouds', a biographical drama about a young musician leaving a viral musical legacy.