Wolfwalkers

First Cow

Promising Young Woman– Pairs Hilton, “Stars are Blind” playing as Cassandra (Carey Mulligan) and Ryan (Bo Burnham) dance and lip-sync in a drug store aisle.

Wendy–  Dan Romer, “Never Grow Up” playing as Wendy (Devin France), Peter (Yashua Mack), and the lost boys explore Neverland island.

Wolfwalkers– Aurora, “Running with the Wolves” playing as Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) and Mebh (Eva Whittaker) run through the forest as wolves.

One Night in Miami– Leslie Odom Jr., “A Change Is Gonna Come” playing as Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) sings in front of a live studio audience

Freaky– The Chordettes, “Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)” transition into $UicideBoy$ $ Travis Barker, “Don’t Trust Anyone!” playing as Millie (Kathryn Newton) walks into school for the first time since switching bodies with the murderous butcher (Vince Vaughn).

We were sad a lot this year. We were also beautifully uplifted (to tears) with these films, whose revelations of the human condition had us drying our eyes.

Dick Johnson is Dead

Wendy

Minari

Endings, Beginnings

Saint Frances

These are the films that had us in awe that these adults (and very mature young boys) exist in real life.

Boys State

John Lewis: Good Trouble

Collective

Nomadland

The Painter and the Thief

No explanation necessary if you’ve seen Call Me By Your Name.

Michael Stuhlbarg- Shirley