808 lines about 404 movies (Part 1)

My exhaustive year-end ranking of all of the new movies I have seen this year.

When I launched this Substack earlier this fall, I said I wanted to go with some crazy ideas that no editor would ever say yes to. This is one of those ideas. 

When I was cramming my movie-watching to prepare for the PFCC and CCA awards voting deadlines, I realized I was coming up on 400 movies watched for the year, so I thought it might be fun to rank them all, from worst to best. I got a bit over 400 since I got in a couple of extra ones last week. 

The inspiration? The Nails’ New Wave classic “88 Lines About 44 Women”: 

A few notes: This list includes 2023 movies that I saw in 2023, as well as movies I saw in prior years (mostly at festivals) that were released in 2023, as well as movies I saw in 2023 (again, mostly at festivals) that will be released at some point in the future, most with undetermined release dates. Also, this is not my final list for the year, as I will likely view a dozen or two more movies between now and December 31. If you’re interested in following that ranking, see my running Letterboxd list (or better yet, follow me on Letterboxd. 

Also, the listed streaming homes are where they currently are, as of this writing in December 2023, and are subject to change. And “streaming on VOD,” unless otherwise noted, means the film is available to rent from Amazon, Apple, and other major video-on-demand providers, for $3.99, give or take a buck. 

This is the first half; the second will be published Tuesday. If you’re an email reader, this message is likely too long for email, so be sure to open it in a separate window.

Here we go:

404. Strays 

Dir. Josh Greenbaum, streaming on Peacock, review here. 

A raunchy comedy about talking dogs, voiced by the likes of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx. is never funny for a single moment. This movie feels a lot like it was written by a bunch of 12-year-olds. 

403. The Fall of Minneapolis 

Dir. J.C. Chaix, streaming on YouTube, review here 

Revisionist documentary about the murder of George Floyd, argues that Floyd dying while Derek Chauvin had his knee on his neck was just a strange coincidence. Just nonstop Orwellian lying of the highest degree. 

402. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 

Dir. Rhys Frake-Waterfield, streaming on Peacock. 

Horror revisionist take on the Winnie the Pooh franchise. Just gross and wrong on just about every level. 

401. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Dir. Peyton Reed, streaming on Disney+, review here 

The latest MCU movie and a new absolute nadir of the franchise. Ugly and unimaginative, stealing most of its ideas from Star Wars for some reason. 

400. Old Dads 

Dir. Bill Burr, streaming on Netflix 

Comedian Burr’s directorial debut, which tries to distill the two sides of Burr’s persona — reactionary anti-wokeness and surprising sweetness — with mostly dismal results. I feel like if someone I know publicly called the female principal of my kid’s school the C-word, as Burr does here, I’d probably never talk to that guy again. 

399. When You Finish Saving the World 

Dir. Jesse Eisenberg, streaming on VOD, review here. 

A Sundance drama from 2022 that finally rolled out a year later, this stars Finn Wolfhard as a teenager who doesn’t care about politics but decides to pander to everyone he knows and pretend otherwise. A misfiring satire of the political moment of a different time. 

398. About My Father 

Dir. Laura Terruso, streaming on Starz 

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco's autobiographical comedy about introducing his wife’s wealthy family to his rough-around-the-edges dad. It’s all pretty well-worn, and Maniscalco’s screen persona is seriously grating, although De Niro delivers a winning turn. 

397. Buddy Games: Spring Awakening 

Dir. Josh Duhamel, streaming on Paramount+

A group of men who have been very funny in the past (Nick Swardson, James Roday Rodriguez, Dan Bakkedahl), and also Johnny Drama from Entourage, spend 95 minutes doing nothing funny at all. It’s like Old School, if all the characters were 20 years older and not given any good lines. 

396. Bama Rush 

Dir. Rachel Fleit, streaming on Max, review here. 

Documentary about a fascinating subject, the University of Alabama’s big-on-Tiktok sorority rush process, that’s executed in just about the most scattershot way possible. Not only does the film reveal not much of note, but the director repeatedly turns the camera on herself to talk about her struggle with alopecia. 

395. Shazam! Fury of the Gods 

Dir. David F. Sandberg, streaming on Netflix and Max, review here. 

The first Shazam! was a surprisingly strong DC entry. But the sequel is just dire, with mediocre action scenes, bad characterization, and an insulting, bait-and-switch ending. 

394. Uncharitable 

Dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal, review here 

Documentary about how it’s wrong to criticize charities that have too much overhead- and therefore, everyone is being way too mean to the CEOs of non-profits. One of those cases in which a rich guy had an extremely specific and esoteric beef, and decided to make a documentary to vent about it. 

393. Dumb Money 

Dir. Craig Gillespie, streaming on VOD, review here. 

Quick-turnaround cinematic treatment of the GameStop short squeeze of 2021. For some reason, it treats people as heroes and underdogs when really, they made irresponsible investing decisions that were guided by something resembling a cult. 

392. The Insurrectionist Next Door 

Dir. Alexandra Pelosi, streaming on Max, review here 

The latest half-baked documentary from Alexandra Pelosi has her interviewing the mostly unrepentant participants in the January 6 attack, none of whom are any more interesting than you thought they were. If I were her, I wouldn’t be so eager to humanize the political tendency behind credible attempts to kill both her mother and father. 

391. Maggie Moore(s)

Dir. John Slattery, streaming on VOD, review here. 

A strong cast (led by Jon Hamm and Tina Fey) stars in a thriller in which the hook is that two women with the same name are both murdered in the same small town. Mostly an underwhelming rehash of Fargo, the film spends way too much time having cops try to solve murders that we’ve already seen happen on screen. 

390. Boston Strangler

Dir. Matt Ruskin, streaming on Hulu. 

Two female reporters, Keira Knighley and Carrie Coon, team up to try to catch the Boston Strangler. I’ll go ahead and be honest: I know I watched it, but I barely remember this movie. 

389. The In-Laws 

Dir. Tyler Spindel, streaming on Netflix 

One of seemingly five comedies this year in which someone’s father or father-in-law turns out to have a secret criminal past. Pierce Brosnan is funny in this, but much as I love Workaholics, I do not think Adam Devine is a movie star. 

388. 80 For Brady 

Dir. Kyle Marvin, streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video, review here. 

Comedy/NFL commercial in which four women in their 80s (Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Rita Moreno) go to the Super Bowl in which they help Tom Brady win it. One of those movies in which the press tour was much better than the movie- and why couldn’t Brady just put himself in a movie with Bugs Bunny, like a normal sports star? 

387. White Men Can’t Jump 

Dir. Calmatic, streaming on Hulu. 

Completely unnecessary and unsuccessful remake of the 1992 original. That movie was very specifically about its era, and the new one can’t find a place to ground that in the present. 

386. Plane

Dir. Jean-François Richet, streaming on Starz, review here. 

The very definition of a January-Ass Movie. Starring Gerard Butler as an airline pilot who gets to fight and be a hero, it’s also a movie I’ve barely thought about since last January. 

385. Quiz Lady 

Dir. Jessica Yu, streaming on Hulu 

A fitfully funny road comedy, starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as mismatched sisters obsessed with game shows. Will Ferrell gets to reprise his Alex Trebek impression as a game show host, while the film also boasts Paul Reubens’ final film appearance. 

384. Your Place or Mine 

Dir. Aline Brosh McKenna, streaming on Netflix 

McKenna and Rachel Bloom, who’s in this, co-created one of my favorite TV shows of all time, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. But there’s little of that wit present in this Netflix rom-com, a rehash of The Holiday in which Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher swap homes, and (eventually) love. 

383. Somewhere in Queens 

Dir. Ray Romano, streaming on Hulu, review here 

Family comedy/drama, starring Romano as a guy dealing with his overbearing family and being overbearing, himself, with his basketball star son. Reminded me of the Viggo Mortensen parts of Green Book, with a stereotypical Italian-American family in which everyone yells at each other for the entire movie (and Laurie Metcalf, as Romano’s wife, yells the loudest of all.) 

382. You People 

Dir. Kenya Barris, streaming on Netflix, review here

A satire of Black/Jewish relations, in which a Jewish guy (Jonah Hill) gets together with a Black girl (Lauren London), and their families clash bitterly. There was so much potential here, including Eddie Murphy as her Farrakhan-quoting dad, but the film botches just about everything. 

381. Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm

Dir. Dave Willis, and Matt Maiellaro, streaming on Max 

I’m a longtime Aqua Teen Hunger Force fan, going back to the original series. But as this movie clearly shows, the magic is sadly gone at this point. 

380. Shotgun Wedding 

Dir. Jason Moore, streaming on Prime Video. 

Relatively witless action/romance starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel. Yet another failed rehash of Romancing the Stone. 

379. A Good Person

Dir. Zach Braff, steaming on Prime Video, review here. 

A very transparent effort by Braff to direct his then-girlfriend, Florence Pugh, to an Oscar nomination, although it’s far from Pugh’s most memorable performance of the year. Pugh plays a woman responsible for a terrible accident who spends the entire slow, slog-like movie spiraling afterward. 

378. The Big Payback

Dir. Erika Alexander, and Whitney Dow, streaming on VOD

An examination of what would happen if reparations for slavery were ever to become a reality- running directly into the racial protests of 2020. The film follows what happened when such a bill passed in Evanston, Ill. 

377. Kim’s Video

Dir. David Redmon, and Ashley Sabin, not streaming

Seen at Tribeca, the story of the late, beloved video store in New York City, is presented in the weirdest way imaginable. We see the filmmakers donning costumes and going to Italy to “rescue” the video store’s collection. 

376. Sound of Freedom 

Dir. Alejandro Gómez Monteverde, streaming on Angel Studios and VOD, review here 

Fanciful, faith-based action thriller telling the origin story of freelance anti-sex trafficker Tim Ballard. Was sort of questionable even before Ballard was himself accused of horrific things. 

375. Dicks: The Musical 

Dir. Larry Charles, now in theaters, review here. 

This A24 film has a lot of elements that I normally enjoy: It’s a musical, with lots of raunch, New York City, Larry Charles, Nathan Lane, and Megan Mullally. But it just plain doesn’t work at any point. 

374. Marlowe 

Dir. Neil Jordan, streaming on Fubo and MGM+, review here 

Yet another Philip Marlowe adaptation, although a mostly forgettable one. Done no favors by arriving near the 50th anniversary of The Long Goodbye. 

373. Vacation Friends 2 

Dir. Clay Tarver, streaming on Hulu 

The first Vacation Friends, a couple of years back, was a nice surprise, featuring a dynamite comedic performance from John Cena. The sequel? Not so much. 

372. Ghosted 

Dir. Dexter Fletcher, streaming on Apple TV+, review here 

Yet another off-brand, streaming action movie, featuring a character having a secret life as a secret agent. Despite the charming presence of Ana de Armas and Chris Evans, this one is a dud. 

371. Attack of the Doc! 

Dir. Chris Gore, streaming on VOD

Documentary about the former G4 variety show. Never, at any point, makes the case for why the show was memorable or important. 

370. Renfield 

Dir. Chris McKay, streaming on Prime Video, review here. 

A movie with a great-sounding premise — Nicholas Cage as Dracula, tormenting his long-suffering henchman — suffers from a complete lack of focus. Bad action scenes, and the Dracula stuff taking a backseat to a New Orleans police corruption plot, don’t help either. 

369.  A Little White Lie 

Dir. Michael Maren, streaming on Hulu. 

Bizarre drama in which Michael Shannon plays a handyman who poses as a reclusive, long-missing author. A bit of a disappointment, considering the talent involved. 

368. Somebody I Used to Know 

Dir. Dave Franco, streaming on Prime Video, review here. 

A mostly unsuccessful riff on My Best Friend’s Wedding. Alison Brie, the wife of the director, is always appealing, but she’s playing kind of a terrible character. 

367. The Beanie Bubble 

Dir. Kristin Gore, and Damian Kulash, streaming on Apple TV+ 

A movie made under the mistaken impression that the backstory of how Beanie Babies came to be is interesting or notable. A lot of movies this year were the original stories of products and companies; all the other ones were better. 

366. Cobweb 

Dir. Samuel Bodin, streaming on Hulu 

Another horror movie about child endangerment, which is something I never enjoy. Whoever on Letterboxd called it “Barbarian for kids,” good one. 

365. Dear David 

Dir. John McPhail, streaming on VOD 

The first horror movie ever made in which the hero is a reporter for Buzzfeed News. Also, it appears, the last. 

364. Quasi 

Dir. Kevin Hefernan, streaming on Hulu 

A reimagining of the Quasimodo legend, starring the Broken Lizard crew, once again rejoined by Brian Cox. Not nearly as good as that sounds. 

363. A Tourist’s Guide to Love 

Dir. Steven K. Tsuchida, streaming on Netflix 

A relatively unimaginative Netflix travel/romcom about a woman whose job as an undercover travel executive conflicts with her love life. Mostly forgettable, but it is great to see Rachael Leigh Cook pop up in a couple of Netflix movies each year. 

362. Final Cut 

Dir. Michel Hazanavicius, streaming on VOD 

A remake of Final Cut of the Dead, directed by the guy who did The Artist. And it’s way, way worse than either. 

361. Susie Searches 

Dir. Sophie Kargman, streaming on Hulu 

Maybe someday there will be a great movie in which the hero is a true crime podcaster. But it’s not this one, which I saw at TIFF back in 2022. 

360. Champions 

Dir. Bobby Farrelly, streaming on Prime Video, review here 

Deeply cliched but occasionally charming sports comedy, with Woody Harrelson as the coach of a group of mentally handicapped adult basketball players. Directed by the Farrelly brother who didn’t make Green Book, which is one of his best qualities. 

359. Heart of Stone 

Dir. Tom Harper, streaming on Netflix, review here 

A lot of the world seems to have turned against Gal Gadot, whether it’s for Israel reasons, “Imagine” singalong reasons, or “I think she’s a bad actress” reasons. But she’s not the problem in this crushingly mediocre, Bourne-aping Netflix action movie, in which the plot is bad, the action is worse, and the film argues in favor of all-powerful government surveillance. 

358. Happiness For Beginners 

Dir. Vicky Wright, streaming on Netflix 

I’m an Ellie Kemper fan, but I can’t imagine enjoying an entire movie set on a therapeutic hiking trip. Less a movie than an advertisement for the Appalachian Trail. 

357. Five Nights at Freddy’s 

Dir. Emma Tammi, streaming on Peacock, review here 

I know this did super well, despite coming out in theaters and on Peacock at the same time. But I just couldn’t reconcile its killer-Chuck-E-Cheese aesthetic with its plot relying on buried childhood trauma. 

356. Gringa 

Dir. Marny Eng, E. J. Foerster, streaming on Starz

Intriguing premise, especially the casting of Steve Zahn, as a retired soccer star living in Mexico who is reunited with his estranged daughter. Ultimately doesn’t amount to much, though. 

355. Split at the Root 

Dir. Linda Goldstein Knowlton, streaming on Netflix

An examination of the Trump-era child separations, albeit not the most interesting one imaginable. It is, though, inspiring to see the families reunited.

354. The YouTube Effect 

Dir. Alex Winter, streaming on VOD 

The former Bill S. Preston, Esq., has reinvented himself as a director of smart documentaries about technology. But this isn’t one of the better ones, lapsing too frequently into fear-mongering.

353. Spinning Gold 

Dir. Timothy Scott Bogart, streaming on VOD, director interview here. 

Long-gestating biopic of 1970s disco (and KISS) producer Neil Bogart, directed by his son. Puts Bogart at the center of just about everything in music in that era, although there are some fun scenes of him hanging around talking about Judaism with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanely. 

352. The Integrity of Joseph Chambers

Dir. Robert Machoian, streaming on Showtime

The director of The Killing of Two Lovers returns with another movie that didn’t get far beyond the festival circuit. A Tribeca movie from 2022, this one shows a man going into the woods to find himself. 

351. Flamin’ Hot 

Dir. Eva Longoria, streaming on Hulu 

The alleged inspirational true story of a guy who allegedly invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, even though he almost certainly didn’t really. That this is getting a sizable awards push is unfathomable to me. 

350. Fingernails 

Dir. Christos Nikou, streaming on Apple TV+ 

High-concept sci-fi romance, set in a future in which couples can have a machine tell them exactly how compatible they are. Was this not the premise of a Black Mirror episode, years ago? 

349. Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia

Dir. Salima Koroma, not streaming

A documentary about the short-lived HQ Trivia app, which was everywhere for a short term, and then gone. I look forward to similar future documentaries about Wordle and The Immaculate Grid. 

348. EXmas

Dir. Jonah Feingold, streaming on FreeVee 

Feingold previously made Dating in New York, an outstanding deconstruction of romcom cliches, and followed it up with the watchable At Midnight. This is a much less impressive collection of Hallmark-style cliches. 

347. Extraction 2 

Dir. Sam Hargrave, streaming on Netflix 

I never cared about the first Extraction movie, but I was assured by many people that the second one was way better. I was misinformed. 

346. Stan Lee 

Dir. David Gelb, streaming on Disney+

The usual self-mythologizing hokum from Disney about Lee’s life and career. Josie Reisman’s “True Believer” biography was the last word, but this recycles many of the myths. 

 345. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts 

Dir. Steven Caple, Jr., streaming on Paramount+ 

I’m a longtime non-fan of the Transformers movies, and was told, once again, by quite a few people that this one was better. It was not. 

344. The Lost King 

Dir. Stephen Frears, streaming on AMC+ 

I missed this at TIFF in 2022 and finally caught it almost a year later. It’s the not-so-interesting story of a historian who fights with others over the location of Richard III’s remains. 

343. Sick 

Dir. John Hyams, streaming on Peacock. 

A pandemic-set slasher film about two friends quarantining during COVID. Maybe someday I’ll be in the mood to enjoy a movie that brings me back to the quarantine period, but it’s going to be a while I’m afraid. 

342. Your Friend, Memphis 

Dir. David Zucker, streaming on VOD 

I saw this a LONG time ago, at a festival. Documentary about a young man with cerebral palsy- and you’re not going to believe it when he starts pushing Trumpist conspiracy theories. 

341. Haunted Mansion 

Dir. Justin Simien, streaming on Disney+ 

Another movie based on a Disney theme park attraction. A talented cast and crew, but ultimately not much there. 

340. Daliland 

Dir. Mary Harron, streaming on Hulu 

Ben Kingsley plays Salvador Dali, in this ‘70s-set biopic, and Adrien Brody’s place as the best modern-day on-screen Dali, in Midnight in Paris, remains secure. Pretty underwhelming, especially coming from the director of American Psycho. 

339. Evil Dead Rise 

Dir. Lee Cronin, steaming on Prime Video and Max 

A lot of people talked this one up when it arrived this summer. But I fail to see how it compares to the Raimi Evil Dead movies. 

338. Sweetwater 

Dir. Martin Guigui, streaming on Hulu 

Relatively inert biopic of Black basketball pioneer Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Kevin Pollak leads an overqualified supporting cast as Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters. 

337. 65 

Dir. Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, streaming on Netflix, 

Adam Driver fights dinosaurs, which isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. A theatrical flop that was huge on Netflix a few months later which is itself much more interesting than anything in the movie itself. 

336. Bono and the Edge: A Sort of Homecoming 

Dir. Morgan Neville, streaming on Apple TV+ 

The singer and guitarist of U2, along with David Letterman, head to Ireland to see their hometown and play some of the hits. Fun, but far from the best U2 movie (that’s still Rattle and Hum.) 

335. Heroico 

Dir. David Zonana, not streaming 

A Sundance movie that’s still awaiting release, this is the harrowing story of a Mexican boy sent to military boot camp. Disturbing, but far from the best movie of its kind. 

334. The Pope’s Exorcist 

Dir. Julius Avery, streaming on Netflix. 

Russell Crowe is lots of fun as the real-life priest, a burly scooter driver. Crowe is enjoyable, but I’ve still never enjoyed a movie about an exorcist since the first The Exorcist. 

333. The Family Switch 

Dir. McG, streaming on Netflix. 

McG used to direct blockbusters, and Ed Helms and Jennifer Garner used to be in them. Now they’re in this holiday-themed body-switch comedy for Netflix. 

332. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Dir. James Mangold, streaming on Disney+, review here 

Harrison Ford plays Indiana Jones again, first in distracting de-aging, and later as his 80-year-old self. From lackluster action scenes to an over-reliance on fan service, this movie does little to justify the decision to make one more of these. 

331. Stamped From the Beginning 

Dir. Roger Ross Williams, streaming on Netflix

An adaptation of Ibram X. Kendi’s bestselling book, which will be valuable to anyone who hasn’t been part of the national conversation for the past four years or so. Not the best movie of its kind this year. 

330. Cinnamon

Dir. Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr., streaming on Tubi 

One of those movies in which the visual style is outstanding, but nothing else about it is particularly special. Pam Grier’s in it, but she doesn’t get to speak. 

329. Pamela: A Love Story 

Dir. Ryan White, streaming on Netflix, preview here 

A life-spanning documentary about Pamela Anderson, marketed as her side of the story, following whatever that weird series was on Hulu the year before. White is a fine documentarian, but I like documentaries more when they’re not just one person’s side. 

328. The Devil on Trial 

Dir. Chris Holt, streaming on Netflix 

A documentary about a man who claimed demonic possession when he was accused of murder. This case also formed the plot of The Conjuring 3, and like that film, the demonic possession stuff is all 100 pure hooey. 

327. Big George Foreman 

DIr. George Tillman, Jr., streaming on Netflix, review here, actor interview here. 

A career-spanning biopic about George Foreman, who has lived an extraordinary life. But despite a fine lead performance by Khris Davis, the scale of this film is just too small. 

326. NYAD 

Dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, streaming on Netflix 

A feature from the directors of Free Solo, which is much less interesting than their documentaries. The story of Diana Nyad, a swimmer who goes through several attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, finally accomplishing the feat at age 60. 

325. Cassandro 

DIr. Roger Ross Williams, streaming on Prime Video 

The story of the titular Mexican “exotico,” who revolutionized Lucha Libre wrestling. His nickname, “The Liberace of Lucha Libre,” is much better than the movie. 

324. Flora and Son 

Dir. John Carney, streaming on Apple TV+, review here

Yet another musical movie from Carney, the man behind Once. And while star Eve Hewson is very appealing, the formula is getting old- and the songs aren’t very good this time. 

323. Carlos 

Dir. Rudy Valdez, streaming on VOD

Fairly pedestrian documentary about the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana. A month before its release, he made shocking transphobic comments during a concert, which shows some excellent timing. 

322. Soul Doctor 

Dir. Daniel Wise, not streaming 

Filmed stage musical about the friendship and musical partnership between Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Nina Simone. Carlebach’s life story was fascinating – albeit marred by some bad accusations — but this is far from the best imaginable treatment of it. 

321. The Boys in the Boat 

Dir. George Clooney, coming soon to theaters and Prime Video 

A highly cliched inspirational sports movie, about a crew team from the University of Washington that went all the way to the 1936 Olympics. When they meet Jesse Owens, it made me wish the movie was about him instead. 

320. I Got a Monster 

Dir. Kevin Abrams, streaming on VOD, review here 

A documentary about the Baltimore police corruption scandal, the same story that was the basis for the HBO limited series  We Own This City. Compelling, but David Simon did it better. 

319. The Mother 

Dir. Niki Caro, streaming on Netflix

Another mediocre action star vehicle for Netflix, this one starring Jennifer Lopez as a female assassin trying to rescue her long-estranged daughter. It’s the usual Netflix house style, meaning it looks terrible. 

318. The First Step 

Dir. Brandon Kramer, streaming on VOD, review here  

This debuted on the festival circuit in 2022 and told the story of Van Jones teaming up with Jared Kushner to pass criminal justice reform late in the Trump presidency. Some interesting stuff, but these pre-COVID events feel like they happened about 20 years ago. 

317. Scream VI 

Dir. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, streaming on Paramount+ 

The sixth film in the franchise moves the action to New York, although the formula is starting to get a bit old at this point. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega are strong performers but as you may have heard, they’re now out of the franchise. 

316. Money Shot: The Pornhub Story 

Dir. Suzanne Hillinger, streaming on Netflix, review here. 

This documentary about you-know-what website tries to do two things: Tell the story of how the site rose and changed American culture, and explore the fights between those who believe the site is responsible for sex trafficking and those who don’t. It probably should have gone with one or the other. 

315. Uncharted 

Dir. Beth Aala, not streaming, review here. 

This documentary from Tribeca featured Alicia Keys mentoring singer/songwriters at a songwriting camp. Fairly inspirational, but I haven’t heard a peep about the film since the spring. 

314. Bulls and Saints 

Dir. Rodrigo Dorfman, Peter Eversoll, not streaming 

A documentary about a family of undocumented immigrants who return to the U.S. and get involved with bullfighting. It was shown on PBS this summer, but no further streaming release has been announced. 

313. Back to the Drive-In 

Dir. April Wright, streaming on Prime Video, review here. 

A documentary examination of the nation’s still-existing drive-in movie theaters, how they were revived by the pandemic, and their uncertain path forward. Some fascinating stories, but I’m not sure how much of a future such places have in a post-COVID world. 

312. Clock 

Dir. Alexis Jackdaw, streaming on Hulu 

A horror film centered on a woman’s biological clock, starring Glee veteran Diana Agron. Fine, but probably should have stayed as a short, which is how it began its life. 

311. The Boogeyman 

Dir. Rob Savage, streaming on Hulu. 

I was supposed to see this at TIFF in 2022, missed it, and finally caught it more than a year later. A mostly derivative Stephen King adaptation with a few cool moments. 

310. Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me 

Dir. Ursula Macfarlane, streaming on Netflix 

Starts as another revisionist documentary about a notorious woman who was a tabloid figure in the 1990s.  But then it takes an unfortunate turn into crapping on its deceased subject. 

309. We Kill For Love: The Lost World of the Erotic Thriller

Dir. Anthony Penta, streaming on VOD, review here. 

A documentary about the erotic thriller genre told mostly about direct-to-home-video releases from throughout the 1990s. You Must Remember This did it a lot better. 

308. The Offering 

Dir. Oliver Park, streaming on Hulu (director interview here) 

Horror movies have been using Catholic iconography forever; this is part of a recent boomlet of ones that use Judaism instead. Does a good job making Bulgaria look like Brooklyn. 

307. It’s a Wonderful Knife 

Dir. Tyler MacIntyre, streaming on AMC+ and Shudder 

A modern-day, horror-based remake of It’s a Wonderful Life is a great idea. But the execution here is somewhat less great. 

306. Fair Play 

Dir. Chloe Domont, streaming on Netflix 

Sold as an erotic thriller, starring Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor as coworkers/lovers. But it’s a lot more about jealousy and toxicity, in a way that’s a lot less interesting or exciting. 

305. Prom Pact 

Dir. Anya Adams, streaming on Disney+ 

Your usual Disney teen movie. However, this one is more likely to be remembered for clumsily using AI figures in background scenes than for anything else in it. 

304. 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed

Dir. W. Kameu Bell, streaming on Max 

A perfectly fine and inoffensive documentary about mixed-race Americans. Not quite as ambitious as Bell’s four-part examination of Bill Cosby, but let’s not hold that against it. 

303. No One Asked You 

Dir. Ruth Leitman, not streaming

Documentary, from DOC NYC, about Lizz Winstead leading a group of female comedians on a tour aimed at safeguarding abortion rights. The intentions are all good, but the doc makes the argument, unintentionally, that maybe letting the comedians lead on that didn’t have the greatest outcome. 

302. Beyond Utopia 

Dir. Madeleine Gavin, streaming on VOD 

A documentary about North Korea, and a network that smuggles people out of that country into the South. This has been very acclaimed but I didn’t think it was even one of the better documentaries about North Korea from the last few years. 

301. Inside 

Dir.  Vasilis Katsoupis, streaming on Prime Video 

Essentially a one-man show featuring Willem Dafoe as a thief trapped in a luxury apartment. Much more interesting as an acting challenge than as an actual movie. 

300. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 

Dir. Nia Vardalos, streaming on Peacock, review here.

Second sequel to a hit that I don’t even remember having a first one. Occasionally charming but feels a lot like an excuse for the cast and crew to go on vacation. 

299. The End of Sex 

Dir. Sean Garrity, streaming on Showtime, review here. 

A Canadian comedy that’s like a lot of movies we’ve seen before, with a married couple struggling in the bedroom. This one goes in a very different direction though, including with the involvement of Letterkenny’s Mrs. McMurray (Melanie Scrofano). 

298. Sound of the Police 

Dir. Stanley Nelson, and Valeria Scoon, streaming on Hulu 

Another documentary focused on racism, with a focus on the relationship between African-Americans and the police. Succeeds in contextualizing the history, refreshingly. 

297. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant 

Dir. Guy Ritchie, streaming on Prime Video, review here

Ritchie makes a huge departure from his recent work- no jokiness, no Jason Statham. Instead, it’s a hyper-earnest story about a soldier going to superhuman lengths to rescue his interpreter from Afghanistan- like Sound of Freedom, without the ickiness. 

296. The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Dir. Joanna Arnow, not streaming

This was a Philadelphia Film Festival movie that was set to come out in 2024. And because the director has made a voicey indie debut - and frequently shows herself naked and as part of sex scenes —  it’s clear that Lena Dunham was an influence. 

295. Gran Turismo 

Dir. Neill Blomkamp, streaming on VOD, review here. 

Video-game-inspired auto racing movie in which a gamer gets to be the hero. A few good moments, but it’s a commercial for Sony and Nissan first, and a movie second. 

294. Butcher’s Crossing 

Dir. Gabe Polsky, streaming on VOD. 

A generally forgettable Western that played at TIFF last year and had a perfunctory release this year. One of a few movies this year where there isn’t much to it, but an out-there performance from Nicolas Cage helps redeem matters. 

293. Share? 

Dir. Ira Rosensweig, streaming on VOD

An 80-minute thriller in which all of the characters are mysteriously trapped in rooms, as they argue with a computer. Some decent elements, but I never like this sort of movie, which never gets past its gimmick. 

292. Candace Parker: Unapologetic 

Dir. Joie Jacoby, streaming on Hulu/ESPN+

Fairly conventional sports documentary about the WNBA star. Parker, however, is more interesting than most such doc subjects. 

291. Maybe I Do 

Dir. Michael Jacobs, streaming on Hulu. Review here. 

An old-fashioned door-slamming farce, in which two couples (Richard Gere, William H. Macy, Susan Sarandon, and Diane Keaton) realize they’re having affairs with each other’s partners- and their kids are marrying each other. Great setup, but the kids are way less compelling than their parents. 

290. The Line 

Dir. Ethan Berger, not streaming, review here. 

This Tribeca film, yet to surface since, is set in a fraternity, one way more horrifying than the one in Animal House. Bo Mitchell steals the show as a real-life analog to Bluto Blutarsky, who’s a lot more violent and dangerous. 

289. Shooting Stars 

Dir. Chris Robinson, streaming on Peacock

A pseudo-biopic of LeBron James, telling the story of his dominant high school teams. Not much insight into the LeBron persona, but still a decent basketball picture. 

288. No Accident 

Dir. Kristi Jacobson, streaming on Max 

An examination of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017, and specifically the trial that followed the killing of Heather Heyer. A decent chronicle of an admirable, successful effort that’s a new angle of the much-explored Charlottesville incident. 

287. What If? Ehud Barak on War and Peace

Dir. Ran Tal, streaming on Film Movement and VOD. 

A series of interviews with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who led the country back when peace was last close. One of those films that has certainly taken on greater relevance since it first arrived. 

286. The Creator 

Dir. Gareth Edwards, not streaming, review here. 

A strange movie, using expensive special effects to tell a story about AI robots not being all that bad, and America being wrong to be concerned about it. Some great visuals, but the message is way too muddled. 

285. Bucky F*cking Dent

Dir. David Duchovny, not streaming, review here. 

An occasionally affecting father/son drama, set against the backdrop of the Boston Red Sox’s 20th century woes. Are we still doing this, even after the Sox have won the World Series four times?

284. Superpower 

Dir. Sean Penn, and Aaron Kaufman, streaming on Paramount+ 

Captures an historical moment, of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2021. Unfortunately, features Sean Penn galavanting around Ukraine, and there were other Ukraine docs this year that were mercifully Penn-free. 

283. Mafia Mamma 

Dir. Catherine Hardwicke, streaming on Showtime 

Ridiculous but fun crime comedy in which American housewife Toni Collette inherits the leadership of an Italian mob family from her long-estranged father. Collette also has delightfully unresolved sexual tension with Monica Bellucci, as her consigliere. 

 282. Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life 

Dir. Trish Adlesic, streaming on Paramount+ 

At least the second documentary about the Tree of Life shooting, is dedicated to telling the stories of those killed that day. Makes me wish there weren’t so many mass shootings to make documentaries about. 

281. Victim/Suspect 

Dir. Nancy Schwartzman, streaming on Netflix 

Infuriating documentary about women who made accusations of sexual assault, and ended up being investigated or prosecuted themselves. Nevertheless, it’s filmed exactly like the less reputable true crime docs from streaming services. 

280. Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia 

Dir. Kyra Knox, coming soon to Prime Video

Winner of awards at the Philadelphia Film Festival, this documentary looks at Philadelphia’s gun violence crisis. Has the year’s most surprising executive producer- Allen Iverson. 

279. The Eternal Memory 

Dir. Maite Alberdi, streaming on Paramount+ 

A poignant documentary from Chile about a married couple dealing with a man’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and worsening condition. Both are well-known people in Chile, giving us a rare view into such a struggle. 

278. Influencer 

Dir. Kurtis David Harder, streaming on AMC+ and Shudder 

A thriller in which the protagonist is a social media influencer. Decent, although Ingrid Goes West a few years ago was a better version of this. 

277. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dir. John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video 

Another adaptation of the board game. A lot of people have been praising this one to the skies, but I just don’t see it. 

276. Fast X 

Dir. Louis Leterrier, streaming on Peacock, review here 

Features the usual fun car chases and ever-expanding cast, this time with Jason Momoa as a mincing villain. But this franchise is getting seriously long in the tooth at this point. 

275. The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring

Dir. Erin Lee Car, streaming on Max

The Bling Ring case already got dealt with in Sofia Coppola’s film of that name. Now, it’s a documentary, in which we hear from a member of the ring who previously hadn’t spoken. 

274. Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America

Dir. Brian Knappenberger, streaming on Netflix

Yes, the Boy Scouts were responsible for a great deal of abuse of children, and this documentary tells that full story. It’s worthwhile, although not that interesting filmmaking-wise. 

273. Sleep 

Dir. Jason Yu, not streaming

I saw this one at the Philadelphia Film Festival, a Korean horror film about a husband who sleepwalks and his wife who tries to deal with it. This one goes in some wild, wild directions. 

272. The Herricanes

Dir. Olivia Kuan, not streaming, review here

A South by Southwest world premiere, this one tells the story of a women’s football team in the 1970s. In the end, they reunite, much like at the end of A League of Their Own. 

271. Mamacruz 

Dir. Patricia Ortega, not streaming 

Another one from Sundance, this one from Spain and Venezuela explores a grandmother who discovers porn and sexuality for the first time. Fine work, especially, from Kiti Manver. 

270. Your Fat Friend 

Dir. Jeanie Finlay, now in theaters in some markets

Interesting documentary about Aubrey Gordon, the once-pseudonymous blogger who has since come forward and become a successful author and podcaster. Goes deeply into some uncomfortable places. 

269. iMordecai 

Dir. Marvin Samel, streaming on VOD, director interview here. 

Semi-autobiographical comedy, about how Samel convinced his elderly Holocaust survivor father to buy an iPhone. Another movie where Judd Hirsch plays a heavily accented, old-world Jewish relative of the protagonist. 

268. The Astros Edge 

Dir. Jonathan Clasberry, not streaming, review here 

Another project has journalist and author Ben Reiter exploring the work he did covering the Houston Astros, and how he missed the massive story of their cheating scandal. A fine treatment, although this year’s book “Winning Fixes Everything” did it better. 

267. You Were My First Boyfriend 

Dir. Cecilia Aldarondo, streaming on Max

Very strange documentary in which the filmmaker ruminates about the awkward crushes of her teenage years. I honestly felt kind of bad for her current boyfriend, having to hear about all this stuff on camera. 

266. Slotherhouse 

Dir. Matthew Goodhue, streaming on Hulu 

A one-joke slasher film, involving killer sloths, let loose on a sorority. The joke is very funny at the beginning but loses steam very, very quickly. 

265. Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed 

Dir. Sam Jones, streaming on Max 

The director of the great Wilco doc I Am Trying to Break Your Heart explores Jason Isbell. A good examination of the creative process, albeit not nearly as legendary as the Wilco film. 

264. Richland 

Dir. Irene Lusztig, not streaming

Documentary about a small town and its strange relationship with its history as a nuclear capital. Decently made, although I started to watch it during one festival and realized I’d already seen it at another one. 

263. How to Come Alive With Norman Mailer 

Dir. Jeff Zimbalist, not streaming yet, review here 

Documentary, from DOC NYC, about the literary titan that harkens back to the days when writers were celebrities, who used to fight each other. Also lots about Mailer’s marriages, feuds, and interviews in which he bitched about the 1980s version of cancel culture. 

262. Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain 

Dir. Paul Briganti, streaming on Peacock 

I’m kind of a superfan of this trio, who do the viral short films on Saturday Night Live. Their first movie, however, is very hit-or-miss. 

261. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic

Dir. Teemu Nikki, streaming on The Roku Channel 

Finnish film about a dying man who seeks to meet with a woman before it’s too late. Probably the year’s best movie title. 

260. The Trials of Alan Dershowitz 

Dir. John Curtin, not streaming yet, review here 

Career-spanning documentary about the famed lawyer, up to and including his current controversies related to his Trump defenses and Epstein ties. It soon becomes very clear that Dershowitz agreed to participate in this project for no other reason but to clear the air about those things. 

259. Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl

Dir. Zackary Drucker, streaming on Hulu 

A must for fans of the New York City blogosphere of the early aughts, in which it catches up with the anonymous blogger Park Avenue Peerage. This one does not go in the direction that you were expecting. 

258. Totem 

Dir. Lila Avilés, not streaming  

A Mexican family drama, which I saw at the Philadelphia Film Festival, follows a girl preparing for her father’s birthday party. Soon, things get much more serious and heartbreaking. 

257. King on Screen 

Dir. Daphné Baiwir, streaming on VOD

A documentary that’s just what it sounds like, an examination of the many movie adaptations of the work of Stephen King. I don’t think there was any other author whose adaptations could fill a whole feature-length doc.

256. Blue Jean 

Dir. Georgia Oakley, streaming on VOD 

Well-positioned and timely story of a gym teacher in the Thatcher era (Rosy McEwen) who has to hide the fact that she’s gay. Fine work by Rosy McEwen in the lead role. 

255. At Midnight 

Dir. Jonah Feingold, streaming on Paramount+, review here

The better of Feingold’s two movies this year, this one stars Monica Barbaro and Diego Boneta. The best part of the film, though, is Catherine Cohen in a supporting role. 

254. R.M.N. 

Dir. Cristian Mungiu, streaming on AMC+

The latest film from the Romanian director of 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days. This one deals with family dysfunction and unrest in a Romanian village. 

253. Allensworth 

Dir. James Benning, not streaming 

An experimental film exploring the mostly abandoned town of that name in California. More of a cinematic essay than anything else, but an often poignant one.

252. Man on the Run 

Dir. Cassius Michael Kim, not streaming, review here 

A documentary exploration of the 1MDB scandal, in which a guy named Jho Low stole billions from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, and used it to hobnob with American celebrities. It’s not the best possible version of the story. 

251. Down in Dallas Town 

Dir. Alan Govenar, not streaming

An unconventional but worthwhile documentary examination of the Kennedy assassination, featuring interviews with people there that day and also lots of associated music. And no Oliver Stone in sight. 

250. Ruby Gillman: Teenaged Kraken 

Dir. Kirk DeMicco, streaming on Peacock 

A girl who lives near the ocean is, in fact, secretly a Kraken. A bit of an also-ran when it came to studio animated pictures this year, but it had its moments. 

249. Rudy: A Documusical 

Dir. Jed Rothstein, streaming on Prime Video and Roku Channel 

This hybrid film is partially a documentary about the rise and fall of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a musical about him. The doc parts work, but the musical ones very much do not. 

248. Occupied City 

Dir. Steve McQueen, not streaming yet 

This four-hour-plus documentary about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam is impressive in its sheer ambition and scale. But ultimately, it’s somewhat disappointing, frequently deploying a COVID metaphor that doesn’t work. 

247. Chevalier 

Dir. Stephen Williams, streaming on Hulu 

This biopic of Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges begins with a violin duel between Chevalier and Mozart which is one of the year’s best movie scenes. Sadly, it never reaches those heights again. 

246. All Up in the Biz 

Dir. Sacha Jenkins, streaming on Showtime, review here 

Documentary about the late rapper Biz Markie, both tells his whole story and depicts the rapper in the final year of his life. It even uses a puppet representation of Biz, which somehow works. 

245. The Levys of Monticello 

Dir. Steven Pressman, now streaming on ChaiFlix, director interview here. 

Documentary that tells an incredible story about the Jewish family that controlled Thomas Jefferson’s estate for a longer time than Jefferson did. This landed this year after a stint on the Jewish film festival circuit. 

244. Stand 

Dir. Joslyn Rose Lyons, streaming on Showtime, review here. 

This Showtime sports documentary told the story of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the 1990s NBA player who refused to stand for the national anthem, years before Colin Kaepernick. The film shows the former player, whom I once met when I was a kid, a fascinating subject. 

243. Chang Can Dunk 

Dir. Jingyi Shao, streaming on Disney+

A well-done basketball movie, about a short-statured Asian-American kid who learns to dunk. Better than most versions of this Disney sports formula. 

242. Baby Ruby 

Dir. Bess Wohl, streaming on Hulu 

One of a few different horror movies lately based on anxieties about pending or new motherhood. None of them are as good as Rosemary’s Baby, but this one is decent at least. 

241. Sly 

Dir. Thom Zimny, streaming on Netflix, review here 

A career-spanning documentary about Sylvester Stallone, filmed as he moves out of his house in Los Angeles. Some great stories, although this isn’t as interesting as the doc series Netflix did earlier this year with his old rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

240. Sam Now 

Dir. Reed Harkness, streaming on Criterion Channel 

One of those autobiographical family documentaries, as the filmmaker follows his brother, over many years, as he comes to terms with his mother’s abandonment of him. The whole thing is heartbreaking, but especially the home video footage. 

239. Knock at the Cabin 

Dir. M. Night Shyamalan, streaming on Prime Video, review here 

The latest from Shyamalan has a family (Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, and Kristen Cui) threatened with the apocalypse by invaders. A great setup, but the trouble is in the follow-through. 

238. Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Special 

Dir. John Scheinfeld, streaming on Paramount+ 

Elvis is back, baby. First, there were two prestige movies in as many years, and now this doc, which tells the story of his famous 1968 special without the inclusion of Tom Hanks trying to sound like Col. Parker. 

237. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre 

Dir. Guy Ritchie, streaming on Starz, review here 

The much more fun (if derivative) of Ritchie’s two 2023 releases, another jokey action comedy starring Jason Statham, along with Hugh Grant and Aubrey Plaza. On the shelf for a year for strange Ukraine-related reasons, it was mostly worth the wait. 

 236. Take Care of Maya 

Dir. Henry Roosevelt, streaming on Netflix

A particularly horrifying documentary about a couple wrongfully accused of child abuse. Just some evil, evil stuff, there’s all there is to it. 

235. The War on Disco 

Dir. Lisa Quijano Wolfinger, streaming on VOD. 

A documentary looking at Disco Demolition Night, and other aspects of the anti-disco backlash of the late 1970s. Nothing new, since the Bee Gees doc a couple of years ago covered all this, but still well-constructed. 

234. Stand Up & Shout: Songs from a Philly High School 

Dir. Amy Schatz, streaming on Max, review here 

A John Legend-produced documentary about a special music program at a Philadelphia school, and the fantastic music videos that result from it. Slight, but still inspiring. 

233. Praise This 

Dir. Tina Gordon Chism, streaming on Peacock 

A Pitch Perfect for the gospel world, starring Chloe Bailey. An enjoyable story set in a world that I admit I knew nothing about going in. 

232. The Afghan Dreamers 

Dir. David Greenwald, streaming on Paramount+ 

An inspiring story of an all-female robotics team in Afghanistan. What’s especially scary is that the Taliban is now back in power, making stories like this much less likely. 

231. Stephen Curry: Underrated 

Dir. Peter Nicks. streaming on Apple TV+, review here 

Documentary about the NBA superstar, focused largely on his college days at Davidson, leading up to his more recent quest to finish his degree. Enjoyable, but leaves quite a lot out. 

230. All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt 

Dir. Raven Jackson, in theaters now  

This experimental film from Sundance goes back and forth in time in telling the story of a Black woman from Mississippi, played as an adult by Zainab Jah. It’s not exactly like Moonlight, although Barry Jenkins is a producer. 

229. Kubrick by Kubrick 

Dir. Grégory Monro, streaming on Tubi and Hoopla 

Goes through Stanley Kubrick’s entire filmography, while including footage from a long-ago interview with the late filmmaker. Not groundbreaking or anything, but still compelling. 

228. Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting

Dir. Ben West, Aviva Kempner, not streaming, review here 

Illuminating documentary about the history of the fight against appropriated Native American iconography in American sports. There’s been progress, but not enough. 

227. Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project 

Dir.  Joe Brewster, and Michèle Stephenson, coming to Max in January 

Multifaceted, entertaining documentary about the famed poet, covering decades of her life. A prize winner at Sundance in January, the doc finally arrives on streaming early next year. 

226. We Live Here: The Midwest 

Dir. Melinda Maerker, streaming on Hulu, review here 

A documentary that puts the lie to stereotypes about people in Midwestern and rural areas. Interviews several queer people and couples who live in Midwestern areas and reflect on governments and communities who are less than welcome. 

225. M3gan 

Dir. Gerard Johnstone, streaming on Prime Video 

I’m not generally a fan of killer doll movies. But this one ultimately won me over, having some well-timed things to say about the dangers of A.I. 

224. Maximum Truth 

Dir. David Stassen, streaming on VOD 

A mockumentary about a Jacob Wohl-like grifter (Ike Barinholtz) who tries to come up with a scam to ruin a Democratic politician. Very hit-or-miss, but has more bite than most political satires these days. 

223. The Super Mario Bros. Movie 

Dir. Michael Jelenic, and Aaron Horvath, streaming on Netflix 

A pretty faithful recreation of the Mario mythology as an animated movie. There are plenty of laughs, even if Chris Pratt doesn’t do the Italian voice. 

222. Bill Russell: Legend 

Dir. Sam Pollard, streaming on Netflix, review here 

Fine, if not completely groundbreaking, documentary about the late NBA legend Bill Russell. Plenty about his victories, as well as his political activism. 

221. While We Watched 

Dir. Vinay Shukla, not streaming 

A fine journalism documentary, about Indian writer Ravish Kumar and his fights with the Modi government in India. Democracy dies in darkness in other parts of the world, too. 

220. Red, White, and Royal Blue 

Dir. Matthew Lopez, streaming on Prime Video 

A great concept for a romcom, in which the sons of the president of the United States and the King of England fall in love. I’m just trying to imagine the heads that would explode if this happened in real life. 

219. A Compassionate Spy 

Dir. Steve James, streaming on Hulu, review here 

The story of Theodore Hall, a physicist who passed nuclear secrets on to the Soviet Union in the 1940s, and got away with it for half a century. If you can get past the part where the subject is a traitor who betrayed America, a compelling documentary. 

218. This is Not Financial Advice 

Dir. Zach Ingrasci, and Chris Temple, not streaming 

A somewhat horrifying documentary about a crypto dude who sold off all his possessions bought Dogecoin, and devoted his entire life to pushing its value. His poor wife… 

217. Wish 

Dir. Chris Buck, and Fawn Veerasunthorn, not streaming, review here

Disney’s centennial monument to itself mostly unsuccessfully fuses elements of its past hits, along with terrible songs. But the animation is good, and I liked the star character. 

216. Reality 

Dir. Tina Satter, streaming on Max 

A real-time examination of the interrogation of Reality Winner, after she was arrested for taking classified documents, starring Sydney Sweeney as Winner. There will be other Reality Winner movies, including one scheduled for Sundance, but this one is decent. 

215. Immediate Family 

Dir. Denny Tedesco, not streaming 

Tedesco made a documentary a few years ago called The Wrecking Crew, about the famed sessions musicians of the 1960s and ‘70s. Now, he’s gone back to the same well, featuring the likes of Phil Collins, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, and Neil Young. 

214. Rather 

Dir. Frank Marshall, not streaming, review here

A documentary, from Tribeca, about veteran news anchor Dan Rather, following his entire career from Watergate to “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” Credit for not sugarcoating the Killian documents affair. 

213. Jesus Revolution 

Dir.  Jon Erwin, and Brent McCorkle, streaming on Netflix 

A much better “faith-based” film than most, as it tamps down the culture war nonsense in favor of the story of the hippie-inflected “Jesus Movement” in California in the 1970s. It’s interested in the ways people connect with religion, an under-explored subject. 

212. Alice, Darling 

Dir. Mary Nighy, streaming on Starz, review here. 

Drama starring Anna Kendrick as a woman who doesn’t seem to realize she’s in an abusive relationship, and her friends trying to convince her. Credit for not going with the ending I was afraid it was headed towards. 

211. Murders That Matter 

Dir. Marco Williams, not streaming 

A fascinating, under-the-radar documentary about Philadelphia’s Movita Johnson-Harrell, whose son was killed by gun violence in the city. Within a few years, Johnson-Harrell became an activist, was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature, and was convicted of crimes. 

210. Love at First Sight 

Dir. Vanessa Caswill, streaming on Netflix 

A somewhat cute Netflix romcom, better than most on the streamer this year. Based on Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, the film shows the love between American Haley Lu Richardson and Brit Ben Hardy. 

209. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah

Dir. Sammi Cohen, streaming on Netflix 

Adam Sandler makes another Jewish classic, this time bringing in his entire immediate family. It’s a tale of Bat Mitzvah jealousy, with Sandler and Idina Menzel sharing a happier marriage than the one in Uncut Gems. 

208. 32 Sounds 

Dir. Sam Green, not streaming 

A unique documentary about sound, and specifically how sound works. I kind of wish I’d been at one of those festival screenings where they made everyone wear headphones. 

207. Cocaine Bear 

Dir. Elizabeth Banks, streaming on Prime Video, review here

Is exactly what it sounds like- a bear on cocaine, going toe to toe with a group of cops, criminals, and kids. Over the top, and it knows it. 

206. The Seven Faces of Jane 

Dir. Ken Jeong, Gillian Jacobs, et. a., streaming on Prime Video

An experimental film that works better than it probably should have. Gillian Jacobs stars as a woman named Jane, and eight different filmmakers directed different segments. 

205. The Little Mermaid 

Dir. Rob Marshall, streaming on Disney+, review here 

Disney’s latest unnecessary remake of one of its animated classics. Halle Bailey is very good, and it has the benefit of those amazing Menken/Ashman songs, but overall this wasn’t necessary. 

204. Huesera: The Bone Woman

Dir. Michelle Garza Cervera, streaming on AMC+ and Shudder 

Another horror movie about motherhood, and a curse. It’s getting to be a cliche at this point, although this film is better than most of its kind. 

203. Fanny: The Other Mendelssohn

Dir. Sheila Hayman, not streaming, review here 

A well-researched documentary about Fanny, the sister of Felix Mendelssohn. The film makes the case, successfully, that she deserves more credit than she has traditionally gotten. 

202. Personality Crisis: One Night Only

Dir. Martin Scorsese, and David Tedeschi, streaming on Showtime 

A documentary about  David Johansen, who at different points in his life was the New York Dolls frontman and Buster Poindexter. This story is told, very well, as Johansen performs in New York. 

201. Pianoforte 

Dir. Jakub Piątek, not streaming 

This one was shown at the Philadelphia Film Festival, and it’s a documentary about the International Chopin Piano Competition. Doesn’t quite get away from the cliches of this particular subset of documentary, but the music is beautiful. 

Stay tuned Tuesday for Part 2…