My top ten list each year is generated almost automatically. I take the film I rated highest over the year and then eliminate some of the films tied for the tenth position if there is more than one. There are a few problems with this process. First, living in the wilds of Central New Jersey and not being a professional reviewer, I frequently will not see a December release until February, when it is really too late to make my top ten list for the previous year. A lot of these films rated high in the heat of the moment and because there was little competition I saw that year, but are something of an embarrassment now. (Did I really think ROSEWOOD was a good film?) Here is the list of lists in reverse chronological order:

Top Ten of the Last Century

• SCHINDLER'S LIST
• A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
• LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
• THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING
• THE PATHS OF GLORY
• THE KILLING FIELDS
• SPARTACUS
• KING KONG
• INHERIT THE WIND
• STAR WARS: EPISODE IV

Top Ten Films of 2023

• OPPENHEIMER
• BARBIE
• DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY
• THE HOLDOVERS
• CLOSE TO VERMEER
• A HAUNTING IN VENICE
• THE INVENTOR
• LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND
• MAFIA MAMMA
• THE MONKEY KING

• AMSTERDAM
• APOLLO 10-1/2
• BULLET TRAIN
• ELVIS
• GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE
• JERRY & MARGE GO LARGE
• THE OUTFIT
• SIDNEY
• TILL
• WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED

Top Ten Films of 2021

• NIGHTMARE ALLEY
• HOUSE OF GUCCI
• LAST NIGHT IN SOHO
• A HERO
• WORTH
• LAPSIS
• THE COURIER
• JUNGLE CRUISE
• AMERICAN EXPERIENCE--CITIZEN HEARST:
• THE FATHER

Top Ten Films of 2020

• A CALL TO SPY
• THE PAINTED BIRD
• PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
• RESISTANCE
• TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL
• AN ACCIDENTAL STUDIO--HANDMADE FILMS (2019 film seen in 2020)
• ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY
• APOCALYPSE '45
• DA 5 BLOODS
• DAVID ATTENBOROUGH--A LIFE ON OUR PLANET
• DESERT ONE
• FORD VS. FERRARI (2019--seen in 2020)
• NEWS OF THE WORLD
• THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

Top Ten Films of 2019

• JOJO RABBIT
• THE AERONAUTS
• THE REPORT
• DARK WATERS
• HARRIET
• WHO WILL WRITE OUR HISTORY
• KNIVES OUT
• SOBIBOR
• THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE
• MARRIAGE STORY

Top Ten Films of 2018

• THE HATE U GIVE
• ROMA
• BLACKKKLANSMAN
• MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT
• WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
• BOY ERASED
• VICE
• 22 JULY
• THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS
• MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE

Top Ten Films of 2017

• MOLLY'S GAME
• THE POST
• JANE
• FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER
• DUNKIRK
• HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY
• BREATHE
• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM
• TICKLING GIANTS

Top Ten Films of 2016

• EYE IN THE SKY
• ARRIVAL
• HACKSAW RIDGE
• ADMIRAL
• O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA
• KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
• THE FINEST HOURS
• THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT
• I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
• THE NICE GUYS

Top Ten Films of 2015

• TRUMBO
• BRIDGE OF SPIES
• EX MACHINA
• SICARIO
• THE MARTIAN
• THE BIG SHORT
• 99 HOMES
• SPOTLIGHT
• 24 DAYS
• HE NAMED ME MALALA

Top Ten Films of 2014

• THE IMITATION GAME
• GONE GIRL
• THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
• INTERSTELLAR
• PARTICLE FEVER
• FRONTERA
• FIELD OF LOST SHOES
• A MOST WANTED MAN
• LULLABY
• THE CASE AGAINST 8

Top Ten Films of 2013

• 12 YEARS A SLAVE
• THE HUNT
• 56 UP
• THE ACT OF KILLING
• A HIACKING
• DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
• NEBRASKA
• ALL IS LOST
• EUROPA REPORT
• MUD

Top Ten Films of 2012

• LES MISERABLES
• LINCOLN
• ARGO
• THE IMPOSSIBLE
• THE MASTER
• A ROYAL AFFAIR
• THE DEEP BLUE SEA
• THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
• IN THE FAMILY
• SKYFALL

Top Ten Films of 2011

• HUGO
• THE LAST CIRCUS
• SHOLOM ALEICHEM: LAUGHING IN THE DARKNESS
• CONTAGION
• BARNEY'S VERSION
• THE ARTIST
• MARGIN CALL
• TREE OF LIFE
• THE ILLUSIONIST
• WAR HORSE

Top Ten Films of 2010

• TEMPLE GRANDIN
• TRUE GRIT
• THE SOCIAL NETWORK
• THE KING'S SPEECH
• RABBIT HOLE
• GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
• WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
• FOUR LIONS
• CARLOS
• INCEPTION

Top Ten Films of 2009

• PRECIOUS
• FANTASTIC MR. FOX
• UP IN THE AIR
• SLEEP DEALER
• THE MESSENGER
• UP
• STONING OF SORAYA M
• SITA SINGS THE BLUES
• RED CLIFF
• THE BURNING PLAIN

Top Ten Films of 2008

• THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
• TRUMBO
• MILK
• THE DARK KNIGHT
• THE WRESTLER
• WALL-E
• THE BANK JOB
• DEFIANCE
• THE COUNTERFEITERS
• THE VISITOR

Top Ten Films of 2007

• AWAY FROM HER
• THE KITE RUNNER
• INTO THE WILD
• STARDUST
• GOLDA'S BALCONY
• EASTERN PROMISES
• THE NAMESAKE
• GONE BABY GONE
• BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
• SWEENEY TODD

Top Ten Films of 2006

• WATER
• THE PRESTIGE
• SOPHIE SCHOLL: THE LAST DAYS
• NOTES ON A SCANDAL
• THE HIDDEN BLADE
• CASINO ROYALE
• MUNICH
• THE DEPARTED
• THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA
• THE NEW WORLD

Top Ten Films of 2005

• THE CONSTANT GARDENER
• DOWNFALL
• GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
• BEE SEASON
• EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
• MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS
• CRASH
• KING KONG (2005)
• THE GREAT WATER
• CAPOTE

Top Ten Films of 2004

• HOTEL RWANDA
• ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
• MARIA FULL OF GRACE
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION
• KINSEY
• STAGE BEAUTY
• RAY
• TOUCHING THE VOID
• HERO

Top Ten Films of 2003

• SHATTERED GLASS
• HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
• PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
• WINGED MIGRATION
• THE FOG OF WAR
• MONSTER
• MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
• MYSTIC RIVER
• WHALE RIDER
• BIG FISH

Top Ten Films of 2002

• THE GREY ZONE
• THE PIANIST
• WE WERE SOLDIERS
• MINORITY REPORT
• MIYAZAKI'S SPIRITED AWAY
• THE QUIET AMERICAN
• ADAPTATION
• GANGS OF NEW YORK
• THE ROAD TO PERDITION
• ABOUT SCHMIDT

Top Ten Films of 2001

• LORD OF THE RINGS
• MEMENTO
• A BEAUTIFUL MIND
• A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
• WIT
• THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE
• HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR'S STONE
• THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE
• HEIST
• SHREK

Top Ten Films of 2000

• THE CONTENDER
• TITUS
• SUNSHINE
• THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN
• CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
• GLADIATOR
• TITAN A.E.
• SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE
• HEY! RAM
• O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?

Top Ten Films of 1999

• BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
• STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE
• OCTOBER SKY
• CRADLE WILL ROCK
• AMERICAN BEAUTY
• THE RED VIOLIN
• COOKIE'S FORTUNE
• TOPSY TURVY
• THREE KINGS
• THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

Top Ten Films of 1998

• RETURN TO PARADISE
• SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
• SMOKE SIGNALS
• THE TRUMAN SHOW
• GODS AND MONSTERS
• DEEP IMPACT
• LAST NIGHT
• MULAN
• THE GIRAFFE
• 23

Top Ten Films of 1997

• L. A. CONFIDENTIAL
• THE ICE STORM
• CONTACT
• THE SWEET HEREAFTER
• ROSEWOOD
• AMISTAD
• EVITA
• EVE'S BAYOU
• WINGS OF THE DOVE
• CHASING AMY

Top Ten Films of 1996

• RICHARD III
• ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED
• BREAKING THE WAVES
• THE CRUCIBLE
• FARGO
• LONE STAR
• HEAVY
• TWO DAYS IN THE VALLEY
• LOOKING FOR RICHARD
• MICROCOSMOS

Top Ten Films of 1995

• APOLLO 13
• PRIEST
• LEAVING LAS VEGAS
• CASINO
• LEGENDS OF THE FALL
• DEAD MAN WALKING
• DEATH AND THE MAIDEN
• CITY OF LOST CHILDREN
• MURDER IN THE FIRST
• THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Top Ten of 1994

• THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
• QUIZ SHOW
• LEGENDS OF THE FALL
• HOOP DREAMS
• PULP FICTION
• A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
• CRONOS
• DOOMSDAY GUN
• HEAVENLY CREATURES
• THE LAST SEDUCTION

Top Ten Films of 1993

• SCHINDLER'S LIST
• GETTYSBURG
• JURASSIC PARK
• AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
• THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
• IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
• THE JOY LUCK CLUB
• MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
• INDOCHINE
• UN COEUR EN HIVER

Top Ten of 1992

• LORENZO'S OIL
• THE CRYING GAME
• GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
• FAR AND AWAY
• UNFORGIVEN
• THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
• PRELUDE TO A KISS
• DEAD AHEAD
• HOWARD'S END
• ENCHANTED APRIL

Top Ten of 1991

• CYRANO DE BERGERAC
• BARTON FINK
• HOMICIDE
• IRON AND SILK
• PROSPERO'S BOOKS
• SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
• THE ROCKETEER
• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
• OSCAR
• OBJECT OF BEAUTY

Top Ten of 1990

• MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
• AVALON
• DANCES WITH WOLVES
• GOODFELLAS
• REVERSAL OF FORTUNE
• AWAKENINGS
• THE GODFATHER PART III
• FLATLINERS
• EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
• THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER

Top Ten of 1989

• THE ABYSS
• FIELD OF DREAMS
• BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
• PARENTHOOD
• THE BEAR
• ROGER & ME
• BLAZE
• INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
• DO THE RIGHT THING
• GLORY

Top Ten of 1988

• A DANGEROUS LIFE
• DANGEROUS LIAISONS
• MISSISSIPPI BURNING
• LADY IN WHITE
• THE DECEIVERS
• TUCKER
• THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
• GORILLAS IN THE MIST
• CROSSING DELANCY
• STAND AND DELIVER

Top Ten of 1987

• EMPIRE OF THE SUN
• MATEWAN
• HOPE AND GLORY
• THE LAST EMPEROR
• HANOI HILTON
• HOUSE OF GAMES
• PRICK UP YOUR EARS
• BROADCAST NEWS
• RAISING ARIZONA
• FULL METAL JACKET

Top Ten of 1986

• A GREAT WALL
• LABYRINTH
• MONA LISA
• MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE
• STAR TREK IV
• THE COLOR OF MONEY
• LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
• PLATOON
• STAND BY ME
• A ROOM WITH A VIEW

					Mark R. Leeper
					Copyright 2021 Mark R. Leeper