2019 was a remarkable year for cinema. It delivered the emotional finale to a decade-spanning saga with Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame and showcased standout work from acclaimed directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Claire Denis, Jordan Peele and Barry Jenkins. The year blended blockbuster spectacle with bold, genre-defining filmmaking and memorable performances, from rising talents to established stars. The following is a curated countdown of the top 10 films released in the UK in 2019, selected for their artistry, emotional impact and lasting resonance.
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10. Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame (2019) Review
Endgame may not be the most emotionally nuanced film of the year, but for fans who followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past decade it was a deeply satisfying payoff. The film balances spectacle, heartfelt character moments and long-awaited conclusions in a way few franchise finales achieve. Whether you’ve followed every chapter or simply enjoy blockbuster cinema done well, Endgame delivers an epic, emotional experience—one that celebrates its characters and the audience’s investment in them. “I love you 3000.”
9. Us
Us (2019) Review
Jordan Peele’s follow-up to Get Out takes the home-invasion concept into unsettling new territory. Us is a tightly wound, anxiety-fueled thriller that blends social commentary with inventive genre thrills. While it’s arguably less directly satirical than Peele’s debut, it demonstrates his growth as a filmmaker and storyteller. Lupita Nyong’o delivers a striking dual performance that anchors the film’s eerie tension and makes its mysteries feel genuinely unnerving.
8. Ad Astra
Ad Astra (2019) Review
Described by some as “Apocalypse Now in space,” Ad Astra replaces 1970s psychedelia with a contemporary, introspective bleakness. James Gray’s film follows Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) on a voyage to Neptune to confront a personal and cosmic threat. The movie is visually breathtaking and contains some of the year’s most memorable action sequences—like the haunting lunar chase—while remaining a reflective, character-driven meditation on isolation, legacy and the weight of family.
7. The Favourite
The Favourite (2019) Review
Yorgos Lanthimos brings his trademark oddness to a more accessible historical comedy-drama. Olivia Colman is remarkable as Queen Anne—equal parts tragic and absurd—supported by powerful turns from Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. The film’s sharp script, daring performances and playful visual style create a darkly comic portrait of power, desire and manipulation. Nicholas Hoult also leaves a memorable impression in a scene-stealing supporting role.
6. Midsommar
Midsommar (2019) Review
Ari Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary is bleak in a different register: instead of terrifying viewers through shadowy dread, Midsommar unfolds its horror in stark daylight. The film’s slow-burning atmosphere, cultural unease and emotional disintegration culminate in an ending that leaves you complicit and unsettled. Its unsettling beauty and carefully staged rituals mark it as one of the year’s most original and disturbing horror films.
5. Little Women
Little Women (2019) Review
Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic novel is a warm, modern-feeling adaptation that uses a non-linear structure and nimble editing to refresh a familiar story. Anchored by Saoirse Ronan and elevated by Florence Pugh’s breakthrough performance, the film balances intimacy and wit with emotional clarity. It’s a beautifully crafted period piece that feels immediate and heartfelt—an ideal holiday viewing that reaffirms Gerwig’s talent as a director and storyteller.
4. The Souvenir
The Souvenir (2019) Review
Joanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical drama quietly examines the complexities of creative ambition, romantic entanglement and self-doubt. Honor Swinton Byrne gives a nuanced, absorbing performance as a film student whose relationship with an enigmatic older man drains confidence and shapes her artistic voice. Poised and intimate, The Souvenir is a tender, often devastating meditation on how personal relationships influence artistry and self-worth.
3. Marriage Story
Marriage Story (2019) Review
Noah Baumbach’s sharp script and precise direction make Marriage Story his most accomplished film to date. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver deliver raw, powerful performances as a couple navigating divorce, custody and the erosion of intimacy. The film balances humor and heartbreak, offering realistic, sometimes painful scenes that will resonate with anyone who has experienced relationship breakdown. It’s emotionally exhausting in a rewarding way, inviting empathy rather than judgment.
2. High Life
Claire Denis’ High Life is a daring, often demanding science fiction meditation on mortality, desire and human depravity. Robert Pattinson plays Monte, a condemned man sent on a mission to harvest energy from a black hole. The film’s elliptical narrative and stark philosophical tone make it intentionally unsettling, yet deeply compelling. With stunning visuals and uncompromising thematic focus, High Life stands as one of 2019’s most challenging and rewarding cinematic experiences.
1. If Beale Street Could Talk
Barry Jenkins confirms his status as one of contemporary cinema’s most vital directors. If Beale Street Could Talk is an intimate, compassionate portrayal of love and injustice in the face of systemic prejudice. Anchored by tender performances from Kiki Layne and Stephan James, the film transforms heartbreak into a luminous, human story. Jenkins balances sadness with empathy, offering a cinematic experience that stays with you—an exceptionally moving and necessary film, and my pick for the best film of 2019.
Do you agree with these selections? How would you order your top 10 films of 2019? Leave a comment below with your picks and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to continue the conversation.