Ann Hornaday: 26 Best Movies of 2016, as published by The Washington Post
[see also 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015]
- Moonlight — Barry Jenkins
- Manchester by the Sea — Kenneth Lonergan
- Hell or High Water — David Mackenzie
- The Confirmation — Bob Nelson
- O.J.: Made in America — Ezra Edelman
- Cameraperson — Kirsten Johnson
- La La Land — Damien Chazelle
- Lemonade — Beyoncé Knowles Carter and Kahlil Joseph with Jonas Åkerlund, Melina Matsoukas, Dikayl Rimmasch, Mark Romanek and Tod Tourso
- 13th — Ava DuVernay
- Southside with You — Richard Tanne
- Loving — Jeff Nichols
- Arrival — Denis Villeneuve
- The Fits — Anna Rose Holmer
- A Bigger Splash — Luca Guadagnino
- Love & Friendship — Whit Stillman
- Sully — Clint Eastwood
- Captain Fantastic — Matt Ross
- Paterson — Jim Jarmusch
- Eye in the Sky — Gavin Hood
- Hail, Caesar! — Joel & Ethan Coen
- Last Days in the Desert — Rodrigo García
- I Am Not Your Negro — Raoul Peck
- Tower — Keith Maitland
- Weiner — Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg
- The Eagle Huntress — Otto Bell
- Jackie — Pablo Larraín