Stephen Holden: 20 Best Movies of 2016, as published by The New York Times
[see also 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011]
- Moonlight — Barry Jenkins
- O.J.: Made in America — Ezra Edelman
- American Honey — Andrea Arnold
- Embrace of the Serpent — Ciro Guerra
- Manchester by the Sea — Kenneth Lonergan
- Neon Bull — Gabriel Mascaro
- Fire at Sea — Gianfranco Rosi
- Elle — Paul Verhoeven
- Aquarius — Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Fireworks Wednesday — Asghar Farhadi
- Krisha — Trey Edward Shults
- Sunset Song — Terence Davies
- Wiener-Dog — Todd Solondz
- The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years — Ron Howard
- Chronic — Michel Franco
- Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened… — Lonny Price
- 20th Century Women — Mike Mills
- 13th — Ava DuVernay
- Paterson — Jim Jarmusch
- Things to Come — Mia Hansen-Løve