Year-End Lists

Anne Thompson: Top Ten Films of 2011, as published by IndieWire

[see also 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015]

1. Pina
   Wim Wenders
2. Weekend
   Andrew Haigh
3. Melancholia
   Lars von Trier
4. The Descendants
   Alexander Payne
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
   Rupert Wyatt
6. I Saw the Devil
   Kim Ji-woon
7. A Dangerous Method
   David Cronenberg
8. Jane Eyre
   Cary Fukunaga
9. Win Win
   Tom McCarthy
10. Take Shelter
    Jeff Nichols

Manohla Dargis: Best Films of 2011, as published by The New York Times

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

• Abracadabra
  Ernie Gehr
• Aurora
  Cristi Puiu
• The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu
  Andrei Ujica
• Bridesmaids
  Paul Feig
• Contagion
  Steven Soderbergh
• A Dangerous Method
  David Cronenberg
• J. Edgar
  Clint Eastwood
• Le Havre
  Aki Kaurismäki
• Hugo
  Martin Scorsese
• Melancholia
  Lars von Trier
• Moneyball
  Bennett Miller
• My Joy
  Sergei Loznitsa
• Mysteries of Lisbon
  Raoul Ruiz
• Of Gods and Men
  Xavier Beauvois
• Poetry
  Lee Chang-dong
• Le quattro volte
  Michelangelo Frammartino
• The Return
  Nathaniel Dorsky
• Seeking the Monkey King
  Ken Jacobs
• The Skin I Live In
  Pedro Almodóvar
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
  Tomas Alfredson
• Voluptuous Sleep
  Betzy Bromberg
• Warrior
  Gavin O’Connor

A.O. Scott: Best Films of 2011, as published by The New York Times, alphabetically

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

• Bridesmaids
  Paul Feig
• A Brighter Summer Day
  Edward Yang
• Cedar Rapids
  Miguel Arteta
• A Dangerous Method
  David Cronenberg
• The Descendants
  Alexander Payne
• The Future
  Miranda July
• The Help
  Tate Taylor
• Incendies
  Denis Villeneuve
• Into the Abyss
  Werner Herzog
• Margin Call
  J.C. Chandor
• Meek’s Cutoff
  Kelly Reichardt
• Mysteries of Lisbon
  Raoul Ruiz
• Le quattro volte
  Michelangelo Frammartino
• The Tree of Life
  Terrence Malick
• Tuesday, After Christmas
  Radu Muntean
• War Horse
  Steven Spielberg
• Warrior
  Gavin O’Connor
• Weekend
  Andrew Haigh
• Winnie the Pooh
  Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall
• Young Adult
  Jason Reitman

Alison Willmore: Best Films of 2011, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012]

Top 15

1. Melancholia
   Lars von Trier
2. A Separation
   Asghar Farhadi
3. Into the Abyss
   Werner Herzog
4. Take Shelter
   Jeff Nichols
5. Margaret
   Kenneth Lonergan
6. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
7. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
8. The Arbor
   Clio Barnard
9. Warrior
   Gavin O’Connor
10. Shame
    Steve McQueen
11. The Mill and the Cross
    Lech Majewski
12. Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Sean Durkin
13. Weekend
    Andrew Haigh
14. Beginners
    Mike Mills
15. I Saw the Devil
    Kim Ji-woon

The next five

• Meek’s Cutoff
  Kelly Reichardt
• I Travel Because I Have to, I Come Back Because I Love You
  Marcelo Gomes and Karim Aïnouz
• The Guard
  John Michael McDonagh
• Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
  Apichatpong Weerasethakul
• Leap Year
  Michael Rowe

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: Year in Film 2011

Tasha Robinson: Best Films of 2011, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2012]

Top 15

1. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
2. Drive
   Nicolas Winding Refn
3. Another Earth
   Mike Cahill
4. The Skin I Live In
   Pedro Almodóvar
5. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
   Constance Marks
6. Beginners
   Mike Mills
7. The Interrupters
   Steve James
8. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
9. The Future
   Miranda July
10. Amigo
    John Sayles
11. Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Sean Durkin
12. Hanna
    Joe Wright
13. The Adventures of Tintin
    Steven Spielberg
14. Melancholia
    Lars von Trier
15. Tabloid
    Errol Morris

The next five

• A Separation
  Asghar Farhadi
• Public Speaking
  Martin Scorsese
• Take Shelter
  Jeff Nichols
• Cave of Forgotten Dreams
  Werner Herzog
• We Need to Talk About Kevin
  Lynne Ramsay

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: Year in Film 2011

Nathan Rabin: Best Films of 2011, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also 2014 • 2012]

Top 15

1. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
2. Martha Marcy May Marlene
   Sean Durkin
3. Submarine
   Richard Ayoade
4. Drive
   Nicolas Winding Refn
5. Young Adult
   Jason Reitman
6. Project Nim
   James Marsh
7. A Separation
   Asghar Farhadi
8. Meek’s Cutoff
   Kelly Reichardt
9. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
10. Win Win
    Tom McCarthy
11. The Descendants
    Alexander Payne
12. The Muppets
    James Bobin
13. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
    Michael Rapaport
14. Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel
    Alex Stapleton
15. We Need to Talk About Kevin
    Lynne Ramsay

The next five

• Terri
  Azazel Jacobs
• Take Shelter
  Jeff Nichols
• Source Code
  Duncan Jones
• Bridesmaids
  Paul Feig
• Attack the Block
  Joe Cornish

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: Year in Film 2011

Keith Phipps: Best Films of 2011, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2012]

Top 15

1. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
2. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
3. War Horse
   Steven Spielberg
4. Martha Marcy May Marlene
   Sean Durkin
5. A Separation
   Asghar Farhadi
6. Hugo
   Martin Scorsese
7. Meek’s Cutoff
   Kelly Reichardt
8. The Skin I Live In
   Pedro Almodóvar
9. Tyrannosaur
   Paddy Considine
10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Tomas Alfredson
11. Drive
    Nicolas Winding Refn
12. Le Havre
    Aki Kaurismäki
13. The Mill and the Cross
    Lech Majewski
14. Young Adult
    Jason Reitman
15. Tabloid
    Errol Morris

The next five

• Shame
  Steve McQueen
• Weekend
  Andrew Haigh
• 13 Assassins
  Takashi Miike
• Project Nim
  James Marsh
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes
  Rupert Wyatt

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: Year in Film 2011

Sam Adams: Best Films of 2011, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2013 • 2012]

Top 15

1. The Future
   Miranda July
2. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
3. Carnage
   Roman Polanski
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
   Tomas Alfredson
5. Higher Ground
   Vera Farmiga
6. The Tree of Life
   Terrence Malick
7. Meek’s Cutoff
   Kelly Reichardt
8. The Skin I Live In
   Pedro Almodóvar
9. The Interrupters
   Steve James
10. Submarine
    Richard Ayoade
11. Take Shelter
    Jeff Nichols
12. Margaret
    Kenneth Lonergan
13. Rango
    Gore Verbinski
14. Super
    James Gunn
15. Rubber
    Quentin Dupieux

The next five

• War Horse
  Steven Spielberg
• Contagion
  Steven Soderbergh
• Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
  Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
• Real Steel
  Shawn Levy
• Warrior
  Gavin O’Connor

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: Year in Film 2011

Dave Calhoun: Best Five Films of 2011, as published by Time Out London

1. Margaret
   Kenneth Lonergan
2. Pina
   Wim Wenders
3. We Need to Talk About Kevin
   Lynne Ramsay
4. The Skin I Live In
   Pedro Almodóvar
5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
   Tomas Alfredson

Ben Kenigsberg: Best Films of 2011, as published by Time Out Chicago, limited to Chicago releases

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. Margaret
   Kenneth Lonergan
2. Certified Copy
   Abbas Kiarostami
3. The Interrupters
   Steve James
4. Martha Marcy May Marlene
   Sean Durkin
5. Drive
   Nicolas Winding Refn
6. A Separation
   Asghar Farhadi
7. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
   Apichatpong Weerasethakul
8. Hugo
   Martin Scorsese
9. Contagion
   Steven Soderbergh
10. A Dangerous Method
    David Cronenberg