Year-End Lists

Time Out London: 20 Best Movies of 2015

[see also 2021 • 2018 • 2016]

1. Carol
   Todd Haynes
2. Inherent Vice
   Paul Thomas Anderson
3. 45 Years
   Andrew Haigh
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
   George Miller
5. Amy
   Asif Kapadia
6. Inside Out
   Pete Docter
7. It Follows
   David Robert Mitchell
8. Birdman
   Alejandro G. Iñárritu
9. Girlhood
   Céline Sciamma
10. London Road
    Rufus Norris
11. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
    Roy Andersson
12. Brooklyn
    John Crowley
13. Chappie
    John Crowley
14. The Diary of a Teenage Girl
    Marielle Heller
15. Sunset Song
    Terence Davies
16. Love is Strange
    Ira Sachs
17. Jafar Panahi’s Taxi
    Jafar Panahi
18. Magic Mike XXL
    Gregory Jacobs
19. The Look of Silence
    Joshua Oppenheimer
20. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
    Ana Lily Amirpour

Eric Kohn: Best 15 Films of 2015, as published by IndieWire

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

1. Son of Saul
   László Nemes
2. Tangerine
   Sean Baker
3. Heaven Knows What
   Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie
4. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
   Roy Andersson
5. Buzzard
   Joel Potrykus
6. Mad Max: Fury Road
   George Miller
7. Anomalisa
   Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson
8. Jafar Panahi’s Taxi
   Jafar Panahi
9. Heart of a Dog
   Laurie Anderson
10. Carol
    Todd Haynes
11. Ex Machina
    Alex Garland
12. The Diary of a Teenage Girl
    Marielle Heller
13. The Duke of Burgundy
    Peter Strickland
14. The Tribe
    Miroslav Slaboshpitsky
15. Horse Money
    Pedro Costa

Stephanie Zacharek: Top 16 Movies of 2015, as published by Time Magazine

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

1. Spotlight
   Tom McCarthy
2. Phoenix
   Christian Petzold
3. I’ll See You in My Dreams
   Brett Haley
4. Clouds of Sils Maria
   Olivier Assayas
5. Iris
   Albert Maysles
6. Mustang
   Deniz Gamze Ergüven
7. Tangerine
   Sean Baker
8. Creed
   Ryan Coogler
9. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
   Guy Ritchie
10. Ex Machina
    Alex Garland

Honorable Mentions

• Love & Mercy
  Bill Pohlad
• Cinderella
  Kenneth Branagh
• Amy
  Asif Kapadia
• Shaun the Sheep Movie
  Mark Burton and Richard Starzak
• Crimson Peak
  Guillermo del Toro
• The Big Short
  Adam McKay

Time Magazine: Top 10 Best Albums of 2015, as selected by Nolan Feeney and Maura Johnston

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019]

1. Wildheart
   Miguel
2. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
3. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
4. E•MO•TION
   Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Holding Hands with Jamie
   Girl Band
6. Pageant Material
   Kacey Musgraves
7. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
8. Break Stuff
   Vijay Iyer Trio
9. In Colour
   Jamie xx
10. The Blade
    Ashley Monroe

NME: Top 50 Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Art Angels
   Grimes
2. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
3. In Colour
   Jamie xx
4. My Love Is Cool
   Wolf Alice
5. Currents
   Tame Impala
6. Every Open Eye
   Chvrches
7. Honeymoon
   Lana Del Rey
8. What Went Down
   Foals
9. Marks to Prove It
   The Maccabees
10. Multi-Love
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
11. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
12. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
13. No Cities To Love
    Sleater-Kinney
14. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
15. The Magic Whip
    Blur
16. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
17. Divers
    Joanna Newsom
18. Mothers
    Swim Deep
19. Beauty Behind the Madness
    The Weeknd
20. Half Free
    U.S. Girls
21. Ratchet
    Shamir
22. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
23. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
24. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
25. Vulnicura
    Björk
26. Platform
    Holly Herndon
27. Another One
    Mac DeMarco
28. Short Movie
    Laura Marling
29. Anthems For Doomed Youth
    The Libertines
30. Fetty Wap
    Fetty Wap
31. Are You Satisfied?
    Slaves
32. SUCKER
    Charli XCX
33. Inji
    LA Priest
34. Man It Feels Like Space Again
    Pond
35. A Head Full of Dreams
    Coldplay
36. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
37. DS2
    Future
38. Undertow
    Drenge
39. White Men Are Black Men Too
    Young Fathers
40. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
41. Drones
    Muse
42. Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz
    Miley Cyrus
43. Key Markets
    Sleaford Mods
44. Barter 6
    Young Thug
45. For All My Sisters
    The Cribs
46. Viet Cong
    Viet Cong
47. West Kirby County Primary
    Bill Ryder-Jones
48. Music Complete
    New Order
49. That’s the Spirit
    Bring Me the Horizon
50. 1989
    Ryan Adams

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
3. Art Angels
   Grimes
4. Garden of Delete
   Oneohtrix Point Never
5. Currents
   Tame Impala
6. In Colour
   Jamie xx
7. Black Messiah
   D’Angelo and The Vanguard
8. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
9. The Most Lamentable Tragedy
   Titus Andronicus
10. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
11. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
12. Sprinter
    TORRES
13. The Agent Intellect
    Protomartyr
14. In Plain Speech
    Circuit Des Yeux
15. Gliss Riffer
    Dan Deacon
16. Vulnicura
    Björk
17. Grief’s Infernal Flower
    Windhand
18. A Flourish and a Spoil
    The Districts
19. Natalie Prass
    Natalie Prass
20. After
    Lady Lamb
21. New Bermuda
    Deafheaven
22. It Follows (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Disasterpeace
23. Goon
    Tobias Jesso Jr.
24. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
25. Music Complete
    New Order
26. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
27. Deep In the Iris
    Braids
28. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
29. Platform
    Holly Herndon
30. Star Wars
    Wilco
31. Four Phantoms
    Bell Witch
32. Multi-Love
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
33. Universal Themes
    Sun Kil Moon
34. Mutant
    Arca
35. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
36. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
37. Magnifique
    Ratatat
38. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
39. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
40. Dirty Sprite 2
    Future
41. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
42. Feels Like
    Bully
43. Frozen Niagara Falls
    Prurient
44. Painted Shut
    Hop Along
45. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
46. Too
    FIDLAR
47. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
48. Back to the Woods
    Angel Haze
49. White Reaper Does It Again
    White Reaper
50. Divers
    Joanna Newsom

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. DS2
   Future
3. SremmLife
   Rae Sremmurd
4. 25
   Adele
5. Purpose
   Justin Bieber
6. Dark Sky Paradise
   Big Sean
7. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
   A$AP Rocky
8. I Love You, Honeybear
   Father John Misty
9. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
   Drake
10. Ego Death
    The Internet
11. Tetsuo & Youth
    Lupe Fiasco
12. You Should Be Here
    Kehlani
13. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
14. The Documentary 2
    The Game
15. In Colour
    Jamie xx
16. Reality Show
    Jazmine Sullivan
17. Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
    Skrillex & Diplo
18. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album
    Earl Sweatshirt
19. Lantern
    Hudson Mohawke
20. Currents
    Tame Impala
21. GO:OD AM
    Mac Miller
22. Ratchet
    Shamir
23. Beauty Behind the Madness
    The Weeknd
24. Amethyst
    Tinashe
25. Free TC
    Ty Dolla $ign
26. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
27. .Wav Theory
    Towkio
28. Art Angels
    Grimes
29. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
30. M3LL155X
    FKA twigs
31. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
32. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
33. 56 Nights
    DJ Esco & Future
34. Integrity
    Jme
35. MMM
    Diddy
36. Rodeo
    Travis Scott
37. Vulnicura
    Björk
38. Hallucinogen
    Kelela
39. Reflection
    Fifth Harmony
40. Fetty Wap
    Fetty Wap
41. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
42. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
43. T R A P S O U L
    Bryson Tiller
44. VEGA INTL. Night School
    Neon Indian
45. Foil Deer
    Speedy Ortiz
46. The Album About Nothing
    Wale
47. Compton
    Dr. Dre
48. Brava
    Brodinski
49. Dreams Worth More Than Money
    Meek Mill
50. What a Time to Be Alive
    Drake & Future

Crack Magazine: Albums of the Year 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Vulnicura
   Björk
3. Platform
   Holly Herndon
4. Wildheart
   Miguel
5. Have You In My Wilderness
   Julia Holter
6. Hunch Music
   Hunee
7. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
8. Fingers, Bank Pads & Shoe Prints
   RP Boo
9. Currents
   Tame Impala
10. Lantern
    Hudson Mohawke
11. Black Messiah
    D’Angelo and The Vanguard
12. Barter 6
    Young Thug
13. Before the World Was Big
    girlpool
14. Integrity
    Jme
15. SremmLife
    Rae Sremmurd
16. Art Angels
    Grimes
17. Ones and Sixes
    Low
18. Dark Energy
    Jlin
19. Time to Go Home
    Chastity Belt
20. Grind
    DJ Richard
21. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
22. Garden of Delete
    Oneohtrix Point Never
23. Dirty Sprite 2
    Future
24. The Ark Work
    Liturgy
25. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
26. LP
    Container
27. Dream a Garden
    Jam City
28. Kahraba
    Eek!
29. Folk
    Nick Höppner
30. Holding Hands with Jamie
    Girl Band
31. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
32. Volume One
    Commodo, Kahn & Gantz
33. Apocalypse, Girl
    Jenny Hval
34. Levon Vincent
    Levon Vincent
35. Dumb Flesh
    Blanck Mass
36. On Your Own Love Again
    Jessica Pratt
37. Key Markets
    Sleaford Mods
38. Ivy Tripp
    Waxahatchee
39. Ego Death
    The Internet
40. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
41. Frozen Niagara Falls
    Prurient
42. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album
    Earl Sweatshirt
43. The Original Faces
    Helen
44. Viet Cong
    Viet Cong
45. Discreet Desires
    Helena Hauff
46. Super Saiyan Vol. 2
    Sicko Mobb
47. A Distant Fist Unclenching
    Krill
48. Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
49. Paranoid London
    Paranoid London
50. Free TC
    Ty Dolla $ign
51. Solo
    Nils Frahm
52. Me
    Empress Of
53. Projections
    Romare
54. You Should Be Here
    Kehlani
55. Sun Coming Down
    Ought
56. Morning / Evening
    Four Tet
57. Untethered Moon
    Built to Spill
58. I Declare Nothing
    Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe
59. From Sleep
    Max Richter
60. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
61. Adult
    Blacklisters
62. Edition 1
    King Midas Sound & Fennesz
63. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
64. Piteous Gate
    M.E.S.H.
65. Black Body Radiation
    October
66. Murder
    Miss Red
67. EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE
    Rustie
68. Nozinja Lodge
    Nozinja
69. 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms
    Denzel Curry
70. This World Is Not Enough
    Marching Church
71. St Germain
    St Germain
72. Exercises in Futility
    Mgła
73. Seems Unfair
    Trust Fund
74. Another One
    Mac DeMarco
75. Four Phantoms
    Bell Witch
76. Rose
    Abra
77. Safe
    Visionist
78. Hermits On Holiday
    Drinks
79. Who’s Gonna Get Fucked First?
    Father
80. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
81. Body Pill
    Anthony Naples
82. Proto
    Mumdance & Logos
83. Cherry Bomb
    Tyler, The Creator
84. Dying
    Spectres
85. Winter’s Diary 3
    Tink
86. Candy, Diamonds & Pill's
    Gangsta Boo
87. La Di Da Di
    Battles
88. Knockin’ Boots
    Julio Bashmore
89. Manhattan
    Jeffrey Lewis
90. Compton
    Dr. Dre
91. Modern Dancing
    traams
92. Foil Deer
    Speedy Ortiz
93. Invisible Switch
    Joey Anderson
94. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
95. Women's Rights
    Childbirth
96. Good Sad Happy Bad
    Micachu & The Shapes
97. Carter Tutti Plays Chris & Cosey
    Carter Tutti
98. Cascade
    William Basinski
99. Chain Of Flowers
    Chain Of Flowers
100. Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz
     Miley Cyrus

Gorilla vs. Bear: 50 Favorite Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Art Angels
   Grimes
2. Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
   Panda Bear
3. In Colour
   Jamie xx
4. Coming Home
   Leon Bridges
5. Act of Tenderness
   Cindy Lee
6. Summertime ’06
   Vince Staples
7. The Original Faces
   Helen
8. Escape From Evil
   Lower Dens
9. Thank Your Lucky Stars
   Beach House
10. 100% Electronica
    George Clanton
11. Half Free
    U.S. Girls
12. Product
    Sophie
13. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
14. Garden of Delete
    Oneohtrix Point Never
15. Barter 6
    Young Thug
16. Have You In My Wilderness
    Julia Holter
17. Constant Bop
    Bop English
18. Suffolk County
    Cousin Stizz
19. Age Of Transparency
    Autre Ne Veut
20. Calling Card / Mezzanine
    The Galleria
21. Samantha
    Toro y Moi
22. Comme ça
    Domenique Dumont
23. It Follows (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Disasterpeace
24. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
25. RIP Chrysalis
    Eartheater
26. But You Caint Use My Phone
    Erykah Badu
27. Ten Love Songs
    Susanne Sundfør
28. Rose
    Abra
29. Divers
    Joanna Newsom
30. Me
    Empress Of
31. Mr. Foolish
    Airbird & Napolian
32. Malenkost
    Cindy Lee
33. Body Pill
    Anthony Naples
34. Sore
    Dilly Dally
35. VEGA INTL. Night School
    Neon Indian
36. Zenith
    Molly Nilsson
37. Hud Dreems
    Knxwledge
38. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
39. EP II
    Yumi Zouma
40. Nature
    Valet
41. Pray For Rain
    Pure Bathing Culture
42. Just
    Bicep
43. Dark Energy
    Jlin
44. No Language
    Caroline No
45. Verde
    Tei Shi
46. Not Real
    Stealing Sheep
47. On Your Own Love Again
    Jessica Pratt
48. SremmLife
    Rae Sremmurd
49. Broken Flowers
    Danny L Harle
50. Palmbomen II
    Palmbomen II

Chicago Public Library: Top Ten Books of 2015

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

• Between the World and Me
  Ta-Nehisi Coates
• The Cartel
  Don Winslow
• Dead Wake

  The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
  Erik Larson
• Delicious Foods
  James Hannaham
• Ghettoside

  A True Story of Murder in America
  Jill Leovy
• H Is for Hawk
  Helen Macdonald
• Kitchens of the Great Midwest
  J. Ryan Stradal
• The Nightingale
  Kristin Hannah
• Sapiens

  A Brief History of Humankind
  Yuval Noah Harari
• The Story of the Lost Child
  Elena Ferrante