Year-End Lists

Sean Burns: Top 10 Films of 2012, as published by Philadelphia Weekly

[see also 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2011]

1. Moonrise Kingdom
   Wes Anderson
2. Lincoln
   Steven Spielberg
3. Zero Dark Thirty
   Kathryn Bigelow
4. Killer Joe
   William Friedkin
5. Oslo, August 31st
   Joachim Trier
6. Cosmopolis
   David Cronenberg
7. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
8. The Master
   Paul Thomas Anderson
9. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
   Nuri Bilge Ceylan
10. This is Not a Film
    Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb

Copyright (c) 2012 Don Hertzfeldt

Matt Prigge: Top 10 Films of 2012, as published by Philadelphia Weekly

[see also 2016 • 2015 • 2011]

1. It’s Such a Beautiful Day
   Don Hertzfeldt
2. The Comedy
   Rick Alverson
3. Cosmopolis
   David Cronenberg
4. Moonrise Kingdom
   Wes Anderson
5. The Loneliest Planet
   Julia Loktev
6. The Deep Blue Sea
   Terence Davies
7. The Grey
   Joe Carnahan
8. Damsels in Distress
   Whit Stillman
9. This is Not a Film
   Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
10. Holy Motors
    Leos Carax

Michael Phillips: 20 Best Movies of 2012, as published by The Chicago Tribune

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Zero Dark Thirty
   Kathryn Bigelow
2. Lincoln
   Steven Spielberg
3. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
   Nuri Bilge Ceylan
4. The Master
   Paul Thomas Anderson
5. Amour
   Michael Haneke
6. Chico & Rita
   Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
7. The Color Wheel
   Alex Ross Perry
8. Searching for Sugar Man
   Malik Bendjelloul
9. Flight
   Robert Zemeckis
10. Moonrise Kingdom
    Wes Anderson

Nos. 11-20 (in alphabetical order)

• Argo
  Ben Affleck
• The Deep Blue Sea
  Terence Davies
• The Five-Year Engagement
  Nicholas Stoller
• Footnote
  Joseph Cedar
• Magic Mike
  Steven Soderbergh
• Oslo, August 31st
  Joachim Trier
• Holy Motors
  Leos Carax
• The Queen of Versailles
  Lauren Greenfield
• The Sessions
  Ben Lewin
• Silver Linings Playbook
  David O. Russell

Empire: 20 Best Films of 2012

[see also 2020 • 2011]

1. The Avengers
   Joss Whedon
2. Argo
   Ben Affleck
3. The Dark Knight Rises
   Christopher Nolan
4. Skyfall
   Sam Mendes
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild
   Benh Zeitlin
6. Sightseers
   Ben Wheatley
7. Moonrise Kingdom
   Wes Anderson
8. The Raid: Redemption
   Gareth Evans
9. Headhunters
   Morten Tyldum
10. Rust and Bone
    Jacques Audiard
11. Life of Pi
    Ang Lee
12. Chronicle
    Josh Trank
13. Holy Motors
    Leos Carax
14. Looper
    Rian Johnson
15. The Descendants
    Alexander Payne
16. The Imposter
    Bart Layton
17. Magic Mike
    Steven Soderbergh
18. Young Adult
    Jason Reitman
19. Amour
    Michael Haneke
20. The Hunt
    Thomas Vinterberg

Karina Longworth: Top 10 Films of 2012, as published by The Village Voice

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2014 • 2011]

1. The Master
   Paul Thomas Anderson
2. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
3. Moonrise Kingdom
   Wes Anderson
4. Attenberg
   Athina Rachel Tsangari
5. The Loneliest Planet
   Julia Loktev
6. Rust and Bone
   Jacques Audiard
7. This is Not a Film
   Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
8. Anna Karenina
   Joe Wright
9. Chronicle
   Josh Trank
10. Django Unchained
    Quentin Tarantino

Nick Pinkerton: Top 10 Films of 2012, as submitted to the Village Voice Film Poll, published by The Village Voice, presented alphabetically

[see also 2011]

• Alps
  Yorgos Lanthimos
• Bernie
  Richard Linklater
• The Deep Blue Sea
  Terence Davies
• The Grey
  Joe Carnahan
• Haywire
  Steven Soderbergh
• Magic Mike
  Steven Soderbergh
• Moonrise Kingdom
  Wes Anderson
• Tabu
  Miguel Gomes
• Wanderlust
  David Wain
• Zero Dark Thirty
  Kathryn Bigelow

This list contributes to:

• Village Voice Film Poll: Best Films of 2012

Kevin B. Lee: 12 Best Films of 2012, as published by Fandor where it’s accompanied by an excellent video essay

[see also 2015 • 2014]

1. This is Not a Film
   Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
2. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
3. Let the Bullets Fly
   Jiang Wen
4. Silver Linings Playbook
   David O. Russell
5. Consuming Spirits
   Chris Sullivan
6. Neighboring Sounds
   Kleber Mendonça Filho
7. In the Family
   Patrick Wang
8. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
   Nuri Bilge Ceylan
9. The Deep Blue Sea
   Terence Davies
10. The Day He Arrives
    Hong Sang-soo
10. A Simple Life
    Ann Hui
12. Meanwhile
    Hal Hartley

Scott Foundas: 10 Best Films of 2012, as submitted to the Village Voice Film Poll

[see also 2013]

1. Zero Dark Thirty
   Kathryn Bigelow
2. The Master
   Paul Thomas Anderson
3. Amour
   Michael Haneke
4. Barbara
   Christian Petzold
5. Django Unchained
   Quentin Tarantino
6. The Turin Horse
   Béla Tarr & Agnes Hranitzky
7. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
   Nuri Bilge Ceylan
8. The Dark Knight Rises
   Christopher Nolan
9. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
10. This Is 40
    Judd Apatow

This list contributes to:

• Village Voice Film Poll: Best Films of 2012

Mike D’Angelo: 15 Best Films of 2012, as published by The A.V. Club

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

1. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
2. The Imposter
   Bart Layton
3. The Loneliest Planet
   Julia Loktev
4. Miss Bala
   Gerardo Naranjo
5. Moonrise Kingdom
   Wes Anderson
6. Amour
   Michael Haneke
7. The Deep Blue Sea
   Terence Davies
8. Only the Young
   Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims
9. Looper
   Rian Johnson
10. This Must Be the Place
    Paolo Sorrentino
11. Haywire
    Steven Soderbergh
12. You Are Here
    Daniel Cockburn
13. It’s Such a Beautiful Day
    Don Hertzfeldt
14. Argo
    Ben Affleck
15. Sister
    Ursula Meier

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: 20 Best Films of 2012

Noel Murray: 15 Best Films of 2012, as published by The A.V. Club

[see also The 10 Best Documentaries of 2022 • The 10 (or 11) Best Documentaries of 2021 • The Best Films of 2021 • The Best Films of 2020 • The Best Films of 2019 • Top 15 Films of 2018 • Best Films of 2017 • The Best Films of 2016 • The Best Films of 2015 • Top 15 Films of 2014 • Best Films of 2011]

1. The Master
   Paul Thomas Anderson
2. Zero Dark Thirty
   Kathryn Bigelow
3. Life of Pi
   Ang Lee
4. Damsels in Distress
   Whit Stillman
5. Holy Motors
   Leos Carax
6. It’s Such a Beautiful Day
   Don Hertzfeldt
7. Photographic Memory
   Ross McElwee
8. Looper
   Rian Johnson
9. The Queen of Versailles
   Lauren Greenfield
10. The Deep Blue Sea
    Terence Davies
11. Premium Rush
    David Koepp
12. Lincoln
    Steven Spielberg
13. This Is 40
    Judd Apatow
14. I Wish
    Hirokazu Kore-eda
15. The Cabin in the Woods
    Drew Goddard

This list contributes to:

• A.V. Club: 20 Best Films of 2012