Top 10 Best Movies of 2015

It's the end of the year, and you know what that means: it's time for some of the Best of 2015 lists! We promise to not leave you in suspense any longer; here's our list of some of the top fan-favorite movies of 2015. Want more FINE Magazine "Best of" lists? Check out the fabulous romance novelist Clara Grace Walker's Pop Culture Review of 2015.

As far as action and science fiction flicks, 2015 seems to be the year of second, third, or fourth installments of films with Jurassic World, The Hunger Games, Insurgent, Avengers, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens all taking the lead. 

Jurassic World 

This big-ticket version of Jurassic Park built on the original best-selling novels, three prior flicks, and theme park attraction to thrill audiences. Director Colin Trevorrow gave a lot of action and excitement throughout the movie, ending with an Alien vs. Predator-type fight scene. Jurassic World may have missed the awe-inspiring original suspense from the first films, but Steven Spielberg gave his blessing to Trevorrow with the knowledge that he wouldn’t take away from what people expect. This left us with a movie where dinosaurs roamed free again as scientists play God trying to make better dinosaurs for the Theme Park Island. Of course, things went out of control, and the hero and his lady-friend have to come in and save the day. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 

In this final installment of The Hunger Games series, the plot narrows down to the bleakest ending possible for a PG-13 movie. With the continued coup against the capitol, Mockingjay Part 2 left us with the sad aftermath of what became of the capitol being defeated. Regardless of the appeal of these movies, they changed Jennifer Lawrence from a Sundance starlet to one of the biggest movies stars in the world. Suzanne Collins's heroine Katniss has become a symbol on and off stage of someone who chooses to die on her feet rather than live on her knees. Being once a hunter, she changes from tough to teary fighting for her family and to defend the people, while trying to manage her emotional relationships. The ending of this movie shows how Katniss and all of the other male characters with her have to endure the aftermath of their struggle equally. 

Insurgent

The second film in this trilogy shows the core group on the run from the Erudite Elite. Tris still maintains her empathy towards others even when pulling the trigger. Her sensitive nature shows when she sheds tears in a few scenes. She appeals to audiences as the classic odd girl and self-reliant heroine who leads with her brains and does not rely only on good looks. Lead actress Shailene Woodley became more comfortable in the second film with her character and her fame.

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Avengers: Age of Ultron

The first Avengers movie was a hit because it brought all of the Marvel superhero characters together on film for the first time. It was not only different, but something that worked. So it makes sense that the second film would have a hard time satisfying fans and critics. Paired with the ridiculously high amount of CGI that was included in the villain characters, it left the movie missing something. The light-hearted and playful banter between characters characteristic of writer Joss Whedon didn’t allow for the film to have any real depth. Regardless, the film still proved to be a fun film to see with friends and family.  

Star Wars: Episode Vll: The Force Awakens

Millions of fans grew up on the trilogy of the original three Star Wars movies from George Lucas, which meant that the prequels had the burden of living up to their expectations. These films had to build up the characters that everyone grew to love and some felt that the Star Wars prequels fell short (thanks, in part, to the abomination that was Jar Jar Binks). The Force Awakens rebooted the franchise after being bought by Disney years ago, and did erase some of those bad feelings by bringing back some of the most beloved characters, making the film indebted to nostalgia. Fans owe this to new director JJ Abrams, who saw his first Star Wars film when he was eleven and wanted to make sure that this movie held up to the fandom that came with it. 

Mad Max: The Fury Road

This post-apocalyptic movie is unlike any other this year. This film reminds audiences of the cruelty that can go on when one tyrannical CEO  takes over and brands people as slaves. Max is considered a "blood bag" and is used to transfuse one of Joe’s men. Max is second to hero Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who plays the rebel with a buzz cut. She has five of Joe’s slaves and is determined to not give them back. The plot unfolds in a fast and hectic pace. This genre film is unafraid to have audiences leave home with a message: it is not about just being a hero, but about revolution. 

Cinderella

A huge children's movie this year that also reached adults was Cinderella. It was popular because it worked well as a big-screen fairytale. The cast included Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchet, and Helena Bonham Carter, all of whom gave their best performances while holding up these already beloved character profiles. The art direction, costume design, and special effects were not bad either. Cinderella is a good example of an old story made into a modern family film. 

It Follows

The horror genre has been declining in the last couple of decades with many remakes and sequels flooding the genre, but this independent gem made its way into theaters and became a hit. Maika Monroe plays the lead and delivers a truly great performance. Paired with the cinematography and the eerie score, this film gave audiences rare suspense. Jay, played by Maika Monroe, is being followed by a dark force after having a sexual encounter, and the only way to rid herself of it is to pass it onto another person. Each scene has you searching the screen for some figure or jump-scare. The ending left some with too much to be desired, but overall this flick is definitely one that should be on your list of movies to see, especially if you like horror. 

Fifty Shades of Grey

This may not be a great movie, but it did surprisingly well in the box-office. It has been criticized for being a more sexist version of Twilight, with BDSM instead of vampirism. The low self-esteem "heroine" is controlled by a gorgeous and domineering billionaire. Many of these critics are complaining that it is psychotic and disrespectful the way Christian Grey acts towards Anastasia. The film sparked arguments about whether the popularity of the books advanced feminism, the durability of gender roles, or was simply a boon for the sex-toy industry. Lockthecock.co.uk, an online seller of male chastity devices, experienced an upward trend in sales when the first film of the Fifty Shades franchise came out. Either way, the film gave fans something to enjoy on the big screen whether they agreed with the critics or not. 

Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton is a very well-directed and provocative biopic with amazing performances that tell the story of three men who popularized the gangsta rap movement in the 1980s. Three guys who have grown up in an environment of suspicion and harassment by the Los Angeles police. The response of the men was to compose angry and defiant songs that illuminate their world while giving details about the harsh realities of urban LA, poverty, and prejudice.