5) Jungle Book
Disney have recently undergone the risky - but lucrative - business of reviving their classic animated films in live-action. This year, Jon Favreau was handed the daunting task of bringing the beloved musical Jungle Book into the 21st Century.
With remarkable CGI and well-placed homage to the original, Favreau's Jungle Book is a more than worthy reincarnation. It will be interesting to see whether Disney can continue this form with the highly-anticipated release of Beauty and the Beast early next year.
4) Captain America: Civil War
After the disappointing response to DC Comics' Batman v Superman, the Russo brothers and Marvel proved, once again, that these superhero-heavy films can work.
Although the showdowns are fairly inconsequential, the action is so expertly choreographed and the screenplay so zingy that the Film's deceptively soft punch is forgotten in the abundance of fun and excitement.
3) Dheepan
Dheepan is the emotionally-striking tale of a makeshift Sri Lakan refugee family who escape their war-torn nation, only to find their new home in France is also infested with violence.
As you'd expect from a Jacques Audiard film, there is a piercing style of sharp and memorable images, including mysterious dream-like sequences involving an elephant from their homeland.
But Audiard's tale has a rather abrupt twist in the final act. The subtle and heart-wrenching tale of refugees in a hostile and unfamiliar setting takes a Taxi Driver-esque turn - for better or for worse.
2) Victoria
In 2014, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu gave us the pulsating and illusory one-take wonder Birdman. 2016 has given us a film to rival the cinematic brilliance of Inarritu, with Sebastian Schipper's Victoria.
Laia Costa gives a phenomenal performance as Victoria, a young girl who has a transformative night out in Berlin.
Schipper perfectly captures the chaos and exuberance of youth; taking us from euphoria, to calm reflection, and to anguish all in one whirlwind of experience.
It makes for a riveting and unforgettable cinema.
1) Son of Saul
The Holocaust has proven to be one of the most difficult subjects to try and represent on the big screen.
This is why it is so astounding that - in his directorial debut- Laszlo Nemes decided to tackle this issue in such a visceral and potent way.
There is no Hollywood tinge to Nemes' blunt portrayal of a Nazi death camp. He keeps the camera focused on our protagonist Saul (Geza Rohrig), as the horrors of the camp sit blurry on the edges of the screen - present but simply unimaginable. There is also the noticeable absence of a score or music. Instead, we are left with the punishing and haunting sounds of the camp.
Son of Saul is a soul-stripping experience. It is a rare film that will leave you numb in your seat, emotionally drained and unable to look your fellow movie-goers in the eye.
