7. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Sequels made years after the original usually don’t work and there is a reason for that. Most of the time these films are made to squeeze some more cash out of a nostalgic IP that people are longing to return to for one reason or another. But for the most part they rarely work because the true love of the source material isn’t put front and center. I am happy to say that Blade Runner 2049 is the rare exception to this. Nothing in this film feels like fan service shoe horned in. Ryan Gosling is more than up to the task as the film’s new protagonist K, bringing a different type of energy than Harrison Ford brought to Ridley Scott’s original film. Ford’s return in particular feels earned and it’s a delight to see him once again reprise one of his most iconic (and maybe most under-appreciated) roles. Dennis Villenueve’s direction also shines. Blade Runner 2049 is one of the most brilliantly filmed movies I’ve ever seen. The colors pop and the shots are framed expertly. This movie was made to be seen in a movie theater, and those of us who were lucky enough to see it there know how mesmerizing an experience it was.