This is a list of the best movies of 2012, as ranked by experts and fans alike. The best movies of 2012 include gut-wrenching dramas, mind-bending sci-fi movies and wonderful, romantic comedies that remind movie-goers why they fell in love with movies in the first place. This is a list of some of the best films of the year. Obviously any 'best of' list is going to be subjective, so not everyone will agree. That's the great thing about lists on Ranker: You can change the order with your votes and, in this case, by creating your very own list of the top movies of 2012.
Think "Looper" is the best movie of 2012, hands down? Vote it up, and rank it high on your own list! Did 'Ted' leave you in stitches, laughing days after? Certainly it's one of the best comedy movies to come along in quite a while, but does it deserve to rank #1 on this list? It's up to you to make these sorts of decisions. Whether it's a first-rate foreign film like 'Holy Motors' or a stunning action-adventure flick like 'Skyfall,' or a solid, lighthearted animated family movie like 'Wreck-It-Ralph,' rank away! I can't wait to see which movies come out on top (and which movies get slammed, in the form of down votes, because really, not everyone liked 'Cloud Atlas,' and I'm still hearing people argue about it).
Each and every one of us who've spent a ton of cash to be entertained for a few hours in a darkened theater deserve to be heard. While 2012 certainly brought with it some stinkers (hello, 'That's My Boy'!), there were some real gems, too. And yes, as new 2012 movies come out, add them to your 'best of' list. Several films believed to be Oscar contenders will hit theaters before year's end ('Lincoln' 'The Hobbit,' and 'Anna Karenina' among them).
What are the best movies of 2012? Take a look here and see for yourself.
Please rank your favorite films of 2012. And if you don't see the movie or movies you've been raving about, feel free to add them to this list so everyone can vote for them! For an updated list, check out Ranker's list of the best movies of 2013.1
514156The Dark Knight Rises
Christian Bale, Michael CaineReleased: 2012
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC... more2
438208The Avengers
Robert Downey Jr., Chris EvansReleased: 2012
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Marvel's The Avengers is a 2012 American superhero film directed by Joss Whedon, based on the... more3
268106Django Unchained
Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry WashingtonReleased: 2012
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Django Unchained is a 2012 American revisionist Western film directed by Quentin Tarantino.... more- 4300138
Skyfall
Daniel Craig, Ralph FiennesReleased: 2012
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond film produced by Eon Productions. It features Daniel... more 5
16379Silver Linings Playbook
Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De NiroReleased: 2012
Directed by: David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook is a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by... more6
175106Lincoln
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Day-LewisReleased: 2012
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Lincoln is a 2012 American epic historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring... more7
198104Wreck-It Ralph
Sarah Silverman, Jane LynchReleased: 2012
Directed by: Rich Moore
Wreck-It Ralph is a 2012 comedy animation family film written by Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee... more- 8207129
Looper
Bruce Willis, Emily BluntReleased: 2012
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Looper is a 2012 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Rian Johnson. In... more 9
185109Life of Pi
Gérard Depardieu, Irrfan KhanReleased: 2012
Directed by: Ang Lee
Life of Pi is a 2012 American historical drama film directed by Ang Lee, based on the novel of... more10
21012121 Jump Street
Johnny Depp, Channing TatumReleased: 2012
Directed by: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
21 Jump Street is a 2012 American action comedy film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher... more- 11203131
Argo
Ben Affleck, John GoodmanReleased: 2012
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Argo is a 2012 American political thriller film directed by Ben Affleck. The film is adapted... more 12
251167The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh HutchersonReleased: 2014
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is a 2014 American dystopian science fiction adventure... more13
177128Ted
Mila Kunis, Mark WahlbergReleased: 2012
Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Ted is a 2012 American comedy film directed by Seth MacFarlane. The screenplay by MacFarlane,... more- 147344
Zero Dark Thirty
Jessica Chastain, Chris PrattReleased: 2012
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Zero Dark Thirty is a 2012 American war thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. A chronicle... more 15
15099Moonrise Kingdom
Bruce Willis, Bill MurrayReleased: 2012
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Moonrise Kingdom is a 2012 American film directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and... more16
150125Prometheus
Charlize Theron, Michael FassbenderReleased: 2012
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Prometheus is a 2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, written by Jon Spaihts and... more17
12076The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Emma Watson, Nina DobrevReleased: 2012
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, and an... more18
14299Les Miserables
Anne Hathaway, Amanda SeyfriedReleased: 2012
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Les Misérables is a 2012 musical drama film directed by Tom Hooper, based on the 1862 French... more19
151111Brave
Emma Thompson, Craig FergusonReleased: 2012
Directed by: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Brave is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film produced by Pixar Animation... more20
162130The Cabin in the Woods
Chris Hemsworth, Sigourney WeaverReleased: 2012
Directed by: Drew Goddard
The Cabin in the Woods is a 2012 American horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his... more21
164139The Amazing Spider-Man
Andrew Garfield, Emma StoneReleased: 2012
Directed by: Marc Webb
The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 American superhero film directed by Marc Webb, based on the... more- 228681
Flight
Denzel Washington, Don CheadleReleased: 2012
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Flight is a 2012 American drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. An airline pilot (Denzel... more - 235936
The Bourne Legacy
Rachel Weisz, Edward NortonReleased: 2012
Directed by: Tony Gilroy
The Bourne Legacy is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy, and is the... more 24
8670Pitch Perfect
Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth BanksReleased: 2012
Directed by: Jason Moore
Pitch Perfect is a 2012 American musical comedy film directed by Jason Moore. Featuring an... more25
8569Seven Psychopaths
Colin Farrell, Olga KurylenkoReleased: 2012
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Seven Psychopaths is a 2012 comedy film written and directed by Martin McDonagh.... more