I only saw nine 2015-released movies last year, but I’m sure I’ll pick up a few more along the way. I wanted to rank the ones I saw and share a few sentences about my thoughts on them. The rankings are based on an unscientific mix between the movie’s subjective likability for me personally, and my as-objective-as-possible feelings on the strength of the story.
9. Tomorrowland
I really wanted to like this one more. First the good: the concept is interesting, and I really loved the main character. I would read a book series that followed her for sure. But the story fell flat and this movie had no clear target audience. Sometimes it felt like a kid’s movie, sometimes it felt a little older, but it certainly never felt consistent. I expected more of Brad Bird with The Incredibles and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol under his belt, but I guess they can’t all be hits. 3 stars
8. The Peanuts Movie
I am a big fan of The Peanuts, so I wanted to be sure to catch the new movie. My husband and I went and saw it in theater I believe the second weekend, and we were the only people in there who neither a child nor had a child. Not the target audience, I guess. However, it was very cute, and felt very true to the original content while still feeling fresh. It didn’t change my life but I enjoyed it. 3.5 stars
7. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Even though I think I enjoyed Peanuts more, I decided to rank this one higher because I think in the grand scheme of things this will be more enduring both for me and in general. At least I hope one day I will look back at this and see why everything happened the way it did. The first 2/3 of this movie was great for me, so solid; I was really into. The only thing I felt a little meh about during this part was when Kylo Ren took off his mask because (1) mystery gone and (2) hello you do not look like Han or Leia at all. But in the last third it just fell so flat for me. There are various reasons, but let’s hope this is a set-up for something greater, because considering how much time and money was devoted to this movie it could have been more epic. And I love BB-8 forever. 3.5 or 4 stars? Time will tell.
6. Cinderella
Unlike Star Wars, I probably won’t rewatch this movie until if and when I have a daughter, but I thought it was very well-done, especially for its genre. It’s definitely very fairy-tale; this isn’t some gritty, more realistic version, but I think there needs to be a place for this sort of story, especially for young girls. And Cinderella isn’t helpless; she is courageous and just as beautiful on the inside as she is outside, and ultimately that’s why the prince falls for her. I was very pleased with this adaptation. 4 stars/My review
5. Avengers: The Age of Ultron
It’s the Avengers back together again, and with that comes quips and action and yeah, I liked it. But it did have its flaws and it’s not my favorite. 4 stars/My review
4. Ant-Man
Ant-Man was so fun, and it really pleasantly surprised me. It’s not perfect either but I really enjoyed it. 4 stars/My review
3. Inside Out
Pixar, you’ve finally done it again: making me laugh and cry and feel things and be amazed at your original ideas. 4 stars/My review
2. Mockingjay: Part Two
I don’t understand the hate that the Mockingjay movies have gotten by some. They are not easy movies to watch, they’re not as exciting as the previous two, but they are SO IMPORTANT. The themes of war and PTSD and all that are so prevalent. I think I like Part One a little better, but I’ll have to rewatch them back to back to know for certain. I just wished the ending of Part Two had played out slightly differently (not changed the story, just been shown differently, if that makes sense). But overall, I thought it was really good. 4.5 stars/My review
1. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
I rewatched this one recently and even though it didn’t have near the suspense of the first watch, I still loved it so much. I don’t know what it is about these newer MI movies but I am just all about them. They’re interesting action movies with very likable characters. 4.5 stars/My review
What was your favorite movie that was released in 2015? Do you have any recommendations for ones that I missed?
I was so excited to watch Tomorrowland, until the meh reviews came in, and I kinda lost interest. I should try to watch it though, as I’m still curious about it. And I want to see Hugh Laurie! 🙂 I never did get to watch the Peanuts movie either, though I wanted to. It sounds like they did a good job with it, but I wish it could have been a bigger hit. Maybe Pixar needs to do something with it. Goodness, I would love to see that! 🙂
Mission Impossible is your number one pick! That makes me feel bad that I’ve not watched any of those films. I’ve heard really positive reviews for the last two in particular though, so I think I will try to check them out soon!
Yeah, I would say if you’re interested in Tomorrowland it’s still worth watching, just maybe with low expectations. 🙂 It had some good things in it, but none of it really came together for me. I will tell you Hugh Laurie’s role is pretty small, so just be aware of that.
Pixar + Peanuts = wow, I’d probably cry through the whole thing!
I would REALLY recommend watching at least the last two MI movies, though they’ll make a little more sense if you watch the first three, especially when it comes to certain character moments. I do actually like the older MI movies pretty well, probably the first one most out of those three even though it’s a little dated now. MI2 is the most panned but I think it’s decent, and MI3 is pretty good but Phillip Seymour-Hoffman is a little too good as the villain because he gives me the willies in it!
I’ve watched many of these, except Mission Impossible, Cinderella, and Star Wars (gasp). My dad really loved the Peanuts movie, and we were also the only family without any children, seeing as I do not count. It was cute, and Charlie Brown FINALLY got to talk to the little Red Haired Girl! (spoiler to others, I guess, I’m sure it’s ok). And my dad was so happy when we left the movies, lol.
Tomorrowland was…weird. I’m just glad I only spent a $1 on it at the local movie theater.
I love your dad’s enthusiasm for the Peanuts, ha ha!
He talked to the little red-haired girl AND everyone recognized what a good guy Charlie Brown is! It was nice how they still paid homage to the fact that Charlie Brown can’t really win but then that he was celebrated for who he was.
I just got deep with the Peanuts, ha ha. 😉
I just watched Rogue Nation a couple of days ago and did enjoy it. I agree that the last couple were better than the first couple. I have both Tomorrowland and Cinderella checked out from the library, but my desirebto watch either tbh. I really enjoyed Star Wars, but understand your gripes. Regardless, I was happy when I walked out of the theater and can’t wait to see the next one.
I Ioved Inside Out, I think it is one of the best Pixar movies I’ve seen in a while, it was so funny as well, I felt like it was a great one for all ages? I also really enjoyed Mocking-jay II, like you I preferred the first one but I am excited for it to come out on DVD and watch it all at once as I think that it will be one great movie rather than two separate good movies.
I feel like Inside Out is definitely for all ages. It has so much that hits you a lot differently when you’re older, but it still has the enjoyability factor for younger ones.