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Edition · 2012
The Year in Film · 2012

Best of 2012

The films that defined 2012 — ranked by IMDb score.


These films defined 2012 — the year's highest-rated releases, ranked by IMDb score. Some are awards bait, some are popcorn fare, some quietly snuck in under the radar. All earned their place on the list.

  1. 01.
    The Untold History Of The United States

    The Untold History Of The United States

    2012·Dir. Oliver Stone·585 min·8.6

    Oliver Stone charts the history of the United States from the Second World War to the present.

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  2. 02.
    Django Unchained

    Django Unchained

    2012·Dir. Quentin Tarantino·165 min·8.5

    With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.

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  3. 03.
    The Dark Knight Rises

    The Dark Knight Rises

    2012·Dir. Christopher Nolan·165 min·8.4

    Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle and the villainous Bane, a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

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  4. 04.
    Doctor Who: The Snowmen

    Doctor Who: The Snowmen

    2012·Dir. Saul Metzstein·60 min·8.3

    The Doctor has retired to 1892 London. Despite the protests of his allies, he is determined to keep out of mankind's affairs. However, a governess named Clara has stumbled upon a plot which only the Doctor can unravel, involving the death of her predecessor in ice and the sinister Dr. Simeon, who controls monsters made of sentient snow. And there is another mystery afoot: Clara is the spitting image of Oswin Oswald, whom the Doctor saw die in the Dalek asylum...

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  5. 05.
    The Hunt

    The Hunt

    2012·Dir. Thomas Vinterberg·116 min·8.3

    A teacher lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son’s custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie.

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  6. 06.
    The Act of Killing

    The Act of Killing

    2012·Dir. Joshua Oppenheimer·159 min·8.2

    In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia's 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.

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  7. 07.
    Searching for Sugar Man

    Searching for Sugar Man

    2012·Dir. Malik Bendjelloul·85 min·8.2

    Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.

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  8. 08.
    Bill Burr: You People Are All The Same

    Bill Burr: You People Are All The Same

    2012·Dir. Jay Karas·68 min·8.2

    Taking the stage in Washington, D.C., funnyman Bill Burr brings his stinging brand of humor to the spotlight, uncorking a profanity-laced, incisive routine that pokes fun at plastic surgery, reality TV, gold diggers and more.

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  9. 09.
    Ustad Hotel

    Ustad Hotel

    2012·Dir. Anwar Rasheed·150 min·8.2

    When his father refuses to support his choice of a career, an aspiring chef tries to fulfil his dream by helping his grandfather run his small eatery.

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  10. 10.
    Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1

    Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1

    2012·Dir. Anurag Kashyap·160 min·8.2

    In 1970s India, Sardar Khan vows to take revenge on the man who killed his father decades earlier.

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  11. 11.
    John Mulaney: New in Town

    John Mulaney: New in Town

    2012·Dir. Ryan Polito·58 min·8.2

    Stand-up comedian John Mulaney tackles such red-hot topics as quicksand, Motown singers and an elderly man he once met in a bathroom.

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  12. 12.
    Paperman

    Paperman

    2012·Dir. John Kahrs·7 min·8.2

    An urban office worker finds that paper airplanes are instrumental in meeting a girl in ways he never expected.

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  13. 13.
    Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom

    Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom

    2012·Dir. Balaji Tharaneetharan·161 min·8.2

    In an accident two days before his wedding, a young man forgets the last year of his life. His friends are determined to ensure that he gets married despite his condition.

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  14. 14.
    Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

    Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

    2012·Dir. Becky Sloan·4 min·8.2

    A disturbing puppet short exploring the concept of creativity.

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  15. 15.
    Paan Singh Tomar

    Paan Singh Tomar

    2012·Dir. Tigmanshu Dhulia·135 min·8.2

    Paan Singh Tomar goes from celebrated runner to star brigand and rebel when life after sports fails to unfold as planned.

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  16. 16.
    Television

    Television

    2012·Dir. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki·106 min·8.2

    A devout village leader prohibits an array of modern devices, but when his strict measures go too far, the locals rise up in popular rebellion.

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  17. 17.
    Kahaani

    Kahaani

    2012·Dir. Sujoy Ghosh·122 min·8.1

    Pregnant and alone in the city of Kolkata, a woman begins a relentless search for her missing husband, only to find that nothing is what it seems.

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  18. 18.
    Barfi!

    Barfi!

    2012·Dir. Anurag Basu·151 min·8.1

    The heartwarming tale of Barfi, a charming deaf-mute young man from 1970s Darjeeling, and two unalike women who can't help but fall for him.

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  19. 19.
    Thuppakki

    Thuppakki

    2012·Dir. A. R. Murugadoss·170 min·8.1

    Captain Jagadish, an intelligence officer in the Indian Army, returns to Mumbai for a vacation but soon finds himself in a deadly mission. After witnessing a bus bombing, he uncovers a network of sleeper cells planning multiple attacks across the city. With no official backing, he embarks on a personal mission with his trusted comrades to eliminate the mastermind, ensuring the sleeper cells remain leaderless and trapped in silence, waiting for orders that will never come. Ready to sacrifice his own life, he sets out on his final mission—but does he succeed, and at what cost?

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  20. 20.
    Wolf Children

    Wolf Children

    2012·Dir. Mamoru Hosoda·117 min·8.1

    After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her.

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  21. 21.
    OMG: Oh My God!

    OMG: Oh My God!

    2012·Dir. Umesh Shukla·125 min·8.1

    A shopkeeper takes God to court when his shop is destroyed by an earthquake.

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  22. 22.
    Ship of Theseus

    Ship of Theseus

    2012·Dir. Anand Gandhi·143 min·8.0

    Three stories about persons forced to think about the ethics and moral issues raised by medical advances.

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  23. 23.
    Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

    Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

    2012·Dir. Bruce Sinofsky·121 min·8.0

    A further investigation into the arrest of three teenagers convicted of killing three young boys in Arkansas who spent nearly 20 years in prison before being released after new DNA evidence indicated they may be innocent.

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  24. 24.
    The Avengers

    The Avengers

    2012·Dir. Joss Whedon·143 min·8.0

    When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!

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  25. 25.
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    2012·Dir. Stephen Chbosky·103 min·7.9

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.

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  26. 26.
    Marley

    Marley

    2012·Dir. Kevin Macdonald·144 min·7.9

    Bob Marley's universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. Directed by Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), MARLEY is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best.

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  27. 27.
    The House I Live In

    The House I Live In

    2012·Dir. Eugene Jarecki·110 min·7.9

    In the past 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world's largest jailer, and destroyed impoverished communities at home and abroad. Yet drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available today than ever. Where did we go wrong?

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  28. 28.
    Life of Pi

    Life of Pi

    2012·Dir. Ang Lee·127 min·7.9

    The story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper's son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck sets them adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

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  29. 29.
    Amour

    Amour

    2012·Dir. Michael Haneke·127 min·7.9

    Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.

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  30. 30.
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

    2012·Dir. Jay Oliva·76 min·7.9

    Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

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  31. 31.
    Skyfall

    Skyfall

    2012·Dir. Sam Mendes·143 min·7.8

    When Bond's latest assignment goes gravely wrong, agents around the world are exposed and MI6 headquarters is attacked. While M faces challenges to her authority and position from Gareth Mallory, the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, it's up to Bond, aided only by field agent Eve, to locate the mastermind behind the attack.

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  32. 32.
    West of Memphis

    West of Memphis

    2012·Dir. Amy J. Berg·150 min·7.8

    The documentary tells the hitherto unknown story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. Told and made by those who lived it, the filmmakers' unprecedented access to the inner workings of the defense allows the film to show the investigation, research, and appeals process in a way that has never been seen before; revealing shocking and disturbing new information about a case that still haunts the American South.

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  33. 33.
    La luna

    La luna

    2012·Dir. Enrico Casarosa·7 min·7.8

    A young boy comes of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the boy as he discovers his family's most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?

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  34. 34.
    The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

    The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

    2012·Dir. William Joyce·15 min·7.8

    After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life. This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.

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  35. 35.
    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    2012·Dir. Peter Jackson·169 min·7.8

    Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.

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  36. 36.
    Masquerade

    Masquerade

    2012·Dir. Choo Chang-min·131 min·7.8

    Though it places his own life in danger, a look-alike commoner secretly takes the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.

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  37. 37.
    Ernest & Celestine

    Ernest & Celestine

    2012·Dir. Stéphane Aubier·80 min·7.8

    Celestine is a little mouse trying to avoid a dental career while Ernest is a big bear craving an artistic outlet. When Celestine meets Ernest, they overcome their natural enmity by forging a life of crime together.

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  38. 38.
    English Vinglish

    English Vinglish

    2012·Dir. Gauri Shinde·134 min·7.8

    In the United States for the first time, an Indian housewife with a limited command of English turns Manhattan into her personal language school.

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  39. 39.
    Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

    Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

    2012·Dir. Matthew Akers·106 min·7.8

    Performance artist Marina Abramovic prepares for a major retrospective of her work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

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  40. 40.
    Nanban

    Nanban

    2012·Dir. Shankar·181 min·7.8

    The plot of the film illustrates the embankment of two friends on a quest for a lost buddy, who was once an optimistic and successful student. On their journey, they recount their college life and special moments that the three shared up until their lost friend secretly parted ways after convocation. During their quest, the two encounter a rival classmate who once made a long forgotten bet with them, a funeral that goes impossibly out of control, and a wedding they must crash.

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— End of Chapter —