Rating Every Movie I Watched For the First Time During Lockdown

The stay-at-home era paved the way for me to rewatch some of my all-time favourite movies. More importantly, it also freed up enough time for me to watch 50 new movies for the first time, here’s what I thought of them…

Tenet (2020) — 4
The more I think about it, the more I hate it. There were far too many action scenes, and there’s only so much time your brain can pay attention to people operating in reverse. The sound was a mess, with the score frequently drowning out dialogue between characters. Also…the plot makes NO sense!

Top Gun (1986) — 4.5
Did not enjoy. Too many jets. Looked pretty cool though, and I’m sure it looked even better in the 1980s — as did Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. This might explain why people loved it so much.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) — 4.5
After a promising start, the lack of clarity in this movie became so frustrating. I really wanted to enjoy it because Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons did an amazing job — but nope, not for me.

The Holiday (2006) — 5
Maybe a 5 is too generous? But having watched it at Christmas, I was in a good mood and I did get a few laughs out of it. While it did kind of feel like Cameron Diaz forgot how to act, the rest of the cast did a great job.

Contagion (2011) — 5
In hindsight, I could’ve done without watching the movie about a global pandemic during a global pandemic. However, during precented times, maybe I would have enjoyed it more. This type of movie has a lot of potential but Contagion lacked strong characters and felt very rushed.

Little (2019) — 5
A decent laugh. I’ve seen a lot of movies now involving body switches and characters becoming their younger/older selves, but this was the first one with Black actors. This was refreshing, and offered a new perspective — plus Issa Rae (who we’ll meet again later in this list) is hilarious.

Terminal (2004) — 5.5
I personally feel like this movie hasn’t aged particularly well, but it’s still very watchable. The plot seems a little far fetched, but the more I experience of immigration and customs in real life, the more believable it seems. An easy watch.

American Psycho (2000) — 5.5
Fuck. I had high hopes for this one — and I was left disappointed. Maybe I’m blinded by my dislike of finance bros? Anyway, Christian Bale is truly excellent throughout, but the ending is just so annoyingly ambigous that I felt like I had just wasted two hours of my life. Great GIF value though.

Run (2020) — 5.5
This had me on the edge of my seat quite a bit. I did enjoy it, but I felt the ending was rushed just enough to leave you wishing for more drama. As usual, Sarah Paulson was excellent at doing Sarah Paulson things.

The Post (2017) — 5.5
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. As someone who has studied journalism it’s always interesting to see the inner workings of an old newsroom, so that was enjoyable — plus I always have time for Tom Hanks.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) — 6
This was one of the first movies watched in lockdown and the fact it feels like forever ago makes me quite sad. On the contrary, this movie made me laugh a lot. A stupidly enjoyable but also quite plausable plot with a great cast made this an easy watch.

Kick-Ass (2010) — 6
This is ridiculous, but that’s what makes it so funny. Some of the scenes are much more violent than you’re expecting — but, when they’re being carried out by a 13-year old Chloë Grace Moretz and Nicolas Cage’s version of Batman, you can’t help but smile.

The Lorax (2012) — 6
I was not ready to enjoy this as much as I did. Very funny, with a cautionary message about the environment weaved throughout. Would recommend.

Snowpiercer (2013) — 6
I had high expectations for this once I seen it was directed by Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), but it wasn’t quite on that level. However, the plotline and setting is very intriguing — hopefully the Netflix series has enough time to do it justice.

Lion (2016) — 6
This movie is based on a truly incredible true story. In my opinion, there’s a few scenes that are surplus to requirement (an attempt to build more depth to some characters?), but overall a solid watch with a relatively happy ending — considering some of the grim scenarios encountered.

What Happened to Monday (2017) — 6
The first thing I have to say about this movie is that Noomi Rapace does an incredible job of playing 7 identical sisters, while making them all very unique. It was good, but sadly the ending did feel a little rushed. But, I always have time for some dystopian future based entertainment.

Booksmart (2019) — 6.5
I really wasn’t sure what to expect going into this high-school comedy, but I’m glad I watched it. There are some very funny scenes, and the script manages to be inclusive and progressive without trying too hard. Kaitlyn Dever (Unbelievable) and Beanie Feldstein are a great pairing.

Into the Wild (2007) — 6.5
This movie made me feel a lot of things. Ultimately, it’s a sad movie. But it’s full of strong spirit — and it shows that no matter how ferociously independent you are, sometimes you need a helping hand. It’s a long one, but very much worth a watch.

The King (2019) — 6.5
I’m not going to lie, this movie took ages to get going. But, when it did, it was entertaining. Timothée Chalamet does an excellent job as the young King Henry V, preparing for battle against the bizarre Dauphin of France — played by the equally chaotic Robert Pattinson.

The Imitation Game (2014) — 6.5
I have always been very annoyed at how the genius that was Alan Turing was treated by the people he helped to save. This movie (and Benedict Cumberbatch) does a great job showing how determined and intelligent he was, but also the great difficulties he faced as a gay man. Definitely worth a watch.

The Lovebirds (2020) — 6.5
A troubled couple, played by the highly entertaining Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, get into some deep shit. I laughed a lot at the energy and chaos on display in the movie-a solid pick-me-up!

Martyrs (2008) — 6.5
Sweet Jesus. This felt like 3 different movies, each more haunting than the last. Some scenes I watched through a grimmace, and some caused my heartrate to double. Did I enjoy it? Maybe. Was it fucked up? Yes. Was that the whole point? Also yes.

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) — 6.5
This was fun. Some days you just need to be entertained by a giant rabbit-like godly creature/spirit. That being said, the human dad character was my favourite for his lax attitude to everything. A great family film and a good introduction to the world of anime.

Another Round/Druk (2020) — 6.5
Four unmotivated school teachers decide the best thing for their careers is to get drunk — and stay drunk — during school. What could go wrong? Well…the mood shifts from sad to happy frequently, as do the emotions of Mads Mikkelsen’s chacter, Martin. His performance alone makes this worth watching.

Black 47 (2018) — 7
This was incredibly grim, bleak and infuriating. Naturally, growing up in Ireland meant hearing tragic stories about the famine — but seeing it visualised for (strangely) the first time hits you on another level. While the plot is not based on a true story, it’s still a resounding tale of struggle and defiance. Australian actor James Frecheville plays the lead role, and nails his scenes as Gaeilge.

Onward (2020) — 7
This was classic Pixar, putting together a story that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s funny, it’s emotional…and it’s highly entertaining. Plus, the two main characters are voiced by charismatic MCU stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt.

Paddington (2014) — 7
I’ve said this already, but I really wasn’t ready to enjoy this as much as I did. Am I a big child? Yes. Does that matter? No. It’s silly, it’s witty, it doesn’t take itself too seriously — and it’s got a great cast. Genuinely buzzing to watch Paddington 2, which I hear is even better.

Gladiator (2000) — 7
Moving away from the family friendly movies, we now have a movie of big strong men being absolute bastards to each other and then kicking the shit out of one another. Lot’s of action, lot’s of drama — and some amazing music from Hans Zimmer.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) — 7
Unlike Gladiator, there’s not a lot of action in this one. It’s a slow burner, telling the tale of gentrification in San Francisco in a unique and strangely emotional way — it’s based on a true story too!

Gone Girl (2014) — 7
This movie is so fucked up, but so entertaining. So many twists and turns. I somehow hated all the characters. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are a little bit too good at their jobs here.

The King’s Speech (2010) — 7
Another entertaining true story, this one about King George VI battling to overcome his stammer with the help of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (excellently played by a Geoffrey Rush). It’s quite a gratifying watch, even if you think the royal family should be slingshot into outer space.

Midsommar (2019) — 7
This is another one for the what the actual fuck category. It’s a slow burner, but just before you start to lose interest in what’s happening… shit really hits the fan! Florence Pugh puts on a masterclass of painful facial expressions.

The Devil All The Time (2020) — 7
I will admit to having about 8 cans of Guinness before watching this one, but I do know I very much enjoyed it — despite the pacing. Tom Holland’s counry boy character is very likeable, but far from innocent. It comes in handy considering he’s surrounded by a lot of messed up individuals.

The Platform (2019) — 7
This Spanish thriller is an intense watch, from start to finish. It’s certainly a very…vivid way to depict the selfish nature of us human beings. There’s twists, drama, violence and gore. It stuck in my head for weeks!

Misery (1990) — 7
This movie is pretty tense. It grips you in typical Stephen King fashion, almost against your will. Kathy Bates performance as a former nurse with a twisted obsession is stunning. If you enjoy being a little bit nervous for 2 hours, this ones for you.

Knives Out (2019) — 7.5
Full disclosure, I’m a massive Daniel Craig fan. I found his southern accent highly entertaining, but not nearly as entertaining as the twist-filled plot and the star studded cast. A very fun and exciting murder mystery — highly recommend.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) — 7.5
This may be ranked a little high, but I was living in Toronto when I watched it so I’m a little biased. This movie is a love/hate letter to the city, and it’s hilarious — thanks mainly to the enigma that is Michael Cera. It also gets bonus points from me for just how bad a young Chris Evan eyebrows are.

Concrete Cowboy (2021) — 7.5
First of all, absolutely loved that some of this movie’s main characters were non-professionals. Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin is now a full grown man, and he gave the performance of one. Partnered with Idris Elba, they tell this beautifully sad story really well. A true eye-opener.

The Lobster (2015) — 7.5
This was…surreal. But, I really loved it. A dystopian society, featuring stars like Colin Farrell and Olivia Coleman, where single people must find a mate or be transformed into an animal — what’s not to like? Oh, and it’s filmed in Ireland.

Spirited Away (2001) — 7.5
This is one of the most enjoyable animated movies I’ve ever seen. It’s visually stunning, and it’s fun while also a little spooky. For me, it was more about the journey than the story — very captivating.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) — 7.5
This is a true story about Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers, and betrayal — which makes it historical…but also a story of right now, and that’s depressing. Lakeith Stanfield does an amazing job portraying guilt and regret here.

BlacKkKlansman (2018) — 7.5
Another true story, another story about that mistreatment of black people in America that sadly still rings through today. There are some pretty heavy, hate-filled scenes…but also some light hearted and uplifting moments. John David Washinton and and Adam Driver are excellent.

Wind River (2017) — 7.5
First off, credit where credit is due. Jeremy Renner does an amazing job in this. This movie painfully portrays the neglect of native Americans, with particular focus on the disappearances of young women. It’s a heavy watch, with some particularly harrowing scenes including self-harm and a rape scene…so bear that in mind before watching.

Nomadland (2021) — 7.5
Frances McDormand does it again — and her performance is matched by some outstanding visuals. This movie effectively shows that home means different things to everyone. Even though it’s tough, some people are happier to be alone and on the road.

Promising Young Woman (2020) — 8
This movie had everything you want in a dark comedy — belly laughs, massive twists, and a spooky cover of Britney Spear’s Toxic. Carey Mulligan does an excellent job of portraying a hurt woman who’s (a little bit too) hell-bent on avenging her best friend.

Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015) — 8
I’m not going to lie, the title of this one had me worried. But I was so wrong. Set in 1970s San Francisco, it perfectly captures the anxiety, drama and chaos of being a teenager…as well as just how fucked up fully grown adults can be.

Palm Springs (2020) — 8
Andy Samberg can do no wrong in my eyes, and his chemistry with Cristin Milioti here pulls everything together perfectly. This movie is absurdly amusing from start to finish. While the concept of a time loop isn’t exactly an original plotline, the hilarity and poignancy of Palm Springs really hits different. Oh, and JK Simmons shows up to do what he does best.

The Handmaiden (2016) — 8
This Korean drama has it all. Love, betrayal, stunning imagery, massive twists and an amazing score. It’s run time is close to 3 hours, but it’s worth every minute.

Babyteeth (2019) — 8.5
This beat the shit out of me. I think a little part of me is still grieving. One minute you’ll laugh, the next you’ll want to cry. It’s happy, it’s sad, and it’s chaotic. It’s visually gorgeous, the soundtrack is excellent — and it avoids the usual tropes around terminally ill teeneagers.

Coco (2017) — 9
Is this the best movie I’ve ever seen? Maybe. It’s colourful, it’s fun, it’s emotional. It’s everything good about Pixar. It perfectly encapsulates a youngster coming to grips with love, loss and the afterlife. Sounds like a tricky topic, but it’s such a wholesome, joyous ride. A must watch!!!

*More movies will be watched. This list will be updated regularly.