2017 Top 10 Movies & A Few Bottoms
About the Episode
This episode is an informal film review discussion/interview-style conversation between two hosts breaking down their favorite and least favorite films of 2017. Rather than arguing for objective “best films,” they focus on personal favorites — which makes the discussion more revealing about film taste, genre preferences, and what makes certain movies emotionally or intellectually stick with viewers.
What stands out is how strongly both hosts value distinctive filmmaking over prestige filmmaking. Their selections consistently reward originality, directorial vision, tonal confidence, and films that fully commit to their identity. Big-budget studio films are appreciated, but only when they break formula rather than repeat it.
A major undercurrent throughout the episode is the increasing divide between safe franchise filmmaking and risk-taking creative filmmaking. The hosts repeatedly praise movies that take structural risks, embrace weirdness, or reject generic blockbuster conventions. This becomes one of the strongest signals of what audiences increasingly value: authenticity of vision over commercial polish.
The conversation also reflects a broader trend in 2017 cinema: genre filmmaking matured significantly. Horror, superhero films, and indie cinema all pushed beyond traditional boundaries, suggesting that genre films were beginning to challenge prestige dramas as the most creatively ambitious category of filmmaking.
This episode matters because it unintentionally reveals a durable truth about creative work: audiences remember bold execution far longer than technical competence. The films discussed most passionately are not necessarily “perfect” — they are films with conviction.
Key Takeaways
Personal taste often values emotional impact and originality more than technical perfection.
2017 represented a major rebound year for cinema compared to weaker prior years, with unusually high depth across genres.
The strongest superhero films succeeded because they embraced character identity rather than forcing formulaic seriousness.
Horror evolved beyond cheap scares and became one of the most creatively ambitious genres in modern filmmaking.
Audiences increasingly reward films that fully commit to a unique artistic vision, even when polarizing.
Franchise fatigue becomes visible when sequels repeat formulas without meaningful innovation.
Effective marketing can elevate already strong films by building curiosity without revealing core plot mechanics.
Independent films often outperform studio films creatively because they take greater narrative risks.
Great war films create immersion by placing audiences inside the emotional experience rather than explaining events.
Comedy works best when it feels playful and unconstrained rather than carefully engineered.
Nostalgia succeeds only when paired with strong storytelling rather than relying on recognition alone.
Villains remain one of the biggest differentiators between average and memorable blockbuster films.
Strong genre films increasingly blur boundaries between comedy, horror, action, and drama.
Great sequels expand a formula instead of simply reproducing what worked previously.
Viewers increasingly reward authenticity and boldness over broad commercial appeal.
Best Quotes
We’re not trying to say these are the best movies of the year. These are the ones we loved.
Have fun with these movies for the love of God.
This trilogy has no right to be as good as it is.
That movie has no right to be this good.
The whole thing is an anxiety trip.
Horror was on fire this year.
Audiences remember when filmmakers fully commit.
Insights
[Commitment Beats Perfection]
The films discussed most enthusiastically were not flawless films. They were films that committed fully to a creative vision without hesitation. Audiences often forgive imperfections when creators demonstrate confidence and conviction.
This principle extends far beyond film into product design, business strategy, and creative work.
[Originality Is Becoming Scarcer — Therefore More Valuable]
Repeated criticism of sequels and formula-driven franchise films reveals an important pattern: originality creates disproportionate attention because it has become increasingly rare.
In crowded markets, even imperfect originality can outperform polished repetition.
[Genre Constraints Drive Creativity]
The strongest films discussed came from traditionally “restricted” genres like horror and superhero films. Constraints forced filmmakers to innovate within narrow boundaries.
Creative limitation often produces stronger outcomes than unlimited freedom.
[Emotional Experience Outweighs Narrative Explanation]
The praise for films like Dunkirk centered around immersion rather than plot complexity. The audience values feeling an experience more than receiving exposition about it.
This principle applies broadly to storytelling, education, product design, and communication.
[Audiences Reward Risk-Taking]
Repeated praise centered around films willing to take unusual tonal, narrative, or stylistic risks. Polarization was treated positively when the film had conviction.
Safe execution creates temporary approval. Bold execution creates lasting memory.
[Nostalgia Alone Is Not Enough]
The hosts repeatedly acknowledge nostalgia-heavy films, but the films that truly impressed them combined nostalgia with strong execution and storytelling discipline.
Referencing the past captures attention. Delivering quality creates loyalty.
[Marketing Should Build Curiosity, Not Reveal Value]
Several films were praised partly because their trailers avoided revealing major plot turns. Preserving discovery amplified audience satisfaction.
Good marketing creates anticipation. Bad marketing consumes the product before the customer experiences it.
[Independent Creators Can Outperform Large Studios]
Small independent films repeatedly entered their top rankings over heavily financed studio releases. Budget was clearly not correlated with emotional impact or creative quality.
Large organizations optimize for safety. Small creators optimize for originality.
[Strong Villains Create Memorable Experiences]
A recurring critique of weaker blockbuster films centered around forgettable antagonists. Great villains elevate otherwise ordinary narratives because conflict defines audience engagement.
This applies universally: strong opposition creates compelling stories.
[Creative Industries Are Shifting Toward Authenticity]
The strongest praise consistently went toward filmmakers who expressed a distinct creative identity rather than conforming to market expectations.
In any creative field, authenticity increasingly outperforms manufactured consensus because audiences are becoming better at recognizing formula.