A Century of Progress: Vol. 3 (2015-18)

In our run-up to listing our favorite films released in 2019 (and, separately, the best of the past decade), we are looking back on our previous best-of lists. Today, we pick out some highlights from the best-of lists 2015-2018. Click the year headers for links to full lists and analysis.

2015
My Year of the Woman: "Diary of a Teenage Girl," the amazing debut "Appropriate Behavior," "Carol," "Girlhood," "Tangerine," "About Elly," "Room." Boom. The most haunting film: "Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck." The docs, faux and real, that can play on repeat: "What We Do in the Shadows" and "The Wolfpack." Obscure pick of the year: Israeli army women in "Zero Motivation." You say you like pulp and/or horror? Holy crap, try "Buzzard" and "Alleluia." And the funniest movie you've never seen: "Fort Tilden" (included, belatedly, on the 2016 list).

2016
Pure bliss: "A Bigger Splash." Great storytelling: "Certain Women," "Blue Jay," "Dheepan," "Aquarius." In your face: "L'Atessa," "Krisha." Giddy fun: "The Bronze," "Keanu," "Hello, My Name Is Doris." A star is born: Riley Keough in "American Honey." One of the best movies, pound for pound, that you probably missed: "Toni Erdmann" (included, belatedly, on the 2017 list).

2017
The beginning of the end of my deep love affair with movies, as I get crankier and struggle to fill out a top ten. Thank goodness for Sean Baker ("The Florida Project"), Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver"), and the total whack job Kris Avedisian ("Donald Cried"). The diversion of quirky comedies "The Little Hours" and "Band Aid" helped. But too many of our favorite filmmakers swung and whiffed throughout the year.

2018
Really only two feature films will stand the test of time: "The Rider" and "Foxtrot." Three docs were spotless: "The King," "Bisbee '17," "Matanga/Maya/M.I.A." Two more docs ventured off the beaten path, which I'll surely be returning to: "Escapes" and "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood." If you want something obscure and challenging, try "The Endless."