Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters.

Director:

Ben Affleck

Starring:

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin

As thought-provoking as it is thrilling, Looper delivers an uncommonly smart, bravely original blend of futuristic sci-fi and good old-fashioned action.

Director:

Rian Johnson

Starring:

Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt

With a script that never forgets its heroes' humanity and no shortage of superpowered set pieces, The Avengers lives up to its hype -- and raises the bar for Marvel at the movies.

Director:

Joss Whedon

Starring:

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo

Sam Mendes brings Bond surging back with a smart, sexy, riveting action thriller that qualifies as one of the best 007 films to date.

Director:

Sam Mendes

Starring:

Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem

Warm, whimsical, and poignant, the immaculately framed and beautifully acted Moonrise Kingdom presents writer/director Wes Anderson at his idiosyncratic best.

Director:

Wes Anderson

Starring:

Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis

The Cabin in the Woods is an astonishing meta-feat, capable of being funny, strange, and scary -- frequently all at the same time.

Director:

Drew Goddard

Starring:

Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison

Tender, funny, and touching, The Sessions provides an acting showcase for its talented stars and proves it's possible for Hollywood to produce a grown-up movie about sex.

Director:

Ben Lewin

Starring:

John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, Moon Bloodgood

Visually lush, refreshingly free of family-friendly clatter, and anchored with soulful depth, The Secret World of Arrietty lives up to Studio Ghibli's reputation.

Director:

Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Starring:

Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett

The Dark Knight Rises is an ambitious, thoughtful, and potent action film that concludes Christopher Nolan's franchise in spectacular fashion.

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Starring:

Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy

Daniel Day-Lewis characteristically delivers in this witty, dignified portrait that immerses the audience in its world and entertains even as it informs.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Starring:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn