Best drama movies of 2019

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December 4, 2019
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Best drama movies of 2019

There are no hard and fast lines that wholly define any genre of film, and dramas are no exception. Dramatic film representations tend to offer serious storytelling around realistic characters and plotlines鈥攂ut the genre is hardly limited by those common elements. Movies like "The Godfather" and "12 Years a Slave" both classify as dramas, but couldn't be more different in their style and scope. 

As problematic as genre classification is, selecting for the best films in a given year is equally as complicated. Critics judge films on the quality of the writing, performances, set direction, and costumes. The storyline is integral, as well, with much attention paid to a film's timeliness and whether it resonates with broader cultural and historical events.

The best drama films of 2019 offered no answer to those looking for a one-size-fits-all formula for a film to go down as one of the year's best. 麻豆原创 compiled and ranked them according to their user ratings (out of 10), ties broken by votes. To qualify, the film had to be listed as a "drama" on two or more of the major databases such as IMDb, Metacritic, Wikipedia, Letterboxd, Rotten Tomatoes, released in the U.S. theatrically or on streaming services between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2019, and have at least 2,000 votes on IMDb. Bollywood productions were not considered.

At 麻豆原创, we believe leaning into more open interpretations of what fits into certain genres is the best practice for getting a pool of films that represent all expressions of a particular genre. Two of the most popular films in this gallery involve insightful dogs, while others stare down the gore and violence of the world with unflinching exactitude. Some movies feature major Hollywood names, while others introduce new talent to the world. Budgets vary as wildly as subject matter, and every film on the list has been considered according to the cinematic history and development of dramas. Keep reading to see whether any of your favorite films of the last year made the list.

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#30. The King

- Director: David Mich么d
- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- Votes: 38,672
- Metascore: 61
- Runtime: 140 min

An adaptation of one of Shakespeare鈥檚 lesser-known works, 鈥淭he King鈥 received a widely positive critical reception. Two of the hottest young stars of 2019, Timoth茅e Chalamet and Lily-Rose Depp, rounded out the cast, and in a sign of the times, Netflix released the film, rather than the originally planned Warner Brothers.

#29. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

- Director: Joe Talbot
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Votes: 5,352
- Metascore: 83
- Runtime: 121 min

The indie darling 鈥淭he Last Black Man in San Francisco鈥 couldn鈥檛 be more timely. As rents continue to rise in one of America鈥檚 priciest cities, the film tells the story of a family struggling to reclaim property that they lost to gentrification.

#28. A Dog's Journey

- Director: Gail Mancuso
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Votes: 10,385
- Metascore: 43
- Runtime: 109 min

Although 鈥淎 Dog鈥檚 Journey鈥 doesn鈥檛 necessarily contain any new or bold artistic statements, it turns out that鈥檚 not always what audiences need. Sometimes in an uncertain political climate, is a little reminder of the special bond between humans and dogs.

#27. Dolemite Is My Name

- Director: Craig Brewer
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Votes: 18,677
- Metascore: 76
- Runtime: 117 min

Besides being a well-received comedy-drama, 鈥淒olemite Is My Name鈥 also offered audiences some timely lessons, should they want it. on how to thrive in a start-up, drawing inspiration from the film鈥檚 themes of determination and fearlessness.

#26. Rocketman

- Director: Dexter Fletcher
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Votes: 79,159
- Metascore: 69
- Runtime: 121 min

It took 12 years for the makers of the film about Elton John's life to get it right, but get it right they did. John has said he is thrilled with the way the film turned out, and how it shone a light on of his life, as well as the triumphs.

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#25. Monos

- Director: Alejandro Landes
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- Votes: 3,226
- Metascore: 78
- Runtime: 102 min

Child soldiers are the subject of the harrowing 鈥淢onos,鈥 which received a rapt critical reception. The subject from appreciating the film鈥檚 stunning scenery, performances, and genre-bending approach鈥攁nd may have appealed to audiences looking for unexpected sources of escapism in a relentless drumbeat of political news.

#24. Woman at War

- Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- Votes: 4,827
- Metascore: 81
- Runtime: 101 min

Adoption and activism are at the heart of 鈥淲oman at War,鈥 a taut comedy-drama from an Icelandic-Ukranian film team. The titular character鈥檚 struggles resonate in an , and .

#23. The Art of Racing in the Rain

- Director: Simon Curtis
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- Votes: 8,533
- Metascore: 43
- Runtime: 109 min

An earnest attempt to narrate life through the eyes of a dog, 鈥淭he Art of Racing in the Rain鈥 received mixed critical reception. But that didn鈥檛 stop many viewers from appreciating a window into the lives of man鈥檚 best friend, which is  of the filmmaker (and race-car driver) Garth Stein.

#22. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

- Director: Vince Gilligan
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- Votes: 130,218
- Metascore: 72
- Runtime: 122 min

鈥淏reaking Bad鈥 fans distraught by the end of the beloved series got a second chance with 鈥淓l Camino,鈥 which picks up where the story left off. The film鈥檚 writer has said that he almost included a very different ending, but 鈥渂ecause sometimes you鈥檝e got to give the crowd what they want.鈥 It looks like his effort paid off.

#21. A Hidden Life

- Director: Terrence Malick
- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- Votes: 1,139
- Metascore: 76
- Runtime: 173 min

Director Terrence Malick had his own big shoes to fill on the heels of his critically acclaimed "Tree of Life." And fill them he did with "A Hidden Life," which tells the story of a conscientious objector in Nazi Germany, and had audiences and critics alike singing his praises.

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#20. Birds of Passage

- Directors: Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra
- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- Votes: 6,756
- Metascore: 85
- Runtime: 125 min

The Colombian drug trade has been depicted in many films and television shows, but rarely with such ambition as in 鈥淏irds of Passage.鈥 The New York Times compared it to an epic poem, using art to difficult to convey in any other way.

#19. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

- Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- Votes: 14,852
- Metascore: 68
- Runtime: 113 min

can sometimes seem like a deluge of bad news, people are tuning out in large numbers. So it鈥檚 no surprise that that 鈥淭he Boy Who Harnessed the Wind鈥 received . The true story of a Malawian boy who saved his village from a famine gave audiences just the positive jolt necessary to counter grim dispatches from abroad.

#18. Downton Abbey

- Director: Michael Engler
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Votes: 16,672
- Metascore: 64
- Runtime: 122 min

The beloved 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥 television show smashed its box-office competition on opening weekend. The film is the most successful in Focus Features鈥 history and for other studios looking to adapt hit shows into feature films.

#17. Pain & Glory

- Director: Pedro Almod贸var
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Votes: 18,270
- Metascore: 88
- Runtime: 113 min

Heroin, art, memory, and the body jostle for space in Pedro Almod贸var鈥檚 acclaimed film. For all its heavy subject matter, as handled with a light touch by a director one critic called 鈥渁 genre all to himself鈥濃攁nd ultimately redemptive.

#16. Doctor Sleep

- Director: Mike Flanagan
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Votes: 29,104
- Metascore: 60
- Runtime: 152 min

The classic film "The Shining" has legions of fans, so it was only a matter of time before someone attempted a sequel to sate their desire for more. Despite , the film was a hit with audiences, proving that it's hard to keep people away when all they want is to see more.

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#15. An Elephant Sitting Still

- Director: Hu Bo
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- Votes: 2,812
- Metascore: 86
- Runtime: 230 min

The circumstances of 鈥淎n Elephant Sitting Still鈥 are nearly as significant as the film itself. Chinese director Hu Bo died from suicide shortly after the film鈥檚 premiere, . The film was his first.

#14. The Peanut Butter Falcon

- Directors: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- Votes: 15,627
- Metascore: 70
- Runtime: 97 min

鈥淭he Peanut Butter Falcon鈥 is full of marquee actors, including Shia LeBoeuf and Dakota Johnson. But the film鈥檚 main character was an unknown actor when the directors cast him. Zach Gottsagen  and is one of the first people with the genetic disorder to make it to the silver screen.

#13. The Farewell

- Director: Lulu Wang
- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- Votes: 12,651
- Metascore: 89
- Runtime: 100 min

鈥淭he Farewell鈥 has been called an Oscar contender and stars the beloved rising star Awkwafina. But reception in China, where much of the movie takes place, has , with some critics attacking the actress online for her appearance and her voice.

#12. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Votes: 230,208
- Metascore: 83
- Runtime: 161 min

Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to on or off-screen controversy, and his latest film, 鈥淥nce Upon a Time鈥 in Hollywood鈥 stoked plenty. Among the were the film鈥檚 treatment of women and Asian-American actors.

#11. Jojo Rabbit

- Director: Taika Waititi
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Votes: 11,146
- Metascore: 58
- Runtime: 108 min

One of the final frontiers of satire is Nazi Germany, and that barrier was crossed with 2019's "Jojo Rabbit." The story centers on a young German boy whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler, and the of Hitler gives a whole new meaning to the term "the banality of evil."

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#10. The Wild Pear Tree

- Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Votes: 14,166
- Metascore: 86
- Runtime: 188 min

鈥淭he Wild Pear Tree鈥 is set in Turkey and features a writer trying to get his Turkish stories published in an increasingly oppressive Turkey. In a time when on journalists and stifling all dissent, the film has proven particularly resonant and poignant.

#9. Marriage Story

- Director: Noah Baumbach
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Votes: 2,207
- Metascore: 94
- Runtime: 136 min

Many films end with a marriage, but 鈥淢arriage Story鈥 begins with a divorce. And with many Americans choosing to , it鈥檚 easy to see why audiences loved the film.

#8. Portrait of a Lady on Fire

- Director: C茅line Sciamma
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Votes: 4,001
- Metascore: 93
- Runtime: 121 min

The 18th-century drama 鈥淧ortrait of a Lady on Fire鈥 has been called one of the best films of the decade. So it鈥檚 no surprise that it will be re-released in the new decade to audiences who missed the chance to see it the first time around. The ? As befits a romance, Valentine鈥檚 Day 2020.

#7. The Lighthouse

- Director: Robert Eggers
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Votes: 14,662
- Metascore: 83
- Runtime: 109 min

On its face, 鈥淭he Lighthouse鈥 is about two lonely lighthouse workers. But a deeper look reveals that the film is just as much about male loneliness as it is about anything else鈥攁 theme that proved fascinating to viewers this year, as with the .鈥

#6. Ford v Ferrari

- Director: James Mangold
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Votes: 24,858
- Metascore: 81
- Runtime: 152 min

With two A-list actors and an underdog story, audiences were fascinated by "Ford v Ferrari." The film chronicles a dispute between two of the most famous automakers in the world, and how far their chief executives were willing to go .

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#5. Capernaum

- Director: Nadine Labaki
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Votes: 31,825
- Metascore: 75
- Runtime: 126 min

The powerful 鈥淐apernaum鈥 is set in Beirut, Lebanon, and focuses on a child and his younger brother who are forced to live on the street. The film focuses on the humanity of two individuals in a region that is often depicted in film in broader, geopolitical strokes.

#4. Avengers: Endgame

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Votes: 604,939
- Metascore: 78
- Runtime: 181 min

At least one facet of the 鈥淎vengers: Endgame鈥 script was highly untraditional. The writers of the wildly popular film of dollar signs next to their scenes, to make sure the movie remained within budget.

#3. Parasite

- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Votes: 77,133
- Metascore: 96
- Runtime: 132 min

The smash-hit 鈥淧arasite鈥 struck a nerve with audiences in a time of rising economic tension. The film follows the fortunes of a poor family that attempts to integrate with their rich employers鈥攁 film for the if there ever was one.

#2. The Irishman

- Director: Martin Scorsese
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Votes: 10,771
- Metascore: 94
- Runtime: 209 min

With gangsters and Robert De Niro, 鈥淭he Irishman鈥 is classic Scorsese. Audiences and critics alike from the blunt violence and gore Scorsese brought to his tale of the Irish mob.

#1. Joker

- Director: Todd Phillips
- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Votes: 476,386
- Metascore: 59
- Runtime: 122 min

"Joker" smashed the at the box office globally. The theme of alienated men resonated strongly with audiences, curious to know more about the subculture鈥攐r identifying with it.

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