This selection of some of the best movies of 2017 does not claim to be comprehensive; it favors idiosyncratic independent visions over mainstream movies, and films that speak—sometimes indirectly—to these perilous times. This was a great year for low-budget New York City filmmaking, from the Yiddish-language Brooklyn-set Menashe to the adrenaline-fueled odyssey through the underbelly of Queens in Good Time. Two of the year’s boldest films, Get Out and Mudbound, boldly addressed racial tension while also providing great big-screen entertainment. And in nonfiction standouts such as Strong Island, Dina, The Challenge and The Work, disparate subjects tackled by distinct artists yielded works as thrillingly unique as they are unforgettable.

Organized by Chief Curator David Schwartz and Associate Film Curator Eric Hynes