Kat’s Top 10 TV Movies of 2020

In a year where buying a ticket, grabbing a giant bucket of popcorn and overpriced soda, and sitting down in sticky seats to watch our new favorite film is strictly forbidden, TV movies have been an absolute lifesaver.

Without streaming services dedicated to creating their own, original content, we all would have spent 2020 watching reruns of old TV shows we’ve seen way too many times, chomping at the bit for anything that wasn’t already sitting in our DVD collection. Instead, we were given a plethora of choices to keep us engrossed and entertained while stuck inside.

Regardless of genre, each new piece of creative content this year was more than just a movie; it was a connection to the outside world, a form of escapism during a tumultuous experience, and a way to get lost in a story…even if for just a little while.

While there’s no shortage of incredible choices, here are my top 10 favorite TV movies of this year:

1. All The Bright Places (Netflix)

Based on the popular novel of the same title, Elle Fanning and Justin Smith bring respective characters Violet and Finch to life as they navigate through the emotional scars of their past and find companionship in an otherwise lonely and broken existence.

In a world so hesitant to bring proper attention to mental health, All The Bright Places brings a beautiful emotional depth to what it’s like to live with mental illness. It shines a harsh light on the grim realities that come along with bearing the unfathomable weight of depression and the complexities of past trauma.

It also does so by utilizing a black male lead, giving attention to the intersectionality that lacks representation in similar topical films.

While some may be quick to claim All The Bright Places merely glorifies suicide, the devastating turn taken in the last act serves as a solemn reminder these stories have no guaranteed happy endings — in fiction or reality alike.

2. The Old Guard (Netflix)

There’s not much else a film needs other than the star power of Charlize Theron, but a gaggle of immortal mercenaries who fight against evil, sensational fight sequences, and period drama flashbacks pretty much make the perfect cocktail for a successful action movie.

The supernatural can grow tired in a decade that’s been stuffed to the brim with vampires, werewolves, and other-worldlike beings.

However, The Old Guard manages to meld the overused genre seamlessly into an unbelievably entertaining combat film that is something, unlike anything that’s ever been done before. Immortals can die, they just do it over and over again, and with every death, comes excruciating pain and a growing mess of trauma.

Perhaps that’s what makes The Old Guard as brilliant as it is — there’s humanity below all the flying bullets and slicing swords, not just in Andy and her squad of mercenaries, but in newcomer Nile (KiKi Layne), whose low context integration into the group provides a perfect opportunity to explore the backstories and hearts of all the films main characters.

3. Palm Springs (Hulu)

Two people stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over, sounds a lot like a film we’ve all seen before (or about 100 times), but somehow, Palm Springs finds a fresh and funny way to turn this overdone trope into its very own very unique and well-executed loveable comedy.

That probably has a lot to do with the actors involved, who are well-known masters of their craft. Andy Samberg is so perfectly cast as emotionally stunted Nyles; it feels as if the role was written specifically for him (he is a credited producer, so it’s possible).

Cristin Millioti brings the perfect amount of dry, sardonic humor to protagonist Sarah, a tonal balance needed to keep the film from diving too deep into the land of slapstick campiness, and the chemistry between both leads is surprisingly palpable.

Produced well before the hell year that is 2020, Palm Springs probably didn’t realize it was going to be the perfect film to represent finding humor and purpose in a world where time has no meaning, but it is quite an insightful allegory: a cautionary tale about adapting in an unforeseen new reality and holding on to the things that matter most along the way.

4. Happiest Season (Hulu)

While it certainly earns its place on this list by being the first of its kind, Happiest Season is so much more than the first-holiday romantic comedy to feature two lesbian characters at its forefront.

Happiest Season is a genuinely enjoyable film, with incredibly gratifying performances, and a giant thumping heart of a story that takes all the cliches of Christmas movies past and turns them into a perfectly endearing queer romance.

Kristen Stewart proves to be the perfect casting choice for lead Abby, hitting all her comedic beats with surprising ease, but the best part of Happiest Season may be the stellar performances given by the secondary characters.

Best friend John, played by the always hilarious and endearing Dan Levy, breathes life into the film just as it begins to deflate, while Mary Holland — as neglected and lovable sister Jane — provides some of the film’s biggest laughs.

There’s also Aubrey Plaza in the role of ex-girlfriend Riley, who, for what’s it worth, has enough chemistry with Stewart to leave viewers wondering if maybe the wrong two people ended up together, after all.

5. Becoming (Netflix)

In a year like 2020, there is nothing more comforting (or necessary) than a documentary centered around one of the most inspiring beacons of hope we’ve known in our lifetimes — former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Self-narrated, Becoming feels like listening to someone read their diary out loud; it’s intimate and personal, entertaining and wise, with just the right amount of familiarity.

While much of the story does in fact revolve around her eight years as First Lady to the President, Becoming is much more inspirational and carefree than anything else, detailing her hopes and dreams for the future, and highlighting the incredible connections she’s made with people along the way.

Some viewers may be eager for inside secrets of White House scandals and gossip, but choosing a cozy, home movie approach over a more expose like narrative feels much more appropriate in a year where political controversies have become no more than daily anecdotes on our Twitter feeds that leave us numb and resentful towards those that lead us.

6. Uncle Frank (Amazon)

Sometimes, the best form of escapism is going back to better times, and Uncle Frank provides the perfect retro Americana road trip film to keep your soul happy and your mind entertained.

Paul Bettany brings peculiar yet effervescent protagonist Frank to life in wildly endearing ways, bringing light to an otherwise melodramatic film, bathed in the harsh reality of bigotry, homophobia, and deep-rooted family issues.

Viewing Frank’s world through the lens of niece Beth (Sophia Lillis) — a wide-eyed, coming of age teen whose innate goodness can’t comprehend her families prejudice — lays a strong moral foundation for the film, teaching it’s viewers that sometimes family isn’t blood, and there’s nothing wrong with embracing exactly who you are.

7. The Half Of It (Netflix)

Possibly the most underrated film of 2020, The Half Of It is a deeply layered story full of integrity, heart, and imperative social commentary masked as a teenage romantic comedy.

Ellie is faced with an endless amount of uphill battles. She has feelings for classmate Aster, is in the impossible situation of falling her best friends girl, and must confront the reality of her sexuality in a town filled with people who believe homosexuality is nothing more than a sin.

Leah Lewis plays Ellie Chu with a fragility that is all too relatable. Her dynamics with both her father (Collin Chou) and unlikely best friend Paul (Daniel Diemer) will leave a nostalgic ache in your heart, for a time where coming clean about who you are, runs the risk of losing everyone you love in the process.

The LGBTQIA+ community has seen a small multitude of wins in the film industry these past few years, but a movie like The Half Of It — intricate and powerful, with a female Chinese American queer character as its lead — may be the biggest one yet.

8. Enola Holmes (Netflix)

An entertaining twist on a popular classic, Enola Holmes centers around the little sister of world-renowned detective Sherlock (Henry Cavill), as she hunts for answers about her mother’s disappearance.

The film itself is fast-paced, immensely clever, and insanely fun, but Millie Bobby Brown’s charming depiction of young heroine Enola takes things to the next level as she manages to not just outsmart her infamous brother, but has a total blast doing it.

The film’s biggest strength — beyond its exceptional casting of Brown and Cavill — is in its decision to break the fourth wall, allowing Enola to provide viewers with a firsthand adventure as she navigates through endless twists and turns.

Every surprise is satisfying, and every single beat is used as an indelible detail to enrich the film’s final payoff. It is not just a purely enjoyable one-off adventure, but something you hope to see extend into a long-running franchise for a young star like Brown.

9. The Life Ahead (Netflix)

Adapted from the novel “The Life Before Us” by author Romain Gary, The Life Ahead is possibly the most poignant and heart-wrenching film of 2020. Starring Sophia Loren and newcomer Ibrahima Gueye, the film takes a raw look at an unlikely bond made between a Holocaust survivor and the boy who robbed her.

The Life Ahead is truly an emotional tour de force — a highlight for Loren in a career that spans over seventy years, and a story rooted in lessons of love, tolerance, and the ability for human growth.

Living as a caretaker for impoverished children, the empathy Loren’s Madame Rosa carries for the children she takes in, becomes the driving force to this beautifully told story. It will not just inevitably leave you in tears, but the friendship and compassion that blooms between Momo and Rosa will undoubtedly restore your faith in humanity.

10. Unpregnant (HBO Max)

Presenting itself as a good time road trip teen comedy, Unpregnant cleverly threads poignancy underneath wackiness, depicting a woman’s struggle to maintain independence over her own body in the timeliest of ways.

Childhood friends Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson) and Bailey (Barbie Ferriera) are on a cross-country quest, complete with an array of unhinged hurdles they must conquer in order to reach their final destination.

It’s a wildly fun ride, but those outrageous obstacles are used as a satirical approach to highlight the absurd lengths women must go to take control of their own bodies.

While the film won’t be changing the tense debate over abortion as we know it, it’s an incredibly brave display (written by, about, and for women) on why we have to, at the very least, give it a try. 

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What were your favorite TV movies in 2020? Did your favorite film make Kat’s list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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