To say that 2017 was an incredible year for films would be a vast understatement. The year was full of extraordinary films ranging from the typical blockbuster tentpoles like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Wonder Woman to the indie darlings like The Big Sick and Lady Bird. And the best thing about it, a lot of these movies come from first-time directors, women, and veterans like Jordan Peele, Patty Jenkins, Greta Gerwig, and Rian Johnson. It’s not easy to see all of the films that are released within the one calendar year, but I make sure I damn well try to see as much as I can, and 2017 was no different. I went out to see over 100 films, and to narrow it down to 10 best within the field of exceptional titles that were released was hard. While best is subjective, I tried to narrow it down to the 10 films that meant the most to me that I enjoyed thoroughly.

So, you’ll find the 10 of my favorite movies of 2017 that I could not stop thinking about, along with a few honorable mentions. Check them all out here below.

Ladies and gentlemen, that sainted time of year is once again upon us. Stuffed to the eyeballs with carbohydrate-loaded food, we suck in our guts, put on our finest ensemble of pajama pants and Crocs, and venture out to the nearest mall/shopping center/big box retailer/gas station/roadside flea market to secure gifts for the ones we love. Meanwhile, the ones we tolerate will simply have to suffice with “A Tree Has Been Planted In Your Name” certificates and that fruitcake your grandfather accidentally sat on during Sunday dinner.

As we do every time around this time, Geeks Of Doom has provided for you a comprehensive guide to the finest films and TV series released to DVD and Blu-ray in 2017 (if you’re holding out for laserdisc or Betamax editions of these titles, I both pity and respect you) for you and yours to enjoy for generations to come.

Check out this year’s Holiday Geek Gift Guide: Blu-ray & DVD Edition…

So far, 2017 has been yet another interesting year at the movies – plenty of record-smashing blockbusters, even more embarrassing flops and failed franchise starters, and some unique indies that always tend to fly under the radar. We still have a few more months to go and lots more to watch, both on the big screen, the small screen, and the even smaller screens of our desktops and laptops. The ride has yet to begin, I fear.

Submitted for your approval, here are the top 10 best films I’ve seen to date this year. I still have many more to catch up, so good thing I have several streaming options that are really worth the money.

War for the Planet of the Apes
Director: Matt Reeves
Screenwriter: Mark Bomback, Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller, Karin Konoval, Judy Greer, Terry Notary
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Rated PG-13 | 142 Minutes
Release Date: July 14, 2017

“Apes. Together. Strong.”

In 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a scientific experiment gives rise to a species of intelligent apes, and a virus that brings humanity to the brink of extinction. The sentient apes flourish in the absence of humans until they’re discovered by a small band of survivors in 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The species struggle to coexist, but their fragile peace is shattered by Koba, a former lab chimp so consumed with hatred for the humans that he betrays his leader, the noble chimpanzee Caesar, to incite war against them.

Enter War for the Planet of the Apes, the third and final chapter of 20th Century Fox’s critically acclaimed series. Directed by Matt Reeves (of Cloverfield, Let Me In, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), War delivers a powerful and poignant climax to one of the greatest film trilogies of all time, with complex characters, soulful performances, and the most impressive special effects I’ve ever seen. Not only is it one of the best movies of the summer, it’s one of the best films of 2017 “” an unparalleled work of blockbuster filmmaking that is as thought-provoking as it is awe-inspiring.

War for the Planet of the Apes: Revelations
The Official Movie Prequel
By Greg Keyes
Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
Publisher: Titan Books
Release date: June 6, 2017

In 2011, FOX’s successfully rebooted the Planet of the Apes film franchise with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which centered on Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee born in an animal-testing lab whose early life is spent with a human family. Excellently mo-cap performed by Lord Of The Rings star Andy Serkis, Caesar struggled to find his place amongst humans, and then eventually landed in an abusive animal shelter before leading a revolt of his fellow apes against their human handlers. In 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel set ten years after the events of Rise, the human race had been nearly wiped out by a virus that in turn made the apes more intelligent. Here, Caesar tried to keep the peace between his ape tribe and the human survivors, but it became clear that war was coming. Which brings us to the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes.