Pedro Almodóvar Names 'First Cow,' 'Little Joe' & More As His Favorite Films Of 2020

When you want to hear recommendations for the Best Films of 2020, you could listen to critics, outlets, or even your friends and family. However, sometimes you can just take the word of one of the best filmmakers on the planet, like Pedro Almodóvar.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2020

As seen at El Deseo, Almodóvar released his favorite films of 2020. And while there are some that will be near the top of most every list you’re bound to read this time of year, such as “First Cow,” “Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always,” and “Another Round,” the filmmaker does also bring up a few features that are actually pretty surprising. Not because they’re generally thought of as bad, but because these are films that haven’t had nearly the buzz at the end of the year that they might have deserved.

READ MORE: ‘I’m No Longer Here’: The Joys Of Dance & Culture Are At The Heart Of This Touching Drama [Review]

Films like “I’m No Longer Here,” from filmmaker Fernando Frias, and “Little Joe,” from director Jessica Hausner, are two features that we gave really good reviews for over the course of the year, but haven’t been able to break through to the general Best Of discourse. They are features that don’t have major star power and are from up-and-coming filmmakers, but they both are unique and definitely deserve attention.

READ MORE: Jessica Hausner’s ‘Little Joe’: A Chilling Take On Happiness In The Bioengineering Age [Cannes Review]

In regards to “I’m No Longer Here,” Almodóvar described the film as “an unexpected Mexican film with a protagonist of irresistible charm. Great photography and splendid soundtrack.” As for “Little Joe,” he said, “Since her revelation in Lourdes, this is the best film of the singular Jessica Hausner. Rare among the weird ones.”

Almodovar’s Best Films of 2020 list includes:

“First Cow”
“The Devil All the Time”
“Another Round”
“Swallow”
“I’m No Longer Here”
“Little Joe”
“Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always”
“The Painter and the Thief”

For his complete thoughts on the films, you can go over to El Deseo.

Click here to follow along with our various Best of 2020 lists.