As we bid farewell to 2016, it’s about time we sum up our moviegoing experiences through a list of our favourite movies of the past year.

Although the year 2016 had some shares of highs and lows in entertainment, it had been a pretty good year for movie aficionados. We once again entered the realm of JK Rowling’s imagination, got two new Marvel instalments, and a standalone Star Wars treat.

Of course, critical and box office disappointments also came our way, but that’s another thing to talk about in the future.

We at Daveys, would like to share our personal favourites of the past year. Excited to find out what we’ve chosen?

In no particular order, here are the top 7 movies we enjoyed in 2016:

Captain America: Civil War

The Captain America movie franchise is a great filler for the much awaited Avengers films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe never fails to enthrall us with new content, despite the fact that the characters are all adaptations of existing ones in the comic books. Surprises are always in store for Marvel fans.

This time, Captain America presented a great sequel to its 2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The relationship between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes is once again tested in Civil War.

In spite the addition of major players- Black Widow, Iron Man, Spider-man, Antman, Scarlette Witch- the film never loses sight of Steve Roger’s story. This could have been another Avengers sequel, but it didn’t feel like it was as we were drawn to the story following Bucky’s recovery and reunion with Steve.  Captain America: Civil War is a jam-packed movie with its relevant characters and deep plot. It made us care of the core story as much as we care about the other characters added in the mix.

Deadpool

Upon knowing that the Merc with a Mouth was going to get an R-rating, we surmised the movie would be a hell of a good one. It’s something we wouldn’t like to miss watching on the big screen. And boy, Deadpool didn’t disappoint us one bit.

In all its bloody and vulgar glory, this superhero managed to put a huge grin on our faces all throughout the film. Ryan Reynolds is the perfect Deadpool, and we can’t imagine anyone else portray the silly character better than the said actor.

Deadpool is uber rambunctious and memorable that we can’t help but chuckle every time we remember its witty lines. We definitely can’t wait for the sequel!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Young and old Harry Potter fans, rejoice! The Wizarding World is back with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. And it’s just the first film in a new Potter series, with four films still lined up.

The movie has a properly balanced plot. It’s lighthearted with subplots that could be something major in the future instalments. It’s an adult take of the original series we adored, but with a whimsical tone of the first two Harry Potter films and dark mood of the latter films.

If you’re like us who have a penchant for magic and adventure, the series is something you’d likely anticipate sequel after sequel.

Ghostbusters

Before it hit the silver screen,  Ghostbuster gained a bad rap because of the reboot’s new characters- women. When it came out, naysayers had their jaws dropping because the movie turned out to be awesome. While others are still strong to the notion that it isn’t a perfect movie just to validate their earlier claims, we already knew much that what they’re talking about is B.S.

As far as movie going experiences are concerned, we enjoyed the heck out of the movie. Sure, the jokes are child-friendly than what we’re used to seeing, but they still didn’t fail to give us genuine laughs, especially those scenes with Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth in them

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

As a so-called standalone Star Wars film,  Rogue One had some big shoes to fill. It had to insert itself neatly before Episode IV, and it did a good job just doing that. It even enhanced the storyline, as far as the Star Wars plot is concerned.

Although it had a different tone than what we’ve become used to in a Star Wars movie, that didn’t put the film in the disadvantage. In the face of seemingly unbeatable odds, the film carried a message of undying hope and courage, even in the clutches of death and destruction.

Zootopia

Zootopia isn’t just another animated movie. It has beautiful animation and an expansive world where animals rule and made good of themselves. It’s visually stunning and had us giggling over the modern-day references the filmmakers threw in the film.

But more than just its visual treat is a lesson about diversity and acceptance. The movie creators made sure that the story would appeal to adults as much as they appealed to children. Aside from the good story, the movie gave us relatable characters, adventure, action, and a moral lesson that should be installed in each and everyone’s mind.

Finding Dory

Following the steps of its predecessor, Finding Dory proved to be as entertaining and emotional. Obviously a fan favourite in Finding Nemo, having Dory in her own movie was something we really looked forward to, though it took so long for Pixar to make that move.

Finding Dory is a fun family movie. But it doesn’t just stop there. The message about acceptance, family, and friendship truly hit home for us who watched it.

What was your favourite movie of 2016?