"Tim Nasson's Top 10 Movies of 2006"
And Worst List, Too
December 25, 2006
Picking ten movies from the more than 600 released in theaters during the past year was a hard task. You have your comedies, dramas, romances, action films, foreign films, epics, big budget summer films, Oscar candidates, stinkers and everything in between, from which to choose!
Yes, 600 movies were released in 2006. But according to box office data, only 220 have taken in more than $1 million at the box office. If you’re shaking your head in disbelief, stop it, now! Because 380 movies released in theaters, albeit very limitedly, took in less than $1 million. Among the hundreds, some you may have heard of but didn’t see: Albert Brooks’s “Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World;” “Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker;” “Lassie,” (yes, there was a 2006 version, starring Peter O’Toole, who just may get a Best Actor Oscar nomination for “Venus,” a movie yet to take in more than $1 million, in theaters, as well). And some even I hadn’t heard of, let alone saw: “Cheech;” Mountain Patrol: Kekexili;” “Mannat;” and the most unprofitable movie of 2006, “Zyzzyx Road,” which took in a pitiful $0. No one paid to see the film, which was released in one theater, in NYC, for a total of 6 days.
Please note: “Krrish,” which I had never heard of, took in $1.4 million in its 7 days of release.
As of Christmas Day 2006, only 146 movies have taken in more than $10 million; and of those, only 53 over $50 million. A mere 16 grossed $100 million or more!
So, the criteria for my choices for Best & Worst At The Movies 2006 is: 1). I had to have seen it, (duh!); and 2). The movie had to have taken in more than $1 million at the box office during its release.
How many movies out of the more than 600 released did I see? Less than 100*. But more importantly, I only set my eyes upon 56 of the 220 movies that took in $1 million or more; about 25%, thereby giving each movie I saw an even chance at being either on the Best or Worst list!
So, unlike most critics, (and Oscar voters), who pick winners based on popularity and favoritism, not based on what they actually saw, here are my Favorite and Least Favorite Movies of 2006.
Top 10
1. Apocalypto
2. The Queen
3. Shortbus
4. Borat
5. Letters From Iwo Jima
6. The Illusionist
7. Casino Royale
8. Pan’s Labyrinth
9. United 93
10. Rocky Balboa
Bottom 10
1. Bloodrayne
2. Basic Instinct 2
3. Dreamgirls
4. Click
5. Superman Returns
6. Failure to Launch
7. Lady In The Water
8. 16 Blocks
9. The Last Kiss
10. Eragon
