1 A United Kingdom (12A)

(Amma Asante, 2016, US/UK/Cze) 111 mins.
The telling is conventional but the true story told here is anything but: a prince from Botswana (David Oyelowo) makes a London typist (Rosamund Pike) his princess in 1940s, nearly-post-colonial Britain, their relationship facing resistance from both sides. Candid yet idealistic, it’s a refreshing romantic epic.

2 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (12A)

(David Yates, 2016, UK/US) 133 mins.

A welcome return to JK Rowling’s rich magical world, as exuberantly rendered as the Harry Potter movies but with a more grown-up focus: mythical fauna expert Eddie Redmayne, whose trip to a benighted parallel 1920s New York leads to monster mayhem. Classy escapism with some real-world resonance.

3 Paterson (15)

(Jim Jarmusch, 2016, US) 118 mins.

An atonal fanfare for the common man, Jarmusch’s latest follows a bus driver/poet going about his almost-ordinary life in a way that some will find nourishingly zen-like and others irritatingly winsome. What holds it together is Adam Driver’s central performance as a contained, contemplative soul whose daily rounds feed him inspiration and us plenty of food for thought.

4 Arrival (12A)

(Denis Villeneuve, 2016, US) 116 mins.

Alien invasion presents a crisis for the planet and an intellectual puzzle for linguist Amy Adams, as she attempts to decipher extraterrestrial intentions. It’s a different kind of sci-fi: smart and philosophical, beautifully designed and packing a surprising emotional punch.

5 The Wailing (15) 

(Na Hong-jin, 2016, US/S Kor) 150 mins.

A spate of inexplicable killings sets off a gripping, occasionally terrifying, rural whodunit that constantly catches you off guard, both with its shocks and its incongruous mix of gore, occult horror, suspense and comedy. Technically accomplished and steeped in atmosphere, it spirals into the heart of darkness.