As of December 31, 2009, there were 137 movies that garnered $10 million or more in box office receipts. I have seen 32 of those movies and plan to see 15 others. This is a list of who I think is the top 5 movies of the year. This list is not an Academy Award winners list but 5 of the movies I think were the most entertaining and best made movies of the year.

1.     I Love You, Man – This is the best comedy of the year. Paul Rudd plays the loser and Jason Segal plays the new friend, a guy who every guy wishes was their best friend.

2.     District 9 / Invictus – While these are two very different movies, they both deal with race and convincingly show us that apartheid was truly a foolish idea of the South African people. As Rodney King stated, why can’t we just all get along?

3.     Star Trek – The best blockbuster of the year because it was a reinvention of a series instead of a tired old version of itself like other sequels. The new cast will work perfectly for years to come.

4.     Julie & Julia – The chick flick of the year, Meryl Streep does her best Julia Child impression while Amy Adams continues to steal out hearts.

5.     Taken – The best original action movie of the year. Lesson learned: don’t mess with Liam Neeson.

Honorable Mention : Sherlock Holmes and Fast & Furious – both fresh and entertaining takes based on characters that had run their course, but now seem poised for another go.