10. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
In a year with few memorable, family friendly comedies, this sequel picked up where the first left off, charming us with laugh-out-loud moments.
9. CARS 2
Measuring up to the standards set by other Disney/Pixar films is hard, but CARS 2 sometimes felt like it was running on empty. Points for amazing animation though.
8. RIO
RIO ruffled our feathers—in a good way. Bright, bold animation helped earn this flick its “best of” status, but the vocal talents of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway deserve the gold stars.
7. RANGO
We found a seriously unique hero in this hit, which surprised audiences of all ages with its decidedly different—and thoughtful—take on the Western genre.
6. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON
Refreshingly, this doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a brawl of robotic proportions between good and evil. It even made us forget the headache that was REVENGE OF THE FALLEN.
5. KUNG FU PANDA 2
As entertaining as ever, Po and his pals made a welcomed return with a dazzling spectacle of a sequel. Wonder if they’ll go for a third movie?
4. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Missed by many in theatres, FIRST CLASS was a study in how to go back to basics with superheroes. The retro vibe, serious tone and outstanding cast easily made this the best in the X series.
3. JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER
Non-Belieber? Not after seeing this concert documentary. Witness JB’s journey from humble Canadian roots and then try saying that he doesn’t deserve the fame.
2. THOR
An unfamiliar superhero, an unknown lead and a Shakespearean actor/director at the helm could have equaled a colossal fail. Surprisingly then, THOR delivered on the action, introducing us to the Norse god and making us even more excited for THE AVENGERS.
1. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2
We laughed, we cried and we cheered. The only complaint? That this truly classic series has come to an end.