One of the benefits of film is that it is a visual media, and that means that it can do in a frame what it might take a book several pages of description to pull off. Where we see this the most is in its ability to build worlds in front of our eyes.

These worlds could be great space operas that explore galaxies, or a small period piece that looks back in time, or anything. But when every part of the film is being used to tell a story, you know it is good.   

So without further ado, these are films that showed excellence in Worldbuilding 2020. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead for the films in question. Also, you can click on the banners to go to the full reviews.

Emma

Emma brings the Regency world of high collars and high intrigue to life in every outfit, every manor house, and every carriage ride through the countryside.

Directed by – Autumn de Wilde
Screenplay by – Eleanor Catton

Let Him Go

To a different time of small-town America, where families can control whole towns, and despair can be everywhere.              

Directed by – Thomas Bezucha
Screenplay by – Thomas Bezucha
Based on – Let Him Go by Larry Watson

Sound of Metal

Every part of this world feels real. This is a film about authenticity and which Sound of Metal has in spades.  

Directed by – Darius Marder
Story by – Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
Screenplay by – Darius Marder & Abraham Marder

The Croods: A New Age

At every turn in this film, we get presented by something beautiful, something fascinating, or something straight-up weird, including a whole language, created out of punches and slaps.        

Directed by – Joel Crawford
Story by – Kirk DeMicco & Chris Sanders
Screenplay by – Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Paul Fisher & Bob Logan
Based on – Characters by Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders & John Cleese

The Old Guard

This might be one of the silliest concepts that I have seen all year, yet this film takes that silliness and literally rides it into battle.  

Directed by – Gina Prince-Bythewood
Screenplay by – Greg Rucka
Based on – The Old Guard by Greg Rucka & Leandro Fernández

And the Winner is!!!!! – Sound of Metal

People sometimes forget that worldbuilding is just as critical in a film set in the current time as it is from a period work. In fact, it is more important given how quickly you can fall into a visual uncanny valley. Every part of this film, from the sound design, to the locations, to the cast is used to create this world. Without this work, the emotion would not land, and you would lose a core part of what makes this film as good as it is.  

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2020?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studio and artists of each film