Major studio filmmaking struggled again with consistency and originality in 2016. Of all the big studios, Disney fared the best in terms of box office and overall quality, even gifting the world two excellent non-sequel animated films with “Zootopia” and “Moana.”

Almost everywhere else, big budget spectacles disappointed. The smaller studios, however, delivered an excellent assortment of lower-budget titles. Best of all, streaming video platforms like Netflix and Amazon have made it even easier to see the movies. Of the 100+ movies I saw in 2016, these 20 are my favorites, and many are already available to see from the comfort of your home.

Consider it a placeholder list, as many of the year’s most acclaimed films, including “Silence” and “Jackie” didn’t arrive in the Inland Northwest in time for consideration.

1. “LA LA LAND”

Damien Chazelle’s audacious and superbly crafted musical is considered the heavy favorite to win the Best Picture Academy Award, which means the backlash to the film will only grow in the weeks to come.

While I can accept some of the criticism lobbed at the movie, even the most reasoned and intelligent arguments won’t take away the fact that “La La Land” was the most joyous experience I had at the movies this year.

Nobody can really argue about the expertise behind the camera. Color explodes from the screen, the musical score and choreography combine classic Hollywood elements with modern flourishes, and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone bring a unique combination of movie star charisma and rawness to the central performances.

Nostalgia and lavish production dominate the first hour of “La La Land,” but the movie builds into something special in the second half. It becomes less about artistic dreams and the love of old Hollywood and more about the choices and sacrifices made in the pursuit of creativity. From Stone’s jaw-dropping “audition” scene all the way through the subversive and beautiful climactic number, “La La Land” finds its own unique place in the long-dormant genre.

There’s just so much passion on the screen, yet it never teeters into easy, crowd-pleasing manipulation. It earns its emotional wallop, and for me, seeing it on the big screen was like falling in love with the movies all over again. Now in theaters.

2. “SING STREET”

Some people live with songs in their hearts. My 5-year-old daughter certainly does. Though I would never describe myself that way, the pop culture that made me happiest in 2016 all celebrated the revolutionary power of music.

I melted for “La La Land,” listened to the “Hamilton” soundtrack on a 365-day loop, and, last spring, I sat in an empty movie theater and discovered the blissful, Dublin-set musical, “Sing Street,” from “Once” writer/director John Carney.

Yes, it follows a familiar, coming-of-age formula. Yes, the ending is a little cheesy. But the movie makes such a compelling argument for the power of creation and collaboration, and the music gleefully recreates the sound and goofball spirit of the ’80s. Carney anchors his story around a compelling group of largely unknown actors, and the movie even sells its climactic schmaltz thanks to a standout performance by Jack Reynor as the big brother every rock star-wannabe needs.

“Sing Street” also contains my favorite scene of the year — A high school band steps on the gymnasium stage to record a low-fi music video, and our lead singer begins to imagine a room filled with ’50s-era prom-goers. It’s the best “Back to the Future” moment in a movie not titled “Back to the Future.” Watch on Netflix Instant.

3. “O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA”

Yes, this nearly eight-hour documentary produced by ESPN counts as a movie. It screened at a number of festivals and it will most definitely be the frontrunner of its category on Oscar night. A breathtaking collection of interviews and rare footage offers a perspective on the O.J. Simpson murder trial that couldn’t be observed at the time.

The narrative is addictive — I watched the entire thing in two sittings and within 24 hours. It weaves a mesmerizing analysis of celebrity culture, judicial corruption and institutional racism all while delivering the high-thrills of a classic courtroom drama. Watch on Hulu.

4. “MOONLIGHT”

Writer/director Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” is a small film told big. Vibrant cinematography and an unforgettable score support a story about a young man wrestling with how he chooses to define himself. Three actors play the character in three separate chapters — one as a young boy, the next as a teenager and finally as a young adult. The actors really look nothing alike, but you feel the character and his struggle as the story moves forward. It’s small, simple choices by Jenkins and his actors that turn a conversation in a diner into one of the most thrilling and satisfying moments of the year. Now playing in Spokane.

5. “ARRIVAL”

Denis Villeneuve’s brainy sci-fi spectacle makes a timely, compelling case for the lost art of listening. It’s a fascinating study in how fear without knowledge proves to be more dangerous than an alien occupation. That and a commanding performance by Amy Adams is enough for one excellent movie, but an ingenious twist adds even more nuance to the final (and opening) minutes. Now playing at the Hayden Discount Cinema.

6. “SWISS ARMY MAN”

Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse with a unique set of survival skills in this proudly unhinged examination of human connection. Directed by the duo known as Daniels, “Swiss Army Man” is beautifully shot and surprisingly thoughtful in its depiction of loneliness and isolation. Even more bonkers than all the dead body flatulence — a third act tonal shift that wouldn’t work without the reckless confidence of the film’s directors and stars. It’s not for everybody, obviously. Available on home video platforms.

7. “HELL OR HIGH WATER”

A thrilling neo-Western with four soulful performances, “Hell or High Water” is the kind of cops-and-robbers movie where you can’t easily choose a side. Set in a modern middle America of struggle and decay, the film’s uncanny sense of place informs every twist and turn. Available on home video platforms.

8. “MANCHESTER BY THE SEA”

Even though Kenneth Lonergan’s film about unspeakable grief won’t be remembered as the feel-good movie of 2016, it’s remarkable how much humor and warmth spills out of its impeccable screenplay. Casey Affleck gives the performance of the year as a man forced to care for his teenage nephew after (another) family tragedy. Now in theaters.

9. “THE HANDMAIDEN”

Park Chan-wook (“Oldboy”) makes gorgeous films, even when the subject matter revels in the darkest pockets of human behavior. “The Handmaiden” has its share of explicit content and unpredictable twists, but there’s a warmth for its characters and even a believable jolt of old-fashioned romance in there too. On home video platforms in February.

10. “POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING”

The third musical in my top 10, “Popstar” bombed hard at the box office back in May, despite uniformly rave reviews and the seemingly golden presence of Justin Timberlake. I’m a huge fan of Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island crew, and even I didn’t see it in a movie theater. What a mistake. “Popstar” is a hilarious takedown of celebrity and millennial culture, boasting the best joke-to-laugh ratio of any studio comedy this past decade. Even the “bad” hip-hop is catchy. Available on home video platforms.

11. “HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE”

A city kid and his grizzled foster father (Sam Neill) learn to tolerate each other while surviving the New Zealand wilderness in this offbeat comedy from Taika Waititi, director of the hilarious “What We Do in the Shadows.” Waititi’s technical prowess amplifies his detail-rich and stealthily poignant script. Watch on Hulu.

12. “THE LOBSTER”

Twisted, dry humor pulses through this bizarre sci-fi drama about loneliness and the insufferable nature of modern romance. Colin Farrell plays a divorced man who must find a new companion at a luxurious resort or be forced into becoming a lobster. Yep, it gets crazier from there. Watch on Amazon Prime.

13. “13th”

Director Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) crafts an exhaustive and convincing indictment of the American judicial system and how the country’s racial divide can be traced to actions made on both sides of the aisle. It’s a documentary that will change minds. Watch on Netflix Instant.

14. “THE FITS”

A strange affliction grips the young girls of a city community center, and 11-year-old Toni watches wondering why it isn’t happening to her. A spare, rhythmic and quietly thrilling feature debut from Anna Rose Holmer. Watch on Amazon Prime.

15. “THE WITCH”

Another stunning feature film debut, this one from Robert Eggers. Set in 17th century New England and featuring dense time-period accurate language, “The Witch” uses its opaque details to heighten the evil lurking in the woods. Not your typical jump-scare horror film, but you’ll probably have nightmares about Black Phillip for weeks. Watch on Amazon Prime.

16. “CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR”

A blockbuster so overstuffed with superheroes shouldn’t be as nimble and fun as “Civil War.” Yet, Marvel continues finding ways to justify its ever-expanding canvas. The airport battle is the best thing we’ve seen from any big screen comic book adaptation. Watch on Netflix Instant.

17. “TOWER”

This gripping documentary combines archival footage, dramatic reenactment, modern-day interviews and rotoscope animation to recount the 1966 mass shooting at the University of Texas that left 16 people dead and dozens wounded. The movie never strays from the perspective of the heroes and survivors from that day, yet the film has a somber immediacy. Available to rent on YouTube.com.

18. “AMERICAN HONEY”

A sprawling and beautifully-shot road movie from Andrea Arnold (“Fish Tank”) about a group of teenagers who travel across middle America selling magazines door-to-door. Newcomer Sasha Lane acts as the audience surrogate as a desperate newcomer to the group, while Shia LaBeouf turns in the best performance of his career as the skeevy object of her affection. Available on home video platforms.

19. “HAIL, CAESAR!”

Coen Brothers comedies always reward repeat viewings, and the controlled lunacy of “Hail, Caesar!” only becomes funnier as you begin to untangle how the movie uses the setting of a 1950s Hollywood studio to make broader points about religion, the nature of monetizing creativity and the value of difficult work. “Would that it were so simple.” Available on home video platforms.

20. “GREEN ROOM”

A relentless exercise in cascading tension, Jeremy Saulnier’s “Green Room” pits a punk rock band against a remote Oregon roadhouse full of vicious dogs and white supremacists. Patrick Stewart plays the year’s most terrifying villain, and he barely raises his voice. Watch on Amazon Prime.

Honorable Mention: “I Am Not a Serial Killer,” “The Neon Demon,” “The Witness,” “Zootopia,” “Star Trek Beyond,” “Moana,” “The Nice Guys,” “10 Cloverfield Lane,” “Krisha.”

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.