Joker, Succession And Watchmen Make AFI's Top 10 Lists For 2019

The American Film Institute announced its year-end top 10 lists for both film and television with familiar titles such as “Marriage Story,” “The Farewell,” “Succession” and “Watchmen” making the cut.  In what is becoming a common occurrence, AFI awarded “Parasite” and “Fleabag,” both international productions, “special award” designations.

READ MORE: “The Irishman” wins Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor from NYFCC

The complete lists are as follows:

AFI MOTION PICTURES OF THE YEAR

1917
THE FAREWELL
THE IRISHMAN
JOJO RABBIT
JOKER
KNIVES OUT
LITTLE WOMEN
MARRIAGE STORY
ONCE UPON A TIME IN…HOLLYWOOD
RICHARD JEWELL

SPECIAL AWARD

PARASITE

AFI TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

CHERNOBYL
THE CROWN
FOSSE/VERDON
GAME OF THRONES
POSE
SUCCESSION
UNBELIEVABLE
VEEP
WATCHMEN
WHEN THEY SEE US

SPECIAL AWARD

FLEABAG

According to AFI, the two juries that selected the honors included actor John Amos, director Lesli Linka Glatter, writer Callie Khouri, actor Delroy Lindo and director Betty Thomas; renowned authors and scholars representing prestigious universities with recognized motion picture arts and television programs; film historian Leonard Maltin; the AFI Board of Trustees; and film and television critics from media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, TV Guide and Variety. The juries were chaired by AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chairs Tom Pollock (former Vice Chairman of MCA, Chairman of Universal Pictures) for film and Richard Frank (former Chairman of Walt Disney Television, President of Walt Disney Studios, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) for television.

While only a handful of AMPAS members are part of the selection process, the AFI Top 10 is arguably a better snapshot of the Oscar race than say, the National Board of Review’s top 10 list.  That’s probably not good news for the Best Picture nominee prospects for “Bombshell,” “Ford v. Ferrari,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” “Hustlers,” “Us,” “The Two Popes,” “Rocketman” or “Uncut Gems.”  

On the television side, another year of fantastic television saw snubs for “Barry,” “Russian Doll,” “Veep,” “Ramy,” “Leaving Neverland,” “Big Little Lies” and “Game of Thrones.”  It’s unclear if “The Mandalorian” was eligible.

The AFI Top 10 honorees will be celebrated at a luncheon on Jan 3.