The past year has been monumental for film, with smaller indie releases becoming large hits and massive releases including “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Force Awakens” and “Jurassic World” becoming two of the highest-grossing films of all time. The year was filled with great films being released in numerous formats. Here are some of The DePaulia’s favorite films of the year.

Erin Yarnall, Arts & Life Editor

This was a year filled with great movies including big-budget films like Pixar’s “Inside Out” which dominated the silver screen to films only designated for the television screen, including HBO’s “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” and “Beasts of No Nation” which simultaneously premiered in theaters and on Netflix. This year also was filled with awesome films that left me feeling incredibly nostalgic, including the new “Star Wars” which reignited my childhood love for the franchise, and “Goosebumps” which continued my love that never left for the classic children’s horror series. In addition to the nostalgic films, it was also a year for widely inventive films including “It Follows” and “Ex Machina.” Overall, 2015 was one of my favorite years for movies, starting strong, and ending even stronger with me dying to see the new “Star Wars.” I can’t wait to see what next year has to offer.

1. “Mad Max: Fury Road”
2. “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”

3. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
4. “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck”
5. “Inside Out”
6. “Ex Machina”
7. “It Follows”
8. “Beasts of No Nation”
9. “Trainwreck”
10. “Goosebumps”

Reed Lubin, Contributing Writer

“Can’t we all just get along?” clamored “99 HOMES,” the rare half small-budgeted, half studio project that left audiences around the nation floored after screenings. As each year goes by, there seems to be an ever-growing feeling within the movie fan community that smaller films are on their way out and pretty soon we’re only going to get $300 million tent poles from now on. Well fear not, for I have good news. Yes, if you’re a fan of big budget action spectacles then you are in store for quite a fantastic future as a movie fan. But, if you are a fan of smaller indie projects or movies that don’t involve giant robots falling out of the sky, well you’re in luck too, as there are tons of those “smaller” films being released each month, you just might have to go to your friendly neighborhood indie movie theater to find one. With all of that being said, here is my list of the ten best movies of 2015, which range from CGI behemoths to human-centered, tiny festival films.

1. “Spotlight”
2. “The Diary of a Teenage Girl”
3. “Sicario”
4. “Inside Out”
5. “Creed”
6. “Trainwreck”
7. “The Gift”
8. “99 Homes”
9. “Room”
10. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

Matt Koske, Staff Writer

2015 was a visceral year for the big screen. As for me, my expectations were not just met, but they were exceeded. Obviously the blockbusters made their money, that was a given, but what shines through the most are the indies. Aspiring, young creative minds took over the industry in ways that changed how movies are created, produced and viewed. Thus, expanding the comfort zones of normalcy in today’s film industry. Expect the blockbusters to make their cash and independent projects to seek light for moviegoers and aspiring filmmakers. 2015 broke many records, it will be interesting to see the implications of these successful films and how they roll into award season and the highly anticipated year of movies in 2016.

1. “Anomalisa”
2. “Ex Machina”
3. “It Follows”
4. “Mad Max: Fury Road”
5. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
6. “The End of the Tour”
7. “Spotlight”
8. “Pheonix”
9. “Red Army”
10. “Inside Out”