Best Movies of 2009, Ranked

41 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-08-14.

A collection of films that blend heart, chaos, destiny, and raw emotional punch. These stories explore love that survives time, family bonds under pressure, fate you can’t escape, and the moments that shape who we become. From epic battles

1. 1
   The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

   ★★★★★
2. 2
   Inglourious Basterds (2009)

   ★★★★★

   The opening score sets the tone right away.

3. 3
   Knowing (2009)

   ★★★★½
4. 4
   Angels & Demons (2009)

   ★★★★½
5. 5
   District 9 (2009)

   ★★★★½
6. 6
   2012 (2009)

   ★★★★½
7. 7
   Polytechnique (2009)

   ★★★★½

   A Denis Villeneuve film where I can really feel the tension through the characters’ motivations and the musical score.

8. 8
   Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

   ★★★★
9. 9
   Avatar (2009)

   ★★★★
10. 10
    The Hangover (2009)

    ★★★★
11. 11
    Up (2009)

    ★★★★
12. 12
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

    ★★★★
13. 13
    Up in the Air (2009)

    ★★★★
14. 14
    3 Idiots (2009)

    ★★★★
15. 15
    Orphan (2009)

    ★★★★
16. 16
    The Lovely Bones (2009)

    ★★★★
17. 17
    Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

    ★★★★
18. 18
    Fast & Furious (2009)

    ★★★★
19. 19
    Saw VI (2009)

    ★★★★
20. 20
    Sherlock Holmes (2009)

    ★★★½
21. 21
    X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

    ★★★½
22. 22
    Surrogates (2009)

    ★★★½
23. 23
    Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

    ★★★½
24. 24
    Watchmen (2009)

    ★★★½
25. 25
    Zombieland (2009)

    ★★★½
26. 26
    Exam (2009)

    ★★★½
27. 27
    The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

    ★★★½
28. 28
    Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

    ★★★½
29. 29
    G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

    ★★★½
30. 30
    Star Trek (2009)

    ★★★½
31. 31
    The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

    ★★★½

    You gotta trust a movie when it has a Scott directing, a train, and Denzel Washington right in the middle of it.

32. 32
    (500) Days of Summer (2009)

    ★★★
33. 33
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

    ★★★
34. 34
    Ninja Assassin (2009)

    ★★★
35. 35
    9 (2009)

    ★★½
36. 36
    17 Again (2009)

    ★★
37. 37
    Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009)

    ★★

    The trumpet and tap dance scene immediately got my attention.

38. 38
    Julie & Julia (2009)

    ★★

    I experience this as a relatable story about creative persistence and passion, where the emotional core connects with me more than the performances.

39. 39
    Dragonball Evolution (2009)
40. 40
    Monsters vs Aliens (2009)

    ★½
41. 41
    Public Enemies (2009)

    ★½

    The cinematography sometimes feels like a documentary.