Best Cinematic Moment, 2016
Home
List of Winners
Muriels HOF
Top 10 Lists
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Rules and Regulations
FAQ

1. Toni Erdmann – “The Greatest Love of All” [138.5 points / 14 votes]

2. Toni Erdmann – team building party [123/10]
3. Hail, Caesar! – “Would that it were so simple” [113/10]
4. La La Land – Epilogue [98/9]
5 (tie). Moonlight – “Hello Stranger” (diner scene) [93/9]
5 (tie). Sing Street – “Drive It Like You Stole It” [93/9]
7. Indignation – confrontation with the Dean [78/8]
8. The VVitch – finale [73.5/8]
9. Hail, Caesar! – “No Dames” [71.5/8]
10. Manchester By The Sea – Lee and Randi’s brief encounter [64/6]

11. A Bigger Splash – “Emotional Rescue” [60/5]
12. The VVitch – the agony and ecstasy of Caleb [57.5/6]
13. The VVitch – “wouldst thou like to live deliciously?” [57.5/5]
14. La La Land – “Another Day of Sun” (opening number) [51/5]
15. La La Land – “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” [48.5/4]
16. Moonlight – “What’s a faggot?” / “Do you sell drugs?” [48/4]
17. Paterson – “Water Falls” (the little girl’s poem) [47/5]
18. Hell or High Water – ordering steaks [46.5/5]
19. American Honey – ain’t no party like a cowboy party [39.5/4]
20. Zootopia – sloths at the DMV [39/4]
21. The Wailing – exorcism [39/3]
22. Sully – Miracle on the Hudson [38/4]
23. Arrival – first encounter [37/4]
24. Happy Hour – “Strange Workshop” [37/3]
25. The Fits – ending [36/5]
26. Cameraperson – baby stops breathing [36/3]
27. Certain Women – saying goodbye [35.5/3]
28. Mountains May Depart – Pet Shop Boys / Go West opening [35/3]
29 (tie). Chevalier – “Loving You” [33.5/3]
29 (tie). Midnight Special – revelation [33.5/3]
31. Sunset Song – Wedding [33/3]
32 (tie). The Handmaiden – throw away your books, run into the fields [32/3]
32 (tie). Hidden Figures – Katherine Johnson’s frustrated outburst [32/3]
34. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – “Equal Rights” [29/3]
35. Aquarius – revenge of termite art [28.5/3]
36 (tie). 20th Century Women – dinner table talk about menstruation [28/3]
36 (tie). The Lobster – final scene in the diner [28/3]
38. Cameraperson – boxer and his mother [28/2]
39. Green Room – the box cutter [27/3]
40. Fences – Rose’s final speech to her son [27/2]
41. Cemetery of Splendor – friscillating colors in the sleep disorder ward [26/3]
42. Kill Zone 2 – prison riot [25/3]
43. Hell or High Water – peace makers (ending) [24/3]
44 (tie). Certain Women – horseback ride [24/2]
44 (tie). Moonlight – final scene between Trevante Rhodes and Andre Holland [24/2]
44 (tie). Moonlight – swimming lesson [24/2]
47 (tie). Cameraperson - violence montage [23/2]
47 (tie). Moonlight – Chiron and the broken chair [23/2]
49. Paterson – Marvin vs. the mailbox [22.5/2]
50. The Nice Guys – Ryan Gosling in the bathroom stall [22/3]
51 (tie). Arrival – ending [22/2]
51 (tie). Captain America: Civil War – Airport battle [22/2]
51 (tie). Paterson – the Japanese man [22/2]
54. Arrival – Costello reveals that Louise’s visions are flash-forwards [21.5/2]
55 (tie). American Honey – fireside dance (finale) [21/2]
55 (tie). Keanu – bonding over “Father Figure” [21/2]
55 (tie). Silence – Issei Ogata deflates [21/2]
58. Silence – seaside crucifixion [20.5/2]
59 (tie). 13th – Make America Great Again [20/2]
59 (tie) The Fits – dancing on the bridge [20/2]
59 (tie). The Mermaid – police sketch artist [20/2]
62 (tie). Jackie – drunken Jackie wanders the White House to “Camelot” [19/2]
62 (tie). The Neon Demon – corpse copulation [19/2]
62 (tie). Sausage Party – food orgy [19/2]
65. Aquarius – “Fat Bottomed Girls” [18/2]
66 (tie). Elle – Christmas dinner
66 (tie). Manchester By The Sea – flashback to Lee’s tragedy [17/2]
68. Christine – “Yes, but…” therapy session [16.5/2]
69. Moana – shiny [16/2]
70. Our Little Sister – ride through the cherry blossoms [15.5/2]
71 (tie). Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk – halftime performance / PTSD memory [15/2]
71 (tie). The Mermaid – half human, half fish [15/2]
71 (tie). Moana – “You’re Welcome” [15/2]
71 (tie). The Nice Guys – finding Shattuck’s body [15/2]
75 (tie). 20th Century Women – Black Flag vs. Art Fags [14/2]
75 (tie). Morris From America – Curtis’ climactic speech [14/2]
75 (tie). Silence – Garrupe dies with his congregation [14/2]
78 (tie). The Age of Shadows – train compartment shuffle [14/1]
78 (tie). Certain Women – closeup on Jamie’s face as she drives home [14/1]
78 (tie). Fences – “What law says I got to like you?” [14/1]
78 (tie). Ghostbusters – Holtzman winks while sucking straw [14/1]
78 (tie). The Greasy Strangler – Hootie Tootie Disco Cutie [14/1]
78 (tie). The Invitation – dinner sequence [14/1]
78 (tie). Moana – “I Am Moana” [14/1]
78 (tie). O.J.: Made in America – Gil Garcetti watching the white Bronco chase [14/1]
78 (tie). Our Little Sister – last visit to Sachiko’s restaurant [14/1]
78 (tie). Silence – final confession [14/1]
78 (tie). Things to Come – closing shot [14/1]
78 (tie). Weiner – McDonald’s pursuit [14/1]
90 (tie). Hail, Caesar! – religious meeting [13/2]
90 (tie). Love and Friendship – Church. Hill. [13/2]
90 (tie). Mountains May Depart – final dance [13/2]
93 (tie). Cameraperson – watching the kids with the axe [13/1]
93 (tie). Chevalier – Yannis tells Christos off [13/1]
93 (tie). The Love Witch – “I am your greatest fantasy!” [13/1]
93 (tie). The Mermaid – being invincible is lonely [13/1]
93 (tie). The Mermaid – Liu Xuan tries to convince police of mermaid attack [13/1]
93 (tie). The Nice Guys – hotel shootout/elevator [13/1]
93 (tie). Silence – apostatizing [13/1]
93 (tie). Silence – the Voice [13/1]
93 (tie). Sing Street – the school concert [13/1]
93 (tie). Train to Busan – Daejeon Station [13/1]
93 (tie). Wiener-Dog – film school student interview [13/1]
104 (tie). 31 – final scene standoff [12/1]
104 (tie). Café Society – dissolve in the final shot [12/1]
104 (tie). Fences – cut to Lyons while Cory and Rose argue [12/1]
104 (tie). The Handmaiden – Ben Wa balls [12/1]
104 (tie). The Handmaiden – first reversal [12/1]
104 (tie). The Handmaiden – huffing poison, chopping fingers [12/1]
104 (tie). The Handmaiden – self-choking during storytelling [12/1]
104 (tie). Hell or High Water – Marcus and Toby have a beer [12/1]
104 (tie). The Illinois Parables – tornado warning [12/1]
104 (tie). Manchester By The Sea – “you’re just gonna let me go?” [12/1]
104 (tie). Sunset Song – “All in the April Evening” [12/1]
104 (tie). Tale of Tales – flayed sister returns to town [12/1]
104 (tie). Things to Come – closing credits [12/1]
104 (tie). Train to Busan – protecting the door [12/1]
104 (tie). Zootopia – Little Rodentia [12/1]
119 (tie). Doctor Strange – astral plane slugfest [11/2]
119 (tie). Three – ICE gravity defying slugfest [11/2]
119 (tie). X-Men: Apocalypse – “Sweet Dreams” (Quicksilver does his thing) [11/2]
122 (tie). Author: The JT LeRoy Story – Courtney Love pauses during a phone conversation to snort coke [11/1]
122 (tie). Certain Women – “it doesn’t have to be a tome.” [11/1]
122 (tie). Doctor Strange – cape with an attitude [11/1]
122 (tie). Elle – hatchet shopping [11/1]
122 (tie). Fences – Rose reacts to Troy’s confession [11/1]
122 (tie). Hacksaw Ridge – just one more [11/1]
122 (tie). Indignation – death scene [11/1]
122 (tie). Kate Plays Christine – Kate watches video of Christine [11/1]
122 (tie). The Love Witch – burn the witch! [11/1]
122 (tie). Manchester By The Sea – police station breakdown [11/1]
122 (tie). No Home Movie – empty room (final frame) [11/1]
122 (tie). Too Late – “I need to change my life” (second segment) [11/1]
134. Deadpool – main titles [10/2]

The following scenes received one vote apiece:

10 Cloverfield Lane – regrets

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi – “not expecting friendlies”

20th Century Women – Crudup/Gerwig seduction

20th Century Women – watching Carter’s “crisis of confidence” speech

Allied – sandstorm sex

American Honey – Crystal’s hotel room

American Honey – stealing the car

Aquarius – Clara dances after her night out

Arrival – Hannah’s death to birth

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Wonder Woman’s arrival

The BFG – dream pool

A Brand New Testament – God reveals that he’s responsible for all the torments

Café Society – ending

Cameraperson – “did you always dress with so much style?” take 2

Cameraperson – title card sequence

Cameraperson – woman throws mom’s belongings everywhere

Cemetery of Splendor – “Love Is a Song” (final sequence)

Cemetery of Splendor – movie theater

Certain Women – negotiation with Rene Auberjonois

Clown – Murderclown vs. Chuck E. Cheese

The Conjuring 2 – temporary blindness

Creepy – ending

Creepy – interrogation

Deadpool – 12 bullets

Deepwater Horizon – oil rig breaks (initial disaster)

Doctor Strange – put a ring on it

Dog Eat Dog – phony cop car

Don’t Breathe – exploring the blind man’s house

Don’t Breathe – money shot

Elle – wrecking husband’s bumber

Embrace of the Serpent – in full color

Everybody Wants Some!! – “Rapper’s Delight”

Everybody Wants Some!! – theatre people party

Evolution – Nicholas discovers the women writhing on the rocks

Evolution – underwater kiss

Fences – what about me?

Finding Dory – Dory finds her parents

Finding Dory – Hank drives the truck

The Fits – Beezy coins Toni’s nickname “Guns”

The Fits – Toni’s fit

The Greasy Strangler – what are these chips made from?

Green Room – “Nazi Punks Fuck Off”

Green Room – Pat’s desert island band

Green Room – Prince

Hacksaw Ridge – first battle scene

Hacksaw Ridge – using the dead man’s torso as a shield

Hail, Caesar! – Crazy, Lazy, Full Moon!

Hail, Caesar! – Hobie and Carlotta do tricks

Hail, Caesar! – Marxist meeting

The Handmaiden – botched suicide by hanging

The Handmaiden – first sex scene

The Handmaiden – octopus is cooked

Happy Hour – nightclub conversation

Hell or High Water – final bank robbery

Hell or High Water – gas station brawl

Hell of High Water – porch standoff

Hell or High Water – waitress refuses to give up her tip

Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party – mother/daughter conversation

Hidden Figures – “I know you believe that”

Hidden Figures – Janelle Monáe makes her case to the judge

Hidden Figures – Janelle Monáe’s exit from the courthouse

High-Rise – party/suicide scene

I Am Not Your Negro – Doris Day movie clip fading into lynching montage

I, Daniel Blake – Daniel discovers Katie’s illegal job

I, Daniel Blake – visit to the food bank

The Invitation – red lanterns light up the Hollywood Hills (ending)

Jackie – assassination flashback

The Jungle Book – cowbell

Kate Plays Christine – final scene

Kill Zone 2 – emoji texting

Krisha – credits roll

Kubo and the Two Strings – Kubo vs. the Moon King

Kubo and the Two Strings – ship fight

La La Land – “City of Stars”

La La Land – “I Ran”

La La Land – argument at the kitchen table

Lion – ending title cards

Lion – meeting the real mother

Little Men – Jake apologizes to his parents

Little Men – Leonor weeps

Little Sister – “Have you seen me?”

Little Sister – mother/daughter conversation

Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World – empty room

The Lobster – “Something’s Got a Hold of My Heart”

The Lobster – electronic music

The Lobster – kicking the kid

The Lobster – make-out session

London Has Fallen – Banning and SAS advance down the street

London Road – cellular material news report

Love and Friendship – introducing Sir James Martin

Love and Friendship – peas

Love and Friendship – twelve Commandments

The Love Witch – tampon magic

Manchester By The Sea – Lee beats up the two guys for looking at him

Manchester By The Sea – walk away, Lonergan

The Mermaid – octopus is cooked

Midnight Special – “I like worrying about you.”

Midnight Special – meteor shower

Midnight Special – opening scene

Moana – flashback to history

Moonlight – beachside conversation

Moonlight – wet dream

Mountains May Depart – fireworks

The Neon Demon – fashion show

The Neon Demon – mirror transformation

Nerve – blind motorcycle ride

The Nice Guys – “I got a big dick.”

The Nice Guys – bee in the car

The Nice Guys – introduction of John Boy

The Nice Guys – Richard Nixon

The Nice Guys – you’re drinking again

No Home Movie – trees blowing in storm (opening shot)

O.J.: Made in America – Hertz commercial

Operation Avalanche – car chase

Paterson – Laura gets out of bed to get some morning sugar

Paterson – poetry writing dissolve

Patriots Day – Boston bombers vs. BPD shootout

Pete’s Dragon – confrontation on the bridge

Remember – the Nazi next door

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – Darth Vader in the final scene

The Shallows – ride the waves

The Shallows – self-suturing

The Shallows – shark attack and aftermath

Shin Godzilla – entire opening

Silence – Liam Neeson’s visit

Sing Street – the first time Ferdia Walsh-Peelo sings

Sing Street – off to England (final scene)

Sing Street – Sun/Day

Southbound – emergency surgery

Sully – crash from the perspective of air traffic control

Sunset Song – firing squad

Swiss Army Man – Jurassic Bus Crossdresser

Three – Time in a Bottle

Toni Erdmann – birthday brunch

Too Late – cross-town zoom in the opening sequence

Tower – first cut to flesh and blood interviewee

Weiner – “why are you letting us film this?”

Wiener-Dog – mother/daughter bedtime chat

The VVitch – taste of butter

Zoolander No. 2 – any time Kyle Mooney speaks