From her critically acclaimed show “Inside Amy Schumer” to her HBO comedy special “Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo,” it’s safe to that Amy Schumer has established herself as a comic juggernaut this year. Her film “Trainwreck,” which she wrote and stars in, is no exception to her recent success. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film displays all of the hallmarks of a raunchy rom-com as Amy drunkenly, crassly, and hilariously hooks up with the men of New York while struggling to avoid romantically committing to surgeon Aaron (Bill Hader). Is the movie life-changing? No. But if you’re looking for a good laugh, look no further. —Abby L. Noyes

3. The Martian

Many science fiction films are essentially fantasy with a palette swap, but “The Martian” returns to the genre’s more grounded roots. Building on a novel by Andy Weir, director Ridley Scott has put together a masterpiece of serious science fiction. Matt Damon plays Mark Watney, a botanist stranded on Mars, who survives by that most unlikely of things in modern science fiction: actual scientific knowledge. Damon’s acting is devoid of cheap tricks and histrionics. His performance is calm, believable, and stunningly relatable. He is also supported by an extensive all-star cast playing the rest of the NASA team, all of whom do a spectacular job portraying a set of characters that remain distinctive without becoming lifeless caricatures. There are no villains in “The Martian,” no easy screenwriting conventions. “The Martian” is the first—and hopefully not the last—movie to show us that Mars is a real place too. —J. Thomas Westbrook

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

Singlehandedly, “Mad Max: Fury Road” has redeemed the action genre. George Miller embraces the stereotypes of action films with his movie’s bizarrely souped-up vehicles, improbable physical feats, and stomach-churning camera maneuvers; simultaneously, he accomplishes feats of artistry in both visuals and storytelling. This is a film that functions on every conceivable level and can satisfy any craving: It is cinematographically stunning, unrelentingly engaging, narratively compelling, impeccably acted. And, perhaps most importantly, though a film in a traditionally male-focused genre continuing the tale of one of action’s most well-known men, it may in fact be one of the most feminist films of the past year. Tom Hardy’s Max Rockatansky takes a literal and metaphorical passenger seat to Charlize Theron’s fierce, compelling Imperator Furiosa, whose struggle to return to her female-dominated place of birth in a post-apocalyptic wasteland could easily sustain its own decade-spanning epic series. —Grace E. Huckins

1. Inside Out

Emotion and memory are two aspects of human existence that can be hard to capture on the big screen, especially without slipping into cliché. However, Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out” manages to brilliantly explore both, offering a deep examination of what it means to grow up without getting bogged down by its own subject matter. Led by an all-star cast that includes Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Mindy Kaling, among many others, the film expertly moves from moments of absolute hilarity to scenes of tear-rendering gravity. While it may have been marketed at a younger crowd, its story is ageless. —Abby L. Noyes