As movie fans know, it’s almost impossible for everyone to agree on what movies are the “best” movies. That said, we have a pretty good idea of the most popular ones. For decades, box office receipts have been seen as a de facto gauge of a film’s popularity. But in our streaming age, the way we consume films has changed dramatically.
With the landscape of film viewership shifting, BetColorado.com decided to break from its normal Colorado sports betting coverage to find a new way to determine which recent movies Coloradans likes best. Using Google Trends, we looked at the search results under “Film” between October 1st, 2019 and October 1st, 2024. With this information, we created the list below of Colorado’s ten favorite movies of the past five years.
Favorite Movies of Colorado Residents of Past 5 Years
Rank | Movie | Interest Over Time |
1 | Barbie (2023) | 10 |
2 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) | 5 |
3 | Elvis (2022) | 4 |
T-4 | Dune: Part One (2021) | 3 |
T-4 | Oppenheimer (2023) | 3 |
6 | Joker (2019) | 2 |
T-7 | The Batman (2022) | 1 |
T-7 | Smile (2022) | 1 |
T-7 | Parasite (2019) | 1 |
T-7 | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) | 1 |
Top 5 Favorite Movies in Colorado
1. Barbie (2023)
Not only was Barbie a box office powerhouse, earning over $1.4 billion worldwide, the movie was a bonafide cultural phenomenon. Starring and produced by Margot Robbie, and directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie became an instant classic thanks to its lively pink sets, slyly subversive humor, and brilliant performances.
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Second only to Barbie at the 2023 box office, The Super Mario Bros. Movie brings the Mushroom Kingdom and the wider Mario Bros. universe with brilliant animation from Illumination Studios. Moving at a breakneck speed, and chocked full of satisfying in-jokes for fans of the video game, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a delightful family film. Expect the sequel to land sometime in 2026.
3. Elvis (2022)
Featuring a transformative breakout performance from Austin Butler, Elvis is Baz Luhrmann’s propulsive biopic about the King of Rock’n’Roll. Ultimately, it is a sprawling 159-minute celebration of Elvis Presley’s life and music. Given the King’s enduring popularity, it’s no surprise to see it ranked so highly on our list of Colorado’s favorite films of the past five years.
T-4. Dune: Part One (2021)
The opening chapter of the sci-fi epic following the power struggles of intergalactic space trade, Dune: Part One is a technical marvel starring two of the hottest young stars in Hollywood, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. The 2024 sequel recently hit theatres, upping the star power to include the likes of Florence Pugh and the aforementioned Austin Butler.
T-4. Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the novel American Prometheus, a biography of atomic bomb inventor J. Robert Oppenheimer, famously premiered the same weekend as Barbie. In anticipation, film fans coined the term “Barbenheimer” and went out in droves to see both films opening weekend. Although Barbie may have topped our list of Colorado’s favorite films from the last five years, it was Oppenheimer who went home with the Best Picture trophy on Oscar Night.
The Rest of The Best
6. Joker (2019)
Speaking of Oscars… Joaquin Phoenix earned himself a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the Crown Prince of Crime in 2019. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is in theatres now.
T-7. The Batman (2022)
After several COVID-19-related delays, Robert Pattinson’s first spin as The Dark Knight earned praise from audiences and critics alike when it was finally released in March 2022. Although we’ll have to wait until 2026 for the sequel, the spin-off “The Penguin” is currently airing on HBO.
T-7. Smile (2022)
Thanks in large part to a well-timed Halloween season release, horror flick Smile became an unexpected blockbuster in Fall 2022. The creeper follows a psychiatrist investigating an unseen presence that causes people to suddenly kill themselves — but not before donning an unsettling grin from ear to ear.
T-7. Parasite (2019)
Film fans around the world were delighted when Parasite unexpectedly won the Best Picture Oscar in 2020. The Hitchcockian suspense film follows a lower-class Korean family as they slowly encroach upon the lives and homes of a wealthy family. Director Bong Joon-Ho’s much-anticipated follow-up Mickey 17 will finally hit theatres in early 2025.
T-7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Falling just shy of the $2 billion dollar mark at the global box office, the most recent Spider-Man film was the highest grossing movie in Spidery history. Unsurprisingly, the MCU is desperate to get Tom Holland back in the red suit. Although no release date has been announced, unconfirmed reports suggest Holland’s fourth go around as Spider-Man will begin filming next year.
Author
Jeff Parker is an entertainment writer for BetColorado.com. A writer for film, television and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with a Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full time as documentary filmmaker and producer.
