Not a Lot of 'Best' in 2026

This is around the time of the year when I look at how I failed to meet my lofty expectations and start priming myself for a complete relaunch in the upcoming year. Of course, a truly perfect transformation never takes place, and my fresh start reveals some signs of mold, and then everything starts pining for the next year. The promise of a brand new shining year of bliss is balm for my neurodivergent brain obsessed with perfection, but it is never actually practical or even in the same universe as helpful and healthy.

Instead, I accept I didn't land as much work as I needed. My finances are currently dire. I've disappointed those that I love. I have gardens that needed attention months ago. Phone calls that kept being pushed to the next day. Pitches that never left the brainstorm phase. A site, podcast, and newsletter that have mostly been neglected this year even though I think about all three constantly.

But that doesn't mean 2026 is done. It definitely doesn't mean I need three and a half months to prime up for when I start putting the work into all these things. 2026 may not go down as the best year of my life, but it can still end happily.

It does likely mean that for yet another year my Best of the Year list for movies will be less than comprehensive. I've seen a few 2026 movies, but nowhere close enough to feel like I'm an authority on the year in cinema. I do have three and a half months left to try to catch up, but well, even if I was able to make a living off each of the movies reviewed on this site and the newsletter, it would be an ambitious plan. Unless some magical miracle of awesome flutters my way, I'll need to find other work. Work that will take significant time. I'll only be able to commit so much to catching up on 2026 movies.

The reality is it will likely be a sparse list, but I may take a stab at it anyway. I've seen a few movies this year, and by year's end I should be able to get to around 50 movies watched potentially. It is enough for an adequate list, especially if I don't worry about a Worst of or Hidden Gems list. 

Just aiming for the list at least fixes my problem of always restarting and looking to the year ahead. Committing to making some kind of year-end means I haven't given up on 2026, and the best is yet to come.

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