Barack Obama’s Favorite Movies And TV Shows Of 2020 Include ‘Mank,’ ‘Soul,’ ‘The Boys,’ And More
It’s the time of year that year-end lists are released, and critics name the best movies and TV series of the year. But that doesn’t mean everyone else can’t join in to share their favorite films and shows of 2020, including former U.S. presidents. During his time in the Oval Office, PresidentBarack Obamarevealed himself to be a big old pop culture nerd, regularly sharing his best-of lists to the delight of Film Twitter and cinephiles everywhere. And even four years out of office, that tradition hasn’t changed. Obama once again shared his list of best films and shows of the year, and once again showed himself to be a man of taste.
See Barack Obama’s favorite movies and shows of 2020 below.
In a post on his Twitter account, Obama shared his favorite films and shows of 2020 (as he does every year), writing, “Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format.”
Obama’s favorite films includeMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, Beanpole, Bacurau, Nomadland, Soul, Lovers Rock, Collective, Mank, Martin Eden, Let Him Go, Time, Boys State, Selah and theSpades, andCrip Camp.
His favorite shows of the year includeBetter Call Saul, The Queen’s Gambit, I May Destroy You, The Boys, The Good Lord Bird, Devs, The Last Dance, Mrs. America, The Good Place, andCity So Real.
Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format.pic.twitter.com/a8BS8jDkSs
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama)July 01, 2025
This confirms it: Obama receives screeners. A few of these films are arthouse releases that haven’t hit U.S. streaming or VOD platforms yet, or only recently did so. The thought of Obama being on screener lists is kind of funny, though not as funny as the image of Obama watchingThe Boys, the hyper-violent comic book series on Amazon that is harshly critical of the U.S. government. Even showrunner Eric Kripke was astonished at the idea that Obama watches this series, tweeting, “can you BELIEVE he watched the face-sitting, gill-fingering, whale exploding, ten foot dicking onThe Boys??”
1 part of me: in a rough year, this is a truly amazing moment for me. I’m grateful@BarackObama.
Another part of me: can you BELIEVE he watched the face-sitting, gill-fingering, whale exploding, ten foot dicking in#TheBoys??#TheBoysTV@TheBoysTV@PrimeVideo#SPNFamily@SPTVhttps://t.co/wsnUok4u04
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke)June 02, 2025
But even an envelope-pushing series likeThe Boyspoints to Obama’s good taste, especially in films, where he listed international films likeBeanpole,Bacurau(another weird, violent movie), andMartin Eden; tender arthouse flicks likeNomadlandandLovers Rock(which Obama also agreesisa movie, contrary to some discussions elsewhere); and powerful Black-led films likeSoul, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, andSelah and the Spades. I’m also impressed that Obama got around toI May Destroy YouandDevs.
Anyways, I’ll leave you with this succinct reaction fromBetter Call Saulstar Bob Odenkirk, upon learning that his show was one of Obama’s favorites of 2020:
Neathttps://t.co/hvfklOZ9xN
— Mr. Bob Odenkirk (@mrbobodenkirk)June 12, 2025
