It’s late December, the year is hurtling to a difficult (and worrying) finish, and the world is still all over the place. I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a monumental disaster, of epic proportions, but it is almost done.
So, as is now customary, it is time to look back at what we have lived through. Yes, it is time for the It’s A Stampede! Awards.
From the highest highs, to the lowest lows, there is much to categorise, praise, and discuss in the world of pop culture. You might think that nothing much happened this year, but believe me, there is plenty to fill an awards ceremony such as this. So, let’s cross the ‘T’s, dot the ‘I’s, hand out some awards, then get the heck out of here!
Oh, and a word of warning, this post contains a Mandolorian spoiler.
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First up…
Best Movie of 2020
Although many of 2020’s movies were pushed back to 2021 (and possibly beyond) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year has still seen its fair share of fine films. But what was the best of the best?
The nominees are…
*Pause for dramatic tension*
And the winner is…
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man dropped into cinemas back in February, arriving mere weeks before the COVID craziness really took hold. The film was met with a very positive response from critics and audiences alike, and it is not surprising really, as The Invisible Man is a superb movie.
Loosely based on the H. G. Wells novel of the same name, The Invisible Man follows the story of a young woman who is stalked by her abusive, former ex-husband… who can turn invisible. The film is part sci-fi, part domestic thriller, and is packed full of creepy moments and excellent performances.
Choosing The Invisible Man as the top movie wasn’t too difficult, as it is such a great picture, but all of the nominees deserve a round of applause. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check them all out as soon as you can.
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Biggest ‘Meh’ Movie of 2020
From the sublime to the substandard now, because while 2020 served up some strong movies, it also served up a whole heap of ‘meh’. In fairness, the entertainment industry had many challenges this year, so in many cases it did its best, but the following films were simply a disappointment.
And the nominees are…
And the winner is…
Hubie Halloween
2020 delivered a number of ‘meh’ movies, but when it came to the ultimate ‘meh’, there was only ever one winner – Hubie Halloween, Netflix’s Halloween-themed ‘comedy’ starring Adam Sandler.
Hubie Halloween could have been a fun picture, perfect for the Halloween season – it looked good and had some neat cameos, but Adam Sandler completely derailed the movie. His irritating performance has to go down as one of the worst in film history, and Hubie Halloween should be tossed in the trash immediately.
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Worst scheduling decision regarding the release of Wonder Woman 84?
In 2020 (and a little bit before), Wonder Woman 84 had a bumpy journey to the big screen, and was moved around the schedules multiple times by Warner Bros. Pictures. Many of the reschedules were related to the pandemic, some were not, but all were frustrating.
But what was the worst scheduling decision?
Here are the nominees…
- Moving Wonder Woman 84 from December 2019 to November 2019
- Moving Wonder Woman 84 from November 2019 to June 2020
- Moving Wonder Woman 84 from June 2020 to August 2020
- Moving Wonder Woman 84 from August 2020 to October 2020
- Moving Wonder Woman 84 from October 2020 to December 2020
- Maintaining Wonder Woman 84’s December 2020 release date, when it was pretty clear that most cinemas would be closed
And the winner is…
Maintaining Wonder Woman 84’s December 2020 release date, when it was pretty clear that most cinemas would be closed
Moving Wonder Woman 84 around the release schedules was annoying, but the decision to release the movie in mid-December 2020, when many, many cinemas were closed, was hugely disappointing. Sure, some people can watch the movie across Europe and China, but many can’t and even if they wanted to chuck money at Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Entertainment, they currently have no way to do it.
In the US, Wonder Woman 84 will make its debut in cinemas and on HBO Max on Christmas Day, giving film fans the option to view the movie theatrically or via a streaming service. In the UK, across Europe and China, we don’t have the same option, and at present, Wonder Woman 84 is largely playing to no one – and making less money than it should.
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The ‘It Is Completely Bonkers, But So Much Fun’ Award
With cinemas closed for huge chunks of this year, and studios reluctant to release their big films, 2020 has been largely devoid of huge action blockbusters. A few have slipped through, including the pretty damn good, Mulan, but the year has gone without many of the daft, over the top films we have come to expect. That was until the release of Skyfire – a volcano disaster movie that popped up in late November.
Skyfire is essentially Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs, and is as mad as a box of frogs. It is also the proud recipient of the ‘It Is Completely Bonkers, But So Much Fun’ Award, because… Skyfire is completely bonkers, but so much fun.
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Best Comeback of 2020
2020 may have been an odd year, but it has still found time to dish out a few comebacks. Remember when we all started growing mullets? Whoever thought that mullets would make a comeback?!
Anyway, here are the nominees for the best comeback…
- Sonic the Hedgehog – Sonic the Hedgehog
- Luke Skywalker – The Mandolorian
- Bill & Ted – Bill & Ted Face the Music
- Boba Fett – The Mandolorian
And the winner is…
Luke Skywalker
Up until mid-December, Bill & Ted would have had this award in the bag, but then the final episode of The Mandolorian arrived on Disney+ and everything changed. Lucasfilm/Disney did the seemingly improbable – they brought a young Luke Skywalker back to the screen, gave him a kick-ass lightsaber battle, and made a lot of Star Wars fans very happy.
Best comeback? The return of THE Jedi of course!
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The ‘Just Release This Damn Movie’ Award
COVID-19 has caused so many movies to be delayed this year, some more notable than others. But which movie has been advertised SO MUCH, that it really needs to get a release?
And the nominees are…
- No Time to Die
- No Time to Die
- Black Widow
- No Time to Die
- No Time to Die
And the winner is…
No Time to Die
Wonder Woman 84 has had a rough ride, but it is not alone. The latest James Bond picture, No Time to Die, has also been moved around the schedules due to the coronavirus, and this is on top of a troubled production history.
At present, the film is scheduled to hit cinema screens in April 2021, and I really hope this is when we get to see it. But before then, No Time to Die still has to contend with cinema closures and the potential sale of MGM – which could really alter the film’s release trajectory.
Will No Time to Die ever see the light of day? Honestly? I have no idea, but I just hope I never have to sit through yet another trailer for it.
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The Fist Pump Moment of 2020
No preamble or nominations for this award, there is only one contender for The Fist Pump Moment of 2020, and that is…
The Adora and Catra kiss – She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
For five seasons, Adora and Catra danced around the subject of their romance in Netflix’s fantastically fun cartoon series, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. And then the final episode of the show arrived in May, and it delivered the climax to end all climaxes – a kiss between the two characters.
The kiss was a huge deal because it provided the perfect conclusion to the Adora/Catra storyline, while also cementing the same sex relationship in the show – something many cartoons would shy away from. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power proved to be a progressive series, and that kiss became a milestone moment for 2020 which should be noted and celebrated at every opportunity.
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The ‘We Can Never Turn Back the Clock to 2019’ Award
I know what you’re thinking. 2020 has been a bust, so why can’t we just turn back the clock and relive 2019 once again?
Well, putting aside the obvious problem associated with time travel, there is one very, very, very significant reason why we can’t turn the clock back to 2019, and it is because of Cats!
Released during the final few days of 2019, Cats was not only the worst film of that year, it was also the worst film of the decade. If we try to erase 2020, and go back to 2019, then we will have to live through the release of Cats all over again… and that is something that should never happen.
We can never go back.
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And finally…
The It’s A Stampede! Special Achievement Award 2020
The winner of this year’s Special Achievement Award is the result of a write-in ballot. Many of you emailed, called, text, and shouted at me in person, to ensure this award went to those most deserving nominee(s).
And the winner is…
You!
Yep, you.
2020 has been awful – truly awful. You have had to put up with a lot of terrible things, including the release of Hubie Halloween, and yet you have kept on trucking. I know how diabolical 2020 has been, as I have lived through it too and this award is for me, just as much as it is for you.
So, give yourself a huge pat on the back and celebrate everything that you bring to the table. This year’s Special Achievement Award is all for you, baby!
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about the It’s A Stampede! Awards 2020. It’s A Stampede! has kept on going throughout this year, despite all the madness, and I really hope it has provided you with some entertainment, information, and/or light relief.
If you find yourself at a loose end over the next few days, and you want to read a whole bunch of movie reviews, then let me point you in the direction of my post, The movies you should be watching in 2020. This post provides links to reviews of all the must-see pictures that you may have missed, as well as a few you should probably avoid.
And for more content, be sure to check out the recommended reads below. Here you will find plenty to devour over the festive period and beyond.
Read more:
- 60 Christmas movies to watch this holiday season
- Rewind to the ‘90s is here!
- How to increase your blog traffic
It's A Stampede! 
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