20 Best Movie Moments Of 2016

Denis Villeneuve’s new movie Arrival debuted in cinemas this November to almost unanimous acclaim. Starring Amy Adams as expert linguist Dr Louise Banks who is called upon by the military to interpret an alien language when several spaceships touch down across the planet, it’s a surprisingly emotional and heartfelt sci-fi movie that’s seen Adams hotly tipped as a contender for the Best Actress Oscar at next year’s Academy Awards.

First contact scenes are an essential part of any alien-based sci-fi and Arrival nails its own to a T. Though it happens early on in the film, suggesting that the alien visitors aren’t about to kill our heroine before the movie has even got going, it’s still a scene brimming with tension that perfectly captures its characters’ fear of the unknown. With visual nods to Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s a beautifully shot and acted scene that should go down in history as a nigh-on perfect first contact moment.