With still a lack of good films coming out in 2013, now’s a good time to catch up on films from last year you may not have seen. So here are five excellent ones from last year.

5. The Sessions: Starring John Hawkes as a man suffering from polio, The Sessions is the tale of Hawkes, now in his late 30s, and his desire to lose his virginity despite his disease. Hilarious, poignant and insightful, The Sessions has a very strong script supported by equally strong performances from Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, and most significantly, John Hawkes.

4. Looper: Set in the year 2043, Looper is the story of a bounty hunter who’s in charge of killing people who have been sent back in time from the future. However, one day he sees something at work he’s not prepared for: his older self. He is now tasked with killing himself from the future. Expertly acted with a phenomenal and original script, Looper is everything you want from a movie.

3. Life of Pi: Based on the book by Yan Martel that was considered un-filmable until now, Life of Pi is a visual feast for the eyes. It’s the adventures of Pi Patel and his adventures at sea after being stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger. Supported by excellent direction by Ang Lee, the film is beautiful, tragic, and exciting.

2. ParaNorman: Probably one of the greatest tragedies of this year’s Oscars was this film losing the mixed bag that is Brave for Best Animated Feature. Telling the story of Norman, a young boy who is able to see ghosts, the film is beautifully shot in stop motion animation with superb voice acting.

1. Beasts of the Southern Wild: This film rocked the Sundance Film Festival, and for a good reason. The film follows Hushpuppy, a girl who lives in abject poverty at a place simply called “The Bathtub.” A unique, beautiful tale of the fragility of life that’s bolstered by a strong performance from Quvenzhane Wallace as Hushpuppy.