American Film Institute Names Top Films, TV Programs of 2010

As we approach the end of 2010, we will naturally see list start to appear. List of best movies, best TV shows, best video games, best gadgets and tech and a whole lot more. In fact, you’ll see a few lists from us pretty soon too. It’s just how this end-of-the-year thing works these days.

Until we start to roll out our own lists, we have one for you to kick things off. This one comes from the American Film Institute and highlight their picks of the best Movies and TV programs for 2010. When you read over their selections, most of them pretty much make sense.

Most of the films and most of the TV programs listed here are among our favorites as well and all are of a high quality. Of course, on every list there’s always some items that don’t seem to belong. However, we won’t disparage the AFI’s list, we will just counter with a list of our own (or three) soon.

Here are AFI’s picks:

Movies

• BLACK SWAN
• THE FIGHTER
• INCEPTION
• THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
• 127 HOURS
• THE SOCIAL NETWORK
• THE TOWN
• TOY STORY 3
• TRUE GRIT
• WINTER’S BONE

TV Shows

• THE BIG C
• BOARDWALK EMPIRE
• BREAKING BAD
• GLEE
• MAD MEN
• MODERN FAMILY
• THE PACIFIC
• TEMPLE GRANDIN
• 30 ROCK
• THE WALKING DEAD

What do you guys think of the list? Did they miss any of your favorites? Oh, forgot to mention that the AFI put together a nice video highlighting all of their picks. Check it out below.

And, of course, the fine print from the AFI’s press release:

AFI AWARDS 2010 selections are made through AFI’s unique jury process in which scholars, film and television artists, critics and AFI Trustees determine the most outstanding achievements of the year, as well as provide a detailed rationale for each selection. AFI SPECIAL AWARDS are given to outstanding achievements in the moving image that do not fit into AFI’s criteria for the other honorees: Feature-Length Motion Picture Narrative fiction format, over 60 minutes in length; American Motion picture with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States.

The motion picture need not be presented in the English language if it is incontrovertibly American; Theatrically-Released Motion pictures originally released between January 1 and December 31,2010, which have been publicly exhibited in a commercial theater in Los Angeles for paid admission and screened for at least seven consecutive days.

AFI will honor the creative ensembles for each of the selections at a luncheon sponsored by Hewlett-Packard on Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.