The best year for Native movies (so far)

Since the year 2004 or so, Native-themed cinema has expanded significantly. Instead of four or five movies a year, we've seen 10 or 12 or more. No doubt this is due to Native filmmakers taking the reins themselves and making their own movies.

Not surprisingly, 2007 was the previous record holder, but 2008 just surpassed it. Here are the good, the bad, and the ugly Native-themed films that appeared this year:

Frozen River
Comanche Moon [TV]
Turok Son of Stone [video]
Tkaronto
Older than America
The Ruins
Aztec Rex [TV]
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Moccasin Flats: Redemption [TV]
Before Tomorrow
In a World Created by a Drunken God
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
A Quantum of Solace
Twilight
Justin Time

If you add The Exiles, the 1961 docudrama that was rereleased this year, and the Aboriginal-themed Australia, 2008 looks even better. And with films ranging from Pearl to The Only Good Indian to the five-part We Shall Remain coming up, 2009 should be the best year yet.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.