It’s the most joyous time of the year, everybody. Children wait all year for December because they all know about this month and the special event that takes place in it. No, it’s not Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. It’s the end-of-the-year top-movie list. These are the top five films of 2015, according to Orion film critic George Johnston.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Mad Max: Fury Road” will live forever in the halls of Valhalla, all shiny and chrome. At age 70, George Miller created a masterpiece. This is the fourth movie in the “Mad Max” franchise and it had all the potential in the world to be horrible— think “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” bad. Instead of an over-complicated, boring plot, Miller wrote and directed a movie in which the action takes your breath away. The story is smart and the acting is top-notch.

The Martian

It’s “Castaway” meets “Robinson Crusoe” in space. When the Ares III has to scrap its mission, Mark Watney gets stuck on Mars. The rest of the story centers around Watney trying to figure out how to survive. Matt Damon was born to play Watney. He’s one of Hollywood’s most likable stars so it’s a given that Watney is one the most likable characters ever on the screen. Director Ridley Scott shot a beautiful movie that really looks like it took place on Mars.

Ex Machina

The smartest film of 2015, “Ex Machina,” tells the story of Caleb Smith as he wins a weekend trip to his reclusive billionaire boss’ home. Once there, Caleb is asked to administer a turing test to Ava, the world’s first artificially intelligent machine. Part sci-fi and part psychology thriller, “Ex Machina” will make you question what it is to be human.

Inside Out

“Inside Out” is an emotional trip— literally. You travel through the emotions of 11-year-old Riley as she copes with moving to San Francisco from Minnesota. “Inside Out” will play the strings of your heart like a harp. The voice acting is great, especially Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness and Richard Kind as Bing Bong. Bill Hader, Lewis Black and Mindy Kaling are fantastic as Fear, Anger and Disgust, as well. Bring tissues when watching “Inside Out” because this extraordinary Pixar movie is a tearjerker.

Creed

Creed is not Rocky VII. It stands on its own legs while paying respect to the previous “Rocky” movies before it. You can read more about what George thought about Creed here.

Comment in the section below if you agree or disagree with George’s list.

George Johnston can be reached at [email protected] or @gjohnston786 on Twitter.