For a North American theatrical list, “wide release” means playing in at least 600 theater locations—not screens. On that basis, these six 2017 films stand out for their craft, distinctiveness, performances, and range: Get Out, Coco, Baby Driver, Lady Bird, The Big Sick, and The Shape of Water. The last three reached wide play after opening more narrowly.
How this list defines a wide release
Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro considers a movie wide or about to go wide when it is playing in 600 or more theaters, a threshold that generally signals a nationwide release. The count is of theater locations; theaters and screens are not interchangeable. The glossary describes domestic box office as normally referring to the United States and Canada. Read the IMDbPro glossary.
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The Numbers’ 2017 North American release schedule labels films “Wide,” “Limited,” and “Expands Wide.” This list includes films that expanded to wide play during the year, while identifying that route rather than implying they opened wide. It does not treat a limited release alone as qualifying.
“Best” is an editorial judgment, not a definitive ranking. The selection considers contemporary critical reception alongside direction, writing, performances, originality, and variety. Rotten Tomatoes scores cited below are from TIME’s December 26, 2017 roundup, a dated snapshot rather than current scores; scores can change as reviews are added. TIME reported that Rotten Tomatoes’ Certified Fresh threshold was 75% positive reviews after the applicable minimum review count, with 80 reviews for wide releases or 40 for limited releases, plus five reviews from top critics. The roundup noted 179 wide-release films were Certified Fresh, but excluded titles released in the last few weeks of the year, so it is not a complete year-end accounting. TIME’s 2017 report.
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Six standout wide-release movies from 2017
Get Out — a genre film with a sharp point of view
Jordan Peele’s horror-thriller pairs escalating unease with social satire, giving its genre mechanics a distinct purpose beyond suspense. It is a strong pick for viewers who want an inventive, tightly authored film that also became a broad cultural conversation. The Numbers classifies it as a wide release; TIME’s 2017 roundup listed it at 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its reported North American gross was $175,837,935. The Numbers: Get Out.
Coco — animation rooted in family and memory
Pixar’s musical fantasy offers a colorful family adventure shaped around memory, loss, and intergenerational connection. Its visual world and emotional focus make it a useful counterweight to the year’s adult dramas and action films. The Numbers lists it as wide; TIME reported a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score in its 2017 roundup. Its North American gross was $210,460,015. The Numbers: Coco.
Baby Driver — action built around rhythm
Edgar Wright’s crime-action film makes music part of its formal design: driving, editing, and movement are choreographed around the soundtrack. That distinctive approach gives its heist story a kinetic identity beyond the usual chase-film machinery. It opened wide, and TIME listed it at 93% in its 2017 roundup. The Numbers reports $107,825,862 in North American gross. The Numbers: Baby Driver.
Lady Bird — a coming-of-age story with bite
Greta Gerwig’s comedy-drama finds specificity in the friction between a teenager’s ambitions and her complicated bond with her mother. Its humor and emotional precision make it a memorable choice for viewers drawn to character-led stories rather than high-concept spectacle. It expanded to wide release after a limited opening. TIME listed it at 100% in its December 2017 snapshot; The Numbers reports $48,958,273 in North American gross. The Numbers: Lady Bird.
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The Big Sick — romance grounded in family and cultural difference
This romantic comedy-drama draws on the relationship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, balancing courtship with illness, family expectations, and cultural tensions. Its warmth and comedy broaden a list that might otherwise lean toward spectacle or heavier drama. It expanded to wide release; TIME reported a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score in its 2017 roundup, and The Numbers lists $42,872,467 in North American gross. The Numbers: The Big Sick.
The Shape of Water — a dark fairy tale for adults
Guillermo del Toro’s romantic fantasy combines creature-feature imagery with a story about loneliness, empathy, and outsiders. Its unusual blend of tenderness and monster-movie atmosphere adds a different register to the year’s wide releases. The film expanded to wide play on December 22, 2017. TIME listed it at 97% in its year-end snapshot; The Numbers reports $63,859,435 in North American gross. The Numbers: The Shape of Water.
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What the box office can—and cannot—tell you
Box-office totals offer a popularity measure, not a quality ranking. The Numbers’ 2017-release chart is cumulative across each film’s years of play, not limited to money earned during calendar 2017. As accessed October 8, 2026, it lists Star Wars: The Last Jedi at $620,181,382 and Beauty and the Beast at $504,014,165 as the two highest totals for 2017 releases. Those figures provide commercial context; they do not determine which films are “best.” The Numbers’ 2017 chart.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Choosing where to start
- For suspense and social satire, start with Get Out.
- For an animated family story, choose Coco.
- For formally inventive action, try Baby Driver.
- For intimate comedy and drama, pick Lady Bird or The Big Sick.
- For a fantastical romance with a darker edge, choose The Shape of Water.
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