A Decade of Film - The Best Films from the 2010s

As the decade comes to an end, there have been so many great films that were released all throughout the 2010s. Originally I had a 50 list, but I figured that was too much so I cut it in half. DISCLAIMER: There are so many great films that I didn't add here so if I missed one you thought should be on here, leave a comment! Also, this list doesn't justify my favoritism that I have for them, this is just what I think are the BEST films of the decade.

Also, this is my opinion...

25. Inception (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2010)

Nolan's long awaited action/sci-fi mind-bender Inception broke all the rules back in 2010. With the top-notch performances, game-changing action sequences, and an extremely complex script, Nolan was able to create one of the best action films of the decade while inspiring other films to follow its use of practical effects and non-linear storytelling.

24. Silence (dir. Martin Scorsese, 2016)

This may not be a great gangster movie, but it's a great Scorsese film PERIOD. Silence is a slight departure from his previous film, The Wolf of Wall Street. But much like how After Hours and Hugo were also different, Silence remains the best Scorsese from the decade. This slow-burn period drama asks questions of redeeming the nonbelievers and giving hope in those who refuse. These big questions may have scared off some audience members, but it's a beautifully shot film with so much on its mind.

23. Call Me By Your Name (dir. Luca Guadagnino, 2017)

Back in 2017, this was everyone's pick for the best film of the year. After stunning people at Sundance, Call Me By Your Name became an instant favorite. Aside from its unique script and gorgeous imagery, the romance shared between both leads made this a genuine but warm experience of forbidden love.

22. Dunkirk (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2017)

After wowing crowds and slightly disappointing critics with his 2014's sci-fi adventure film, Interstellar, Nolan returned to the screen in the biggest way possible. Dunkirk absolutely shattered any expectations people had for it. The film has one of the smartest and most underrated screenplays in recent years; its storytelling unlike any other. The film has incredible cinematography, terrific editing, and an impeccable score. While not all audiences understood its importance, Dunkirk cemented Nolan's most impressive achievement in his career...and he's nowhere close to being done.

21. The Florida Project (dir. Sean Baker, 2017)

Sean Baker proved he was the real thing when he made an impressive iPhone film Tangerine (2015), and after releasing The Florida Project, critics and audiences knew that Baker will be a new master in filmmaking. The film has a simple story of a little girl sharing her adventures with her friends in a Florida motel. Brooklynn Prince gives one of the best child performances of the century and makes the film feel so much more authentic.

20. Marriage Story (dir. Noah Baumbach, 2019)

People thought Baumbach's 2005 The Squid and The Whale couldn't get anymore personal for the New York-native director...that was until this year when he dropped his even MORE personal tear-jerker, Marriage Story. This Netflix original gives an intimate look at a certain love during its worst time. Compared to the 1979 classic Kramer vs. Kramer, Marriage Story focuses how both sides try to remain civil while dealing with this life changing-event. It's skillful editing and writing give the two leads (Driver, Johansson) the ability to express their full potential as artists.

19. Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller, 2015)

Fury Road was the 4th installment in a long running storyline that people thought was already dead, but Miller went full steam ahead with this one. George Miller went from the forgettable Happy Feet to the game-changing action masterpiece Mad Max: Fury Road. People have been reflecting on how this film was even made, and much of this is due to the considerable amount of practical effects. It brought back an old type of filmmaking that the new ages weren't familiar with.

18. Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu, 2014)

Making big waves at the 2015 Oscars, Birdman's impressive execution rippled a wave in the way people perceived cinematography and how Broadway plays can be infused into Hollywood films. Of course the writing and direction is great, but the performances will be remembered for years to come.

17. A Ghost Story (dir. David Lowery, 2017)

Lowery's new take on a ghostly tale is, without a doubt, the most emotionally haunting films of the decade. Its slow pacing will bore most audiences, but the film has a warm beating heart at its core that will echo a pain that we will all feel eventually in our lifetime. The 1.33: 1 aspect ratio makes A Ghost Story feel like an old tale that was forgotten about for decades.

16. Sicario (dir. Denis Villenueve, 2015)

So far this decade, there have been very few movies that have made me feel so cold, gross, and haunted like Sicario has. Villenueve brings Deakins and Johansson to the table and crafts one of the most haunting films of the decade. With unexpected twists and grotesque imagery, Sicario elevated the neo-western genre with its complex script and all-around great performances.

15. Moonlight (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2016)

During the time, I wasn't classifying Moonlight as my favorite film of 2016, but I did say it was the most perfect one. Visually and conceptually, Moonlight's technical achievement will be forever remembered, especially with its short $3 million budget. With time, this film will be studied and worshiped by filmmakers and any film lover.

14. First Man (dir. Damien Chazelle, 2018)

La La Land's ginormous success created this urgency for Chazelle's next feature, and two years later came the 2018 Neil Armstrong biopic, First Man. The film's release not only created mixed feelings, but severe controversy revolving around the US flag. Aside from what people were saying, everyone brushed over the cinematic achievement that is this film. Not only does it contain near-perfect editing, it's impressive visuals separates First Man from any other biopic made this century.

13. Uncut Gems (dir. Josh & Benny Safdie, 2019)

Drawing major inspirations from retro 80s crime thrillers like Thief (1981), After Hours (1985), and L'Argent (1983), the Safdie brothers have created something extremely new while still feeling like a classic. With an unusual cast, the filmmakers utilize the best in all of them and make one of the most stress-inducing films of the decade. Although you have Kevin Garnett and The Weeknd in the cast, you experience this old type of filmmaking that Josh and Benny have adapted as their own. Not to mention Sandler's career best performance.

12. Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-Ho, 2019)

The genre-bending thriller Parasite has spoken to all audiences this year, and is now considered to be "2019's Perfect Film." Bong's intricate storytelling led audiences down a dark path that they could not get out of. Parasite's clever editing and perfectly timed camera movements respectfully mimics Hitchcock's rhythm.

11. Prisoners (dir. Denis Villenueve, 2013)

Villenueve's first neo-noir Prisoners gave audiences a taste of Billy Wilder and John Huston's noir filmography. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal give Oscar-worthy performances that still send chills down my spine every time I watch the film. It's a classic noir style film that tells a much more modern tale.

10. Blade Runner 2049 (dir. Denis Villenueve, 2017)

Following Sicario's critical success, Villenueve pulls out all the stops with his sequel to Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi noir, Blade Runner. On the surface, this serves as a proper continuation of the iconic storyline. The movie has stunning visuals and Zimmer's unique take on Vangelis' classic score enhances the overall experience. But underneath it all, the film's moral messages of finding humanity and self-redemption makes 2049 one of the best sequels ever made.

9. Roma (dir. Alfonso Cuarón, 2018)

Cuarón's most personal film tells the story of a young domestic worker in a city on the brink of a civil movement in Mexico City. It's a meditative experience that is helped by beautiful cinematography, extraordinary sound design, and a heart-breaking story. A black-and-white cinematic achievement.

8. Phantom Thread (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017)

PTA's most ambitious film since There Will Be Blood. I gained more liking to Phantom Thread the more I watched it. After multiple rewatches, it's safe to say that this film is not only a dark masterpiece but a crowning achievement for filmmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson. The elegant style of editing and writing makes the film feel like it belongs during the early years of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

7. Her (dir. Spike Jonze, 2013)

Jonze's career started as a BMX and skateboard photographer, and as he transitioned to filmmaking, people began to realize the talent this man had. After 3 features, he created his very personal love story, Her. This story is handled with such love and care. Theodore's emotions and passions are explored so beautifully. This melancholic sci-fi puts heartbreak in a new light, and although the relationship is between a man and A.I., we get a deeper meaning to what it means to let go of someone for good.

6. The Master (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012)

After a 5 year hiatus, the Valley-based filmmaker PTA came back in the biggest way possible. The Master is by far one of the smartest movies to come out this decade. With such complex characters and mysterious backgrounds, PT Anderson's unique take on Scientology is a powerful portrayal of family and inclusion/exclusion. Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman give their career-best performances, and demonstrate what true acting looks like.

5. Whiplash (dir. Damien Chazelle, 2014)

Visually striking, dangerously energized, and entertaining from start to finish, Whiplash became one of those films that you had to see in order to believe. Chazelle's tight script and editor Tom Cross's perfectly timed edits made this 2014 music thriller not only a unique experience, but a stressful one. J.K Simmons takes Chazelle's dynamic antagonist and makes it his own, with an incredible performance.

4. Drive (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011)

This is a movie that I still consider to be a miracle. It felt as if everyone involved came together to make this THE movie of the decade. Unbelievable cinematography, Refn's distinctive directing style, and genius writing makes Drive a misunderstood masterpiece.

3. The Tree of Life (dir. Terrence Malick, 2011)

Back at Cannes in 2011, film lovers and critics were taken back by Malick's newest style of filmmaking that no one had seen quite yet. The Tree of Life explored life, death, innocence, and even the Universe for crying out loud. In one scene you'll see a group of young boys in a Texas town, and dinosaurs in the next...Malick didn't hold back. It has the most memorable cinematography of the decade and inspired filmmakers around the world with its existential views on life.

2. La La Land (dir. Damien Chazelle, 2016)

In an age of superhero blockbusters and remakes, La La Land is the true revival of the classic movie musical from the Golden Age of Hollywood. This super inspiring tale of love in the City of Angels impressed millions around the world. After Whiplash's critical success, Chazelle was able to make his dream project of filmmaking in a City that has forgotten the classics. La La Land is a technical marvel and it's one of my favorite films of the decade...and probably my favorite film of all time.

1. The Social Network (dir. David Fincher, 2010)

Fincher and Sorkin's collaboration on the story of Mark Zuckerberg and his multi-billion dollar social media platform's origin is an absolute masterclass in filmmaking. From a screenplay and technical perspective, there's nothing quite like The Social Network. Sorkin's music-like dialogue grabs the audience's ears and never lets go. Fincher is known to be a perfectionist in the film industry, and sometimes that can seem pretentious. But this is DAVID FINCHER. The man gave us Fight Club and Seven within 4 years of each other. The directing not only enhances Sorkin's gorgeous dialogue, but all the performances. The Social Network is a drama but can sometimes be looked at as a courtroom thriller. It's a film about friendship, betrayal, and redemption. The filmmakers find a way to make you care deeply about a unredeemable protagonist. This is a milestone in filmmaking, and I truly think it's the best film of the decade and one of the greatest of all time.

Again, these are what I think are the best. There are hundreds of films I didn't see this decade. Let's hope for another great decade of film!