Top 10 Best Movies of the Last Decade

Script written by Nick Spake

Top 10 Best Movies of the Decade

Decades come and go, but the movies are forever. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Movies of the Decade. For this list, we’re taking a look at movies released from 2010 to 2019 that will not only be remembered as classics in the years to come, but also served to define the that decade. Since this was especially difficult to narrow down, we’re leaving off animated features. Honestly, between “Toy Story 3” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” there are so many options on the animated front that they could make up their own list.

#10: “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

Given this franchise’s widespread impact and universal success throughout the decade, this list wouldn’t be complete without at least one entry from the MCU. “Black Panther” proved that superhero movies have the power to break barriers and break into the Best Picture race. But if we have to single out one movie that epitomized why this cinematic universe is a cinematic achievement, it would have to be “Avengers: Endgame.” For over ten years, we watched the Infinity Saga unfold and this tour de force marked its epic culmination. Finding just the right balance of old and new, the film brings everything full circle with laughs, tears, and thunderous applause. As the credits roll, it doesn’t merely feel like you’ve watched a movie, but an important milestone.

#9: “Arrival” (2016)

The 2010s proved to be a breakout decade for director Denis Villeneuve, who explored a wide variety of different styles and genres. It was his foray into sci-fi, however, that fascinated us the most. “Arrival” warrants comparison to the likes of Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick, but maintains a signature that belongs to Villeneuve alone. When some spacecraft arrive on Earth, it’s up to one linguist to decipher the reason. The film keeps the audience guessing until the very end, which is every bit as poignant and inspiring as one would hope. In a decade where immigration and cultural divide were among the most prevalent topics, “Arrival” is an absorbing parable that demonstrates the importance of communication and listening to others.

#8: “Django Unchained” (2012)

For three decades, Quentin Tarantino has remained one of the industry’s most distinctive and exhilarating voices. Among the three films he made during the 2010s, “Django Unchained” was arguably his most audacious outing, as well as his most fun. Like a master chef, Tarantino combines several ingredients that most people wouldn’t dare put into one pot. With Tarantino adding his own special seasoning, though, it comes out as a perfect fusion of different tastes. The film is an outrageous satire, not unlike “Blazing Saddles,” a Blaxploitation flick, not unlike “Shaft,” and a spaghetti western, not unlike… well, the 1966 film “Django.” It’s also an effective buddy picture with Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz creating the most memorable western duo this side of Butch and Sundance.

#7: “Hereditary” (2018)

This decade was a horror renaissance, but no other movie disturbed us to the core quite like “Hereditary”. A supernatural horror drama such as this easily could’ve come out in the late ‘60s or ‘70s, drawing parallels to classics like “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Exorcist,” and “The Omen.” At the same time, “Hereditary” still feels like a product of the 2010s, touching upon mental health and trauma with a modern sensibility. Toni Collette dominates the screen as a woman who’s either being torn apart by an evil presence or the madness within. Where so many other horror films literally jump out at the audience, director Ari Aster lures us in with tense foreshadowing and subtle scares, leaving us completely unprepared when insanity takes over.

#6: “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)

Although it’s mainly set in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the story of Jordan Belfort feels all too relevant in today’s world. We live in an era where big business reigns supreme. In Belfort’s eyes, the little guy is so insignificant that we never even see the countless people he’s scammed over the years. Instead, Martin Scorsese’s electrifying biopic focuses on how a Wall Street mogul sold his soul in exchange for the American Dream: a fancy mansion, luxury vehicles, and so much cash you could drown in it. In other words, greed and the American Dream have become one and the same. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Belfort as a con artist who’s beyond despicable, yet so charming that we’d still probably buy his pen.

#5: “Inception” (2010)

If the 2000s put Christopher Nolan on the map, then the 2010s solidified his status as a master of filmmaking. “Interstellar” was perhaps Nolan’s most heartfelt film to date, but “Inception” opened our minds to bold new ideas. Now more than ever, Hollywood seems reliant on established properties to pack theaters. “Inception” stood out as an anomaly: an original, standalone story that not only excited us, but also challenged the audience to think. We’ve all heard the term, “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” Well, “Inception” is a heist thriller, wrapped in a sci-fi extravaganza, inside an enigma. It’s a film that triggers the imagination and still invites analysis ten years later. In short, this is the stuff that dreams are made of.

#4: “Moonlight” (2016)

“Moonlight” signified a major shift in Hollywood, both for indie filmmaking and representation. The word “diversity” has been thrown around a lot during the early 21st century and for good reason. Where many movies are obvious in how they address race, gender, and sexuality, though, nothing is ever spelt out in “Moonlight.” This Best Picture-winning drama requires its audience to look closer, making them see that there are multiple sides to every human being. A drug dealer can actually be an affectionate father figure. A juvenile delinquent can actually be a scared little boy trying to survive in an unaccepting world. Everyone is forced to fit the mold they were born into. Through love and understanding, however, our protagonist may come to embrace his true identity.

#3: “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

In today’s blockbuster landscape, audiences are used to seeing movies with excessive CGI, overly-complicated plots, and repetitive action. “Fury Road” was the complete opposite, emphasizing practical effects and stunts, keeping the story as simple as possible, and putting so much thought into the composition of the action that individual stills could hang in a museum. While not exactly a sequel or a reboot, “Fury Road” takes the best aspects from George Miller’s previous “Mad Max” films and pushes them into overdrive. The best way to describe the film is the climactic chase of “The Road Warrior” sustained for two hours. Although that sounds incredibly straightforward, the film’s emotive characters, inventive production values, and high-octane direction set a new standard for the genre.

#2: “Get Out” (2017)

“Hereditary” might’ve been scarier, but “Get Out” challenged preconceived notions about horror in film. It’s by no means the first movie to blend horror with dark comedy and satire, but “Get Out” made us think about current racial and social tensions in ways we never anticipated. And in doing so, it attained heights rarely seen within the genre. And this all came from the mind of a former “Mad TV” cast member! While writer/director Jordan Peele has always been a great talent, the 2010s saw him emerge as one of the decade’s defining voices. Seamlessly mixing homage with original concepts, Peele should remain every bit as prominent in the 2020s and beyond, but for now, his debut feature is his magnum opus.

Before we get to our topic pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)

“Boyhood” (2014)

“Parasite” (2019)

“Birdman” (2014)

“Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013)

“The Master” (2012)

#1: “The Social Network” (2010)

When “The Social Network” hit theaters, Facebook was still a relatively new phenomenon. Jump ahead ten years later and it’s impossible to imagine the world without this social media platform. Together, director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin shape the story of Mark Zuckerberg into a modern Shakespearean drama. The question is whether this is a story of triumph or tragedy. It’s hard to say since Facebook’s story is far from over. For now, though, this film depicts a legendary origin story that was relevant in 2010 and remains very much a part of the zeitgeist in 2019. Expertly crafted, brilliantly written, flawlessly acted, and timely while also being timeless, we can’t think of a better film to represent the past decade of cinema.