Person of the DECADE!
People of the Decade
Top 10 Craziest Ways People Have Tried To Beat Death
Let’s get ready to rumble! Welcome to Watchmojo, and today we’re pitting film, TV, sports, and music figures against each other to decide our Person of the Decade! We’ll be matching them up in brackets of single-elimination knockout rounds, going through film, then TV, sports, and finally music. We’re basing the results on each person’s achievements and influence from 2010 to 2019. The winners will face off until only one remains standing! Ready? Let’s go! Film Round 1 Jennifer Lawrence vs. Robert Downey, Jr. The 2010s marked Lawrence’s breakthrough and continued Downey’s comeback. Lawrence hit the ground running with “Winter’s Bone,” “Hunger Games,” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” winning an Oscar for the latter. As Tony Stark, Downey headlined the MCU – the biggest film series ever. While still beloved by many, Lawrence hit a rough patch towards the decade’s end with “Passengers,” “Red Sparrow”, and “Dark Phoenix”. Downey finished on a high note with the record-breaking “Avengers: Endgame,” giving Iron Man the edge here. Winner: Robert Downey, Jr. Emma Stone vs. Margot Robbie Gwen Stacy or Harley Quinn? Stone came into her own this decade while Aussie native Robbie hit the mainstream internationally. Following her first starring role in “Easy A,” Stone scored three Oscar nominations, with a win for “La La Land.” “The Wolf of Wall Street” was just the beginning for Robbie, who got an Oscar nomination for “I, Tonya.” A close call, but Robbie is to the 2010s what Marilyn Monroe was to the 1950s - making this bombshell the favourite. Winner: Margot Robbie Lupita Nyong'o vs. Dwayne Johnson In a decade where diversity was a frequent topic of discussion, Nyong'o and Johnson stood out as two of the most influential performers of color. Nyong'o won an Oscar for her debut feature performance in “12 Years a Slave”, and later starred in hits like “Black Panther” and “Us.” While Nyong'o’s star shone brightly, however, Johnson has become the very definition of star power with blockbuster franchises like “Fast & Furious” and “Jumanji” - smoldering his way to victory. SB [Johnson: “And I can do this, I can make my chest move.” Jumanji Junket] Winner: Dwayne Johnson Leonardo DiCaprio vs. Joaquin Phoenix Both started young, but DiCaprio and Phoenix have matured into two of their generation’s greatest actors. As Calvin Candie, Jordan Belfort, and his Oscar-winning turn as Hugh Glass, DiCaprio gave one stellar performance after another this decade. Following an acting hiatus, Phoenix’s career rose from the ashes with films like “The Master” and “Her.” “Joker” aside, though, Phoenix has mostly stuck to art house pictures, whereas DiCaprio’s films have entertained critics and mainstream audiences - narrowly taking the cake. Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio Round 2 Robert Downey, Jr. vs. Margot Robbie Where Downey mainly stuck to playing Iron Man, Harley Quinn was just the tip of the iceberg for Robbie, who’s played everyone from Queen Elizabeth I to Sharon Tate. That’s not to say Downey’s work grew repetitive, however. We’ve watched Tony Stark evolve over the decade and Downey has fleshed him out the point that he almost feels real. Robbie’s filmography has more variety, but Downey molded Tony into quite possibly the most iconic character of the 2010s. Winner: Robert Downey, Jr. Dwayne Johnson vs. Leonardo DiCaprio Packing theaters isn’t easy nowadays, but Johnson and DiCaprio were both among the decade’s biggest box office draws. Simply hearing their names got us excited to see a movie. Where DiCaprio usually had a high-profile director like Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino in his corner, however, Johnson’s been the primary selling point for most of his movies. Johnson’s irresistible appeal made him the world’s highest-paid actor and People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2016 - not to mention this round’s winner. Winner: Dwayne Johnson Round 3 Robert Downey, Jr. vs. Dwayne Johnson In the early 2000s, Downey was battling substance abuse while Johnson was best known for WWF and “The Scorpion King”. Both have come a long way, epitomizing the term “movie star” throughout the 2010s. While Downey is forever Iron Man, Johnson simply owned this decade with his widespread presence, box office success, and surprising acting versatility, proving he’s more than your average action hero. Mr. The Rock, we raise our glasses and our eyebrows to you. Our winner for film: Dwayne Johnson! Next up? TV Round 1 Bryan Cranston vs. Peter Dinklage On the television drama front, Cranston and Dinklage ruled like no other. Cranston already won two Primetime Emmys last decade for his riveting lead performance on “Breaking Bad.” The AMC series brought him four more Emmys this decade – two for acting and two for producing. Likewise, Dinklage picked up four Emmys for playing Tyrion Lannister on “Game of Thrones.” Where Dinklage was a scene-stealer on his show, however, Cranston was his show, making Mr. White this round’s king. Winner: Bryan Cranston Elisabeth Moss vs. Sandra Oh Both actresses rose to prominence in the 2000s, with Moss playing Peggy Olson on “Mad Men” and Oh portraying Cristina Yang on “Grey’s Anatomy.” They continued these roles well into the 2010s, although even better ones awaited. Oh took home a Golden Globe for her role on “Killing Eve”, while Moss received an Emmy for “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Both are exceptional, but Moss’ Golden Globe-winning work on “Top of the Lake” propels her to the top of his round. Winner: Elisabeth Moss Andy Samberg vs. Kristen Bell In terms of comedy, few television stars made us smile more than Samberg and Bell. Samberg gave us more classic “SNL” Digital Short songs like “I Just Had Sex,” “Jack Sparrow,” and “3-Way (The Golden Rule)." Bell landed leading roles on “House of Lies” and “The Good Place” while also stretching her dramatic muscles in “Veronica Mars” Season 4. Samberg narrowly takes this round, though, for his consistently hilarious performance as Jake Peralta on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Winner: Andy Samberg Donald Glover vs. Bill Hader These two guys can do it all. Following his stint as Troy Barnes on “Community,” Glover went on to create and star in “Atlanta,” winning two Emmys for Season One alone. After Stefon got hitched on “SNL,” Bader co-created two ingenious comedies: “Documentary Now!” and “Barry,” the latter of which won him two acting Emmys. As ambitious as both funnymen are, the sheer unpredictability of “Atlanta” demonstrates why Glover is one of the most varied voices of his generation. Winner: Donald Glover Round 2 Bryan Cranston vs. Elisabeth Moss When we think of the term, “emotional powerhouse,” Cranston as Walter White and Moss as June Osborne are two performances that immediately come to mind. Where Moss mainly stuck to drama this decade, Cranston wasn’t afraid to get funny with roles on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “SuperMansion.” He even directed a couple episodes of “Modern Family” and “The Office.” Moss can be quite funny too, but Cranston is “the one who knocks” when it comes to balancing comedy and drama. Winner: Bryan Cranston Andy Samberg vs. Donald Glover Both are hysterical, musically gifted, and have natural screen presence, whether they’re hosting a live television event or staring in a single-camera sitcom. Both also keep busy behind the scenes. with Sandberg executive-producing “PEN15” and “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.” Glover’s TV credits go beyond acting, producing, and songwriting, as he serves as writer and director on many “Atlanta” episodes. What’s more, Glover has taken us to surprisingly dramatic places, proving his range knows no end. Winner: Donald Glover Round 3 Bryan Cranston vs. Donald Glover Be it comedy or drama, Cranston and Glover owned the airwaves in the 2010s. “Breaking Bad” aside, Cranston also had memorable roles on “Sneaky Pete” and “All the Way,” in which he reprised his Tony-winning role as LBJ. “Community” and “Atlanta” weren’t Glover’s only TV projects either; he also popped up on “Girls,” “SNL,” and even “Sesame Street.” As far as work behind the scenes goes, however, Glover edges out Cranston for giving “Atlanta” its distinctive voice. Our winner for TV: Donald Glover! On to . . . Sports Round 1 LeBron James vs. Serena Williams While James and Williams both launched to superstardom before the 2010s, they’re each having one hell of a decade. Serena returned from injuries to dominate women’s tennis once again in the 2010s, winning 12 Grand Slams and capturing the most Slams in the Open Era overall. On the other hand, LeBron was a three-time NBA Champion, three-time Most Valuable Player, three-time Finals MVP, AND an All-Star every year. Sorry Serena… James is King for a reason. Winner: LeBron James Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Usain Bolt Both of these men are absolute legends in their home countries of Portugal and Jamaica respectively, but who’s had a bigger impact on the world stage? Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or four times this decade as soccer’s top player, and led Portugal to a huge European Championship win in 2016. But, Usain Bolt has … won just about everything he’s entered… winning an unprecedented six Olympic Gold Medals and eight World Championships since 2010. This round goes to the Jamaican Flash! Winner: Usain Bolt Lionel Messi vs. Sidney Crosby The Pride of Argentina versus the Pride of Canada… Who’ll move on? Sid the Kid brought back-to-back Stanley Cups to Pittsburgh – along with league MVPs both seasons – and led Canada to two Olympic Golds in men’s hockey. Messi, meanwhile, is considered the best player of his generation, taking home the Ballon d’Or AND the European Golden Shoe a record SIX times each. Sorry Canada… Argentina for the win! Winner: Lionel Messi Tom Brady vs. Simone Biles One’s reaching the end of his historic career, while the other is just starting hers… Despite being just 22 years old, Simone is arguably the greatest gymnast ever, winning four Golds in a single Olympics and dominating the World Championships since 2013. BUT! She’s no Tom Brady yet… We mean, this dude is the undisputed GOAT, with three Super Bowl rings this decade (six total), two Super Bowl MVPs, and two regular season MVPs. Sorry Simone. Maybe next decade! Winner: Tom Brady Round 2 LeBron James vs. Usain Bolt The King of the Hardwood and the King of the Track! Both are the best in their field, but who’s more important? Usain has all those Olympic and World Championship Golds we mentioned, and he’s also aiming to limit the world’s carbon footprint with his electric scooters. James, however, on top of all his golden hardware, has led two different teams to the Finals EIGHT years in a row and opened his own school for at-risk students. All Hail King James! Winner: LeBron James Lionel Messi vs. Tom Brady Messi and Brady are the best at what they do, so what sets them apart? Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer on the field, and off it he’s the face of Adidas and Gillette in Europe, and made Time’s Top 100 list twice. As for Brady, all the rings and recognition aside, he’s ingrained himself into North American culture with TV and movie appearances, marrying a supermodel and penning his own diet book. Tom’s just everywhere! Winner: Tom Brady Round 3 LeBron James vs. Tom Brady Both these athletes are the best to ever play their respective sports. The fact that Brady is 42 and the Patriots are 7-2 favorites to win the Super Bowl again this year tells you all you need to know. Meanwhile, King James and the Lakers sit atop the Western Conference, despite a rough season in 2018. James’ humanitarian work, however, makes him an unparalleled role model in sports. He’s a huge advocate for non-profits that aid troubled youth, with his own charity in the LeBron James Family Foundation. Our winner for sports: LeBron James! So far, that’s Dwayne for Film, Glover for TV, and LeBron for Sports. Time for . . . Music Round 1 Beyoncé vs. Lady Gaga Beyoncé's "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour" broke records around the world, but she had some fierce competition from Lady Gaga, who was riding high on studio album success, not to mention her work on "A Star is Born." Bey edges out Gaga here in our opening round, however, thanks primarily to the strength of her albums "Beyoncé" and "Lemonade." Sure, Gaga's "Born This Way" was epic, but "Artpop" and "Joanne" seemed to be cases of diminishing returns. Winner: Beyoncé Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake Could any modern hip hop artist touch Kendrick Lamar? Well, Canadian rapper Drake also enjoyed immense success throughout the decade. The former "Degrassi" star may have started from the bottom, but he soared to the top with tracks that were both commercial and critical hits - picking up four Grammys along the way. However, Lamar's 2015 “To Pimp a Butterfly” was THE hip hop album to beat in the 2010s, giving this thirteen-time Grammy winner an easy pass into our next round. Winner: Kendrick Lamar Ariana Grande vs. Rihanna Ariana Grande killed it in the 2010s, with five studio albums and FOURTEEN top ten singles! It’s no wonder Billboard named her “2018 Woman of the Year”. Meanwhile, Rihanna proved that she still had plenty of gas in her creative tank, pumping out a string of number one hits, including the international smash “We Found Love”. She also founded her own charity foundation and beauty empire, and became a Barbadian Ambassador. Ariana’s “Thank You, Next” may have broken YouTube records, but you can’t argue with RiRi’s dominance! Winner: Rihanna Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West Will you let Taylor finish now, Mr. West? Both Taylor Swift and Kanye West crafted some of the decade's most popular, acclaimed albums. West emerged from behind the mixing desk to drop hip hop masterpieces, obsess the sneaker world, and marry Kim Kardashian. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift's "Red" and "1989" cemented her status as pop-superstar and icon, the latter earning her a Guinness World Record for being her third consecutive album to go platinum during its opening week. Sorry, Kanye. Winner: Taylor Swift Round 2 Beyoncé vs. Kendrick Lamar Both Beyoncé and Lamar were showered in accolades this decade, AND named in Time’s 100 Most Influential People - Beyoncé twice! In 2018, Lamar picked up a Pulitzer for his album “Damn”, while Beyoncé headlined Coachella, turning the event into the Netflix concert film “Homecoming”. But Queen Bey ALSO smashed records for tours, album sales, AND Grammys, becoming one of the highest-earning artists in history - all while campaigning tirelessly for charitable causes. Who runs the world? Beyoncé! Winner: Beyoncé Rihanna vs. Taylor Swift Rihanna and Taylor Swift actually have a lot in common in terms of their music careers. Since their debuts, both have branched out into new genres and reinvented their public personas. In the 2010s, Rihanna released four studio albums, picked up eight Grammys, and topped charts around the world. Not to be outdone, T Swift released FIVE albums, picked up TEN Grammys, and had her own string of chart-toppers. Pervasive and indominitible, Taylor comes out on top. Winner: Taylor Swift Round 3 Beyoncé vs. Taylor Swift They’re two of the most popular, top-earning entertainers of all time. But who achieved more this decade? Swift’s meteoric rise and transformation dominated pop culture, and her “Reputation” tour set new records. Meanwhile, Beyoncé continued to build her music empire, releasing three solo studio albums and collaborating with husband Jay-Z. Her single “Formation” was a tour de force. However, in terms of album sales, earnings, and pop culture presence, Taylor took the decade, closing it out with a bang when all 18 tracks of her 2019 album “Lover” charted simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100! Our winner for music: Taylor Swift The Final Rounds That leaves us with four finalists! Dwayne Johnson for Film, Donald Glover for TV, LeBron James for Sports, and Taylor Swift for Music! They’re all winners, but only one can be our Person of the Decade! Dwayne Johnson vs. Donald Glover These guys left their marks on every facet of pop culture this decade. Johnson was frequently cited as Hollywood’s highest-paid actor, starred in the HBO series “Ballers,” and even tested his singing chops as Maui. Glover headlined blockbusters like “The Lion King,” co-created/starred in “Atlanta,” and swept the Grammys as Childish Gambino. Johnson undeniably has Glover beat on the sports front, however. While no longer a WWE regular, Johnson’s occasional appearances solidified him as this round’s champ. Winner: Dwayne Johnson LeBron James vs. Taylor Swift Comparing Taylor Swift to LeBron James may seem like apples and oranges, but as in "The Highlander" there can be only one. Both are at the apex of their field, with King James standing atop at the summit of contenders for the title of best basketball player of all time. Yet, Swift consistently tops Forbes lists of highest paid entertainers and wields power so vast that she even made Apple back down on the royalty policies for their streaming service. Winner: Taylor Swift And now for our final round! Dwayne Johnson vs. Taylor Swift This is a tough one. Who’s had the most successful decade, the Rock or T Swift? Well, we asked the Rock why HE should win . . . SB [Johnson “Well I think because I have humility. And heart. And a sense of humour.” Jumanji Junket] On the other hand, according to Kevin Hart . . . SB [Hart: “You got gas, do people know that? Do they know about gassy Gary over here? The poop machine?” Johnson: “I’m lactose intolerant!” “Mr. Pooty himself over here. Can’t finish a sentence without lifting a cheek up!” Jumanji Junket] Weeell that’s good to know. In the Rock’s corner for the decade? Over two DOZEN films, a TV series, WWE appearances, an autobiography, and iconic status as an action hero. Standing on stage with Taylor? SIX studio albums, a slew of Billboard records and awards, TEN Grammys, and a legion of loyal fans. Both earned HUNDREDS of millions in the 2010s. You know what though? Gassy or not, the Rock’s charm, sorta-humility, and transformation from athlete to bona fide blockbuster star have us convinced! Johnson, you got this! Our Person of the Decade: Dwayne Johnson! What do YOU think about that Dwayne? Sorry Kevin, but hey, we love you!
