The 2010s are over. We are now in a new decade, the 2020s, and I think this is a good time to reflect on some of the best movies that we’ve had over the past decade. Some of these movies you might have already seen, some you may have never even heard of and some you may have simply forgotten about. Now, bear in mind that I am by no means a professional movie critic. Nor did I see every movie in the 2010s. This is a very subjective list, in no particular order, of movies that I think are definitely worth seeing for one reason or another. Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s talk movies.
You’ve definitely heard of Parasite. It won an Oscar this year and was the first foreign-language film to do so. Question is, is it that good? My opinion is yes. A film about a family living in poverty whose luck suddenly turns and a series of interesting events ensue.
It’s a movie that’s easy to follow, with a light sense of humour. It’s the sort of film where if you’re on the fence about it, just watch it. It’s only 2 hours and 12 minutes long and you probably won’t regret it if you like interesting films that have a lot of twists and turns. It’s also got a lot of symbolism and underlying metaphors — if you’re more of the in-depth-movie-analysing type. It does have a rather bittersweet ending, though.
Ex Machina is not your usual sci-fi film about the advancement of AI and robots that look extraordinarily like humans. It’s a film that’s got style, character, a storyline that gets a bit chilling as it goes on, well-written dialogue, a great cast and great effects. It’s a film that asks questions not only about why we as humans have created and are continuing to create AI, but also throws out questions on the themes of life, existence, evolution, love, sex and the intelligence of machines overtaking that of human beings. The soundtrack is also great, with one scene in particular towards the end of the film (for those of you who have already seen it, I’m referring to the scene with the knife) where this deep electronic track (Bunsen Burner by CUTS) kicks in that’s just perfect for the situation. A truly memorable film with a great concept and a fantastic ending.
Ryan Gosling plays a nameless movie stunt driver by day and a crime getaway driver by night. A mysterious guy who lives alone, wears cool jackets and isn’t the very talkative type. He suddenly gets sucked into the mob world and things escalate rather quickly.
A somewhat recent hit in Hindi cinema, Andhadhun is a dark comedy/crime film with an intense plot full of sharp twists and turns, lies, murder and deception.
A really fun film that’s not only nostalgic for those who grew up playing with LEGOs but also a movie that, for a kids’ film, is quite well thought-out in terms of its concepts. They really took the concept of LEGO and applied its creative, versatile nature to this film. What do I mean by that? Well, let me put it this way. When you watch this film, it reminds you not only of LEGO and all the various things you could possibly do with it but also the culture of LEGO. What LEGO means for people. How LEGO is used in people’s homes and experimented with to make all sorts of things. It also tackles the way kids imagine and create, whilst bringing in some family-dynamic elements, too. It’s not just a fun animation film with everything made of LEGO, it literally takes the idea of LEGO and incorporates it into a fun, fast-moving film that I thought was really one-of-a-kind.
You’re probably thinking: “The Cabin in the Woods? I can just tell the movie’s plot right from the title... a bunch of kids go into a forest and stay in some creepy cabin, right?” You’re actually not wrong. It is — as the title suggests — about The Cabin in the Woods. However, this is one of those films that is more than what it seems — in a way that you would never, ever expect. The plot also escalates to the point that by the time it gets to the end, the movie has become much, much more than what it was at the start.
True Story is based on, well, a true story about an avid journalist who crosses paths with an alleged murderer who has a charismatic, likeable personality and begins investigating the truth behind the events that took place the night he supposedly murdered his entire family. Starring Jonah Hill and James Franco as the journalist and alleged murderer respectively, I was impressed seeing these two actors, who are usually in comedy movies, in a serious movie like this. Both performances were outstanding, and it’s really amazing to see an actor or actress star in a role outside of their usual genre. So the movie’s got a pretty serious tone, but it’s also got a great plotline and the way the story unfolds is quite enjoyable.
You may remember when The Interview was released back in 2014. It hit the news after the North Korean government threatened to take action if Sony, the studio, released this film that, basically mocked their country, culture and leader. Although the film was actually edited by the studio to be more acceptable for North Korea, the computer systems of Sony were hacked before the movie’s release and it all became instant global news. After watching this film for the first time, I thought to myself one fundamental thing: this movie is hilarious. I, personally, have always loved the sense of humour the “Seth Rogen” movies have, and in my opinion, this is the best one ever. The characters played by Seth Rogen and James Franco are an almost unmatchable duo, and the two have a chemistry that just ties this whole film together. Also, the usual pop-culture references and somewhat silly humour these movies have blend perfectly with the topic of North Korea. Whether it’s offensive or not is up to you, but there is no doubt that this is a funny movie.
Stylishly dark and mysterious with a plot that zig and zags with every scene, Gone Girl is a mystery movie that wins you over with its execution, cinematography and story. A husband is suspected to have murdered his wife when she is declared missing and you, as the viewer, are stuck in the middle, not sure who to believe. A smart movie with well-written dialogue and immaculate pacing, Gone Girl is perhaps the best film of 2014. Maybe even the best film ever.
If you don’t like complex movies with a lot of dialogue, a lot of plot layers and a rather long runtime, then you will definitely not enjoy this one. Maybe that’s why you haven’t seen Inception. And don’t plan to. If so, you may carry on to the next film. But for those interested in films heavily reliant on conceptual ideas, this one will be a pure gem. The idea of dreams becoming the access into someone’s mind is handled by this film most spectacularly. Also has a heist-type premise and a lot of gun action.
After his daughter goes missing, a father spends every waking moment tracking her movements and figuring out what happened to her. Sounds familiar, right? We’ve all seen this kind of premise before. But what makes this film particularly interesting is its concept. The film is composed entirely of screens — meaning you see what the characters are doing on their phones, computers, CCTV cameras etc, but never the characters directly. It’s the sort of thing that you really need to see in order to understand fully. Searching was a really refreshing take on the “missing-person” genre and makes a comment about how much of our lives are composed of screens. I was honestly a bit unsure about seeing this film at first as I thought the whole concept would be a bit gimmicky, but as I started watching I really started getting used to the structure of the movie. Searching works because it’s well-made, well thought out and has a great story for any thriller/mystery fan.
You probably see the poster for this movie and think it’s going to be some kind of mission-based action film starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Well, at least that’s what I thought going in. And that’s exactly what it is — except it isn’t like what you would expect. The concept of this movie, which I will not reveal, is what makes this film really fun and enjoyable to watch.
A great film with a rather odd title, Three Billboards, as it’s commonly known, is clever, relevant, entertaining and well-made. The title of the movie makes you curious about these three billboards outside of Ebbing, Missouri and what significance they hold. Well that, dear reader, is why you should watch the film. You could just find out online or speak to someone who has already seen the film, but trust me when I say that this film is better enjoyed watched instead of having the plot read off its Wikipedia page from your smudgy phone screen.
A time-travel-based movie set in the not-so-distant future, Looper is stylised with a cool, southern-United-States vibe and a great performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. With hitmen carrying long-barrelled guns, people walking around with telekinetic abilities and the mob doing, well, what mobs do best, this movie has an excellent premise that it executed flawlessly with a storyline that loops around itself — as the title suggests. One of the greatest conceptual films of the 2010s, for sure.
A fantastic film about a guy, played by Joseph-Gordon Levitt, who gets cancer — that’s not really a spoiler, don’t worry. This movie has a unique sense of realism in the way that the main character handles his issues which makes you really relate to the situation and forces you to think about how you would handle it all if that was you. His friend, played by Seth Rogen, adds some classic Seth Rogen-ish comic relief to the film to make this a highly relatable and loveable drama.
When looking back on The King’s Speech, the thing I remember the most is its beautiful cinematography (just Google “The King’s Speech shots”). It’s beautifully made with the shots being so artistically framed in this period film set in 1930s England — if you care about that stuff when watching films. The ‘King’ in the title is King George VI, and although the plot can be summarised in maybe a sentence or two, this movie is more about portraying the events. So if you’re looking for a movie with a roller-coaster ride of a plot then I’m sorry, but maybe this one isn’t for you.
As chilling as the title suggests, Cold in July starts off one way and feels like, by the end, a totally different film. The plot feels like entering a dark cave with a flashlight — the deeper you go, the bigger the cave seems to get. With elements of mob-affiliation, police corruption, family bonds, cold-blooded murder as well as small-American-town-in-the-‘80s vibes.
An ensemble of misfits battle against a space villain in an intergalactic, sci-fi-esque atmosphere. Sounds familiar, I know. But this movie is unique with its sense of humour, likeable characters and that throwback-to-the-‘60s-and-‘70s soundtrack that you wouldn’t expect in a movie like this, but it totally works. An awesome standalone superhero film.
A classic whodunnit murder-mystery from the Hindi movie industry of India. A teenage girl is killed in her family home in Mumbai, and we are led through the case by an eccentric detective who chews walnuts to keep his brain sharp. The title translates to “mystery”, and that’s literally what this film is in all its essence.
Set in the future, Her has a premise that is quite a common topic in movies and TV shows these days: the advancement of AI. Now, before you sign Her off as some cold and boring sci-fi flick, just know that Her is more romance than sci-fi. The title itself hints that there’s a woman involved, and if you’ve seen the poster for this film then you’ll remember a moustachioed Joaquin Phoenix with round spectacles and a red shirt. So it implies a romance… but who does he fall in love with? Well, that’s what this film sets out to illustrate with its amazing cinematography and warm, likeable tone.
You may know Black Swan as “that ballet movie with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis”. Or you may have already seen it — in which case you’ll know that it’s not just any ordinary film. If you haven’t seen it yet, it may surprise you when you see that the genre most people put this movie in is “psychological thriller”. This is because Black Swan is about more than just a ballerina twirling around some studio where one entire wall is a mirror. It’s kind of like Fight Club, but instead of making soap, stealing cars and blowing up buildings, it’s about ballet (for sure), but also jealousy, drugs, dedication and the blood, sweat and tears one sometimes must go through in order to achieve one’s dreams.
A crime movie starring Robert Pattinson. Yes. Robert Pattinson. In a movie about a bank heist, drugs and sex. You watch this movie and really see how far Pattinson has come from his Twilight days. He plays the role of one of two brothers and he definitely kills it with his performance.
A totally off-the-wall movie that breaks the fourth wall consistently. A self-aware film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. A superhero movie that parodies the whole superhero genre and, by definition, itself. Deadpool is hysterically funny. Full of pop culture references, tongue-in-cheek humour, great action and a superhero who’s witty, immature and actually more like an anti-hero. A must watch if you’re into superhero movies, but are jaded with the same old conventional superhero movies that we are constantly surrounded with.
I’m not really a fan of biopics, but The Theory of Everything was definitely an exception. This film was exceptionally well-made. Watching the life of Stephen Hawking portrayed absolutely amazingly by Eddie Redmayne was a fantastic film experience. You also get to learn a bit more about Hawking’s disease — motor neuron disease — and how it affected those around him as his health slowly deteriorated over the years. The actors did a fantastic job in this film playing the characters of real-life individuals. It was an incredible biopic that makes me open to watching other biopics.
I cannot believe I almost forgot this one as I was making this list of top 50 movies, as it’s one of the most memorable movies of the previous decade. This movie sets out on a mission and it most certainly delivers — kind of like what Nicholas Cage’s character does in this movie. He and his buddy, played by Ron Perlman (the one who played Hellboy in the early 2000s) are sent on a mission to transport a young girl through a plague-infested 13th century Europe. If the movie already sounds good, go watch it, because the visuals, setting and style of this movie make it a true icon of the 2010s.
A film that took twelve years to shoot. Yes, you read that right. Director Richard Linklater hired actors and filmed them as they got older, giving the film a realistic and genuine effect. The story follows the life of Mason, a six-year-old boy who, by the end of the film, is attending university. A great drama film that really grows on you.
An iconic horror/thriller from the last decade. With a subtle tone of dark comedy and a weird, eerie plot, Get Out is one to watch over and over with its foreshadowing, racial commentary and didn’t-see-that-coming ending.
Birdman, or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, is a unique movie, for sure. The main thing that strikes you as soon as you begin watching it is that it’s one of those movies that’s made to look like it’s all one shot. What is this film about? Well... it’s better if you go into this one blind, I think. This movie, for me, was more about the experience of watching it rather than following the plot. The movie has a very interesting atmosphere, with it mostly taking place in a theatre. When watching this film, you’ll be looking at a lot of backstage areas, dressing rooms, corridors, stairwells and people wearing one of those headset-microphones dashing about and getting things organised as the theatre is opening a play soon and stuff needs to be done. The visual aesthetic kind of reminded me of Black Swan, as the two films both have a backstage-peek-behind-a-production feel. Also, they’re both set in New York City.
Set in a fictional European country in the 1930s, this highly stylised film has stunning visuals, a light sense of humour and a nice, easy to follow story. It’s precisely the sort of thing you would expect from a Wes Anderson film. With pre-WWII-Europe vibes and a quirky soundtrack, this aesthetically pleasing, emotionally appealing and adventurously exciting film will have you watching it over and over again as you tell everyone you know what a beautiful masterpiece The Grand Budapest Hotel is.
Follow Leonardo DiCaprio as he lives the wild, dynamic life of a wealthy, corrupt stockbroker. Full of drugs, sex, parties, f-bombs, yachts and throwing a dwarf onto a giant target board — because why not — this movie is by no means a boring, dry tale of a man climbing up the corporate ladder. Instead, it’s a witty, crazy, cocaine-filled ride led by a red-faced Leonardo DiCaprio shouting aggressively into a mic.
This one is definitely not for everyone. But if you are the type of person who would enjoy Ted, odds are you’ve seen it already. Still, there’s probably someone out there who enjoys watching Family Guy but never got round to watching Seth Macfarlane’s directorial debut film.
A story about aliens visiting Earth, Arrival is intelligent, metaphorical, visually incredible and all-round outstanding. With a twist at the end you would never expect, Arrival’s dialogue, themes and ideas will keep you thinking about it for a long time.
Shutter Island is one of those films where the less you know, the better. So all I’ll say is this: it’s got Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s set in the 1950s and it’s a psychological thriller with a detective-investigation aspect and a major twist ending.
Hm. How do I explain this one? Alright, well, Relatos Salvajes (or Wild Tales, in English) is an Argentinian movie that is hard to put into a genre. I guess you could Google it if you really want to know what kind of genre this movie fits into, but I don’t mind leaving Relatos Salvajes genre-free because this movie is a lot of things at once. Thriller, horror, drama, social commentary (is that a genre?) and also dark comedy in places. It’s a compilation of six short stories that each carry a message about humanity, society, love, revenge and greed.
Drishyam is a murder-mystery, well without the mystery aspect. But that isn’t to say that this movie is boring. Quite the contrary, in fact. Based on a Malayalam-language film of the same name, this Hindi-language remake is the story of an ordinary family that gets caught up in a tense, distressing situation. The street-smart father, played by Bollywood heavyweight Ajay Devgn, must use his wits to do whatever it takes to save his family.
Watching Whiplash really gives you a visual definition of what hard work is. The film follows a young jazz drummer studying at a prestigious music school and, my God, does this kid work hard to get to where he wants to be. His motivation is somewhat encouraged by his tutor, played by J.K. Simmons — yes, the angry boss from the Toby Macguire Spiderman movies — and you’ll find out what I mean exactly by “encouraged” after you watch the film. If you’re looking to get motivated, forget Instagram influencers and get on this film because Whiplash illustrates how dedicated you have to be to become successful. How someone can be pushed so far emotionally, mentally and physically and still keep going to get to where they want to go. What one must sacrifice to become the next Jimi Hendrix or Muhammad Ali. Whiplash, to me anyway, is a visual representation of never giving up and going all-in to pursue a dream. And its message comes across with great cinematography, so even if you don’t care about jazz music, drumming, or even anything creative you can still be entertained.
An iconic horror film from Indonesia. Pengabdi Setan (or Satan’s Slaves) is eerie, creepy and unnerving. A must-see for any horror fan.
Set in Tehran in the 1980s, this Iranian horror film is truly chilling with its unnerving visuals and interesting concept. With themes of fear, anxiety and paranoia, it follows a mother who has been left alone with her daughter to cope with the distressing situation of having to live in the midst of a war. Probably my favourite horror film of all time.
The true story of a cold-blooded man who killed for the mob, this film is chilling to its very core. Gripping and thrilling, this movie has classic mob elements like assassination, carrying around briefcases full of money and lying to your family (which is big in this film). Watch Michael Shannon play the contrasting role of an ice-cold hitman who’s also a loving father and a family man while counting how many facial hair styles he changes throughout the movie.
Daniel Radcliffe gives a killer performance as an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates a white supremacist group suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. Imperium is the type of film you’ve seen many times over, but the tension and drama in this one make it rather unique. And it’s fun to watch a British actor pretending to be an American FBI agent pretending to be a white supremacist.
A stunt biker played by Ryan Gosling gets involved with some criminal activities. Wait, doesn’t that sound a bit like Drive? Only in Drive, it’s a stunt driver played by Ryan Gosling who gets involved with some criminal activities. That, however, is where the similarities between the two movies pretty much end. Gosling’s character is quite different in the two films; in Drive he’s a silent, mysterious, nameless guy but in The Place Beyond The Pines, he’s more of the edgy, reckless type with neck tattoos and can be seen in either a smudgy t-shirt or an equally smudgy tank top. The plot also has quite a different form in this film. Where Drive has a plot that deepens as the film progresses, The Place Beyond The Pines is one of those films where the plot completely flips and, by the end, the film has completely transformed with totally new characters in the spotlight.
Well... how do I describe this one? Mother! is a totally unique film. Although genre-wise, it would probably be a mix between horror and mystery, this film has a very odd tone, is full of unreal events that unfold in a very nightmare-esque fashion and has supernatural qualities that make Mother! seem more like an abstract conceptual art piece than an actual film. One thing is for sure: this film is not for everyone. Taking place entirely in a house, you follow Jennifer Lawrence as a housewife who watches as strange occurrences begin to happen all around her. Full of shocking moments, great cinematography and an ending that leaves you surprisingly satisfied, this is one for you if you like films that aren’t like other, normal, conventional films.
Interstellar is a really well-made, epic, sci-fi film. Matthew McConaughey totally kills it as a space pilot who is sent to space to save humanity. It’s a premise that we’ve all seen before, I know, but Interstellar is unique in its concept, style and, most of all, soundtrack. The score for this film, beautifully done by Hans Zimmer, makes this film a true masterpiece. The soundtrack brings with it a sense of epic-ness as well as enhancing the notions of time, movement and the empty void of space. I was listening to the soundtrack as background music for weeks after watching this film. If you’re on the fence about Interstellar, thinking it’s just going to be an average, run-of-the-mill space exploration movie… trust me, it’s not. Maybe try listening to the soundtrack first to get a feel for the film.
Another one from Iran, A Separation is a really realistic drama film with an easy-to-follow storyline and great pacing as the movie unfurls. The best part of this film is how realistic it feels. The amazing performances from the actors and brilliantly-written dialogue bring emotion, tension and drama in a beautiful and enjoyable way.
A heartwarming musical full of passion, emotion and highly-memorable music. Set in the French Revolution days of France, Les Misérables, although incredible, is not for everyone. It’s a musical, but not in the way The Lion King is a musical where they break into song every now and then. No, this is like the kind of musical where pretty much every single line in the movie is sung rather than spoken. And then you’ve got the musical numbers, too — of which there are quite a few. However, if you like musicals (or simply don’t mind listening to pretty much non-stop singing for over two and a half hours) then you will enjoy Les Misérables. The music is incredible, with each song a work of art capturing the moment and characters beautifully. The story is also a classic, romantic tale full of themes of love, redemption and freedom.
A gripping thriller/mystery from David Fincher. Set in Sweden, it follows a twisting, mysterious plot that plays out with stylized visuals, interesting characters and a rather horrifying scene (“I just want my money”) that make this an edgy, dark film with a multi-layered story.
What I like most about this movie is the ending. The rest of it is pretty much your run-of-the-mill psychological thriller. It’s not even a thriller, really. It’s more of a psychological drama. But the ending is good, so keep watching until it’s over.
Set in the favelas of Rio De Janeiro, three street teenagers find themselves on an adventurous journey when they discover a wallet while digging through some trash.
Some tips, tricks, hacks and facts for when using the internet. Which is pretty much all the time, right?
