The time has come to reveal my Top 100 Films of the 2010s list! They come with a twist: I give a one-sentence thought to each movie on the list.
NOTE: This list blends my own opinions, as well as films I loved personally. Over 300 films were considered and I whittled it down to these. It DOES NOT include documentaries. We can agree and disagree on some, but at the end of the day, it's my list. So, without further ado, here they are: MY TOP 100 films of the 2010s! Enjoy!
100. Lion (2016, dir. Garth Davis): A tear-jerking journey home, in the longest of roads.
99. Hereditary (2018, dir. Ari Aster): Not as much scary, as it is uneasy, this Ari Aster debut paves the way for a unique style of horror films.
98. Lawless (2012, dir. John Hillcoat): An interesting, yet underrated, drama set during the Prohibition Era, with a sly performance by Guy Pearce.
97. Isle of Dogs (2018, dir. Wes Anderson): A wonderful tribute to our four-legged best friends.
96. We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011, dir. Lynne Ramsay): A warning to use the title words, and not just for Kevin.
95. Toy Story 3 (2010, dir. Lee Unkrich): The flashbacks of every one of our childhoods, both lived and with these Toy Story films, are alive and well to cause watery eyes.
94. The Lego Movie (2014, dir. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller): As creative as any animated film this decade, breaking ground as the first Lego-centered feature film.
93. American Hustle (2013, dir. David O. Russell): Overshadowed by The Wolf of Wall Street, this film still holds up well, thanks to its fantastic ensemble.
92. Black Swan (2010, dir. Darren Aronofsky): Body and mind alike border on the breaking point in this story of "whatever it takes".
91. The Impossible (2012, dir. Juan Antonio Bayona): A heartfelt story of survival in the most unthinkable of disasters.
90. Jagten "The Hunt" (2012, dir. Thomas Vinterberg): Whether or not the truth comes out, often the damage is done.
89. The Conjuring (2013, dir. James Wan): This creative film was the beginning of a large number of great horror films from the mid to late 2010s.
88. Incendies (2010, dir. Denis Villeneuve): Family secrets can change the course of one's life forever, especially since there's a journey to be taken in order to find them.
87. 50/50 (2011, dir. Jonathan Levine): A film about terminal sickness that pulls off being light, while being good-hearted.
86. The Fighter (2010, dir. David O. Russell): A revealing look at family dysfunction on the road to a boxer's rise in the sport, and how all that affects him.
85. Deadpool (2016, dir. Tim Miller): The "patient zero" (or Weapon XI?) of R-rated superhero movies.
84. The Lobster (2015, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos): This film critiques love and relationships in off-beat fashion, with nervous humor and uncomfortable situations.
83. Hacksaw Ridge (2016, dir. Mel Gibson): An emotional performance by Andrew Garfield leads this film about refusing to kill in a war.
82. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011, dir. Joe Johnston): What was thought of as just the intro to Captain American, became the first of the best trilogy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
81. War For The Planet of the Apes (2017, dir. Matt Reeves): A fine last entry in one of the better trilogies of the past decade, bringing closure to the arc of Caesar.
80. Sicario (2015, dir. Denis Villeneuve): A brooding and dangerous journey, from the perspective of Emily Blunt's lead character, in which you're unaware of what's happening and watching everything unfold.
79. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016, dir. Gareth Edwards): While I'm not a fan of the concept of Star Wars spin-offs, the film-making here was extraordinary and the story made sense inside the canon of the universe.
78. Straight Outta Compton (2015, dir. F. Gary Gray): A superb script with fantastic actors in the roles of Dre, Ice Cube, Ren, Yella, and Eazy-E made this a much better film that was expected.
77. Jackie (2016, dir. Pablo Larraín): An interesting telling of the tragedy of John F. Kennedy...from the perspective of Jackie Kennedy, played marvelously by Natalie Portman.
76. The Great Gatsby (2013, dir. Baz Luhrmann): Not exactly up to par with the 1974 version, but this film stands on its own with gorgeous set pieces, great cast, and bombastic visual scenes.
75. The Adjustment Bureau (2011, dir. George Nolfi): While the concept may be surface level, for the most part, this film does raise intriguing ideas of destiny and where we go based on our own decisions.
74. Hidden Figures (2016, dir. Theodore Melfi): May they be hidden no more!
73. The Big Sick (2017, dir. Michael Showalter): A unique love story, set within the backdrop of...sickness.
72. Man of Steel (2013, dir. Zack Snyder): While brought down by a destruction-athon of a third act, the messages of hope and unity hit the right notes for me, along with the overall aesthetic (not a favorite of many).
71. The Florida Project (2017, dir. Sean Baker): A lovely look at carefree childhood in contrast to rough and unrelenting adulthood in the same setting.
70. Shame (2011, dir. Steve McQueen): A movie about sex addiction without using the term "sex addiction".
69. The Avengers (2012, dir. Joss Whedon): The movie that broke ground in superhero team-ups and ushered in a new era of blockbusters.
68. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, dir. Martin Scorsese): Leonardo DiCaprio's special-sort-of-insane performance.
67. Ex-Machina (2015, dir. Alex Garland): We see a boiling point in the advancement of technology.
66. Nebraska (2013, dir. Alexander Payne): A heartful, home-spun father-son adventure.
65. Draft Day (2014, Ivan Reitman): A poor man's NFL version of Moneyball.
64. Patriots Day (2016, dir. Peter Berg): It's a much better film than the trailers present.
63. Warrior (2011, dir. Gavin O'Connor): Predictable and a tad melodramatic, but this film outsizes many with its heart.
62. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, dir. Bryan Singer): The class of the X-Men films.
61. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, dir. George Miller): Direction, direction, direction!!!
60. Get Out (2017, dir. Jordan Peele): A unique type of horror/comedy blend, only from the mind of Jordan Peele.
59. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, dir. Wes Anderson): Typical Wes Anderson, bringing us a film that seems to come straight out of a colorful pop-up book.
58. The Accountant (2016, dir. Gavin O'Connor): Part crime and part psychological drama, with a discreetly solid performance by Ben Affleck.
57. Frank (2014, dir. Lenny Abrahamson): Enjoyed Michael Fassbender showing off some comedic chops.
56. Paddington 2 (2018, dir. Paul King): A picturesque and superior sequel to its predecessor, that evokes "feel-good" in every way imaginable.
55. A Quiet Place (2018, dir. John Krasinski): The most creative horror film of the decade where silence is the game and the game was played with physical acting.
54. Lady Bird (2017, dir. Greta Gerwig): A coming-of-age story with a unique title character that had gusto and undying determination.
53. The Favourite (2018, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos): Hilariously wacky in every sense, with a game of "Can you top this?" by Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone.
52. Intouchables (2011, dir. Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache): The lesson of finding friendship in unlikely places and how that can benefit both sides.
51. A Star Is Born (2018, dir. Bradley Cooper): A story told many times, but beautifully adapted to the present day.
50. Avengers: Endgame (2019, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo): An explosive conclusion to the most emblematic cinematic genre of the past decade.
49. The Revenant (2015, dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu): While this film is a grueling watch, the performances led by DiCaprio and amazing camerawork are enough to make it a riveting journey.
48. Rush (2013, dir. Ron Howard): A straightforward rivalry between two very different men, played wonderfully by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.
47. Knives Out (2019, dir. Rian Johnson): An original murder mystery that puts together an all-star ensemble that fires on all cylinders.
46. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2015, dir. J.J. Abrams): An old favorite for a new generation.
45. 42 (2013, dir. Brian Helgeland): A man who became a hero for people of color everywhere and the hits (no pun intended) he took to live his dream of being the first black man in pro baseball.
44. The Hateful Eight (2015, dir. Quentin Tarantino): A curious web involving many characters converging in a single setting.
43. Searching (2018, dir. Aneesh Chaganty): While for some it might have been gimmicky, this movie was a creative thriller that exposes us for being technologically inclined in modern times.
42. 12 Years A Slave (2013, dir. Steve McQueen): Graphic and cruel, this shows a sad reality of those times when even free people of color were abducted into slavery.
41. BlackKklansman (2018, dir. Spike Lee): This engaging Spike Lee joint serves as a foreshadowing of issues still relevant today.
40. First Man (2018, dir. Damien Chazelle): Not a space exploration film, but rather the story of a soft-spoken American legend and what his mind held in trying times.
39. The Shape of Water (2017, dir. Guillermo del Toro): Like Pan's Labyrinth, Del Toro delivers on an adult fairy tale, this time with tenderness and grace.
38. Black Panther (2018, dir. Ryan Coogler): A beautiful ode to African culture, led by a mythical and generational hero.
37. Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo): Less superhero, more agent movie.
36. Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi (2017, dir. Rian Johnson): A rightful strip-down of all that is known about the saga for benefit of new things and unconventional turns.
35. Captain America: Civil War (2016, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo): Almost a symbol of modern times, where philosophical differences lead to divisiveness even in the strongest and mightiest of heroes.
34. Wonder Woman (2017, dir. Patty Jenkins): A beacon of hope to women and girls everywhere, in finally getting a chance to see themselves lead as a superhero on the big screen.
33. The Post (2017, dir. Steven Spielberg): Appropriate film for the times we're living in.
32. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017, dir. Martin McDonagh): While divisive, make no mistake that it's caused by a solid take on small-town life in the backdrop of a terrible tragedy.
31. Avengers: Infinity War (2018, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo): The movie that brought the superhero genre to a standstill as this generation's The Empire Strikes Back.
30. Annihilation (2018, dir. Alex Garland): This film bends the mind by way of a colorful takeover.
29. Room (2015, dir. Lenny Abrahamson): The contrast of discovery and trauma by the two leads makes for an emotional journey that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
28. The Martian (2015, dir. Ridley Scott): Space isn't your friend and there are special know-how and willpower to maneuver around trouble up there.
27. Sully (2016, dir. Clint Eastwood): Underseen and underrated, this makes for a fascinating look at the goings-on in the aftermath of a heroic act.
26. Parasite (2019, dir. Bong Joon-Ho): The division of classes and what they think of each other, in a bombastic fusion.
25. Eighth Grade (2018, dir. Bo Burnham): This gets away from typical movies about middle school and actually uses an actress of that age to portray real problems and issues for a present-day eighth-grader.
24. La La Land (2016, dir. Damien Chazelle): An ode to those that slingshot one to success, led off by a hair-raising opening number.
23. The Dark Knight Rises (2012, dir. Christopher Nolan): The "least strong" of the trilogy, they throw in the physical breaking of the Batman in the verbose Bane, brilliantly portrayed by Tom Hardy.
22. Blade Runner: 2049 (2017, dir. Denis Villeneuve): A worthy sequel of the influential predecessor that ups the ante on the ground-breaking visuals.
21. Birdman (2014, dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu): A jab at modern performing arts, brilliantly shot mostly on one take, almost like a play.
20. Argo (2012, dir. Ben Affleck): An unknown true story for a long time, portrayed here in a heart-pounding film.
19. Boyhood (2014, dir. Richard Linklater): Filled with no drama or tension, this film is about time passing and growing up, almost literally.
18. Django: Unchained (2012, dir. Quentin Tarantino): A witty, violent story of the revenge of a black man against slavery and those who made him suffer.
17. Steve Jobs (2015, dir. Danny Boyle): The most creative biopic of the decade, portraying specific parts of Steve Jobs's career with slick writing.
16. Nightcrawler (2014, dir. Dan Gilroy): An uneasy thriller about cutthroat media and horrific lengths it can come to, specifically by Jake Gyllenhaal's character.
15. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen): A relatable struggle of a starving artist, grappling with his dream, unforgiving reality...and a cat.
14. Dunkirk (2017, dir. Christopher Nolan): With this being of minimal dialogue, it's mostly a journey of the senses, where the ambiance is foremost.
13. Moneyball (2011, dir. Bennett Miller): Bar none, the best-written baseball movie ever.
12. Spotlight (2015, dir. Tom McCarthy): Not necessarily innovative filmmaking, but the story is so gripping, the writing is sharp, and the cast is stellar, that this film is elevated.
11. Interstellar (2014, dir. Christopher Nolan): What could happen when the world runs out of natural resources and how human conditions change in such circumstances.
10. Whiplash (2014, dir. Damien Chazelle): A true test of determination and how much mental abuse one can take in order to achieve desired goals.
9. Roma (2018, dir. Alfonso Cuarón): A touching and personal story of the struggles of a dear and meek young lady with a heart of gold.
8. The Social Network (2010, dir. David Fincher): The movie that defines the current modern world as we know it.
7. Prisoners (2013, dir. Denis Villeneuve): A tense puzzle full of complicated pieces, slowly put together by rousing performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman.
6. Drive (2011, dir. Nicolas Winding Refn): The most stylish film of the decade in both sight and sound, this brings a quiet gem that provokes turning on a car and tuning to synth-pop.
5. Gravity (2013, dir. Alfonso Cuarón): A simple story for most, but elevated to a higher level by its cinematography and original score.
4. Her (2013, dir. Spike Jonze): Heartfelt and profound, this film shows us the future and it's much closer than we think.
3. Arrival (2016, dir. Denis Villeneuve): No lasers and no attacks, but a critique of human savagery at the expense of its own betterment.
2. Gone Girl (2014, dir. David Fincher): Led by the slinky, yet cunning Rosamund Pike, this film scoffs at relationships and delivers a tense and uneasy story.
1. Inception (2010, dir. Christopher Nolan): Thought-provoking and futuristic, it masterfully explores the human psyche in one of the most basic daily states: Dreams.
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