Over the course of ten years of new releases, thousands of films have come and gone through cinemas, some playing in front of empty seats, and some taking billions of dollars around the world. But at the end of the decade, only a few stand out as the very best of all.
Now, I’ll confess that I’ve not watched every single film released in the 2010s, but of the 1,381 new releases that I have seen, these are my favourites (and there are some great films that didn’t quite make it).
Get your scrolling fingers ready, because it’s time for the biggest one of all, the best 100 movies of the decade.
100. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Without a doubt one of the best romantic comedies of the decade, Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a deliriously entertaining watch that blends sharp writing with relatable and genuine emotional depth.
Starring countless A-listers in a hilariously intricate tale of love in all the wrong places, the film is brilliantly upbeat, and impresses with more than a few laughs along the way. On top of that, its emotional resonance is hugely surprising, and lends captivating and memorable depth to a film that’s more than just another throwaway rom-com.
99. In The Fade (2017)
Unrelentingly hard-hitting, director Fatih Akin’s brutal drama In The Fade is an incredibly difficult watch, but serves up a timely and thought-provoking message.
The story of a woman seeking revenge on neo-Nazis who killed her husband and son, the film is enough to make your blood boil as it portrays modern-day injustice through systematic inefficiency and political apathy; devastating real-world problems with even more horrifying consequences. Diane Kruger stars in an impassioned performance set against a staggeringly bleak backdrop, making In The Fade a powerful and ruthless drama.
98. Creed (2015)
Breathing incredible new life into the Rocky franchise with its blend of inspiring sports drama and gripping character depth, director Ryan Coogler’s Creed is an immensely captivating watch.
While featuring a beautiful homage to Rocky in its never-say-die spirit and an incredible performance by Sylvester Stallone, Creed stands entirely on its own as a modern, dynamic drama. Spectacularly directed throughout, rich in emotion, and starring Michael B. Jordan in a career-defining performance, it has all the vigour of the boxing classic, and arguably in even punchier fashion.
97. Destroyer (2018)
Dark, gritty and strikingly intense, Karyn Kusama’s powerfully meditative crime drama Destroyer is emotionally captivating and thrillingly innovative.
Centred around what might be a career-best performance from Nicole Kidman as a battle-hardened Los Angeles detective, the film opens up difficult emotional wounds as she investigates a crime with a deep connection to her past. Boosted by a slow and pensive style that yields immense intrigue in an ingeniously structured screenplay, it’s an utterly mesmerising watch throughout.
96. When Will You Return (2017)
A deeply moving portrait of a lifetime, Japanese family drama When Will You Return is stunningly graceful and powerfully intimate from start to finish.
Gorgeous and heartfelt throughout, embodied by its sense of fleeting drama, the film follows the trials of a young family in the aftermath of World War Two. Combining a hard-hitting and frank portrayal of the realities faced my millions after the war with sweet and uplifting sweet spirit, and a beautiful performance from Machiko Ono, it’s profound and heartwarming drama at its very best.
95. A Separation (2011)
Director Asghar Farhadi’s highly-acclaimed family drama A Separation is an ingenious piece of work, with challenging emotion unfolding alongside enthralling drama and striking performances.
The story of a husband and wife wrestling between loyalty to their elders or offspring, the film is unpredictable, tense and most of all powerfully emotional, bringing you into an impossibly difficult situation and juggling complex depth on all sides. Furthered by two down-to-earth and captivating lead performances, the film works as a perfect slow-build drama that makes for enthralling viewing throughout.
94. Toc Toc (2017)
If you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you do? Toc Toc entertains spectacularly with just that in mind, with a hilarious comedy of errors that’s full of larks, heartfelt writing and brilliant performances.
Featuring an all-star Spanish cast as a group of patients with variations of OCD, the film is a non-stop laughter fest that blends gut-bustingly funny slapstick and wit with intelligent and often emotionally captivating writing. It’s a kind-hearted comedy that simultaneously laughs along with the idiosyncrasies of living with OCD and offers up a heartening portrayal of overcoming it.
93. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
The centrepiece of the stunning revival of Hollywood’s biggest action franchise, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is large-scale, explosive blockbuster action of the highest order.
Complete with breathtaking and enormous stunts from the very first scene, Tom Cruise stars in an action spectacular that’s massively entertaining at every minute, taking you on a breathless thrill ride that features exhilarating and slick action throughout. With fervent direction from Christopher McQuarrie and surprising performances from franchise newcomers, Rogue Nation proves a gloriously entertaining feast of fun.
92. Life Of Pi (2012)
A visual masterpiece at every second, Ang Lee’s gorgeous and epic drama Life Of Pi is immensely powerful, and one of the decade’s most eye-catching cinematic experiences.
From a captivating, emotionally rich survival drama to an epic tale of adventure and self-discovery, the film overcomes any suggested cheesiness with incredible spectacle and awe-inspiring technical achievements. Patiently paced and directed in transcendent style, it’s more than just a pretty face, providing exceptional emotional resonance that unfolds with awesome majesty throughout.
91. The Beauty Inside (2015)
Sentimental drama with a twist, the enchanting South Korean romance The Beauty Inside is an inventive, genuine and stunningly elegant piece of work.
The love story of a person who changes face every day, the film is a heartwarming and beautifully romantic watch that looks at modern relationships with true honesty throughout. Insightful and sympathetic, it’s a uniquely moving watch, hitting hard with bold sentimentality and entertaining with humour, all brought to life with a touching and gentle emotional depth.
90. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Already an undeniable cult classic, Edgar Wright’s endlessly entertaining and unashamedly quirky comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is funny, heartfelt and exciting in all the right places.
A fun-filled showcase of the director’s rapid-fire, quick-witted parody humour, the film unfolds at a dizzying pace, complete with hilariously stylised editing, cinematography and action. With a delightfully eccentric performance from Michael Cera at the centre, and passionate, energetic directing throughout, it’s an utter joy, and easily one of the decade’s most deliriously entertaining films.
89. Roma (2018)
Visually splendid, deeply intimate and eye-opening, director Alfonso Cuarón’s semi-autobiographical drama Roma is a truly spellbinding watch.
Bathed in nostalgia with its black-and-white cinematography and unique, personal detail, the film is a powerfully pensive piece that looks at intimate family drama and a wider social context in enthralling fashion. Sweeping cinematography and patient pacing bring a calming air to a story that quietly develops real emotional resonance, effortlessly engrossing you in a riveting and poignant tale.
88. 127 Hours (2010)
A spectacular true-life survival drama throughout, Danny Boyle’s devastating and inspiring 127 Hours delivers breathtaking emotional power on the smallest scale.
With the camera concentrated squarely on James Franco as he fights to survive with his arm stuck under a boulder, the film is brilliantly captivating, unfolding intensely as time ticks away and all hope looks lost. Furthered by impressive cinematography throughout, as well as reflective emotional depth that packs a real punch towards the finish, it’s heavy-going, but ultimately an enthralling and powerful watch.
87. The Big Sick (2017)
Proving the romantic comedy is far from out of ideas, The Big Sick is a wonderfully heartfelt blend of charismatic humour and achingly beautiful emotion.
Written by and starring Kumail Nanjiani, the film tells the true story of his own experiences after his new girlfriend fell seriously ill. Featuring captivating and heartbreaking drama in a gorgeous tale of romance and real-world emotion, the film raises the bar further with effortlessly hilarious humour and a head-on perspective on difficult topics, delivering so much in a genre that very rarely hits home quite so powerfully.
86. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
A huge hit among teen audiences, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is a transcendent coming-of-age drama that’s moving, thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.
Combining an elegant assessment of feeling alone at a young age with a nostalgic sense of young romance, the film is an immensely lovable watch that sees a lost teenager find just what he’s looking for where he never expected. Bolstered by charismatic performances across the board, a memorable soundtrack and deep, earnest emotion, the film is mature and fantastically engrossing throughout.
85. All Is Lost (2013)
With only eight words of dialogue uttered through its 105 minutes, All Is Lost is striking, bold and spellbindingly intense in a way unlike any other film before it.
Following Robert Redford as a man lost at sea, the film is an agonising difficult watch that sees a number of near misses and difficult challenges leaving our man without any hope of survival. Patiently paced and visually gorgeous, there’s more than enough to grab your attention in the absence of dialogue, and with a mesmerising performance from Redford, the film really hits home on an emotional level too.
84. Looper (2012)
One of the most inventive and surprising science fiction films in a decade with breathless imagination spilling out of the genre, Rian Johnson’s mind-bending Looper is absolutely spectacular.
An exercise in the boundless potential of the sci-fi genre, the film is deeply complex and thrillingly creative at every turn, crafting an immensely intricate story full of surprises and shocks right to the last minute. Dark, intense and often strikingly bleak, it’s worlds away from your average time-bending blockbuster, and a uniquely memorable watch throughout.
83. Song Of The Sea (2014)
A heartwarming storybook on the big screen, director Tomm Moore’s gorgeous animated folk tale Song Of The Sea is a one-off, and unlike any other film you’ll have seen over the past ten years.
Brought to life with dreamy visuals that lend it a heartening and calming presence throughout, the film features striking emotional resonance alongside a light, enjoyable adventure. Appropriate and delightful for all ages, Song Of The Sea captures a beautiful tale in graceful fashion, and mesmerises with its slow-build drama that packs a really unexpected punch come the finish.
82. Boyhood (2014)
A deeply moving portrait of a lifetime, Richard Linklater’s transcendent 12-year epic Boyhood is one of the decade’s boldest and most powerful films.
Shot in succession over twelve years, the film follows a young boy through childhood and adolescence, and in the process we see actor Ellar Coltrane grow up right before our eyes. Unique and stunningly ambitious, it soars through a moving and perceptive painting of the human condition, complete with beautifully honest drama over the course of three exceptional hours.
81. Perfect Strangers (2016)
The film that spawned countless remakes in just a few short years, there’s no wonder everybody wants to emulate Perfect Strangers, an ingenious work of deliriously awkward thrills.
The story of a dinner party gone terribly, terribly wrong, the film offers up exhilarating twists and turns alongside rapid-fire humour and a near-perfect ensemble cast. Furthered by an electrifying pace and slick directing, it’s a breathlessly entertaining watch, offering up a darkly hilarious take on morality in the modern world in spectacular fashion.
80. John Wick (2014)
In an era of mind-bending, cerebral action thrillers, John Wick goes back to basics in a blissfully simple and deliriously entertaining display of kick-ass thrills and spills.
A defining role in Keanu Reeves’ resurgence through the decade, the film is a spectacular pulp thriller that unashamedly prioritises fun-loving action over screenplay depth, it’s fast-paced and filled with exhilarating martial arts set-pieces. A pure revenge thriller through and through, the film is brought to life in eye-catching fashion with dynamic, thrilling cinematography, making it an unmissable delight throughout.
79. The Theory Of Everything (2014)
A gorgeous biopic in every sense of the word, The Theory Of Everything is historically fascinating, emotionally enthralling and visually delightful at every moment.
The story of legendary scientist Stephen Hawking’s relationship with his wife-to-be Jane, the film is a beautiful blend of informative, engaging drama and passionate romance. Bolstered by a memorable musical score, two effortlessly lovable lead performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, and an appropriately clever and multi-layered screenplay, it’s a fantastic watch that will make your heart soar.
78. Welcome To The South (2010)
A monster hit in its native Italy, Welcome To The South is an unstoppably hilarious comedy that never holds back as it tries to bridge the gap between the country’s ever-warring north and south.
A remake of the French Welcome To The Sticks, the film brilliantly adapts its source material as it pokes fun at the many idiosyncrasies of Italy’s supposedly snobbish North and stereotypically backwards South. Filled to the brim with great humour that’s close to the bone, it’s a non-stop laughter fest, but impresses on another level as it provides a heartwarming tale of unity that overcomes all regional rivalry.
77. U – July 22 (2018)
The horrifying true story of the 2011 Norway terrorist attacks brought to life in unrelentingly brutal fashion, U – July 22 is intoxicating and devastating at every moment.
A technical masterpiece that follows one girl as she desperately tries to escape from a crazed gunman on a small island, the film plays out in one long, breathless take, devastatingly portraying the chaos and horror of being left helplessly trapped. With a stunningly physical performance from Andrea Berntzen, gritty intensity and heartbreaking emotion, it’s an almost unbearable watch, but a deeply affecting experience.
76. Mother! (2017)
Totally insane, controversial and unrelenting in its dark, nightmarish twists and turns, director Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! is one of the decade’s boldest (and most polarising) movies by a long way.
A bizarre, almost unfathomable thriller throughout, the film goes to exhilarating and unpredictable extremes that sparked controversy, but most of all prove breathtakingly exciting and even thought-provoking. It’s dark, intense and difficult to get your head round, but Mother! is the sort of film classic that might just have been too early for the world, and will probably gain a greater reputation in the future.
75. Kahaani (2012)
India’s best film of the decade, the fabulously exciting thriller Kahaani is just what the movie world always needs, a deliciously intricate and complex mystery that keeps you right on the edge of your seat.
Impressing with a hard-as-knuckles lead performance from Vidya Balan that engenders a riveting character arc, the film follows a desperately determined woman going up against systematic bureaucracy and incompetence in search of her husband. It’s a surprising thriller that pulls you back and forth throughout, tying up all of its many loose ends in ingenious and satisfying fashion come the end.
74. Kick-Ass (2010)
Before breaking the superhero genre was even a thing, Matthew Vaughn’s crazily enjoyable comic book parody Kick-Ass proved that even the weirdest of heroes could lead a massively entertaining movie.
Darkly hilarious with its uniquely destructive sense of humour, the film is full of huge laughs throughout, bolstered by hilariously weird acting and the breakthrough performance of a young Chloë Grace Moretz. Action-packed from start to finish and impressively engrossing, it’s just the sort of thing that cult movie classics are made of.
73. Support The Girls (2018)
A gorgeous piece of independent film that soars with a beautiful beating heart throughout, Support The Girls is brilliantly intelligent and hugely lovable in every way.
A reserved, down-to-earth story set in a roadside sports bar, the film looks at the lives of the bar’s owner and waitresses, with a passionately intimate and above all heartwarming insight into the everyday world. With a can-do attitude throughout that’s bolstered by brilliant performances, relatable characters, and fantastic humour, it’s a truly delightful watch, and easily one of the best indie movies of the decade.
72. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The icing on the cake for the franchise’s thrilling resurgence, Mission: Impossible – Fallout is an exhilarating blockbuster that pushes every boundary in sight.
Featuring utterly breathtaking stuntwork and action, the film is an explosive watch, and thrills as it takes an intricate and enthralling espionage story all over the world. It’s charismatic and deliriously entertaining throughout, but brings in audaciously high stakes that throws Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt deeper into a globetrotting action extravaganza than ever before.
71. Shutter Island (2010)
Reminiscent of his work on the legendarily eerie Cape Fear, Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is an absorbing, nightmarish thriller that will stay with you for a long, long while.
Adapted from the novel of the same name, the film’s screenplay is fantastically complex, complete with intricate twists and surprises all the way through, as well as heartbreaking emotion. And with the entire film playing out on a gloomy, windswept island, its striking cinematography is unforgettable, lending the film that brilliant air of deeply unsettling eeriness throughout.
70. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)
Powerful romance, hilarious humour, heartbreaking emotion and a deep adoration for film, what’s not to love about Me And Earl And The Dying Girl?
A delightful tale of young outsiders finding their place in the world through a common passion, the film is a beautiful blend of nostalgic and carefree teen drama and hard-hitting real-world emotion. From its witty screenplay to its adorable performances, challenging romantic depth and most of all countless movie references, this is charismatic, kind-hearted and powerful filmmaking at the highest level.
69. Calvary (2014)
Ingenious black comedy with a pointed political message delivered in thought-provoking fashion, Calvary is intense, funny and disturbing at every turn.
A quiet, pensive film that unfolds as a slow-burn thriller, the film takes aim at the controversy surrounding sexual abuse in the Catholic church, all the while presenting an unexpected and powerful case for the good in an often entirely vilified organisation. With a wholehearted performance from Brendan Gleeson, the film blends heavy, heavy black humour with powerful emotion, and impresses with its gorgeous visuals and elegant style.
68. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
An enormous gamble for Disney that absolutely paid off as they relaunched the famed space saga, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is an ingenious franchise spin-off that achieves worthiness with spectacle and riveting stakes.
More than just filling in a forty year-old plot hole, Rogue One delivers soaring entertainment and glorious fan service in style throughout, impressing with gritty, warlike intensity never before seen in Star Wars, and thrilling with magnificent visuals, emotional resonance and arguably the greatest action in the entire franchise. It’s not the Star Wars you may know, but it’s absolutely the Star Wars you want.
67. Gerald’s Game (2017)
In yet another decade full of big screen Stephen King adaptations, Gerald’s Game is by far and away the very best, featuring deranged, exhilarating thrills and riveting emotional depth.
A dizzyingly unsettling thriller about a woman who finds herself handcuffed to her bed after her husband dies during a sex game gone wrong, the film is claustrophobic, intense and emotionally powerful throughout. With the exception of an underwhelming final twist, it’s a breathless and unpredictable thriller, and with a captivating lead performance from Carla Gugino, you’ll struggle to take your eyes off the screen ever for a second.
66. Joker (2019)
A terrifying and rightly controversial portrait of a world without hope, Todd Phillip’s staggering character piece Joker is one of the highlights of a decade packed with comic book blockbusters.
With a mesmerising lead turn from Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled man who takes a devastating descent into a life of crime, the film is a powerful and audacious attack on modern society, as well as a captivating and insightful drama that harkens back to some of cinema’s greatest works. Disturbing and brutal throughout, it’s far from an easy watch, but a stunningly bold take on a classic comic book character.
65. Train To Busan (2016)
The best zombie movie of the decade by a country mile, Train To Busan is a gloriously entertaining thrill ride, following the last bastion of survivors in a zombie apocalypse as they traverse South Korea by train.
Fast-paced and intensely action-packed, there’s never a dull moment, but with a real sense of danger and peril lurking at every turn, the stakes are high right the way through, making this a truly nail-biting thriller. And what’s more is that the film features great humour, charismatic performances, interesting characters and most impressive of all, devastating emotion, brilliantly demonstrating the potential of a classic premise.
64. The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
An electric coming-of-age drama like no other, The Edge Of Seventeen blends thrilling emotion with immensely charismatic writing that leaves it standing out head and shoulders as one of the very best in its genre.
An absorbing watch from beginning to end, the film is beautifully frank about the struggles of growing up in the modern world and teen angst, furthered by a magnetic and stunningly genuine lead turn from Hailee Steinfeld. With hilarious humour and exhilarating pacing throughout, this is an unforgettably captivating watch, and far more than your average teen movie.
63. Force Majeure (2014)
Devilishly dark comedy like only the Scandinavians do, director Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure is an enormously entertaining and gloriously awkward watch that boils and bubbles with thrilling tension throughout.
Building from a seemingly innocuous moment of drama early on, the film ingeniously develops into an intense portrait of the breakdown of a marriage, with tension and friction playing out under an atmosphere of darkly hilarious familial awkwardness. With sharp dialogue and striking performances, it’s genuine, relatable and devilishly frank, with countless memorable surprises straight out of the blue.
62. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has dominated the decade, although few individual films have stood out as all-time classics. The exception to that case is Captain America: Civil War, the most exciting, high-stakes and action-packed blockbuster of the entire MCU.
Jam-packed with countless heroes, the film forgoes the generic ‘save the world’ formula in exchange for a riveting display of a split within the Avengers. In that, it offers up a refreshing, engrossing narrative with genuinely high stakes and striking emotional depth, all bolstered by spectacular action that stands head and shoulders above all else in the decade’s biggest franchise.
61. Black Swan (2010)
Darren Aronofsky’s breathtaking thriller Black Swan is an exhilarating pscyhodrama, packing a stunning punch with ingenious twists and devastating emotion.
Earning Natalie Portman a thoroughly deserved Best Actress win, the film is brutal, physical and unrelenting as it looks into the intoxicating descent of a driven ballet dancer into madness. Blending intense thrills with fascinating and unpredictable psychological drama, and furthered by one of the decade’s best musical scores, it’s as intense as modern cinema gets, but a truly spectacular work of psychotic proportions.
60. Anomalisa (2015)
With the dramatic development of animation over the last ten years, Anomalisa is without a doubt the most unexpectedly powerful use of the technique we’ve seen in the 2010s.
A bizarre, dreamlike tale of a lonely middle-aged man finding love, the film is a powerfully intimate watch as it looks at romance in its purest form. Bolstered by three stunning voice performances, strikingly atmospheric direction and an intelligent, sharp screenplay, and above all unique and characterful visuals, it’s an emotionally resonant and hugely memorable animation.
59. Annihilation (2018)
An audacious and mind-bending sci-fi thriller at every turn, director Alex Garland’s psychedelic Annihilation is one of the most special films in the genre from this decade.
Complete with thought-provoking ideas and boundless, unique imagination throughout, the film is a spectacular blend of drama, sci-fi and pure horror in its deeply affecting and unsettling assessment of humanity. Couple all that with transfixing performances across the board, vibrant and hallucinatory visual effects and a transcendent score, and the film proves a staggeringly powerful watch.
58. Logan (2017)
The most unique superhero film of the last ten years, the powerfully reflective Logan is bold and heartbreaking, and a breath of fresh air in the decade’s busiest genre.
More of an introspective character study than any sort of comic book blockbuster, the film follows a battle-hardened Wolverine caring for an ailing Professor Xavier, with stunning and brutal emotional drama taking precedence over generic action. Deepened by an unforgettable performance from Hugh Jackman, it’s the Wolverine film that the legendary character has always deserved.
57. The Revenant (2015)
The film that finally got Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s epic period adventure The Revenant is an exhilarating cinematic feat.
Visually breathtaking from start to finish with its long, sweeping takes and tactile use of natural light, it brings the cold, harsh realities of the frontier to life in spectacular fashion. On top of that, DiCaprio’s stunningly physical performance is a must-see, while the merciless revenge thrills make for breathless excitement throughout.
56. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
One of the most spectacular and adorable animated films ever made, Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph is an absolute delight, with charming visuals, heartfelt drama and wonderful humour throughout.
Combining nostalgia for all things retro with an innovative and impressive screenplay, the film is more than a pretty face, and packs a real punch as it follows video game bad guy Ralph searching for his true identity. Intelligent, surprising and moving throughout, it’s a beautiful watch, and bolstered by childlike wonder and hilarious comedy, every moment is an utter joy to behold.
55. Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018)
Boundlessly imaginative, utterly hilarious and deeply moving, Disney’s exhilarating renaissance of animation this decade is capped by a true delight in Ralph Breaks The Internet.
Just pipping its predecessor as the best the studio gave us over the last ten years, this sequel is a gorgeous adventure that blends an awe-inspiring, visionary portrayal of the world inside the internet with genuinely touching emotion once again in its impressively challenging themes of the trials of friendship. Bolstered by consistent laughs and beautiful, colourful animation, the film is a marvellous joy for viewers of all ages.
54. The Illusionist (2010)
A truly beautiful animation from its visuals to its heart, The Illusionist is a moving, funny, cute and striking film that does so much with so little.
The story of the unlikely friendship between an ageing French magician and a shy young Scottish woman, the film is gorgeous tale of self-discovery and ambition, unfolding in deeply moving fashion without even a word of dialogue. Simple, honest and reserved, it’s a film that proves the power of cinema in its purest form, dazzling with truly elegant visuals and powerfully transcendent emotion.
53. Inception (2010)
Arguably the film that defines the decade as a whole, Christopher Nolan’s Inception is an unparalleled blend of cerebral thrills, stunning emotional depth and breathtaking action.
Legendarily complex, the film is a mesmerising journey into the world of the dream, using mind-bending narrative techniques to craft an adventure of staggering proportions. Furthered by unprecedented CGI trickery, a stunningly intricate screenplay and powerful emotional resonance throughout, it’s a truly unforgettable film that stands as a true classic of modern cinema.
52. Rocketman (2019)
One of the most sensational biopics ever made, Rocketman, the story of legendary singer Elton John, is spectacular, moving, fascinating and filled with dazzling musical energy from beginning to end.
Wholeheartedly capturing the spirit of its subject matter, the film is far more than a feature-length Wikipedia page, soaring with glorious vigour as it embodies Elton John’s life story through the legendary spirit of his music. And with spectacular, dizzyingly entertaining visuals and an exceptional lead performance from Taron Egerton, it proves a intoxicating and endlessly enjoyable watch.
51. War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017)
A powerful display of the unlimited potential of the Hollywood blockbuster, War For The Planet Of The Apes is a breathtaking watch that strips away action clichés in exchange for patient and arresting character drama.
A visual masterpiece on the surface, the film thrills as it places motion capture-animated ape Caesar in front of the camera as the core dramatic focus, developing unfathomable emotional depth as it plays out at a mesmerising slow pace. Furthered by brutal, unforgiving action and drama throughout, the film caps one of the decade’s greatest trilogies with astounding audacity.
50. The Skin I Live In (2011)
Deranged, uncomfortable and unrelenting, director Pedro Almodóvar’s breathless Hitchockian thriller The Skin I Live In is devastating, horrifying and unforgettable for all the right reasons.
A slick, visually splendid watch throughout, the film is a deeply unsettling revenge story that stars Antonio Banderas in his most mesmerising role as a brilliant but disturbed plastic surgeon. A stunning homage to classic body horror, and complete with mind-blowing twists throughout, it’s a truly exhilarating piece of work that will hit you like a bulldozer.
49. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
The movie event of the decade, Star Wars: The Force Awakens provided the most triumphant of returns to a galaxy far, far away after ten long years of waiting.
A passionate, fun-loving and action-packed blockbuster that undid the dissatisfaction with the franchise’s prequel series, The Force Awakens provides a visually gorgeous tribute to cinema’s greatest saga, complete with boundless imagination, stunning character depth and powerful emotion. Spectacularly entertaining throughout, there’s barely a dull moment in what is an undeniably awe-inspiring space opera.
48. The Artist (2011)
An unexpected Best Picture winner, but as one of the decade’s boldest and most spirited films, The Artist absolutely deserves every plaudit it gets.
Soaked in adoration for film, it’s a modern black-and-white, silent movie that looks back to a golden age for cinema in spectacular style. With two enormously enjoyable lead performances popping off the screen in a fast-paced, witty and strikingly aesthetic film, it’s a sensational watch from start to finish, and a soaring joy for anybody with a love for the silver screen.
47. Get Out (2017)
An enormous surprise, Get Out is one of the defining horror films of the entire decade, combining biting social themes with mind-bending thrills in a spectacularly entertaining marriage of genres.
A dark, dark comedy in every sense of the word, the film is an exhilarating feast of tension that features ingenious laughs and real scares at every turn. Looking at themes of racism throughout, it’s an immensely intelligent movie on the surface, but with the horror-loving Jordan Peele’s passionate direction, it morphs terrifyingly into an unforgettable, nightmarish breed of breathless horror.
46. Flipped (2010)
One of the most beautifully heartfelt teen romances ever made, director Rob Reiner’s Flipped is a gorgeous memory of first love, complete with delightful humour and powerful coming-of-age drama.
The complex relationship of two friends who fall in and out of love with one another as they grow up together, it’s a genuine, sincere and undeniably relatable tale, vividly capturing the awkward, uncomfortable nature of young love. With a breathtaking sense of nostalgia in its 1950s setting, and calm, profound emotional depth, this is a remarkably moving watch throughout.
45. Darkest Hour (2017)
A fascinating and inspiring historical drama throughout, Darkest Hour chronicles Winston Churchill’s leadership in the face of the seemingly unstoppable Nazi war march on Europe.
With a spectacular, Oscar-winning lead performance from Gary Oldman, the film brings life to an immensely important history through an enthralling screenplay which blends historical depth with fantastic energy and humour. Delivering the classic biopic in refreshing and exciting fashion, this is far more than your average history lesson.
44. I, Tonya (2017)
The best Scorsese film that the director never made, I, Tonya brings the story of America’s greatest sporting scandal to life in spectacular, ruthlessly entertaining fashion.
With a clear love for the sensibilities of Scorsese, the film plays out in the vein of a rapid-fire, foul-mouthed crime drama as it follows Margot Robbie as the explosive ice skater Tonya Harding. Bolstered by a breathless screenplay, stunning wit and unpredictable emotional turmoil, it brilliantly captures an epic scandal with riveting and exhilarating spirit.
43. Love, Simon (2018)
A powerfully moving coming-of-age drama that does more than almost every other teen movie of the decade put together, it’s difficult to look past Love, Simon as one of the genre’s greatest films of all time.
The story of a teenager struggling to balance home, school and love as he fears his homosexuality will be revealed to all those around him, the film is honest, heartfelt and tender in its portrayal of teen anxiety, LGBT themes and romantic turmoil. But with a soaring heart and wonderful humour, it’s a truly beautiful film that delivers immense emotional power right from beginning to end.
42. Wild (2014)
A stunning piece of adventure cinema that presents some of the decade’s most beautiful landscapes and most moving emotion, Wild is a truly spectacular watch at every moment.
Based on the memoirs of Cheryl Strayed’s 1,100 mile hike across the Western US, the film is a staggeringly intimate tale of self-discovery and reflection, featuring a transcendent lead performance from Reese Witherspoon in tandem with an ingenious narrative structure, packing an immense emotional punch that unfolds against a breathtaking natural backdrop.
41. The Lobster (2015)
One of the most bewildering movies of all time, director Yorgos Lanthimos’ deranged black comedy The Lobster is genuinely unforgettable, with immensely unnerving emotion, traumatising thrills and horrifying, hilarious humour throughout.
With hints of sci-fi and fantasy sprinkled throughout, the film is a deeply unsettling assessment of modern humanity and the mating process, and turns heads with its unrelentingly weird brand of dark humour. Complete with strange, deadpan performances from an A-list cast and an intense dramatic atmosphere, The Lobster is far from an easy watch, but it’s as unique and bold as modern cinema gets.
40. Girl Walk // All Day (2011)
A film that could cure all the world’s pessimism in an instant, Girl Walk // All Day is a bewitching piece of uplifting, positive experimental cinema that has no equal.
Styled as a ‘feature length music video’, the film follows a young woman as she sings and dances her way across New York, bringing joy to everybody she comes across over the course of a delightful day. Easily the most joyous film of the decade, it soars with deliriously entertaining music, stunning sound mixing, powerfully simple choreography and a moving message of glorious optimism, there really is nothing else quite like it.
39. American Hustle (2013)
The best film from director David O. Russell, American Hustle blends stunning crime intrigue, exquisite period visuals and immensely charismatic humour in a hugely entertaining ’70s extravaganza.
With brilliant performances across the board from its A-list cast, the film features fantastic character-driven thrills and spills that play out to one of the decade’s most memorable soundtracks in effortlessly suave fashion throughout. Funny, intriguing, complex and stylish, American Hustle is compelling watch, full of energy and riveting charisma from start to finish.
38. Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (2014)
The quirkiest that film has had to offer over the last ten years, the gorgeously strange Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter is a wonderfully memorable and bizarre joy throughout.
A slow-build drama that follows a Japanese woman obsessed with Fargo journeying to the USA to find buried treasure, it’s a brilliantly unique film with riveting emotional depth, fascinating character drama and offbeat humour. Couple that with spellbinding visuals in both snowswept North Dakota and bustling Tokyo, as well as a magnetic performance from Rinko Kikuchi, and Kumiko proves a truly delightful, odd wonder.
37. Jackie (2016)
One of the decade’s most criminally overlooked films, director Pablo Larraín’s stunning psychodrama Jackie is a mesmerising blend of historical intrigue, emotional turmoil and exceptional filmmaking and acting talent.
Starring Natalie Portman in a transfixing performance as Jackie Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of JFK, the film features devastating, mind-bending drama in its depiction of grief, furthered by a transcendent score and captivating, intimate cinematography. Intense and riveting throughout, the film is an eye-opening and crushing watch, and a stunningly overwhelming drama.
36. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Released just a month after it was announced in a spectacular marketing move, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a terrifying, powerfully claustrophobic watch that revives classic Twilight Zone-style thrills.
Set in an underground bunker after a supposed apocalypse on Earth’s surface, it’s an ingeniously simple film filled with exhilarating mystery, clever direction and striking, distressed performances from its three-person cast. The perfect small-scale thriller, it’s uncomfortable, unsettling and genuinely terrifying, but a stunningly memorable and satisfying thriller in the end.
35. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
One of cinema’s most spellbinding animations, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is an incredible piece of art that equally proves to be one of the most entertaining blockbusters of the decade.
Featuring a unique visual style that blends a powerful urban vibe with kaleidoscopic comic book colours, it’s a spectacular watch throughout, and with a screenplay that features hilarious, genre-breaking humour and breathless thrills, every single moment of this gorgeous masterpiece proves more awe-inspiring than the last.
34. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
Jam-packed with brilliant action and hilarious humour, Kingsman: The Secret Service was a stunning breath of fresh air when it hit screens in the middle of the decade.
From Taron Egerton’s breakout performance to Colin Firth’s most physical role, the film breaks all the rules, thrilling with immensely entertaining action that blends spy parody with genuinely brilliant storytelling. And with vibrant, colourful energy throughout, the film will undoubtedly leave you grinning ear to ear – an absolute delight throughout.
33. Goodnight Mommy (2014)
A harrowing drama from beginning to end, Goodnight Mommy is one of those incredible films you’ll never forget, but never want to go near again.
The story of two brothers who begin to suspect their mother is someone else after she returns from cosmetic surgery, the film combines elements of haunted house and body horror with an emotionally ruthless story that throws aside every morsel of hope as it pummels you into the ground. Unforgettably brutal but immensely unpredictable, it’s absolutely worth your while, but only once. And never again.
32. Knives Out (2019)
The most intricate and innovative of whodunnits, director Rian Johnson’s gloriously entertaining mystery Knives Out is an absolute joy to behold at every moment.
Twisting and turning like a dagger from an Agatha Christie novel, the film is totally unpredictable up to the very last minute, with expert misdirection and suspense keeping you hooked as a murder mystery gets completely out of hand. And with gorgeous visuals, brilliant humour and an amazing all-star cast, the film provides a joyously exhilarating revival for one of cinema’s most storied genres.
31. Bad Genius (2017)
An outstanding thriller in every sense of the word, Thailand’s Bad Genius is a gorgeously crafted extravaganza of suspense, peril and adrenaline on the edge of the law.
Based on the true story of a group of students who cheated a major international exam, it’s an intoxicating rollercoaster ride that will leave you hanging violently off the edge of your seat as it builds in suspense in exhilarating fashion throughout. Playing out at breakneck speed and with enthralling, sharp dialogue, there’s barely a moment to breathe with this film, but that’s exactly what makes it so unforgettable.
30. Baby Driver (2017)
Surely the coolest movie of the decade, Edgar Wright’s breathlessly entertaining Baby Driver is a stunning blend of non-stop action, fascinating characters and thumping music.
Playing out almost entirely to a soundtrack of exhilarating pop and rock hits, the film moves at an incredible pace to a stunning beat, lending fantastic energy to its thrilling car chases and shootouts throughout. Couple that with an incredible ensemble cast and a riveting character-driven plot, and you have a film that’s so immensely entertaining you could easily watch it again and again and again.
29. The Lego Movie (2014)
The masterpiece that nobody saw coming, The Lego Movie is more than an epic piece of product placement, but a unique, exhilarating and forever awesome piece of cinema that’s impossible to dislike.
Telling an immensely entertaining adventure story in the imaginative spirit of Lego itself, the movie is astonishingly fast-paced, action-packed and undeniably charming throughout. Visually delightful and laugh-out-loud hilarious at every moment, the film is perfect for young kids, but with stunning emotional resonance and unique narrative ingenuity, there’s more than enough to absolutely floor viewers of any age.
28. We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
Director Lynne Ramsay’s breakout hit, We Need To Talk About Kevin is an unforgiving display of reality at its darkest, and an emotionally heartrending watch from beginning to end.
The story of a mother struggling to love her troublesome son, the film is an often unbearably dark watch, challenging the nature of family and loyalty and giving a brutal portrayal of psychological instability as we watch the relationship between mother and son sour to the point of destruction, brought home by a shattering lead performance from Tilda Swinton opposite Ezra Miller.
27. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Sleek, mysterious and scary, Nocturnal Animals pushes the limits with its gruesome story of dark depravity, combining complex narrative ideas with devastating thrills throughout.
Directed by fashion designer Tom Ford, the film is a feast for the eyes, and with a mesmerising performance from Amy Adams, it’s difficult to look away from, even at its most horrifying moments. With a clever structure that turns an enthralling story-within-a-story into so much more, the film is a psychotic blend of terror and intrigue, with potent ambiguity keeping you on your toes throughout.
26. Coco (2017)
Arguably Pixar’s most unique film of the decade, Coco is an immense joy, with utterly gorgeous visuals, delightful music, an enthralling story and powerful emotion.
Hitting all the right beats with an imaginative portrayal of Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival, the movie is insightful and heartfelt, directed with passion by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina. It’s more than surprising throughout, and along with its soaring musical numbers, its deep, genuine emotion will leave you blubbering in a magical way that only Pixar know how.
25. Marriage Story (2019)
Tackling the prickly subject of divorce with heart and humour, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story is a beautifully heartbreaking piece of work, forgoing genre tropes of melodrama in exchange for stunningly genuine emotion throughout.
It’s a frank and down-to-earth look at divorce in the modern day, and with two stunning performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, the film’s deeply emotional assessment of the breakup of a relationship hits hard throughout. But with heartfelt drama, wonderful humour, a gorgeous score and true positivity at heart, Marriage Story is a beautifully honest film right to the core.
24. Go-Go Sisters (2018)
The pure joy and sadness of nostalgia wrapped up into one gorgeously sweet comedy-drama, Vietnam’s Go-Go Sisters is immensely lovable and deeply moving at every moment.
A remake of South Korean hit Sunny, the film is delightful perfection at every moment, with a tender, intelligent look back to the past that blends joyful nostalgia with touching drama as it looks at a changing friendship through the years. And on top of that, it’s got an enormously entertaining soundtrack, great humour and stunning performances from its huge ensemble cast.
23. Birdman (2014)
My highest-rated Best Picture winner of the decade is also one of the most hotly debated. Maligned as pretentious by some, I say that Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) is a spellbinding masterpiece.
A technical marvel on the surface, the film unfolds in one continuous long take, and more than just a gimmick, it lends Birdman stunning tension throughout, as we see Michael Keaton star as a depressed, ageing actor on the verge of a breakdown. A real actors’ film that features a plethora of amazing performances, it’s an exceptional watch, with great humour and stunning emotion from beginning to end.
22. Prisoners (2013)
The film that brought director Denis Villeneuve into the international limelight, Prisoners is an absolutely merciless thriller, filled with tragic, soul-destroying emotion throughout.
A tragic and devastating rollercoaster, the film gives an unrelentingly dark portrait of how far a man will go for justice, introducing an ambiguous and thought-provoking look at where the line between morality and brutality lies. Couple that with breathless pacing, exceptional performances across the board, and a devastating finale, and it’s undoubtedly one of the decade’s most heart-stopping films.
21. Two Days, One Night (2014)
The most powerful social drama of the decade, Two Days, One Night is a stunning piece of cinema, delivering incredible emotion as it strips down the components of film to the bare minimum.
Far from an easy watch, the film follows the story of a woman attempting to drum up support from her colleagues ahead of a vote that could see her lose her job, giving an uncompromising view of modern poverty and humanity’s innate selfishness. Bolstered by a mesmerising lead performance from Marion Cotillard, it’s a sobering, eye-opening and deeply powerful film to the core.
20. Elle (2016)
Ruthless and overwhelming at every moment, director Paul Verhoeven’s stunning drama Elle sees ingenious, cerebral and unpredictable writing at its very best.
A quiet, minimalist film on the surface, Elle is a model of the slow-burn thriller, featuring bubbling tension and rage boiling to an extreme, all coming to life through a staggering, universally acclaimed lead turn from Isabelle Huppert. Opening up in brilliantly unpredictable fashion throughout, the film is extraordinary and shocking in places that you would never expect at first glance.
19. Dunkirk (2017)
An exceptional depiction of the brutal intensity of war on film, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk is an undeniable masterpiece, utilising innovative filmmaking and narrative techniques to the full in its portrayal of life on the front line.
The story of the Allied evacuation from the beaches of Northern France in the face of an unstoppable Nazi advance, the film is so breathless and intense that it forgoes the need even for character development, bringing home the power and devastation of war through its astonishing action and ingenious narrative structure, leaving you barely a moment to breathe over the course of two exhilarating hours.
18. Incredibles 2 (2018)
Pixar received much criticism for their run of disappointing sequels earlier in the 2010s, but Incredibles 2, the long-awaited follow-up to Pixar’s best film of all, proved that hope for the studio’s sequels was far from lost.
A spectacularly entertaining watch from start to finish, it speaks volumes that this film, in a decade dominated by Marvel, is the best superhero movie of the last ten years. Action-packed, utterly hilarious, visually gorgeous and breathlessly exciting, Incredibles 2 does things that live-action comic book films can only dream of, providing blockbuster thrills for all the family on an immense scale throughout.
17. Gone Girl (2014)
A crazed, epic thriller from director David Fincher, Gone Girl is a hugely impressive watch, and undoubtedly one of the decade’s most unpredictable and fascinating films.
With shock after shock, the film is an insane rollercoaster, full of adrenaline as we follow a man desperately searching for his missing wife while a media circus makes him out as America’s number one villain. In that, on top of its enthralling, shocking mystery, the film also features a pointed look at the nature of modern media, as well as spellbinding performances from all on screen, in particular Rosamund Pike.
16. Arrival (2016)
A staggering piece of work from acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve, Arrival is cinematic ingenuity at its very best, combining exceptional emotional drama with stunning and mind-bending sci-fi.
Telling the age-old story of first contact from an entirely new perspective, the film features an exceptional screenplay that provides totally captivating intrigue and tension throughout. Building to a sensational finale, it’s full of fascinating sci-fi drama, but most of all emotionally shattering drama, brought to life in devastating fashion by a transcendent musical score and a career-best performance from Amy Adams.
15. God Bless America (2012)
As brutally dark as black comedy gets, God Bless America is a timely, provocative and controversial watch, but unavoidably hilarious and unsettlingly entertaining all the way through.
The story of a frustrated middle-aged man and a teenage girl who travel across the country on a shooting rampage, intending to rid society of its most repellent citizens, the film undeniably pushes close to the edge, but by walking a prickly tightrope, its biting political satire and unsettling trivialisation of violence make it an intensely striking watch that few other films would even dare emulate.
14. Inside Out (2015)
The highlight of a rocky ten years for Pixar, Inside Out signalled a spectacular return to form for the animation studio after years of underwhelming franchise sequels.
Visually gorgeous, emotionally resonant and boundlessly imaginative, this is Pixar at their very best. It’s a vibrant adventure filled with sharp, thought-provoking writing, proving an immensely arresting watch for all ages, no matter whether you’re looking for an upbeat family adventure or an emotionally breathtaking masterpiece.
13. Wild Tales (2014)
Six stories of ordinary people totally losing their rag, Argentinian anthology Wild Tales is a monumentally entertaining watch.
From a plane trip gone wrong to the world’s most chaotic wedding, the film turns everyday frustrations into explosive, darkly hilarious thrill rides. And while some are absolutely better than others, it’s an exceptional piece of film throughout, proving the power of sharp, provocative passion and energy with its stunning screenplay, performances and directing.
12. Parasite (2019)
One of the most electrifying films ever made, Bong Joon-ho’s exceptional Parasite will have you on tenterhooks all the way through a staggeringly unpredictable rollercoaster.
On the surface a pointed attack on modern socio-economic divides and wealthy excess, the film turns into a ludicrously exciting thriller filled with twists upon twists upon twists. Add to that sleek production design and cinematography, and perfect performances across the board and you have one of the decade’s most truly brilliant, exhilarating movies.
11. Interstellar (2014)
The best film that decade-defining director Christopher Nolan gave us in the 2010s, Interstellar is the decade’s most spectacular work by a long way.
Blending breathtaking visual effects with a transcendent and moving tale of exploration and self-discovery, the film is utterly mind-blowing from start to finish, as it creatively uses real scientific theory to craft a convincing, thought-provoking and inspiring spectacle that really is out of this world.
10. The Little Prince (2015)
The very best in a decade where animated film came on leaps and bounds, The Little Prince is gorgeous, vibrant and deeply touching, achieving everything live-action can, and then some.
In part a spectacular reimagining of the classic French tale, and at the same time a sobering coming-of-age tale, director Mark Osborne’s animation isn’t much short of a true work of art – spellbindingly imaginative and powerfully moving to the point of tears throughout.
9. The Irishman (2019)
The magnum opus from legendary director Martin Scorsese, The Irishman – a three and a half hour crime epic – is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.
Approaching familiar themes from a new perspective, the film provides a staggering reflection on life in the mob, American history and the ageing process. Complete with spectacular performances from an all-star cast, gorgeous editing and even groundbreaking ‘de-ageing’ visual effects, The Irishman is an immense, pitch-perfect triumph of epic proportions.
8. Four Lions (2010)
Perhaps not an orthodox pick for the top 10 of the decade, my adoration for Chris Morris’ deliciously dark comedy-drama is undying, as it stands out as possibly the funniest movie of the 2010s.
Taking on a subject as prickly and controversial as domestic terrorism, Four Lions inexplicably finds a way to give a sobering portrayal of terrorist cells in the Western world while being utterly hilarious, featuring legendary laugh-out-loud moments and endlessly quotable lines, all tinged with an earnest and serious message for the modern world.
7. Manchester By The Sea (2016)
Human drama in its most devastating form, Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester By The Sea is the epitome of ‘a tough watch’, but few other films can rival its emotional purity and rawness.
A shattering watch that tells a story of loss, regret, depression and frustration, Manchester By The Sea brings a small, sedate setting to life with unparalleled dramatic power, featuring tour-de-force performances right across the board, and moments of unforgettable emotion that stand as a testament to the immense power of storytelling on celluloid.
6. The Handmaiden (2016)
A thriller of psychotic proportions, Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden bulldozes its way through an exhilarating tale of love and deceit with unsettling and arousing menace, making its two and a half hour runtime fly past in a flash.
Combining the elegance and majesty of the aristocracy of 1930s Korea with deranged twists and turns, it brings you as close to the edge of your seat as humanly possible, and ultimately leaves you wheezing, filled with confusion and adrenaline for long after the credits have rolled.
5. Whiplash (2014)
Bringing an intensity and fear factor to jazz music that you never knew existed, Whiplash is the most thrilling film of the decade, and already stands as a modern classic of cinema.
A small but punchy drama that follows the trials of a relentlessly aspiring jazz drummer, Damien Chazelle’s masterwork is ruthlessly intense, and with astonishing performances from Miles Teller and most of all J.K. Simmons, it’s a rollercoaster of a ride that grabs you hard by the scruff of the neck, and never lets you go.
4. Short Term 12 (2013)
The pinnacle of independent cinema this decade, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Short Term 12 tells the most moving of human stories, all brought to life by immense directing, writing and acting talent across the board.
The breakout film for a number of established stars including Brie Larson, Rami Malek, LaKeith Stanfield and more, its small-scale story packs a big emotional punch, bringing both devastating and beautifully heartfelt drama to the big screen with passion and power that other films can only hope to equal.
3. Under The Skin (2013)
Almost certainly the boldest film of the decade, Jonathan Glazer’s spectacular and unnerving sci-fi drama Under The Skin will go down as one of cinema’s strangest masterpieces.
Centred around a spellbinding and terrifyingly seductive lead turn from Scarlett Johansson, the film is a complex, uncomfortable and challenging watch, but stands as an exhilarating example of just what cinema can achieve as the highest of art forms.
2. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
Martin Scorsese’s near-perfect three-hour epic is an ingenious rollercoaster through the life of Wall Street high roller Jordan Belfort.
Working both as a cautionary tale of excess, corruption and greed as well as an undeniably hilarious romp, The Wolf Of Wall Street tells an unforgettable story, all centred around an irresistible, career-best performance from Leonardo DiCaprio.
1. La La Land (2016)
There’s nothing quite like La La Land. A soaring, triumphant and rhythmic masterpiece, it’s the one film this decade that has that pure movie magic.
With a passionate and bittersweet romance played out to the tune of a glorious soundtrack, Damien Chazelle’s near-Best Picture-winning work is the greatest revival the movie musical could have ever wished for, and without a doubt my pick for the very best film of the last ten years.
