Worst2First: My Personal Top 100 Films of the 2010s

Worst2First: 

My Personal Top 100 Films of the 2010s

As the 2010s draw to a close, I take a retrospective look at the numerous amounts of films I saw in the last decade and compile them into my personal top 100 films of the decade.  I took my favorite ten films each year and ordered them together to make up my list, and if you've read my top lists from each year you might notice that they're in different ranks here, and that's because I either reconsidered them as better or worse than I originally thought, or with multiple viewings placed some higher than before.

This list is compiled from the films I've watched, and you might notice some are omitted and that's either due to my personal preference, or because I didn't get the chance to see them, so how could I include them in my favorites if I've never seen them, no matter how many accolades they received? 

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks are magical in the true life story of how Walt Disney eventually garnered the rights to the beloved children's novel "Mary Poppins" by the stiff author P.L. Travers.

A very timely film, "We Need to Talk About Kevin" tells the story of a small-town family who must come to terms with the horrific events their son participated in, and is told through the eyes of Kevin's mother, brilliantly played by Tilda Swinton.

Bruce Dern stars in this black-and-white shot film about an elderly Montana man and his son as they travel to Nebraska to claim a million-dollar sweepstakes prize, which may or may not be a scam.  The film is heartwarming, uplifting, and filled with great performances.

James Franco and his friends play themselves as they realize that the world is literally coming to an end, and act how privileged, wealthy celebrities would react.  The film's a laugh riot from start to finish with some strong cameos and fun, self-defecating humor.

Mixing fantasy, drama, and a pint-sized hero's journey, the film follows six-year-old Hushpuppy as she embarks on a journey to find her long lost mother after her father grows ill, and seemingly the entire world around her gets sick as well.  Young Quvenzhane Wallis shines so bright that she was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar at age nine, becoming the youngest woman ever nominated for the award.

In this philosophical Terrence Malick masterpiece, "The Tree of Life" follows the life of young Jack as he grows up in a small Texas town with his gruff father and loving mother, and as he gets older he deals with his tumultuous past and his own existential issues.

In this high-octane bank heist thriller, "The Town" centers on a group of professional bank robbers who take a teller hostage, and how this event traumatized her and also led to one of the robbers keeping watch over her and eventually falling in love which comes into conflict with the rest of the gang, and boasts a strong cast including Ben Affleck (who also directed), Jeremy Renner (who earned an Oscar nomination), Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite in one of his final films.

Based off the books by Colin Clark, "My Week With Marilyn" is the true-life story of Clark's encounter with the illustrious actress Marilyn Monroe as she filmed "The Prince and the Showgirl."  Michelle Williams envelops the role so well she disappears and you feel like you're seeing the late actress on screen, and also serves as one of the earliest works of Eddie Redmayne.

Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech" tells the true story of King George VI and his struggles with stuttering in speeches, who turns to speech therapist Lionel Logue in order to better talk to his British subjects.  Winning the Oscar for Best Picture, it featured standout performances by Colin Firth as King George, Helena Bonham Carter as his wife, and Geoffrey Rush as Logue in a film that's both uplifting and intriguing.

In this tense psychological thriller, Jason Bateman steps away from his typical comedic roles and plays a man who's suddenly befriended by an old high school classmate that he used to pick on mercilessly, and when he breaks off this new friendship he begins a psychological game of cat-and-mouse.  Joel Edgerton stars as the crazed Gordo and also wrote and directed the film, which includes one of the most shocking finales I've seen in a long time.

The exploits of demonologist Ed Warren and his psychic wife Lorraine continued with the second "Conjuring" film, this time sending the couple to England to investigate the now-famous Enfield poltergeist.  As with the first film, there's enough scares to go around, and also introduced the Nun to the ever-expanding "Conjuring" universe.

After a man is paralyzed after a mugging that left his wife dead, he undergoes a new type of therapy where he's injected with an artificial intelligence implant that enhances his body to near-superhuman levels.  He uses this new technology to track down those who killed his wife, and uncovers something even bigger than he imagined, crafting a Frankenstein-style monster for the technology age.

More than a decade after "Finding Nemo," Pixar once again returns to the oceans to tell the story of the lovable forgettable sidekick Dory and her frantic search for home - even though she often forgets where it is.  As heartwarming and entertaining as the original, "Finding Dory" manages to capture the emotions of the first film and gives Ellen Degeneres's Dory the spotlight.

Based after the events of the "Jurassic Park" trilogy, "Jurassic World" finds another amusement park being opened on the grounds of the original Jurassic Park, and this time they've genetically created a new type of dinosaur - bigger, badder, and deadlier.  Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard co-star in this action adventure that's every part as great as the original, kick-starting a new trilogy for today's generation.

 In Denis Villeneuve's first English-language film, "Prisoners" deals with every parents' worst nightmare - the disappearance of their child.  Hugh Jackman plays the father who has to take matters into his own hands when the police can't detain the lone suspect for lack of evidence, and the film is filled with tense, dramatic moments that will leave you spellbound.

In the second installment of the "Rocky" spinoff, we find Adonis Creed as he embarks on the biggest fight of his life - going against the son of the man who took his father's life in the ring.  Michael B. Jordan again gives an arresting performance as the young upstart, and Sylvester Stallone's iconic Rocky Balboa again gives a strong performance.

Everyone felt that the "Planet of the Apes" ended with Tim Burton's strange remake, but the 2010s saw the resurgence in the intelligence primates, giving the world the prequel series about how the apes rose to power.  Andy Serkis is the go-to guy for performance capture, and he gives the ape Caesar a deeply human feel, earning the actor accolades that don't normally come for performance capture actors.

Personally one of my biggest fears is confined spaces, and "Buried" definitely plays on that fear.  The film is unique in that it centers on only one character - Ryan Reynolds' Paul Conroy, who finds himself literally buried alive in a coffin.  It's also unique in that the entirety of the film is shot within the claustrophobic confines, as Paul struggles against time to find a way out.  Reynolds is best known for his comedic roles, but he gives a strong dramatic performance here.

 In this Steven Spielberg period piece, Tom Hanks stars as James Donovan, a lawyer during the Cold War who is recruited by the CIA to arrange the exchange of Russian spy Rudolf Abel (played by Mark Rylance, who earned an Oscar for his performance) for U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers who was captured by the Russians.  Filled with political intrigue and suspense, "Bridge of Spies" hits on all cylinders and adds to Hanks' impressive film repertoire.  

In this tense Adam Green-directed horror film, "Frozen" finds three friends stuck on a chairlift after being forgotten by the ski chalet, forced to spend days trapped or find a way off to survive.  Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore and Kevin Zegers play their roles perfectly and the film is filled with tense, terrifying moments with an explosive finale.

 Dealing with racism in the 1960s, "The Help" centers on Skeeter, a young college girl who wants to be a writer, and chooses to interview the black women in her small Mississippi town who've worked for the prominent white families, leading to shocking revelations and deep-seeded animosities to come to light.  The film boasts a strong cast including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer (who won an Oscar and clearly steals the show), Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain and Allison Janney.

The classic Victor Hugo novel has seen countless iterations on both stage and screen, and director Tom Hooper brought the visionary novel to the big screen again in the 2010s, featuring a huge A-list cast including Anne Hathaway (who won an Oscar for her performance), Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, and more.  The film centers on Jean Valjean, who was unjustly imprisoned and after getting out is continually tracked down by the police inspector Javert, all set against the background of the French Revolution.  The songs are memorable and powerful, and the performances equally so.

Daniel Day-Lewis is this generation's most acclaimed actor, and this is one of his several defining roles, one that rightfully earned him yet another Oscar.  Portraying the sixteenth President during the Civil War as he sets out to enact the 13th Amendment that would abolish slavery.  In the hands of anyone else other than Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg behind the lens, this would've been a boring undertaking, but so great is Day-Lewis that you don't even see him acting, but you think you're actually watching Abraham Lincoln on the big screen.

Shedding his former stoner persona (at least for this film), Matthew McConaughey delivers an Oscar-winning performance as Ron Woodoof, who contacts AIDS in the 1980s and must smuggle unapproved drugs into Texas, along with the help of fellow AIDS patient Rayon (played by Jared Leto, who also earned an Oscar for his performance).  The film is harrowing, emotional, and filled with awards-worthy performances.

In this tender, heartbreaking foreign film, Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant star as retired elderly music teachers who spend their time at home, when Riva's Anne suffers a stroke, and Trintignant's Georges decides to care for her at home instead of taking her to the hospital.  Filled with tremendous performances, the movie will equally break your heart and believe in the eternal power of love, and Riva's performance was awarded the BAFTA (becoming the oldest person to win it), along with an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (becoming the oldest woman to achieve that nomination) before her tragic passing in 2017.

Spike Lee has always been a divisive director, and "BlacKkKlansman" is no different.  Telling the true story of Ron Stallworth, who became the first African American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, the film follows his takedown of the Ku Klux Klan with the help of fellow detective Flip Zimmerman (played by Adam Driver).  While Stallworth communicated with the KKK through the phone, Zimmerman was the man on the ground, and together they managed to bring down one of the most powerful hate groups around.  The film earned several Academy Award nominations including one for Adam Driver for Best Supporting Actor, as well as Lee for Director.

A film that's been remade several times throughout cinematic history, this iteration stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper as Ally and Jackson Maine.  Maine is a successful singer who discovers Ally singing in a club and convinces her to join him on stage, pushing her to write her own songs and sing them.  As her star begins to rise, his begins to fall as he struggles with alcoholism and his other demons, threatening to destroy them both.  The film is poignant, heartfelt, emotional, and the chemistry between Gaga and Cooper is undeniable - and earned an Oscar for Gaga for her song "Shallow."

After the huge success of "The Avengers," it was only a matter of time before Joss Whedon again brought together Earth's Mightiest Heroes for another adventure.  This time the group goes up against Ultron, an intelligent AI created by Tony Stark to protect the world, but decides instead that humanity has to be destroyed, and the Avengers have to band together to stop him.  The film introduces new heroes Wanda and Pietro Maximoff as well as the Vision, and continues the epic adventure of the MCU.

 Decades after the "Star Wars" prequels, Disney acquired the rights to "Star Wars" and went to work crafting another trilogy, this time centering on all new heroes guided by the heroes of the past.  "The Force Awakens" introduces us to heroes Rey, Finn and Poe, as well as a new enemy in Kylo Ren whose First Order plans on continuing the work of the Dark Side.  Aided by General Leia and Han Solo (along with C-3PO, R2D2 and Chewbacca), Rey and her friends set out to stop Ren from destroying the world they know.  The film became the highest grossing domestic film of all time, and was a loving callback to the original trilogy (pretty much a direct remake of "A New Hope").

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the general manager for the Oakland A's who comes up with a new idea on how to make his team great on the shoestring budget.  He joins with Jonah Hill's Peter Brand to recruit players that other scouts have abandoned, in hopes of making the best team possible.  The film is led by two outstanding performances, as well as garnering six Academy Award nominations including ones for Pitt and Hill.

Written and directed by famed director Lars von Trier, "Melancholia" centers on two two sisters, as one is about to get married and she struggles with her doubts and insecurities - all the while dealing with the fact that a rogue planet is on an imminent collision with Earth.  Equal parts sci-fi epic and dramatic masterpiece, the film is carried by a strong performance by Kirsten Dunst and provides some awe-inspiring visuals that captures the imagination in terrifying ways.

 Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts, "August: Osage County" centers on a family of strong-willed women who come together to their familial home after the patriarch disappears, and all the animosities and past sins bubble to the surface.  Led by a strong ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson and Sam Shepard, the film is a tight dialogue-driven piece filled with memorable performances.

In a love letter to the 1920s silent film era, "The Artist" centers on actor George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin, who won an Oscar for his performance), who falls in love with an ingenue named Peppy Miller (played by Berenice Bejo, who received an Oscar nomination for her performance), despite being married himself.  The film is shot entirely in black-and-white, and there's no dialogue to be heard - further advancing the 1920s silent film era feel that'll transport you back in time and leave you riveted.

Real life heroes are often forgotten except the pages of history books, but thanks to movies their stories get to be told on the big screen.  Mel Gibson tells the tale of Desmond Doss, a conscientious observer who enlists to fight in World War II without carrying a gun, and during the battle of Okinawa he manages to save 75 men without shooting a single shot.  Gibson finally delivers another fantastic film, led by Oscar-nominee Andrew Garfield in one of his finest roles, a film that balances Doss's story with epic war action in equal measure.

The "X-Men" franchise has seen its ups and downs (mostly downs), but one of its best achievements came with "Days of Future Past," where it united the stars from both the original trilogy and the reboot as the remaining X-Men must come together to prevent a future where they're eradicated, sending Wolverine back in time to prevent mutant-killing Sentinels from being created.  The film is filled with intense action and thoughtful dialogue, and provides amazing performances by everyone involved.

A decade after "Rocky Balboa," Sylvester Stallone decided to bring his most iconic character back to the big screen, but this time serving as a coach for his former opponent/friend Apollo Creed's son Adonis as he sets out to create a legacy for himself in the ring.  Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone give commanding performances, and re-vitalized the "Rocky" franchise for a new generation.

Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Disney's animated "Frozen" introduces us to sisters Elsa and Anna, and the struggles they face as Elsa tries to hide her powers from the world.  Having accidentally revealed her gifts, she isolates herself away from her family in hopes of keeping them safe, but unknowingly she's unleashed an eternal winter on the town, and Anna must track her down to help her stop it.  Filled with lavish animations, terrific vocal talent, and memorable songs (most notably the Oscar-winning "Let it Go," which probably most parents wish to forget entirely), the film is a welcome addition to the Disney animated family.

This Oscar-winning true story focuses on Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck, who also directed), an extractor who's brought in by the U.S. government to save 66 American hostages in Iran in 1979.  Tony utilizes unconventional means to rescue them, posing as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and training the refugees to act as his crew.  The film is filled with tension, danger, and even some dark humor, and gives compelling performances by the strong ensemble cast.

Winning the Oscar for Best Picture, "12 Years a Slave" tells the story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from New York who's kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South, where he has to deal with the cruelty of Michael Fassbender's slave owner as he tries to find a way back home.  After twelve years of being a slave, he encounters an abolitionist that can change his fate forever.  The film is raw, powerful, and includes inspiring performances by everyone involved, especially Lupita Nyong'o, who won an Academy Award for her performance and gave her recognition in Hollywood.

The rise of music biopics began with the surprise hit "Straight Outta Compton," telling the story of the creation of N.W.A, one of the first rap groups in the 90s featuring the talents of Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre that re-defined the rap genre forever.  Filled with fantastic performances and a tightly written script, the film served as a powerful story that needed to be told.

Karyn Kusama's unnerving psychological thriller "The Invitation" centers around a man who's invited to his ex-wife's house for a special get-together, and upon arrival he begins to have a bad feeling about the meeting, and thinks there's a sinister motive for the get-together.  Logan Marshall-Green gives a compelling performance in a very tight, well-written script with an ending that'll leave your mouth open in shock.

After the disastrous events of "Age of Ultron," the government wishes to control the Avengers so they don't cause as much collateral damage, and some (including Tony Stark) are favorable to the idea, while others (like Captain America) aren't, resulting in a rift between the Avengers, leading to an all-out Civil War that threatens to divide them for good.  Pretty much everyone returns for this action-adventure filled with great performances and one of the best action sequences ever set to screen during the great airport battle, and is a great addition to the illustrious MCU.

After loner Lee Chandler's brother suddenly dies, he returns to Manchester to tend to his affairs, and finds out that he's the caretaker of his brother's teenage son Patrick - a role Lee never wanted to take on.  The film is intensely dramatic and depressing, but soaring with incredible performances by the three leads who all earned Oscar nominations (while Casey Affleck won), and introduced the world to the incredible talent of the young Lucas Hedges.

Stephen King's works have been adapted to the big screen numerous times, with varying success.  The 1990s miniseries "It" - despite it not withstanding the test of time - is still considered a classic, and no one seemingly could compare to Tim Curry's Pennywise.  Then Andy Muschietti brought the killer clown to the big screen, resulting in a horror masterpiece that hearkened back to the classic 80s era with strong young performers and a truly terrifying Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

The history of demonologist Ed Warren and his psychic wife Lorraine is epic and terrifying, as they've investigated some of the world's most famous hauntings, and it was only a manner of time before their stories got to be told on the big screen.  "The Conjuring" centers on their earliest investigation of the Perron house, where a family is being tormented by spirits.  Led by the stellar acting of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, the film re-defined the haunted house subgenre and introduced the world to a whole new horror cinematic universe - as well as provided a truly chilling, frightening film.

Jesse Eisenberg embodies fully Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher-directed biopic about the young genius who created one of the world's most powerful social networks, Facebook.  The film chronicles Zuckerberg's rise to fame as friends become enemies, lawsuits ensue, and we witness Zuckerberg's genius as well as his hubris through Eisenberg's Oscar-nominated performance.

The original "Blade Runner" is hailed as a sci-fi masterpiece, and decades later director Denis Villeneuve decides to continue the epic tale.  Set in 2049, replicants are slaves, and K - a replicant himself - works for the LAPD as a blade runner: an officer who hunts and kills rogue replicants.  At first it's an ordinary assignment, but he soon unravels a mystery that could threaten the existence of the world as he knew it.  Featuring a stellar cast including Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford (reprising his role from the original), Jared Leto and Robin Wright, the film is filled with awe-inspiring visuals and top-notch cinematography by the great Roger Deakins, who finally earned himself an Oscar award for his brilliant work.

 Disney has begun to adapt their beloved animated classics into live-action films, with varying success.  "Beauty and the Beast" was one of their best, incorporating the same magic and wonder that the 1992 animated film (which was the first animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture) with modern-day talent and unforgettable songs.  Emma Watson takes on the role of Belle as she runs afoul of the Beast (Dan Stevens), a prince who's cursed to be a beast until he can find true love.  As she spends time with the Beast, Belle begins to see the inner beauty of the Beast and fall for him, despite being pursued by the egotistical Gaston.

The latest "Star Wars" trilogy comes to an end with "The Rise of Skywalker," and also incorporates  the ending of the forty-year old franchise.  As Rey and the Resistance unite to stop Kylo Ren once and for all, a long-thought-dead villain resurfaces and threatens to destroy their world for good.  Filled with great performances, intense action, and classic callbacks, "Skywalker" serves as an admirable end to the franchise - at least for now.

Taika Waititi's satirical look at Germany during World War II has its detractors, but "Jojo Rabbit" is a perfect blend of humor and drama, focusing on a young German boy named Jojo who wants nothing more than to be the best Nazi ever and be Adolf Hitler's best friend - so much so he imagines Hitler as his imaginary friend himself.  When he discovers his mother hiding a young Jewish girl in their home, Jojo must come to terms with the lies he's been told to believe his whole young life.  Filled with great performances and surprisingly emotional moments, "Jojo Rabbit" is an enjoyable satirical journey through one of the world's most darkest times.

Meryl Streep won another Oscar for her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (also known as The Iron Lady), who managed to break through the glass ceiling run by men and become the country's first female Prime Minister for eleven years.  Her tenure was filled with ups and downs, but through it all Thatcher remained stoic and resolved to fight any battle thrown her way, and Streep beautifully encapsulates the role in her sheer brilliance.

A mixture of classic "Star Wars" with a classic heist movie, "Rogue One" is a spinoff of the "Star Wars" franchise that centers on a ragtag group of rebel fighters who are chosen on a mission to retrieve the plans for a Death Star that could spell doom for the galaxy, and leads in perfectly with "A New Hope."  Filled with great performances and top-notch action, the film also boasts the return of Darth Vader in a film where you truly see the villainous side of him, culminating in a memorable moment where he fully turns dark and will be remembered forever.

Serving as a semi-autobiographical work by director Alfonso Cuaron (who also wrote, shot, produced, and co-edited), "Roma" is set in early 1970s Mexico City as young housekeeper Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio, who earned an Oscar nomination for her first film ever) cares for an upper-middle-class family, as well as trying to pursue her own dreams.  The film is beautifully rendered in black-and-white, and gives a deep familial connection to the audience, and provides some stellar cinematography and tremendous performances.

In the near future, a temporal agent (played by Ethan Hawke) travels back in time to stop a criminal from unleashing a weapon of mass destruction that could kill thousands.  The plot itself seems simple enough, but the film is highly cerebral, a script that's beyond intelligent and demands multiple viewings to fully understand the story - and with terrific performances and the general idea itself, it's a film you don't mind watching over and over.

Ryan Gosling stars as Driver, a Hollywood stunt driver who also works as a getaway driver for criminals who falls for his neighbor, and then is enlisted by her husband to participate in a million-dollar heist.  The heist goes horribly wrong, resulting in Driver risking his own life to protect the woman he loves and her young son.  Gosling delivers a thought-provoking performance, filled with intense driving action surrounded by the classic heist movie motif.

Quentin Tarantino delivers another absorbing epic with "Django Unchained," about a freed slave (played by Jamie Foxx) who sets out with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz, who won another Oscar here) to rescue his wife from a ruthless plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).  Filled with biting dialogue and lots of violence, this is everything you expect from a Tarantino film and more.

Sometimes the best horror films are those that don't rely on jump scares, and "It Follows" follows that mold.  When a girl has sex with a guy she just meets, she's informed by him that it comes with a curse - she'll be followed by an evil spirit that can take the form of any human, and if it touches her, then she'll die.  The only way to beat it is by having sex with someone else, but she doesn't want to place that burden on anyone, so she and her friends try to find a way to stop it themselves.  The most terrifying game of tag you've ever seen, "It Follows" is incredibly unnerving and uncomfortable, as danger looms behind every corner, without the intense music that accompanies cheap jump scares.

Matt Damon stars as Mark Watney, an astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars alone, struggling to survive on a desolate planet millions of miles from rescue.  Damon commands the screen as an intellectual person but also one with a sharp wit, providing an enjoyable experience that's most famous for earning the Golden Globe award for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, despite the fact that it was neither a musical nor a comedy.

The idea of bringing everyone's favorite childhood building blocks to the big screen seemed like a doomed prospect, but "The Lego Movie" far exceeded everyone's low expectations, providing a thoughtful, beautifully animated, brilliantly performed, and downright hilarious film that old and young can enjoy again and again.  The film boasts talent like Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman and Will Ferrell and provides an important life lesson as well - we can all be special, and everything is awesome.

Christopher Nolan's space opera centers on Matthew McConaughey's Joseph Cooper, a former NASA astronaut who's brought back into the fold after Earth suffers several setbacks where it seems apparent that it'll no longer be able to sustain life.  He travels with a team of astronauts into the furthest depths of space in hopes of finding a new home by traveling through a wormhole near Saturn, resulting in a provocative tale of time travel and the undying love of family.

More a traditional action adventure than superhero film, "The Winter Soldier" finds Captain America facing his biggest foe yet - his old friend Bucky, who's been brainwashed into the unstoppable Winter Soldier.  More grounded in reality than many of the other MCU films, "The Winter Soldier" is aided by a fantastic cast, intense action, and a refreshing script that's more spy caper than super-powered spectacle. 

Directed by Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight" tells the true story of the Boston Globe's Spotlight team, who investigates the widespread child sex abuse scandal in Boston by the Roman Catholic priests, and their unwillingness to give up.  Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo give tremendous performances in a powerful story that's as timely as ever, shedding an important light on one of the biggest scandals in religion ever.

Not your typical alien invasion film, "Arrival" finds the world coming into contact with extra-terrestrial beings who land in different parts of the world, but never leave their ships.  In hopes of bridging a communication bond with the aliens, the government calls upon linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) to find a way to communicate with them, leading to shocking revelations and events that could alter the future forever.  Adams gives a compelling performance, alongside Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker in this Denis Villeneuve sci-fi epic.

Serving as Quentin Tarantino's love note to classic Hollywood, "Once Upon a Time" tells the story of two men - Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), who's a famous actor suffering a downswing in his career, and his stuntman and best friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), who never lets anything phase him.  Their story is set against the backdrop of Dalton's neighbor, Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and their interaction with Charles Manson and his cult, and as typical with Tarantino, the film boasts a strong cast who give it their all against a solid script and an insane final act that'll have you talking long after it ends.

No other definition has defined the 2010s than "catfish" - a type of deceptive activity involving a person creating a fake social networking presence for nefarious purposes.  This term came from the documentary of the same name, where a young man named Nev falls for a young woman on social media, only to discover the unsettling truth once they finally meet.  The film is hugely influential in today's society, and not only did it lead to the title of the film being memorialized as a definition of something else, but also led Nev to host his own reality series on MTV about the same topic.

Louisa May Alcott's classic novel gets another big-screen treatment thanks to the wonderful direction of Greta Gerwig and the talents of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlon.  The story of the March sisters is timeless and endearing, but here they're given new life due to the different filming style Gerwig incorporated, as well as the tremendous talents of the young ladies who portray them.

Joss Whedon's meta-horror "The Cabin in the Woods" pokes fun at the classic horror tropes that are as old as time, and the film tells us why that is.  Filled with great performances, tongue-in-cheek humor, and an epic finale, the film is an instant cult classic that shouldn't be missed.

Serving as one of the last (for now) young adult novel-to-film adaptations, "The Hunger Games" made an international star out of Jennifer Lawrence and led to several Internet memes and the now-classic line, "I volunteer as tribute!"  In a dystopian future, America is split into different districts, and each year they select one boy and one girl from each district to compete in the Hunger Games - a fight to the death duel where only one survives, and they win food for their impoverished district.  Brimming with action and a star-building performance by Lawrence, the film will be idolized for decades to come.

Damien Chazelle's ambitious film is small in scope but huge in weight, as it focuses on determined jazz drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) who wants to be the best and impress his extremely abrasive and downright psychotic instructor (J.K. Simmons - who won an Oscar for his role).  Filled with psychological tension and mental abuse, "Whiplash" is true to its title, as your head will jerk with the intensity that both these actors bring to the screen.

Martin Scorsese's atmospheric thriller "Shutter Island" centers on U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) who travel to a mysterious psychiatric hospital on Shutter Island after a patient goes missing.  All is not as it seems, and Teddy's past comes back to haunt him in mysterious ways as the overall mystery unfolds, culminating in one of modern cinema's most shocking final moments that you'll never forget.

Frances McDormand gives an award-winning performance as Mildred Hayes, a mother who looses her daughter to a murder that hasn't been solved.  She takes matters into her own hands by purchasing three billboards outside the small town of Ebbing, Missouri that calls out the police for not caring about her daughter's murder, leading to shocking moments that'll change her life - and the lives of the police force - changed forever.  Featuring strong performances by Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell (who also won an Oscar), "Three Billboards" is an unforgettable tale of truth, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit. 

The first MCU (and first superhero movie) to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, "Black Panther" introduces the world to T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the King of Wakanda - an African nation hidden from the world that's far superior in its technology thanks to an almost endless supply of Vibranium under the country.  T'Challa struggles to lead the nation as he comes into conflict with his cousin Eric Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who wishes to use Wakandan technology to free their oppressed brothers and sisters around the world, while T'Challa wants to remain hidden and keep his country safe.  These dueling ideologies come to a violent head as the two are pitted against each other and threatens to separate the country forever.  The film is a superhero masterpiece with strong performances by both Boseman and Jordan, as well as career-defining performances by the likes of Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright.

Laika has produced some stellar stop-motion animated films, but none better than "Kubo and the Two Strings."  Young Kubo finds himself hunted by his grandfather, the Moon Knight, who desires to take Kubo's eye (he had previously taken his other eye at a young age).  Aided by Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), Kubo must find the relics of his father's armor in order to stand against his grandfather, and along the way learn more about his family.  Filled with great action, vivid animations, and an emotional story that'll have you crying multiple times, "Kubo" is an all-around masterpiece in every sense of the word.

It's almost impossible to think of a sequel to the Stanley Kubrick classic "The Shining," but Mike Flanagan managed to accomplish the task with "Doctor Sleep," again based off Stephen King's novel.  Now a grown man, Danny Torrance must deal with the demons of his past in order to help a young girl who exhibits the shining power against a group of evil soul suckers who wish to gain the girl's power for themselves.  The film is long, but doesn't feel that way due to Flanagan's excellent direction and powerful performances, with one scene in particular sticking with you in the most uncomfortable way imaginable. 

The epic DC heroine Wonder Woman seemingly would never get her own movie, as it seemed no one was up to the task in telling her story until Patty Jenkins arrived and cast Gal Gadot as Diana, giving a film that's unforgettable and powerful, forever changing the superhero cinematic landscape.  After rescuing Steve Trevor, an American fighter during World War I who accidentally found his way to the mythical land of the Amazonians, Diana travels outside her safety zone and accompanies Steve on his mission in hopes of killing the God of War Ares herself.  The film is filled with epic action (especially Diana's walk across No Man's Land) and a deeply thoughtful script, and not to mention Gadot's incredible transformation as Wonder Woman.

Written and directed by Wes Anderson, the film focuses on the relationship between a concierge named Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and a lobby boy (Tony Revolori) at the illustrious Grand Budapest Hotel as they embark on several adventures as they try to prove Gustave's innocence after he's framed for murder.  The film is lavish and stylish, with some of the best set pieces ever designed, and supplied by stellar performances by Fiennes, Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan and Tilda Swinton.

Ever since Deadpool was nearly literally castrated in the abysmal "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," audiences have been clamoring for the Merc with a Mouth to be done right, and it finally happened.  Ryan Reynolds once again dons the full red spandex suit as Wade Wilson, a man suffering from cancer who undergoes a secret experiment that results in him becoming Deadpool - an unstoppable, unkillable assassin.  He sets out to get revenge against those who wronged him, and Reynolds gives a career-defining performance as Wade, supplying several snarky one-liners and hilarious moments mixed with glorious R-rated gore that Deadpool is best known for.

Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" continues his tradition of providing edge-of-your-seat, compelling stories that center on the insane.  Natalie Portman (who finally won an Oscar for her performance) plays Nina Sayers, a ballerina who desires more than anything to be the Swan Queen - but she can't seem to exhibit the essence of the Black Swan.  We witness Nina's descent into insanity as she abandons all sense of reason to complete her ultimate dream, and it's a memorable performance that'll be studied by film students for years to come.

Noah Baumbach's semi-autobiographical film tells the story of Nicole (Scarlett Johnasson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) Barber, a young couple with a young son as they're going through the pains of divorce.  The film tells both sides of the story equally, and in the end there's no clear villain or hero, as both Charlie and Nicole are seen in both positive and negative lights, but it's the sheer performances by Johansson and Driver that elevates the film to superior levels, and is one that shouldn't be missed.

In Daniel Craig's James Bond's best film, "Skyfall" sends Bond back to the past to face the demons he once hid away, all the while being hunted by a maniacal, charismatic villain in Javier Bardem's Silva.  When MI6 is attacked by Silva, Bond has to investigate his most personal case yet, as Silva is targeting his mentor M for abandoning him, leading Bond back home in hopes of stopping him once and for all.  More than just the classic Bond spy caper, "Skyfall" also incorporates strong dramatic performances as well as an epic final standoff that serves as one of the best in the Bond franchise. 

George Miller returns to the director's chair (at seventy years old) to bring back the Road Warrior for another epic action adventure.  This time Max (Tom Hardy) works with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to aide in getting a group of women out of the clutches of the evil warlord Immortan Joe and his unruly gang of misfits, as they embark on a perilous desert journey to safety.  Hailed as one of the best action epics of our time, "Fury Road" is indeed filled with unforgettable action sequences and strong cinematography that earned the film six Academy Awards.

In this "haunting" tale, Casey Affleck stars as a man who dies, and comes back as a ghost - but there's no CGI used in his spectral form, but rather just a classic white sheet with two eye-holes cut out.  He's forced to observe life going on without him, especially with his former love (played by Rooney Mara) as she grieves his death and slowly moves on with her life.  Stuck in his home, he eventually faces the ravages of time and space,  encompassing a unique story that's way more than the sum of its wonderful parts.

In the future, an attempt is made to curb climate change, resulting in the Earth becoming inhabitable due to a now perpetual winter.  The survivors all live aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that continually travels around the globe and never stops, as the people are separated due to their former financial measure: the rich and privileged enjoy riding in the lap of luxury near the front, while the poor and downtrodden are forced to cramp together in the back.  It's a classic story of class warfare as the poor revolt against their unruly rulers and attempt to overthrow the rich and gain access to the front of the train, where a secret awaits them all.  Starring Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt and Ed Harris, "Snowpiercer" is equal parts action and thoughtful drama, equipped with spellbinding performances and a wholly unique story.

Based off the memoirs of Garrard Conley, a young man raised in a devoutly Christian home who struggles with coming out to his family, "Boy Erased" is a touching, thought-provoking, and truly powerful film that focuses on the real dangers of conversion therapy.  Lucas Hedges once again gives a commanding performance as Jared, who is forced to attend conversion therapy by his overbearing religious father (Russell Crowe), to the dismay of his more loving, understanding mother (Nicole Kidman).  The mental torture Jared and the others receive at the hands of the founder (Joel Edgerton, who also directs) is downright excruciating, and the film itself is harrowing and darkly poetic.

Greta Gerwig emerges as one of this generation's leading female directors in her first solo outing, "Lady Bird," which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Director.  Saoirse Ronan stars as Christine McPherson, a teenager who's about to graduate high school and wishes to leave her dead-end town of Sacramento for the Big Apple, to the dismay of her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf.  A real coming-of-age tale based loosely off Gerwig's own life, "Lady Bird" swells to great heights due to the uncompromisingly powerful chemistry between Ronan and Metcalf, earning both women Academy Award nominations for their powerful roles.

Before "Get Out," Jordan Peele was known for half the comedy duo Key & Peele, but after "Get Out" he's now known as one of this generation's most influential directors who infuses dark comedy, horror, racial prejudices, and social commentary in wholly uniquely ways.  The film that started it all earned a whopping four Academy Award nominations (relatively unheard of for a horror film), including Best Director for Peele, who also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.  The film follows African American Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes with his white girlfriend to meet her parents for the first time, and while they seem inviting at first, there's a darker overtone as to their motives.  It's wholly memorable for how Peele manages to blend the genres as well as offer biting social commentary about racism in America, all wrapped up in a perfectly acted masterpiece.

Giving proof that anyone can wear the mask, "Into the Spider-Verse" was a fascinating animated adventure focusing on Miles Morales - an Afro-Latino teenager who's bit by a radioactive spider and becomes Spider-Man - who discovers there's multiple universes out there: all having their own unique Spider-Man.  Together they have to find a way to get back to their respective universes as well as stop the evil Kingpin from destroying them all.  The animation style makes it feel like a live-action comic book, and the story is crisp, sharp, and well-written, incorporating humor and deep familial bonds that gives Spider-Man a more personal touch than ever before - not to mention the fantastic stylized fighting and epic soundtrack.

Bringing together twenty-two superheros into one film seemed like a foreign concept, but if anyone could do it, it was Marvel.  Combining every hero from every movie before, "Infinity War" unites the Avengers all around the world (and other worlds) in order to stop Thanos from acquiring the Infinity Stones and wiping out half of all life in the universe.  Filled with high stakes tension with the traditional humor the MCU is best known for, "Infinity War" far exceeded all expectations and provided an epic action spectacle that gives decent screen time to all its cherished heroes.

Serving as the most fitting end of the beloved franchise (until "Toy Story 4," which I consider the Epilogue), "Toy Story 3" managed to incorporate different filming styles (including a great "The Great Escape" style storyline) to deliver the most heartfelt, emotional (then)conclusion to Woody, Buzz, and the other lovable toys.  The ending itself hits like a ton of bricks, proving that all childhoods have to eventually come to an end.

Ari Aster's debut film packs a wallop from the start, and keeps you in the icy grip of fear and terror throughout to the very shocking end.  Toni Collette gives the performance of her career as Annie, a troubled mother who's dealing with the death of her own mother and the mysteries she took to the grave, as well as dealing with her offbeat daughter Charlie and brother Peter and the possible haunting of her home.  Filled with tension, shocking moment after shocking moment, and tremendous performances, "Hereditary" sticks with you long after it ends, and solidifies Aster as one of the best up-and-coming horror directors of our time.

And now we've reached my top ten films of the 2010s...

More of a celebration of life than straight-on biopic, Hugh Jackman stars as P.T. Barnum and his creation of the circus as we know it today.  The film is filled with toe-tapping, memorable pop songs that are on constant repeat, and exquisitely choreographed dance numbers that'll have you wanting to get up and dance.  Most importantly, it'll leave you with a wide smile on your face, feeling better about yourself and the world around you, making it perfect for multiple viewings.

Alfonso Cuaron won an Oscar for his direction of this space adventure, and it's no surprise why.  Filmed in such a way that you feel like you're one of the astronauts, "Gravity" focuses on Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock, who earned a nomination herself), who finds herself literally stranded in space in a desperate search to find her way back home.  The film is filled to the brim with stunning visual effects, and provides a one-of-a-kind cinematography that's impossible to forget, along with shocking sound effects and an overall sense of dread and hopelessness portrayed through Bullock's character.

Robert Egger's sophomore effort provides a shocking, unsettling, uncompromising film featuring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as two lighthouse keepers who struggle with their own sanity after a storm strands them alone on the island.  Shot in black-and-white and a claustrophobic 1.19:1 aspect ratio, you feel the insanity yourself as you witness these two men slowly give into their mental fears and turn on one another, leading to a truly appalling, alarming ending that you'll never forget.

How do you say goodbye to a character you've played for over seventeen years?  For Hugh Jackman, you go out in style.  "Logan" is the swan song for the most famous X-Man as he lives out his older days with an aging, ailing Professor X (once again played by Patrick Stewart), as he himself suffers from the ravages of age and his disintegrating regenerating powers.  Jackman gives Logan the most proper sendoff, filling his performance with strong pathos and emotion that was sorely missed from all his previous "X-Men" appearances due to being restrained by the PG-13 rating.  Rated R, Jackman was able to fully encapsulate his character and provide the most violent, beautiful conclusion.

Christopher Nolan's epic sci-fi spectacle was well before its time, blending one-of-a-kind effects with a powerful, striking story that's layered, intelligent, and demands multiple viewings to try to even begin to comprehend it.  Featuring a stellar cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard and Michael Caine, "Inception" soars above all others in its striking visuals and unique use of CGI mixed with the tremendous performances.

Back in the early days of the MCU, the idea of an Avengers movie seemed impossible - how could they combine the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye into one movie and give them all adequate screen time?  Now it seems almost laughable, but then it was a major concern, but in the hands of Joss Whedon he managed to craft a film that not only quenched the fears, but re-vitalized the superhero movie genre and opened the door wide for the biggest genre series in the 2010s.  Non-stop action, humorous dialogue, top-notch effects, and a great storyline brings Earth's Mightiest Heroes on the big screen together for the first time, and it was truly a major cinematic experience.

Luca Guadagnino's ode to summer love, "Call Me by Your Name" was the highlight romantic film of the decade, tenderly telling the story of young, Italian, carefree Elio (Timothee Chalamet) who falls for American graduate student Oliver (Armie Hammer) in a way that's not too often told on screen.  It's a deeper love than most films portray, and both Chalamet and Hammer give compelling, perfect performances that are at the forefront of Guadagnino's beautifully visualized 1980s Italy.  Throw in an epic monologue by Elio's father (played by the amazing Michael Stuhlbarg) and you've got an unforgettable love story for the ages, and if you're not balling by the end, you should check your pulse.

Todd Phillips was previously known for directing raunchy comedies like "The Hangover" and "Old School," so when he was chosen to direct the origin story film of Batman's greatest villains, it was an odd choice to say the least.  The result is anything than ordinary, a compelling, captivating film that greatly divided the moviegoing audience in its seemingly positive portrayal of killing and mental illness, but in reality focused on a fractured man shunned by society and thought of no other recourse than violence.  Joaquin Phoenix has always taken on challenging roles, but none more challenging than Arthur Fleck's Joker, and he gave the performance of his career.  The film will also be remembered for his dance down the stairs, which will undoubtedly go down in cinematic history and be remembered for decades to come.

Martin Scorsese is one of the best known directors for mobster and gangster films, and "The Irishman" is his magnum opus: a soaring, sweeping, epic gangster movie about Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran (Robert De Niro) who becomes a hitman for mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), who later grows close to Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).  At three and a half hours, "The Irishman" fully incorporates the lives of these men and the events that unfold around them, providing a fantastic, glorious, perfect throwback to the classic mobster movies of old, with three of the best performances in decades.

And now for Number One...

I'm already hearing the groans from people who would never consider this the best movie of the decade - or even the top ten - but this is my list and this is how I feel about it.  Call me a fantard (which I totally am), but "Endgame" managed to do something unheard of: unite twenty-two films, spanning eleven years, and serve as a series finale of sorts for some of the most recognizable, memorable superheroes ever created.  After Thanos manages to snap half of the universe out of existence, it's up to those left behind to find a way to bring them back.  Joe and Anthony Russo craft a sweeping epic filled with intense action and loving fan service through its three-hour runtime, reuniting all of our lovable heroes as they wage one final battle against Thanos.  I saw this film five times in the theater, and each time I felt something I haven't felt in the movies since "The Lord of the Rings," and it was something I can't even begin to explain - but the energy around me was also electric, with the entire audience getting involved in ways I've never seen in a theater before.  The final battle scene was a culmination of all my hopes and dreams over the last eleven years, and there was not a bad moment in the entire film.  To me, this was perfection and easily my favorite movie of the 2010s.