Between a famous ballet being used as a psychological thriller, a trailblazing gruesome superhero movie, and a courtroom drama about Facebook, 2010 was a unique and fascinating year for film. It has now been long enough since 2010 that some of the year's movies are considered classics.
Cinema wunderkinder were making their best works, Pixar was capitalizing on its best franchise, and Jennifer Lawrence was beginning to turn heads. Whether they were instant hits among viewers or they took years to finally find an audience, these 2010 movies have become iconic in the world of cinema.
The Fighter - Stream On Fubo
Director David O'Russell loves Raging Bull, so it wasn't much of a surprise that he went on to make his own boxing movie. The parallels don't end there either, as both films are about brothers who make up coach-boxer duos, and both are based on true stories.
Though The Fighter hasn't quite reached Raging Bull's level of classic yet, it's one of the most powerful sports movies outside of the Scorsese-directed black-and-white picture. The 2010 movie sports incredible performances across the board, as it has Christian Bale typically dramatically changing his body for the role, and it features a rare great dramatic performance from Mark Wahlberg.
Inception - Stream On Netflix
As is the case with most Christopher Nolan-directed movies, Inception is a complicated action movie that bends time in creative ways, and it's the best example of its kind. Inception has become one of the most talked-about films, as its ambiguous ending left audiences in shock back in 2010.
It still has fans debating today and it will continue to be debated until the end of time. On top of that, the entire movie treated audiences like they were smart, Hans Zimmer's score was massively influential, and there hadn't been more impressive practical effects since The Matrix in 1999.
Jackass 3D - Stream On Paramount+
Nobody would have thought a scrappy MTV show about pranksters would have become a huge franchise worth half a billion dollars, but that's exactly what happened.
2010's Jackass 3D is the crown jewel in the series (until it possibly gets dethroned Jackass Forever) as it used 3D technology in an unusual and unique way, and it featured some of the most outrageous stunts that the crew has ever done. The movie might not be a classic in the way that Casablanca or The Godfather are, but Jackass 3D gives viewers the most visceral experience that few narrative-driven movies can.
The Book Of Eli - Stream On Max Go
The Book of Eli didn't exactly amaze critics and audiences when it was first released, but in the 11 years since, the movie has grown a strong cult following. It has become a classic in the way that cult movies like Tron and Donnie Darko have become classics, and it just took a while for the film to find its audience.
The film follows the titular character who attempts to restore mankind to a barren wasteland. Not is it one of the few movies that depict Denzel Washington as a true action hero, but it has some unbelievable action scenes to match too. Because of this, filmmakers the Hughes brothers are the perfect directors for the upcoming John Wick prequel.
Black Swan - Stream On Hulu
Though Black Swan is a companion piece to The Wrestler according to director Darren Aronofsky, as reported by The Playlist, Black Swan stands out as a trailblazer compared to the 2008 movie. Aronofsky turns the famous ballet Swan Lake into a visually stunning arthouse thriller.
Not only did it defy all expectations by grossing upwards of $300 million at the time with a budget of just $13 million, but it still challenges viewers' perception of what the genre can achieve. Black Swan is one of the most well-crafted genre pieces of recent years, as the amount of research into the art of ballet and the intensive training that Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis went through shows on screen. It's one of the most terrifying psychological thrillers of the 2010s.
Toy Story 3 - Stream On Disney+
Pixar's Toy Story 3 got a sequel that seemed unnecessary to many after its perfect ending. But Toy Story 4 was more of an addendum than anything and it in no way undid how powerful the climax of the third movie is.
The film is so deep for a kids' movie as it even tackles mortality, as the toys sitting in the incinerator and accepting their fate made grown folks cry. On top of that, the movie introduces some fantastic new characters, including Ken and the evil Lotso. It was one of the best 3D movies of the 2010s too, and though 3D hasn't held up, Toy Story 3 certainly has.
Kick-Ass - Stream On Showtime
Any kind of irreverent, self-aware, or overly violent superhero movie or TV show has Kick-Ass to thank for being the trendsetter of such things. Deadpool is a fantastically vulgar and hilariously violent movie, as is the TV show The Boys and so many others, but Kick-Ass did it first.
The movie is a total adrenaline rush and highly entertaining, whether it's a 12-year-old superhero calling enemies the C-word or her father being a Batman knock-off called Big Daddy. The follow-up, Kick-Ass 2, might have been negatively received, but not even that was enough to taint the first movie's legacy.
Four Lions - Stream On Hoopla
Four Lions might not have reached a wide American audience yet, but Four Lions is a classic British comedy and loved across the pond. The movie is a satire on Jihad violence, as it follows a group of dimwitted extremists who attempt an attack on the London Marathon.
The movie features one of Riz Ahmed's earliest and best roles. Kayvan Novak, who has gotten a lot of acclaim for leading the vampire satire TV show What We Do In The Shadows, stars in the movie too. It also features Benedict Cumberbatch in a small role as a police officer who tries to negotiate with the terrorists.
The Social Network - Stream On Amazon Prime
A movie about people arguing in rooms about who invented Facebook sounds like the most boring flick ever. But when the master of dialogue Aaron Sorkin is penning the screenplay, and thriller auteur David Fincher is directing it, it turned out to be one of the most compelling movies of recent times.
The film tackles the problems with social media while, at the same time, delving into why it was so important to Mark Zuckerberg to create Facebook. The Social Network came at the perfect time, but it's still as relevant today as it was 11 years ago, if not more so, as privacy is a growing concern when it comes to Facebook. And that's part of the reason why there should be a Social Network sequel.
Winter's Bone - Stream On Showtime
Winter's Bone was Jennifer Lawrence's breakthrough movie as it was such a strong and captivating performance from an actor who was so young at the time. But the movie has just a strong of a narrative to boot.
The movie follows 17-year-old Ree, who looks after her entire destitute family in the Ozarks, teaching her younger siblings to hunt and cook. But there's so much more under its skin, as Ree also attempts to track down her missing father. Winter's Bone is an unforgettable thriller, and it features one of Jennifer Lawrence's best roles.