The recent premiere of the Spanish-Italian drama film Alcarràs highlights the very best aspects of the genre. Its moving story and compelling characters are reminiscent of some of the best drama movies of the decade, which fans on Letterboxd – a social media platform for film buffs – have chosen through their ratings.

The highest-scoring drama films on the site represent the best that each year from the past decade has to offer. It's an exciting mix of blockbusters like Whiplash and criminally underrated non-English language films like Barber's Tales. Audiences looking for an emotional viewing experience should consider these must-see masterpieces.

Barber’s Tales (2013) - 4.5

A woman gives a man a shave in Barber's Tales

Set during a tumultuous period in the Philippines, director Jun Robles Lana's Barber's Tale has a deceptively simple premise. It follows its widowed protagonist Marilou, who faces a challenging situation when she tries to take over her late husband's barbershop. She has to find a way to thrive even as she's ridiculed in the male-dominated community.

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The drama film doesn't shy away from criticizing patriarchal cultural norms, some of which are still all too familiar for Filipino audiences today. Perhaps even more impressive is the way it's set during the end of an oppressive regime, which is inextricably linked to the livelihoods of Filipinos at that time.

Whiplash (2014) - 4.4

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Terrence Fletcher conducts in Whiplash

Often cited alongside some of the best low-budget movies ever madeWhiplash is likely immediately recognizable to fans of the psychological drama genre. Directed by Damien Chazelle, the film revolves around the jazz drummer Andrew Neiman's experiences working with a ruthless and terrifying instructor, Terence Fletcher.

Part critique and part glorification of the inner workings of the industry, the riveting performances and controversial plot points make the movie an especially memorable one. Its frantic camerawork and incredible sound design emphasize its two main characters' powerful stories, which take more than a few unexpected turns.

The Second Mother (2015) - 4.2

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Val and Jessica in The Second Mother

Director Anna Muylaert delivers a touching and often tense mother-and-daughter story in The Second Mother. The Brazilian comedy-drama depicts the housemaid Val's experiences after her daughter Jessica joins her in São Paulo to apply for college. Tensions arise between the two who have been apart for over a decade, with Jessica unintentionally disrupting Val's routines.

The clash between mother and daughter serves as a bold commentary on the bigger class structures that prompt divisions within low-income families in the first place. It highlights just how much mothers will sacrifice as they move away to raise others' children, even though it could cost them their relationships back at home.

The Handmaiden (2016) - 4.4

Available to stream on Prime Video.

Handmaiden and heiress in the forest in The Handmaiden

Set in Korea in the 1930s, The Handmaiden is an erotic psychological thriller that tells the story of the titular character who begins working for a wealthy Japanese heiress. She believes she's the only one hiding a secret, but realizes she's about to get more than she bargained for when she gets tangled up in a mess of family secrets, deception, and unexpected feelings.

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Director Park Chan-wook's trademarks are easy to see in the gripping South Korean drama film, which is separated into three increasingly idiosyncratic parts. It's a one-of-a-kind ode to sexuality and the empowerment that it brings for women who bravely refuse to be controlled by those around them.

I Dream In Another Language (2017) - 4.1

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Four men on a beach in I Dream In Another Language.

Also considered one of the best fantasy movies of the 2010s by Letterboxd users, director Ernesto Contreras' I Dream in Another Language is an underrated drama film that depicts the linguist Martín's attempts at recording a dying language. The main challenge he faces is that its last two indigenous speakers haven't interacted in over 50 years.

The tear-jerking movie underscores the value of linguistics and culture through a complicated relationship that has a messier history than Martín expects. The Mexican film delivers equal parts heartache and poetry, with the damaged connections between characters revealing more about their past on their path to healing.

An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) - 4.2

Available to rent on Apple TV.

A man in a tunnel in An Elephant Sitting Still

Director Hu Bo's An Elephant Sitting Still follows four different characters as they travel to a city to visit the famous elephant, which is said to sit and stay unbothered by the world around it. It will become apparent to any viewer that the Chinese movie is less about the eponymous elephant and more about the four individuals' personal journeys.

With its hard-hitting narratives, bleak palette, and slow pace, it's an emotional movie that’s perfect for wallowing. It's a notably long film, being just shy of four hours, but most audiences may find that they won't even notice the time after they're drawn in by the characters' well-written stories.

Parasite (2019) - 4.6

Available to stream on Hulu.

The poster for Parasite showing the main characters on a yard.

There's no questioning that Parasite became an instant classic after it took the world by storm in 2019. The international hit turned director Bong Joon-ho into a household name, receiving numerous well-deserved accolades. It's centered on a low-income family's attempts at infiltrating an upper-class family's home, but what they eventually uncover changes everything.

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It's one of those films that audiences should watch knowing as little as possible about its plot. Its brilliant twist, powerhouse performances, and daring commentary on class structure and inequality make it one of the best movies of the decade.

The Father (2020) - 4.2

A woman and her elderly father standing in a bright room

Director Florian Zeller gives viewers a raw and emotional story in The Father, which portrays the titular character's struggles as he copes with dementia. The psychological drama movie is told from Anthony's perspective, which becomes increasingly disorienting. The situation is made worse by his stubborn insistence on refusing support from his daughter and loved ones.

It's a brutally honest look at the effects of dementia, told through dizzying distortions of time and reality. Audiences should know that it's an unbelievably heavy film, with some parts being almost too painful to watch.

The Worst Person In The World (2021) - 4.2

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Julie runs down the street in The Worst Person in the World

The third and final film in director Joachim Trier's Oslo trilogy – The Worst Person in the World - also happens to be the best one. The comedy-drama movie chronicles Julie's experiences as she finds herself growing discontent with her relationships, career, and life in general. She makes a series of questionable choices that inevitably change her future and her perspective over time.

The numerous memorable lines from The Worst Person in the World reflect its protagonist's relatable struggles as a 20-something. With subtle humor, grace, and surprisingly dark moments, it's essential viewing for older audiences who enjoy evocative coming-of-age stories.

Alcarràs (2022) - 4.1

Kids in a car in Alcarràs.

The Solé family has a long-running tradition of picking peaches in their orchard every summer. Alcarràs depicts the season this all changes, as their orchard in the titular village is set to be turned into an area for solar panels. The award-winning Catalan-language film explores how the potential eviction divides the family, whose land and peach-picking tradition serve as a microcosm of larger issues in the real world.

Director Carla Simón masterfully weaves together the haunting story using the well-written characters' rapidly deteriorating relationships. It raises important questions about family, culture, and the things people will sacrifice for the sake of illusory progress.

NEXT: 10 Most Rewatchable Drama Films Of 2021