The previous decade was an incredible time for the film industry, with movies from all genres pushing the limits and redefining the art of filmmaking as a whole. Fans on Letterboxd have helpfully handpicked some significant movies from the 2010s, with only the very best topping the long list of the most popular films of the decade.
From the eccentric adventures in The Grand Budapest Hotel to the powerful message in Parasite, each internationally-renowned film has been praised for the way they amused, moved, and entertained both audiences and critics around the world. These movies will go down in history as classics and serve as a reminder and reflection of their time.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Rating: 4.2, 21k Fans
There are many ways that The Grand Budapest Hotel is director Wes Anderson’s masterpiece. From the film’s creamy color palette and perfect sets to its impressive cast and ambitious story, every aspect underscores the great mind and creativity behind the unforgettable movie.
With Monsieur Gustave H. taking the lead on a daring heist, each comedic moment lands, and every hilarious kerfuffle easily makes way for the film’s more intimate and poignant scenes. It’s a movie that highlights the years that Anderson has spent honing his craft and specific style, with the 2014 movie reminding fans what makes him a remarkable director.
Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019) – Rating: 3.8, 6.4k Fans
The beauty, strangeness, and energy of Los Angeles in 1969 is captured in director Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. It continues to be one of his more polarizing films, with critics and fans still debating whether his departure from his usual action-packed revenge fantasy format is a good or a bad thing.
The movie follows the story of Rick Dalton, Cliff Booth, and Sharon Tate, as they struggle to navigate and stand out in the ever-changing film industry in Hollywood. In the background, the Manson Family is gearing up for a bloodbath, leading up to a climax that becomes a contentious part of the entire story. Whether viewers like it or not, it’s undeniably among the director’s significant works and an important chronicling of that tumultuous period in time.
Lady Bird (2017) – Rating: 3.9, 20k Fans
Director Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird is one of the best coming-of-age films of all time, as it masterfully weaves together themes of youth, love, and abandonment. The entire movie is a love letter to the confusion and heartache that come with growing up, capturing the joy and pain of youth in a way that most viewers can relate to.
The titular Lady Bird’s relationship with her mother Marion is the highlight of the movie, as the two struggle to understand and accept each other as their perspectives shift over time. Christine’s intimate journey is a heartwarming and often tear-jerking reminder of what it’s like to grow up in a chaotic home surrounded by imperfect friends.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) – Rating: 4.4, 27k Fans
It’s not too far-fetched to say that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse breathed life into the tired old superhero formula, with its visually stunning art style, flawless animation, and wild story that broke open the multiverse.
Directors Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, and Bob Persichetti brilliantly tell a complex origin story for the beloved Miles Morales, as he deals with Spidey versions from a variety of timelines. With Kingpin as the big baddie, every action-packed sequence and gripping reveal keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Get Out (2017) – Rating: 4.2, 6.6k Fans
Fans couldn’t have asked for more after comedian Jordan Peele’s directorial debut with Get Out. It revolves around the photographer Chris Washington who finds himself in increasingly awkward situations as he meets his girlfriend’s parents for the first time.
The film is both funny and terrifying, treading the line between biting satire and well-crafted horror. It’s unapologetic in its powerful social commentary, which is highlighted by the twisted experiences Chris has to go through because of his race. It’s one of those films viewers should ideally watch without any prior knowledge about its plot, as every new layer and surprising reveal is delightful and scary to experience when seeing it for the first time.
Midsommar (2019) – Rating: 3.8, 14k Fans
Director Ari Arister cements himself as among the most important horror auteurs of modern cinema through Midsommar, arguably one of the best cult movies ever made. It’s not a typical horror film filled with terrifying scenes and gruesome gore (although it does sometimes rely on them), but rather, it’s an unsettling story of a girl going through a breakup and finding comfort in a pagan cult.
Dani Ardor’s jarring and often visually stunning moments with the cult will stay with viewers years after watching the film. The memorable disturbing narrative only further emphasizes how impactful the movie is for fans of the genre.
Inception (2010) – Rating: 4.2, 25k Fans
Inception is a film that needs no introduction, as the sci-fi masterpiece by director Christopher Nolan was and continues to be an integral part of pop culture. Although it’s not the first movie to toy with the idea of implanting memories, its ambitious scale, groundbreaking visuals, and gripping narrative definitely make it the best.
Cobb and Arthur’s wild adventure into the mind of Mr. Saito is full of action-packed and mind-bending sequences that only get better as the film progresses. Its polarizing ending does little to detract from the appeal of the movie as a whole, which is a must-watch for any film buff.
Knives Out (2019) – Rating: 4.0, 13k Fans
Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out is an obvious homage to the murder-mystery genre, with its countless twists and turns and almost comical characters. The whodunit film is centered on a troubled family’s conflicts after the death of their patriarch, as it prompts messy confrontations and a private investigation, which bring out skeletons from the characters’ closets.
The movie barely gives audiences time to breathe between each shocking revelation, enthusiastically moving from one surprise to the next. That said, it never loses focus and delivers its absorbing plot in amusing ways, all the way to its satisfying conclusion.
Joker (2019) – Rating: 3.8, 8.8k Fans
Fans can’t be blamed for not knowing exactly what to make of director Todd Phillips’ Joker. While some argue that it’s among the best Joker movies of all time, others are quick to point out that it deviates too much from the beloved character’s roots in comics.
Joker is certainly an original approach to the villain, as it humanizes the violent character by providing a well-written backstory for him. The movie follows Arthur Fleck as he goes through traumatic situations in his personal life and failing career as a clown in the 80s. It’s a stirring and, at times, disturbing depiction of the Joker’s complicated past.
Parasite (2019) – Rating: 4.6, 38k Fans
Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite rightfully became an international sensation when it was released in 2019. The film’s narrative seems simple on the surface, as it follows a poor family’s strategic infiltration of a rich family’s home by pretending to be skilled individuals.
Part of the several aspects that elevate the movie is its subtle but powerful social commentary on class consciousness, even without counting its brilliant and genuinely shocking twist. The striking contrast between the lives of the elite and the average person is as jarring as it is realistic. It’s a film that speaks volumes about inequality and poverty in the modern age.