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It proved to be much harder than we thought to pick out our favorite movies of the 2010s. There’s simply too many. Anyways, we’ve tried to narrow down our recommendations to a handful, and here they are. From mind-bending travels into different galaxies and aliens visiting earth, to tear-jerking stories based on true events, these are our picks for the best movies of the 2010s. Hopefully you’ll find one or two you haven’t seen already, but if you have, there is no shame in watching these masterpieces again. And again. And again. Let’s take a look!
Feeling more nostalgic? Check out our pick for the best movies of the 1990s here!
Inception (2010, IMDb: 8.8)
The 2010s saw the rise of one of the best filmmakers in recent history, Christopher Nolan. What’s more fitting than starting off this list with one of Nolan's best movies? Inception is a mind-bending and thought-provoking journey into the concept of dreams. We follow Cobb, a thief who has stolen corporate secrets using dream-sharing technology and sets out to implant an idea into the mind of the C.E.O. Troubled by his tragic past, Cobb soon starts to struggle with differentiating reality from dreams, ultimately leaving us with one of the greatest cliffhangers in cinema history. Inception is definitely one of the best movies of the 2010s.
Interstellar (2014, IMDb: 8.6)
While already onboard the movie-train heading towards “Nolan City”, we thought Interstellar deserved a spot on this list as well. Together with his brother Jonathan, Christopher Nolan blessed us back in 2014 with this cinematic masterpiece. Interstellar follows a team of explorers traveling through a wormhole and into a different galaxy to ensure humanity’s survival. Based on real science, this movie is not only critically acclaimed but a favorite among scientists and astronomers. There really isn’t much more to add. Interstellar might be one of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
The Intouchables (2011, IMDb: 8.5)
The heartfelt and beautiful true-story about Philippe and Driss earns The Intouchables its place on our list of the best movies of the 2010s. Philippe is bound to a life in a wheelchair following a paragliding accident that left his entire body paralyzed. As he interviews a row of caregivers, he stumbles upon Driss, a young man with a completely different lifestyle. Together they form an unusual but entertaining friendship, learning from each other and becoming better individuals. The Intouchables is one of those “I’m not crying, I have something in your eyes” kinda movies. In other words, a fantastic movie worth watching time and time again.
Joker (2019, IMDb: 8.4)
There is no denying Joaquin Phoenix is one of the best actors around. His portrayal of the infamous villain in Joker saw him win a well-deserved Academy Award for the best performance in a leading role. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mentally troubled man working as a clown-for-hire (so to speak). His dream is to become a stand-up comedian, a dream that requires blood, sweat and tears to achieve. Literary. Joker is perfect in every aspect - atmosphere, story, visuals, soundtrack and acting. We just had to include this film on the list of the best movies of the 2010s.
Boyhood (2014, IMDb: 7.9)
If there was one movie on this list you might not have seen already, it’s this one. Boyhood is a nostalgic masterpiece. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. The movie was shot over 12 years following the same cast. We see the world through the eyes of a child named Mason and quite literally grow up with him. This is a story about growing up and parenting, a look into the normal life of a family in ways you’ve never seen before. This movie is truly groundbreaking and definitely one of the greatest movies of the 2010s.
Arrival (2016, IMDb: 7.9)
Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, Arrival is not only one of our favorite movies of the 2010s but also of all-time. When twelve mysterious alien ships appear around the world, linguist Louise Banks is brought to one to try and communicate with the extraterrestrials. What do they want? Why are they here? While panic spreads among the leaders of the world, Lousie must find out the answers before a global war breaks out. We would like to argue that this is Amy Adams' best performance, earning Arrival a spot on our list.
The Hunt (2012, IMDb: 8.3)
The Hunt premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival as the first Danish film since 1998, and what a comeback it was. Mads Mikkelsen plays a struggling father working as a teacher. He fights for the custody of his son, and when he ultimately finds love, it looks like his life is back on track. But a little lie from one of his students shatters his luck and the hunt is on. He must prove his innocence before it's too late. The Hunt is excellent in many ways, and equally intense and tough to watch. You’ll find yourself emotionally drained after watching this movie. In a good way, of course.
The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013, IMDb: 8.2)
The real-story of stock-broker Jordan Belfort's crazy (and let’s say…illegal) life was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street. The movie tells the story of Belfort’s journey from a nobody to one of the wealthiest stock-brokers on Wall Street. The almost 3-hour long runtime of this movie flys by thanks to the intense and absolutely wicked story. DiCaprio, alongside Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie, gives an extraordinary performance. This movie is as criminal and out of this world as pineapples on pizza. In other words, one of the best movies of the 2010s.
Moonlight (2016, IMDb: 7.4)
Moonlight might be another one of these movies you might have missed. The story centers around three periods of Chiron's life. His traumatizing upbringing, living with his crack addicted mother, seems to steer him into a predetermined path in life. Only Chiron can decide if he ends up as his mother or finds a way out. This is an incredibly powerful and emotional story about discovering yourself and forming an identity, and a movie you shouldn’t miss out on. If you have seen it already, you know why it makes our list of the best movies of the 2010s.
Read more: 9 Great Movies With Low IMDb Rating
IMDb is a data website for movies and TV shows that most of us use on a daily basis. Many use the website as a first indication of how good or bad a movie is, and by some unwritten law, a movie with a rating of under seven seems to be recognized as a mediocre or bad movie. Well, that’s not always completely true. To get you out of your comfort zone and explore more content, take a look at our list of great movies with low IMDb ratings that are definitely worth watching!
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