The 2010s brought a lot of amazing films over the decade. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the resurrection of the Star Wars franchise to the end of the Harry Potter franchise and the rise of Pixar’s golden age, there really was no shortage of content.
When looking back at the 2010s, it can be hard to pinpoint what the best films were. After all, everyone’s taste in movies is subjective. There are some films that moviegoers can agree on that stand out amongst the rest.
Updated on November 26th, 2020 by Matthew Wilkinson: The 2010s were a great decade for movie fans. Many movies from this decade managed to place into IMDb’s top 200 films of all time, showcasing the real strength and true variety that the decade brought. Whether it was big franchises or small independent movies, there is truly something for everyone on this list.
15 Inception (2010) - 8.8
Kicking off the list is the 2010 action thriller Inception which currently holds an 8.5 rating on IMDb. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Leonardo Dicaprio as Dom Cobb, a thief who can enter the dreams of his targets.
The movie raked in an incredible $825 million during its initial box office run and the second-highest-grossing premiere for a science-fiction film. The film went on to win several Academy Awards and became a pop culture icon. In fact, several shows have parodied the movie, including Rick and Morty and The Simpsons.
14 * Toy Story 3 (2010) – 8.3
Toy Story 3 was another major hit to kick off the decade and proved that the risk to bring back this beloved franchise was worthwhile. Many diehard fans of the first two movies were nervous about this film being created, but Pixar knocked it out of the park here.
The movie brought in new characters while paying tribute to those that helped build the franchise. There’s comedic adventure and tons of emotion, which all came together to tell an amazing and unforgettable story which is truly Pixar at its best.
13 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) – 8.1
In 2011 the Harry Potter franchise came to an end when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 hit theatres. The movie concluded with an epic battle between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) that left fans extremely satisfied since it boasts an 8.1 rating on IMDb.
The movie went to accumulate 1.3 billion dollars at the global box office and also broke several records. It became the highest-grossing movie of 2011 and the highest-grossing entry into the franchise.
12 Django Unchained (2012) – 8.4
According to IMDb, Django Unchained is the top film of 2012. The movie which stars an A-list cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Kerry Washington currently holds an 8.4 rating.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film follows Django, an enslaved man, who ends up helping a German bounty hunter capture the South’s most-wanted criminals. The movie won the Academy Award for best screenplay and was nominated for the Best Picture category but did not win.
11 The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) – 8.2
This biographical black comedy tells the story of Jordan Belfort, a Wall Street hopeful who manages to work his way up the ladder to open his own firm.
In addition to being a huge hit at the box office, the movie went on to receive 5 nominations at the Academy Awards. It also has the privilege of being Margot Robbie’s breakout role.
10 Interstellar (2014) – 8.6
In this sci-fi story, a NASA physicist is attempting to save human life by transporting humans through a wormhole. Before he can save the world, he must first test his theory out which is where Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway’s characters come in.
Interstellar was the tenth-highest-grossing movie of 2014 and it went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects only.
9 Whiplash (2014) – 8.5
Who’d have thought a movie about drumming could be so incredibly intense? Whiplash was another brilliant part of 2014’s stellar line up of movies, bringing Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons together for a student/teacher dynamic like no other.
Mile Teller plays an upcoming drummer who decides to join a music conservatory to achieve his dreams. He is taught by the very best in Simmons’ character, but he pushes him to limits, in what is an incredibly intense and passionate movie.
8 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – 8.1
This might come as a surprise to many considering Star Wars: The Force Awakens released in 2015, but according to voters on IMDb, Mad Max: Fury Road was the best movie of that year. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) as she leads a group of women to freedom across the desert.
Directed by George Miller, the movie was a true labor of love having spent years in development. The waiting paid off though and it went on to earn $375.2 million at the box office and brought home six Oscars.
7 Deadpool (2016) – 8.0
While several superhero movies have failed to make the list of best movies of the 2010s, 20th Century Fox and Marvel’s antihero Deadpool was an unusual success. The movie stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a former Special Forces operative who turns into the antihero Deadpool after becoming a victim of Ajax, an evil scientist.
Deadpool went on to break several records during its initial run including becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie until 2019. It also holds the record for the biggest opening weekend for an R-rated movie and the biggest opening weekend for any movie released in February.
6 Coco (2017) – 8.4
Surprisingly, the only animated film to make the list of best films of the 2010s is the Disney and Pixar Animation Studio’s film, Coco. Released in 2017, the movie follows Miguel, a young boy who finds himself in the Land of the Dead after he ran away to prove to his family that music runs in their blood.
Coco is Pixar’s first-ever movie that centers on a Mexican family and even includes Spanish dialogue and songs. Coco went on to earn $807.1 million at the box office and won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
5 Logan (2017) – 8.1
Movies from the X-Men universe have tended to be very solid for the most part, but none of them come close to the quality of Logan. This was a very unique superhero movie in the sense it showed an aged Professor X and Wolverine, far past their peak and fighting to survive.
This superhero movie isn’t about big action or tremendous fight scenes. Instead, it’s about heart, loyalty, and love. The acting involved by Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are incredible and it creates an amazing movie.
4 Avengers: Infinity Wars (2018) – 8.4
The second to last movie of the Avengers franchise, so far, revolves around the fractured super team as they attempt to collect all six Infinity Stones before Thanos can get them.
The superhero story was the highest-grossing movie of 2018, racking in a massive $2.048 billion at the box office.
3 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) – 8.4
Infinity War wasn’t the only blockbuster superhero movie of 2018, because Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse proved to be a real surprise hit. The animated story wasn’t overly hyped, but when it came out it was quickly the movie that everyone was talking about.
Focusing on Miles Morales rather than Peter Parker was instantly refreshing. However, it was the universe with multiple characters, the self-referencing humor, and the vibrant colors that all came together to make one of the best Spider-Man movies of all time.
2 Joker (2019) – 8.5
Joaquin Phoenix plays the iconic titular villain in his origin story. The movie released in October of 2019 and quickly became one of the most beloved movies of the decade.
Joker earned $1.074 billion at the box office and was a hit amongst fans and critics alike. It dethroned Deadpool for the title of being the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Also, it received 11 Oscar nominations.
1 Parasite (2019) – 8.6
Another hit movie from 2019 was Parasite. It was a real surprise hit of the year and far surpassed expectations. The movie took a deep dive into what greed and wealth can do to people.
The story has great moments of comedy throughout, all while having a thriller vibe. It’s a brilliant example of how people perceive wealth and the acting throughout is sublime.
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