The past decade has brought a remarkable transformation in global cinema—blending traditional storytelling with bold experimentation. From heart-wrenching dramas and groundbreaking sci-fi to socially relevant narratives and auteur masterpieces, this list of the best movies of the decade covers the cinematic gems that have captivated audiences and critics alike from 2015 to 2024.
Top 10 Best Movies of the Decade
As we look back at the best movies of the decade, we see a rich diversity of films that span genres and cultural contexts, offering new insights and captivating performances. These movies set the tone for the future of filmmaking, pushing the envelope on visual effects, storytelling, and social relevance.
1. Parasite (2019)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Length: 132 minutes
- Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong
- Genre: Thriller, Drama
- Plot: This darkly comedic thriller follows the journey of a lower-class family that cunningly infiltrates a wealthy household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified professionals. As they weave their way into the lives of the rich family, the tensions between social classes escalate, revealing the deadly consequences of inequality and the desperation that fuels it. The film cleverly critiques the socio-economic divide, leaving audiences questioning the true cost of ambition and survival.
2. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
- Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
- Length: 139 minutes
- Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy
- Plot: Evelyn, a middle-aged Chinese immigrant, becomes embroiled in a multiverse-spanning adventure when she is tasked with saving the fabric of reality itself. As she navigates countless parallel universes, Evelyn is forced to confront the choices she’s made, the person she has become, and the relationships she’s neglected. A rollercoaster ride of emotion, action, and comedy, this film explores identity, regret, and the infinite possibilities of life.
3. 1917 (2019)
- Director: Sam Mendes
- Length: 119 minutes
- Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong
- Genre: War, Drama
- Plot: Set during World War I, two British soldiers are given a dangerous mission to deliver a message to a battalion on the frontlines, which will prevent them from walking into a deadly trap. The entire film unfolds in what appears to be one continuous shot, offering an immersive and visceral experience of the soldiers’ harrowing journey. With relentless tension, breathtaking cinematography, and an exploration of sacrifice, this film captures the futility and heroism of war.
4. Nomadland (2020)
- Director: Chloé Zhao
- Length: 107 minutes
- Cast: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn
- Genre: Drama
- Plot: Following the economic collapse of her small-town community, Fern, played by Frances McDormand, sets off on a nomadic journey across the American West. Living out of her van and taking up seasonal work, Fern discovers a community of fellow travelers who have chosen an unconventional lifestyle in the wake of personal and financial hardships. The film beautifully examines themes of loneliness, resilience, and the search for belonging.
5. The Batman (2022)
- Director: Matt Reeves
- Length: 176 minutes
- Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano
- Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
- Plot: Set during his second year as Gotham’s vigilante protector, Bruce Wayne, now fully embracing his alter ego, Batman, uncovers a web of corruption involving Gotham’s elite. His investigation leads him into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the Riddler, a serial killer whose cryptic clues point to the city’s darkest secrets. A noir-inspired take on the Batman legend, the film dives deep into themes of justice, morality, and vengeance.
6. Dune (2021)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Length: 155 minutes
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
- Plot: Set in a distant future, the film follows Paul Atreides, a young nobleman thrust into a battle for survival on the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the universe’s most valuable substance—spice. As his family is caught in a deadly political struggle between rival factions, Paul begins to realize his greater destiny and the terrifying consequences of his power. Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel is a stunning visual spectacle that delves into themes of destiny, power, and ecological survival.
7. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
- Director: Céline Sciamma
- Length: 122 minutes
- Cast: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel
- Genre: Romance, Drama
- Plot: Set in 18th-century France, a young artist, Marianne, is commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse, a woman who is about to be married off to a suitor she does not love. As the two women spend time together, they develop an intense emotional and romantic bond. The film explores themes of desire, the limitations of women’s roles in society, and the power of art to preserve fleeting moments of beauty and love.
8. Get Out (2017)
- Director: Jordan Peele
- Length: 104 minutes
- Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Plot: Chris, a young Black man, visits his white girlfriend’s family estate for the weekend, only to uncover a dark and disturbing secret about their intentions. As strange and unsettling events unfold, Chris realizes he is at the center of a sinister conspiracy. Peele’s chilling and thought-provoking horror film explores issues of race, privilege, and societal complacency through a terrifying lens.
9. La La Land (2016)
- Director: Damien Chazelle
- Length: 128 minutes
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
- Genre: Musical, Romance, Drama
- Plot: In modern-day Los Angeles, Sebastian, a jazz musician, and Mia, an aspiring actress, fall in love while chasing their dreams. However, as both face the challenges of their careers and relationship, they must make difficult choices about their future. A vibrant musical that blends romance with the harsh realities of pursuing artistic dreams, La La Land poignantly explores love, ambition, and sacrifice.
10. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
- Director: George Miller
- Length: 120 minutes
- Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Plot: In a dystopian wasteland, Max, a lone wanderer, is captured by a tyrannical warlord and forced to help escape a group of women led by Imperator Furiosa. As they journey across a desert, they face relentless pursuit from the warlord’s forces, leading to explosive action and intense chases. The film’s visual spectacle and feminist themes, set against a backdrop of chaos and survival, made it an instant classic.
11. The Irishman (2019)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Length: 209 minutes
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
- Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
- Plot: In this epic tale, Frank Sheeran, a mob hitman, reflects on his life of crime and his involvement in the disappearance of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa. Scorsese’s film delves into the morality of a life built on violence, loyalty, and regret, exploring the choices and consequences of a man caught between two powerful forces—the mafia and his own conscience.
12. Joker (2019)
- Director: Todd Phillips
- Length: 122 minutes
- Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Plot: Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian living in Gotham City, struggles with mental illness and societal rejection. As his life spirals into madness, he transforms into the infamous criminal mastermind, the Joker. A dark exploration of mental health, societal neglect, and the loss of empathy, Joker paints a chilling portrait of a man pushed to the edge, ultimately becoming an emblem of chaos.
13. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
- Director: Joseph Kosinski
- Length: 130 minutes
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly
- Genre: Action, Drama
- Plot: As a seasoned Navy pilot, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to Top Gun to train a new generation of elite pilots for a high-stakes mission. While training the team, Maverick confronts his past demons and faces a new generation’s challenges. A thrilling and emotional sequel that revisits the iconic film’s themes of sacrifice, camaraderie, and redemption.
14. Oppenheimer (2023)
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Length: 180 minutes
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr.
- Genre: Biography, Drama, History
- Plot: A gripping biopic that chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant physicist who led the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. As he grapples with the ethical implications of his creation, the film explores the personal and political struggles Oppenheimer faces, ultimately highlighting the moral cost of scientific discovery and the consequences of wielding immense power.
15. The Power of the Dog (2021)
- Director: Jane Campion
- Length: 126 minutes
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee
- Genre: Western, Drama
- Plot: Set on a Montana ranch, the film follows the troubled relationship between two brothers, Phil and George. As Phil becomes increasingly cruel to George’s new wife and her son, dark secrets about Phil’s past come to light. A tense, character-driven story that explores themes of repressed emotion, toxic masculinity, and the destructive power of jealousy.
16. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
- Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
- Length: 117 minutes
- Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
- Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
- Plot: Teenager Miles Morales discovers that he has inherited the powers of Spider-Man. He soon finds himself thrust into an interdimensional adventure when he meets other Spider-People from parallel universes. This visually innovative animated film explores the idea of heroism, identity, and the responsibility of bearing the Spider-Man mantle.
17. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
- Director: Martin McDonagh
- Length: 114 minutes
- Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Plot: Set on a remote Irish island, the story revolves around two lifelong friends whose relationship is abruptly fractured when one of them, Colm, decides to end their friendship without explanation. As the emotional fallout deepens, the situation escalates in bizarre and tragic ways, exploring themes of isolation, personal identity, and the consequences of severing emotional ties.
18. Soul (2020)
- Director: Pete Docter
- Length: 100 minutes
- Cast: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
- Plot: Joe Gardner, a middle-aged jazz musician, experiences a life-changing event that separates his soul from his body. While navigating the afterlife, he is forced to mentor a young soul, 22, who has yet to find her purpose. The film explores deep philosophical questions about the meaning of life, the pursuit of dreams, and the importance of living in the present.
19. Marriage Story (2019)
- Director: Noah Baumbach
- Length: 137 minutes
- Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Plot: A deeply emotional film about a stage director and his actor wife who go through a tumultuous divorce. The story examines the complexities of relationships, the difficulties of balancing career and family, and the pain of separating lives once intertwined. The film beautifully captures the heartache and emotional vulnerability of both partners as they navigate their new realities.
20. The Shape of Water (2017)
- Director: Guillermo del Toro
- Length: 123 minutes
- Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
- Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
- Plot: In a secretive government laboratory during the Cold War, Elisa, a mute janitor, forms an unlikely and profound bond with a mysterious amphibious creature held captive by the military. As the creature faces death, Elisa risks everything to free him. A touching tale of acceptance, love, and the power of empathy, The Shape of Water is a fantastical exploration of the human capacity for connection and understanding.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
These best movies of the decade reflect a diverse range of stories, voices, and cinematic styles. They’ve pushed the boundaries of genre, tackled complex issues, and offered viewers unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re a film enthusiast or a casual viewer, these films are essential viewing for anyone who appreciates the power of cinema.
Let us know your favorites and what you think should have made the list! For more cinematic recommendations, explore these resources:
- Best movie soundtracks to immerse yourself in unforgettable scores
- Best foreign language films for a global perspective on cinema
- Most underrated movies that deserve more recognition
Leave a Reply