Let’s face it: the 2020s have already been a wild ride for films. Just the whole crisis, streaming confusion, and a sudden burst of invention at the same time have made the movies not only more fascinating but also more unpredictable. Yet, there are so many of them that it is hard to decide which ones to put at the highest level. Get some popcorn and settle down because here is our top 10 list of the decade’s best movies—starting from number 10 and ending with the absolute must-see one.
10. Bad Hair (2020)
Horror-comedy Simien Justin’s satires have no counterparts. It is a period piece, 1980s pop music and TV scene, and follows a young woman whose new hair is a figure of speech, a little more than that. A hybrid of camp and sarcasm, Bad Hair is mixing with societal critique and fear-in-the-night with a lively Troika of the likes of Lena Waithe, Jay Pharoah, Laverne Cox, and Vanessa Williams.
9. The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
Radha Blank’s debut as a director is self-reflective, witty, and ingenious enough to be a comedy of its own reinvention. She is a failing playwright who becomes the voice of her generation’s rap, and Blank manages this with great comic and dramatic impact. It is not only an anthem for second chances and art under your own direction but for the loveliness of imperfection when trying anew, too.
8. Wolfwalkers (2020)
The creators of The Secret of Kells have done it again with this stunning animation filled with the amalgamation of folk and feelings. It follows the two young girls, one human and the other part-wolf, as they embark on an adventure of friendship, bravery, and the seductive power of liberty vs. terror. Set in a beautiful hand-drawn world, Wolfwalkers is a story that is at once eternal and very much of the moment, which will win over offspring as well as grown-ups.
7. The Old Guard (2020)
Unaging mercenaries, exquisite battle scenes, and surprising emotional depth. The Old Guard has a bit of everything. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film invites us to follow Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne, both fighters dealing with their perpetual battles not only physically but also asking questions about life, love, and loss. It is definitely not your regular action movie; it mixes adrenaline and spirit.
6. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2020)
The romantic period drama by Céline Sciamma is stunning in all aspects. Set on a remote and wild seaside estate, it depicts the forbidden relationship between a painter and the woman she is to paint. With their looks, moments of silence, and secret encounters, it leads to a conclusion that is felt long after the film. The film is equally sensual and heartbreaking, and it is undoubtedly one of the most moving love stories of the decade.
5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
The sequel is bigger, braver, and more ambitious than the first one, which means that the movie really begets the old saying ‘lightning can strike twice.’ The very different and breathtaking animation style that changes as you jump from one universe to the next is only the surface for those who delve deeper into Miles Morales’ narrative. Across the Spider-Verse is setting a new standard for superhero movies; their mere eye candy is no longer enough, but rather emotional, imaginative, and unforgettable.
4. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
French courtroom drama that never lets go of the viewer from its very first scene. Sandra Hüller gives a stellar performance as a murder accused woman, and director Justine Triet wraps the film with layers of family secrets, ominous tension, and sharp exchanges. The film is more concerned with the unsettling truths it unearths along the way rather than with the verdict itself.
3. The Zone of Interest (2023)
Jonathan Glazer’s disturbing drama portrays the evil of banality in an unshaken manner. By focusing on the family life of a Nazi commandant living next to Auschwitz, the film may be visually or narratively limited, but it still packs a heavy punch. The film’s power lies in what it refrains from showing directly; thus, the horrors become even more intense. It is a haunting and necessary work and among the most valuable films of the decade.
2. Barbie (2023)
Greta Gerwig turned a cultural icon into a movie experience. With Margot Robbie leading and Ryan Gosling stealing the spotlight as Ken, Barbie is a candy-colored spectacle that effortlessly blends humor, feminism, and biting social critique. It really is quite rare for a film to be able to be both this fun and this smart, and yet it instantly became a pop culture touchstone.
1. Poor Things (2023)
The best thing about Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, a bizarre, beautiful, and completely different Frankenstein remake, is the opening. Emma Stone is fantastic as Bella Baxter, a woman artificially created with the mind of a child, but eventually grows into her own will and strength. Laid-back steampunk fantasy, black comedy, and scintillatingly feminist at the same time, the film is the most daring one of the decade so far.
So much for the 20s decade’s cache of the most unforgettable and varied films, ranging from artistic animations to bold indie movies and blockbusters grossing billions of dollars. Judging by these first few years, the whole decade will probably be equally voluble – and we shall be here with popcorn in hand.