100. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
J.J. Abrams was handed what must have seemed a nigh impossible task when Lucasfilm recruited him for this, the first chapter of a sequel trilogy to George Lucas' greatest creation. The prequels Lucas himself released were widely reviled, and people were wary that Disney would steer the franchise in the wrong direction.
Abrams is a unique filmmaker in that he prioritizes the potential emotional impact of cinema above all else. His critics will say that's because he glosses over character for slick visuals and sound design, but I disagree. He uses the medium in the way that it impacted him most in his youth, combining all of the "magic" of movies into supremely enjoyable, fast moving works of popcorn fun. His Force Awakens cleverly echoes the original 1977 film while adding a more diverse group of characters and locations, and his wisely restrained usage of the franchise's biggest names eases us into this new trilogy and got many of us truly excited for the saga's future again at a time when many had written it off almost entirely.
My initial instinct (especially as a drummer) was to go with Damien Chazelle's earlier Whiplash here, one of the more propulsive releases of the decade. But I went with First Man instead because of the lasting impression it will leave on a viewer. Anchored by a quiet, gripping performance by Ryan Gosling, this somewhat loose biopic of Neil Armstrong and the first trip to the Moon is unforgettable for its dedication to the heart and soul of the people who made that trip possible. As mind-blowing as some of the special effects are, you'll only be thinking about Armstrong's perseverance and strength of will when the credits roll.
98. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Moving, hilarious, and almost too real, Kelly Fremon Craig's The Edge of Seventeen was one of the biggest surprises of 2016. Hailee Steinfeld is amazing as Nadine, and her conversations with Woody Harrelson's Mr. Bruner are some of the decade's funniest. In a decade that had quite a few great "teen comedies" (Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade and Olivia Wilde's Booksmart being two stellar examples), this one still stands out as a real triumph... though one other manages to sneak past it on this list.
97. Free Fire (2016)
One of the great lessons of the decade in the film world was that Ben Wheatley is an unpredictable, mad genius. This blazing fast tale of backstabbing and deals gone wrong, all set in a single location, is one of his very best testaments to that lesson's veracity. The cast is stellar (Jack Reynor and Brie Larson are seriously incredible here) and the violence will make you flinch and laugh... and then flinch some more. This one was an absolute blast.
96. Lady Bird (2017)
As mentioned shortly ago, only one teen-centric comedy could possibly manage to outshine The Edge of Seventeen, and it does so with a tremendous amount of heart and honesty and a stunning lead turn from the brilliant Saoirse Ronan. Lady Bird is an all-time classic, and a major example of the genius of Greta Gerwig. The parent/child relationships displayed here are some of the most convincing ever captured in a movie.
95. Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele exploded into the horror world with the timely, endlessly inventive Get Out. While his follow-up Us is another stunner, it was this debut that really sunk its claws into me. It's aggressively political but easily relatable, and it doesn't hold its punches. This one immediately ingrained itself on the pop culture lexicon for a reason.
94. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
If you're looking for the minute-to-minute comedy champion of the decade, look no further. The Lonely Island's Popstar is relentless in its mockery of much of modern pop music, sure. But it's also totally on point and sometimes quite sincere. A masterwork of comedic editing, without a single joke falling flat (because they are never given the time to), this might be the most easily rewatchable movie on this list. It only gets funnier with age.
93. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Does this one really need to be explained? I mean, the church scene. Come on.
92. Gravity (2013)
Few theatrical experiences in my life have been as truly exhilarating as seeing Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity for the first time. It was a tense, often dreadful trip to the cinema, and it often left me honest-to-God struggling for breath in my seat. Admittedly, it doesn't work nearly as well at home, no matter how big your television or how great your speakers. But first impressions count, and this marvel of technical wizardry hit me like a locomotive.
91. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Kathryn Bigelow is one of the true greats at staging suspenseful set pieces, and the raid on Bin Laden's compound at the end of this film might be her crowning achievement. Brutal, revelatory, and quite controversial at the time, Zero Dark Thirty is perhaps the only film about the War on Terror that has ever worked to such a massive degree. A lot of the credit has to go to the phenomenal Jessica Chastain, who dominated this film, the decade in general, and who will of course pop up a few more times on this list.
90. The Favourite (2018)
Yorgos Lanthimos has been flirting with greatness his entire directing career, and with The Favourite the world at large finally caught on. An irreverent, creative, and funny historical piece starring three of the modern era's greatest actresses... this one was destined for the widespread acclaim it received, and I can't wait to see what Lanthimos is up to next.
89. The Babadook (2014)
All at once an insightful meditation on the very nature of grief and an utterly terrifying new classic of horror, Jennifer Kent's The Babadook blew my mind. It's sad, it's beautiful, it's gripping, and it is very, very scary.
88. Sicario (2015)
Denis Villeneuve made classic after classic throughout the 2010s, and Sicario, scripted by Taylor Sheridan, is certainly no exception. Emily Blunt is the audience's anchor through the twisting, suspenseful tale of drug cartels and dirty CIA deals, but it's the out-of-left-field third act that will stick with you.
87. Pacific Rim (2013)
Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim is a big, dumb, endlessly entertaining blockbuster and an incredibly heartfelt love letter to anime and giant mechs and badass Kaiju films and all of the other things the nerds of the world (myself very much included) hold dear. It's rare to see a movie that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, but Guillermo seems to pull the task off over and over again. Pacific Rim isn't for everyone, but for those who groove to the same tunes as I do, it's a total blast.
86. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
"I always wished I was an orphan. Most of my favorite characters are. I think your lives are more special."
"I love you, but you don't know what you're talking about."
The sweetest film of the decade, and my personal favorite from Wes Anderson.
85. Insidious (2010)
James Wan and Leigh Whannell's reinvention of the haunted house genre holds up as one of the modern era's creepiest surprises. If you've seen it, you know that it contains the decade's very best jump scare (perhaps the greatest of all-time).
84. The Invitation (2015)
Karyn Kusama's The Invitation will pull you under its odd, slow burning spell from the get-go. It's one of horror's most original ideas in recent memory, the kind of thriller that keeps giving you little hints that allow you to think you've got it figured out before taking another turn that catches you off guard. Logan Marshall-Green's performance is incredible, and the last shot is an all-time stunner that you won't soon forget. I sure haven't.
83. Crimson Peak (2015)
Oh look, Guillermo del Toro is back with another exquisitely-crafted genre film. This one, a gothic thriller set in a sprawling mansion, works wondrously due to its exceptional practical effects work and perfectly selected cast. The standout? Jessica Chastain, of course.
82. The Nice Guys (2016)
No one is better at the "buddy cop" genre than Shane Black. His movies are so quick-witted and hilarious that you sometimes forget how cleverly crafted their central mysteries are. In a perfect world, this would have had multiple sequels by now. An absolute joy of a film.
81. Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright + heists + car chases + a killer soundtrack = pure bliss. The magic of film editing is displayed here at the absolute height of its power.
80. Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Sometimes all it takes to revitalize an overly-familiar franchise is a return to the basics. Star Trek Beyond manages to feel like a simple standalone episode of Star Trek, and I mean that as a major compliment. It's a fast-moving, bombastic adventure that gives the series' delightful cast plenty of time to shine. You won't learn anything, but you'll have a hell of a good time.
79. Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island successfully pulls off the rarest of movie maneuvers: Improving upon the novel it's based on. Dennis Lehane's novel was a fun read with a lame ending, but Scorsese made smart tweaks when needed and turned the horror/noir story into a real thrill ride of a film.
78. Mud (2012)
Jeff Nichols is one of my favorite filmmakers. He has a knack for telling realistic, impactful stories about parts of the country that most people don't care to show on film. His characters come from poverty, sometimes squalor, but they always ring true. This particular movie marries that skill with an all-star cast and a simple but thrilling coming-of-age narrative. One of the gems of the so-called "McConaissance."
77. Super 8 (2011)
J.J. Abrams swung for the fences with Super 8, an homage to the Amblin/Spielberg classics of the early 80s. Mileage may vary, but I think that every emotional beat hits, the set pieces are exciting, the young cast is likable and endearing, and the score by Michael Giacchino is a true masterwork.
76. John Carter (2012)
There are hordes of people online who will still go out of their way to take shots at Andrew Stanton's John Carter, a film that went through many variations before finally bringing Edgar Rice Burrough's best creation to the big screen. It was an infamous box office disaster, reviews were middling, and Disney has done everything within reason to bury it in the years since its release. Look a little closer, though, and you'll see a joyous, old-fashioned sci-fi film with plenty of flair, another killer Michael Giacchino score, and a ton of exciting action. The sad truth of the matter is that Disney had no clue how to market the movie, were wary of its high budget and lack of A-list names from the start, and ultimately gave up on the film long before it hit theaters. A strong marketing campaign that informed general audiences that the story of John Carter of Mars was a major inspiration for basically every franchise they've ever loved (Star Wars and Lord of the Rings included) perhaps could have saved this one from its sad fate. Nevertheless, the film itself is still a heck of a lot of fun. That's all it ever wanted to be.
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