I’ve written about and ranked many movies during my time as an entertainment writer, but crafting a list of the 10 greatest movies of the past decade is by far the longest I’ve ever deliberated over each movie's placement. Even just selecting the 10 contenders was a very tough task.
Whittling the last decade in cinema down to just 10 movies was difficult, and the process naturally meant that dozens of films I genuinely love had to be callously discarded. However, the silver lining to this process was that, in reflecting over the best movies of the last 10 years, I was reminded of just how many phenomenal films have been released between 2015 and 2025. Whatever genres you prefer, there have been numerous masterpieces to enjoy.
So, while the below top 10 is by no means the only movies of the past decade you need to watch (far from it), these are my personal cinematic highlights of the last 10 years right now. Just don’t ask me my top picks on another day, as you’d probably get a completely different list.
My 10 favorite movies of the past decade
10. ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’ (2015)
I suspect you won’t find “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” on many best of the past decade lists, but it’s easily the movie of the last 10 years that I’ve rewatched the most. It’s become my ultimate comfort movie, a flick I turn to regularly when I need a dependable laugh and wish to spend a little time with its cast of loveable characters. That counts for a lot in my book, and while it’s not the most acclaimed flick on this list, it’s a real personal favorite.
Based on the novel by Jesse Andrews, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” centers on awkward high schooler Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann), a 17-year-old surviving adolescence with a careful plan to avoid becoming too friendly with any one social group. The exception to his rule is Earl (RJ Cyler), his “co-worker” with whom Greg makes amateur home movies. However, when a classmate, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), is diagnosed with leukaemia, he is forced by his mother (Connie Britton) to check on her, and a doomed friendship begins.
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9. ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)
The last decade saw the superhero genre reach its peak in the late 2010s and then start to decline as we entered the 2020s. But during that peak, we sure did get some incredible comic book movies. The “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” combo could stake a (combined) spot on this list just for the sheer scale of bringing together more than 20 movies to a satisfying conclusion, but “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” takes it for me.
This animated effort has become something of a trend setter, with its eye-popping visual style being imitated by numerous movies since. However, while it looks downright glorious, what really works about “Into the Spider-Verse” is the refreshing Spider-Man story, which opts to focus on Miles Morales, instead of another retelling of the Peter Parker tale we’ve heard plenty of times in the past. Mixing a multiverse of Spider-Men (and women), including Spider-Gwen, it’s an epic superhero team-up that surpasses even the Avengers.
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8. ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)
Few romantic dramas released in any decade are as swoon-worthy as “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” This French flick from writer/director Céline Sciamma presents a love story that is as captivating as any twisting thriller or explosive action movie. Even better, its compelling core romance is wrapped in an engrossing period setting coupled with jaw-dropping sweeping shots of the countryside. Upon its bittersweet conclusion, you’ll be shedding plenty of tears. It’s so emotionally charged that it can be a little bit draining, but it’s vital and powerful as well.
Set in 18th-century France, Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is a painter commissioned to create a wedding portrait for a reluctant Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), the young daughter of a powerful Countess (Valeria Golino) set to marry a Milanese nobleman. Due to Héloïse’s aversion to the impending marriage, Marianne must paint her in secret at night and merely observe by day. As the two become closer, a passionate but fleeting affair begins despite the prejudices of the time.
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7. ‘Moonlight’ (2016)
To some, “Moonlight” will always be synonymous with the biggest Oscar flub in history, when “La La Land” was incorrectly announced as the winner of Best Picture, before it was revealed Barry Jenkins’s coming-of-age masterwork was in fact the winner. However, the movie itself deserves to be remembered for more than its role in that unforgettable awards ceremony snafu. “Moonlight” is unfinchly raw and real, but also deeply tender and heartfelt.
Told in three distinct chapters, it follows the childhood, teen years and adulthood of Chiron (a role shared by Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert). Growing up in Miami, Chiron faces a difficult journey as he navigates drug dealers, absentee parents, and grapples with his sexuality. Along the way, he forms connections, none stronger than with Juan (Mahershala Ali), makes mistakes and seeks to find his place in the world.
Buy or rent "Moonlight" on Amazon now
6. ‘Arrival’ (2016)
The sci-fi works of director Denis Villeneuve could easily have claimed multiple spots on this list with “Blade Runner 2049” and the “Dune” duology (soon to be trilogy) strongly in consideration. However, to keep things varied, I opted to pick a single Villeneuve project, and my ultimate choice was “Arrival.” Tipping the scales in favor of this 2016 drama is the fact that it doesn’t have a fan-favorite sci-fi universe to fall back on. While it’s not an original movie (it’s based on a 1998 short story), it tells a sci-fi tale that feels unique and refreshing.
When 12 oddly-shaped alien spacecraft arrive at various locations around the globe, linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited to lead a team attempting to decipher the extraterrestrials’ language and figure out a way to communicate with them, and crucially, understand their intentions for visiting Earth. It’s a sci-fi movie about first contact that isn’t filled with ray-guns and laserbeam battles and instead is something more thoughtful.
Watch "Arrival" on Paramount Plus now
5. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
![Mad Max: Fury Road - Official Main Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hEJnMQG9ev8/maxresdefault.jpg)
Confession time: I never quite clicked with the “Mad Max” franchise. 1981’s “Mad Max 2” is often cited as one of the best apocalypse movies of all time, but it didn’t hit the spot with me. All of this is to say my expectations for “Fury Road” were fairly muted. Within just moments of this gas-fueled aredanline-pumping epic revving up, I knew I was about to witness something special, and a decade later, its stunning introduction still gives me chills.
Oh, and the following two hours are also downright spectacular, transporting viewers to a yellow-tinted wasteland brimming with memorable characters and packed with some of the most adrenaline-spiking blockbuster set pieces in any movie ever. Telling the story of Furiosa (Charlize Theron), as she attempts to free the wives of a cruel warlord, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), the titular Max (Tom Hardy) is roped into the fray against his will. It’s a rip-roaring ride where the stakes are high and the engine fumes suffocating.
Buy or rent "Mad Max: Fury Road" on Amazon now
4. ‘Hereditary’ (2018)
I’m a horror fanatic, and have enjoyed plenty of hair-raising movies over the past 10 years, but none have lingered in the darkest corners of my mind quite like “Hereditary.” It’s bone-chilling in the best possible way, and some of its most shocking moments are seared into my brain seemingly for life. Toni Collette gives arguably the best performance in any horror movie ever, and director Ari Aster (making his directorial debut) ramps up the suspense in a way that shows complete mastery of the genre.
“Hereditary” opens with a mother of two, Annie Graham (Collette), attending the funeral of her mother, a mysterious woman who seemed to have a real affection for Annie’s daughter, Charlie (Milly Shapiro). This death in the family casts a shadow over the Graham family, and as dark ancestral secrets come to light, things get increasingly horrifying. I’m being purposefully vague here because if you haven’t seen “Hereditary” yet, I implore you to watch it as soon as possible with as little prior knowledge as you can.
Buy or rent "Hereditary" on Amazon now
3. ‘Aftersun’ (2022)
“Aftersun” completely broke my heart. This brutal semi-autobiographical movie from Charlotte Wells isn’t one I would look to rewatch often, but that’s to its credit, because this emotional rollercoaster is so impactful that it leaves me reeling every single time. Anchored by Paul Mescal’s best performance to date, and a star-making turn from young Frankie Corio (who was just 11 when shooting the movie). It presents a touching father-daughter relationship, but also offers a sobering look at how our nostalgic memories clash with reality.
The mesterzing drama follows a Scottish father, Calum (Mescal), as he takes his young daughter, Sophie (Corio), on a vacation to a rundown Turkish resort. While Sophie enjoys getting to spend quality time with her dad, Calum struggles with depression and anxiety. Framed as a series of home videos being watched by an adult Sophie, this narrative structure adds so much and is a stroke of genius by Wells. You need to watch “Aftersun” if you haven’t already, but just prepare yourself for a seriously heavy movie.
Watch "Aftersun" on HBO Max now
2. ‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
On paper, “Oppenheimer” has no right to be this compelling. A three-hour historical epic focused on J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the first nuclear bomb appears to be fertile ground for a prestigious drama, but a captivating thriller? Not so much. Yet, the lesson here is never to underestimate Chrispter Nolan, because the celebrated British director delivered his magnum opus in “Oppenheimer,” and finally scored a deserved Best Director Oscar in the process.
The movie largely rests on the shoulders of the actor selected to play Oppenheimer, and Cillian Murphy is more than up to the task, delivering a stunning turn as a complex figure. The supporting cast around him, including Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and a never-better Robert Downey Jr., is equally exceptional. Right from a note-perfect opening, “Oppenheimer” holds you in a vice grip, and its chunky 180-minute runtime flies by in an instant. I have no idea how Nolan will top this masterpiece with his upcoming movie “The Odyssey,” but I can’t wait to see him try.
Buy or rent "Oppenheimer" on Amazon now
1. “Parasite” (2019)
“Parasite” has earned a ludicrous amount of praise since its release in 2019. In fact, few movies in cinema history have been showered with as much adoration. Has this resulted in it being arguably overrated? Not even close. It warrants every single recommendation it has received. Bong Joon Ho delivered a dark thriller that manages to be both riotously entertaining in its own right, while holding up a mirror to the flaws in our society and forcing viewers to confront the social inequality and wealth disparity that surrounds us daily.
Stunning in basically every regard, from cinematography to soundtrack, performances to pacing, “Parasite” centers on two families: the Kims and the Parks. The latter are struggling to make ends meet, but seize the opportunity to change their fortunes when their son takes a job working for the wealthy Park family. This leads to unintended dark consequences for all involved.
I’ll say no more for fear of spoilers, just go watch “Parasite” now. It’s perhaps the closest to perfect any movie released in the last decade has been able to achieve.
Watch "Parasite" on Netflix now
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