My Top 10 Movies of the Decade: 2009 – 2019

The last decade was quite possibly the best film decade for anyone who considers themselves nerdy to any extent.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe culminated with Avengers: Endgame, which currently sits as the highest grossing film of all time. Star Wars experienced a massive resurgence with Disney’s acquisition of the franchise in 2012. Harry Potter’s long-running movie stint concluded in 2011, but made a noteworthy comeback with Fantastic Beasts in 2016.

With the ongoing advancement of technology, things I would’ve never dreamed possible were, in fact, made possible on-screen in the last ten years. The difference in the quality of films in the way of VFX and adherence to source material is substantial for the most recent decade, versus the previous one.

During this time frame, I’ve had my mind blown in the theater more times than I could count.

That being said, I took it upon myself to put together my own official “Top 10 movies” list for the films released from 2009 – 2019. This was not an easy task to accomplish, and it’s very likely I might have left off some other significant titles due to the vast amount of films that came out in this period. (Don’t @ me if I missed your favorite movie)

Let’s get started.

10. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

“My name is Max. Our world is fire…and blood.”

Tom Hardy’s opening monologue perfectly sets the stage for what is arguably one of the best films set in a post-apocalyptic world. What is marvelous about this George Miller masterpiece is how little is explained in the way of exposition. In fact, the eponymous main character speaks very infrequently.

The story is told mostly though its visuals.

And oh my stars and garters, how glorious the visuals are. If you had told me that the movie was basically one extended car chase sequence, I might’ve rolled my eyes and given it a hard pass. But with stunning visuals, frenetic editing, and edge-of-your-seat action, Fury Road rightfully earns its place as one of the very best of its genre.

Also, seeing that one character shred on his electric guitar (if you’ve seen it, you’ll know who I’m talking about) never gets old.

9. The Lego Movie (2014)

When I took my sister to see the Lego Movie, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a vested interested in the film myself. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved putting together Lego sets, and creating my own diorama worlds in any way imaginable. So when The Lego Movie officially hit theaters, I took the opportunity to use my sister’s 12th birthday as an excuse to see the film.

It was far better than I could’ve hoped.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller of 21 Jump Street fame devised one of the best animated films I had seen in a very long time. There were parts that made me laugh so hard, I cried. That’s no exaggeration. The quirky sense of humor imbued into the film is on-point, and absolutely perfect for the colorful atmosphere. Chris Pratt simply nails the voice of Emmett: the lackadaisical, overly optimistic protagonist who goes on a quest of discovering his self-worth. And his role is just one component of the set that makes the movie so memorable.

If you have kids, go see The Lego Movie.

If you don’t have kids, go see The Lego Movie.

8. Upgrade (2018)

There is a soft spot in my heart for low-budget science fiction/sci-fi films.

Joss Whedon, the brilliant mind behind Firefly, once remarked that working with the constraint of a lower budget can inspire creativity. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, I have a special appreciation for movies that fall into this category, such as Moon and Serenity. There’s just something cool and kitschy about an original screenplay that is done well on a small budget.

Upgrade sort of showed up out of nowhere. My family had rented it on a whim, and I decided to sit in and take a peek. And I immediately fell in love with the film, proceeding to watch it three more times in 30 days, excitedly showing it to all my friends.

At a high level, the movie showcases a not-so-distant future where society has self-driving cars, ubiquitous patrol drones, and faceless technological organizations that own everything. The protagonist Grey Trace, as a result of a horrendous accident, receives a biological implant to help counteract his deep-tissue injuries. To make things more interesting, the implant is controlled by an AI – allowing for some of the sweetest action sequences I had seen in long time.

Is this movie somewhat derivative with its content? (think Robocop) Sure. Are there any big-name actors? Not really. But I really think Upgrade is truly something special, and definitely worth a look.

To me, this is low-budget science fiction done right.

7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

It was rather difficult to pick just one MI film.

There are several in the series that I truly love, and depending on my mood, I might pick a different franchise installment. While MI: Fallout is nearly everything I want in an action film, I have to give a slight edge to Ghost Protocol for doing it first.

J.J. Abrams is largely given credit for reviving the spy films with MI: 3, but Brad Bird’s Ghost Protocol is what really elevated the series for me. The notion of the IMF team having been disavowed from the U.S. government was a fantastic way to kick things off in the story. The premise (which involves the IMF preventing nuclear disaster) is fairly run-of-the-mill, but the execution of the plot is a joy to behold. Watching the team try to avert crises together is nothing short of pure fun, and keeps me on the edge of my seat every time.

Ghost Protocol is the perfect mix of exciting action, a great cast, and sheer suspense. The movie keeps things dialed to 11, and is one of the few action movies I can watch repeatedly without losing interest.

6. Chronicle (2012)

Made on a shoestring budget of $12 million, Chronicle perfectly positions itself as another low-budget science fiction film that is right up my alley.

The storyline focuses on three high school seniors who discover a mysterious object which grants them superpowers. What makes this film so interesting to me is how relatable the characters are, as well as how they use (and abuse) their powers. It truly feels like a much more grounded take on the “superhero” genre, which is refreshing in a time where new superhero movies are releasing left and right.

Chronicle’s adherence to realism is also made evident in the choice to film everything in the style of found footage. Frankly, I find found footage movies to be very hit or miss (mostly miss), as the cinematic choice can become tiresome and jarring fairly quickly. Chronicle, on the other hand, provides an excuse for the main actors to interact with the camera directly: they want to “chronicle” everything, using their own footage as proof of their supernatural exploits.

I acknowledge that this type of movie isn’t for everyone. However, the combination of found footage with a gritty superhero backdrop just works for Chronicle, making it an easy recommendation for something novel to watch.

5. Baby Driver (2017)

Director Edgar Wright has an illustrious career that I’ve kept close tabs on ever since I first saw Shaun of the Dead. Between his Cornetto trilogy and amazing adaption of Scott Pilgrim, Wright’s tenure at Hollywood has yielded some of the zaniest films I’ve seen to date. Needless to say, I too was in the zeitgeist of disappointment when Wright announced his departure from Ant-Man (which still turned out GREAT, in my opinion) in 2017. But what he chose to take on as his next project quickly pushed those feelings of disappointment into obscurity.

Baby Driver (pardon the pun) is all gas, no brake. The movie features Wright’s prominent hallmarks as a director, such as quick camera cuts, unique humor, and a witty script. But beyond these traits, one can see that the film is indeed a labor of love. Beyond being an all-around fun film centered around heists and car chases, Baby Driver takes the film-going experience to a whole new level.

Just take a peek at the opening sequence, and you’ll see precisely what I mean.

4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

I did my best to include no more than one Marvel film in my top 10 movies, and I failed in that regard.

Into the Spider-Verse is just too good to leave off this list.

To be perfectly honest, I never expected an animated film to take the slot of my favorite Spider-Man film of all time. Sure, I was excited by the idea of exploring the Spidey-verse, having some background knowledge from comics I’ve read in the past. But how would Sony Pictures properly adapt the expansive source material, and furthermore, tell it from the perspective of someone who’s name isn’t Peter Parker?

The answer: In the best way you could imagine.

Into the Spider-Verse took my expectations, and completely shattered them. The movie is full of all the elements that one could want from a comic book film. Not to mention, there’s so much casual audiences will find enjoyable in the film, between the humor, heart, and well-grounded story.

Winning the 2018 Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature” is so well-deserved. I’ve seen Into the Spider-Verse no fewer than eight times since its release that same year, and each viewing is no less entertaining than the previous ones.

3. Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

If I had to name-drop one movie that is the most criminally underrated in the world of science fiction, it would be Edge of Tomorrow. This was a film that really didn’t leave too much of an impression on me from its initial teaser, which I dismissed as “another movie about robots vs. aliens.”

Boy, was I wrong.

Edge of Tomorrow is a fantastic representation of what could happen in a video game-esque world – one where you come back to life the instance after you die, reliving the same moments over and over. While the movie certainly isn’t the first to explore this concept (*cough*Groundhog Day*cough*), I would argue it executes the concept way better from the vantage point of Sci-Fi.

Carried by high-octane action, a smart screenplay, and Tom Cruise’s magnetic charm, Edge of Tomorrow is a fun ride from start to finish.

2. Ready Player One (2018)

Whenever I hear about an upcoming film adaption based on a popular novel, I make every effort to read the source material prior to the release. Ready Player One was no exception. What got my attention was hearing that Steven Spielberg himself would be helming a movie based on a book centered on pop culture from the 80’s.

Sounding like my cup of tea, I decided to take a peek at the novel.

While the book was certainly entertaining and well-written, I wouldn’t say it elevated any aspect of literature on a broad scale. In my opinion, it was mostly chapter after chapter of fan service coated onto an average plot. However, there were so many instances that, if done right, would be a treat to see on the silver screen.

Suffice to say, Spielberg didn’t disappoint. Ready Player One is a movie I’ve seen several times; one which combines all of my favorite things in nerd culture. While it might not be Martin Scorsese’s idea of a perfect film, it is a dang near perfect film for me.

I mean, in the final battle, you see a Serenity class ship dropping off a Gundam model RX-78 to fight Mechagodzilla, aided by Halo Spartans, Overwatch’s Tracer, and Chucky.

What’s not to love?

1. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

I alluded to it earlier, but if you have been following me for any period of time, it’s pretty clear that I have a strong affinity for Marvel. This interest has only been galvanized by the advent of the MCU with the original Iron Man in 2008.

Marvel Studios did the unthinkable with The Avengers by managing to kick-start a shared cinematic universe with several B-list characters. The studio not only turned these superheroes into a household name, but also eventually created some of the biggest faces of pop culture entertainment in the world today.

While I might agree that Endgame is the better Avengers movie overall, it simply wouldn’t have existed if it weren’t for the overwhelming success of the first ensemble film. Not to mention, the memories I have from The Avengers premiere completely supersedes any experience I’ve had at the movies since then. Seeing the team come together for the Battle of New York was wish fulfillment to the highest degree.

With the fond memories, numerous sequels/spin-offs, and immeasurable paradigm shift this movie spawned, I have no qualms about giving The Avengers the #1 spot in my book for best film of the decade.

Honorable Mentions

• The Irishman (2019)
• Inception (2010)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Shutter Island (2010)
• Get Out (2017)
• John Wick (2014)
• Knives Out (2019)
• X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
• Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)