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The Best Movies of the 2010s

The 2010s ranked by our composite score across 20+ authoritative lists, awards and polls — not one critic's opinion, but the weight of the whole canon.

Parasite (2019) leads with a composite score of 5.72. Top 100 of 625 films in our library.

  1. 1
    Parasite2019 · Bong Joon-ho · South Korea · comedy, drama, thriller
    5.72

    Palme d'Or winner 2019 · Oscar Best Picture winner 2019 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #1

  2. 2
    The Tree of Life2011 · Terrence Malick · United States · sci-fi, fantasy, drama
    4.26

    Palme d'Or winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #2

  3. 3
    Moonlight2016 · Barry Jenkins · United States · drama
    4.15

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2016 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #2

  4. 4
    Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives2010 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul · Thailand / France · comedy, drama, fantasy
    3.69

    Palme d'Or winner 2010 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #2

  5. 5
    Boyhood2014 · Richard Linklater · United States · drama
    3.66

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2015 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2014 #2

  6. 6
    A Separation2011 · Asghar Farhadi · Iran · drama
    3.62

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 2011 #1

  7. 7
    Shoplifters2018 · Hirokazu Koreeda · Japan · drama
    3.56

    Palme d'Or winner 2018 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2018 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2019

  8. 8
    Amour2012 · Michael Haneke · France / Germany / Austria · drama
    3.39

    Palme d'Or winner 2012 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #1 · César Best Film winner 2013

  9. 9
    Roma2018 · Alfonso Cuarón · United States / Mexico · drama
    3.24

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2019 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2018 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2018

  10. 10
    12 Years a Slave2013 · Steve McQueen · United Kingdom / United States · drama, biography
    3.14

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2013 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2014 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2013

  11. 11
    Argo2012 · Ben Affleck · United States · thriller, drama, biography
    3.07

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2012 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2013 · Ebert's annual top 10 2012 #1

  12. 12
    Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri2017 · Martin McDonagh · United States / United Kingdom · drama, comedy, mystery
    3.00

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2018 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #1 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2017

  13. 13
    Mad Max: Fury Road2015 · George Miller · Australia / United States · action, adventure, sci-fi
    2.96

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #3 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #7

  14. 14
    The King's Speech2010 · Tom Hooper · United Kingdom · biography, drama
    2.82

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2010 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2011 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2010

  15. 15
    The Shape of Water2017 · Guillermo del Toro · United States / Mexico · thriller, fantasy, drama
    2.77

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2017 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2017 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #3

  16. 16
    Joker2019 · Todd Phillips · United States · crime, thriller, drama
    2.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2019 #1 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2019 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2019

  17. 17
    The Image Book2018 · Jean-Luc Godard · Switzerland / France · documentary
    2.74

    Palme d'Or winner 2018 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2019 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #18

  18. 18
    The Social Network2010 · David Fincher · United States · biography, drama
    2.68

    Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2011 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 2010 #1

  19. 19
    I, Daniel Blake2016 · Ken Loach · United Kingdom / France / Belgium · drama
    2.66

    Palme d'Or winner 2016 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2017 #1 · Criterion Collection spine #906

  20. 20
    Inside Llewyn Davis2013 · Ethan Coen, Joel Coen · United States / France · drama, musical, comedy
    2.58

    Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #1 · Cannes Grand Prix winner 2013 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #18

  21. 21
    Blue Is the Warmest Colour2013 · Abdellatif Kechiche · France / Belgium / Spain · drama, romance
    2.43

    Palme d'Or winner 2013 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #12

  22. 22
    Green Book2018 · Peter Farrelly · United States · comedy, drama, biography
    2.39

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2018 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2018 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2019 #5

  23. 23
    Birdman2014 · Alejandro González Iñárritu · United States · comedy, drama
    2.36

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2014 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #8

  24. 24
    The Artist2011 · Michel Hazanavicius · France / Belgium · comedy, romance, drama
    2.35

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2011 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2012 · César Best Film winner 2012

  25. 25
    The Irishman2019 · Martin Scorsese · United States · crime, drama, biography
    2.33

    Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2019 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2019

  26. 26
    La La Land2016 · Damien Chazelle · United States · romance, comedy, drama
    2.29

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2017 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2016 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2016

  27. 27
    Get Out2017 · Jordan Peele · United States / Japan · horror, mystery, comedy
    2.21

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #95 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2017 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2017 #4

  28. 28
    Spotlight2015 · Tom McCarthy · United States · drama, biography
    2.17

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2015 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #7 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #7

  29. 29
    Whiplash2014 · Damien Chazelle · United States · musical, drama
    2.16

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2014 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2014 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #7

  30. 30
    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood2019 · Quentin Tarantino · United States / United Kingdom · comedy, drama, crime
    2.06

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2019 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2019

  31. 31
    Winter Sleep2014 · Nuri Bilge Ceylan · Turkey / Germany / France · drama
    2.00

    Palme d'Or winner 2014 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #8 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #38

  32. 32
    Portrait of a Lady on Fire2019 · Céline Sciamma · France · drama, romance
    2.00

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #30 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2020 #3 · Letterboxd Top 250 #49

  33. 33
    Winter's Bone2010 · Debra Granik · United States · drama, crime
    1.98

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2010 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #6

  34. 34
    Gravity2013 · Alfonso Cuarón · United States / United Kingdom · drama, thriller, adventure
    1.96

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2013 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #4

  35. 35
    The Grand Budapest Hotel2014 · Wes Anderson · United States / Germany · comedy, drama, adventure
    1.96

    Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2014 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #25

  36. 36
    Phantom Thread2017 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States / United Kingdom · drama, romance
    1.92

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2018 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2017 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #4

  37. 37
    Carol2015 · Todd Haynes · United Kingdom / United States · romance, drama
    1.88

    Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #2 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #14

  38. 38
    Elle2016 · Paul Verhoeven · France / Germany / Belgium · thriller
    1.88

    César Best Film winner 2017 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2016 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #3

  39. 39
    19172019 · Sam Mendes · United Kingdom / United States · war, drama
    1.86

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2020 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2019 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2020 #9

  40. 40
    Synonyms2019 · Nadav Lapid · France / Israel / Germany · drama
    1.75

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2019 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2019 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #15

  41. 41
    Burning2018 · Lee Chang-dong · South Korea / Japan · thriller, drama
    1.74

    Film Comment year-end poll 2018 #2 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2018 #4 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2019 #10

  42. 42
    BPM (Beats per Minute)2017 · Robin Campillo · France · drama
    1.73

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2017 · César Best Film winner 2018 · Film Comment year-end poll 2017 #19

  43. 43
    Toni Erdmann2016 · Maren Ade · Germany / Austria · drama, comedy
    1.73

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2016 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #1 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #95

  44. 44
    The Square2017 · Ruben Östlund · Sweden / Germany / France · comedy, drama
    1.73

    Palme d'Or winner 2017 · Film Comment year-end poll 2017 #20

  45. 45
    Of Gods and Men2010 · Xavier Beauvois · France · drama, war
    1.70

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2010 · César Best Film winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #34

  46. 46
    Under the Skin2013 · Jonathan Glazer · United Kingdom / Switzerland · sci-fi, drama, horror
    1.67

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2014 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #169 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #5

  47. 47
    Dheepan2015 · Jacques Audiard · France · drama, crime
    1.66

    Palme d'Or winner 2015 · Criterion Collection spine #871

  48. 48
    Beasts of the Southern Wild2012 · Benh Zeitlin · United States · fantasy, drama
    1.61

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2012 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #14

  49. 49
    Holy Motors2012 · Leos Carax · France / Germany · drama, fantasy
    1.61

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2012 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #6

  50. 50
    Lincoln2012 · Steven Spielberg · United States · war, biography, drama
    1.59

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #9

  51. 51
    Manchester by the Sea2016 · Kenneth Lonergan · United States · drama
    1.57

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2017 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2016 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #7

  52. 52
    The Ghost Writer2010 · Roman Polanski · France / United Kingdom / Germany · drama, crime, thriller
    1.50

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2011 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #4 · Ebert's annual top 10 2010 #10

  53. 53
    Faust2011 · Alexander Sokurov · Russia / Germany · drama, fantasy
    1.50

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2011 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2012 #9 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #34

  54. 54
    Room2015 · Lenny Abrahamson · Canada / Ireland / United States · drama
    1.49

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2015 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2015 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #10

  55. 55
    Hugo2011 · Martin Scorsese · United States / United Kingdom · drama, adventure, mystery
    1.47

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #9

  56. 56
    The Revenant2015 · Alejandro González Iñárritu · United States · western, adventure, thriller
    1.45

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2016 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2015

  57. 57
    The Post2017 · Steven Spielberg · United States · thriller, drama, biography
    1.44

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2017 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2018 #6

  58. 58
    Silver Linings Playbook2012 · David O. Russell · United States · drama, comedy, romance
    1.44

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2012 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #18

  59. 59
    BlacKkKlansman2018 · Spike Lee · United States · biography, crime, drama
    1.43

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2018 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2018 · Film Comment year-end poll 2018 #20

  60. 60
    Zama2016 · Lucrecia Martel · Argentina · drama
    1.39

    Film Comment year-end poll 2018 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #196

  61. 61
    The Woman Who Left2016 · Lav Diaz · Philippines · drama
    1.39

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2016 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2017 #5

  62. 62
    First Cow2019 · Kelly Reichardt · United States · fantasy
    1.39

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2021 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2024 #5

  63. 63
    Melancholia2011 · Lars von Trier · France / Germany / Sweden · sci-fi, drama
    1.38

    Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #6

  64. 64
    Confessions2010 · Tetsuya Nakashima · Japan · drama, thriller
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2010 #2

  65. 65
    The Strange Case of Angelica2010 · Manoel de Oliveira · France / Portugal / Brazil · drama
    1.38

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #15

  66. 66
    The Kirishima Thing2012 · Daihachi Yoshida · Japan · comedy, drama, romance
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2013 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2012 #2

  67. 67
    The Great Passage2013 · Yuya Ishii · Japan · romance, comedy, drama
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2014 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2013 #2

  68. 68
    Shin Godzilla2016 · Hideaki Anno · Japan / United States · sci-fi, action, drama
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2017 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2016 #2

  69. 69
    Son of Saul2015 · László Nemes · Hungary · drama, war
    1.36

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2015 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #14

  70. 70
    The Turin Horse2011 · Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky · Hungary / France / Germany · drama
    1.36

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #6

  71. 71
    Stranger by the Lake2013 · Alain Guiraudie · France · drama, thriller
    1.36

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #6

  72. 72
    Midnight in Paris2011 · Woody Allen · United States / Spain · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.34

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #18

  73. 73
    Good Time2017 · Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie · United States · crime, drama
    1.33

    Film Comment year-end poll 2017 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2017 #7

  74. 74
    Life of Pi2012 · Ang Lee · United States · fantasy, drama, adventure
    1.30

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #7 · Ebert's annual top 10 2012 #2

  75. 75
    A Touch of Sin2013 · Jia Zhangke · China / Japan / Hong Kong, China · drama
    1.27

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2014 #3 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #5

  76. 76
    Goodbye to Language2014 · Jean-Luc Godard · France / Switzerland · drama
    1.26

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2014 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #2

  77. 77
    Pain and Glory2019 · Pedro Almodóvar · Spain / France · drama
    1.26

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2019 #6 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2020 #8 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #9

  78. 78
    Inception2010 · Christopher Nolan · United Kingdom / United States · crime, sci-fi, thriller
    1.25

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2010 #10 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025)

  79. 79
    The Kid with a Bike2011 · Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne · France / Belgium / Italy · drama
    1.24

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #7 · Criterion Collection spine #646

  80. 80
    The Master2012 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States · drama
    1.22

    Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #8 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #44

  81. 81
    The Imitation Game2014 · Morten Tyldum · United States · war, biography, drama
    1.20

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2014 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2014

  82. 82
    Jojo Rabbit2019 · Taika Waititi · New Zealand / Czech Republic / United States · comedy, drama, war
    1.20

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2019 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2019

  83. 83
    Black Swan2010 · Darren Aronofsky · United States · thriller, horror, drama
    1.20

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2011 #5 · Ebert's annual top 10 2010 #3

  84. 84
    Uncut Gems2019 · Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie · United States / Sweden / United Kingdom · crime, comedy, drama
    1.19

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2020 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #10 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #75

  85. 85
    Our Little Sister2015 · Hirokazu Koreeda · Japan · drama
    1.18

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2016 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2015 #4

  86. 86
    Bridge of Spies2015 · Steven Spielberg · United States / Germany / India · war, biography
    1.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2015 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #20

  87. 87
    Spring Breakers2013 · Harmony Korine · United States · comedy, drama, crime
    1.17

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2013 #2 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #41 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #14

  88. 88
    Toy Story 32010 · Lee Unkrich · United States · comedy, drama, animation
    1.15

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #12

  89. 89
    Rebirth2011 · Izuru Narushima · Japan · thriller, drama
    1.14

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2012 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2011 #5

  90. 90
    Atlantique2019 · Mati Diop · France / Senegal / Belgium · drama
    1.14

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2019 · Film Comment year-end poll 2019 #5

  91. 91
    A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence2014 · Roy Andersson · Sweden / Norway / France · comedy, drama
    1.11

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2014 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  92. 92
    Timbuktu2014 · Abderrahmane Sissako · France / Mauritania · drama
    1.11

    César Best Film winner 2015 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #6

  93. 93
    Paterson2016 · Jim Jarmusch · United States · drama, comedy
    1.10

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2017 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #6 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  94. 94
    Faces Places2017 · Agnès Varda, JR · France · documentary
    1.09

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #7 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #23 · Film Comment year-end poll 2017 #8

  95. 95
    Les Misérables2019 · Ladj Ly · France · drama
    1.08

    César Best Film winner 2020 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2019 #7

  96. 96
    American Sniper2014 · Clint Eastwood · United States · action, war, biography
    1.08

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2014

  97. 97
    Once Upon a Time in Anatolia2011 · Nuri Bilge Ceylan · Turkey / Bosnia and Herzegovina · crime, drama
    1.07

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #8

  98. 98
    The Third Murder2017 · Hirokazu Koreeda · Japan · drama
    1.07

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2018 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2017 #8

  99. 99
    Cemetery of Splendour2015 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul · Thailand / United Kingdom / France · drama
    1.06

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2015 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #4

  100. 100
    The Wolf of Wall Street2013 · Martin Scorsese · United States · comedy, biography, crime
    1.05

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2013 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2014 #9 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #37

Streaming, prestige and the world stage

The 2010s will be remembered as the decade distribution changed more than the films did. Netflix moved from mailing discs to producing Oscar contenders; by 2018 Alfonso Cuarón's Roma — a black-and-white, Spanish-language memory piece — won the Golden Lion at Venice, took BAFTA's Best Film and came within one envelope of Best Picture, all as a streaming release. The theatrical window shrank, mid-budget adult drama migrated to platforms, and the festival circuit became the de facto launchpad for nearly everything on this page. Whatever one thinks of the economics, the canon output was real: this is the decade the Academy gave Best Picture to a $1.5 million film about a gay Black boy in Miami (Moonlight, 2016, over the heavily favored La La Land in the most famous envelope error in awards history) and, three years later, to a Korean-language film.

Parasite (2019) is the decade's keystone in any data-driven accounting. It won the Palme d'Or and Best Picture — the first film ever to pair Cannes' top prize with the Academy's in the same cycle since 1955's Marty, and the first non-English-language Best Picture, full stop. It then entered the 2022 Sight & Sound poll within three years of release, an almost unheard-of speed for canon entry. The whole arc of the last three decades — festivals as gatekeepers, world cinema as the center rather than the margin, community canons amplifying critical consensus — converges on that one title.

Auteurs at blockbuster scale

The decade's other signature is the survival of directorial signature inside enormous budgets. Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk) built an audience that treats a director's name as the franchise; George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) demonstrated that a thirty-year-old property could return as a formally radical action symphony and collect six Oscars; Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water (2017) carried a monster romance from Venice's Golden Lion to Best Picture. Meanwhile the international festival canon deepened — Iran's Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, Golden Bear 2011, and the decade's most decorated screenplay-driven drama), Haneke's Amour (Palme d'Or 2012), Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), which entered the Sight & Sound top 30 in its first eligible poll.

For a measurement site, the 2010s poses a known caveat: recency. Awards data for the decade is complete, but the slow canon-makers — decennial polls, registries — have only begun to process it. Composite scores for recent films will keep moving for another two decades; treat this page as a snapshot of a canon still under construction.