The 10 Best Films of the 2020s (So Far), Ranked

With the 2020s going by in a flash and now being over 65% complete with the decade, there has been a vast variety of qualities in the various films released so far in the decade. While the decade got off to a rough start with the pandemic forever changing the medium, certain films manage to thrive amidst the chaos and the industry has risen from the low points to a massive high point as more and more people are connecting with the art of cinema.

This continuous passion for the medium wouldn't be nearly as prominent without the wide array of amazingly high quality movies consistently releasing throughout the decade. From massively acclaimed and successful blockbuster films to indie darlings that have swept awards seasons, the 2020s have already cemented themselves in film history with some truly special works of art. This is only but a taste of the true excellence that cinema has had to offer in this exceptional decade, with more great films constantly being released.

10 'The Father' (2020)

An emotionally draining exploration of the pains and difficulties of living with dementia, The Father soars thanks to the grueling realism of its depiction and the masterful central performance by Anthony Hopkins. It sees Hopkins as the titular father figure, slowly succumbing to the disease that is tearing away his perception of reality, as his loved ones change appearance and his once comforting home is constantly shifting and changing.

There are a lot of brilliant subtleties inherent to the filmmaking of The Father that make it such a compelling experience, as the production design and editing are tactically utilized with small adjustments to amplify the uneasiness that comes from such a debilitating disease. It further helps that Hopkins provides what is easily one of the best performances of the decade, with a pain and emotional vulnerability that helps make the film the defining tearjerker of the decade.

9 'Sinners' (2025)

In a modern filmmaking climate that is overwhelmed with IP regurgitation in the form of sequels and reboots around every corner, the fact that a fully original blockbuster smash hit like Sinners is able to exist and thrive in the modern day is a feat worth rejoicing. Even more than the film's success is just how well-crafted it is by modern blockbuster standards, with masterful visuals and a striking story of assimilation and cultural appropriation.

Ryan Coogler consistently elevates the stakes and emotional weight of this story, perfectly balancing the classic vampire "survive the night" horror elements with dynamic themes tied to the culture of the deep South. It's a film whose frantic energy and layered storytelling made it an immediate classic of the era, being the type of original blockbuster that will overwhelmingly influence a new wave of filmmakers with its craft and brilliance.

8 'Aftersun' (2022)

A deeply personal and emotionally resonating feature debut from Charlotte Wells, Aftersun is a painful story of memory and how our judgment can cloud the truth of our limited views of the past. The film follows a young woman reflecting upon the joy that she experienced on holiday with her father (Paul Mescal) 20 years ago, using her memories to fill the gaps between camcorder footage as she comes to terms with and attempts to understand the troubled man that her father really was.

The film is much more subtle with its emotional storytelling than your traditional tearjerker, yet once all the pieces are in place and the full grasp of its story is understood by the audience, it stands as one of the most heartbreaking experiences that modern cinema has to offer. This perfect modern movie exemplifies everything that makes independent cinema so powerful, telling a deeply personal story that isn't held back by studio demands and is all the better for honing in on its most abstract and challenging elements.

7 'The Odyssey' (2026)

A massive-scale epic that sees one of the greatest directors of the 21st century working at the height of his powers, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been the must-watch cinematic event of 2026, immediately etching its spot in the history books as one of 2020s must-watch experiences. It perfectly captures the timeless narrative brilliance of the original epic while also evolving and translating its messaging to deeply connect with modern audiences, further amplified by the overwhelming scale and craft of this true cinematic feat.

Nolan's signature strengths as a filmmmaker have never felt more seamless and on-point than in this film, as he's firing off on all cylinders while also breaking new ground in terms of his style and approach to pure passion in filmmaking. With so many standout sequences and memorable performances, it's a film that can be endlessly rewatched time and time again and have audiences find new joy and details on each subsequent viewing.

6 'Hundreds of Beavers' (2022)

It's easy to assume that in the modern day of arthouse filmmaking and massive scale blockbusters, each of the very best films of the decade is incredibly serious and mature in its approach. However, greatness can still be found in adhering to the classic style of goofy slapstick comedy, with Hundreds of Beavers being one of the most glorious, overly silly comedy movies ever made. This love letter to silent comedy and cartoon antics feels like both a blast from the past and something that could only truly be made in today's unrestrained world of comedy.

It's impossible not to crack a smile while watching this incredibly weird and incredibly endearing comedy tour de force, as the film is actively having as much fun in its own existence as the audience is in witnessing its madness. Through goofy green screen action and charmingly low-budget mascot costumes, Hundreds of Beavers continuously delights with its sense of charm as one of the best comedies of the 2020s.

5 'The Brutalist' (2024)

A period epic so massive in scale and length that it managed to be one of the first movies in decades to actually feature an intermission to help ease the pacing of its 3.5 hour runtime, The Brutalist harkens back to a style of massive dramatic epic that simply isn't made in modern Hollywood. With exceptional production design, beautiful cinematography and emotionally powerful performances, the film does everything in its power in pushing the medium to its absolute limits while returning to a more classic era of storytelling.

It has the look and feel of a classic Hollywood epic from decades prior, yet its storytelling and emotional depth is entirely in line with the modern tendencies and the very best of independent cinema. Brady Corbet does an exceptional job of making this daunting work of art fly by like a breeze, so perfectly paced that it goes by without a second's thought and keeps the audience invested at every second.

4 'Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023)

It's hard to deny the legacy and stature of Martin Scorsese as one of the most timeless visionaries in filmmaking history, creating a multitude of iconic masterpieces over the decades. However, his latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, shows that the director still has room to grow and evolve even in the late stage of his career, with this powerful crime movie arguably being his most self-reflective cinematic experience to date.

This heavy crime movie delves into the widespread annihilation and genocide committed against the Osage people in a ploy to take control of their land to seize the riches of oil within. While previous Scorsese crime movies are quick to glamorize the central criminals and make their crimes electrifying to watch, Killers of the Flower Moon simmers in the dread of these crimes in the pure evil of not just those committing them, but those complacent in such widespread death. It's also a powerful commentary on how society at large views these types of true-crime stories, often forgetting about the victims and only remembering those responsible.

3 'One Battle After Another' (2025)

The latest in a long string of masterpieces from legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another speaks to the modern world of social unrest and revolution better than any other major release comes close to achieving. It blends together aspects of all different genres, part comedy, part drama, and part crime thriller, to create an experience that is as entertaining and cathartic as it is insightful and layered.

Anderson's distinct knack for memorable characters and wild, sprawling narratives are at their best in this contemporary masterpiece, feeling like the culmination of his entire career while also feeling distinctly different from everything else he's ever directed. Time will only be kind to the legacy and stature of this modern masterpiece, with its exceptional visuals and overwhelming personality from start to finish making it a clear choice for one of the decade's very best.

2 'The Zone of Interest' (2023)

A complete shift and twist on the traditional Holocaust drama, The Zone of Interest proves to be one of the most brutal and uncomfortable war movies of the modern era without ever actually showing the heinous acts of genocide on-screen. The film instead displays its portrayal of pure evil with a sense of banality and ignorance, with its characters willing to ignore and accept living in earshot of overwhelming death if it means living their dream life.

A lot of the pure pain of the film comes from the execution of its filmmaking, with haunting sound design and powerful cinematography making the lingering feelings of death and evil inescapable. It makes these characters out to be pure monsters in showing how they gleefully accept the benefits that come with mass murder. While painting a harrowing picture of the Holocaust, it's a film that distinctly tackles the evils inherent to all genocides, and is especially relevant in the modern age.

1 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

Exemplifying a sense of quirkiness and personality in every aspect of its filmmaking and storytelling, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a film that is incredibly easy to fall in love with and fueled by passion in every aspect of its filmmaking. From high-energy action choreography to surprisingly emotional messaging on generational trauma, the film left a mark with many audiences and became an instant fan-favorite that undeniably defines the decade in filmmaking.

It's distinct sense of embracing weirdness and creativity above all else in a sense stands for the greatest strengths of 2020s filmmaking more than any other film. The medium in the modern day is at its best when creatives are given full control of their wild, unrestrained works of art, creating wild original masterpieces that can either get audiences pump up or have them in a puddle of tears. Everything Everywhere All at Once is some of the best in this regard, like a full-course meal of cinematic greatness that will only grow more iconic in the years to come.