At the start of the decade, Netflix was Blockbuster to your mailbox. Avatar was in the process of becoming the highest-grossing movie ever (until it wasn’t). We were taking comic book movies seriously for the first time ever (until we stopped).
In ten years there were thousands of movies released in theaters across the world. Before we unveil our staff favorites of 2019 (go check out our 2018 picks while you wait) we thought we’d gather our movie writers together for a little chat of the best, or our favorite, or all the Marvel movies of 2010-2019.
Our Favorite Movies of 2010
Madison: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt1
Emily: Morning Glory
Cole: Toy Story 3
Tristan: Inception
Emily: The decade started off strong with a ton of great stand-alone films as well as beginnings and endings of franchises. For me, my pick was one of the best romantic comedies I’ve seen in years, Morning Glory. It brought a fresh take on the genre, focusing less on Rachel McAdams’ in-office relationship and more on her becoming who she was meant to be. And it never hurts to throw Harrison Ford making frittatas into the mix. But I did definitely consider Toy Story 3 as my top movie of 2010. That ending still gets me. Every. Single. Time.
Cole: For all the comic book movies we (read: Madison) will end up talking about in this here article, my personal favorite came out at the start of the decade. 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World satirized the genre and brought comic books to life in the most ambitious way since Ang Lee tried to visualize panels on a movie screen. Oh and also this worked. My favorite super hero story of the decade was also outside conventional Marvel/DC stories when Josh Trank and Max Landis teamed up for Chronicle in 2012.
Madison: I honestly thought I’d pick more films that weren’t franchise blockbusters, but I didn’t. I’m mildly ashamed, but also totally embracing the movies I love. My choice is the first of the closing chapter of a movie/book series that defined my generation: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt1. Compared to other series that decided to split the finale (ahemHungerGamesahem), Warner Bros made the right decision here. Deathly Hallows pt 1 nailed the somber and anxious tone of the book.
Tristan: 2010, 2010, 2010. Avatar had swooped in the year before touting its 3D and CGI, so 2010 felt a little to me like, “So…what are they gonna do next?” There were some big films I really liked: The King’s Speech, Red, Knight and Day, Scott Pilgrim, Social Network, Toy Story 3. Others I saw in theaters and haven’t really been drawn to watch much past that (Book of Eli, The Tourist, or Takers anyone?). I think Inception steals 2010 though. I saw it a couple times in theaters, and it was all anyone was talking about when it came out. Even now, people still talk about what the ending means and their theories on it. I was fascinated with it then, and watching it again, I can see why.
Our Favorite Movies of 2011
Madison: Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows pt2
Emily: Midnight in Paris
Cole: 50/50
Tristan: Crazy, Stupid, Love
Cole: While it’s not my favorite of the year, 2011 re-invented a stale franchise and changed action movies to come with Fast Five. With the best parts of The Fast & The Furious, Mission: Impossible, James Bond, and newcomer to the decade John Wick, what would you say was the best action franchise of the past ten years?
Emily: I’d say John Wick really made an impact this decade, not just to rebrand Keanu Reeves, but as a cultural icon in action films. Not something I knew I needed, but something I love all the same.
Tristan: I think I’m with Emily in saying John Wick is the best action franchise. That said, I think Fast and Furious is the most lucrative action franchise. They’re pumping out muscles, cars, and explosions like The Land Before Time pumped out dinosaurs from the 90s to mid-00’s.
Madison: Yeah total guilty pleasure: my favorite action movie of 2011 was Transformers: Dark of the Moon and I’m not even sorry. Haters can hate, but if Michael Bay can do anything, it’s make a movie that is just pure eye candy and nothing else. And I don’t know if this is action, but I am also really partial to Real Steel.
Emily: Funny, though, that even with all that was added to the action genre, our favorites of the year were elsewhere on the board.
Cole: ¾ rom-coms ain’t bad.
Emily: I’m all for it. Especially when it includes Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Woody Allen. Now we just need them to come all together for one big rom-com.
Tristan: I’m not usually big on rewatching tons of Romcoms. My DVD collection has like…10 that I could rewatch. Crazy, Stupid, Love is a staple for me. The weirdness, the brutal honesty, the messy story, all of it. And Emily, Midnight in Paris is one of my faves from Woody Allen. Such a good one, and it helps that most flights feature it for their headrest tv’s. Also, 50/50 is great Cole, though I didn’t see it until recently.
Our Favorite Movies of 2012
Madison: The Avengers
Emily: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Cole: Cabin in the Woods
Tristan: Django Unchained
Madison: This is the year that changed the game for Marvel Studios. The Avengers finally proved that years of planning and solo films are the only way to execute a cinematic universe. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen The Avengers but I still get giddy every time. There are a lot of good movies that came out this year, but The Avengers deserves it for being amazing.
Cole: The couple weaknesses I thought Avengers had, got figured out by Endgame. Like how the three main dude heroes were too hard headed/alpha and too similar in their characterization. Or it didn’t give me a big assembling moment or the team was too small. But then they grew for seven more years and it makes Avengers even better that they held off from ‘Avengers Assemble‘ and they weren’t fully formed characters yet in 2012. The cinematic story of the decade is Marvel.
Emily: Definitely a groundbreaking year for comic book films (Is that its own genre yet? Because it really should be).
Tristan: After a hiatus from much movie-watching, I saw The Avengers, and I remember being awed that it worked so well. Now looking at it, Cole’s right, it is the cinematic story and changed the landscape of box office bets and ambitious studio projects.
Our Favorite Movies of 2013
Madison: Man of Steel
Emily: Saving Mr. Banks
Cole: Her
Tristan: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Cole: How is a movie about freaking Superman, the boy scout of comic books, the most cynical of our favorite movies this year. Gosh I hated Man of Steel. And it ain’t a Zack Snyder thing because Sucker Punch was on my shortlist of 2011. Style can be cool.
Madison: *shrug* I don’t know what to tell you, man. 2013-Madison really really enjoyed it. Man of Steel had some of the best trailers I’ve seen and the music was just so good. Looking back on it, I know it is full of flaws and could be mountains better. But at the time I looooooved it. This may or may not make you feel better, but my alternative is Pacific Rim. Del Toro nailed the kaiju genre and it deserved a better sequel than it got.
Cole: I mean Suicide Squad definitely had the best trailer of the decade but you don’t see me trying to defend that mess.
Tristan: Oooof, Man of Steel? While I dig the casting of Michael Shannon with a goatee, the painful blasting through CGI Metropolis and the worst color-correction and desaturation in recent memory overpowered the positives. That being said, to each their own. I really liked a weird remake of a 1940’s film of the same name, but this time with Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Kristen Wiig, and Patton Oswalt…in serious roles. 2013 a weird one for sure.
Our Favorite Movies of 2014
Madison: Interstellar
Emily: The Fault in Our Stars
Cole: It Follows
Tristan: Whiplash
Cole: Yo, I’ve held off this long, but I gotta talk some horror. In a decade that will be remembered for the Insidious and Conjuring franchises for mass appeal, it is the smaller horrors that usually make an impact. 2014 had my two favorites of the whole decade, It Follows and also The Babadook.
Madison: And here lies the difference between us, Cole–I really don’t like horror films. But epic Christopher Nolan films prioritizing practical effects and celluloid? I am all about that. Interstellar in IMAX was the movie event of the year for me. Many will say that this was one of Nolan’s weaker films, but I say they can suck it.
Cole: It was one of Nolan’s weaker films.
Madison: Suck it.
Emily: I’ve got to go with Madison on this one. I haven’t seen another “space” movie that made me think so much or made me want to rewatch it again and again like Interstellar did. But that being said, I’m also a horror fan (granted, not at Cole’s level and NOT when I’m home alone) so I’m glad that some horror made the best of the decade list.
Tristan: Cole hates epic space movies with loud orchestral scores, Madison hates horror films. Since we’re stating preferences unabashedly, 2014 was the year I realized I had a type. If it has: great music, a story about a musician (real or imagined), music as the center of conflict, or music as a vehicle for story, I’m pretty much on board. Looking at the mistake-filled and less than laudable films that I still like anyway, many of them are music-driven. That being said, Whiplash is that movie I think about when I can’t get to sleep. What would you sacrifice to be the best? And to see J. Jonah Jameson tell a kid he would gut him like a pig if his playing wasn’t up to snuff, it’s pretty great.
Our Favorite Movies of 2015
Madison: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Emily: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Cole: The Big Short
Tristan: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Emily: Even with the resurgence of my favorite film franchise, I had to go with Tristan on this one. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was by far my favorite film of 2015, if not the whole decade. For something that could have been another blasé YA book adaptation (of which there are already plenty), this film was a work of visual art while also being a compelling and enjoyable narrative. I still think of Greg’s Werner Herzog impression whenever I see the German filmmaker pop up.
Tristan: I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and have been all my life. That being said, Force Awakens was good but not great in my book. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is like Emily said: not blasé. In fact, the cinematography and style really opened my eyes to the artsy-fartsy filmmakers who win audience and jury awards at Sundance. Sometimes, they can be endearing and relatable. Sometimes.
Madison: With numerous rewatches of Force Awakens under my belt, Tristan, you’re right that it’s good, not great. However, the energy surrounding it’s release was amazing and it’s why this is on my list. A movie is more than what appears on screen, it’s the sum of all its parts. When I saw Force Awakens it felt like a big cinematic experience that we as a culture would get to experience together like the three years of Lord of the Rings.
Our Favorite Movies of 2016
Madison: Captain America: Civil War
Emily: La La Land
Cole: The Nice Guys
Tristan: Sing Street
Emily: Again, another groundbreaking year, this time for several genres. I think Captain America: Civil War set the stage for changing the game of superhero films come Infinity War and Endgame. The captivating internal conflict within Civil War proved that such storylines could be just as appealing as a narrative as another global catastrophe. Then La La Land came along and made musicals a thing again for the modern masses (thank you, Damian Chazelle). But I’d say that Arrival was also a formidable force for sci-fi films garnering buzz throughout awards season. It almost made my top slot for the year if Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone weren’t so charming and relatable in La La Land.
Tristan: Emily, you claimed La La Land, so I went for my close 2nd/tied favorite. Again, La La Land satisfied my instant favorite criteria with its great music and music-centered story, but I also love the return of Gosling and Stone (from Crazy, Stupid, Love). I was on a long flight summer of 2016 and just before takeoff saw a Facebook status from a friend. “Watch Sing Street. Trust me.” I did just that.
I like John Carney flicks with Once and its music (never saw the stage adaption though), and liked Begin Again enough to rewatch. Sing Street plops you down in 1980’s Dublin and it is so reminiscent of the feelings you’d get watching a John Hughes movie for the first time. Fun, simple, relatable, great music, and a young romance that just kinda tugged at your heartstrings. It’s one I like to show people when they’re open to watching something new.
Cole: Write this down, that 2016 is the only year where I really liked all four movies that we mentioned. So because I have nothing to complain about, I’ll honorable mention a few more 2016 gems like 10 Cloverfield Lane, Hell or High Water, and Nocturnal Animals. The Nice Guys was just my favorite of the bunch.
Madison: Cole, I will say, The Nice Guys was almost my pick. But, true to form, Captain America: Civil War is my choice. Not only was it an adaptation of one of my favorite Marvel events, but it also served as the introduction for the MCU’s Spider-man. The story was great, action was great, Chris Evan’s bicep was great. That’s it.
Our Favorite Movies of 2017
Madison: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Emily: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Cole: I, Tonya
Tristan: Baby Driver
Tristan: Alright, let me start by saying my fave wasn’t “the best” movie of 2017. It was my favorite for a handful of reasons though. First off though: it was a great movie by a great director who broke his own mold. Edgar Wright went from Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim to a musical painted over a car chase. Ansel Egort may have been the star, but Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx stole the show. It made me realize what Gone in 60 Seconds (1979) or Mad Max (1979) must have done for their eras. You could take a well-trodden genre and shake it up with new ways of shooting, new music to back it, and a new take on the characters.
Madison: Tristan I freaking loooove Baby Driver. I’m glad to see it made someone’s top choice. The Last Jedi stole the year for me. Chances are you either hate it or love it. I’ve had a lot of conversations with friends over the last two years arguing the merits of the film. I won’t belabor it but I saw myself in The Last Jedi. It was a powerful narrative that made bold decisions and was personally very meaningful to me. And the visuals kicked ass. #thankyourianjohnson
Emily: I’m with you both. I also looooved Baby Driver, it got way less credit than it deserved. But The Last Jedi has to take the spot for my favorite movie of the year, too. I’m so glad that Rian Johnson was bold and took chances that J.J. Abrams didn’t in The Force Awakens. Johnson took our expectations and threw them over Luke’s disenchanted shoulder along with his lightsaber Rey slaved to bring to him. He made the film like a diehard fan would. Next to Baby Yoda and the epic lightsaber battle in Phantom Menace, Johnson’s take is my favorite thing to happen to the Star Wars franchise since the original trilogy.
Cole: Yeah I disliked TLJ at the time and hate it more after sitting through TROS, but no one wants another Star Wars argument on the internet. I looooved Baby Driver though and it was my second favorite movie of this year, so it wins for Crowd Pleaser of the decade (crowd pleasing being something that Star Wars isn’t after Rian Johnson). I, Tonya just tickled my exact perfect love for unreliable narrators, fourth wall humor, rednecks/screwing the rich, and actors playing people that are wildly not their age or appearance. It’s a lesser The Big Short which was already on my list, and a greater A Futile and Stupid Gesture, which I still loved, that showed up on Netflix in 2018. SPEAKING OF 2018.
Our Favorite Movies of 2018
Madison: Black Panther
Emily: A Quiet Place
Cole: Overlord
Tristan: Sorry to Bother You
Tristan: I go back and forth on this one pretty often. I loved Mid 90s and The Favourite, but nothing has stuck with me like Sorry to Bother You. Even now, it was just so weird to watch, and weirder to rewatch. But, Lakeith Stanfield proved he was a silver screen heavyweight (and since has had roles on roles thrown his way). Political, satirical, blatant, punk, it really had lots going on. But when David Cross (Tobias Funke of Arrested Development) becomes Lakeith’s “white voice,” you know it’s gonna be good. At least for me, it was a nice breath of fresh air while so much coming out seemed to be hashing and rehashing the same stories.
Madison: As I said before, a movie is more than appears on screen. Black Panther, while not only being a great movie, also lodged itself in our cultural zeitgeist for a solid year. Ryan Koogler ensured that Black Panther was one of the most intelligent and relevant Marvel films ever. Oh, and it was nominated for Best Picture along with like a million other awards.
Cole: Gosh I struggled watching everything that Tristan mentioned, and Black Panther was just an above average MCU episode with attention actually paid to the costumes, setting, and music. It’s good to be complaining again. But give me a movie that can toe the line between grounded war drama and nazi zombie insanity, and I have nothing to complain about.
Our Favorite Movies of 2019
Madison: Avengers: Endgame
Emily: Jojo Rabbit
Cole: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Tristan: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Tristan: I still haven’t seen A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, but I’m shocked to see it on Cole’s list (I guess it’s not a Biopic, but still). Avengers was great, and much better than Infinity War which I couldn’t have cared any less for. I’m not a Tarantino disciple, so let’s clear the air here. I found Hateful Eight to be boring and drawn out. I could go without watching Kill Bill ever again. All that to say, I had tempered expectations for OUATIH. It hit all the right notes though.
Not for everyone, and I’d bet I’m the only one of us four to enjoy it. It’s not something everyone should watch either. If you’re eating up Hobbs and Shaw and every live action remake from the media conglomerate formerly known as Disney, then save yourself 3 hours and watch something else. For me though, it still topped Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, Motherless Brooklyn, Parasite, and Rocketman for 2019.
Cole: Hmmm sounds like Tristan has other favorites and maybe honorable mentions to talk about from the year 2019. The four of us also had more thoughts in 2018, and I don’t mind shamelessly plugging that article again AND that our lists for 2019 are forthcoming too. Maybe around Oscars time? Check back then!
Madison: The biggest, best movie of the year, and maybe the decade was Avengers: Endgame and if you don’t think so, you’re wrong. The End.
Well that’s that for this decade. What were you’re favorite movies of the decade? Comment below. Or on whatever social media link you clicked that brought you here. Or just text me. My number’s 555-5555. Haha remember when movies always used that number? I’m lonely.