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The Best Films of the 2020s so far…
- I’m Thinking of Ending Things – C. Kaufman
- Decision to Leave – Park Chan-wook
- The Card Counter – Schrader
- Dune – Villeneuve
- The French Dispatch – W. Anderson
- Mank – Fincher
- Nomadland – Zhao
- The Green Knight – Lowery
- Spencer – Larraín
- John Wick: Chapter 4 – Stahelski
- The Underground Railroad – Jenkins
- The Northman – Eggers
- Pieces of a Woman – Mundruczó
- The Batman – Reeves
- Red, White, and Blue – McQueen
- Copenhagen Cowboy – Refn
- Lovers Rock – McQueen
- Promising Young Woman – Fennell
- Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths – Iñárritu
- Everything Everywhere All at Once – Kwan, Scheinert
- A Hero – Farhadi
- White Noise – Baumbach
- Babylon – Chazelle
- Men – Garland
- Nightmare Alley – del Toro
- Antebellum – Bush, Renz
- Tár – Fields
- Belfast – Branagh
- Blonde – Dominik
- R.M.N – Mungiu
- The Banshees of Inisherin – M. McDonagh
- The Hand of God – Sorrentino
- The Tragedy of Macbeth – Coen
- All Quiet on the Western Front – Berger
- Red Rocket – Baker
- Licorice Pizza – P.T. Anderson
- The Worst Person in the World – Trier
- C’mon C’mon – Mills
- The Power of the Dog – Campion
- Passing – Hall
- Parallel Mothers – Almodóvar
- Happening – Diwan
- Emma. – de Wilde
- Shiva Baby – Seligman
- The Father – Zeller
- Elvis – Luhrmann
- Triangle of Sadness – Östlund
- Top Gun: Maverick – Kosinski
- Mangrove – McQueen
- No Time to Die – Fukunaga
Drake2023-06-09T02:09:19+00:00
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Amazing work! Really excited to see John Wick chapter 4 so high.
What is the grade for John Wick 4 ? For me it was easily one of the biggest surprises of the last five years in cinema.
@RujK – Must-See
Did not expect this, what a nice surprise! I started a PT Anderson study so excited to rewatch Licorice Pizza.
@James Trapp – I was sort of surprised to find Licorice Pizza here- but this decade hasn’t been amazing- so had to dig a little to get to 50 films
Great Work! did you bumped up the grade for I’m Thinking of Ending Things because Decision to Leave was the only MS/MP so far for 2020s. So what is the new grade.
Also, what is the grade for John Wick chapter 4.
@Alt Mash- Thank you. I did bump it – yes. Must-See for John Wick 4
I love seeing John Wick: Chapter 4 at #10. It was one of the biggest surprises in a long time and an easy MS for me.
What is the rating for No Time to Die?
@Lionel- We’re in the R or R/HR range all the way down at 50 at this point
Didn’t the Tenet from Nolan had a R/HR rating? It is not included here. Where does No Time to Die land in the Bond film ranking?
@Lionel- Yep, Tenet was like #52 or something on the list before making the edit down to 50. I have not sat down and ranked the Bond films other than to have grades for them. I watched the Connery films when he passed away- but not the full Bond study since 2012.
Very happy to see Dune and John Wick: Chapter 4 where they are. Is Dune a Masterpiece now? I think you had it at MS last time I checked.
Also, you might find this article interesting. It’s primarily related to TV streaming, but given all the cross pollination between TV, streaming, and film, seems like it might be of interest to you.
https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/streaming-industry-netflix-max-disney-hulu-apple-tv-prime-video-peacock-paramount.html
@Bullweather- Dune is a Must-See. Thanks for sharing the article
Was Master Gardner in play or have you not seen that yet (I haven’t)?
@Matthew- It was, I had it at like 53 behind Tenet and After Yang I think.
Truly not a strong Schrader film sadly
Interestingly enough, even though our lists are completely different, we share the same number 1. What really bums me out is that I could easily name about 15 films from the past decade that I think are better than I’m thinking of ending things, and 5 or 6 of them came out between 2010 and 2013. It says a lot about how underwhelming this decade has been so far when compared to the 2010s. Let’s hope this year can right the ship a little bit.
@David O.- My hope is that this time next year there has been a tsunami of 2023 films that have overtaken this list.
I’m scared that this period doesn’t end up being the begining of gradual decline in cinema. That’d be devastating.
@M*A*S*H- I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it. But I think it is just as likely, if not more, that 2023 strikes back with a vengeance and there are 4, 5, 6 masterpieces. I am trying to stay positive. And there is a 95% chance at least I’m missing on one of these films (or something off this list here above completely) and there have been more masterpieces this decade already.
I think so yeah! I wish it happens. Scorsese’s film looks strong from the trailer but Lanthimos’ last film was a ‘M’asterpiece so Poor Things is more promising to me.
But idk is because of COVID Or what but cinema has been static and there has been a lack of both quality and depth.
You might be missing on the depth ( a lot of your lower graded films might be higher) but you are not missing on the quality. I think The French Dispatch was a masterpiece and the best of the decade so far. Excited for Anderson’s film with Ralph Fiennes, The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar.
There certainly are a number of films from Cannes that look very promising (Glazer, Anderson, Erice, Kaurismäki, Ceylan and Scorsese all got great reviews) and we still have Venice to look forward to, but I’ve been disappointed too many times over the past three years, so I even though I’m keeping my hopes up, I’m trying to curb my enthusiasm just in case. That being said, I don’t believe it’s a sign of decline in cinema, necessarily. I just think there are up years and down years. Things will pick up again, I’m sure.
The writers strike certainly doesn’t help. I believe it’s postponing PTA’s next film, among many others
Yeah, that’s not gonna make things easier. The last writer strike led to a couple of underwhelming years. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again because that’s the last thing we need right now.
Nice list; it’ll be interesting to see what films remain on it and in what order at the end of the decade!
For what it’s worth, I would include Sweet Thing (rather high), Zola, and The Souvenir II. Have you seen Sweet Thing (directed by Alexandre Rockwell) or Zola (A24)? I see that The Souvenir II is in the archives (via the Tilda Swinton page), so I assume that was an intentional omission.
Lastly, regarding the lack of quality so far this decade, I’d agree that 2023 may be a strong year. I believe that there are releases from Scorsese, Anderson, Nolan, Haynes, Glazer, Gerwig, etc.
Aster also released this year. Any thoughts on Beau Is Afraid?
Thanks
@Yaared – Thank you for the comment. I have seen Sweet Thing, Zola, and Beau is Afraid- just once a piece though- so more work to do.
Who according to you are some of the greatest character actors with huge body of work (high number of archieveable films). You talk a lot about Peter Mullan and he is awesome. I’m looking for actors more like Mullan Or Steve Buscemi and less like popular ones such as Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, PSH.
@M*A*S*H- Huge body of work- huh- I’m not sure they are as talented as a John Cazale or Thelma Ritter. But Ward Bond has nearly 40 archiveable films. Walter Brennan has a ton. Jim Broadbent and Harry Dean Stanton have 20 plus. There are many more- this is always a good share too http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2014/the-30-greatest-character-actors-in-hollywood-history/
@Drake- thanks for sharing that list.
Have you taken a break from posting?
@M*A*S*H- just giving this page a few days to sit here before posting the 51st best actor and so on. Figured it was a good time to pause while I get ahead a little on the actor list pages
Alright. I’m hoping to see some new additions such as Michael Fassbender, Oscar Issac, I think with a top 3 like his, Ewan McGregor has a shot.
@Drake – Hard question to answer but what do you think is Park Chan-wook’s ceiling? He now has 3 MP level films with Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and Decision to Leave. I think Handmaiden if a MP as well so personally I think he has 4 films that are MP or borderline MP. I see on the 2016 page you have Handmaiden as HR/MS but I am not sure if that is most recent grade as I know you rewatched a number of his films in the last year.
@James Trapp- Good question – tough to say. He seems close to that very top tier of contemporary auteurs. I’m excited to see how it all shakes out with future updates. And the The Handmaiden was moved to a MS/MP last October.
@Drake – what grade does Lady Vengeance now have too?
@Harry HR/MS
@Drake@Harry – I could be wrong but there would seem to be a possibility that Park Chan Wook’s ranking moves up by more spots than anyone
He was at # 220 with the following:
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance – R
Old Boy – HR/MS
Lady Vengeance – R
The Handmaiden – R
Current grade on this site
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance – MP
Old Boy – MS/MP
Lady Vengeance – HR/MS
The Handmaiden – MS/MP
Decision to Leave – MP
So there are 3 Simple Recommends that jump up to MP or borderline MP level, an increase with Oldboy from HR/MS to MS/MP and a new film in the mix, Decision to Leave, ranked as a MP
sorry 2 Simple Recommends that jump to MP or borderline MP, plus Lady Vengeance jump from R to HR/MS
@James Trapp- Always fun to discover a master – better late than never in my case
@Drake – for sure, he’s 59 right now so there would seem to be a fairly good chance of another MP level film. Should be interesting to see who finishes with a stronger career between Park and Bong. I started for a time to think Bong was superior but after Decision to Leave (2022) I think the pendulum has swung back in Park’s favor
@Drake, do you have a list of where directors would be ranked if the 10 year moratorium was lifted? For example, would Nolan rank in the top 50? Malick in the top 15?
@Christopher. I do not, I use the top 500 (which I am going to expand to 1000) the starting point for the director’s list.
Good list Drake!
I did give thinking about endings things a view, but yeah its a hard watch, but still there were something that compelled me and made me finish it, I guess that is what a good auteur can do to you.
I’m very excited for Nolan, Villeneuve, Scorsese and Fincher this year.
Avatar 2? Did it not make the cut here or on the watchlist.. Fwiw, i was not greatly impressed.
@AP- did not make the cut here- I was able to watch prior to doing this list
@Drake – why do you think Avatar 2 is so much weaker than the first film?
@Harry- The narrative is certainly much weaker, and does not have the Dorothy opening up the door to the colorful land of Oz element anymore. I was surprised it was not stronger given Cameron’s track record – even providing two of the better sequels of all-time already in T2 and Aliens. Have you had a chance to catch it? What did you think?
Would you say this has been a weak decade for film? I’m definitely feeling that way. What do you think – is it weaker top to bottom/ just at the top/ not weak? Thanks
@RickRoss89- Weak – unequivocally. But the good news is 2023 looks very promising so far
@RickRoss89 – rough start to the decade for sure
2019 was an all time great year, the top 10 or even lets say top 15 films from 2019 alone is way
stronger than the top 15 films combining 2020, 2021, and 2022
there is reason for optimism though as there are some heavy hitters putting out films in 2023
Ari Aster – I have not seen this but seems to be polarizing
Wes Anderson – his film released last week
Sofia Coppola
Martin Scorsese
Christopher Nolan
David Fincher
@James-Forget about Aster. Glazer’s film has received glowing reviews. It’s a weird film from him with actors I don’t know. His previous films included Scarlett, Kidman and Kingsley. But still the reviews are incredible. However my most anticipated for 2023 would be Lanthimos’ Poor Things.
@James – Thanks for the optimism! Like you and Drake, I’m hopeful things are picking up in 2023 (with similar films in mind). I think Glazer is one of the most interesting auteurs working, and I can’t wait.
I realize a 2023 release is highly unlikely at this point, but I am also beyond excited for Malick’s The Way of the Wind. I have to assume that Malick himself regards it as something like the culmination of his career in film — that much seems to be clearly signposted by that line from A Hidden Life about ‘someday painting a true Christ’, which sounded to me like Malick addressing the audience almost directly regarding the weight and seriousness of his own ambition in taking on this project. I have to wonder, actually, if the preceding Wonder/Knight/Song trilogy was taken on by Malick as a kind of quick-burn warm-up approach to the culminating Christ project, which I imagine he has had in view for a very long time. I am expecting a masterpiece… but probably not for a while yet. (The longer Malick takes in post-production, the more optimistic I become about the quality of the work that will eventually emerge.)
Yep – 2019 was a standout in recent years for sure
Have you seen Spider-Man : Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man : Across the Spider-Verse (2023)? What grade did you assign them?
@Lionel- I have seen both – Across the Spider-Verse is particularly impressive- but no grades yet. What did you think?
I haven’t watched Spider-Man : Across the Spider-Verse. Into the Spider-Verse was interesting. Only watched once. But ultimately wasn’t the biggest fan. I was thinking about giving this series another go.
Both are at least in the archives now? I’ve come down a little on Into the Spider-Verse over the years but still feel its in my top 10 of 2018, and I believe Across the Spider-Verse is equally deserving, at least on first watch.
Has anyone seen an A24 film called Past Lives (2023)? I just noticed it looking up some of the highest rated movies on Metacritic for this decade. Its the directorial debut of Celine Song, she was born in South Korea and moved to Canada as a kid although its listed as an American film given that it appears to be set in NYC
It’s a nice film! It’s generally capably put together with a nice soundtrack, but the real star is Greta Lee’s lead performance (it’s just understated and subtle enough to fit the film perfectly). I’d recommend watching it since it’s an easy watch and it’s something virtually everyone should be able to take something from, although it’s not nearly ambitious enough to be battling with Oppenheimer or Asteroid City for my favourite film of the year thus far.
@James Trapp- I have, in theater a month or so ago. You should see it – very well written.
@ga@Drake – thanks for the responses, look forward to a viewing in near future.
I think is a HR/MS or MS, there’s a shot that maybe make it a MS with black and yellow lightning If I remember correctly and some shots with water reflection and beautiful raining that are outstanding. That’s the strongest case beside the acting that is understated and a compelling story even thought I didn’t really enjoy the film that very much personally.
Has anyone seen the latest Indiana Jones? Indiana Jones 4 never happened, at least that is how I prefer to view it haha
I always thought Mangold is a very mediocre director. Don’t understand the praise bestowed upon Logan. Loved the setting but didn’t like the film that much especially the last part.
@Anderson – I am not familiar with his work, just looked him up and I have only seen 2 of his films, Cop Land (1997) and Identiity (2003) and both I saw a long time ago. I am trying to talk myself into watching it but am having trouble finding worthy reasons though a lot of great series have terrible sequels and it does not change how I feel about the orginal
Wow. You haven’t seen Logan? I thought everyone did.
Ford vs Ferrari is a really good film thought
@James Trapp- I decided to skip this one in theater – so I have not seen it yet – but I will
The Batman was more impressive than I thought it would be. Matt Reeves goes David Fincher with the lighting and color palette. Between the visuals and the relentlessly bleak atmosphere I was reminded of Seven (1995). You even have a serial killer inspired by ideology, although its not related to religion like Spacey’s John Doe character, but rather ideology related to sociopolitical issues.
@James Trapp- Happy to read we’re on the same page here
@James – I think it’s one of the best lit films in recent years, also a rare case where the pandemic helped out filming, by forcing Reeves to work on sound stages for a lot of it we get that more claustophobic tight feel which serves the film.
@Harry and @James Trapp- fun to see Fincher get so much love these days as an influencing force- the film isn’t on the same level as The Batman – but Boston Strangler from
Matt Ruskin (2023) with Keira Knightley also owes just about everything to Fincher
@Drake – one thing I love about Batman films from auteurs is how they are all influenced by vastly different directors
Burton – Lang and Murnau (Metropolis’ city design and German expressionism)
Nolan – Mann and Hitchcock
Reeves – Fincher
@Harry- Yes, very well done here.
I would definitely add Joker in here. It is heavily influenced by Scorsese and The King of Comedy. And part of the Batman Universe.
Did Matt Ruskin’s Boston Strangler(2023) made the archives?
@Lionel- Yes, it is in the archives
Surprised given Metacritic and not rave reviews
I found over 100 films that are in the archives which doesn’t have a positive score on Metacritic. This would be much higher but Metacritic doesn’t even have a page for a lot of films.
Did Past Lives(2023) make the archives? Do you think it is a great film? I saw this on many critics best of the year lists
@Lionel – Past Lives is in the archives. I’ll be putting together the 2023 page in early 2024
Mine as of now
A DECADE IN FILM (2020-2029)
1. Beau Is Afraid— Aster
2. Decision To Leave— PCW
3. Oppenheimer— Nolan
4. The Card Counter— Schraeder
5. I’m Thinking Of Ending Things— Kauffman
6. Dune— Villeneuve
7. The French Dispatch— W. Anderson
8. The Green Knight— Lowery
9. The Northman— Eggers
10. The Batman— M. Reeves
11. Everything Everywhere All At Once— Daniels
12. Spencer— Larraín
13. Babylon— Chazelle
14. Tár— Field
15. The Banshees Of Inisherin— Mcdonagh
Others are good. But damn the one at the top makes me uncomfortable.
Here’s a crazy fact. The three films at the top I’m Thinking of Ending Things(best film of 2020), Decision to Leave(best film of 2022) and The Card Counter(best film of 2021) received 0 Oscar nominations combined. This stretches back to 2019 with Midsommar which also received 0 Oscar nominations.