Despite beginning with a lack of releases due to the pandemic, the 2020s has already produced some amazing cinema that will inevitably stand the test of time. As the rest of the decade unfolds, this list will undoubtedly evolve, but for now, here are my picks for the best movies of the decade through the first few years.
1. Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Godzilla Minus One is a grandiose cinematic masterpiece with a beautiful story. Director Takashi Yamazaki depicts a touching character study of a young man wrestling with recent trauma, wrecked by decisions in his immediate past. Simultaneously, Yamazaki directs an epic action blockbuster about a formidable dinosaur creature wreaking havoc on Japan. The CGI is rather convincing for the movie’s low budget, and the acting is superb. The film masterfully manipulates suspense and delivers a touching story about survivor’s guilt.
2. The Batman (2022)
The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. This version portrays the intense hero as being fearless in his stealth. The gritty atmosphere compliments the bleakly endless cycle of crime that consumes Gotham city. The tale includes the caped crusader in much more of a detective role than we’ve ever seen. With the Riddler’s serial killer style and Bruce Wayne’s human-like complexity, the film is a fairly realistic adaptation of Batman. Director Matt Reeves adds strong religious symbolism to enhance the sophisticated subject matter as well. This film is filled with thematic depth, and the soundtrack is perfectly fitting.
3. The Holdovers (2023)
Set in the seventies, The Holdovers recounts the story of high schoolers who are forced to stay at their boarding school over Christmas break. Accompanying them is an unpopular teacher, played by Paul Giamatti, and a cafeteria manager played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The film transports the audience back to 1970s New England with the incredible filmography and tells a compelling story about relationships. The film is rather simple, yet resonant.
4. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
2023’s Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Everything Everywhere All at Once, is about a Chinese immigrant mother who discovers parallel universes and must save the world. The film is extremely creative and like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Some of the ideas get rather bizarre, but at its core, it is a moving work of art about love and what it truly means to be happy. Ke Huy Quan delivers an unforgettable performance in his various roles.
5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse (2023)
The second installment of Miles Morales’ adventures features the multiverse in a much more prominent role. The film includes a secret Spider-Man society and a new villain for Miles to deal with. All the significant characters from Into the Spider-verse return, along with a few new faces. The film’s animation is spectacular and perhaps even more imaginative than in its predecessor. The story is fun, the music is incredible, and the cinematography is revolutionary.
6. Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer details the creation, and terrifying success of the Manhattan Project led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. The spectacle contains impressive acting performances across the board headlined by Cilian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt. Nolan balances Oppenheimer’s work struggles with his relationship issues. The film involves intricate dialogue and demands the viewer’s full attention. The epic scenes of extravagant cinematography are truly awe-inspiring due to their carefully selected placement.
7. Asteroid City (2023)
Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City is a quirky story about a town that encounters a UFO. The film reflects on the quarantine of 2020 and details the oddity of something so unknown. The overarching message of the movie is that not everything has a deeper meaning. Sometimes in both art and life, we get so entrenched in the search for a profound message that we forget to appreciate the experience itself. Asteroid City indeed provides a wonderful experience as a vibrantly set coming of age film with great actors and fun humor. It truly has the charm of a Wes Anderson film and is one of his best in terms of the aesthetic.
8. Tick Tick Boom (2021)
Centered around the life of playwright Jonathon Larson, Tick Tick Boom stars Andrew Garfield in his first major musical role. His character is a dramatic representation of a struggling artist, watching his life collapse in on itself. The story is a moving reminder about the value of time. Andrew Garfield authentically conveys heartbreak and triumph in one of the best performances of his career. This movie is genuinely a memorable and elegant piece of art.
9. Perfect Days (2023)
Perfect Days is about a man living in Tokyo named Hirayama. Hirayama is a normal guy in his sixties, living his life as a public bathroom cleaner. He is quiet, lives on his own, and enjoys reading, as well as listening to cassette tapes on his drive to work. Hirayama has good days and bad days. He hits a bit of a rough patch when his difficult past catches up to him, but he eventually falls back on his routine, taking comfort in the repetition. This film is an amazing character study of a regular guy who finds acceptance and joy in his simple life. It definitely is a bit of a slow burn, but it is assembled with an amazing soundtrack, and great cast.
10. Coda (2021)
Coda tells the story of a girl whose entire family is deaf. She is the only hearing member of the family, and ironically finds a passion in music. She joins her school choir but wants to pursue her dream on a more serious level. However, her job as the family’s sole interpreter constantly gets in the way. The movie is a heartwarming narrative, masterfully manipulating sound for a potent effect.
