Top Fifty Films of the 2010s: A Retrospective – No.s 40-31

As 2020’s cinematic releases continue to be pushed back into 2021, I thought now would be a good time to take a retrospective look back at my 50 favourite films from the last decade, in case anyone’s looking for some inspiration of what to watch.

To prevent the Top Fifty from becoming completely swamped with (let’s be honest) Marvel films, I’ve introduced the rule that only one film from a franchise can appear in the Top Fifty (subject to a few special cases). I should also stress that these are my favourite Top Fifty films from the 2010s, not necessarily the “best” (whatever that means).

I’ve already covered numbers 50 to 41 in my rundown, so without further ado, here are numbers 40 to 31 in my Top Fifty Films of the 2010s:

40) Star Trek: Beyond (2016): The Star Trek alternate timeline film series got off to a great start in 2009, before misfiring with 2013’s Into Darkness. Beyond (co-written by Simon Pegg) was a real return to form, focusing again on the key relationships between the crewmates, and finding interesting subplots for each of them. I have a lot of affection for this fun sequel that is both a timely reminder of Star Trek’s core message of unity and cooperation, and also an enjoyable send off for the rebooted crew.

39) The Town (2010): Although it was 2012’s Argo that won the Oscar, I prefer Ben Affleck’s earlier directorial effort, The Town, with the tragic friendship between Affleck’s and Jeremy Renner’s thieves at its centre. Aided by a fantastic supporting cast including Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall and an almost unrecognisable Blake Lively, this is a fantastic crime thriller, with a suitably tense final act.

38) Mary Poppins Returns (2018): This belated sequel really took me by surprise, as I never expected it to be as enchanting and heart-warming as it is. It really shouldn’t have worked, as it makes no attempt to update the tone or style of the film for modern audiences – but because of that, it feels like it transports you back to your childhood, to simpler (less cynical) times, and for that reason alone, it’s a must watch family-friendly pick-me-up.

37) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Speaking of belated sequels with a recast lead actor, I also wasn’t expecting much from the fourth Mad Max film (especially as I didn’t think the third one was really any good) – but Fury Road not only gives us the best depiction of Max Rockatansky since Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, it also gives us Charlize Theron’s iconic portrayal of Imperator Furiosa. Showcasing real-life stunt work (with minimal CGI) and stripped back acting (with minimal dialogue), Fury Road is a masterpiece of action cinema.

36) Gravity (2013): With the exception of George Clooney’s cameo, and a few voice actors, this tense disaster thriller is a one-woman show, with Sandra Bullock ably carrying the film singlehandedly. Visually, Gravity is a tour de force, and director Alfonso Cuarón expertly cranks the tension up for the nerve-wracking 91 minute runtime – but ultimately, it’s Bullock’s emotional journey that brings me back time and again to this film.

35) Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): I’ll confess that I was never a huge fan of the 1995 original Jumanji film, but this sequel/reboot/reinvention is a stroke of genius, and is a perfect example of how to update and reinvigorate an earlier concept, without simply rehashing it or ruining it. Taking the principles from the first film but flipping them on their head (so we see what happens “inside” the game, rather than seeing the game spill out into the real world again), this strikes a perfect balance between the family-friendly humour and adventure, with some absolutely inspired casting.

34) Battle: Los Angeles (2011): We’ve had Oscar-winners and box office behemoths in the Top Fifty so far, but now we come to my first “guilty pleasure”! Battle: Los Angeles is a film that most people probably don’t even remember exists, but I love it – from its amazing cast (including Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Peña and Bridget Moynahan) to its epic action sequences, to its enjoyably gung-ho bravado. Sure, it’s no Aliens, but it’s probably my favourite outmatched-soldiers-battle-unstoppable-aliens film that isn’t directed by James Cameron.

33) Ex Machina (2014): Alex Garland’s directorial debut may not be as expansive as his follow-up effort Annihilation, but its stripped back simplicity is the secret to its success. Essentially a three-hander between Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander (in her breakthrough role), this psychological sci-fi thriller expertly ratchets up the tension as the three characters explore the limits of artificial intelligence.

32) Zootropolis (2016): Part family-friendly caper, part 70s-style conspiracy thriller (albeit with talking animals), Zootropolis works on several different levels, combining inventive sight-gags and great mismatched buddy-cop banter with a genuinely gripping detective story. Add to the mix a frightening topical subtext about racial prejudices and discrimination, and you have some truly special family entertainment.

31) Moana (2016): 2016 was a hell of a year for Disney Animation, with Zootropolis and Moana both making my Top Fifty. You could argue that Zootropolis is technically the better film, but personally, I have a huge amount of affection for Moana, with its incredibly catchy songs, its respect for Polynesian culture and mythology, and its emotional and surprisingly unpredictable final act.

So that’s numbers 40 to 31 in my Top Fifty Films of the 2010s – watch out for numbers 30 to 21 coming soon.