The 2020s are still in their early stage, but the era has already produced some truly incredible films. The past few years have delivered movies praised for several reasons, such as groundbreaking visual achievements and creative storytelling techniques.
From the spectacular Oppenheimer to the heartbreaking Drive My Car, these recent standout movies will undoubtedly go on to define this decade of filmmaking. They have set a high bar for the rest of the 2020s, which will hopefully continue to offer similar works full of innovation and emotion spanning a variety of genres.
Whether they’re big-budget blockbusters or lesser-known indie gems, these are the must-see films of the 2020s so far.
10. Drive My Car (2021)
Drive My Car is a thought-provoking Japanese drama film that follows Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a stage actor and director who is struggling with the recent death of his wife, Oto (Reika Kirishima). Two years after her death, Yusuke accepts a residency to direct a play in Hiroshima, where he is assigned a chauffeur, Misaki Watari (Toko Miura). Though initially uneasy with each other, Yusuke and Misaki form an unexpected bond through their shared car rides and increasingly emotive conversations.
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car has emerged as one of the best Japanese movies and earned numerous accolades, with many hailing it among the greatest indie films ever. With its gorgeous cinematography to match its patient pacing and rich character development, the 2021 movie lulls viewers into the intimate and tragic story that unfolds as the two protagonists learn to trust each other. Its focus on Yusuke’s journey, in particular, is a sensitive portrait of the painful path toward acceptance following a devastating loss.
9. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Sandra Hüller stars as Sandra Voyter, a German writer accused of murdering her husband, Samuel (Samuel Theis), in Anatomy of a Fall. Directed by Justine Triet, the film starts with Samuel’s death before turning into a courtroom drama that dissects the events leading up to it. The couple’s issues are unraveled in the process, and even their visually impaired son, Daniel (Milo Machado Graner), becomes involved. The courtroom becomes a battleground where personal histories and hidden motives are laid bare, with the truth becoming increasingly unclear the more details that are exposed in the trial.
Anatomy of a Fall soars thanks to Hüller’s portrayal of Sandra, with her character’s emotional turmoil and air of mystery being the heart of the film. The movie deftly balances the riveting aspects of a procedural with gripping family drama, drawing viewers into the messy family’s lives and struggles in the remote French mountain town where Samuel would meet his untimely demise. Audiences who like their stories clearcut should steer clear of this one, as the 2023 film embraces ambiguity until the very end, leaving fans to make up their own minds.
8. All of Us Strangers (2023)
Directed by Andrew Haigh and based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel titled Strangers, All of Us Strangers is a deeply moving romantic fantasy film centered on the writer Adam (Andrew Scott). Used to living in a lonely high-rise in London, Adam’s life changes when he meets his mysterious neighbor, Harry (Gladiator 2‘s Paul Mescal). As they grow closer, the protagonist begins experiencing strange encounters with his deceased parents who appear just as they were before their tragic deaths when Adam was a kid.
All of Us Strangers is a tearjerking depiction of grief and trauma, with its central ghost story serving as a reflection of Adam’s unresolved emotions. The unexpected romance with Harry is heartwarming and beautiful, but the film’s fantastical elements ensure that there’s more than meets the eye with each new surreal meeting. One of the best movies of 2023, Haigh’s film is a haunting exploration of loss and all the ways it can isolate people and bring them together. It’s executed with such poetry and grace that it will leave most viewers with tears in their eyes.
7. Aftersun (2022)
Aftersun is a poignant drama directed by Charlotte Wells, with the film depicting a summer vacation at a Turkish resort where 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) is staying with her young father, Calum (Paul Mescal, again). The story is told from Sophie’s perspective as an adult as she looks back on the vacation through old footage that captured most of their holiday. As more of these recordings are played, there are subtle hints that Calum’s outlook doesn’t quite match the idyllic and carefree days Sophie was enjoying back then.
Praised for its nuance and intimate atmosphere, Aftersun takes its time to tell what should be a shocking and disturbing story quietly and delicately. Viewers step into adult Sophie’s shoes as she goes on a contemplative and painful journey into a version of the past that has drastically changed from where she’s standing today. Now rightly among the best modern coming-of-age films, the 2022 movie offers an introspective narrative that boasts a rare sensitivity and tender understanding of the power of memory and changing perspectives.
6. The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Director Hayao Miyazaki produces one of his greatest movies to date with 2023’s The Boy on the Heron. The animated fantasy movie is centered on a young boy named Mahito (Soma Santoki), who moves to the countryside with his father after the death of his mother. Struggling with his loss, Mahito soon meets a mysterious grey heron who claims he can lead him to her, but then guides him to a fantastical world where he meets various magical creatures and faces impossible challenges.
Miyazaki returns to filmmaking with his most mature film yet, with The Boy and the Heron‘s main arc mirroring the director’s own. The coming-of-age story uses its lush magical setting to meditate on loss, with Mahito’s journey being both a literal and metaphorical passage through his grief. Like many Studio Ghibli movies, the film delivers this emotional message against a stunning animated backdrop, with the acclaimed film immediately feeling like a worthy addition and ode to Miyazaki’s illustrious body of work.
5. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
The Banshees of Inisherin is a deliciously dark tragicomedy directed by Martin McDonagh. Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, the film follows the lives of two lifelong friends, Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), whose daily routines are forever changed when Colm abruptly decides to end their friendship. Pádraic, bewildered and desperate to understand why, attempts to mend the rift in increasingly frantic ways, which only causes the situation to escalate into a bitter feud with tragic and shocking consequences.
The ultimate friendship breakup film, The Banshees of Inisherin starts with a seemingly simple premise and takes it to some absurd and unsettling places. Pádraic’s refusal to accept the sudden end of their bond only pushes Colm to make harsh ultimatums that even lead to startling violence. Its bleak storyline is infused with humor throughout, with McDonagh masterfully blending comedy and tragedy with a finesse that has helped cement his work as a modern classic.
4. The Zone of Interest (2023)
A historical drama film directed by Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest is a chilling depiction of the lives of a Nazi commandant, Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), and his family, who live next to Auschwitz during World War II. Alongside his wife, Hedwig Höss (Sandra Hüller), he seems to lead a totally normal life, with their entire family indifferent to the atrocities just beyond the walls around their idyllic home. The couple has typical arguments about Rudolf’s career, Hedwig hosts social events and tends to her garden, and the kids play around the property.
The Zone of Interest is a master class in proving that subtlety can capture unbelievable horrors on the big screen. It’s a hair-raising picture of the banality of evil, which it shows through its juxtaposition of the serene domestic life the family leads with the monstrosity of the concentration camp. Whether it’s coughing from the smoke in the air or a comment about the vines growing on the walls, the smallest lines and scenes take on disturbing meanings in one of the most important war films of the decade.
3. Dune: Part Two (2024)
Dune is shaping up to be one of the best sci-fi film series of all time, thanks to director Denis Villeneuve’s impressive follow-up to 2021’s Dune: Part One. Based on Frank Herbert’s famously “unadaptable” novels, Dune: Part Two is the epic continuation of Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) sprawling saga. It sees him join forces with the Fremen to exact revenge on those who annihilated his family. Along the way, he falls in love with Chani (Zendaya), who helps him learn Fremen culture, which ultimately allows him to become part of their community. He soon has to make a choice to embrace his role as their Lisan al-Gaib,or messiah, knowing what this means for the future.
The protagonist’s Hero’s Journey is in full swing in the sequel, which is also much more action-packed than the first film that focused on world-building. Dune: Part Two features breathtaking battles and sweeping landscapes timed perfectly with a magnificent score that captures the grandeur and gravity of Muad’Dib’s transformation. The 2024 film is a thrilling spectacle that pulls viewers in, leaving them wanting more.
2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had the tough job of being the follow-up to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, which has been hailed as one of the best animated movies of all time. The 2023 film doesn’t just live up to this high standard, but exceeds it with its exciting story that continues to follow Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). Miles discovers the existence of a vast Spider-Verse that’s home to countless Spider-People, which has been kept a secret from him. He has to set his confusion aside to team up with various Spider-People, including Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya), and others, to confront a new villain called The Spot and save the interconnected universes.
Boasting even more groundbreaking visuals that are an eclectic mix of different styles as Miles jumps from one universe to another, Across the Spider-Verse‘s creative aesthetics make each frame a work of art. It also does an excellent job of crafting a dizzying, yet exhilarating world that draws from the comics, bringing characters fans know and love to life. By the end of the film, Miles is solidified as a protagonist worth rooting for, with many fans waiting to see where his story goes in the third and final installment in the trilogy, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
Director Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a landmark achievement in cinema that became a global sensation when it premiered in 2023. Cillian Murphy stars as the real-life figure J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant and controversial physicist behind the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The film chronicles Oppenheimer’s life, from his early academic pursuits to his becoming known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” It also introduces several of his colleagues, close friends, and lovers, all played by a stellar cast that includes Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, and more.
Aside from trending on social media thanks to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that saw audiences watching Oppenheimer and Barbie back to back, Nolan’s film would also take home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It’s visually and narratively ambitious, blending practical and special effects to capture the moments leading up to the bomb, the tests, and its aftermath. The epic story is ultimately anchored by an effective character study that shows a man grappling with the devastating consequences of his creation, with Murphy’s performance as Oppenheimer being one for the ages.
