When the ball dropped at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2020, it ushered in a new decade and closed the curtain on the old one, the 2010s.

Thousands of films were released in this time span, with many being a blip in the cultural consciousness.

But only a few films earned the title of the most influential movies of the 2010s.

These were the movies that struck a chord with the public. They were the movies that became events in their own right, changed the standard for their genre, and had a story so compelling it would stay with its viewers long after the movie finished.

These are some of the movies that made the decade. 

Action 

John Wick (2014)

John Wick is the penultimate action movie of the 2010s.

With a compelling revenge story, fluid, dynamic fight scenes, and beautifully executed stunts, John Wick keeps the audience entertained and amazed.

Despite the majority of the movie being fight scenes, it never feels excessive or like the characters are fighting for no reason. The movie makes the audience genuinely sympathize with John and root for his success.

The character of John Wick has become a cultural icon, mainly due to Keanu Reeves’s stellar performance.

Another reason John Wick is so influential for action movies is the fact that there was no extreme CGI or cutting used to enhance the stunts and fight scenes. Keanu Reeves and many other actors in the film actually did most of their own stunts, which is rare in the industry. 

This technique has led to Tom Cruise, star in the Mission Impossible franchise, to perform his own stunts as well.

John Wick is a monument to movement containing many of the best fight scenes of the decade.

Animation

Frozen (2013)

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the impact Frozen had on the world.

Who doesn’t remember the time when you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing “Let It Go” or seeing Elsa and Anna’s faces plastered on everything from Gogurt to toilet paper?

While any Disney movie is guaranteed to be a hit, I only chose one Disney movie to be in the animation category to prevent this list from being overwhelmed by them.

The choice was obvious.

Every little girl wanted to be Elsa or Anna and every company wanted to cash in on that sweet Frozen cash. With a great soundtrack full of earworms, beautiful animation, and a heartwarming story of two sisters, Frozen has earned its place as one of the most influential movies in animation of the decade.

Romance

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star as Pat and Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook.

Both are broken, damaged people whom the audience roots for to pull through their problems and work it out together.

Pat has lost his wife, his home, and his job and is returning from a stay in the mental hospital to live with his parents. While at home, he must deal with the troubled relationships he has with his family, especially his turbulent relations with his father and his overshadowing brother.

Tiffany is a recent widow who’s been fired from her job and having numerous affairs. They’re no good for each other, but the audience still can’t help but pull for them to make it work.

Silver Linings Playbook explores the complicated relationships that emerge during the lowest points of one’s life. But most importantly, Bradley Cooper, a real-life Eagles fan, plays an Eagles fan in the movie as well. Go birds!

Drama

12 Years A Slave (2013)

Based off the memoir of the same title by Solomon Northam, 12 Years A Slave is one of the most heart wrenching films of the decade.

The movie is brutally realistic and doesn’t shy away from the true horrors of slavery. It’s hard to watch 12 Years A Slave and leave with a dry eye.

The film follows Solomon, a thriving freeman from New York who gets kidnapped and sold into slavery. It shows his plight and that of his fellow slaves.

Tackling harsh ideas such as physical and sexual abuse, the movie captivates the audience despite its long run-time.

12 Years A Slave is a must-see movie for everyone, as its candid depiction of slavery, great cinematography, and incredible acting transport the viewer back in time to teach, horrify, sadden, and inspire them with the true story of Solomon Northam.

Comedy

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

In bringing Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels to life, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World created a cult following for itself despite its initial failure in the box office.

Scott Pilgrim follows Michael Cera as the titular character in his quest to defeat his love interest Ramona Flowers’ evil exes in order to continue dating her. With epic fight scenes and a bomb soundtrack, Scott Pilgrim is a movie that enraptures the audience with its weird and wonderful world.

One of the best parts about the movie is the incredible graphics that incorporate elements of comic books and video games seamlessly, creating a unique look. The film is odd and unpredictable to those who have never read the source material.

There’s never a dull moment.

Scott Pilgrim is also one of the funniest movies of the decade, with a charming humor that blends into the story and never feels like it’s trying too hard.

Combine this with a story about emotional baggage, the hardships of love, and coming to terms with one’s own faults, and you’ll have the incredible adventure that is Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

Fantasy

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

The Harry Potter films and movies helped raise a generation of children and taught them about the importance of friendship, family (both those we are born into and those we create), and of death, especially accepting its inevitability.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 ends the epic saga of Harry Potter and was one of the biggest cinematic events of the decade. People flocked to theaters to see the final chapter of the wizarding series play out on the big screen.

The film touched on many major themes mentioned before, as Harry must join together with friends and family alike to finally stop Voldemort once and for all, but death inevitably looms and comes as the price of war.

The movies had surprisingly deep themes for being based off what many deemed to be children’s books, but those books, and thus the movies, contain timeless themes and stories that can be carried on for generations.

This movie was the end to a series that was an influential part of countless fans’ childhoods and will no doubt be shown to their own children.