Demi Moore poster looking over Margaret Qualley in 'The Substance'Image via Mubi
By
Robert Lee III
Published 30 minutes ago
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
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As we slowly approach six full years of dynamic films in the 2020s, it has become easier than ever to look back on the decade and recognize it for all the cinematic greatness that it has provided so far. From widely celebrated blockbuster films to critically acclaimed independent films, it feels as though all different areas of the film industry have been putting out great pieces of art throughout the 2020s, despite the rocky start with the COVID-19 pandemic.
There's been at least one exceptional masterpiece of filmmaking in every genre during the 2020s, with these modern classics quickly cementing themselves as modern icons of their respective genres. With so many great 2020s films to choose from, it's difficult to single out the singular best film in each genre, yet these films have proven themselves as the most dynamic, well-crafted, and overall celebrated. While the decade isn't over yet, these films stand as the current frontrunners as the best films in their respective genres that will define the genre in the 2020s.
Action: 'RRR' (2022)
Image via Variance Films
There have been many great Hollywood blockbuster action films that have made the most of massive budgets and upped the ante in terms of striking visuals, top-notch stunts and choreography, and an overall heightened sense of impact. However, in terms of the absolute best and most satisfying action of the 2020s so far, one has to go beyond the confines of Hollywood and enter the vast world of Indian cinema with RRR. The explosive take on the story of a duo of real-life Indian revolutionaries features some of the most enthralling and captivating action sequences in quite some time.
Throughout its 3-hour runtime, the film doesn't miss a second of impact and weight for its storytelling and action, with each sequence feeling more memorable and entertaining than the last. It plays into the best, most explosive and stylized aspects of its action filmmaking, transforming its characters into gods of action who command the screen with each slow-motion moment. RRR quickly crossed over the cultural barrier to be one of the biggest Indian action movie successes of all time, even winning an Academy Award for its incredibly catchy original song, "Naatu Naatu."
Animation: 'The Boy and the Heron' (2023)
Mahito and the flying spirits in The Boy and the HeronImage via Studio Ghibli
Few singular filmmakers are as synonymous with mastery over their respective mediums quite like Hayao Miyazaki is for the world of animation, with each one of his films feeling like a monumental feat of filmmaking and a powerful work of art. While the visionary had been retired for nearly a decade, his glorious return to feature filmmaking, The Boy and the Heron, acts as a culmination of his decades-long career of animated brilliance, building upon his classic styles and conventions to tell a powerful story of acceptance.
This style of meticulously crafted, beautifully creative 2D animated film has been such a rarity that its pitch-perfect execution in this film creates an awe-inspiring spectacle of emotional beauty. The Boy and the Heron doesn't just repeat the style and conventions of Miyazaki's previous films, but seamlessly evolves them into the modern world of filmmaking and storytelling, commenting on these notions and using their lasting history for its impactful message of life itself.
Comedy: 'Hundreds of Beavers' (2024)
A still from 'Hundreds of Beavers'Image via Cineverse
While there have been recent attempts to revitalize the major studio comedy throughout the 2020s, the era of star-studded blockbuster comedies dominating the cultural sphere has passed over in favor of more niche comedic outings and an onslaught of streaming offerings. However, one of the unexpected positives of this revelation of modern comedy has been allowing previously invisible and ignored comedy masterpieces to rise to newfound prominence as modern cult classics. Hundreds of Beavers is easily the best example.
The film fully embraces its wild vision for comedy brilliance, not relying on broad appeal to a general audience and instead sticking to a distinct niche of cartoon madness and absurd brilliance. The film's mixture of goofy costumes and green screen visuals with manic slapstick action has made it an instant cult classic of the digital era and one of the most beloved original comedy films of recent memory. Its cult classic status will only continue to grow as the years go by, as it arguably stands as the most universally acclaimed comedy of the decade so far.
Drama: 'The Zone of Interest' (2023)
Christian Friedel as Rudolf Hoss in 'The Zone of Interest'Image via A24
A slow-paced and methodically haunting war drama about the pure evil of banality and the atrocities that people are willing to excuse in pursuit of a normal life, The Zone of Interest is one of the most relevant and powerful dramas of the modern era. It's a film that doesn't hold the audience's hand in terms of its painful themes and messaging, while at the same time allowing these horrors to manifest in the form of audio and disturbing imagination.
Especially with so many different WWII movies finding great emotional response out of their painful portrayal of such atrocities, The Zone of Interest gets a lot of mileage out of placing its focus directly on the unassuming evil that allowed it to happen. Especially in a modern era of political turmoil where genocide and other atrocities are simply looked over and ignored by many for the sake of their own self-interests, The Zone of Interest's timeless yet deeply relevant approach to the matter grows more powerful with each passing day.
Epic: 'The Brutalist' (2024)
Guy Pearce as Harrison Lee Van Buren in The Brutalist.Image via A24
While there have been many well-crafted epic films in the 2020s that cross over with various other genres, no singular filmmaking achievement quite exemplifies the scale and weight of a cinematic epic like The Brutalist. From its massive scale and glorious production design to its lofty, nearly 4-hour length and built-in intermission, the film goes to great lengths to adhere to a larger scale and weight to its story that simply isn't felt in many other modern films.
The exceptional historical epic is more than just its scale, however, as its dynamic exploration and deconstruction of the American dream make it a deeply insightful and important film for the 2020s as a whole. Nearly every aspect of the film's execution and production adds to its alluring nature and sense of importance, a true achievement and a step forward for filmmaking taking place in real time. While its massive length has made The Brutalist a daunting watch for several audiences, those who are willing to take the plunge will be incredibly delighted by its powerful execution.
Fantasy: 'The Green Knight' (2021)
Ralph Ineson in The Green KnightImage via A24
Evolving the stylings and brilliance of the all-time Arthurian classic into the modern age of filmmaking and visual brilliance, The Green Knight sticks to the messaging and weight of the original story while adding a distinct magical charm. While it shares the title with the singular iconic tale, it actually relays a wide variety of Sir Gawain's (Dev Patel) journeys across the countryside, adding to the mythos and scale of the mythical Arthurian world as a whole.
David Lowery does his absolute best to imbue the classic story with the same sense of magic and otherworldly style that has made it such an endearing classic for countless generations. The classic story doesn't lose a beat of impact or brilliance with this modern retelling, with top-notch costuming and awe-inspiring visual effects elevating the story to make it hit as hard for modern audiences. In terms of the fantasy genre as a whole, no other 2020s film comes close to such an exceptional level of worldbuilding, fantastical visual style, and the timeless energy of a classic fable.
Horror: 'The Substance' (2024)
Image via Mubi
While The Substance technically fits the confines and qualifications for a brand of "elevated horror" that has defined the modern age of independent horror, its wildly chaotic execution makes it a truly singular experience. As opposed to many other modern horror films, which are more subdued and subtle with their messaging and metaphors, The Substance is about as in-your-face and obvious as possible with its themes and messages of beauty standards and female self-hatred.
This high-energy, in-your-face style amplifies every aspect of the film, from the powerful and layered lead performances to the non-stop barrage of gore and body horror violence in its third act. Between all the uncomfortable subject matter and disturbing visuals, The Substance stays entertaining in the face of pain thanks to a wild, flashy approach to tone and filmmaking. The horror masterpiece fully embraces its sense of style to make for one of the most cathartic experiences that 2020s horror has to offer.
Sci-Fi: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)
Making massive waves worldwide and becoming the first sci-fi film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, it's difficult to imagine a future where Everything Everywhere All at Once isn't one of the most iconic and celebrated sci-fi movies of this era. Its combination of top-notch action choreography and a highly creative and entertaining premise with genuinely heartfelt emotions at its core has made it an instant fan-favorite and icon of original 2020s cinema.
The film builds upon and perfects the trends in action comedy that have persisted throughout the 2010s, combining them with the vast, limitless possibilities of a sci-fi multiverse story to create a never-ending joyride of catharsis. Everything Everywhere All at Once is the type of unbelievable film that will have an audience laughing their asses off in one moment and holding back tears in another, all while maintaining its distinct, wacky, maximalist sci-fi world.
Thriller: 'Oppenheimer' (2023)
Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, standing outside in Oppenheimer (2023).Image via Universal Pictures
The proclaimed magnum opus of director Christopher Nolan and slowly rising through the ranks to be one of the most acclaimed and celebrated historical thrillers of all time, Oppenheimer has already cemented its powerful legacy in modern cinema. One may be quick to say that the film is the most iconic and definitive release of the decade so far, out of every genre, as it seemingly hits every mark and finds unbridled success by every metric imaginable.
Nolan's long and impactful history of thrillers comes together in full force for this glorious atomic bomb history lesson, utilizing nail-biting tension, slowly rising dread, and a never-ending array of brilliant performances to amplify this story. While the film may technically fall into a wide variety of different genres and styles, its signature thrills and undeniable tension have made it the quintessential thriller of the 2020s so far, a title that it will likely hold without much challenge.
Western: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023)
Robert De Niro as William Hale, leaning on a fence, in Killers of the Flower MoonImage via Apple TV
Westerns are far from the cultural cornerstone that they once held in American culture, with many of the most popular Western stories of the modern era coming from TV series like Yellowstone and 1923. As such, it only makes sense that the defining Western film of the 2020s would be a stark deconstruction of the Western mythos as a whole, with Killers of the Flower Moon utilizing the Western style for a story of pain and death.
Killers of the Flower Moon certainly has the look and feel of a high-budget Western, yet instead of high-octane action and thrilling, glorified violence, the film festers in the pain and systematic hurt felt due to the abusive power during the period. It balances its stark, shocking subject matter with a powerful yet tragic central narrative, as director Martin Scorsese maximizes the impact of each emotional heartstring being pulled. While it certainly doesn't adhere to the norms and expectations of a Western, it cannot be denied that Killers of the Flower Moon is both the most important and well-crafted Western experience that the 2020s have to offer so far.
Killers of the Flower Moon
History
Drama
Crime
7
10
Runtime
200minutes
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio, Louis Cancelmi, Jillian Dion, Scott Shepherd, Jesse Plemons, JaNae Collins, Robert De Niro, Jason Isbell, Cara Jade Myers, Lily Gladstone
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese
Genres
History, Drama, Crime
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