A Look Back at My Top 10 Films of The Decade and How I Would Have Changed My Number One Picks

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my Top 10 favorite movie lists over the past decade and look at my number one picks for each of the years. As I did this, I realized how I’ve grown and how I would change some of those choices today.

I threw the year 2009 on my list as well just because when I looked back at my list for that year, I was surprised to see Star Trek at the top of it. I wanted to make a change to that!

2009 - My number one pick was J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. This is what I said at the time:

“The moment the movie started I was in awe, my jaw just dropped and hung open. I was immediately engulfed in the world that was created for us. The movie had me in a big giant hug from the beginning to the end of the film, and it wasn’t like a tight annoying bear hug, it was a comforting hug that just felt right. I couldn’t believe the awesomeness that was unfolding before my eyes! Gigantic starships flying through space, lasers and explosions, mixed with incredible sound effects and music, a fantastic story with wonderful characters all mixed together in a flurry of brilliance made this one of the best movie going experiences I have had in a very long time.”

I was actually surprised to see this at the top of my list! I didn’t remember Star Trek being my number one pick! Now, that top spot would have gone to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, which was number three on that initial list!

2010 - My number one pick was Darren Aronfsky’s Black Swan. Here’s what I said about it:

“I loved how disturbingly beautiful this movie was. I’ve never seen anything like this before, and Darren Aronofsky completely rocked my world with it. Every time I watched this movie I liked it more than the last time. This film started at #3 on this list, and it worked it’s way up through the ranks to becoming my number one favorite movie of the year. Not only is it my favorite of 2010, but I think it’s the best! Aronofsky did such an incredible job bringing this extremely intense world and story to life.

“Natalie Portman was absolutely brilliant in this film as well. Not only did she give the best performance of her career, and the year, but I believe Portman gave one of the single best performances ever in a film. She deserves to win the Oscar for Best Actress, and I'll be pissed if she doesn't! It was hands down the best female performance I’ve ever seen.”

Yeah, I did enjoy Black Swan and it was a great film. But looking back on that year now, I would have chosen Christopher Nolan’s Inception as my number one pick. I look back, and I’m actually surprised that I didn’t and it landed in the number three spot that year! What was I thinking!?

2011 - My number one pick was Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. Here’s what I said about it:

“Steven Spielberg directed yet another perfect movie. War Horse has won the top spot on my Top 10 list of best movies of the year. I have to admit I wasn't really all that excited about seeing this movie, but good Lord! It ended up being an incredible film! I loved this movie, it's one of those inspirational stories that needed to be told. War Horse is everything we love about movies, and it's Spielberg at his best. What he did with these horses in this film and its powerful story and themes simply blew me away in every way. I couldn't be more pleased with this movie.”

I still kind of want to keep that at number one. I really did love that film. But if I were to switch it out with another movie that came out that year it would be Brad Pitt’s Moneyball. Out of all the movies that came out in 2011, that is the one that I find myself revisiting most. That film was number eight on my list!

2012 - My number one pick was Joss Whedon’s The Avengers. Here’s what I said about it:

“How can this one not be at the top of my list?! It was incredible! And the greatest and most epic superhero movie to date. It's the superhero film by which all other superhero films will be judged. It set the new standard, and it seems like Marvel will just keep raising the bar. Watching this was the most fun I had at the movies all year! I have a feeling the second phase of Marvel's master plan is going to be even more glorious! Joss Whedon did an amazing job bringing fans the badass movie we were all hoping for, and I can't wait to see what he does with the sequel!”

Yep, I sure did enjoy the hell out of that movie, but if I were to switch it out with a non-Marvel movie it would be with Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods, which filled the number two slot that year. That’s one of those films that just filled me with utter joy.

2013 - My number one pick was Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity. Here’s what I said about it:

“This film had everything that we love about movies–drama, suspense, humor and it was an inspiring tale of survival. It took the me to a place I have never really seen in that way before, and it simply blew me away and left me in awe. This is just one of those movies that helped change cinema.”

Looking back on it now, the movie is pretty forgettable. It’s weird how that happens. I’ve only watched it one other time after seeing it in theaters. Now, I would have put James Wan’s The Conjuring at the top of the list. That’s one of the best horror films of the decade for sure. That movie originally filled the number three spot on my list.

2014 - My number one pick was James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Here’s what I said about it:

“This is hands down the best movie Marvel has made so far. I couldn't believe that they were able to pull this off so brilliantly. This was the most fun I had at the movies this year, which is why I watched it four times in the theaters. Storytelling like this is the reason why I love going to the movies so damn much!”

I remember really struggling this year with what I wanted my number one film to be. It was between this and Jon Favreau’s Chef. I actually switched it back and forth a couple of times after I published the article! I loved Chef so much because it came to me at a time in my life where I really needed it. That film, in a way, changed my life. For that reason, I would now switch it back into the number one spot.

2015 - My number one pick was J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Here’s what I said:

“It’s freakin’ Star Wars, and it turned out to be everything I hoped it would! I’m so happy that J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm delivered a film that the fans have been waiting 30 years to see. He pulled it off beautifully, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m so excited for the future of Star Wars!”

Yep, I was blinded by the return of Star Wars. It definitely was an exciting time to see Star Wars return, but looking back on it now, I definitely wouldn’t put it on the top of my list. That shot should have gone to George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road! Looking back, that was definitely the best film of 2015. That was number two on my list. Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Revenant was also a great film, but I’m sticking with Fury Road.

2016 - My number one pick was Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge. Here’s what I said:

“The story that this film tells just completely blew me away. It was such a powerful film that was masterfully told by director Mel Gibson. He’s one of the best filmmakers working today, and this film reminds us of that. This film just completely overwhelmed me with emotions, and it’s the one film this year that I watched in theaters five times. That’s how much I loved it.”

I don’t think I would switch this one out for another movie. I still love this film. However, if I were going to switch it out with something, it would be director Travis Knight’s Kubo and the Two Strings. That was just such a beautifully-made film, and it was number five on my list for that year.

2017 - My number one pick was Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Here’s what I said:

“Not only is It one of the scariest movies of the year, but it was also just a damn good film that told an incredible story that involved some wonderfully lovable characters. This surprisingly turned out to be an amazing adaptation of my favorite Stephen King book and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I liked it so much that I saw it six times in the theater!”

Again, this is probably one that I wouldn’t want to change. It: Chapter 1 was a hell of a great film that I thoroughly enjoyed. If I was going to switch it out with something, though, it would have to be Hugh Jackman’s Logan. That was number three on my list.

2018 - My number one pick was Sony animation’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Here’s what I said:

“This was my number one favorite movie of the year. The movie blew me away and delivered, in my opinion, the best and most entertaining movie of the year. This is just one of those films that brought me pure joy and happiness.”

This is another choice I wouldn’t change. This movie was just filled with too much greatness. But, if I had a gun to my head telling me to change my mind, I would have to go with Stephen Spielberg’s Ready Player One, which was number two on my list. I had an absolute blast watching that movie. I still enjoy watching both of these films equally.

2019 - My number one choice for this year is Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit:

Jojo Rabbit was such a wonderfully humorous and moving film that carried a powerful message. It was incredible to see how Waititi perfectly juggled the comedy and drama, especially with the heavy subject matter that it dealt with. On top of that, the kid who played Jojo, Roman Griffin Davis, gave an incredible performance. One of the best performances of the year!

What are some of your favorite films that have come out over the past decade?