The 50 Best Movies of 2010 Part 1

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50 Best Movies of 2010

By Moviefone Staff

Much has been debated about the quality of the top movies released this year, but that we were able to pull together a list of the 50 best movies of 2010 means it couldn’t have been so bad after all.

After the jump, we count down our favorite movies of the year, from the mind-bending ‘Inception’ to the movie that may have defined our generation, ‘The Social Network.’

Think you can figure out which movie topped our list? There’s only one way to find out. – the Moviefone Editors, Dec. 21, 2010

50. ‘Alice in Wonderland’
What’s with the hate, critics? Granted, Tim Burton’s refashioning of Lewis Carroll’s tale lacked some narrative focus, and it probably didn’t need to be in 3-D. But the film is visually striking, Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen and her gigantic head (not to mention those frog servants) had us in stitches, and Mia Wasikowska is lovely as an Alice who only wants to live her own life. Just please don’t make us watch Johnny Depp break-dance again. — Patricia J. Chui

49. ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’
We know what you’re thinking: ‘Twilight’? Really?! But before you judge, hear us out: While it didn’t exactly reinvent ‘Citizen Kane,’ at the end of the day, ‘Eclipse’ was a pretty fun time at the movies. Sure, it had its fair share of ‘Twilight’ trappings, and we still think Bella would have been better off with Jacob, not Edward. But as an action-thriller, ‘Eclipse’ totally worked. (The scene in which Bryce Dallas Howard gets her head smashed? Awesome.) If ever there was a time to embrace ‘The Twilight Saga,’ it would be 2010. — Andy Scott

48. ‘Made in Dagenham’
Another spirited ‘Full Monty’-style tale of working-class Britons standing up for themselves and challenging class and gender norms in the process — only this one happens to be based on a true story. Sally Hawkins is feisty, funny and ultimately moving as the Norma Rae type who leads a squad of seamstresses at a Ford plant in 1968 in England’s first successful battle to ensure that women earned equal pay to men in equivalent jobs. — Gary Susman

47. ‘Buried‘
A claustrophobic’s worst nightmare, this is the only film to ever take place entirely within the confines of a wooden coffin. The sole person we ever see on screen –- Paul (played by Ryan Reynolds) –- endures just about every horror possible. As the viewer we are buried alive, too, and we gasp for air right along with him. This one’s definitely not for the faint of heart. –Chris Jancelewicz

46. ‘TRON: Legacy’
Disney took a major gamble by throwing an estimated $170 million at a sequel to a cult 1982 movie that few people have ever seen. Whether it earns back that massive investment remains to be seen, but the overall result is a genuinely exciting, eye-popping, 3-D action flick about a human (Garrett Hedlund) who gets sucked into a sentient computer program while searching for his long-lost father (Jeff Bridges). You can bet that if it does turn a profit, the next installment in the ‘TRON’ franchise won’t take 28 years to come to the screen. –John Sellers

45. ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’
Jim Carrey turns in his funniest movie in a decade in this bizarre true story about a gay con-man who won’t let prison — or anything else, for that matter — keep him from the love of his life, Phillip Morris (Ewan MacGregor). This subversive, laugh-a-minute comedy — which almost didn’t get released — is ‘Catch Me if You Can’ with dark, twisted humor and a zany lead performance by Carrey. — Brian Childs

44. ‘Shutter Island’
When is a horror film just a little bit “more” of a horror film? When folks like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio lend their inestimable talents to a crafty new take on a very old story. A charmingly old-fashioned “haunted asylum” thriller on one hand, and a fascinating rumination on the deceptive powers of madness on the other, the film succeeds on equal doses of moody atmosphere, clever storytelling and some powerfully good acting. (Mark Ruffalo is particularly great as DiCaprio’s detective partner.) Although it probably won’t rank among Mr. Scorsese’s all-time best, ‘Shutter Island’ stands as a testament to the man’s love for cinema. — Scott Weinberg

43. ‘Monsters’
This overlooked, low-budget sci-fi gem proves the old adage that less is more. Shot for a reported $15,000 and devoid of flashy special effects or a marquis name, ‘Monsters’ had to make do instead with a solid story; it documents a romance that blossoms in a Mexico “infected” by (usually unseen) giant squid-like aliens. In the process, like ‘District 9′ before it, the film provides a neat allegory about a thorny real-world subject (in this case, immigration). — JS

42. ‘Casino Jack and the United States of Money’
Kevin Spacey made a game try of embodying disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (in a fiction feature simply called ‘Casino Jack,’) but in Alex Gibney’s documentary, the real thing is even funnier and more outrageous. Gibney untangles the double-dealing schemes that made Abramoff Washington’s most powerful influence peddler, the scandals that took him down (and some national politicians with him), and the system of Congressional payola he perfected, which continues humming smoothly and fleecing taxpayers in his absence. — GS

41. ‘Catfish’
One of the most buzzed-about documentaries of the year grabbed everyone’s attention with its creepy trailer and “shh, don’t tell” ad campaign. Following three New York City filmmakers and their relationship with a child-painting-prodigy and her Midwest family, the film revealed the new disconnect that exists in relationships forged entirely over social media. Some audiences grew upset that the movie didn’t live up to the hype they were promised, and the directors have had to defend their movie from accusations of being staged, but nonetheless, ‘Catfish’ offers an intimate look at lonely people in America and the weird things they’ll do for attention. — Eric Larnick

40. ‘Red’
Known more formally as “that movie with old people playing assassins,” ‘Red’ attracted less attention this year than that OTHER movie with aging action stars, ‘The Expendables.’ But this movie was droll, witty, well-acted by its powerhouse thespian cast … and most importantly, it was a heck of a lot of fun. Plus, the pleasures of watching Helen Mirren hoist a machine gun while wearing an evening gown cannot be overstated. — PJC

39. ‘Mother’
There are few things we admire more than a filmmaker who is willing to try something new each time out. This definitely holds true for Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, who, after highly appealing monster movie ‘The Host,’ returns with a strange but entirely appealing crime thriller (of sorts). The tale of an overbearing mother who will do anything to clear the name of her son (who has been accused of murder), it’s an odd but captivating character study that goes to some weird places but never loses its confident stride. Suffice to say, you’ve heard lead actress Kim Hye-ja mentioned in early awards banter for very good reason. — SW

38. ‘Inside Job’
Charles Ferguson attacks the 2008 financial meltdown with the same scholarly rigor he brought to the Iraq War in ‘No End in Sight,’ and with the same fearlessness in naming names and placing blame for the self-serving decision-making of a few plutocrats that continues to affect us all. After all, as the movie makes clear, the principals haven’t been held accountable, and the system of collusion between Wall Street, Washington and academia that made their abuses possible remains firmly in place. — GS

37. ‘Let Me In’
It’s one of this year’s best films, and it may also go on to become one of the greatest horror remakes of all time. This Swedish-turned-English-language sensation, about a young boy who befriends a young girl, both of them emotionally tortured for different reasons (he’s bullied; she’s a vampire), was sweet on the inside and gory on the outside. ‘Cloverfield’ director Matt Reeves managed to capture a freakish, nostalgic mood with his ’80s setting, not to mention stellar performances from his two young stars. The only disappointment was that more people didn’t see it. — Erik Davis

36. ‘Enter the Void’
Probably the most divisive film on the list, ‘Void’ explores the cycle of life and death as an overwhelming, intense series of powerful full-bodied moments — graphic sex, traumatic accidents, abortion and birth are all depicted in an unflinching manner — and that would be enough to confront most viewers. But what makes ‘Enter the Void’ so revolutionary is the cinematic approach to such emotional, human material; told from the out-of-body perspective of a dying, drug-tripping man, the film explores Tokyo nightlife and people’s sensory excesses. Its a three-hour-loung, psychedelic, colorful look at humanity that’s not just a viewing experience, but also a senses-stimulating, hallucinogenic trip. — EL

35. ‘Easy A’
In a year that lacked strong comedies, ‘Easy A’ was a breath of fresh air and a return to the beloved high school laffers that seemed to die with ‘Mean Girls.’ The film — a loose take on ‘The Scarlet Letter,’ in which a high school student’s (Emma Stone) reputation goes sour when she pretends to hook up with boys at her school — made audiences laugh and smile, and solidified its place as one of the best feel-good comedies of the year. Even better: It finally gave Stone the chance to shine as a charming and — more importantly — funny leading lady. (Just watch her sing ‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ if you don’t believe us.) — Gaby Dunn

34. ‘Another Year’
Keeping in the tradition of his previous films, Mike Leigh (‘Secrets and Lies,’ ‘Vera Drake’) finds brilliance in an otherwise simple story — in this case, a year in the life of a happily married couple, ironically named Tom and Gerri. Although Tom and Gerri drive the narrative plot, it’s actually their boozing friend, Mary, who steals the show, thanks to a lively — but mostly devastating — performance by Lesley Manville. While most Hollywood blockbusters disappointed, this little indie proved to be one of the year’s must-see movies. — AS

33. ‘The Other Guys’
After a couple of hiccups, Will Ferrell returns to fine form in this hilarious buddy-cop comedy opposite Mark Wahlberg. Reteaming with Adam McKay, the film follows two polar-opposite cops with only one thing in common: everyone thinks they’re a joke. But when they stumble upon an opportunity to finally prove themselves, hilarity ensues, complete with a scene-stealing Michael Keaton, memorable campos by Samuel L. Jackson, Derek Jeter and Dwane Johnson. Oh, and did we mention a smoking-hot Eva Mendes singing ‘Pimps Don’t Cry’? — Alicia Roda

32. ‘Tangled’
The Magic Kingdom has never looked more magical than it does in Disney’s princess rom-com, ‘Tangled.’ Loosely based off of the classic fairytale ‘Rapunzel,’ the story — voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi — gets a fresh coat of paint with the help of some rock ‘n’ roll, a host of family-friendly odd ball characters and a beauty-obsessed evil stepmother, deliciously voiced by Donna Murphy. This one is a hair above the rest. — BC

31. ‘Four Lions’
A farce can court controversy just for the hell of it, or it can earn its notoriety through sheer force of bravery. Chris Morris’ ‘Four Lions’ most certainly falls into the latter category, as it’s easily one of the most brazen, intelligent and incendiary comedies of the past several years. Perhaps best described as a “comedy of terror(ist)s,” the trenchant and confident flick boldly tackles material that’s rarely (if ever) made fun of, and somehow manages to turn a parody about extremist values into an unexpectedly moving tale about the simple and innate cluelessness of the human animal. Destined to be talked about for years to come. — SW

30. ‘Despicable Me’
With a stellar cast that includes Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove and Jason Segel, ‘Despicable Me’ was one of the best kids’ movies of 2010, and one of the most entertaining of any movie, as well. Following wannabe villain Gru (Carell) and his quest to be defeat newbie Victor (Segel), ‘Despicable Me’ proved to be both adorable and touching, especially when Gru finds a family in three adopted little girls. (Plus, those little yellow “minions” were just so huggable!) — GD

29. ‘The Fighter’
David O’Russell (‘I Heart Huckabees,’ ‘Three Kings’) packs a real punch in his inspirational take on boxer Micky Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) journey to become junior welterweight champion. Mark Wahlberg is wonderful in the title role, and is supported nicely by Amy Adams, who plays Micky’s bartending girlfriend, Charlene. But the real reason to see the film Oscar frontrunner Christian Bale, who, at the risk of using another boxing pun, gives a knockout performance, as Ward’s crack-addicted brother, Dicky. — AS

28. ‘Animal Kingdom’
This Aussie crime thriller is too ominous and claustrophobic to be described with cliche terms like “gritty” and “dark.” The story of a teenage boy, adopted by his crime-lord relatives, features a cast-load of unnerving, distrustful performances — from young new-comers to Down Under legends that are finally getting the stateside acclaim they deserve (Jacki Weaver!) — and the movie only grows in dread as the cops move in and the death toll rises. One of the bleakest, most gripping films of the year, ‘Animal Kingdom’ never lets you forget that family or no family, life and death is always determined by survival of the fittest. — EL

27. ‘The Ghost Writer’
Nearly lost amid the legal kerfuffle concerning Roman Polanski earlier this year was the fact that the beleaguered director’s has created an instant genre classic with this taut political thriller about a writer (Ewan MacGregor) hired to “ghost” the memoirs of a Tony Blair-esque former prime minister (Pierce Brosnan). In his quest to uncover more and more about the PM’s shady affairs, MacGregor dives down the proverbial rabbit hole — and, refreshingly, there are no happy endings here. — JS

26. ‘A Prophet’
Prison movies have been done before (ad nauseum), but none are as bleak and dark as this French drama. Sure, we’ve seen the gang warfare, the corrupt guards, the violent sexual violations and the oft-unsanitary environs of jail, but not in this light. Imagine navigating the murky waters of prison life as an illiterate teenager? — CJ

25. ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I’
Setting the tone for the final installment of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, ‘Deathly Hallows’ proved to be the darkest — and one of the best — ‘Potter’ movies thus far. Sure, there were some tears (RIP Dobby!), and Harry, Hermione and Ron faced their fair share of road blocks (getting tortured by Death Eaters, anyone?). But Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint handled the acting challenge like pros, and the thrills and excitement experienced in ‘Part I’ has us itching to see ‘Part II’ next summer. — GD

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