2010: Avatar. This movie was one of the most unique films of this decade, giving the audience an original story and setting never before seen. It helped progress computer generated animation to new heights and transcended what was thought possible with the medium. Avatar was the former record holder for the Highest Grossing Film of all time, earning $2,789,679,794.

2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. This is the final movie in the long running Harry Potter movie series. It was adapted from the book series written by J.K. Rowling, and all seven films received critical acclaim. It pleased fans and critics alike, while closing a chapter in pop-culture history.

2012: The Avengers. The Avengers, to many, was the beginning of an era for movies in this decade: the era of superhero movies. Thanks to The Avenger’s success, many of this decade’s highest grossing films would be superhero movies that tried to capture this movie’s magic. The Avengers secured Marvel’s monopoly on this genre of films, and they are still seeing its success to this day. Superhero films will not go away any time soon, and this movie is so important because it started it all.

2013: Frozen. Frozen was a cultural phenomenon, as well as being a fantastic film. Its story is able to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Having a unique color pallet of light blues and vibrant colors made each scene pop out of the screen. Complimenting the cinematography and crisp animation is a beautiful score and passionate performances from each member of the cast. With its 2019 sequel recently releasing, Frozen will live on as a true classic for years to come.

2014: Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians of the Galaxy was a shift from the grittier realism of Marvel’s previous film endeavors, and transitions to a more sci-fi and comedy based movie. The writing in this movie is on point every second of it, and its varied space-themed set-pieces help immerse you into this world. The ensemble of characters are absurd and are so easy to relate with, making it so enjoyable to see their interactions.

2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens.This was the first movie in the critically acclaimed Star Wars series in 10 years, following a trilogy of prequels. With an all-new cast and new adventure, this is a return to form to the films of the 70s and 80s. It may be one of the most culturally impactful films of this decade because it shows how successful George Lucas’ series is even over 40 years after its inception. The scenes portrayed in this movie capture what the original trilogy was about, and director J.J. Abrams brings new flair to this franchise. Star Wars is a truly timeless series that still can compete with the films of today.

2016: Deadpool. Deadpool was one of the most original works to come out of this decade’s many superhero movies. It was Marvel’s first R-rated movie, and despite the high age rating, it still became one of the highest earning movies of 2016. It broke all boundaries previously set by the genre, which made it a breath of fresh air in theaters.

2017: Get Out One of the most eye-opening and bone-chilling releases this year, Get Out set a new standard for modern horror. It abandoned the tropes of jump-scares and over-reliance on shock-value to create a psychological thriller like no other. Its originality helped earn it some of the highest ratings of the year.

2018: Black Panther. Black Panther was another marvel movie that stood out from the rest. Its beautiful set pieces and action scenes make it visually engaging. The concise story set up here doesn’t waste time progressing either, making it intriguing every step of the way. From large scale battles to one-on-one combat, this film is not afraid to step out of its comfort zones. Doing so paid off, leaving us with one of the best films released this decade.

2019: Avengers: Endgame. Avengers: Endgame is the final movie in a story that has been running for 10 years. This three-hour-long journey is the epic conclusion to the past 10 years of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ties up the story by culminating those ten years of films and story-lines into a conclusion that is not only satisfying but also gives the potential for what comes after Endgame. It contains beautiful cinematography, set-piece, action scenes, and witty writing that captures you and keeps you engaged for the entirety of its run-time. In a few short months, Endgame was able to beat the record for Highest Grossing Film, with a Worldwide Gross of $2,797,800,564. This record was previously held by Avatar.