This is it… The final ten years out of my first 40. Let’s not waste time, shall we?

• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s

And now, welcome to the 2010s…

2010: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Why do we split up a book to make two movies? Because money. Though, to be fair, there are a lot of books out there that would be worthy of a multiple movie adaptation. Several of the Harry Potter books could have fit that category. The Hobbit does not. But I digress. As good as this movie is, it probably could have been called Harry Potter and the Really Long Camping Trip.

Honorable Mentions: Inception, Tangled, and Winter’s Bone

2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since Part 1 took the top spot in the previous year. I feel like this movie was mostly the Battle of Hogwarts… and it was really drawn out. Not that it was done in a bad way. I will say, I didn’t much care for the way that the final duel between Harry and Voldemort went in this interpretation. Made it seem like the villain was more than human as he randomly disintegrated instead of just dying like anyone else.

Honorable Mentions: We Bought a Zoo, Super 8, and Moneyball

2012: Les Misérables

Nothing but singing during the French Revolution? Yes, please. I don’t mind admitting I still get excited when Jean Valjean and Javert have their first confrontation. I also don’t mind admitting to crying during “I Dreamed a Dream.”

Honorable Mentions: Django Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Brave

2013: 12 Years a Slave

This is one of those movies that made my list of incredible films that I will only see once in my life. Though, I’ve said that, and now it’s been so long since I’ve seen it, I’d really like to see it again. I remember being blown away by everything about this movie. The performances, the script, the cinematography… it’s such a beautifully made film. But it’s so difficult to watch.

Honorable Mentions: Man of Steel, American Hustle, and Prisoners

2014: The Lego Movie

Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you’re part of a team… If you skipped this one thinking it was just for kids, give it a shot. Because it’s not just for kids. It’s for the kid inside of you that used to love building things with Lego.

Honorable Mentions: Interstellar, Big Hero 6, and How to Train Your Dragon 2

2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Say what you will about the Disney era of Star Wars… Everyone was excited about it before it happened. We were filled with nostalgia and Disney totally cashed in on that nostalgia. Sure, Episode VII is about as close to an Episode IV remake as we’re likely to get. But it was fun to sit down in a darkened movie theater and see that opening crawl and hear that majestic John Williams score once more.

Honorable Mentions: The Intern, The Martian, and Spectre

2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Say what you will about the Disney era of Star Wars… Did we really need a movie explaining to the audience how the Rebel Alliance got their hands on the Death Star plans? No… But aren’t you glad we got it? I love that we got to see a darker side of the Rebels instead of just the concept that one side is all good and the other side is all evil. Just like with anything else, there should be shades of gray. Especially when war is involved.

Honorable Mentions: Arrival, Hush, and The Invisible Guest

2017: Wonder Woman

I still consider this one to be the best offering that came from the DC Extended Universe. Much as I love seeing Superman on the big screen, Wonder Woman has blown all the other DC movies out of the water. At least the ones that came around in this decade. If it had been me doing it, I may not have set the movie during World War I… Otherwise, it’s the origin story I would have told if given the chance.

Honorable Mentions: Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Logan, and Get Out

2018: Black Panther

I’m not sure I can say anything bad about this movie. The late Chadwick Boseman is perfect as the title character. Michael B. Jordan is perfect as the primary antagonist. Somehow, the creators managed to give us a villain that you truly and deeply feel sorry for, yet at the same time, there’s no way you want to get behind him and everything he stands for. Killmonger isn’t wrong in charges against Wakanda’s leadership, but his methods are somewhat questionable. If you take time to see anything in the MCU, watch all of it… but Black Panther in particular is spectacular.

Honorable Mentions: A Quiet Place, Christopher Robin, and Tag

2019: Knives Out

If you’ve seen it, you know why this is my favorite movie of 2019. Seriously. I’ve probably watched Knives Out a dozen times by now and each time I catch something new that I didn’t see before. Of all the movies expecting upcoming sequels, this is the one I’m looking forward to the most.

Honorable Mentions: Jojo Rabbit, Ford v Ferrari, and Toy Story 4

Well… that does it for my first 40 years of life. That leaves us with 2020 and 2021 (thus far). But I’ll save that for a post in 2030. When I’m 50. Oh my…