The last 10 years in cinema have showcased how blockbuster cinema and perennial, undying franchises are here to stay. The box office dominance of these big-budget productions hasn’t abated since the 1970s; if anything, the disparity between smaller, independent productions and their behemoth counterparts has increased.

Additionally, with the advent of streaming platforms (and their subsequent proliferation) occurring within the last 15 years or so, we’ve been introduced to an unprecedented number of films, TV shows, and miniseries each year. Amidst this exponential growth, a few people have come to me looking for suggestions, asking that whatever I recommend be one thing: different.

Some of my favourite films over the last 10 years have been the quiet, subtle pieces that more often than not slip into the cracks of online streaming services, or go unwatched when they first appear in the cinema. They aren’t showy. They don’t strive to reach the top of your social media feed. Yet when you give them the time to unfold, they provide some of the most utterly rewarding viewing experiences.

Many of my favourite films of the last decade appear to be content with what they are, without feeling a need to mimic the style or imitate the formula of another box office success story. They are often character-driven tales that explore the human condition, our connections with others, and all the emotions that make life such a riveting experience. Here is the forever incomplete list of my favourite films from the last decade…

2015: Room

A harrowing look at the perseverance demonstrated by survivors of abuse, and a deeply poignant portrayal of a mother-son bond, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room is a deceptively simple story that communicates the power of low-budget filmmaking today.

2016: Moonlight

Becoming the first film directed by an African-American to win ‘Best Picture’ at the Academy Awards, and being one of the finest meditations on sexuality, race, and masculinity, Moonlight isn’t just one of the best coming-of-age stories of all time, but one of the greatest films of the 21st-century.

2017: On Body and Soul

Almost 10 years after her last film, Enyedi returns to the big screen and proves that there is still space for imaginatively strange stories and uniquely haunting depictions of love, amounting to singularly beautiful cinema, even if it doesn’t always find a large audience.

2018: The Guilty

Not only is the Danish original film an exceptionally taut chamber drama, and an intelligently woven, pared-down thriller, it’s also a profoundly moving tale of responsibility, regret, and redemption, proving modern European cinema can be just as thrilling as the best Hollywood blockbuster.

the lighthouse

2019: The Lighthouse

Demonstrating the emergence of a new, original auteur in horror cinema, Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse draws inspiration from German Expressionism and French Surrealism to revamp the modern horror genre, crafting an intensely unsettling piece brimming with folklore, mythology, and psychoanalysis.

another round (2020)

2020: Another Round

One of the most philosophical depictions of midlife crisis in recent memory, and proving that the Danish film industry is alive and well, Vinterberg’s modern masterpiece Another Round is a powerful and incisive analysis of nihilism, happiness, and man’s search for meaning, managing the difficult feat of being funny along the way.

2021: Playground

Underseen and understated, this hidden gem from Belgium is an unnerving and gut-wrenching look at tribal mentalities and childhood trauma in a stunning example of the power of independent filmmaking, once again conveying that the smallest voices can make the loudest noise.

2022: The Quiet Girl

Becoming the first Irish-language film to be nominated for ‘Best International Feature Film’ at the Academy Awards, The Quiet Girl is a surprisingly stirring story with sublime editing and mesmerising performances, representing a new chapter in Irish filmmaking.

2023: Poor Things

In what amounts to one of the strangest coming-of-age tales we’ve ever seen, one of cinema’s most strikingly original auteurs proves to be at the height of his creative powers with Poor Things—a hilarious, touching, and thought-provoking story, showcasing how unique style needn’t disappear at a blockbuster level.

2024: Anora

As Sean Baker continues to expand the nascent American neorealist film movement, he makes wonderfully entertaining, amusing, and heartbreaking stories in the process, turning Anora into an instant classic.