I'm impressed people can remember what movie came out in what year.
Admittedly, I had to Google some of these to refresh my memory.
2010 Easy A. This is one of the best comedies I've ever seen. All of the humor is so tight. There's a lot of pathos to balance the comedy. The ensemble is great. It's started a lifelong crush on Emma Stone. And it's got one of the best long fuse jokes that I've ever seen! (She makes an offhand reference to
Huckleberry Finn early in the film, then it unexpectedly gets brought up again towards the end. "My apologies to Mark Twain!")
2011 X-Men: First Class. I never would have expected that another group of actors could make me forget about Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen but James McAvoy & Michael Fassbender totally manage it! I love the stuff where they're building & training the team. I love the overall 1960s aesthetic. I love that it's not a reboot. And Mystique's story still breaks my heart. ("I used to think it was going to be you & me against the world...")
Honorable mentions: Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor. Just a great year for Marvel generally.
2012 The Avengers. It's hard to imagine now how impossible the idea of a shared cinematic universe seemed back before this movie came out. Even when I first saw it on opening night, I still hadn't yet fully accepted that this movie really existed. It wasn't until we get to the scene with Captain America fighting Loki that I realized, "OMG, this is really happening!" Plus, it was just so gratifying to see Joss Whedon get the mainstream success that all of us
Buffy/Angel fans knew he always deserved.
2013 Pain & Gain. I don't hear too many people talk about this one but it's a great dark comedy about a real-life crime. "Just about the only thing they weren't found guilty of was the thing they were most guilty of-- being dumbasses."
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel. Not just my favorite movie of the year but my favorite of the decade, my favorite of the 21st century so far, and on the short list of all-time favorites. The actors just all completely melt into their characters. The film is full of perfectly timed deadpan jokes. I can't help but chuckle when I think of lines like, "Gunter was slain in the catacombs," and, "Did he just throw my cat out the window?"
Honorable mentions: Kingsman: The Secret Service, Muppets Most Wanted. In any other year, either one of these would be #1 material.
2015 (tie) The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Pitch Perfect 2. This is a really tough call. On the one hand, we've got Marvel & Joss Whedon operating at the absolute peak of their powers. On the other hand, I really wish that I could live inside the
Pitch Perfect movies. "You are physically flawless but that doesn't mean I like you!"
2016 Suicide Squad. I know a lot of people like to slag off on this movie but I really enjoy it. I like the overall dark aesthetic combined with some wacky visuals. Margot Robbie brings some great pep as Harley Quinn. Will Smith is finally back to being classic Will Smith like we hadn't really since since
I Robot in 2004. Jai Courtney gives a surprisingly effective comedy performance. Diablo's storyline has some nice pathos & remorse. And I really like Jared Leto's Joker. I think he's absolutely terrifying.
Honorable mentions: Bad Moms, Batman v. Superman, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Overall, a pretty strong year for films. No clear standouts but a lot of fun times.
2017 (tie) Atomic Blonde and Pitch Perfect 3. Oddly enough, these movies have a lot in common-- a strong female lead, awesome soundtrack, bits of lesbianism, and even some kickass action scenes & explosions! I eagerly await sequels to both of these.
2018 The Avengers: Infinity War. It took most of my favorite movie characters and poured them all into a single movie. How could I not love that?
Honorable mention: Game Night. If it weren't for all of the blood, this would be #1.
2019 The Hustle. More fantastic comedy from Rebel Wilson, plus some great deadpan straightwoman work from Anne Hathaway.
Honorable mentions: Spider-Man: Far from Home, Zombieland: Double Tap. Oddly enough, I don't remember liking the original
Zombieland that much but the sequel just hits all the right notes for me. It helps that Emma Stone's smoky voice just gets sexier with age.
