The 50 Best Movie Shots of the Decade
By Jake Skubish
As the decade comes to a close, I am looking back at the best of cinema from 2010 - 2019. Check out the Best of the Decade Homepage for the rest of the lists.
50. The One I Love
The One I Love follows a couple with relationship troubles (Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass) who take up their marriage counselor on his offer of a weekend getaway, only to find the guesthouse contains their own doppelgängers. It’s one of the most underrated movies of the decade, and much of the brilliance comes down to this shot, which ambivalently presents Ethan (Duplass) either guessing or choosing between the two Sophies (Moss). Moss’s face gives nothing away, and if you want to see how it ends, you can stream The One I Love on Netflix now.
49. Roma
This image adorns the poster of Roma, and for good reason: it’s the emotional climax of the film. It’s a shot that resonates without seeing the movie and becomes even more powerful upon viewing. On the beach, all the baggage that Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) kept bottled up is finally released in a moment of tender human connection. Roma is available on Netflix.
48. A Quiet Place
A Quiet Place was quite possibly the most thrilling theatrical experience I’ve ever had. The audience was acutely aware of every creak they made, and I’ve never felt more connected to an audience than I was with the aggressive shushers at this screening. Evelyn (Emily Blunt) is clearly pregnant throughout the movie, so it’s no surprise that she’ll give birth at some point, but the tension in her eyes between her own pain and the threat outside is still astonishing. A Quiet Place is available to stream on Hulu.
47. Pain & Gain
Michael Bay’s name is synonymous with trashy, low-brow action blockbusters, a categorization that also applies to Pain & Gain. But the film is far smarter and more self-aware than anything else the director has done, and despite middling reviews, it’s a concise evisceration of the American Dream. This shot is great because it’s obviously funny, but also gets to the heart of the movie: these guys see themselves as way bigger than they actually are.
46. Inside Out
Much like Bing Bong (Richard Kind), its most tragic character, it feels like the world has already hidden away its memory of Inside Out. It’s a shame, because Inside Out remains Pixar’s most inventive film since 2009’s Up. In its best moments Inside Out is Charlie Kaufman for children, and the visual representation of memories in these brightly colored orbs still dazzles. Inside Out is available to stream through Starz.
45. Bo Burnham: Make Happy
Stand-up comedy doesn’t lend itself much to visual ingenuity. One person, on a stage, talking to audience for an hour is the definition of the form, and most stand-up acts stick to it without any frills. But Bo Burnham’s Make Happy special plays with lighting and camera angles like no other stand-up show I’ve seen, and this shot, from the emotionally fraught closing song, is gorgeous. Bo Burnham: Make Happy is available on Netflix.
44. The Queen of Versailles
The Queen of Versailles is a documentary that plays like a farce, showcasing the ridiculous lack of awareness from an über-wealthy family in Florida in the midst of the 2008 financial collapse. Much of the film’s insights come from interviews with the participants, but it does have a few standout visual moments, particularly this shot: the family’s housekeeper dropping off a newly purchased bike into their garage, alongside all of the other unused bikes they have. It’s not merely a demonstration of excess, but proof that the family doesn’t even comprehend their own wealth. The Queen of Versailles is available to watch for free on YouTube.
43. Skyfall
Skyfall remains the best Bond film of the modern era for a number of reasons: a frightening villain played by Javier Bardem, well choreographed action sequences, and an examination of the origins of 007. A big part of the film’s success, though, can be credited to cinematographer Roger Deakins, the man behind a couple other images on this list as well. There’s not a whole lot of analysis for this one: it’s a fight scene set against a luminous jellyfish, and it looks fucking cool.
42. Columbus
The main characters in Columbus are in no rush to leave their hometown, and the film itself is in no rush to grab your attention. This story of an unlikely friendship develops slowly, but by the end you can’t help but embrace its lush ambiance. This shot encompasses a few key components of Columbus: architecture, nature, and the serenity of human connection. Columbus is available to stream on Hulu.
41. Hustlers
No piece of clothing may define the decade in movies for me as much as Jennifer Lopez’s fur coat in Hustlers. It’s an accessory to Ramona’s (Lopez) unflappable confidence, and this tender moment on the rooftop allows her to use the coat to literally take Destiny (Constance Wu) under her wing. Hustlers is still in theaters. Go see it.
40. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a loving ode to a man, Jiro Ono, who dedicated his life to elevating the beauty of his craft. The images of the sushi he and his sons prepare are both visually magnificent and representative of the value of a life that gives such care to detail. Ono is 93 years old today, and his family still runs the restaurant. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is available to stream on Netflix.
39. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Out of all the movies on this list, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse may be the one I had the most shots to choose from. From the moment the movie started I knew I was watching something I had never seen before, and the depth and speed of each shot is still astounding on re-watch. This shot slows the film down for a moment, and calls attention to its rule-breaking flair. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available to stream on Netflix.
38. Toy Story 4
A somewhat meta pick, this beautiful frame from Toy Story 4 finds Bo Peep (Annie Potts) showing Woody (Tom Hanks) the beauty of the scenery that we as the viewer are witnessing as well. Heavily featuring an existentially questioning spork, Toy Story 4 is the most bizarre installment in this franchise, and the most unnecessary. But this was one of the franchise’s best moments. The Toy Story films are so heavily burdened by plot that when Woody finally looks up and sees the beauty around him, it is all the more gratifying.
37. Lady Bird
There is nothing dynamic or particularly new about this shot from Lady Bird, but in the context of the film it is one of the images from this decade that will be most clearly seared into my brain for years to come. Marion (Laurie Metcalf) has just dropped off Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) at the airport for college without saying goodbye, and the gradual regret that builds as she drives away is utterly crushing. Lady Bird is available to stream for free for Amazon Prime members.
36. Widows
Justice for Widows. The vastly underappreciated heist film, set in the weeds of dirty Chicago politics, is poetic because it uses its genre as a weapon to get at themes of systemic inequity, racial oppression, and societal change. This shot, one still from a long tracking shot in the movie, highlights those themes effectively. The camera stays put on the hood of Jack Mulligan’s (Colin Farrell) car as he drives from the economically depressed neighborhood he supposedly represents to the swanky mansion on the outskirts of the district. Widows is available to stream on HBO.
35. Sicario
Back with Roger Deakins shot #2! I love Sicario but, spoiler alert, couldn’t find any other best of the decade list to fit it onto. This stunning landscape shot will have to do as a representation of the film, and it’s not a bad one: Sicario is defined by faceless geopolitical operations occurring under the mask of nightfall. You only need to see this one shot to know everything is not on the level.
34. Us
In this pivotal scene from Us, Adelaide is thrust into her living room table by her macabre doppelgänger, Red (both played by Lupita Nyong’o). Director Jordan Peele focuses his camera on the surface of the glass table, capturing Adelaide’s real face, her reflection, and Red’s reflection is a single image. It’s an obvious visual trick, but thrilling nonetheless, and becomes even more clever once we learn more about the relationship between Adelaide and Red later.
33. BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee has employed this framing device, in which characters appear to be gliding forward without actually moving, many times over, including notable Denzel Washington shots in Malcolm X and Inside Man. But that doesn’t make this closing shot from BlackKklansman any less effective. Ron (played by Denzel’s son, John David Washington) and Patrice (Laura Herrier) are philosophically opposed forces throughout the movie, repeatedly debating the merits of working within or outside of the system to create change. This moments brings them together, and however ambivalent I am about the film’s ultimate perspective, it’s still a classic image. BlackKklansman is available to stream on HBO.
32. Blade Runner 2049
Deakins shot #3! Denis Villeneuve might be the most prolific director of the decade (Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049), and 2049 is one of his most undervalued. The film arrived without much fanfare and flopped at the box office, grossing $92 million domestically on a $150 million budget. But it was the film that finally earned Deakins his Oscar, and every frame is gorgeously composed.
31. Midsommar
The ending of Midsommar is, in a sense, a twist, but one that you can see coming if you’re wise to what the film is going for. Billed as a horror flick, Midsommar plays more like a comedy and deserves to be enshrined in the pantheon of break-up movies. This final sequence neatly brings all of those elements together into one glorious, cathartic reaction.
30. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is an interesting re-watch nearly a full decade after its release. There are many aspects of it that don’t hold up well, particularly its treatment of women: Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is an un-self-aware Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and Scott’s romance with a 17-year-old high schooler is uncomfortable. But the video game aesthetic remains a delight. This shot blends those visual devices with Scott’s emotional growth; it still makes me smile. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is available to stream on Netflix.
29. Beasts of the Southern Wild
Some movies cannot properly be described by their plot. If I told you to check out the movie about the impoverished girl and her father living on the outskirts of New Orleans trying to brave an oncoming hurricane, you might think it was standard awards season bait. But the essence of Beasts of the Southern Wild cannot be so easily described, and the film is a nebulous bit of magical realism that touches on faith, family, and environmental racism. This moment comes out of nowhere, but still somehow feels like it fits right in with the rest of the story.
28. Submarine
I adore Submarine. It’s a Wes Anderson-inspired romance infused with acerbic British wit, centered on a main character reminiscent of Bud Cort’s turn in Harold & Maude. This shot comes from a montage showcasing the blossoming love between Oliver (Craig Roberts) and Jordana (Yasmin Paige) as they rampage around a junkyard and set off fireworks. Add in Alex Turner’s “Hiding Tonight” as the musical backdrop, and you have a damn-near perfect montage sequence. Submarine is available to stream for free on Tubi.
27. The Neon Demon
Drive is the acclaimed, bro-y fan favorite from director Nicolas Winding Refn this decade, but I much prefer his 2016 follow-up The Neon Demon, which trains a sinister eye on the world of modeling in Los Angeles. Refn is unapologetically ostentatious in his style, and it can often be distracting. But it plays into this moment well, which is not, as it appears, a spoiler: Jesse (Elle Fanning) is sprawled out for a grotesque photoshoot, and the vivacious color palette is all part of the set-up. The Neon Demon is available to stream for free for Amazon Prime members.
26. Paddington
Have you seen Paddington? Can I convince you to watch Paddington? Please watch Paddington! The charming, marmalade-devouring bear is the star of one of the most criminally underseen franchises of the decade. It’s one of the sneaky best movies about immigration out there, and it’s packed with lighthearted gags to boot. This shot, apart from being adorable on its own, is part of a visual gag that makes me laugh just thinking about it. Get hyped for Paddington 3.
25. Arrival
The third of four Villeneuve shots I have on this list. Arrival is about a group of massive pods that inexplicably drop to Earth, and the linguist (Amy Adams) who tries to communicate with the creatures inside. This shot is a wide reveal of the pod she is working with, and even though this one is obviously dependent on CGI, it is still stunning.
24. Force Majeure
Force Majeure is a compelling drama about gender roles and family dynamics in the aftermath of an avalanche during one family’s vacation to the French Alps. The entire plot is dependent on how the members of the family react to the avalanche as it hurdles toward them in the shot above. By placing the camera outside the table and capturing both the family and the mountainside, director Ruben Östlund allows the viewer a clear sense of what happens, but also keenly removes us a step from the intimacy of the moment. Force Majeure is available to stream on Hulu.
23. Phantom Thread
Nearly all of the run time of Phantom Thread is spent within tightly enclosed spaces. Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a renowned and reclusive fashion designer who takes on a woman named Alma as his muse, and eventually as his romantic partner. The tension between his craft and their relationship simmers inside his large estate throughout the movie, until one evening Alma goes to the New Year’s Eve party in the shot above. This moment finds them embracing long after the party has wound down, and is composed with rich detail. Phantom Thread is available to stream through Cinemax.
22. The Social Network
The two-scene opening to The Social Network is a perfectly orchestrated introduction to the film’s ethos and feels increasingly prescient as the foibles of Facebook continue to haunt the real world. Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) is dumped by his girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) and subsequently gets drunk and invents “FaceMash,” a crude website that rates the attractiveness of female students at Harvard University. This shot depicts the formula Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) used to create the website, and shows just how methodically they separate the human experience from the logic driving their projects. The Social Network is available to stream through Starz.
21. La La Land
A common criticism of La La Land which I never quite understood: it’s just about white guy who loves jazz. It’s an easy thing to pile onto, but far from the focus of the movie: La La Land is a movie about the magic of the movies, first and foremost. In the shot above Mia (Emma Stone) steps onto the stage at a movie theater to find Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) in the crowd, who assumed Mia had skipped their date. It’s a classically cinematic moment, and in this shot director Damien Chazelle places Mia inside the movie’s glow, an acknowledgement that this sort of moment could only happen at the cinema. La La Land is available to stream for free (with ads) through IMDb TV.
20. Mad Max: Fury Road
I’ll be honest: Mad Max: Fury Road is not really my thing. I thought it was a beautifully constructed mess of a movie. But I don’t want to limit that “beautifully constructed” bit: it really is a breathtaking film, especially on the big screen. The great thing about this shot is that it fully captures the insane energy of Fury Road in one frame. If only the entire film had been able to capture my attention just as well.
19. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2
It feels odd that the Harry Potter films were released within this decade. Superhero movies and other YA tentpoles such as The Hunger Games have taken over in the public consciousness, but when The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released in 2011 it was the biggest movie event of the year. Part 2 was a thrilling conclusion to the franchise, and Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) showdown with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is an iconic movie moment.
18. Lemonade
First of all: Yes, Lemonade is a movie. The hour-long video companion to Beyoncé’s best album was a striking visual product. Each song was tied to footage that truly captured the emotional stakes of the tune, and they also all weaved together into a coherent narrative. The image above is from “Sandcastles,” a ballad of self-love and forgiveness that remains my favorite from Lemonade.
17. Whiplash
The ending to Whiplash is, simply put, one of the great endings in movie history. What the film has to say about the value of pursuing perfection changes over the course of the song, “Caravan,” conducted by the ruthless Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). In this moment the transformation from just a few minutes before is complete, and Simmons’s face guides us toward a new realization. I never thought jazz drumming could be this thrilling.
16. Call Me By Your Name
Oof. Even glancing at this image brings me back to the deep pain that engulfs Elio (Timothée Chalamet) in this closing scene. Throughout the majority of Call Me By Your Name Elio is lustful, but he also remains detached. But by the time the terms of his relationship with Oliver (Armie Hammer) are made clear to him, it all pours out at once. Director Luca Guadagnino holds on this shot for a looooong time, forcing the viewer to fully reckon with Elio’s emotional crisis. Call Me By Your Name is available to stream through Starz.
15. 12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is brutality with a purpose, exhibiting the evil of slavery without overly aestheticizing it on screen. Over the two-hour journey it continues to amplify the pain suffered by Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) as he pursues freedom, but this one shot of Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o) carries all that hurt on its own.
14. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson is the perfect director for this sort of list: nearly every moment in his films is composed to look handsome in still. The Grand Budapest Hotel is his best from this decade precisely because it strays away from this confined style. There’s a lot of motion and frequent action sequences, and the character arcs are layered within one another. This shot stands out because after a madcap finale, two characters find themselves physically separated from it all, with exactly who they want to be with.
13. Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is a soul-crushing movie, in part because it works so well as a charming romantic comedy: the flashback sequences, when Dean (Ryan Gosling) is first courting Cindy (Michelle), chart a terrific meet-cute saga. But their present day relationship is a discernible fall from that hopeful past. This gorgeous composition from the end of the film finds Dean and Cindy walking away from each other with no reconciliation in sight, as 4th of July festivities glow in the background. It’s no coincidence: the film doubles as a neat repudiation of the American family. Blue Valentine is available to stream on Netflix.
12. Enemy
Denis Villeneuve has a knack for crafting movies about re-watching movies, and Enemy is a mind-boggling experience in hindsight. On the surface, it’s a creepy thriller about Jake Gyllenhaal tracking down his doppelgänger (three doppelgänger movies on this list!). But then there’s the spiders, and if you’re willing to read into it, a world of subtext. No spoilers here, but if you’re interested, go down the (convincing) rabbit hole here. Enemy is available to stream on Netflix.
11. Zero Dark Thirty
Zero Dark Thirty won’t end up making my best of the decade films list. At the time of release I was blown away by the film; on re-watch I still admire Kathryn Bigelow’s craft, but Zero Dark Thirty is unabashed torture propaganda. Even if the film on the whole doesn’t manage to present a nuanced take on modern American militarism, the film’s final shot offers a glimpse of what the whole thing could have been: Maya (Jessica Chastain), sobbing alone in the back of a military hangar, in what could be interpreted as a moment of joyous finality or moral regret.
10. Dunkirk
War movies are almost always a team sport; the setting gives filmmakers a unique avenue to explore the power of human interaction and cooperation. Dunkirk flips the genre on its head, re-imagining war as a series of individual acts not heroic because of their grandeur but because each small act of bravery (or cowardice) can shape the history of the world. Tom Hardy’s long flight over the battlefield encompasses this best, and as he looks at the wreckage we see what one man can accomplish.
9. Gravity
Gravity opens with an unbroken 14-minute take of Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) working in space and taking in the view; the visuals stay just as sensational throughout the film. The shots of Earth from space are glorious, and the shots of Ryan trapped in an endless void of darkness are as beautiful as they are terrifying. Many of the best shots, though, are within the spacecraft. Like most Cuarón films motherhood plays a prominent role, and this shot, whatever it lacks in subtlety, captures the essence of the film. Gravity is available to stream for free on Vudu.
8. Green Room
One thing you do not want to happen when fending off violent neo-Nazis: have the power go out. But it does make for a thrilling shot in Green Room, when Amber (Imogen Poots) calms the chaos in the darkness by flicking on a lighter and cooing, “Careful now.” Green Room is violent and unnerving film, but if you can stick with it, you’ll find one of the most tense, well constructed horror films ever made. With white supremacy headlining as the villain, it makes for a nice double feature with the other horror movie to crack this top ten. Green Room is available to stream on Netflix.
7. The Descendants
Alex (Shailene Woodley) is too wise for any of her family’s bullshit in The Descendants. She plays the emotionally detached teenager well enough, right up until she receives some tragic news: her mother is going to die. Alex jumps into the pool so her dad (George Clooney) doesn’t see her cry and releases a crushing underwater outburst. It’s a scene reminiscent of the Paul Dano scream in Little Miss Sunshine, and just as emotionally cathartic.
6. The Florida Project
At one point in The Florida Project, an outsider to the motel community remarks that the place is a dump. It’s probably how I would describe the motel, too, if I were passing by on the highway toward nearby Disney World, the self-described “most magical place on Earth.” But after spending two hours in this space, it seemed ridiculous that he could possibly call the motel a dump, and not see it for what it is: a home. At the center of this home is Bobby (Willem Dafoe), tirelessly ensuring its maintenance for oft ungrateful, oft loving residents. In this shot he takes a drag of his cigarette after a long day, and as it burns the lights throughout the motel flicker on. It’s pure magic. The Florida Project is available to stream for free for Amazon Prime members.
5. The Lobster
Note to self: do not recommend Yorgos Lanthimos films to your friends’ parents. They will be confused and disturbed. Which is honestly how I feel walking out of his films as well, but in a good way. The Lobster, set in a dystopian future in which people must romantically pair off or be turned into an animal, lambastes monogamy (and its alternatives) in a uniquely morose, comedic style. This final shot leaves a crucial decision unclear, and as with many great films, what the viewer assumes has happened says more about them than the film. The Lobster is available to stream on Netflix.
4. The Tree of Life
IMDb describes The Tree of Life as “the story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956,” which is kind of like describing a Dalí painting as being about melting clocks: sure, that’s what it looks like, but it’s really only a fraction of what’s going on. Terrence Malick’s landmark achievement attempts to capture the nature of human experience and somehow succeeds. The shot above is just one of many beautiful images from the film. The Tree of Life is available to stream through Cinemax.
3. Moonlight
Moonlight is a heartache of a film, and it’s stunning for the way it lends transformative power to the small moments in life. The scene above from the film’s first act stands out in this regard, as Juan (Mahershala Ali) teaches Little (Alex R. Hibbert) how to swim. “Relax. I got you,” Juan tells Little. “I won’t let you go.” He’s talking about keeping Little above the water, but the message carries a greater weight: in a world not built for Little, Juan is telling him early that he is supported and loved. Moonlight is available to stream on Netflix.
2. Inception
I saw Inception at its midnight premiere back in the summer of 2010. The film doesn’t quite hold up quite as well today (there are some glaring plot issues), but I’ll never forget this moment in the theaters: a slow pan in on Cobb’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) totem, which will stay spinning if he is in a dream or fall if he is in reality. A cruel cut to black robs us of the answer, but of course, that’s the point. Inception is available to stream through Cinemax.
Get Out
“Now you’re in the Sunken Place.” These chilling words define the most riveting moment of the decade in movies, and Daniel Kaluuya’s expressive face perfectly captures the depths of the scene’s terror. It’s a face that conveys a fundamental sense of fear, but also regret: the terror was known, and just because it was ignored didn’t make it any less real. This is not only the shot of the decade, but one of the greatest shots in movie history.