Despite the decade only being about halfway over, it’s easy to say that the 2020s have been an exceptional decade for exciting, original, and groundbreaking films that have graced and enchanted audiences. From massively successful blockbusters to critically acclaimed and award-winning masterworks, there’s absolutely no shortage of exceptional filmmaking on display throughout the decade, a trend that is surely to continue.
While each person and community will have a different answer as to which films from the 2020s have been the greatest so far, one of the best indicators and communities to go to as a reference is Letterboxd. This is especially the case because of the site’s prowess as the defining, movie-based social media platform where the vast majority of young, modern film fans go for their opinions and ratings. It would make sense to use this platform to see what today’s film fans think are the best films of the modern era.
10
‘The Father’ (2020)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.29/5
A heartbreaking and painful examination of the impact and difficulties of Alzheimer’s, The Father stands out as one of the biggest tearjerkers and emotionally destructive films of recent memory. The film follows the story of Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), a man who, despite his increasingly deteriorating mental state, refuses any assistance from his daughter. However, as his situation worsens and he begins to doubt his surroundings and those around him, it becomes increasingly apparent that he cannot trust his mind anymore.
Few films have been able to create such a distinctly creative yet emotional sledgehammer of a take on Alzheimer’s on film. The way that the film changes its setting, actors, and other aspects of filmmaking in order to give the audience a perspective as to what Anthony is experiencing is groundbreaking, to say the least. Combined with a masterful, award-winning lead performance from Hopkins, it’s no wonder that the film has earned a spot among the top-rated movies on Letterboxd.
9
‘Sing Sing’ (2023)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.30/5
A beautiful exploration of growth and the process of coming to terms with one’s own humility so as not to lose their sense of humanity, Sing Sing is one of the most beautiful and profound dramatic experiences the 2020s have to offer. The film follows a variety of different inmates at Sing Sing correctional facility attempting to find purpose in prison life by acting in a theater group run by and established by the prisoners themselves. It brings a sense of humanity and resilience to these inmates at a time when the rest of the world has entirely given up on them, showing that they are still capable of powerful and transformative art.
Sing Sing‘s biggest call to action and selling point is its exceptional performances, not just from Colman Domingo, who soars in the leading role as Divine G, but the all-encompassing supporting cast, the vast majority of them portraying themselves on-screen. Clarence Maclin especially stands as the highlight, showing a raw and deeply personal portrayal of his growth and evolution thanks to his time in the theater group. It’s the type of film that consistently touches hearts and gets the audience feeling emotional, helping it achieve its status among the best of the best.
8
‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.30/5
The definitive critical darling of 2025 and building upon decades’ worth of exceptional cinematic masterpieces from director Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another was always going to be widely celebrated in some fashion by the Letterboxd community. However, following the film’s near-unanimous critical acclaim and masterful filmmaking chops, it didn’t take long for the film to achieve massive praise and celebration as one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s highest-rated films.
Its mixture of wildly memorable characters, striking and engaging action and thrills, and timely central messages and themes made the film a smash hit among the Letterboxd community. Its exploration of a broken, chaotic world of abusive power and the community of revolution struck a chord with the more grassroots community of Letterboxd users. While the film doesn’t have the massive rating it achieved when it was first released, it is still considered one of the greats.
7
‘Perfect Days’ (2023)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.31/5
A melancholy and beautiful reflection of the world and its many untold beauties, Perfect Days has such a glowing optimism and wholesome take on the world that it’s difficult not to fall in love with its charm and grace. The film follows graceful service worker Hirayama, who, despite his job of cleaning all the public toilets in Tokyo, cannot help but be filled with contentedness and joy about the glories of his simple life. His overwhelming love for life proves to be a point of intrigue for those around him, who solely but assuredly find themselves caught up in the same level of joy for the world.
Perfect Days acts as a love letter to the act of living itself, showing that no matter how difficult things may be and no matter how dire a situation is, there will always be time to enjoy the beauties that life has to offer. It’s easily one of the most uplifting films in recent memory, with Hirayama’s infectious joy of life finding its way to audiences around the world. Despite its relatively recent release, the unanimous praise of the film has earned it a high rating on the platform.
6
‘Monster’ (2023)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.33/5
A deeply impactful story of relationships and human nature from Japan, Monster follows the story of Minato, a young boy who has begun to behave strangely after a mysterious incident with a teacher. As the mother storms the school and demands to learn what happened and what is going on, the truth of the matter finds itself unfolding from the perspective of the mother, the child, and the teacher.
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda has always been able to bring to life numerous powerful and emotionally gripping dramas, including the likes of Shoplifters and Broker, yet Monster stands out as what might be his best work. The film’s unique reflection and usage of multiple perspectives in being able to show all sides of its story manage to increase the weight and effectiveness of its themes in nearly all respects.
5
‘I’m Still Here’ (2024)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.33/5
While international cinema as a whole has had a larger spotlight placed upon it than previous eras of filmmaking, Letterboxd as a community has always had its finger on the pulse of dynamic and well-crafted international cinema. I’m Still Here stands as one of many exceptionally well-crafted modern international films that Letterboxd has taken a deeper appreciation towards. The film has become a modern symbol of the craft and mastery capable of modern Brazilian filmmaking, being enough of a success that it even earned a coveted Best Picture nomination.
The political thriller follows a family’s strife and confusion as they live through the painful 1971 military dictatorship that is crippling and destroying the country of Brazil to its very core. When the patriarch of the family, Rubens Paiva, is taken by the military due to his previous occupation as a politician, concerned wife Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) does all that she can to stand against this oppressive government to learn the whereabouts of her husband. It’s an absolute heartbreaker of a cinematic experience that has had a massive impact on Letterboxd audiences, leading to its high praise.
4
‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ (2024)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.34/5
While the film didn’t receive the same levels of widespread adoption by awards bodies that films like I’m Still Here and Emilia Perez received in 2024, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies was equally deserving of praise and appreciation in the eyes of many Letterboxd users. Despite its silly title, the film has a surprisingly effective emotional core that will easily have the audience in tears thanks to its beautiful and heartfelt portrayal of unconditional familial love.
The Thai film follows university dropout M (Putthipong Assaratanakul), low on money and opportunity, deciding to volunteer to take care of his terminally ill grandmother in hopes of pocketing an inheritance for his good deeds. What started as a quick way to leave financial ruin quickly turns into an emotional journey of acceptance and grief as M finds a newfound appreciation for his grandma just before she ends up dying. The beautiful story has been a fan-favorite among Letterboxd users since its release.
3
‘Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc’ (2025)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.35/5
It’s absolutely no surprise that compared to any other hub of film fans out there, the younger Letterboxd community is much more appreciative not just of animated films, but of Japanese anime films that utilize style and flair to amplify their storytelling. Nowhere is that more brazenly apparent than in the massively high ranking achieved by Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, a feature film follow-up to an equally beloved season of hyper-violent, hypersexual action anime.
Everything that made the original anime series such a fan-favorite is amplified and perfected in the cinematic scope and scale, telling a surprisingly standalone story of forbidden romance turned betrayal. While the high-flying action is certainly the major selling point and strongest aspect of the film, it’s the story and compelling characters that help set the film apart from many other film adaptations of preexisting anime stories. At least for now, while the film is still fresh in peoples’ minds, it holds a spot among Letterboxd’s top-rated films.
2
‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.38/5
The second part and stunning conclusion of Frank Herbert‘s masterful science fiction novel, Dune: Part Two, built upon and expanded upon everything that worked in the original film, creating one of the most critically acclaimed blockbusters in recent memory. The film takes place immediately after the previous film, with Paul Atreides and his mother in the middle of becoming a part of the culture of the Fremen who saved them. However, with villainous foes on the hunt, it’s only a matter of time before a full-out war takes place.
The amount of unadulterated mastery and brilliant filmmaking on display by Denis Villeneuve exceeded even the highest expectations for the film. The film has a deep understanding of the intricacies and strengths of Herbert’s original novel and is able to adapt these themes brilliantly on the big screen in a way never thought possible before.
1
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.41/5
The highly anticipated sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved animated movies of the 2010s, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is another animated feast for the eyes that continues the story of Miles Morales. The film sees Miles still adjusting and coming to terms with balancing his life as a student with his life as Spider-Man, made further complicated by the return of his old friend, Gwen. Miles soon finds himself on a dangerous journey across the multiverse to stop a new villain who threatens the multiverse, in the process becoming a target in the eyes of the Spider Society.
The Spider-verse films have quickly made a name for themselves as some of the most creative and visually stunning animated films of recent memory, with Across the Spider-Verse only serving to up the ante of what is possible in modern animation. Combined with an exciting story that kept audiences on the edge of their seats, Across the Spider-Verse somehow found a way to improve upon what many Letterboxd users already considered a perfect film.
