A Blast From the Past: 5 Best Movies Released 10 Years Ago, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
It's time to rediscover masterpieces whose artistic influence and relevance have only grown over the years.
Ten years in cinema is an entire era – it's long enough for momentary popularity to give way to true classics.
Free from the noise of marketing and the hustle and bustle of premieres, the movies released in 2016 have stood the test of time and present themselves to us today in their true form.
5. 'Captain Fantastic', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
In 2016, Viggo Mortensen starred in Matt Ross' touching movie. The story follows a man and his six children who live in the forest. They forage for their own food and appear content, but they soon must venture into the outside world.
The film explores the balance between ideals and freedom. The apparent idyll of their lives in the wilderness quickly unravels, revealing that the children are living under strict control.
At some point, the father realizes that socialization is no less important than survival and independence.
4. 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
The Star Wars sequel trilogy is criticized more often than praised. However, a spinoff was released between the first and second installments that is considered the best movie in the revived franchise.
Rogue One takes place just before A New Hope. The plot follows a group of rebels, led by Cassian Andor, who must steal the Death Star plans.
Given the subsequent events of the series, the movie could not have a happy ending and director Gareth Edwards managed to deliver an inspiring yet brutal story of struggle.
Years later, the acclaimed prequel Andor was released, focusing on the main character's development.
3. 'La La Land', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
After the success of his debut movie, Whiplash, director Damien Chazelle returned with a love letter to classic musicals.
La La Land is, at first glance, a standard story about the budding romance between Sebastian, a talented pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress. However, the film's ending can bring tears to your eyes.
La La Land generated more controversy after the Oscars. It received 14 nominations and won six awards. During the finale, it was announced that Chazelle's movie had won Best Picture. However, this was later revealed to be a mistake – the prize went to Moonlight.
2. 'Arrival', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Denis Villeneuve's first foray into science fiction, Arrival, was instantly embraced by fans of slow-paced movies with deep subtext.
Arrival offers an unconventional portrayal of aliens arriving on Earth. The aliens are not aggressive, yet humanity is preparing for war. A linguist and a physicist are sent to communicate with them.
Villeneuve portrays aliens with an unusual perception of time, and the main character's life intersects with the fate of the entire world in a surprising way.
1. 'Train to Busan', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
In 2016, few would have imagined that Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, known for his animated movies, would release a film that would set the standard for the genre for the next 10 years.
The plot follows a manager who decides to take his daughter to her mother's house for her birthday. As the characters board a train from Seoul to Busan, a woman infected with a zombie virus jumps into the last car.
Train to Busan is a dynamic, brutal horror movie that reflects on human cruelty and behavior in extreme situations.
