Top 10 Movies Of 2010 & How To Stream

These were the best movies of 2010 animating our screens.

It was a good year for fanpires and teens, with instalments in the Twilight, Harry Potter, and Iron Man collections coming to fruition.

But most notably, the 2010 movie list is dominated by animated hit after hit, with a visual feast to tuck into.

Let’s get involved. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

In the seventh and penultimate film in the Harry Potter series, we see Harry, Hermione, and Ron return in a race against time as they continue on their journey in an attempt to destroy ‘he who must not be named’ by destroying his Horcruxes.

But as we’ve come to expect from the Potter franchise, this is really a story about enduring friendship, despite it being brilliantly dark in places. As the strapline eludes, ‘nowhere is safe’. 

• IMDb: 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85%

Despicable Me

It’s time to go b-a-n-a-n-a-s for your favourite custard-coloured creatures.

The wannabee super villains are up to their usual mischief as they bring wishful bad guy Gru into the fold, and slowly melt his (and our) heart. For sure, one of the top movies 2010 with comedy, perfect for family movie nights in.

• IMDb: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82%

Iron Man 2

Reprising his role as inventor Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jnr hits us with all the good stuff that makes this a highly watchable sequel.

Now that his identity has been revealed, Iron Man is under pressure from the military to reveal the secrets of his armoured suit, but why would he do a thing like that? With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) by his side, the dream team is certainly back.

• IMDb: 6.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71%

Inception

Inception might be one of the best movies 2010, but it’s not the sort of film you want to watch hungover.

You’ll need all cylinders firing to keep up with its web-tangling plot. DiCaprio plays the lead as Cobb – a cyber-criminal who steals and implants ideas into people’s subconscious using futuristic (slightly Matrix-esque) technology. See, we said you’d need all cylinders firing!

• IMDb: 8.8 /10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91%

Tangled

Disney has a way of transforming our favourite fables into movie magic, and ta-da, they’ve done it again with Tangled.

This 3D computer-animated tale is based on the childhood story of Rapunzel. Yes, her with the hair. You know how this one goes, she’s locked in a tower for eternity, until… like all good teenagers she hits 18 and curiosity gets the better of her. We’ve all been there love.

• IMDb: 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87%

Toy Story 3

Tugging on the heartstrings, filling us with nostalgia, and giving us moments of pure innocent joy, the third chapter in the Toy Story franchise is also one of the Hollywood movies 2010 will be remembered for.

Now a young adult, Andy is off to college when the toys are accidentally dumped in a local day care centre. Thankfully, it’s Woody to the rescue as he mounts a journey taking them back to where they belong. Tissues at the ready.

• IMDb: 8.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90%

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland on acid, that’s probably the best way to describe this creation from the wonderfully wild mind of Tim Burton.

There’s a fantastic cast lighting up the screen, including the always brilliant Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. It’s a visual delight of colour and creativity, telling the famous story of young teen Alice, and the magical world she stumbles across in her pursuit to understanding her own destiny.

• IMDb: 6.4/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55%

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

It’s the film you hate to admit you love, a guilty pleasure for our little tween hearts- don’t be ashamed to admit it, you’re a total Twihard. We don’t judge.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and R-Patz (Edward Cullen) are reunited on screen, this time forced to choose between love or friendship. It might be one of the top Hollywood movies in 2010, but at two-hours long, it can definitely feel like a saga at times.

• IMDb: 5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 60%

How to Train Your Dragon

So endearing and accessible are the characters in this movie, that you don’t have to have seen the TV series to appreciate it.

This family-favourite DreamWorks hit follows the charming story of Viking ‘Hiccup’ who refuses to slay a dragon, as is expected of him. He’s a modern-day Gen X after all, so instead, he befriends the ‘merciless’ dragon, with surprising consequences. There’s a lesson for us all in here somewhere. 

• IMDB rating: 8.1 /10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91%

The King’s Speech

Undoubtedly one of the breakout movies of 2010, this beautifully told story recounts the reign of King George VI, masterfully played by Colin Firth (always our Darcey).

It focuses on the critical lead up to his accession to the throne in 1936, and how the King overcame a speech impediment, whilst finding his feet in his new role.

• IMDb: 8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92%

See Also:

• Looking Back: 10 Best Movies of 2002
• Everything 90s: 100 of the best movies from the 90s