We have come to our final list of the decade. Previously we discussed our 10 BEST FILMS of the Decade list, as well as our 10 Most UNDERRATED FILMS of the Decade list. Finally, we give you the ultimate list of 10 GUILTY PLEASURES of the decade. These are films that fall into two categories - movies that the general public enjoys that snooty film critics seem to ignore OR just terrible movies in general that you personally like for any non-specific reason. Guilty Pleasure movies don't have to really be discussed. They don't have to really be defended. They're movies that will never win Oscars, but you love them just the same (maybe even more). So, for our last list of the decade - once again, Keith R. Beshwate and I have compiled for you....
(in no particular order....)
The Top 10 GUILTY PLEASURE Movies of the Decade
21 Jump Street Franchise (2012/2014)
Channing Tatum is perfectly fine as a dramatic actor. As an action star. As a sex-god dancer. But the man is a natural in comedic roles, and the 21 Jump Street franchise made that angle in his career possible. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are responsible for many great films this decade (one of them being in the top 10 on this blog), but I think these films are among the funniest. These are my "they're on TV, watch them" movies of the decade.
MacGruber (2010)
SNL original movies usually fail hard - both at the box office and keeping up the laughs for an hour and a half film based on a three minute sketch. Blues Brothers did it. Wayne's World did it. And MacGruber really fucking did it. It shouldn't have worked. It's one of the stupidest movies ever made. And yet, I find myself on the floor in stitches every time I watch it. What should've been a complete disaster, turned into one of the funniest movies of the entire decade. Must turn brain off to enjoy.
Sing (2016)
There were so many great animated films this decade, but I think Sing is the one I enjoy the most. It's one of the more original animated films of the decade, but takes on a familiar form: ensemble cast competing for a grand prize that (not-so-spoiler) doesn't actually exist. Maybe it's the voices, the characters, the weight of the stakes (which I think are often missing from animated films), but Sing is about community, following one's dreams, and just good for goodness sake.
The Conjuring franchise (2013/2016)
Since the first Saw film, director James Wan has established himself as the best of the best of horror film directors in the last twenty years. But he really came into his own with The Conjuring films (no, I'm not talking about the Annabelle movies or The Nun). Both of these films (and especially number 2) are the reason people go see horror films in theaters. They're goddamn scary. And they know how to scare everyone. There's haunting images, long moments of silent tension, jump scares, fake outs, terrifying monsters, everything. The Conjuring films do horror right and there hasn't been one to do them better in decades.
It Follows (2014)
Someone other than me in this blog post doesn't like It Follows. That person is entitled to their opinion. But I can't think of a film that executes looming fear and horror in a more imaginative way than David Robert Mitchell's tale of promiscuity and loss of innocence. The "it" is always, always following, whether close-up or on the edges of the frame. It's just so intensely terrifying.
This Is The End (2013)
From the mid 2000s to the mid 2010s - the Apatow crew ran the comedy gambit. If there was a comedic film released within that time, chances are it was directed or produced by Apatow and Seth Rogen and crew. This is the End marked the end of that era. It got everyone together to play themselves during the actual apocalypse. If we don't get another film with all of these guys together again, This is the End is the perfect send off. Especially since there was legitimately nothing funnier all decade than the scene of James Franco arguing with Danny McBride about jerking off into his nudie mags.
Neighbors franchise (2014/2016)
Ditto the Channing Tatum comments for Zac Efron, whose insane frat-leader persona makes the Neighbors movies entertaining additions to the Apatow-like comedies of the decade. That's not to say Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Ike Barinholtz, and a stupidly-funny Dave Franco don't round out the cast well (along with so many other featured comedians), but Efron's the most engaging. Nicholas Stoller ushered in Forgetting Sarah Marshall the previous decade and outdid himself twice in the 2010s with the Neighbors movies (let's just forget Get Him to the Greek).
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
On the surface, Cabin in the Woods looked like your average "cabin in the woods" horror movie. A bunch of kids go to a cabin, they're stock characters/stereotypes, they get killed off one by one, until our attractive lead kills the villain and survives. This version IS that movie - but with one hell of a clever twist. The above plot surmounts to about an hour of this film's runtime. The back hour is some of the most ingenious/hilarious/inventive horror comedy I've ever seen in a film in my lifetime. It's hard to market this film since it doesn't want to give away the ending, but if you haven't seen it yet - suffice it to say you will LOVE this movie. It's that brilliant.
Mr. Right (2015)
Have you seen this movie? Do you know about this movie? Do you like action movies? Do you like comedies? Do you enjoy Sam Rockwell (who doesn't?)? Tim Roth? Anna Kendrick? Don't let the regrettable "written by Max Landis" credit deter you from enjoying the hell out of this movie.
Mission: Impossible franchise - the last 3 (2011/2015/2018)
I know. How can I call the Mission: Impossible movies "guilty pleasure"? They're objectively great movies and each one only gets better than the previous entry. But too often they're relegated into "another one of those Tom Cruise movies". But it's so much more than that. They're exciting and entertaining. They capture action shots that are equal parts thrilling and visually stunning. And say what you want about Tom Cruise - the guy is in his late 50s and still doing 75% of his own insane stunts. I never want these movies to end as long as they can keep up the same quality as they've been over the past decade.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Don't Breathe, Kong: Skull Island, Drive, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Goosebumps, Every Nicolas Cage movie from 2010-2019
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