Listmania Decades: My Favorite Music Movies of the Decade (2010-2019)

Scene from Anna and the Apocalypse

With 2019 marking the end of a decade, it's time to commemorate the past 10 years with the help of Listmania Decades. Over this year's 12 months, the series will look at a variety of different styles of film in order to highlight everything that made this period unique and exciting. While this isn't meant as a collection of the greatest films ever released, it's more meant as a highlight of films that I would consider to be among my favorite, or ones that are worth remembering in the future. So please feel free to join me every 19th of the month to highlight a new entry that will highlight 25 films that exemplified a certain field of cinema. There's a lot of great work out there, and this list barely captures the bulk of it. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments so that we can find more to appreciate before this year is through.

THIS MONTH: With December now upon us, it's time to get out there and sing some songs. For some, it's Christmas music. For those who flock to theaters, this month has slowly become the time when we return to the cineplex and feel the warmth of stories done through stylized scenes full of dazzling choreography. That is why in the final entry of Listmania Decades, it's dedicated to looking back through a decade of people expressing themselves through song. While this was originally pitched as a list about musicals, there's been unfortunately not enough fluent musicals to make up a Top 25. As it stands, there's only 20 here. So instead of coming up short, this is a celebration of how music is used in the film, and how the form is all the better for it. While this list doesn't include this year's Christmas movie Cats, it does feature plenty from across the board, including big studio hits and genre fare that takes things into weird and exciting places. 

1. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The Coen Brothers are an embarrassment of riches. They can't seem to go long without producing another masterpiece. That's why this particular film feels even more exemplary of their talent. It isn't just a great film, but also one that finds the heart of the struggling artist and slowly assaults him as he sings his heart out. It's a film that predates Oscar Isaac's slow ascension in the actor world, and it's now easy to see why. He sings the songs with such heart, but it's also the weariness that he gives it. The way he moves through the film is exhausting as if he is moving just to avoid dying. The film is still wickedly funny in the ways that the Coens only know how to do, but it's also a reminder that no matter how talented you are, sometimes it takes something more to be noticed by a jaded public.

2. Girl Walk // All Day (2011)

The music of Girl Talk may seem disposable, stapling together samples of various songs into an infectious collage. However, director Jacob Krupnick has done the unthinkable and turned his latest album "All Day" into a joy ride through New York with a group of dancers, lead by the adorable Anne Marsen (The Good Wife). There isn't much of a plot to the film, but what it does have in spades is some of the most jubilant energy of any film, managing to capture not only the thrill of dancing in public as it becomes the biggest stage, but also the extraordinary styles of the various dancers. It's all interpretive, but over the course of 70-odd minutes, it becomes an adrenaline shot that has not been matched. More films could benefit from the guerrilla style of film making, managing to create a wall of music and culture that never let up. You don't have to love the music to appreciate the film (it will change in 30 seconds), but you can't deny the hat trick it took to make this a masterful work.

3. Les Miserables (2012)

While one could argue that there have been better movie musicals released this decade, few have felt as bawdy, ambitious, strange, and sometimes missing the mark entirely. As flawed as director Tom Hooper's take of the Tony-winning musical is, it's still hard not to love on some strange level thanks to how it swings for the fences. Sure, Russell Crowe can't sing and the editing is at times a bit off, but there's still moments of sublime cinema such as Anne Hathaway singing a soul-crushing rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." Hooper got flack for his close-up camera work on a story that was expansive, but it helps to capture the deeper emotion of its characters. It's likely that the film's divisiveness will make many question why it's here, but for me it's an embodiment of what an epic musical could be. There's probably a more perfect version that could've been done, but it still packs a punch for me every time. If you can get on its wavelength, I'm sure you'll agree.

4. Moana (2016)

While the decade as a whole was great for Disney, there was something unexpected about taking on the subject of a Polynesian princess. Nobody expected her story aboard the sea to be among the greatest in the studio's history, improved greatly by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina's excellent new songs. The visuals are powerful and Maui is arguably The Rock's most empathetic performance. There's so much to love about the film, and it all blends in the way that classic Disney films do. It's their best film since Mulan and proves that even if they're heading down a path of live-action remakes that don't compare, they still have some fuel in the tank for stories with plenty of personality and heart that will move generations for years to come.

5. La La Land (2016)

In an era where movie musicals feel like they're dead, director Damien Chazelle and collaborator Justin Hurwitz created a wholly original tale that turns Los Angeles into a place of wondrous awe. With a central cast in Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the film manages to capture the feeling of being a young opportunist in a world that doesn't immediately accept you. More than the films it pays homage to, it's grounded in a familiar realism and features more natural dancing. While there's complaints that Gosling and Stone aren't the best song-and-dance team in history, they still bring a passion to their roles that is downright charming. Even as the film navigates towards a more conventional plot and away from its peppy beginning, it still manages to convey something new and interesting in a genre that hasn't had much to work with lately. This is a musical in the vein of Jacques Demy, managing to be as much performance as it is celebration and criticism. It's all worth it for the moments that click, such as Stone's audition song. Few movie musicals try to be this grounded and still work, which is thankful that Chazelle had the idea to make it work.

6. Tangled (2010)

The first decade of Disney's animated films for the 21st century is a fascinating period of failure. It seemed like they would never recover after the Renaissance, but thanks to Tangled, things were back on track. It helps that Rapunzel is one of the most delightful characters and the animation for her hair ranks among the studio's best. With an Alan Menken-penned soundtrack, there's so much about the film that feels like a refreshing restart and resurgence of a juggernaut. It's one of the most delightful films in the studio's entire existence as well as featuring some of their best slapstick humor in quite some time. While it could've been a fluke, it was the start of something special, and it feels that way every time the film starts up again.

7. Lemonade (2016)

On a year-to-year basis, few artists captured the conversation quite like Beyonce. She didn't so much release music as create moments that redefined how albums were released and helped to keep the idea of live performance interesting. Following her infamous Super Bowl performance where she sang "Formation," she joined forces with HBO and a group of talented music video directors to create one of the essential video albums of the decade. The story by itself was autobiographical, capturing her growth as an independent woman and grappling with her identity. What follows is not only great music but some of the most stunning music videos of the decade, all joined together in a central story that makes each moment more iconic. It created conversation, such as around "Becky with the good hair," and gave Red Lobster a cultural demotion while Beyonce knocked off fire hydrants. It's a masterpiece in self-image and one that few could achieve with as much success in the modern era. 

8. The Lure (2015)

While this decade has seen a rise in the popularity of musicals, it is likely that you haven't seen one like this. It's the story of gothic mermaids who perform in a revue act while longing to fall in love. They have conflict achieving this in large part because where they can be seen as normal most of the time, the need to live in the ocean creates a disconnect that keeps them from being totally human. It's a heartwrenching, clever musical that finds horror in both its supernatural themes, but also in how it treats its characters. It's a beautiful, even tender film about how outcasts can bond when the world doesn't understand them. It's no The Little Mermaid, it's darker and more brutal than that. Still, it's full of catchy music and one of the most memorable turns by these sea creatures in several decades.

9. Step Up 3D (2010)

In a world of endless franchises, there have been few as unappreciated as the Step Up franchise. Over the course of five films, the series reflected some of the best and most innovative ways to bust a move on the big screen. Along with a breakthrough work by director Jon M. Chu, the third entry encapsulated the series best by bringing a new dimension to the dance. It's as much an art piece as it is a story of misfits coming together. With a great central cast and an upbeat soundtrack, the camera whirls around the characters with such ease that it becomes a powerful statement on dance in general. There's power in every frame and with characters exuding great chemistry, this is a one of a kind achievement made better by its excellent writing and direction.

10. Tokyo Tribe (2014)

While there's a masterclass to making movie musicals, there's rarely an insane vision the likes of which director Sion Sono brings here. To summarize, it's not just a musical. It's a soap opera full of wild kung-fu sequences and fights done often through rap battles. It's at times brazen in a juvenile way, but it all creates one of the most exciting visions of the decade. This is a story solved through its own comedic logic and the charm manages to sustain the entire running time. Sono is a madman who makes everything immersive and impossible to resist. Here, he proves that those who think that cinema ain't what it used to be are boring. Don't be afraid to dream a little bit bigger, darling. 

11. A Star is Born (2018)

As far as remakes go, there haven't been many as ambitious this decade as Bradley Cooper's directorial debut. The film feels like a burden of love thanks to Cooper's ability to create one of the richest soundtracks of the decade full of catchy numbers ("Shallow") and one of the most ambiguous bad songs ("Why Did You Do That Me?"). There's so much to unpack from the film, and that includes the career-best performance by Lady Gaga, who is born into the role so perfectly that she makes every second all the more magnetic. She's more emotional than she ever has been, and her meta-narrative manages to spike with pain and humor. As far as remakes go, this is one that does the job perfectly of updating the source material for a modern age, making an 80-year-old story feel relevant. It's the movie magic that is often promised but rarely achieved. It's simple and to the point, and all the better for it.

12. God Help the Girl (2014)

By some respects, a musical directed by the lead singer of Belle & Sebastian may seem a bit too twee to be any good. However, for those willing to give into the goofy charm of lyrical ennui and wit, it's a rather enjoyable and silly film that never lets up its energy. With a protagonist that suffers from an eating disorder, the story slowly unfolds as she finds her community and forms a band that performs many songs made popular by the actual group God Help the Girl. The songs are infectious and the direction is often inspired as the story unfolds in ways that are delightful, optimistic, but never stray from honesty. There are few musicals like it, thanks in large part to the songbook being already so unique and catchy. It may not please everyone, but for those who can get on board with the ingenuity, it actually becomes one of the best musicals of the decade as well as one of the more innovative. 

13. The Greatest Showman (2017)

There is a fun irony to the conceit of Hugh Jackman's delightful "circus musical." The 2010s will be remembered as the decade in which animal rights groups managed to get the Ringling Brothers to stop using elephants and lead to their downfall. It's funny then to know that one of the most successful original properties of the decade was about the spectacle that includes three-ring circus antics. With that said, it's the perfect cornball musical that goes for the big goofy grin as it goes through one of the catchiest songbooks by the great composers Pasek & Paul. Some may argue that it's inaccurate and the plot is a bit dumb, but who cares? It's the perfect film for a time when the world needs escapism, believing the best in humanity, and just seeing Zendaya and Zac Efron duet while swinging from ropes. It's a mesmerizing use of time.

14. Step Up Revolution (2012)

While this Step Up sequel falls a bit short of Step Up 3D, it's not from a lack of trying. In fact, it does the next best thing by creatively redesigning the plot as a heist movie/art project. With phone cameras constantly making moments go viral, it's a 21st-century dance movie that goes for sly commentary of the haves and have nots. Nowhere is it better than in an elaborate dance number where the camera follows dancers throughout a skyscraper as they steal something. Yes, the dancing is great and the visual direction is some of the best. Yes, the story may not be the most original, but this is one of the most underrated franchises that became revitalized over the past decade. 

15. Magic Mike XXL (2015)

How do you make a sequel to a film about male exotic dancers? Why by taking them on the road of course! The results are less rooted in a conventional narrative and more give in to the magic of dance and the joys of the human body. As a result, it's one of those lucid dreams of a film, managing to exist solely by the joyful movements and celebration of life. Even if this fails to have a compelling plot, it still manages to invite you in and care about every moment, whether it's dancing to the Backstreet Boys at a gas station, or performing at a convention in Florida. It's all about the fun of being alive, and no film makes you feel that way better than this.

16. Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Was there really a need for a Mary Poppins sequel? Not exactly. In fact, this film sort of suffers if you compare them too much. However, one can judge its achievements by how well it has updated the MGM-era musical for the modern age. Few films (for some reason) are confident enough to be this driven by song and elaborate dance numbers that will get stuck in your head. It's the whimsiest film of the decade, full of elaborate spectacle that exists solely to put a smile on your face. The results are silly fun and serve as a solid update of the Mary Poppins mythology. Even if Emily Blunt is no Julie Andrews, she still is the next best thing, managing to make the character her own and make the journey ahead into something worthy of this adaptation.

17. Frozen II (2019)

How do you follow up on a phenomenon like Frozen? After six years of shorts and specials, Disney has finally given an answer. While the story is less streamlined, the choice to take more risks makes the film a richer experience. The music this time around is unashamed to embrace its Broadway influence with songs that are sung to the back row in beautiful and vulnerable detail. The animation is stunning, full of smaller details that make "the unknown" all the more majestic. Still, it's the film's third act that wins the film its status as a sequel that outdoes the original. It's here that the characters not only enter some of Disney's most surreal imagery in a few decades but feature some of the greatest musical numbers in just as long. For a franchise that could've just coasted by, it found a chance to reinvent itself and make it into something greater. 

18. Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)

Prepare to have a new Christmas tradition. This British export has the distinct honor of being a zombie musical about that time in our lives when we just want to escape high school and experience the world. The songbook is catchy, the zombies gruesome, and the performances full of rich comedic pathos. It's an odd little film that delivers on its novelty premise and makes something more than another teen angst story. It's about understanding the value of those in your life. Sure, the bad guy is on-the-nose obnoxious but the rest of the journey makes up for it. If nothing else, it has one of the best juxtapositions early on as Anna doesn't realize the apocalypse going on behind her. The song is so upbeat and the world so destructive that it's the perfect determination as to whether you'll love or hate this movie.

19. Rocketman (2019)

This has been a rough decade for the music biopics. Following his replacement work on Bohemian Rhapsody, director Dexter Fletcher proved what he could do with a powerful reimagining of Elton John's life. The lyrics are baked into the DNA of the film, constantly showing up in stylized sequences that find John doing his best to hold onto reality as he becomes more of a flamboyant icon suffering from drug addiction. It's a love letter to one of music's most distinguished gentlemen and the songs accompanying it are fairly powerful as well. It's an example of what the music biopic should be: wild, bombastic, and full of personality. One can hope that future examples learn from it. 

20. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

For those who wondered what a Lonely Island movie would like, this is as close to perfection as things get. Given the trio's love for high-end joke raps, it makes sense that they adapt so well to music biopic and documentary satire so well, managing to make every line a killer and every new song a hilarious earworm. If nothing else, it joins the trio's previous film Hot Rod as a cult classic that will only grow with time, being considered ahead of its time for how it manages to create its own ecosystem worthy of the best comedies of the decade.