In fact, several of the best movies of the 2010s were directed by creators who have never directed a feature film before. It might be surprising for the viewers to discover that some of their favorite movies were directed by debuting directors, however, the good news is it didn’t affect their quality in the slightest, as all the movies are excellent!
6 The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
The Cabin in the Woods is easily one of the smartest horror movies of the 21st century, despite the fact that it was the first feature film the screenwriter Drew Goddard has ever directed. Initially, the movie seems to be a somewhat standard slasher about a group of young friends, students, who go into a cabin in the woods and draw out old evil determined to kill them.
However, there’s much more to the story and the stakes are also higher, with the entire world in danger. The movie refers to many older horror movies and their monsters, making it a must-watch for all fans of the genre. What’s more, it also offers an unexpectedly gloomy ending. A majority of horror movies end on a more or less positive note, but The Cabin in the Woods is far from optimistic in its finale as it destroys the whole planet.
5 Frozen (2013)
Despite being a directorial debut, Frozen became one of the most popular animated movies of the 2010s, and has already managed to spawn a feature film sequel as well as several shorter ones. The story is already well-known. A young princess Anna has to find a way to break the curse that befell her kingdom, even if it means facing her sister Elsa and her dangerous ice powers.
Other than the strong and imaginative story, the movie also offers many songs, the most memorable one being Elsa’s melody “Let It Go”. And, of course, the movie wouldn’t work as well without the characters who make the audience laugh, such as the snowman Olaf who loves summer, or Anna’s new friends Kristoff and Sven.
4 Ex Machina (2014)
2014 saw the premiere of multiple memorable directorial debuts (such as John Wick with Keanu Reeves or Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal), but Ex Machina stands out. Even though it’s a hard sci-fi, it’s accessible even to those unfamiliar with the genre.
The movie shows that it’s not a good idea to put too much power into the hands of an artificial intelligence because then the A.I. might just use the power and take over. The story is mostly set in one location and as the tension rises, it becomes even more captivating. It helps that Ex Machina has three talented actors in the leading role - Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaacs, and Alicia Vikander.
3 Deadpool (2016)
After the previous live-action version of Wade Wilson that didn’t sit well with comic book fans, Ryan Reynolds got the chance to portray a much more accurate Deadpool. And he used it to the last letter. The movie mixes humor, action and romance into a whole that never bores the audience and gives Deadpool a lot of opportunities to shine, as well as break the fourth wall.
The movie became an instant hit, so it came as no surprise when it got a sequel in 2018. Deadpool is an unusual romantic comedy, but at its heart, it’s also one of the best modern movies about an antihero that the viewers can watch.
2 Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut proved that when a horror movie has a good idea, it doesn’t need a super high budget to become a box office hit. Get Out mixes horror and social criticism in a way that both makes the audience think and fear for the main hero’s life.
Daniel Kaluuya is sympathetic as Chris, a young photographer, who travels with his girlfriend to meet her family but discovers there’s something seriously wrong with them. The movie has the power to surprise those who watch so the less the viewers know about it beforehand, the better. Get Out did well at the Oscars too as it was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the one for the best original screenplay.
1 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Superhero movies don’t often win Oscars, let alone the one for the best animated picture. But Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse managed it, so it’s bound to get a sequel soon. The movie brings together various versions of Spider-people, not just Peter Parker, but also Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy aka Spider-Gwen, and more.
The imaginative story as well as the beautiful visual side of the movie made it one of the biggest hits of 2018. What’s more, it’s quite likely that without the success of this movie, Peter Parker wouldn’t get to meet other Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Homelast year in the MCU!
More: Best Badass Action Movie One-Liners (From The 2010s), Ranked
