10. Dunkirk
Year: 2017 | Director: Christopher Nolan
Nolan brought his unique perspective to this WW2 epic, tackling the turning- point evacuation of the titular French beach. Examining the action from air, land and sea, Dunkirk had a complex but elegant structure based around three timelines. The practical approach to the effects (real boats, real planes, real beach) popped on IMAX, and Hans Zimmer's tick-tock score cranked up the gut-churning tension, but heartfelt performances provided emotional heft beneath the carnage. Matt Maytum
9. Arrival
Year: 2016 | Director: Denis Villeneuve
8. Inside Out
Year: 2016 | Director: Ronnie Del Carmen
Pixar's 15th feature was quite the head trip, as the emotions of Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) fought for control over the mind of 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias). And if that wasn't enough to noodle the noggins of viewers of all ages, we were taken into every corner of Riley's brain, including Abstract Thinking, Facts, Opinions and Dreams. Jamie Graham
7. The Tree of Life
Year: 2011 | Director: Terrence Malick
"Ambitious" doesn't quite cut it. Not content with making a film about life, the universe and everything – from the Big Bang to the end of the world – Terrence Malick used his epic canvas to paint a tender family portrait around a single moment of grief. It might be known as one of cinema's loftiest displays of philosophic grandstanding, but the real staying power of Malick's film lies in its humanity. Paul Bradshaw
