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Best Movies Turning 10 in 2026 (Released in 2016)
The best of 2016, a decade later. These films have stood the test of time.
Updated March 23, 2026 · ThumbScore Editorial
Hard to believe it's been a decade, but 2016 delivered one of the strongest lineups in recent memory. From the cerebral sci-fi of Arrival to the dazzling romance of La La Land, from the quiet power of Moonlight to the crowd-pleasing thrills of Deadpool — 2016 had something extraordinary for everyone.
A decade of staying power: The films of 2016 didn't just perform well on release — they've become modern classics. Moonlight won Best Picture. Arrival redefined sci-fi. The Handmaiden became an international sensation. Ten years on, these films are more celebrated than ever.
1Arrival (2016)A linguist must communicate with alien visitors — Denis Villeneuve's masterpiece redefines what sci-fi can be, and the ending will shatter you
2La La Land (2016)A jazz pianist and an aspiring actress chase their dreams in Los Angeles — Damien Chazelle's gorgeous musical about love and ambition
3Moonlight (2016)Three chapters in the life of a young Black man growing up in Miami — Barry Jenkins crafted one of the most beautiful films of the century
4Hell or High Water (2016)Two brothers rob banks across West Texas while a ranger closes in — a modern Western that's lean, smart, and crackling with tension
5The Nice Guys (2016)Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as mismatched PIs in 1970s LA — Shane Black's criminally underrated buddy comedy masterpiece
6Sing Street (2016)A Dublin teen starts a band to impress a girl — John Carney's most charming film, bursting with 80s synth-pop energy and pure heart
7Manchester by the Sea (2016)Casey Affleck delivers a devastating performance as a man forced to confront the tragedy he's been running from
8Hacksaw Ridge (2016)A conscientious objector saves 75 soldiers in Okinawa without firing a shot — Andrew Garfield's finest performance in Mel Gibson's visceral war film
9Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)A rebellious kid and his grumpy foster uncle become fugitives in the New Zealand bush — Taika Waititi's hilarious, heartwarming adventure
10Deadpool (2016)Ryan Reynolds broke the fourth wall and the R-rated superhero mold — irreverent, hilarious, and the passion project that changed the genre
11Zootopia (2016)A bunny cop and a fox con artist solve a missing-mammals case — Disney's smartest animated film tackles prejudice with humor and heart
12Captain America: Civil War (2016)The Avengers split apart over oversight — the airport battle is peak MCU, and Spider-Man's introduction is perfect
13Moana (2016)A Polynesian princess sails across the ocean to save her island — Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs and The Rock's Maui are an unbeatable combo
14Doctor Strange (2016)Benedict Cumberbatch enters the MCU as the Sorcerer Supreme — the visual effects alone bent minds and reality in equal measure
15Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)The rebel mission to steal the Death Star plans — the Darth Vader hallway scene is the single greatest moment in modern Star Wars
1610 Cloverfield Lane (2016)A woman wakes up in a bunker with a man who says the outside world is contaminated — John Goodman is absolutely terrifying
17The Handmaiden (2016)Park Chan-wook's twisting, sensuous thriller about con artists, a Japanese heiress, and a library of secrets — every scene is a revelation
18Swiss Army Man (2016)Paul Dano befriends Daniel Radcliffe's flatulent corpse on a deserted island — the weirdest, most unexpectedly moving film of the decade
19Don't Breathe (2016)Three thieves break into a blind man's house — Fede Alvarez crafts an unbearably tense home-invasion thriller that flips every expectation
20The Witch (2015)A Puritan family in 1630s New England faces something evil in the woods — Robert Eggers' debut is slow-burn folk horror at its most unsettling
21Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)A boy with a magical shamisen must defeat ancient spirits — Laika's most visually stunning stop-motion masterpiece
22Finding Dory (2016)The forgetful blue tang goes looking for her parents — Pixar's sequel delivers unexpected emotional depth alongside the laughs
24Sausage Party (2016)Seth Rogen's R-rated animated comedy about food discovering the truth about what happens after purchase — absolutely unhinged
25The Jungle Book (2016)Jon Favreau's stunning live-action/CGI remake proved Disney remakes could be genuinely great — Bill Murray's Baloo steals every scene
Why 2016 Still Holds Up a Decade Later
2016 was a year where art-house and blockbuster coexisted beautifully. Moonlight and Arrival pushed boundaries in storytelling and representation, while Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War proved that big-budget filmmaking could still feel fresh and inventive. The Handmaiden and The Witch showed that international and indie cinema was thriving.
A decade on, many of these films have only grown in reputation. The Nice Guys has become a cult classic. Hell or High Water is now recognized as one of the best modern Westerns. Hunt for the Wilderpeople put Taika Waititi on the map. If you missed any of these the first time around, now is the perfect time to catch up.
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