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Powered by cutting-edge developments in production technology, the movies of the 2020s have pushed cinema to new limits, with imaginative and mind-blowing artistic expressions that go beyond anything we’ve seen so far. The best of them, arguably, are the epics; grand films of immense scale and spectacular storytelling that stand on par with the greats of the cinematic canon. And while the movies may have gotten bigger than ever in the 2020s, only a handful of the epic films produced in the decade so far can be counted as true masterpieces.
Though they may be few in number, these films have had a profound influence on cinema that’s sure to be felt for decades to come, exploring complex, compelling narratives on a scale that simply wasn’t possible before. With that in mind, here’s our selection of 2020s epics that can be considered true masterpieces.
1
‘Babylon’ (2022)
Set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Babylon is an epic period black comedy-drama written and directed by Damien Chazelle. Centered on up-and-coming starlet Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), movie star Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), and resourceful Mexican immigrant Manny (Diego Calva), the movie explores the transformative changes that sweep across the industry as it transitions from silent films to talkies. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, Tobey Maguire, and more in major roles.
Despite mixed reviews and a disappointing box office run, Babylon is a modern cult classic that paints a detailed, layered, and outrageous portrait of Hollywood and cinema in general. The film is a powerful tribute and an honest examination of the industry’s excesses and flaws, deconstructing the myth and magic to explore the often brutal nature of showbiz and ask the most fundamental question, “What’s it all for?” Elevated by Justin Hurwitz’s stellar score and the compelling performances of its ensemble, Babylon is easily one of the most underrated films of the 2020s.
2
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a sci-fi action comedy that follows the fantastical experiences of Evelyn Quan (Michelle Yeoh), an exceptionally average Chinese-American woman. Struggling to deal with her business, marriage, complicated family dynamics, and lost dreams, Evelyn finds her life suddenly upended when she’s drawn into a multiversal crisis involving alternate worlds and an evil entity intent on destroying all of existence. During a tax audit, no less! Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and James Hong star in supporting roles.
Chaotic, complex, hilarious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, Everything Everywhere All at Once fully lives up to its name with its strange and wild story. Thematically rich and beautifully performed by its talented ensemble, the film is a heartfelt, multi-layered narrative about family, self-discovery, and Asian American identity that found resonance with a massive international fan base. The movie easily ranks among the greatest sci-fi films of all time, transcending the limits of genre and convention, and it earned a record-high seven Academy Award wins, including for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
3
‘The Northman’ (2022)
Image via Focus Features
Based on the original Scandinavian legends that inspired William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Northman is an epic dark fantasy Viking movie directed and co-written by Robert Eggers. Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth, a prince exiled from his homeland after his father is killed by his uncle, and the film follows his quest for vengeance, which leads to unexpected discoveries and a terrible cost. The movie also features Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Willem Dafoe, Björk, and more in supporting roles.
The Northman is a rich, well-crafted historical epic that’s further elevated by Alexander Skarsgård’s brutally physical performance. It’s a layered, intelligent story with fascinating characters and a moving narrative, and at the same time, it’s also a thoroughly gripping action movie with amazing fight sequences set against breathtaking landscapes. Though it wasn’t a big box office success, The Northman has found great success with streaming audiences, and it’s easily one of the greatest Viking movies of all time.
4
‘Poor Things’ (2023)
Inspired by Alasdair Gray’s novel, Poor Things is a surrealist coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Yorgos Lanthimos that presents a new perspective on the classic Frankenstein trope. The film follows the life of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman who is brought to life by an eccentric scientist, beginning as an infant in an adult’s body and slowly growing into her own person, hungrily seeking knowledge, adventure, love, and sexual awakening. The movie also stars Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Suzy Bemba, and more in significant roles.
There are layered movies, and then there’s Poor Things, a film that reveals new symbolism and interpretations with every rewatch. A fierce, delightfully weird, and highly unconventional exploration of femininity, independence, and self-discovery, the film is whimsical yet dark, with beautiful cinematography, sharp humor, and mindblowing acting, particularly by Emma Stone, who won an Academy Award for her performance. It’s easily one of the greatest films of the 2020s, and arguably one of the greatest of all time.
5
‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
Directed, written, and produced by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is a biographical thriller that explores the life and times of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, commonly known as the father of the atomic bomb. Starring Cillian Murphy in the title role, the film follows Oppenheimer as he leads a team of scientists to develop the first nuclear bomb during World War II, changing the world forever with their deadly invention. The ensemble cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, and more in significant roles.
Oppenheimer is just about the most epic movie of the 2020s so far, in terms of both its content and its impact on popular culture. The film has been widely hailed as one of Nolan’s greatest masterpieces, a genre-blending drama that’s part biography, part thriller, and part philosophical journey, all brought to life through stellar direction, gorgeous cinematography, compelling performances, and amazing visual effects. The movie received numerous accolades as well, including seven Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.
6
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)
Produced, co-written, and directed by Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic Western crime drama based on true events, as detailed in David Grann’s 2017 non-fiction book. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, the film recounts the story of how several members of the Osage Nation were murdered for their oil rights by a corrupt political boss. Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro lead the ensemble cast, which also includes Brendan Fraser, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and more in key roles.
Produced on a giant budget of over $200 million, Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the most expensive movies ever made, and it shows in its impeccable production quality. The film received a nine-minute standing ovation at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, and it went on to receive near-universal praise for its gripping story, layered performances, and masterful direction, winning several prestigious awards. The movie is Martin Scorsese at his finest, and a truly epic film in both scale and runtime.
7
‘The Brutalist’ (2024)
Directed and co-written by Brady Corbet, The Brutalist is an epic period drama that stars Adrien Brody as Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and architect László Tóth. Moving to the United States with hopes of a new life, he spends decades struggling to rebuild his life, career, and marriage, experiencing particularly brutal hardships at the hands of a wealthy industrialist. Besides Brody, the film also stars Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, Alessandro Nivola, and more in key roles.
A long, painful, yet hauntingly beautiful period epic, The Brutalist was a major critical and commercial success, earning high acclaim after its premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, where it won Brady Corbet the Silver Lion for Best Direction. More accolades would soon follow, including a second Academy Award win for Adrien Brody, and the film is widely regarded as one of the greatest historical epics of the 2020s so far. It’s not an easy watch, even with its breathtaking cinematography, but The Brutalist is an undeniable cinematic masterpiece.
8
The Dune Trilogy (2021–2026)
Directed and co-written by Denis Villeneuve, the Dune series is a trilogy of epic space opera films adapted from Frank Herbert’s 1960s novels Dune and Dune Messiah. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, who arrives on the desert planet Arrakis in Dune: Part One when his father is appointed as its steward, but after experiencing betrayal, exile, and an ominous prophecy, he discovers his destiny as a messianic figure. The ensemble cast also includes Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and more.
The Dune trilogy is by far the most popular and successful science fiction franchise of the 2020s and a true epic in every sense of the word. From its sweeping, layered story to the gorgeously realized landscapes and world, every aspect of the series is executed with mastery, creating an immersive, fantastical experience that’s further elevated by its stellar performances. Not since Star Wars has there been a space opera so universally beloved, and Villeneuve’s three-part masterpiece is sure to go down in history as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of the 21st century.
- Release Date
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September 15, 2021
- Runtime
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155 minutes
- Director
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Denis Villeneuve
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Remus Noronha
Almontather Rassoul
