Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.
Movies TV Shows Music Books Poetry Podcasts

Highlights

2010s
All Movies TV Shows Music Books Poetry Podcasts
2010s Movies

Miriam Bale: Best Films of the Decade

05 January 2020

Miriam Bale: Best Films of the Decade, as posted to Twitter, in no particular order

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

Bonus

2010s Movies

Darren Hughes: Favorite Films of the 2010s

04 January 2020

Darren Hughes: Favorite Films of the 2010s, as posted to Letterboxd, listed alphabetically

[see also 2021 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012]

2010s Movies

World of Reel: Jordan Ruimy: The 25 Best Movies of the 2010s

04 January 2020

The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

Jordan Ruimy: The 25 Best Movies of the 2010s, as posted at World of Reel

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019]

  1. The Tree of Life
    Terrence Malick
  2. The Master
    Paul Thomas Anderson
  3. Under the Skin
    Jonathan Glazer
  4. Margaret
    Kenneth Lonergan
  5. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
    Apichatpong Weerasethakul
  6. Dogtooth
    Yorgos Lanthimos
  7. A Separation
    Asghar Farhadi
  8. O.J.: Made in America
    Ezra Edelman
  9. Carol
    Todd Haynes
  10. The Wolf of Wall Street
    Martin Scorsese
  11. Her
    Spike Jonze
  12. Inside Llewyn Davis
    Joel & Ethan Coen
  13. This is Not a Film
    Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
  14. Son of Saul
    László Nemes
  15. The Social Network
    David Fincher
  16. The Favourite
    Yorgos Lanthimos
  17. Black Swan
    Darren Aronofsky
  18. 12 Years a Slave
    Steve McQueen
  19. Mad Max: Fury Road
    George Miller
  20. The Florida Project
    Sean Baker
  21. Phantom Thread
    Paul Thomas Anderson
  22. Get Out
    Jordan Peele
  23. Nocturama
    Bertrand Bonello
  24. Melancholia
    Lars von Trier
  25. Holy Motors
    Leos Carax
2010s Music

A.A. Dowd: 100 Favorite Metal Albums of the Decade

02 January 2020

Kentucky - Panopticon

A.A. Dowd: 100 Favorite Metal Albums of the Decade, as posted to Twitter

  1. Kentucky
    Panopticon
  2. Marrow of the Spirit
    Agalloch
  3. Nux Vomica
    Nux Vomica
  4. All We Love We Leave Behind
    Converge
  5. Mirror Reaper
    Bell Witch
  6. Colored Sands
    Gorguts
  7. Spiral Shadow
    Kylesa
  8. Reflections of a Floating World
    Elder
  9. Teethed Glory and Injury
    Altar of Plagues
  10. De Vermis Mysteriis
    High on Fire
  11. Autumn Eternal
    Panopticon
  12. Surgical Steel
    Carcass
  13. Into the Lair of the Sun God
    Dawnbringer
  14. Värähtelijä
    Oranssi Pazuzu
  15. Harmonicraft
    Torche
  16. Aesthethica
    Liturgy
  17. Retrocausal
    Cleric
  18. Kvelertak
    Kvelertak
  19. Stranger Fruit
    Zeal & Ardor
  20. Blackjazz
    Shining
  21. Bleeder
    Mutoid Man
  22. A Gaze Among Them
    Big Brave
  23. Air
    Astronoid
  24. Only Love
    The Armed
  25. 777 - Sect(s)
    Blut Aus Nord
  26. 777 - The Desanctification
    Blut Aus Nord
  27. 777 - Cosmosophy
    Blut Aus Nord
  28. Sky Burial
    Inter Arma
  29. Gold
    Whores.
  30. Desire Will Rot
    Fuck the Facts
  31. Speak Loud Say Nothing
    Wizard Rifle
  32. Altra Mors
    Evoken
  33. Nightmare Logic
    Power Trip
  34. Foundations of Burden
    Pallbearer
  35. It's Hard to Have Hope
    Svalbard
  36. Lore
    Elder
  37. Electric Messiah
    High On Fire
  38. Eternal Return
    Windhand
  39. Nest
    Brutus
  40. Below the House
    Planning For Burial
  41. The Parallax II: Future Sequence
    Between the Buried and Me
  42. Adore
    Numenorean
  43. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
    Deafheaven
  44. An Ache for the Distance
    The Atlas Moth
  45. Sentenced To Life
    Black Breath
  46. Infinite Dissolution
    Locrian
  47. Apex Predator - Easy Meat
    Napalm Death
  48. Meir
    Kvelertak
  49. Ex Eye
    Ex Eye
  50. Moksha
    Cloud Rat
  51. Agnus Dei
    The Secret
  52. Post Self
    Godflesh
  53. Paradise Gallows
    Inter Arma
  54. Slow Forever
    Cobalt
  55. Rotten Thing to Say
    Burning Love
  56. From All Purity
    Indian
  57. Bottom of the Morning
    Pinkish Black
  58. Caligula
    Lingua Ignota
  59. Indifferent Rivers Romance End
    Wreck and Reference
  60. All Fours
    Bosse-de-Nage
  61. Hiss Spun
    Chelsea Wolfe
  62. Gators Rumble, Chaos Unfurls
    Glorior Belli
  63. Ardor
    Big Brave
  64. Empros
    Russian Circles
  65. Esoteric Malacology
    Slugdge
  66. Pervertor
    Lord Mantis
  67. Seaweed
    Demonic Death Judge
  68. Sunbather
    Deafheaven
  69. The Oath
    The Oath
  70. Honor Found In Decay
    Neurosis
  71. Blood Drive
    ASG
  72. Devouring Radiant Light
    Skeletonwitch
  73. The Great Southern Darkness
    Glorior Belli
  74. Entrench
    KEN mode
  75. Want
    Wreck and Reference
  76. Utiltarian
    Napalm Death
  77. Nocebo
    Elizabeth Colour Wheel
  78. Roads to the North
    Panopticon
  79. The Beast You Are
    Big Business
  80. The World.The Flesh.The Devil
    In Solitude
  81. Rites of Separation
    Agrimonia
  82. Landless
    Eight Bells
  83. Pain Is a Warning
    Today Is the Day
  84. Final Transmission
    Cave In
  85. The Satanist
    Behemoth
  86. Beyul
    Yakuza
  87. Exhausting Fire
    Kylesa
  88. Contempt
    Couch Slut
  89. Down Below
    Tribulation
  90. Red Horse
    Early Graves
  91. Possession
    Christian Mistress
  92. Surface Noise
    Judiciary
  93. The Mother of Virtues
    Pyrrhon
  94. Vertikal
    Cult of Luna
  95. Rheia
    Oathbreaker
  96. Brotherhood of the Snake
    Testament
  97. Orange Mathematics
    Frontierer
  98. Curse of Conception
    Spirit Adrift
  99. Asylum
    Morne
  100. Patterns in Mythology
    Falls of Rauros
  101. Apocryphon
    The Sword
  102. One of Us Is the Killer
    The Dillinger Escape Plan
2010s Movies

Polygon: Matt Patches: The Best Movies of the 2010s Decade

31 December 2019

The Comedy - Rick Alverson

Matt Patches: The Best Movies of the 2010s Decade, as published by Polygon

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2019]

  1. The Comedy
    Rick Alverson
  2. Minding the Gap
    Bing Liu
  3. Kill List
    Ben Wheatley
  4. The Master
    Paul Thomas Anderson
  5. Uncut Gems
    Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie
  6. The Grand Budapest Hotel
    Wes Anderson
  7. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
    Isao Takahata
  8. 45 Years
    Andrew Haigh
  9. The Arbor
    Clio Barnard
  10. Spring Breakers
    Harmony Korine
2010s Music

Mixmag: The 72 Best Albums of the Decade 2010-2019

31 December 2019

Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides - Sophie

Mixmag: The 72 Best Albums of the Decade 2010-2019, listed "in year-by-year order"

2010s TV Shows

Paste: The 100 Best TV Shows of the 2010s

31 December 2019

Breaking Bad

Paste Magazine: The 100 Best TV Shows of the 2010s

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]

  1. Breaking Bad
  2. Mad Men
  3. The Americans
  4. Blue Planet II
  5. Planet Earth II
  6. Fleabag
  7. Adventure Time
  8. The Good Place
  9. Atlanta
  10. Parks and Recreation
  11. The Great British Bake Off
  12. 30 Rock
  13. Barry
  14. Rectify
  15. The Good Wife
  16. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
  17. Game of Thrones
  18. The Crown
  19. Bob’s Burgers
  20. Justified
  21. Stranger Things
  22. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  23. Chernobyl
  24. Better Call Saul
  25. Catastrophe
  26. When They See Us
  27. My Mad Fat Diary
  28. Hannibal
  29. Key and Peele
  30. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  31. Twin Peaks: The Return
  32. Succession
  33. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
  34. BoJack Horseman
  35. Veep
  36. Legends of Tomorrow
  37. Downton Abbey
  38. The Night Manager
  39. The Good Fight
  40. Mozart in the Jungle
  41. Review
  42. Counterpart
  43. Man Seeking Woman
  44. The Leftovers
  45. Community
  46. Penny Dreadful
  47. Boardwalk Empire
  48. Broad City
  49. Gravity Falls
  50. Happy Valley
  51. Killing Eve
  52. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
  53. Halt and Catch Fire
  54. Looking
  55. Fargo
  56. Russian Doll
  57. Treme
  58. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
  59. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  60. Sherlock
  61. Orphan Black
  62. Rick and Morty
  63. American Vandal
  64. Downward Dog
  65. Jane the Virgin
  66. Terriers
  67. In the Flesh
  68. Doctor Who
  69. Glow
  70. Documentary Now!
  71. Big Mouth
  72. Outlander
  73. Black-ish
  74. Speechless
  75. The Handmaid’s Tale
  76. Queen Sugar
  77. Happy Endings
  78. Master of None
  79. Detroiters
  80. Steven Universe
  81. Black Mirror
  82. Better Things
  83. One Day at a Time
  84. The Expanse
  85. Fringe
  86. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
  87. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  88. Westworld
  89. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  90. Orange is the New Black
  91. The Knick
  92. Portlandia
  93. Nathan for You
  94. Pose
  95. The Bold Type
  96. Schitt's Creek
  97. Grey's Anatomy
  98. Eastbound & Down
  99. Fresh Off the Boat
  100. Silicon Valley
  101. Parenthood
2010s Books

BuzzFeed: The 24 Best Books of the Decade

30 December 2019

A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

BuzzFeed: The 24 Best Books of the Decade

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018]

2010s Music

The Wild Honey Pie: Top 50 Albums of the 2010s

30 December 2019

Have One On Me - Joanna Newsom

The Wild Honey Pie: Top 50 Albums of the 2010s

[see also 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]

  1. Have One On Me
    Joanna Newsom
  2. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
  3. Capacity
    Big Thief
  4. To Pimp A Butterfly
    Kendrick Lamar
  5. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
  6. 151A
    Kishi Bashi
  7. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
  8. High Violet
    The National
  9. The Suburbs
    Arcade Fire
  10. Channel Orange
    Frank Ocean
  11. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
  12. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
  13. Currents
    Tame Impala
  14. Half-Light
    Rostam
  15. Days Are Gone
    Haim
  16. Modern Vampires of the City
    Vampire Weekend
  17. Masterpiece
    Big Thief
  18. Visions
    Grimes
  19. Cardinal
    Pinegrove
  20. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
  21. In Colour
    Jamie xx
  22. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
    Kanye West
  23. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
  24. Stranger in the Alps
    Phoebe Bridgers
  25. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
  26. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
  27. Crushing
    Julia Jacklin
  28. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
  29. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
  30. When I Get Home
    Solange
  31. DAMN.
    Kendrick Lamar
  32. Sylvan Esso
    Sylvan Esso
  33. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
  34. Go
    Jónsi
  35. Cuz I Love You
    Lizzo
  36. Teen Dream
    Beach House
  37. Plastic Beach
    Gorillaz
  38. Pure Heroine
    Lorde
  39. Ctrl
    SZA
  40. This Is Happening
    LCD Soundsystem
  41. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
  42. The Wilds
    Henry Jamison
  43. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
  44. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
  45. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
  46. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
  47. Coexist
    The xx
  48. Nothing Was the Same
    Drake
  49. AM
    Arctic Monkeys
  50. Heard It In A Past Life
    Maggie Rogers
2010s Music

Atwood Magazine: The Best Albums of the Decade

29 December 2019

Atwood Magazine: The Best Albums of the Decade

[see also 2021]

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Year-end lists are fingerprints; aggregate statistics are smudges. Therefore, I make no tallies.