Welcome back! Having navigated the politically charged waters of 2014, we now arrive at 2015, a year that delivered one of the best single-year lineups of the decade. This was the year of the legacy sequel, the year the prestige drama got a brutal, visceral edge, and the year science fiction truly reached for the stars.
From one-long, perfect chase sequence to chillingly accurate true stories, 2015 was a year of pure, high-quality filmmaking.
Here are the 17 essential films from 2015 that made my top 150 list.
The Martian
Rank: #14 Director: Ridley Scott
The Martian is the ultimate celebration of science, ingenuity, and human resilience. Following Mark Watney (Matt Damon), an astronaut accidentally stranded on Mars, the film swaps the cosmic horror of most space movies for hard-science problem-solving. It is relentlessly optimistic, showing that when faced with impossible odds, humanity doesn't just panic—it gets to work.
The film, directed with crisp efficiency by Ridley Scott, makes every small step feel like a triumph, whether Watney is figuring out how to grow potatoes in Martian soil or how to communicate with NASA. Damon is brilliant, carrying the massive emotional weight and sense of humor needed to keep the audience invested in his lonely plight.
It's a huge, technically brilliant blockbuster that manages to feel personal and intimate. It's a testament to the power of human connection, even across 140 million miles of empty space.
Did You Know? To ensure accuracy, an actual potato farm was created on set, featuring real potatoes in various sizes, which Matt Damon worked with during filming. Additionally, because Damon's scenes were primarily solo, he shot his segment for five weeks straight and didn't meet much of the rest of the cast until he had to promote the movie.
Spotlight
Rank: #17 Director: Tom McCarthy
Spotlight is a devastating, quiet, and essential piece of filmmaking that stands as one of the best investigative journalism movies ever made. It chronicles The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team as they uncover the decades-long cover-up of widespread child abuse within the Catholic Church.
The film is purposefully understated, avoiding unnecessary melodrama or sensationalism. Instead, it focuses on the methodical, grueling process of journalism—the knocking on doors, the cross-referencing of facts, and the moral weight carried by the reporters. This procedural approach makes the eventual truth all the more shocking and impactful.
Mark Ruffalo gives a career-best performance as the passionate, tenacious Michael Rezendes, leading an impeccable ensemble cast that includes Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture for its powerful restraint and focus on institutional failure.
Did You Know? The Boston Globe actually ran the original "Spotlight" investigation entirely out of a cramped, messy basement office. The production team went to great lengths to perfectly recreate the chaos and clutter of that newsroom, right down to the specific, outdated computers and reference materials.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Rank: #23 Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Rogue Nation proved that Mission: Impossible was the most consistent and arguably the best spy franchise of the decade. Christopher McQuarrie took the baton from Brad Bird and delivered a film that is pure, high-octane espionage cinema, centered on a shadowy terrorist organization known as the Syndicate.
The action is flawless and iconic. From the breathtaking opening where Tom Cruise hangs from the side of a military plane as it takes off, to the spectacular underwater sequence in the giant server vault, the film is a masterclass in set-piece construction.
The movie is defined by the introduction of Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, a mysterious, morally ambiguous spy who instantly became one of the franchise's best characters. Her fight choreography, especially in the Vienna Opera House scene, is second to none.
Did You Know? The scene where Tom Cruise hangs from the Airbus A400 was not CGI. Cruise performed the stunt eight times, attached to the outside of the plane by a single harness, which required him to wear specialized contact lenses to protect his eyes from debris and wind.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Rank: #28 Director: George Miller
A stunning achievement in visceral, post-apocalyptic action, Mad Max: Fury Road is essentially one long, perfect chase sequence. George Miller, returning to the franchise after 30 years, delivered a film that is almost entirely practical effects and stunts, making the action feel immediate, dangerous, and real.
The film is a triumph of feminist action cinema, centering on Charlize Theron's Furiosa, whose singular mission to save the Wives drives the entire plot. Tom Hardy’s Mad Max is a necessary passenger in Furiosa's story, allowing her character's grim determination to define the action. The production design is mind-blowing, turning the desert into a bizarre, baroque death race.
Fury Road is pure cinema—a visual and sonic assault that uses spectacle to tell a surprisingly simple, mythic story about redemption and survival. It is widely considered one of the greatest action films ever made.
Did You Know? Director George Miller designed all the insane vehicles before he even had a full script. He worked with storyboard artists for years, essentially creating a 3,500-panel graphic novel that served as the blueprint for the entire movie.
Sicario
Rank: #53 Director: Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve's chilling look at the War on Drugs is less a thriller and more a descent into moral darkness. The film is told through the eyes of Emily Blunt’s FBI agent, Kate Macer, who is slowly and ruthlessly exposed to the nihilistic reality of the conflict at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The film is utterly beautiful despite its horrifying content. Cinematographer Roger Deakins uses sweeping aerial shots of the desert landscapes, contrasting the desolate beauty with the ugly, brutal violence below. The tension is built through quiet dread rather than jump scares, most notably during the sequence driving through Juárez.
Benicio del Toro’s performance as the enigmatic and vengeful Alejandro is the emotional core of the film. He is a force of nature, a terrifying embodiment of the endless cycle of violence. Sicario is a brilliant, unsettling movie that asks whether the methods justify the madness.
Did You Know? The tense nighttime tunnel sequence was shot almost entirely with specialized thermal and infrared cameras to maintain realism. The bootprints on the tunnel steps were achieved by having a prop guy heat his boots and walk down the stairs just before filming began.
Spy
Rank: #55 Director: Paul Feig
Jumping from gritty drama to pitch-perfect comedy, Spy is arguably Melissa McCarthy's best showcase of her comedic talents. Paul Feig (who directed Bridesmaids) delivered a spy parody that works just as well as a genuine action movie. McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a desk-bound CIA analyst who is suddenly thrust into the field.
The film is hilarious because it doesn't rely on one joke. McCarthy is surrounded by comedic gold, including Jason Statham giving a genius, career-parodying performance as the incompetent, loud-mouthed Rick Ford, and Rose Byrne as the sophisticated, perpetually annoyed villain. It is a wildly entertaining globe-trotting adventure.
Did You Know? Jason Statham performed nearly all of his own elaborate, action-packed—and intentionally ridiculous—stunts, which was crucial to selling the gag that his character was a highly competent agent who was also an insufferable idiot.
Ant-Man
Rank: #63 Director: Peyton Reed
Ant-Man was the palate cleanser Marvel needed after the heavy drama of Age of Ultron. It’s a hilarious, low-stakes caper film with a superhero twist. Paul Rudd brings his effortless charm and humor to Scott Lang, the former thief turned miniature hero.
The film succeeds by treating its premise seriously while mining it for maximum comedy. The visual effects are inventive, turning mundane environments—like a briefcase or a child's bedroom—into spectacular landscapes for superhero battles. The final fight on a model train set is an iconic piece of MCU action.
Did You Know? The size-changing sound effect for Ant-Man’s helmet was actually created by recording a combination of a dog whimpering and a human sneeze.
The Big Short
Rank: #72 Director: Adam McKay
Adam McKay’s brilliant, manic take on the 2008 financial crisis is a genre-bending masterpiece. Based on Michael Lewis’s non-fiction book, the film tackles the complex financial instruments that nearly destroyed the global economy, explaining CDOs and subprime loans through meta-narrative devices like Margot Robbie in a bathtub.
The all-star cast, including Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling, are all fantastic as the outsiders who saw the crash coming and bet against the system. The film is angry, hilarious, and utterly terrifying, capturing the moment when greed and incompetence caused catastrophic global damage.
Did You Know? Director Adam McKay used a handheld, verité camera style throughout the film to give it a frantic, immediate, and documentary-like feel, contrasting sharply with the slick, detached feel of previous Wall Street films.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Rank: #82 Director: Joss Whedon
The sequel to The Avengers had the difficult job of building out the MCU’s mythology while dealing with the fallout of the first film. While often criticized for its massive scope, Age of Ultron delivers some incredible moments and introduces several key characters (Vision, Wanda, Pietro) who would shape the next phase.
The film excels in its quieter, character-driven moments, such as the hilarious party scene where the heroes try to lift Thor’s hammer, or the tense, paranoid sequences driven by Wanda Maximoff's powers. It's a bombastic, global-scale blockbuster with an emotional center.
Did You Know? The scene where the Avengers are relaxing at the party was largely improvised. Joss Whedon encouraged the actors to mingle and ad-lib, leading to the genuinely funny exchanges as they try to lift Mjölnir.
Creed
Rank: #89 Director: Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler performed a masterful feat: he didn't just reboot the Rocky franchise, he revitalized it. Creed is a powerful story of legacy and identity, following Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Rocky’s great rival, who seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him.
The film is driven by the electric chemistry between Jordan and Stallone, who gives a poignant, Oscar-nominated performance as a weary, aging mentor. The boxing sequences are brutal and visually stunning, particularly a famous one-shot sequence. Creed proved the Rocky formula was timeless, giving the franchise a new, powerful voice.
Did You Know? The most famous boxing match in the film was choreographed and shot to appear as one continuous take. It took the crew 13 hours to shoot the sequence, which was a huge risk for the relatively small-budget film.
Ex Machina
Rank: #92 Director: Alex Garland
Alex Garland's directorial debut is a brilliant, minimalist psychological sci-fi thriller about artificial intelligence and sexual politics. It follows a programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) who is invited to a remote facility to test the human qualities of a highly advanced female AI named Ava (Alicia Vikander).
The film is smart, beautiful, and deeply unnerving. It operates almost entirely on dialogue and subtlety, with Vikander delivering a mesmerizing performance that constantly makes the audience question the nature of her intentions and consciousness. It is a modern classic that cemented Garland as an auteur of intelligent sci-fi.
Did You Know? The production designer based the remote, high-tech facility on a real-life luxury hotel in Norway, choosing the location for its natural, isolated setting that juxtaposed against the cold, sterile technology.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Rank: #95 Director: Matthew Vaughn
Matthew Vaughn took the James Bond formula and injected it with hyper-stylized, over-the-top violence and punk-rock attitude. Kingsman is an absolute blast—a witty, brilliantly choreographed spy caper about a young street delinquent (Taron Egerton) recruited into a super-secret espionage organization.
Colin Firth, playing against type, is magnificent as the dapper, deadly agent Harry Hart. The church sequence, set to a dizzying Skynyrd track, is one of the most creatively violent action scenes of the decade. The film successfully merged the fun of Roger Moore's Bond with the edge of Kick-Ass.
Did You Know? The infamous "church scene" was originally planned to be one continuous shot. Although the final version contains many hidden cuts, Colin Firth spent six months training in boxing, gymnastics, and wire work to make the sequence look seamless and fluid.
The Lobster
Rank: #105 Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Yorgos Lanthimos's English-language debut is a wonderfully bizarre, darkly comic satire about the pressures of finding a romantic partner. Set in a dystopian hotel where single people are given 45 days to find a mate, or else be surgically transformed into an animal of their choice, the film is unlike anything else made this decade.
Colin Farrell delivers a deadpan, deeply sad performance as the recently dumped David. The film's formal, precise style perfectly complements its absurdist premise, making the strange rules of its world feel horrifyingly logical. It is a scathing commentary on societal norms and expectations.
Did You Know? Director Yorgos Lanthimos intentionally cast actors who were known to be very funny to deliver the stilted, emotionally flat dialogue. He believed the humor would land harder if the delivery was completely devoid of emotion.
Bridge of Spies
Rank: #108 Director: Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg teamed up with Tom Hanks and the Coen Brothers (who penned the script) for this polished, old-school Cold War drama. It tells the true story of lawyer James B. Donovan (Hanks), who is tasked with defending a convicted Soviet spy (Mark Rylance) and then negotiating a daring prisoner exchange.
The film is a celebration of quiet, unwavering integrity in the face of political hysteria. Mark Rylance won an Oscar for his subtle, moving performance as Rudolf Abel, the spy. It is a beautifully crafted, moral thriller that reminds us of the value of constitutional rights, even for our enemies.
Did You Know? The Coen Brothers were brought in to revise the script, and they were responsible for punching up the character dialogue, adding much of the dry, witty humor, especially in the negotiation scenes.
The Visit
Rank: #138 Director: M. Night Shyamalan
The Visit was M. Night Shyamalan’s surprising return to form after a series of critical failures. Shot in the found-footage style, the film centers on two siblings sent to spend a week with their estranged grandparents, who quickly begin exhibiting deeply disturbing behavior.
The film is a masterclass in slow-burn dread and uncomfortable tension. Shyamalan wisely keeps the budget low and the focus tight, relying on simple, effective scares rooted in the genuine fear of the elderly and the unknown. It's funny, creepy, and delivers a great, memorable twist.
Did You Know? M. Night Shyamalan was so determined to maintain creative control and prove his worth to the industry after his previous films failed that he personally financed the entire $5 million budget by taking out a loan against his own home.
Spectre
Rank: #141 Director: Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes’ second outing in the Bond franchise closes the book on Daniel Craig’s run (until No Time to Die). While often criticized for its massive scope and reliance on nostalgia, the film delivers stunning action and production values.
The opening sequence, a long, continuous tracking shot through Mexico City during Day of the Dead, is a spectacular piece of choreography. Léa Seydoux brings depth to her Bond girl role, and Christoph Waltz is perfectly menacing as the elusive head of the titular organization.
Did You Know? The opening sequence in Mexico City cost $30 million alone. It involved 1,500 extras wearing intricately designed skeleton costumes and masks, all coordinated for the long, sweeping camera move.
99 Homes
Rank: #41 Director: Ramin Bahrani
99 Homes is a scathing, timely drama that explores the devastating human cost of the 2008 housing crisis. Andrew Garfield plays a desperate father who, after being evicted, goes to work for the ruthless real estate broker (Michael Shannon) who put him on the street.
The film is a moral horror story, forcing the viewer to confront the ethical compromises required to survive. Shannon is terrifyingly charismatic as the villain, and Garfield’s internal struggle as he sells his soul is utterly compelling. It's a powerful indictment of the American dream turning into a zero-sum game.
Did You Know? Director Ramin Bahrani and the cast spent weeks embedding themselves with people who had been evicted and with real estate lawyers in Florida to ensure the authenticity of the legal procedures and the emotional devastation.