Although we still have four months left in the year, we're already getting a jump start on the best movies of 2010.
From summer blockbusters like 'Inception' to small indies like 'The Kids Are All Right,' these 16 movies have already made a serious impression on moviegoers across the country.
Check them out below.
16. 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'As they say, third time's the charm. 'Eclipse,' the third chapter in the uber-popular 'Twilight' saga, ranks as the franchise's best film to date, with a storyline that is mature, exciting and, in the case of the final showdown between Edward and Victoria, downright epic. We're still not sure where we stand in the Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debate, but after seeing 'Eclipse,' we're 100 percent Team 'Twilight.'
15. 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'This Swedish adaptation of the novel is a dark, heart-pounding thriller, and you're left waiting until the very end for the answer to the mystery. A star is born with the magnetic Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander (though we admit we can't wait to see what Rooney Mara does with the role in David Fincher's remake).
14. 'Alice in Wonderland'This curious 3-D adaptation proved to be the perfect fit for visionary director Tim Burton, who once again captured solid performances from Johnny Depp (hilarious as the Mad Hatter) and Helena Bonham Carter (deliciously chilling as the Red Queen), as well as newcomer Mia Wasikowska, also seen in this summer's 'The Kids Are All Right.' And with its eye-popping visuals and clever take on Lewis Carroll's novel, it's no wonder Burton's 'Alice' has grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
13. 'The Other Guys'After a couple of hiccups, Will Ferrell returns to fine form in this hilarious buddy-cop comedy opposite Mark Wahlberg. The film ranks among Ferrell's best collaborations with director Adam McKay ('Talladega Nights,' 'Anchorman'), and has enough laughs and surprises to keep audiences satisfied well past its awesome end credits. Best of all: It's even better a second time.
12. 'Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work'This up-close-and-personal look at legendary comedienne Joan Rivers is every bit as funny as you'd expect it to be. But in between jokes, audiences also get to see a rare glimpse of Rivers' serious side, with segments on aging in show business, her fallout with 'Tonight Show' host Johnny Carson and her husband's suicide. One of the best documentaries of the year, 'A Piece of Work' will satisfy fans of Rivers' comedy and win over any lingering skeptics.
11. 'Splice'Not quite horror, not quite sci-fi and not quite romance, this movie manages to transcend genre. Full of suspense, laughs and shocking moments, 'Splice' isn't afraid to ask the difficult moral questions that most movies seek to avoid.
10. 'A Prophet'This intense prison drama, which has already been compared to 'The Godfather,' is an often brutal look at the world of crime, and boasts an impressive performance by Tahar Rahim, in his first major leading role. From France, 'A Prophet' is a must-see for serious moviegoers.
9. 'Kick-Ass'The box office for this comic action flick never lived up to the fanboys' hype, maybe because watching 11-year-old Hit Girl (the eye-opening Chloe Moretz) efficiently (and heroically) slay people wasn't everyone's cup of tea. But for those who took the violence for what it was -- a deliberately exaggerated part of the film's comic-book world -- 'Kick-Ass' was every adolescent's fantasies come to life and made awesome. In short, it kicked ... well, you know.
8. 'Despicable Me'This colorful animated flick is filled with plenty of slapstick gags, clever gadgets, quirky spy humor and great voiceover work from funnyman Steve Carell. It also features the weirdest-looking minions, whose goofy antics steal the whole show.
7. 'Winter's Bone'Based on the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell, 'Winter's Bone' lived up to its award-winning hype at Sundance, due in great part to its ensemble cast, led by rising star Jennifer Lawrence (soon to be seen in 'X-Men: First Class.') Lawrence's mature performance was raved by critics and could land the 20-year-old a well-deserved Best Actress nomination come Oscar season.
6. 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'Based on the popular comic book, this cult film, about a teen (Michael Cera) who must defeat seven men to win the heart of his crush, was clearly made for the videogame crowd. But don't let its hipster style fool you: At its core, 'Scott Pilgrim' is a fun action movie that appeals to a much wider audience than one might expect. (Like these beloved movies, perhaps it'll find a better audience outside the theater?)
5. 'The Kids Are All Right'In a season of epic blockbusters and sequels, this little indie that could, about the children of lesbian parents who track down their sperm-donor father, stood out as one of the summer's best films, thanks to excellent direction, writing and acting, especially from the sure-to-be-Oscar-nominated Annette Bening, in her best performance since 'American Beauty.' The kids may be 'All Right,' but this hilarious and touching comedy is superb.
4. 'The Secret in Their Eyes'This Argentinean masterpiece (an Academy Award winner for Best Foreign-Language Film) follows a retired criminal court investigator as he revisits a 25-year-old unresolved murder case. It's a stunning tour-de-force that explores the depths of human emotions -- love, fear, loneliness, yearning, hate -- disguised as a police procedural mystery that effortlessly juggles romance, comedy, suspense and political commentary.
3. 'How to Train Your Dragon'A heart-warming story about a boy and his dragon, 'How to Train Your Dragon,' about a Viking teenager (Jay Baruchel) who befriends his dragon, is a genuinely emotional film that features lots of exciting and dazzling adventure sequences. Better yet: Unlike so many films released this year, its 3-D is actually worth the extra price of admission.
2. 'Inception'From the great mind of director Christopher Nolan, 'Inception' was arguably the most talked about and revisited film of the summer, thanks to its twists, turns and much-debated cliffhanger ending. With a dream cast that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard and Tom Hardy, this box-office smash had audiences thinking and debating in a season normally reserved for mindless entertainment. The ending may still be up for debate, but 'Inception' is the real deal.
1. 'Toy Story 3'With expectations higher than 'Avatar's' box office, it seemed impossible for 'Toy Story 3' to live up to its predecessors. But leave it to Pixar to craft a threequel that is every bit as good as 'Toy Story' 1 and 2 -- a joyous, entertaining and heartwarming film that will make you laugh as much as it will make you cry. Once again, Pixar went to infinity, and beyond our expectations, and in doing so, created the best film of the year so far.
