The last 10 years have seen an influx of films that have culturally impacted and shaped media. Films nowadays are making a statement, opening up a conversation and creating a new narrative for people all across the nation. It’s hard to get through all of them, but these top five are sure to go down in the history books.

1. Black Panther (2018)—Marvel’s Black Panther is one of many Marvel movies that got moviegoers butts in the seats, however, the film is the only one that made a cultural impact.

Besides the film’s predominately African American cast, the film showcases women as warriors and prepared to fight for their country by any means necessary—not just stand behind a man and look pretty. In addition, the film is also the reason Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year movie ban, allowing men and women to sit together in the same theater.

If that does not scream culturally significant, what does?

2. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)—This film also gave audiences a new sight with its predominately Asian cast, the first in American cinema history.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Constance Wu, from ABC’s Fresh off the Boat, YouTube star Awkwafina and Harry Shum Jr. from Freeform’s Shadowhunters. This film gave Asians a new and current film to look at as a reminder of how far they have come and how far they still have to go.

The film was met with its fair share of controversy, but it’s safe to say this film has secured its spot in film history.

3. Wonder Woman (2017)—This is one of many installments to the superwoman franchise, but not many of them have a female lead both on and off the camera. The film stars Gal Gadot as an Amazonian warrior princess, who later becomes Wonder Woman, while the film is directed by Patty Jenkins.

This film is not the stereotypical superhero movie where the bad guy saves the day and the woman watches. That ship sailed a long time ago. It is now the woman’s turn to save the day. 

There are not very many films who have women at the center, but women in film are becoming more and more of a strong and prevalent force every day.

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)—This film offers a fresh take on high school, the future, traumatic pasts and all the drama in between. The movie stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Nina Dobrev. Lerman stars as the new kid at school who befriends seniors played by Watson and Miller.

The film explores mental health and suicide as Lerman’s character is haunted by his traumatic past. The film also explores the uncertainty many high school students face in regards to their lives after.

The film is culturally significant for its take on the stereotypical teenagers in high school film viewers have seen time and time again.

Tackling the prevalent subject matter of the time, mental health, from the eyes of the very same people struggling with it to this day.

5. Moonlight (2016)—While this film will forever go down in Oscar’s history for the infamous Best Picture flub, it also makes a cultural impact for a multitude of reasons.

The film has an all African American cast, the film’s star Trevante Rhodes’ character is a gay, African American male and the film also earned firsts at the Oscars.

Joi McMillon was the first African American female to be nominated for a Best Film Editing Oscar, Mahershala Ali was the first Muslim to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the film was the first Best Picture winner to feature an all African American cast and be LGBTQ+ related.

This film alone has enough history-making features to last until the end of time.

These films are just a few that have proved that they deserve their spots in film history. Whether man, woman, child, African American, Asian or LGTBQ+, these films not only have an audience for everyone but showcase the melting pot that is the nation.

Some of the films have also transcended beyond the United States, showing that their star power is far greater than what viewers see on screen. This fact also gives foreign viewers the opportunity to see what America has to offer.

That the country has more than one color, one ethnicity, one gender and loves whoever they want to love. The best part is that the best is yet to come.