8. Melancholia
Following up his beguiling Antichrist with something a little more ordinary if still resolutely audacious, Lars von Trier's Melancholia offers a singular, stunning vision of the end of the world, detailed as a straight-forward character drama rather than an action-packed, set-piece-laden adventure film. Kirsten Dunst plays a young woman emotionally crippled by depression, and her childish sister is played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, one openly welcoming the apocalypse while the other is patently terrified of it. Right up to its chilling final scene, this is a film that consistently surprises with its magnificent performances, its intrigue, and its stunning visuals. When the world ends - and that's not a spoiler, because we see it in the very first scene - it's a glorious sight indeed.
What it tells us: the end of the world is going to make Avatar look like garbage. Our final moments might just be the most visually amazing anyone has ever seen.