AARP Top Movies for Seniors in 2010
Author: AARP
Published: 2010/12/21 - Updated: 2026/01/20
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: AARP - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This report from AARP The Magazine identifies ten films from 2010 specifically selected for audiences aged 50 and older, featuring mature storylines and performances by seasoned actors including Robert Duvall, Colin Firth, Diane Lane, and Helen Mirren. The selection criteria focuses on character-driven narratives, authentic portrayals of midlife experiences, and themes that resonate with older adults - from examining regret and mortality in "Get Low" to depicting corporate downsizing's impact in "The Company Men." This curated list serves as a valuable resource for seniors and people with disabilities seeking entertainment that reflects their life experiences rather than youth-oriented content, compiled by editors of the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers. The recommendations help viewers identify films that treat mature audiences with respect while delivering genuine dramatic depth and relevance - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Get Low, The King's Speech and Secretariat are among this year's Top 10 Movies for Grownups, according to AARP The Magazine - whose annual Movies For Grownups Awards spotlight and celebrate movies with story-lines, performances, and film-making that have distinct relevance to the 50+ audience.
Main Content
The Top 10 list features films with daring and riveting performances from some of the finest actors and actresses to engage grownup audiences this year. The list of movies were selected by the editors of AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers.
"The films featured on our Top 10 list provide a daring group of must-see performances for the grownup audience," said Meg Grant, West Coast Editor of AARP The Magazine. "From drama and period-pieces, to family comedies and romance, 50+ actors and filmmakers have provided true entertainment this past year. We are proud to honor and recognize their achievements."
"Our readers rely on us to cut out the kid stuff and put dynamic, character-driven films in their queues," said Bill Newcott, AARP The Magazine editor and host of AARP's weekly "Movies for Grownups" radio show. "We find the movies we know our audience will love and alert them year-round through reviews in print and online as well as through radio and social media commentary."
The Top 10 Movies for Grownups of 2010 previews the annual Movies for Grownups Awards, with 16 categories including unique ones such as "Best Grownup Love Story," "Best Buddy Picture" and "Best Movie," among others.
The Top 10 Movies for Grownups of 2010
Get Low
It's wrapped up in engaging performances by Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek, but at its heart this folk fable gets to the deep, dark places of regret, mortality, and self-imposed isolation.
The King's Speech
Co-starring as King George VI and his speech therapist, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush grate, grind, and growl at one another until each emerges more completely human.
Secretariat
Diane Lane shines as Penny Chenery, the middle-aged housewife who nurtured a horse racing legend; John Malkovich nearly steals the show as her flamboyant-yet-no-nonsense trainer.
The Company Men
The downsizing-fed angst of American workers at midlife (or approaching it) is chillingly captured in this story of three men (Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, and Ben Affleck) caught in the corporate vortex. As the carpenter who watches it all from the outside, Kevin Costner seems like the perfect pal.
RED
Hey, it's got Helen Mirren wrestling a machine gun the size of a Buick! Nine-tenths of this action flick's charm comes in its vintage stars (Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Mirren) playing their ages straight, and their action over the top.
The Kids are All Right
Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are the perfect couple endearingly affectionate to each other, properly concerned about their kids, fiercely determined to endure life's inevitable betrayals in this quirky story about a brother and sister who seek out their biological dad (a clueless but well-meaning Mark Ruffalo).
City Island
In this hidden gem of a family comedy, Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies co-star as the heads of a working-class family where everyone seems to have a secret: some big, some small, some earth-shattering.
Casino Jack
Kevin Spacey gives his best performance since The Usual Suspects as uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff a man whose uncanny knack for rationalization leads him down some very murky side streets.
Letters to Juliet
The kids went to see the young stars Amanda Seyfried and Gael Garcia Bernal, but Vanessa Redgrave is radiant in the film's pivotal role: a woman setting out across the heart of Italy to find the love of her youth (a mighty studly-looking Franco Nero).
Another Year
As the couple who've been married forever and clearly will remain so, Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen are the anchors of this slice-of-life drama but it's Lesley Manville who's riveting as their aimless friend, who spins through life with a manic, wheels-falling-off frenzy.