Favorite Films of the 21st Century

[Zach]

I've been thinking about my favorite films of the 21st century. This feels about right.


1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2. Gladiator (2000)
3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
5. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
6. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
7. There Will Be Blood (2007)
8. Mulholland Drive (2001)
9. No Country for Old Men (2007)
10. Hero (2002)
11. Spirited Away (2001)
12. Yi Yi (2000)
13. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
14. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
15. The Dark Knight (2008)
16. Boyhood (2014)
17. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
19. A History of Violence (2005)
20. Interstellar (2014)
21. Mandy (2018)
22. The Green Knight (2021)
23. Joker (2019)
24. The Tree of Life (2011)
25. Donnie Darko (2001)
26. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
27. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
28. Toy Story 3 (2010)
29. In the Mood for Love (2000)
30. Watchmen (2009)
31. Inception (2010)
32. Django Unchained (2012)
33. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
34. One Battle After Another (2025)
35. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
36. Parasite (2019)
37. Lost in Translation (2003)
38. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
39. Minority Report (2002)
40. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
41. Lion (2016)
42. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
43. Spider-Man (2002)
44. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007)
45. WALL·E (2008)
46. Hell or High Water (2016)
47. Get Out (2017)
48. Shrek (2001)
49. City of God (2002)
50. 300 (2006)
51. Nosferatu (2024)
52. Cloud Atlas (2012)
53. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
54. Coco (2017)
55. The Wrestler (2008)
56. The Revenant (2015)
57. Old School (2003)
58. The Incredibles (2004)
59. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
60. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
61. Ponyo (2008)
62. A Serious Man (2009)
63. Drive (2011)
64. Roma (2018)
65. V for Vendetta (2005)
66. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
67. Memento (2000)
68. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
69. Batman Begins (2005)
70. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
71. Moonlight (2016)
72. Hereditary (2018)
73. Tangled (2010)
74. The Master (2012)
75. District 9 (2009)
76. Melancholia (2011)
77. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
78. Dunkirk (2017)
79. Black Swan (2010)
80. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
81. Mystic River (2003)
82. Ratatouille (2007)
83. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
84. The Witch (2015)
85. Children of Men (2006)
86. The Favourite (2018)
87. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
88. Finding Nemo (2003)
89. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
90. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
91. Borat (2006)
92. I, Tonya (2017)
93. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
94. Prometheus (2012)
95. Sinners (2025)
96. Gran Torino (2008)
97. The Substance
98. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
99. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
100. Oppenheimer (2023)


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Bubbling under:

A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Separation (2011)
A Star Is Born (2018)
About Schmidt (2002)
Ad Astra (2019)
Annihilation (2018)
Antichrist (2009)
Arrival (2016)
Avatar (2009)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Blonde (2022)
Cast Away (2000)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Ex Machina (2014)
Far from Heaven (2002)
First Reformed (2017)
Flow (2024)
Frozen (2013)
Gangs of New York (2002)
Gone Girl (2014)
Gravity (2013)
Green Book (2018)
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Iron Man (2008)
It (2017)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Leaving Neverland (2019)
Memories of Murder (2003)
Midsommar (2019)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Moana (2016)
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Oldboy (2003)
Past Lives (2023)
Phantom Thread (2017)
Poor Things (2023)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
School of Rock (2003)
Sideways (2004)
Sin City (2005)
Talk to Her (2002)
The Avengers (2012)
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)
The Founder (2016)
The Greatest Night in Pop (2023)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Irishman (2019)
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lives of Others (2006)
The Northman (2022)
The Pianist (2002)
The Power of the Dog (2021)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
The Shape of Water (2017)
The Social Network (2010)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Whale (2022)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The World’s End (2013)
The Zone of Interest (2023)
Up (2009)
Whiplash (2014)
Winter’s Bone (2010)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Your Name. (2016)


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Now, post YOURS.

[Zach]

I know there are only, like, four of us that use this forum, but come on, guys. Where y'all lists?

[ManPerson]

Top 10
1. Aftersun
2. Mulholland Drive
3. Spirited Away
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
5. The Tree of Life
6. World of Tomorrow
7. A Separation
8. Werckmeister Harmonies
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
10. In the Mood for Love

[Zach]

Nice. I've been meaning to get around to WH.

I hadn't even heard of World of Tomorrow, but it's probably worth investigating.

[Area Man]

I'm very happy to see A.I. Artificial Intelligence so high on your list. It's probably the most underrated movie of all time, and it's number one on my list of my favorite films of the twenty-first century thus far.

My taste in movies is admittedly very pedestrian, but here are my personal favorites of the century so far (the order of some may need to be worked on):

1. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - An essentially perfect look at the human condition. I cry uncontrollably every time I watch it.
2. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) - While I don't consider any of the post-1983 Star Wars films to be canon in my "headcanon," I just can't resist a trip to my favorite galaxy far, far away.
3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) - Ditto.
4. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) - Ditto.
5. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) - Ditto.
6. Christopher Robin (2018) - Like A.I. Artificial Intelligence, this one makes me cry like a little girl.
7. Rambo (2008) - Not the best John Rambo movie, but it's still a gory action masterpiece.
8. Road to Perdition (2002) - Very moving gangster tale that looks like a billion dollars.
9. Taken (2008) - A love letter from action fans to action fans.
10. Idiocracy (2006) - Hilarious and horrifyingly prescient.
11. Nobody (2021) - Brilliantly walks a fine line between being a sincere action movie treat and being a scathing parody of the genre.
12. Nobody 2 (2025) - Ditto.
13. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) - This is my favorite Mission: Impossible flick, packing in all the stunts, action, and compounding tension I want, without feeling a little overstuffed.
14. Joker (2019) - While often criticized for aping films like Taxi Driver, this film's magnificent economy of storytelling is a whirlwind.
15. The Wild Robot (2024) - Truly great kids' film about "found family."
16. Saints and Soldiers (2003) - I'm not religious, but this low-budget World War II combat film hits the spot.
17. 1917 (2019) - Top-notch World War I picture that transcends its one-take gimmick.
18. District 9 (2009) - Ferocious film that combines cinema verite with high-octane blockbuster thrills.
19. Safe (2012) - Like Taken, this is a love letter from action fans to action fans.
20. The Batman (2022) - I prefer this to The Dark Knight.
21. Batman Begins (2005) - Fabulous origin story with lots of heart.
22. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - Feels like a full-fledged, unrestrained action/superhero blockbuster.
23. Gran Torino (2008) - Clint Eastwood rocks.
24. Snakes on a Plane (2006) - Laugh-until-you-cry spoof of disaster movies... think Airplane! with a foul-mouthed Samuel L. Jackson.
25. Flow (2024) - Cats are simply the best.
26. Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015) - You-are-there documentary that made me fall in love with the Ukrainian people's resolve.
27. 20 Days in Mariupol (2023) - Horrifying, stomach-churning documentary that I'm not sure if I want to watch again any time soon.
28. They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) - Peter Jackson pays a glorious tribute to the Lost Generation.
29. Music by John Williams (2024) - Lots of "Memberberries" here, but I can't resist it.
30. The Expendables 2 (2012) - Lunk-headed stupidity that has me pumping my fists. It doesn't entirely recreate the style of an '80s/'90s action flick with success, but the cast keeps me coming back for more.
31. The Expendables (2010) - Ditto.
32. The Expendables 3 (2014) - Ditto.
33. Gangster Squad (2013) - Sure, it's The Untouchables-lite, but I love, love, love pulp aesthetics.
34. The Naked Gun (2025) - Just as hysterical as any Naked Gun flick.
35. Nosferatu (2024) - Absolutely terrifying experience that keeps me bolted to my seat.
36. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) - Not quite as good as the 1930 version, but still highly worthy.
37. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - This is the The Adventures of Robin Hood of its generation.
38. FDR: American Badass! (2012) - Well, I thought it was hilarious.
39. Silent Night (2023) - John Woo returns to form.
40. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - Despite having the worst romance in cinema history, I just can't resist watching a Star Wars film.
41. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) - Big, dumb fun. Billy Dee Williams saves the picture.
42. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) - I hate what they did with Luke Skywalker's character, but I recognize that this film is millions of miles away from boring.
43. Futurama: Bender's Big Score (2007) - Hey, it's Futurama... of course, it's great.
44. Futurama: Bender's Game (2008) - Ditto.
45. Futruama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008) - Ditto.
46. Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009) - Ditto.
47. Hacksaw Ridge (2016) - Like I said, I'm not religious, but I'm a sucker for follow-your-conscience stuff.
48. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) - Quirky, generation-defining comedy.
49. Harry Brown (2009) - 500-year-old Michael Caine is a vigilante... where do I sign up?
50. The Adventures of Tintin (2011) - Steven Spielberg brings everybody's favorite Belgian reporter to life with incredible results.
51. Machete Kills (2013) - Neo-grindhouse schlock that I love.
52. Machete (2010) - Ditto.
53. The Simpsons Movie (2007) - Great movie for my favorite T.V. show of all time.
54. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) - Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers... enough said.
55. American Fiction (2023) - Wonderful, hilarious, thought-provoking satire.
56. Furious 7 (2015) - My favorite of the The Fast and the Furious flicks I've seen.
57. Super (2010) - Delirious take-down of the superhero genre.
58. Step Brothers (2008) - Lightweight comedy at some of its best.
59. The Lost Battalion (2001) - Great World War I combat film.
60. Civil War (2024) - Despite being a little too apolitical, this is still a terrific look at war-time journalism.
61. Wonder Woman (2017) - Excellent origin story.
62. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) - Overstuffed and exhausting, but still lots of fun.
63. A Beautiful Mind (2001) - Russell Crowe's performance here couldn't be any more different than his turn in the previous year's Gladiator.
64. Milius (2013) - Hollywood's brilliant wildman gets an exceptional documentary about him.
65. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) - Great comedy with some horror elements.
66. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - Manic and turbo-charged insanity.
67. Big Fish (2003) - Tim Burton makes good.
68. Eyes of the Mothman (2011) - Fascinating folklore in a thorough documentary.
69. Inception (2010) - I don't love it as much as some people, but it's still a superb flick.
70. The Raid: Redemption (2011) - Did this Indonesian martial arts flick usher in a new epoch of action cinema?
71. National Treasure (2004) - Just a lot of fun.
72. The Protector (2005) - Tony Jaa beats up everybody in this exceptional martial arts movie.
73. Violent Night (2022) - Die Hard is taken to its logical conclusion.
74. Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) - Hysterical documentary about my favorite late night host.
75. The Onion Movie (2008) - Great sketch comedy.
76. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) - Was... was this supposed to be a stealth comedy a la Commando?
77. Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004) - Fox News has only become more dire since this documentary.
78. The Perfect Weapon (2016) - I love a so-bad-it's-good movie, and a sci-fi actioner where the Steven Seagal twins (?!) rule planet Earth is too much for me to handle.
79. Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010) - Long live Wakaliwood!
80. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) - Unadventurous and safe, but I still enjoyed it a lot.
81. Rambo: Last Blood (2019) - It's the weakest John Rambo movie, but it's still brutal entertainment.
82. War of the Worlds (2005) - Just plain scary and intense.
83. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) - Works very well as both action spectacle and Batman spoof.
84. Oppenheimer (2023) - In-your-face biopic.
85. Shazam! (2019) - Yet another better-than-solid superhero origin story.
86. Restrepo (2010) - Powerful documentary about the war in Afghanistan.
87. Flyboys (2006) - Cheesy as it is, I dig this World War I aviation flick (even if it's not as good as Wings [1927]).
88. The Dark Knight (2008) - As excellent as this film is, I do feel that it does try too hard to "depulpify" Batman and ground him in a realistic world, almost to its detriment.
89. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) - The Mission: Impossible film series really hit its stride with this one.
90. Tropic Thunder (2008) - Sublime showbiz satire.
91. Iron Maiden: Rock in Rio (2002) - This... this is a concert.
92. Non-Stop (2014) - Liam Neeson makes a great air marshal.
93. Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) - There are some pretty big gaps in coverage here, but this documentary on Pre-Code Hollywood is still absorbing.
94. The Beekeeper (2024) - I love a good Jason Statham actioner, and this is one of his best.
95. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) - Excellent actioner, even if giving the two titular characters identical personalities was a bad move.
96. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) - Like the post-1983 Star Wars films, I don't really consider this canon, but some Steven Spielberg magic still shows up occasionally.
97. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) - I enjoy this movie in a I-am-thirteen-and-nothing-is-cooler-than-this way.
98. Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day (2012) - This still have it.
99. Jesus Camp (2006) - Horrifying documentary about a situation that's only become worse.
100. Team America: World Police (2004) - As far as puppet-oriented satire goes, this one's tops.

[Zach]

Fantastic list! I like your notes, too.

So great to see some A.I. Artificial Intelligence love. I feel the same way -- I want to cry at the end every time. Such a fantastically visionary and often dark, nihilistic film, too.

I can't believe I forgot to include Revenge of the Sith on my list. It's without a doubt the best-written and most entertaining of the SW prequels, though I do quite like the other two as well.

Hmm… I could probably make room for Napoleon Dynamite on my list; definitely a classic at this point, and certainly “bubbling under” the top 100 at the very least.

[pauldrach]

I know there are only, like, four of us that use this forum, but come on, guys. Where y'all lists?

Will post early in the 22nd century when I've got a firm grip on that list, which so far exists only in the outer spheres of my extended conscience.

[ManPerson]

Nice. I've been meaning to get around to WH.

I hadn't even heard of World of Tomorrow, but it's probably worth investigating.

Im not gonna act like I fully understood Werckmeister Harmonies, but the visuals were strong enough that it became a personal favorite anyway.