The Best Films of the 21st Century

according to the NY Times and myself

Recently, The New York Times released a list of “The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.” It’s a pretty good list! There are films I hate, 17 I haven’t seen…but mostly great choices! I was going to wait until the end of the year to make my analogous list, but they’ve inspired me to make it earlier than planned. (And, after all, the first 25 years of the century are complete, aren’t they?)

The NY Times list is designed to show a representative breadth of the important films of the past 25 years. My list is based on my singular personal preference, but it does display more catholic taste, featuring a great deal more foreign films and skewing toward arthouse titles a bit more. I also include artfully filmed plays and miniseries with a singular vision and coherent structure.

My Favorite Films: 2000-2024

1. Einstein on the Beach (2014)

2. Chelsea Walls (2001)

3. The Tree of Life (2011)

4. Company: A Musical Comedy (2008)

5. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

6. All of Us Strangers (2023)

7. The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021)

8. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019)

9. Songs from the Second Floor (2000)

10. Over the Garden Wall (2014)

11. Down with Love (2003)

12. The Fountain (2006)

13. A Star Is Born (2018)

14. Nope (2022)

15. The Green Knight (2021)

16. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

17. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

18. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

19. Chicago (2002)

20. Steve Jobs (2015)

21. Amélie (2001)

22. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

23. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

24. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

25. Monster (2023)

26. Children of Men (2006)

27. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

28. C’mon C’mon (2021)

29. Lost in Translation (2003)

30. Death Proof (2007)

31. In Bruges (2008)

32. Bullet Train (2022)

33. Hot Fuzz (2007)

34. A Very Long Engagement (2004)

35. V for Vendetta (2005)

36. The Artist (2011)

37. Memories of Murder (2003)

38. National Theatre Live: Follies (2017)

39. Mean Girls (2004)

40. Yi Yi (2000)

41. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

42. The Village (2004)

43. The Dark Knight (2008)

44. Nine (2009)

45. Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

46. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

47. White Noise (2022)

48. Memento (2000)

49. Midnight in Paris (2011)

50. Godland (2022)

51. Big Fish (2003)

52. From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

53. Being Julia (2004)

54. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. (2022)

55. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

56. The Power of the Dog (2021)

57. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

58. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)

59. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

60. Burn After Reading (2008)

61. Long Day’s Journey into Night (2018)

62. Prisoners (2013)

63. Adaptation. (2002)

64. Code Unknown (2000)

65. A Master Builder (2013)

66. Donnie Darko (2001)

67. tick, tick…BOOM! (2021)

68. The Third Murder (2017)

69. Jojo Rabbit (2019)

70. Finding Nemo (2003)

71. Ruby Sparks (2012)

72. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

73. The Hours (2002)

74. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

75. Parasite (2019)

76. The Great Beauty (2013)

77. The Trip to Italy (2014)

78. Red Cliff (2008)

79. Phantom Thread (2017)

80. A Quiet Place (2018)

81. Tape (2001)

82. Incendies (2010)

83. Official Competition (2021)

84. The Square (2017)

85. The F Word (What If) (2013)

86. Fences (2016)

87. Lady Bird (2017)

88. Angels in America (2003)

89. Drive My Car (2021)

90. Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

91. The Consequences of Love (2004)

92. Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)

93. This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection (2019)

94. You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet (2012)

95. Four Daughters (2023)

96. Flow (2024)

97. After Yang (2021)

98. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

99. Black Swan (2010)

100. Requiem for a Dream (2000)