[WGH]

The NY Times has put together a list of the 100 best movies of the 21st century. The list will be updated every day this week, today has #100 - #81. I have seen 15.

"More than 500 influential directors, actors and other notable names in Hollywood and around the world voted on the best films released since Jan. 1, 2000. Here is how their ballots stacked up."

Unfortunately you will have to be a NT Times subscriber to receive the list in your inbox every day or read the list online. Get unlimited access to all of The Times for $1 a week for the first 6 months.


The first 20 are:

100 - Superbad - Greg Mottola, 2007
99 - Memories of Murder - Bong Joon Ho, 2005
98 - Grizzly Man - Werner Herzog, 2005
97 - Gravity - Alfonso Cuarón, 2013 Note: I really liked his latest 7-part TV series "Disclaimer" (AppleTV+) featuring an all star cast.
96 - Black Panther - Ryan Coogler, 2018
95 - The Worst Person in the World - Joachim Trier, 2021
94 - Minority Report - Steven Spielberg, 2002
93 - Michael Clayton - Tony Gilroy, 2007
92 - Gladiator - Ridley Scott, 2000
91 - Fish Tank - Andrea Arnold, 2010
90 - Frances Ha - Noah Baumbach, 2013
89 - Interstellar - Christopher Nolan, 2014
88 - The Gleaners & I - Agnès Varda, 2001
87 - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Peter Jackson, 2001
86 - Past Lives - Celine Song, 2023
85 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy - Adam McKay, 2004
84 - Melancholia - Lars von Trier, 2011
83 - Inside Llewyn Davis - Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2013
82 - The Act of Killing - Joshua Oppenheimer and Anonymous, 2013
81 - Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky, 2010


That's a pretty hard hitting and deep list for the bottom 20 films, wonder what's coming up next? "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" would never make it on any list I put together, the editor must have stuck it in there just to see if anyone read the entire list.

[WGH]

How Actors, Directors and Other Film Lovers Voted for Their Top 100

Are you curious how your favorite director, actor or film lover voted and what films they picked? You will have to read the NY Times to find out. The list is huge, very interesting and fun.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/votes-movies-21st-century.html

The list includes:

Pedro Almodóvar
Pamela Anderson
Elizabeth Banks
Mike Birbiglia
Jason Blum
Bong Joon Ho
Danielle Brooks
Mel Brooks
Toni Collette
Sofia Coppola
Brian Cox
Lena Dunham
Ava DuVernay
Robert Eggers
Alden Ehrenreich
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Brett Goldstein
Luca Guadagnino
Bryce Dallas Howard
Barry Jenkins
Stephen King
David Krumholtz
Nathan Lane
John Lithgow
Simu Liu
Mikey Madison
Charles Melton
Stephen Merchant
Julianne Moore
James Murphy
Julianne Nicholson
Patton Oswalt
Amy Pasca
lPaula Poundstone
Molly Ringwald
Benny Safdie
Josh Safdie
Curtis Sittenfeld
Celine Song
Nicholas Sparks
Tramell Tillman
John Turturro
John Waters
Matthew Weiner
Edgar Wright
Rachel Zegler

and 73 more ballots from the over 500 voters who determined the list of this century’s best movies.

[WGH]

Day 2 -  films ranked No. 80-61

80 - Volver - Pedro Almodóvar, 2006
79 - The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick, 2011
78 - Aftersun - Charlotte Wells, 2022
77 - Everything Everywhere All at Once - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, 2022
76 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? - Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2000
75 - Amour - Michael Haneke, 2012
74 - The Florida Project - Sean Baker, 2017
73 - Ratatouille - Brad Bird, 2007
72 - Carol - Todd Haynes, 2015
71 - Ocean’s Eleven - Steven Soderbergh, 2001
70 - Let the Right One In - Tomas Alfredson, 2008
69 - Under the Skin - Jonathan Glazer, 2014
68 - The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow, 2009
67 - Tár - Todd Field, 2022
66 - Spotlight - Tom McCarthy, 2015
65 - Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan, 2023
64 - Gone Girl - David Fincher, 2014
63 - Little Miss Sunshine - Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, 2006
62 - Memento - Christopher Nolan, 2001
61 - Kill Bill: Vol. 1 - Quentin Tarantino, 2003


I have watched 32 out of 40 so far



Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ● Memento ● Little Miss Sunshine ● Gone Girl ● Oppenheimer ● Spotlight
Tár ● The Hurt Locker ● Under the Skin ● Ocean’s Eleven ● Carol ● Ratatouille
The Florida Project ● O Brother, Where Art Thou? ● Everything Everywhere All at Once ● Aftersun ● The Tree of Life ● Black Swan
Inside Llewyn Davis ● Melancholia ● Past Lives ● The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ● Interstellar ● Frances Ha
Gladiator ● Michael Clayton ● Minority Report ● Black Panther ● Gravity ● Grizzly Man
Memories of Murder ● Superbad

[Tyson]

I’ve seen all but 5 from the day 2 list.

[WGH]

Day 3 -  films ranked No. 60-41

60 - Whiplash - Damien Chazelle, 2014
59 - Toni Erdmann - Maren Ade, 2016
58 - Uncut Gems - Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, 2019
57 - Best in Show - Christopher Guest, 2000
56 - Punch-Drunk Love - Paul Thomas Anderson, 2002
55 - Inception - Christopher Nolan, 2010
54 - Pan’s Labyrinth - Guillermo del Toro, 2006
53 - Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - Larry Charles, 2006
52 - The Favourite - Yorgos Lanthimos, 2018
51 - 12 Years a Slave - Steve McQueen, 2013
50 - Up - Pete Docter, 2009
49 - Before Sunset - Richard Linklater, 2004
48 - The Lives of Others - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2007
47 - Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe, 2000
46 - Roma - Alfonso Cuarón, 2018
45 - Moneyball - Bennett Miller, 2011
44 - Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood - Quentin Tarantino, 2019
43 - Oldboy - Park Chan-wook, 2005
42 - The Master - Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012
41 - Amélie - Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001

I've watched 48 out of 60 films



Amélie ● The Master ● Oldboy ● Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood ● Moneyball ● Roma ● Almost Famous ● The Lives of Others
Before Sunset ● Up ● 12 Years a Slave ● The Favourite ● Pan’s Labyrinth ● Inception ● Uncut Gems ● Whiplash ●
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ● Memento ● Little Miss Sunshine ● Gone Girl ● Oppenheimer ● Spotlight ● Tár ● The Hurt Locker
Under the Skin ● Ocean’s Eleven ● Carol ● Ratatouille ● The Florida Project ● O Brother, Where Art Thou? ● Everything Everywhere All at Once ● Aftersun
The Tree of Life ● Black Swan ● Inside Llewyn Davis ● Melancholia ● Past Lives ● The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ● Interstellar ● Frances Ha
Gladiator ● Michael Clayton ● Minority Report ● Black Panther ● Gravity ● Grizzly Man ● Memories of Murder ● Superbad

[Tyson]

Seen all but 4 from this day's list.

[bkatbamna]

I don't see how in the world Black Panther is in the top 100 movies nor how it was ranked better than Grizzly Man.  Agree with most of the choices for the movies I have actually seen.

[WGH]

Day 4 -  films ranked No. 40-21

40 - Yi Yi - Edward Yang, 2000
39 - Lady Bird - Greta Gerwig, 2017
38 - Portrait of a Lady on Fire - Céline Sciamma, 2019
37 - Call Me by Your Name - Luca Guadagnino, 2017
36 - A Serious Man - Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2009
35 - A Prophet - Jacques Audiard, 2010
34 - Wall-E - Andrew Stanton, 2008
33 - A Separation - Asghar Farhadi, 2011
32 - Bridesmaids - Paul Feig, 2011
31 - The Departed - Martin Scorsese, 2006
30 - Lost in Translation - Sofia Coppola, 2003
29 - Arrival - Denis Villeneuve, 2016
28 - The Dark Knight - Christopher Nolan, 2008
27 - Adaptation - Spike Jonze, 2002
26 - Anatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet, 2023
25 - Phantom Thread - Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017
24 - Her - Spike Jonze, 2013
23 - Boyhood - Richard Linklater, 2014
22 - The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson, 2014
21 - The Royal Tenenbaums - Wes Anderson, 2001


I have watched 60 out of 80 films so far.



The Royal Tenenbaums ● Her ● Phantom Thread ● Anatomy of a Fall ● The Dark Knight ● Arrival ● Lost in Translation ● The Departed ● Bridesmaids
Wall-E ● A Serious Man ● Lady Bird ● Amélie ● The Master ● Oldboy ● Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood ● Moneyball ● Roma
Almost Famous ● The Lives of Others ● Before Sunset ● Up ● 12 Years a Slave ● The Favourite ● Pan’s Labyrinth ● Inception ● Uncut Gems
Whiplash ● Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ● Memento ● Little Miss Sunshine ● Gone Girl ● Oppenheimer ● Spotlight ● Tár ● The Hurt Locker
Under the Skin ● Ocean’s Eleven ● Carol ● Ratatouille ● The Florida Project ● O Brother, Where Art Thou? ● Everything Everywhere All at Once ● Aftersun ● The Tree of Life
Black Swan ● Inside Llewyn Davis ● Melancholia ● Past Lives ● The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ● Interstellar ● Frances Ha ●Gladiator ● Michael Clayton
Minority Report ● Black Panther ● Gravity ● Grizzly Man ● Memories of Murder ● Superbad

[Tyson]

Seen all but 3 from this one.

[WGH]

Day 5 - films from 20-1

20 - The Wolf of Wall Street - Martin Scorsese, 2013
19 - Zodiac - David Fincher, 2007
18 - Y tu mamá también - Alfonso Cuarón, 2002
17 - Brokeback Mountain - Ang Lee, 2005
16 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Ang Lee, 2000
15 - City of God - Fernando Meirelles, 2003
14 - Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino, 2009
13 - Children of Men - Alfonso Cuarón, 2006
12 - The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer, 2023
11 - Mad Max: Fury Road - George Miller, 2015
10 - The Social Network - David Fincher, 2010
09 - Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki, 2002
08 - Get Out - Jordan Peele, 2017
07 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Michel Gondry, 2004
06 - No Country for Old Men - Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, 2007
05 - Moonlight - Barry Jenkins, 2016
04 - In the Mood for Love - Wong Kar-Wai, 2001
03 - There Will Be Blood - Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007
02 - Mulholland Drive - David Lynch, 2001
01 - Parasite - Bong Joon Ho, 2019

Even though I have only watch 78 out of 100 films I doubt I will search out the films I missed, sometimes films don't appeal to me. But I did watch 18 out of 20 in this last batch.



Parasite ● Mulholland Drive ● There Will Be Blood ● Moonlight ● No Country for Old Men ● Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ● Get Out ● Spirited Away ● The Social Network ● Mad Max: Fury Road
The Zone of Interest ● Children of Men ● Inglourious Basterds ● Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ● Brokeback Mountain ● Y tu mamá también ● Zodiac ● The Wolf of Wall Street The Royal Tenenbaums ● Her
Phantom Thread ● Anatomy of a Fall ● The Dark Knight ● Arrival ● Lost in Translation ● The Departed ● Bridesmaids ● Wall-E ● A Serious Man ● Lady Bird
Amélie ● The Master ● Oldboy ● Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood ● Moneyball ● Roma ● Almost Famous ● The Lives of Others ● Before Sunset ● Up
12 Years a Slave ● The Favourite ● Pan’s Labyrinth ● Inception ● Uncut Gems ● Whiplash ● Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ● Memento ● Little Miss Sunshine ● Gone Girl
Oppenheimer ● Spotlight ● Tár ● The Hurt Locker ● Under the Skin ● Ocean’s Eleven ● Carol ● Ratatouille ● The Florida Project ● O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Everything Everywhere All at Once ● Aftersun ● The Tree of Life ● Black Swan ● Inside Llewyn Davis ● Melancholia ● Past Lives ● The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ● Interstellar ● Frances Ha
Gladiator ● Michael Clayton ● Minority Report ● Black Panther ● Gravity ● Grizzly Man ● Memories of Murder ● Superbad

[Tyson]

Seen all of them from today.

[AllanS]

I counted 35 of the 100 = opportunities.

[nlitworld]

I've seen about 2/3 of the list, but I'll be tracking down the rest to watch. With other streaming platforms being hit and miss lately and you can only rewatch old Top Gear episodes so many times, I could use some good movies to enjoy. Thanks for posting that list!

[JCarney]

I've seen 23 of the 100, so less than 25%, and there are several that imho should not be on that list at all.

JCarney

[S Clark]

I've seen 52 (although my wife will correct me to include several that I found forgetable).   Of the 52, I'd say maybe maybe 35 would be on my list and a dozen are on my "Wish I had that two hours back" list. 

Yep.  Wife informed me of 7-8 more that we've seen, and I'd forgotten. 
My conclusion is there haven't been 100 movies from the last 25 years that go on a best list.  I could probably flesh out a list of 50 "recommended".
But my taste often don't match "popular" list.  I've only watched one Terrence Malik movie that I actually liked.  Some, like "Parasite", are interesting if not exactly enjoyable.   

[WGH]

The list is a more or less popular list, certainly not the best. If the actual best movies of 21st Century were listed then most people would have watched only 10 out of 100 (or less) and think the people who voted were elitist and snobbish.

A short list of my recent best films in no particular order would include:

Anora by Sean Baker
Tangerine by Sean Baker
Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund
Titane by Julia Ducournau
Shoplifters by Hirokazu Kore-eda
The Pianist by Roman Polanski
The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof
Dune I & II by Denis Villeneuve
Sisu by Jalmari Helander
I'm Still Here by Walter Salles
To Leslie by Michael Morris
Poor Things by Yorgos Lanthimos
Nosferatu by Robert Eggers