What films would you choose to define the quarter of a century?
Another we haven’t quite hit the quarter-century mark, the films that have defined the industry and the culture has changed quite a lot. From Castaway, the film that practically defined the 2000s, to modern classics like The Power of the Dog and Drive My Car, we have seen a huge shift in storytelling, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to create a more diverse landscape of voices to celebrate in film.
It is hard to find films that define an entire quarter of a century, the choices are endless, and not everyone can see everything that has been made in the last 25 years (except for maybe Quentin Tarantino or Steven Soderbergh). That didn’t stop the folks from The Hollywood Reporter from attempt to capture the films of the era – excluding 2022 – that aligned with their tastes and reflected the cinema landscape.
While we might not agree with all of their picks, The Hollywood Report does state that their choices are not a model representation of the entire film landscape. This list does try to touch on genre-defining films, the best adaptations that shifted the film industry, and our favorite original stories that capture our hearts and attention over the years.
Let’s look at the 50 best films of the 21st century!
The 50 Best Films of the Century (So Far)
50. Weekend (2011)
49. Black Panther (2018)
48. Time (2020)
47. Bright Star (2009)
46. Pariah (2011)
45. Bridesmaids (2011)
44. Things to Come (2016)
43. Grizzly Man (2005)
42. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
41. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
40. Summer of Soul (2021)
39. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
38. Children of Men (2006)
37. Wendy and Lucy (2008)
36. Lovers Rock (2020)
35. The Favourite (2018)
34. The Social Network (2010)
33. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
32. The Return (2003)
31. Manchester by the Sea (2016)
30. Marie Antoinette (2006)
29. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)
28. A Serious Man (2009)
27. At Berkeley (2013)
26. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
25. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
24. Timbuktu (2014)
23. 35 Shots of Rum (2008)
22. Before Sunset (2004)
21. Parasite (2019)
20. Far From Heaven (2002)
19. Drive My Car (2021)
18. Shoplifters (2018)
17. Talk to Her (2002)
16. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
15. The Power of the Dog (2021)
14. Wall-E (2008)
13. Burning (2018)
12. Moonlight (2016)
11. Boyhood (2014)
10. Get Out (2017)
9. 4 Months, 3 weeks and 2 Days (2007)
8. In the Mood for Love (2000)
7. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
6. Spirited Away (2001)
5. Mulholland Drive (2001)
4. Zodiac (2007)
3. The Gleaners and I (2000)
2. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
1. Yi Yi (2000)
What film do you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!
