Exploring the best movies of the 21st century has been an exhilarating journey, especially with lists like the one from the New York Times. These compilations highlight the vibrancy of contemporary cinema and build excitement for future releases.
What Did Rolling Stone Rank As The Best Movies of the 21st Century?
Exploring the best movies of the 21st century has been an exhilarating journey, especially with lists like the one from the New York Times. These compilations highlight the vibrancy of contemporary cinema and build excitement for future releases.
Recently, Rolling Stone shared its selections for the best movies of the 21st century. Here’s how they described their list:
“The following 100 movies represent what a handful of Rolling Stone contributors who still believe in the movies, still obsess over them, still find thrills and chills and salvation in them, have dubbed the best of this relatively still-young century. It’s a living document, to be sure; we’ll undoubtedly go back and add to this list as the years go by. But every single entry here has reminded us of the way that the movies can reflect our humanity back at us, spark our imaginations, inspire us to laugh or cry or gasp or take action, and why we fell in love with the moving pictures in the first place. From comedies to tragedies, biopics to superhero epics, stop-motion foxes to milkshake-drinking tycoons — our picks for the high points of this moviegoing century to date.”
Let’s dive into their selections.
The Best Movies of the 21st Century According to Rolling Stone
- There Will Be Blood (2007)
- In The Mood for Love (2000)
- Moonlight (2016)
- Parasite (2019)
- Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2007)
- Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
- Yi Yi (2000)
- Mulholland Drive (2001)
- Boyhood (2014)
- OJ: Made in America (2016)
- A Separation (2011)
- The Social Network (2010)
- Carol (2015)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
- Zodiac (2007)
- The Act of Killing (2012)
- Roma (2018)
- Get Out (2017)
- Faces Places
- The 25th Hour (2002)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
- Before Sunset (2004)
- Children of Men (2006)
- Drive My Car (2021)
- Lady Bird (2017)
- The Irishman (2019)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- Uncle Boonmee who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
- A History of Violence (2005)
- The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
- Phantom Thread (2017)
- Manchester by the Sea (2016)
- Pain and Glory (2019)
- 12 Years a Slave (2013)
- First Reformed (2017)
- Burning (2018)
- Spring Breakers (2012)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- Tar (2022)
- The Master (2012)
- Under the Skin (2013)
- Selma (2014)
- Wall-E (2008)
- Nickel Boys (2024)
- Anchorman (2004)
- Hunger (2008)
- Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
- Black Panther (2018)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
- Memento (2000)
- Past Lives (2023)
- Call Me By Your Name (2017)
- A Prophet (2009)
- The Tree of Life (2011)
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Dogville (2003)
- A.I. (2001)
- The 40 Year Old Virgin (2004)
- The Florida Project (2017)
- I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
- Leviathan (2012)
- Her (2013)
- The Souvenir (2019)
- Grizzly Man (2005)
- Lost in Translation (2003)
- The Host (2006)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- Michael Clayton (2007)
- John Wick (2014)
- Uncut Gems (2019)
- 35 Shots of Rum (2008)
- The Zone of Interest (2023)
- Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Best in Show (2000)
- The White Ribbon (2009)
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
- Hereditary (2018)
- Dogtooth (2009)
- Lincoln (2012)
- Oppenheimer (2023)
- The Assassination of Jesse James (2007)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- Decision to Leave (2022)
- La Commune (Paris 1871) (2000)
- Certified Copy (2010)
- Offside (2006)
- Lingui, the Sacred Bonds (2021)
- The Hurt Locker (2008)
- Toni Erdmann (2016)
- City of God (2002)
- No (2012)
- Norte, the End of History (2013)
- Winter’s Bone (2010)
- Margaret (2011)
Examining the List
One reason I appreciate lists like these is their diversity, showcasing films from various countries around the globe. While there is considerable overlap with the New York Times list, this selection includes many new titles that deserve recognition.
Here are some films that were not included in the NYT list:
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- The 25th Hour (2002)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
- 35 Shots of Rum (2008)
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2007)
- The 40 Year Old Virgin (2004)
- A.I. (2001)
- The Assassination of Jesse James (2007)
- Burning (2018)
- Certified Copy (2010)
- Decision to Leave (2022)
- Dogtooth (2009)
- Dogville (2003)
- Drive My Car (2021)
- Faces Places
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- First Reformed (2017)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- Hereditary (2018)
- A History of Violence (2005)
- The Host (2006)
- Hunger (2008)
- I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
- The Irishman (2019)
- John Wick (2014)
- La Commune (Paris 1871) (2000)
- Leviathan (2012)
- Lincoln (2012)
- Lingui, the Sacred Bonds (2021)
- The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
- Manchester by the Sea (2016)
- Margaret (2011)
- Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
- Nickel Boys (2024)
- No (2012)
- Norte, the End of History (2013)
- Offside (2006)
- OJ: Made in America (2016)
- Pain and Glory (2019)
- Selma (2014)
- The Souvenir (2019)
- Spring Breakers (2012)
- Uncle Boonmee who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
- The White Ribbon (2009)
- Winter’s Bone (2010)
While I find the inclusion of OJ: Made in America contentious, as I have only seen it as a multi-part series on television, I recognize its significance as a documentary. The other films listed are ones I enjoy and believe deserve celebration. This list certainly provokes thought about our own selections.
Summing It all Up
These lists are enjoyable to dissect and create independently. I would love to hear which films you believe should have made the cut or what your personal lists look like.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
