The 21 Best Movies of the 21st Century

If you’re like many who grew up in the 20th century – or even just remember the 1980s – it’s a little shocking to realize we’re already a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Just a reminder: the new millennium actually began on January 1, 2001, not 2000. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to adjust my glasses, straighten my tie, and make sure everything is just right.

Although movie theaters are struggling right now, the first 25 years of this century gave us an amazing number of great films, spanning all kinds of genres – and even creating some entirely new ones. It’s fascinating to imagine what the pioneers of cinema, like the Lumière brothers and Thomas Edison, would think of modern filmmaking trends like screenlife movies or legacy sequels.

With the 2020s halfway over, it’s a good time to look back at the best movies so far this century. Let’s pick the top 21 films – it’s a satisfying number! Of course, this is just one person’s opinion, and your own favorites might be completely different.

The 21 Best Movies of the 21st Century So Far

21. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

It’s strange that when people make lists of the greatest films, they rarely focus on which movies are the funniest. When it comes to sheer laugh-out-loud moments, few 21st-century films can compete with Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell, it’s a hilarious take on the sexism common in 1970s workplaces. In fact, the scene with Ron, his coworker Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), and Brian’s collection of colognes might be the funniest scene I’ve ever seen in a movie. Every line, every word is a joke – there are maybe two syllables that don’t land, but the rest is pure comedic brilliance.

20. Holy Motors (2012)

Leos Carax’s Holy Motors feels like the most incredible dream you could ever experience while awake. It’s a wildly imaginative and surprisingly moving tribute to film, acting, and life itself – suggesting they’re all deeply connected. Denis Lavant delivers eleven captivating performances as Oscar, a man who journeys through Paris in a limousine, constantly transforming into different characters – from a motion-capture performer to a gangster and a beggar. While the specifics of Oscar’s work remain a mystery, the film powerfully demonstrates the enduring magic and unrealized possibilities of cinema, even as the ways we watch and access movies are changing.

19. One Battle After Another (2025)

With a reported budget exceeding $150 million, One Battle After Another stands out in today’s Hollywood landscape. It’s a daring and visually stunning film with a clear artistic vision and underlying political themes. Defying easy categorization, director Paul Thomas Anderson masterfully combines elements of a thriller, a quirky adventure, and a socially conscious drama—the kind of films studios used to champion—all woven into a deeply touching story about a father trying to shield his daughter from his own errors and a world in chaos. The result is a film that is funny, gorgeous, unusual, unsettling, and thrilling – in short, a new masterpiece from Paul Thomas Anderson.

18. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the creators of Bridesmaids, reunited for another hilarious comedy, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. They play two best friends who lose their jobs at a furniture store in Nebraska and decide to spend their severance pay on a Florida vacation. While there, they both fall for a handsome stranger (Jamie Dornan, playfully poking fun at his own heartthrob image) who is secretly involved in a ridiculous plot to unleash genetically-modified killer mosquitoes on the town. Wiig and Mumolo are fantastic, delivering witty dialogue about everything from Tommy Bahama shirts to the perfect name, Trish. The movie is so funny, its lines will likely be quoted for years to come – even if we’re all facing a mosquito apocalypse! Barb and Star arrived at just the right time, offering a bright, joyful escape from the challenges of everyday life.

17. Inside Out (2015)

Before becoming Pixar’s creative leader, Pete Docter was known as the company’s most innovative thinker. He contributed as a writer to beloved films like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and WALL-E, and went on to direct three of Pixar’s biggest hits: Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out. Inside Out is a remarkably creative story that explores the emotional world of an 11-year-old girl, Riley. When Riley moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, her life is disrupted, leading to a conflict between the personified emotions within her brain. The film’s depiction of Riley’s mind is visually stunning and full of detail in every scene. But beyond its imaginative design, Inside Out is a profoundly insightful film about the crucial role sadness and grief play in our lives.

16. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

The classic video game Donkey Kong is a surprisingly good reflection of life itself. It’s incredibly challenging, often unfair, and success often feels like a matter of luck. You might occasionally triumph, but you’re just as likely to be defeated by unpredictable obstacles. Even achieving incredible success doesn’t offer lasting victory – ultimately, everyone fails. And sometimes, life throws in bizarre challenges, like dealing with a scheming businessperson with questionable style.

That’s why The King of Kong isn’t just a documentary about competitive Donkey Kong; it’s a film about the human experience.

15. The Prestige (2006)

Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige is a masterful film where his signature style—complex timelines, unexpected twists, and recurring themes like flawed heroes and loss—come together brilliantly. Set in Victorian London, the movie follows two competing magicians, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, whose rivalry escalates to dangerous levels, pushing them to both incredible creativity and deadly acts. The Prestige is a film built on layers of storytelling, examining the sacrifices artists make for their craft and the inherent conflict between good and evil within us all. What makes it so rewarding is that even after learning its secrets, it’s endlessly rewatchable, offering new insights with each viewing as you notice how carefully Nolan sets up every plot twist—if you pay close attention.

14. The Social Network (2010)

Whether David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin got the details of Facebook’s beginnings right is open for discussion. But they definitely nailed a particular personality type, perfectly embodied by Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg: a brilliant, frustrated, privileged, and deeply insecure person craving acceptance. Many questioned Fincher’s choice to make a film about Facebook back in 2010, but it’s now clear it was a spiritual follow-up to Fight Club, another story about a resentful, isolated man whose anger has unforeseen results.

A crucial element of the film is Justin Timberlake’s casting as Sean Parker, the founder of Napster and an early Facebook executive. Parker essentially functions as Zuckerberg’s rebellious alter ego. Timberlake and Eisenberg share a striking resemblance—they could almost be brothers, one exceptionally fortunate and the other seemingly unlucky. That’s the person Mark aspires to be, and he’s incredibly close to achieving it.

13. Nickel Boys (2024)

It’s rare for a movie to truly feel original and groundbreaking, but Nickel Boys achieves that. This film stands out for its bold approach and unique perspective – actually, two perspectives. Director and co-screenwriter RaMell Ross made a daring choice: to film almost the entire adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from the point of view of the two main characters. This incredible camerawork, done with cinematographer Jomo Fray, immerses you in the experiences of two young men fighting to survive a harsh reform school in 1960s Florida. It’s a technique that could easily feel gimmicky, but in Ross’s hands, it creates a genuinely new way of seeing the world – and perhaps a glimpse into the future of filmmaking. It’s baffling that Fray wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for his work.

12. Past Lives (2023)

This moving and poignant film explores the unseen connections that shape our lives – whether you call it fate, destiny, or simply in-yun – and how these forces can both bring people together and keep them apart. It centers on Nora (Greta Lee), a writer, and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), an engineer, who share a powerful connection despite repeatedly being pulled apart by circumstance. They cross paths at different stages of life – as children, in college, and as adults – and each time, their bond remains strong, even when Nora is married to an American named Arthur (John Magaro). The film delicately portrays this love triangle, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion that will leave you contemplating the pivotal moments and choices that have defined your own life, perhaps with the benefit of hindsight.

11. Boyhood (2014)

For twelve years, director Richard Linklater secretly filmed scenes with the same actors – a boy (Ellar Coltrane), his mother (Patricia Arquette), and his sister (Lorelei Linklater) – to document their lives. While some might see this as a self-indulgent project, the result is a fascinating snapshot of American life in the early 2000s, and a deeply moving portrayal of one family’s love, struggles, and sacrifices. All movies deal with time, but Boyhood has a truly special connection to it. Seeing the actors actually age on screen adds a unique emotional weight to the story. When Patricia Arquette reflects on her life at the film’s end, her words carry the weight of a dozen years of genuine happiness and hardship. As the late Roger Ebert eloquently put it, movies are windows into our experience of time and space, and Boyhood feels like a film that throws those windows wide open.

10. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Despite being a fun and lighthearted film, Catch Me If You Can is also a surprisingly moving story about loneliness and the importance of family. It features a fantastic cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio as the clever con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., Christopher Walken as his struggling father, Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams as his love interests, and Tom Hanks as the determined, but serious, FBI agent Carl Hanratty.

The entertaining chase between Hanratty and Frank is also tinged with sadness. Both characters are deeply isolated, and their pursuit of each other becomes the central focus of their lives, highlighted by their yearly Christmas phone calls. In fact, Catch Me If You Can might be one of the most beautifully melancholic Christmas movies ever made, rivaling even It’s a Wonderful Life. If you don’t enjoy this film, I’m prepared to tell you a joke…

9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Many consider Mad Max: Fury Road the best car chase movie of the 21st century, and it’s easy to see why. Beyond the thrilling action, the film is surprisingly spiritual, even echoing Biblical stories like the exodus from Sodom and Gomorrah. It follows a group of strong women, powerfully led by Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, as they search for a better future, guided through the desert by a reluctant hero, Max (played by Tom Hardy). The film proves that action movies can be both exciting and intelligent, and anyone who says otherwise is simply trying to provoke you.

8. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Okay, so Martin Scorsese is over 80 years old, and honestly, he’s still at the top of his game. He’s pushing boundaries, getting amazing performances from his actors, and revisiting those classic themes he’s known for – how money can corrupt, and the dark side of American history. This time around, he’s tackling a really important, but often overlooked, story: the murders of Osage Nation members in the 1920s after oil was discovered on their land in Oklahoma. Basically, white people started targeting them, and it’s a heartbreaking true story. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a guy married to an Osage woman, Mollie, played brilliantly by Lily Gladstone, who becomes a target herself. I feel like I say this with every Scorsese film these days, but with Killers of the Flower Moon, it feels especially true: if this is his last movie, it’s a stunning way to end such an incredible career.

7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

2007 was a fantastic year for movies, but the one that truly resonated with me was The Diving Bell & The Butterfly. Julian Schnabel beautifully adapted Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoir about living with locked-in syndrome, and it profoundly impacted me. I left the theater inspired to propose to my girlfriend, and thirteen years and two kids later, I’m so glad I did! Revisiting the film recently, I was reminded of how powerfully moving it still is.

6. Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher is known for his films about serial killers, but Zodiac is more than just a crime thriller. It’s a look at San Francisco over several decades, seen through the perspectives of three men obsessed with solving the Zodiac Killer case. We follow a police inspector (Mark Ruffalo), rumored to have inspired the film Bullitt, a crime reporter (Robert Downey Jr.) who became a target of the Zodiac through his articles, and an amateur detective named Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who remains fixated on the case even after the killings stop. What Zodiac does exceptionally well is show how all-consuming an obsession can be. Fincher pulls viewers into the complex investigation with skillful camerawork and editing. By the end of the film—which circles back to its opening moments after a tense 157 minutes—you understand exactly how Robert Graysmith feels.

5. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The films Joel and Ethan Coen created together often feel like collaborations between two forces. Their movie, Inside Llewyn Davis, is essentially a film about those kinds of partnerships. As I’ve discussed previously, it’s a look at the New York folk music world of the early 1960s, and it tells the story of a talented musician (Oscar Isaac, in a memorable performance) whose life is filled with small misfortunes after his musical partner dies. It’s striking that Llewyn’s most beautiful song is a farewell – and that it simply doesn’t have the same impact when performed solo.

4. Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig’s film, Lady Bird, is structured around pairs and contrasts. The main character, known as Lady Bird, has two first names, experiences two romances, and has two close friends. The story unfolds over two school semesters, each featuring a different play, two dances, and two parties. She navigates unique relationships with both of her parents, and considers applications to two colleges while attending two churches. This constant presentation of choices makes Lady Bird a powerful film about the weight of decision-making – especially at that age, when even small choices feel incredibly important, and often are.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I can’t recall exactly when or where I first watched Eternal Sunshine, but it was around 20 years ago while I was living in New York City. The details of that initial viewing have faded with time, like so many memories do. In a way, that makes me appreciate the film even more now. What’s so impactful about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is that it uses a science fiction idea – a couple erasing each other from their memories – to explore how natural memory loss affects us. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet make a fantastic on-screen couple, especially because their relationship is destined to fail. Ultimately, all relationships end somehow, often fading away like a beach house slowly being reclaimed by the ocean.

2. Take Shelter (2011)

Having experienced panic attacks myself, I can confidently say that Take Shelter is a truly exceptional film about living with anxiety. The movie centers on Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon), a family man who, despite a loving wife and daughter, is plagued by terrifying nightmares of devastating storms and a constant sense of impending doom. Michael Shannon delivers a phenomenal performance, brilliantly supported by Jessica Chastain as his wife, and the film realistically portrays the vicious cycle of fear. Curtis fears a mental breakdown – a history of mental illness runs in his family – and this fear only intensifies his anxiety. While many find the film’s ending open to interpretation, I see it as a natural conclusion, because the film understands that this type of anxiety can’t be overcome. It also shows that trying to protect what you value – whether through physical barriers or emotional distance – won’t solve the problem. Ultimately, the film suggests that anxiety can only be managed with understanding and the support of those you love.

1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Actor Rick Dalton and his stuntman, Cliff Booth, have lunch with producer Marvin Schwarz at the Musso & Frank Grill. Marvin suggests Rick star in Italian Westerns, but Rick is unimpressed and feels discouraged, believing his career is fading. He’s visibly upset, breaking down in tears as soon as he leaves the restaurant. Director Quentin Tarantino films this moment with a low camera angle, panning up to show the Musso & Frank Grill sign towering over Rick and Cliff. The sign prominently displays the tagline: “Oldest in Hollywood.”

Great Christmas Movies for People Who Hate Christmas Movies

Black Christmas (1974)

The Canadian horror film Black Christmas is a classic holiday slasher movie that remains influential even today. Often considered one of the very first films in the slasher genre, it paved the way for movies like John Carpenter’s Halloween and countless home invasion thrillers, especially those set during the holidays. So, if you’re not in the Christmas spirit and prefer a scary movie to a heartwarming one, Black Christmas is perfect. Forget stories about love and family – give us a thrilling, violent story with Olivia Hussey wielding a fire poker any day!

12 Monkeys (1995)

A popular idea suggests that the film 12 Monkeys is actually a Christmas movie, since much of it takes place in December 1996. The logic is that the holiday travel season would be the perfect time for terrorists to release a deadly virus. You can see hints of this festive connection throughout the movie, like when Bruce Willis’s character buys his Hawaiian shirt – a decorated Christmas tree is visible in the background. Unbeknownst to everyone, that Christmas in 1996 would be the last one humanity would ever experience.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

It’s no surprise to find Eyes Wide Shut on this list. The film, which follows a man grappling with his suspicions of his wife’s infidelity by trying to join a mysterious cult, is famously un-festive, despite being filled with Christmas trees, decorations, and lights. While the original story, Dream Story, took place during Carnival in the 1920s, director Stanley Kubrick updated the setting to a Christmas-decorated Greenwich Village in the 1990s, creating a striking contrast between the holiday cheer and the film’s dark themes of sex, greed, and violence.

Go (1999)

With a complicated plot about a woman trying to make rent by selling drugs and getting caught in an undercover operation, Go isn’t your typical holiday movie. Surprisingly, it is set during Christmas, which, in a way, makes sense—the holidays can be incredibly stressful. The film features mature themes like sex, drugs, strong language, and violence—things we often try to avoid during a time of peace and goodwill. However, despite all this, Go technically qualifies as a Christmas movie.

Bad Santa (2003)

It’s no surprise that Bad Santa makes the list – it’s basically the opposite of a traditional holiday movie. Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie, a career criminal who poses as a mall Santa each December. Along with his little-person accomplice, disguised as an elf, he plans to rob the store. However, Willie’s fondness for drugs, alcohol, and casual encounters makes him a pretty unreliable thief and a truly awful Santa. Bad Santa is more of a darkly funny crime movie that uses the cheerful backdrop of Christmas to highlight just how outrageous the characters’ behavior is. Seriously, Willie, have some respect for Santa!

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

It’s well known that director Shane Black loves setting his films during Christmas, and his first movie, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, is arguably his most unconventional holiday film. The story follows a thief posing as an actor who’s learning from a real private investigator. This quickly spirals into a criminal plot as he tries to impress a girl from his past. The Christmas setting feels almost incidental, but it marks the beginning of Black’s habit of blending the festive season with crime and adventure. While it doesn’t feel like a traditional Christmas movie, it’s still a wildly entertaining ride.

In Bruges (2008)

You might be surprised, but In Bruges can actually be considered a Christmas movie! While it definitely isn’t a cheerful one, the story takes place during the Christmas season. The film follows Ray, a hitman played by Colin Farrell, who messes up a job and is sent to Bruges, Belgium with his partner Ken (Brendan Gleeson) to lay low. It’s full of dark themes – think sin, suffering, and a bit of an Old Testament feel – but the main character, much like the Grinch, finds some redemption by the end. So, we’re including it, but don’t expect a heartwarming family film!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

I remember when the first trailer for David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo came out – it boldly declared it “THE FEEL-BAD MOVIE OF CHRISTMAS!” and honestly, it grabbed my attention. It’s definitely not a traditional holiday movie, but there’s a weird, subtle connection to Christmas running through it. The whole plot revolves around this strange form of ‘gift-giving’ – a man receives unsettling pressed flowers annually, seemingly from his grandniece’s killer, and he hires a journalist to solve the mystery. Plus, the film climaxes with a Christmas gift exchange that never happens. When you add in the snowy setting and the intense romance, you could almost convince yourself Dragon Tattoo is a dark, twisted Christmas movie in disguise.

Krampus (2015)

Christmas horror isn’t super common, but when it’s done well, it’s really effective. The movie Krampus is a great example – it’s a monster movie where the monster appears because people have lost their Christmas spirit. When a frustrated boy rips up his letter to Santa after a difficult family dinner, he accidentally summons Krampus, an ancient demon who uses creepy gingerbread men and living toys to kidnap and harm anyone he finds. It’s scary, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming, with a core message about the meaning of Christmas. Basically, it’s about a horned monster causing trouble for a family – and Paul Rudd!

The Green Knight (2021)

If you’d choose a fantasy adventure over a holiday classic, David Lowery’s The Green Knight might be perfect for you. It’s a unique take on a Christmas story: young Gawain, a knight-in-training at King Arthur’s Round Table, makes a strange bargain with a mysterious green warrior – agreeing to have his head chopped off on Christmas Day. This sets him off on a dangerous quest to find the warrior and fulfill his end of the deal, even if it means facing death. The film thoughtfully explores themes of honor and morality, offering a fresh perspective on the holiday season. With its fantastical world and unusual characters, you might even forget it’s a Christmas movie at all.

2025-12-23 18:34