Here are Cinephile Corner’s picks for the 50 best movies of the 21st century so far:
50. Only the Brave (2017) directed by Joseph Kosinski
49. WALL-E (2008) directed by Andrew Stanton
Over fifteen years later, I’m not sure Disney Pixar Studios has made a movie nearly as insightful, colorful, and ambitious as WALL-E. As an allegory for corporate greed and environmental neglect, the film operates on such a concise and straightforward manner – Pixar’s strongest thematic statement in their catalogue.
48. A Ghost Story (2017) directed by David Lowery
47. This is the End (2013) directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
46. Anora (2024) directed by Sean Baker
Anora is a film that announces Sean Baker as one of cinema’s pinnacle filmmakers. It’s a starry movie that puts you through the ringer and makes you feel just about every emotion possible. It’s grandiose filmmaking at a very high degree of execution. Baker likes to explore similar themes and character types with each of his films, and he’s never been so clear as to why he finds these particular stories so fascinating.
45. Uncut Gems (2019) directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie
Uncut Gems compounds tension about as well as any movie made in the 2010s. Josh and Benny Safdie announce themselves as filmmakers to keep an eye on moving forward with this grisly thriller set in the world of high stakes sports gambling. Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett co-star, along with a supporting cast for the ages.
44. Before Midnight (2013) directed by Richard Linklater
43. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman
42. Nickel Boys (2024) directed by RaMell Ross
I’ve read pieces on Nickel Boys suggesting its unique style is either challenging or something you have to adjust to initially in order to be fully engrossed in the story. Some critics have even dinged it for such ambition, claiming its technical decisions—like telling the story almost entirely through literal first-person POV—create distance from the narrative. They argue that RaMell Ross‘ debut fictional feature sidesteps the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel it’s adapted from.
Read our review of Nickel Boys
41. We Own the Night (2007) directed by James Gray
40. Parasite (2019) directed by Bong Joon-ho
Every few years, I revisit Parasite and find myself wondering if I’ve been underrating it. It’s a movie that feels so omnipresent in conversations about the best movies of the 21st century that it’s easy to take its greatness for granted. But every rewatch reminds me exactly why Bong Joon-ho’s international juggernaut remains one of the most important films of the last decade—both as a razor-sharp thriller and a scathing critique of class dynamics that continues to feel disturbingly relevant.
39. Whiplash (2014) directed by Damien Chazelle
I imagine sometimes it’s just a matter of the right film hitting you at the right time. As a young lad interested in a minute portion of the film medium, I attached myself to Damien Chazelle’s debut film Whiplash and never looked back. Some may say it’s a core text for the eventual style and storytelling conventions that I now gravitate towards quite frequently. Or maybe I find myself relating to the Miles Teller character a bit too much in my daily life. Whatever it may be, Whiplash is a seminal moment for both myself and film industry.
38. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) directed by Quentin Tarantino
37. Drive My Car (2021) directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi
36. Challengers (2024) directed by Luca Guadagnino
Luca Guadagnino directs one of his best movies with Challengers, which pairs his interests in yearning, miscalculated protagonists to the competitive world of tennis. It’s exhilarating and wild, with three prophetic performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor that’ll challenge many of the year’s best efforts.
Read our review of Challengers
35. The Lost City of Z (2016) directed by James Gray
34. 12 Years a Slave (2013) directed by Steve McQueen
33. I Saw the TV Glow (2024) directed by Jane Schoenbrun
I Saw the TV Glow is one of the best movies of 2024, showcasing exactly what independent filmmaking can be when handled by the right people. A24 adds another riveting drama by a fascinating young auteur to their trophy case, and Jane Schoenbrun announces themselves as an important and singular filmmaker to look out for moving forward.
Read our review of I Saw the TV Glow
32. Signs (2002) directed by M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan made many great genre movies to launch his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but none are as quirky, silly, and downright wholesome as Signs, which brings a family together under extraordinary circumstances. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix lead a small cast of great performers reckoning with alien lifeforms reaching Earth.
31. The Worst Person in the World (2021) directed by Joachim Trier
30. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) directed by Christopher McQuarrie
29. Dunkirk (2017) directed by Christopher Nolan
There’s spectacle, and then there’s Dunkirk – the tenth movie from Christopher Nolan as a director and possibly his best feature film. I’ve always preferred Christopher Nolan’s movies as big blockbuster events attempting to shatter scale and scope in ways few directors are able to. When he’s trying to articulate concepts nearly impossible to comprehend, he loses me. But when he’s trying to make a war epic unlike any movie that’s come before it, I’m all in.
28. The Wind Rises (2013) directed by Hayao Miyazaki
27. Moneyball (2011) directed by Bennett Miller
26. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) directed by Joseph Kosinski
Months later, Top Gun: Maverick still feels fresh – for its direction, for its acting, and for its precise attention to emotion and payoff. Every moment feels important and finely tuned, and every actor and actress fits perfectly within this nostalgia-laden juggernaut. A real hit, and one of my favorite movie theater experiences of all time.
Read our review of Top Gun: Maverick
25. Frances Ha (2012) directed by Noah Baumbach
24. Spotlight (2015) directed by Tom McCarthy
23. Nope (2022) directed by Jordan Peele
Nope delivers on its promise of spectacle. Its set-up helps deliver one of the most rewarding third acts of the year, and one I’ll surely return to in years to come. Those don’t come around very often, only a handful of films lend themselves to repeat viewings, and Nope is certainly one of them. A dazzling and hypnotic viewing, and one that doesn’t leave your mind once you leave your theater. The best films make you think, and Nope gives you enough to sink your teeth into.
22. Arrival (2016) directed by Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival is an undeniably powerful journey into the depths of the unknown, blending elements of science fiction, mystery, and drama to create a thought-provoking masterpiece. Led by the stellar performances of Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, the film transcends its genre constraints to deliver a captivating exploration of language, communication, and the complexities of human existence.
21. The Irishman (2019) directed by Martin Scorsese
20. Inglourious Basterds (2009) directed by Quentin Tarantino
19. A History of Violence (2005) directed by David Cronenberg
18. Past Lives (2023) directed by Celine Song
Celine Song‘s Past Lives is a revelation, despite a growing skepticism that romance movies are dead in the current streaming era. Every bit of emotion and rekindling romance is only strengthened by a nuanced approach to script and perfect casting. A real highlight of 2023.
Read our full review of Past Lives
17. The Dark Knight (2008) directed by Christopher Nolan
16. Ratatouille (2007) directed by Brad Bird
Ratatouille could only be as effective as it is with these voice actors and this concept and director, and it all comes together to make one of Pixar’s most unique and loveable movies. Brad Bird conceptualizes a ridiculous premise to perfection, delivering a meta story about the intersection of art and criticism.
Read our full review of Ratatouille
15. Sideways (2004) directed by Alexander Payne
14. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) directed by George Miller
13. Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) directed by Richard Linklater
12. Oppenheimer (2023) directed by Christopher Nolan
Oppenheimer is undoubtedly one of the best movies directed by Christopher Nolan, who puts any doubt to rest that he wouldn’t be capable of capturing a story of this magnitude. Cillian Murphy gives an iconic performance that intensifies each moment rolling along this breakneck biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Read our full review of Oppenheimer
11. No Country for Old Men (2007) directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Revisiting No Country for Old Men on its 4K Criterion Collection release reminded me why this film stands among the greats—not just of 2007, not just of the 21st century, but of all time. It’s Joel and Ethan Coen at their most precise and uncompromising, blending their dualistic approach to filmmaking: the sharp nihilism of their darker works with the understated, situational humor that defines their lighter outings. It’s a masterpiece of tension, craft, and existential dread, all wrapped in a narrative as sparse and unrelenting as the Texas landscape it inhabits.
Read our full review of No Country for Old Men
10. Hereditary (2018) directed by Ari Aster
9. The Florida Project (2017) directed by Sean Baker
The Florida Project isn’t just one of Sean Baker’s best films—it’s a modern indie masterpiece that has solidified itself as one of the defining movies of the 2010s. Released by A24 in 2017, it’s a stunningly poignant slice-of-life drama that immerses the audience in the sun-drenched but deeply flawed world of its characters. For me, this movie came at the perfect time, when I was just beginning to see film as more than entertainment and started engaging with it as an art form. It wasn’t just a gateway into Sean Baker’s career; it was a revelation that reshaped how I thought about storytelling on screen.
Read our review of The Florida Project
8. Memories of Murder (2003) directed by Bong Joon-ho
Memories of Murder remains my favorite of Bong Joon-ho’s films, narrowly edging out Parasite, and is a testament to his unparalleled ability to weave societal critique into gripping narratives. Few movies are as chilling, as masterfully constructed, or as deeply affecting as Memories of Murder. Not just Bong’s best, but one of the best films ever made.
Read our full review of Memories of Murder
7. Mulholland Drive (2001) directed by David Lynch
Well over 20 years since its release, Mulholland Drive is a worthy canonical entry into film history. David Lynch pieces together one of the strangest, most beguiling movies ever. Every image of this film is seared into my memory. Naomi Watts and Laura Harring both give powerhouse lead performances.
Read our full review of Mulholland Drive
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) directed by Wes Anderson
5. There Will Be Blood (2007) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
4. Zodiac (2007) directed by David Fincher
David Fincher’s Zodiac remains an undeniable classic since its 2007 release, standing as a pivotal moment in the director’s historic career. In this crime drama, Fincher navigates the web of the Zodiac killer’s decade-spanning reign of terror, creating an atmospheric and compelling story that has only grown in cultural significance and critical acclaim over the years.
Read our full review of Zodiac
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Inside Llewyn Davis is indeed a masterpiece of nuanced character study, where the Coen brothers bring their signature blend of dark humor, existential despair, and offbeat storytelling into a film that feels as emotionally resonant as it is stylistically unique. It’s a film that pulls no punches in portraying the painful, humbling reality of an artist struggling against not just the world, but also his own shortcomings. Llewyn Davis (played perfectly by Oscar Isaac) may be a man adrift, emotionally wounded by the loss of his partner, selfish and hard to like, yet he is also profoundly human, filled with raw talent and unfulfilled potential.
Read our review of Inside Llewyn Davis
2. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) directed by Wes Anderson
The Royal Tenenbaums not only stands as one of Wes Anderson’s best movies of his career, but also a defining work of the independent filmmaking scene in the early 2000s. It’s dripping with color and visual intensity, masking a story with deep themes of broken families.
Read our full review of The Royal Tenenbaums
1. The Social Network (2010) directed by David Fincher
The Social Network might not be a “perfect” movie in a traditional sense, but it’s as close as any film has come in the 21st century. Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, this 2010 masterpiece remains endlessly rewatchable, endlessly quotable, and deeply resonant in ways that continue to evolve with time. I’ve seen it more than any other movie—memorized its rhythm, its cutting dialogue, its thumping Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score that pulses through every moment. It’s a film that never loses its edge, no matter how many times you revisit it.