25 Great Films of the 21st Century.

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The 21st century has been a remarkable time for cinema, with countless films that have challenged, entertained, and inspired audiences around the world. From blockbuster franchises to indie gems, from animation to documentary, from comedy to drama, the diversity and quality of films in the past two decades have been astounding. Here are 25 great films of the 21st century:

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003): Peter Jackson’s epic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy saga is a monumental achievement in filmmaking, with stunning visuals, immersive world-building, and memorable characters. The trilogy won 17 Oscars out of 30 nominations, and is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential film series of all time.
• Spirited Away (2001): Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is a dazzling and imaginative journey into a magical realm, where a young girl named Chihiro must overcome various challenges and dangers to save her parents and herself. The film is a beautiful and touching exploration of themes such as identity, freedom, and environmentalism, and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
• The Dark Knight (2008): Christopher Nolan’s second installment in his Batman trilogy is a thrilling and complex crime drama, with a brilliant performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker, one of the most iconic villains in cinema history. The film is a masterclass in storytelling, cinematography, and action, and is widely considered as one of the best superhero films ever made.
• Inception (2010): Another masterpiece by Christopher Nolan, Inception is a mind-bending and innovative sci-fi thriller, where a team of specialists use a device that allows them to enter and manipulate people’s dreams. The film is a stunning and original spectacle, with a clever and intricate plot, stunning visuals, and a memorable score by Hans Zimmer.
• The Social Network (2010): David Fincher’s biographical drama about the founding of Facebook is a fascinating and compelling portrait of the rise and fall of a tech genius, Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. The film is a sharp and witty commentary on the themes of ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and features a brilliant script by Aaron Sorkin and a haunting score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
• The Artist (2011): Michel Hazanavicius’s homage to the silent era of Hollywood is a charming and delightful comedy-drama, where a silent film star, played by Jean Dujardin, falls in love with a rising talkie actress, played by Bérénice Bejo. The film is a loving and nostalgic tribute to the magic of cinema, and won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
• The Intouchables (2011): Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano’s comedy-drama is a heartwarming and hilarious story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy quadriplegic, played by François Cluzet, and his caregiver, played by Omar Sy. The film is a touching and uplifting celebration of life, humor, and diversity, and is one of the most successful French films of all time.
• The Avengers (2012): Joss Whedon’s superhero extravaganza is a spectacular and fun-filled adventure, where a team of Earth’s mightiest heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, must unite to stop a global threat posed by the evil Loki and his alien army. The film is a landmark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
• Django Unchained (2012): Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist western is a violent and stylish tale of revenge, where a freed slave, played by Jamie Foxx, teams up with a bounty hunter, played by Christoph Waltz, to rescue his wife, played by Kerry Washington, from a ruthless plantation owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is a thrilling and entertaining homage to the spaghetti western genre, and won two Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.
• Life of Pi (2012): Ang Lee’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel is a stunning and captivating survival story, where a young boy named Pi, played by Suraj Sharma, finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The film is a visual and emotional marvel, with breathtaking CGI, cinematography, and direction, and won four Oscars, including Best Director.
• 12 Years a Slave (2013): Steve McQueen’s historical drama is a powerful and harrowing account of the true story of Solomon Northup, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the antebellum South. The film is a brutal and moving depiction of the horrors of slavery, and features an outstanding cast, including Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress.
• Gravity (2013): Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi thriller is a breathtaking and immersive experience, where a medical engineer, played by Sandra Bullock, and an astronaut, played by George Clooney, must survive in space after their shuttle is destroyed by debris. The film is a technical and artistic masterpiece, with stunning visuals, sound, and direction, and won seven Oscars, including Best Director and Best Cinematography.

• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): Wes Anderson’s comedy-drama is a whimsical and colorful journey into a fictional European country, where a legendary concierge, played by Ralph Fiennes, and his loyal lobby boy, played by Tony Revolori, become involved in a series of adventures and mishaps. The film is a charming and quirky tribute to the old-fashioned cinema, and features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, and Tilda Swinton. The film won four Oscars, including Best Original Score and Best Production Design.
• Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014): Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s black comedy is a brilliant and meta exploration of the art and ego of an actor, played by Michael Keaton, who tries to revive his career by staging a Broadway play. The film is a dazzling and inventive spectacle, with a seamless and continuous shot, a drum-based score, and a superb cast, including Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts. The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
• Whiplash (2014): Damien Chazelle’s musical drama is a riveting and intense story of a young jazz drummer, played by Miles Teller, who strives to achieve greatness under the ruthless guidance of his instructor, played by J.K. Simmons. The film is a thrilling and exhilarating showcase of the passion and obsession of music, and features a phenomenal performance by Simmons, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): George Miller’s action masterpiece is a stunning and exhilarating ride into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where a rebel warrior, played by Charlize Theron, and a drifter, played by Tom Hardy, team up to escape from a tyrannical warlord and his army of fanatics. The film is a visual and visceral feast, with amazing stunts, practical effects, and cinematography, and won six Oscars, including Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing.
• Inside Out (2015): Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen’s animated comedy is a clever and touching journey into the mind of a young girl named Riley, where her emotions, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, try to cope with her moving to a new city. The film is a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of the complexity and importance of emotions, and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
• The Revenant (2015): Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s survival epic is a stunning and brutal story of a fur trapper, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who is left for dead by his companions after being mauled by a bear, and embarks on a quest for revenge. The film is a remarkable and immersive experience, with a naturalistic and minimalist style, and features a phenomenal performance by DiCaprio, who won his first Oscar for Best Actor.
• La La Land (2016): Damien Chazelle’s musical romance is a dazzling and enchanting tribute to the golden age of Hollywood, where an aspiring actress, played by Emma Stone, and a jazz musician, played by Ryan Gosling, fall in love and pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. The film is a beautiful and bittersweet celebration of love, music, and cinema, and features a wonderful score, songs, and choreography. The film won six Oscars, including Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Original Score.
• Moonlight (2016): Barry Jenkins’s coming-of-age drama is a powerful and poignant story of a young black man, played by three actors at different stages of his life, who struggles with his identity, sexuality, and family in Miami. The film is a stunning and sensitive portrait of the human condition, and features an amazing cast, including Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, and Janelle Monáe. The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor. The film made history as the first film with an all-black cast and the first LGBTQ+ film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
• Joker (2019): Todd Phillips’s psychological drama is a dark and disturbing origin story of the iconic Batman villain, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who is a mentally ill and failed comedian who descends into madness and violence in a corrupt and chaotic Gotham City. The film is a bold and controversial exploration of the themes of alienation, mental health, and society, and features a phenomenal performance by Phoenix, who won the Oscar for Best Actor.
• 1917 (2019): Sam Mendes’s war epic is a stunning and immersive experience, where two young British soldiers, played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, are tasked with delivering a message that could save 1,600 lives during World War I. The film is a technical and artistic marvel, with a single-shot illusion, a realistic and immersive production design, and a gripping and emotional story. The film won three Oscars, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
• Parasite (2019): Bong Joon-ho’s social thriller is a brilliant and biting satire of the class divide in South Korea, where a poor family, the Kims, scheme their way into the lives of a wealthy family, the Parks, with unexpected and tragic consequences. The film is a masterful and unpredictable mix of comedy, drama, and horror, and features a superb ensemble cast. The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best International Feature Film. The film made history as the first non-English language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
• Soul (2020): Pete Docter and Kemp Powers’s animated comedy is a clever and touching journey into the meaning of life, where a middle-aged jazz musician, voiced by Jamie Foxx, who dies right before his big break, finds himself in a realm where souls are assigned their personalities and passions before being born. The film is a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of the themes of purpose, passion, and soul, and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.