Top 50 Movies of the 21st Century
By Cinema Sugar
As 2024 comes to a close, we thought it’d be the perfect time to zoom out from specific genres and spotlight our favorite films from the last 25 years. This was a massive, psychologically brutal, yet ultimately rewarding endeavor given just how many movies we love from this time period and how much we enjoyed revisiting them.
We had just one rule: only one film per director. This admittedly insane limitation forced some very hard choices on us about which film from the illustrious filmographies of David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and so many other talented and prolific filmmakers would make the cut. But we liked that self-imposed structure because it allowed us to include more beloved movies that might have otherwise gotten bumped off the list.
Above all, as we explained in the wake of our controversial Top 10 Chicago Movies list, we aren’t interested in making lists that dutifully reflect The Canon or The Criterion Collection or the Highest Average Rating on Letterboxd—we’re interested in the movies within the theme that mean the most to us. Period. While each of our individual Top 50 lists would look different from this collaborative one, we’re proud to present this group of movies as a collective reflection of our motto: Movies make life sweeter.
These 50 movies have certainly made our lives sweeter over the last quarter century, and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts about them. (We even have a list of the omissions we’re sure to hear about the most. 😉) Send your cheers, jeers and, better yet, your own Top 50 list to heycinemasugar@gmail.com or our Instagram or Threads.
See you at the movies!
50. Road to Perdition
Only Sam Mendes’ second movie, this is a father-and-son road trip story that’s also a revenge thriller. It has one of Tom Hanks’s finest performances and a Thomas Newman score that will haunt me until the end of my days. And it managed to turn heartthrobs Daniel Craig and Jude Law into evil gremlins while featuring a gun show in the rain that hits more like a graphic novel. What more do you need? —Natalie Pohorski
49. Midsommar
If there’s one thing the 21st century has confirmed, it’s that Ari Aster’s mind is a house of horrors. All three of his films are deranged and unforgettable in their own way, but it’s 2019’s Midsommar that takes the flower crown. Not just because of its unshakable imagery (the gut-wrenching opening sequence, the cliff divers, the temple fire), but also because it’s simply one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. Its colorful and intricate production design framed by impeccable cinematography; its mood-altering musical score by Bobby Krlic; and its frank meditations on grief, mortality, and liberation actively work to gain your trust in an environment that cannot be trusted. Midsommar ends on the highest of high notes, sending you out into the world with a permanent expression of horror and elation. If it’s wrong that this excites me, well then hoist me up and call me May Queen. —Kevin Prchal
48. Palm Springs
Nothing like a breezy 90-minute romcom to make you rethink your whole life—and existence itself. Max Barbakow’s time-loop tale is a textbook case of rock-solid execution of a smart, cohesive script, combining a magical amount of comedy, drama, philosophy, and romance with a great cast, led by the charming chemistry of Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. When nihilism becomes a little too tempting, Palm Springs is a great reminder to find your own Irvine. (Now release the Blu-ray!) —Chad Comello
47. The Lives of Others
Winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the 2008 Oscars, this Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck film follows a Stasi surveillance officer in early ‘80s East Berlin who spies on a playwright suspected of disloyalty to the Communist Party and soon finds his own loyalties conflicted. Suspenseful and surprisingly moving, it’s both a chilling portrait of life in a totalitarian society and a hopeful mediation on the power of art as a means of telling subversive truths. —Chad Comello
46. Paterson
As a parent of young kids, I can’t help but look with envy at the leisurely lifestyle of Paterson (Adam Driver), a bus driver in Paterson, New Jersey, whose daily routine of working and writing poetry and walking his dog and hanging with his wife is captured by writer-director Jim Jarmusch with a loving, abiding serenity. Balancing artistic pursuits with day jobs and other responsibilities is never easy, but this small yet big-hearted movie shows how to do so with gratitude and grace. —Chad Comello
45. 25th Hour
With only 24 hours left of freedom before starting a prison sentence, Monty Brogan’s (Edward Norton) life comes into sharp focus. A life clouded by crime, misdeeds, and broken relationships. A life which, in a post-9/11 New York City where this film takes place, is fueled by hatred and fear. A life that, as director Spike Lee so elegantly shows, can only present itself as something to cherish when you’re mere hours from leaving it behind. Monty’s mournful yet hopeful path to redemption is deeply felt by his buddies (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper), his girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), and most especially by his father (Brian Cox), who delivers a final monologue for the ages. A monologue that echoes in my head to this day. “This life came so close to never happening...” —Kevin Prchal
44. Jennifer‘s Body
Now ultimately celebrated for its innovative blend of horror, dark comedy, and feminist themes, Jennifer’s Body subverts typical horror movie genre tropes by presenting a nuanced exploration of female friendship and empowerment through its story of a high school girl who becomes possessed and begins preying on her male classmates. The sharp dialogue penned by Diablo Cody and standout performance by Megan Fox (brilliantly weaponizing her own image) challenge societal perceptions of women while simultaneously critiquing the male gaze. Following one of the worst movie marketing failures of all time upon its release in 2009, its cult status has only grown over time, solidifying its place as a pivotal work in contemporary cinema. —Natalie Bauer
43. Top Gun: Maverick
A salute to the movie that saved movies. That revitalized the summer blockbuster and reminded audiences just how thrilling a night at the movies could be beyond the capes and giant blue people. That, in the age of CGI, delivered stunning action sequences featuring real planes, sky, mountains, and people. Whose central emotional storyline between Maverick and Rooster hit like a mach 10 jet to the heart. In a thinly veiled metaphor for Tom Cruise’s place in the film industry, Ed Harris’ character says to him early on: “The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction.” Looking humble yet defiant, he turns calmly to Harris and replies, “Maybe so, sir. But not today.” A defining statement from one of the last truly great movie stars in what will go down as one of the signature action movies of its time. —Kevin Prchal
[Don’t Think, Just Celebrate: March 10 is ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Day]
42. The Cabin In the Woods
This Drew Goddard horror comedy is the stuff dreams are made of: a love letter to horror fans that turns the genre’s cliché tropes into ancient mythology. The comedy is top notch thanks to a Joss Whedon script and performances by Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins. Saying anything more would spoil the fun, so we’ll just leave you with “coffee mug bong.” —Natalie Pohorski
41. Bridesmaids
A bride shitting her pants in the middle of the street, a flight attendant named Stove, and a speech beginning with “gracias para vivar en la casa”—these are just a couple of highlights in what might be one of the funniest movies of all time, not to mention the movie responsible for a Wilson Phillips comeback. It’s also a beautiful tribute to female friendships and one of the most honest portrayals of depression and adulthood on screen. —Natalie Pohorski
[A Toast to ‘Bridesmaids’ and Beautifully Messy Bridal Parties]
40. Amelie
This fanciful Parisian fairytale follows a lonely girl with a big heart whose world is busted open when a family heirloom sets her on a quest to help others. A quirky and delightful parable about the risks of love, Amelie bursts with color and spinning cameras, underscored by the music of Yann Tiersen. Maybe it was just a Millennial moment, but we think it’s one worth remembering. —Natalie Pohorski
39. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Gloriously resplendent in scope and style but always grounded in the immediate concerns of Miles Morales and his archetypal Spidey struggles, Into the Spider-Verse’s exhilarating, comics-infused sensibility packs every moment with exquisite artistic detail and emotional stakes that beckon us into a vividly rendered vision, which has already instigated a much-needed sea change in film animation and superhero movies. —Chad Comello
38. Brick
Writer-director Rian Johnson’s electrifying debut feature is a whodunit with all the trappings of the genre that strangely yet fittingly take place among teens acting and speaking way beyond their years. Johnson’s self-assured style and snappy dialogue would foretell his later foray into murder mystery with Knives Out, which is excellent in its own ways but still a descendant of Brick and its straight-no-chaser gumption. —Chad Comello
37. The Zone of Interest
In Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, it’s perhaps easier to see yourself in the characters than it is to see a family operating a concentration camp in Auschwitz. The grandmother, casually perusing the garden. The kids being kids, playing with toy soldiers, making out, and swimming in the river. The mother, beaming with pride at the home and life she’s built for her family. And the father, warmly embracing animals and going about his duties as plainly as a landlord. Shot in all single frames so as to not jolt viewers from sitting with and contemplating every scene, it makes a powerful plea for our contributions in a world that’s only as evil as we allow it to be. —Kevin Prchal
36. Lincoln
This is a biopic done right: not as a shallow, decades-spanning survey with bad aging makeup, but as a focused, intentionally contained slice of life that captures its subject and his times with just the right mix of reverence and rigor. Daniel Day-Lewis deservedly won Best Actor for his turn as the 16th president, but the movie’s star-studded surrounding cast helped elevate what could have been a hagiographic bore into a Mount Rushmore-worthy triumph. —Chad Comello
35. Grizzly Man
“It is not so much a look at wild nature as it is an insight into ourselves, our nature.” So narrates Werner Herzog in this stranger-than-fiction documentary charting environmentalist Timothy Treadwell’s sojourns to and ultimate demise among the grizzly bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park. Using Treadwell’s own footage adds to the film’s palpable dread that builds through his every bear interaction and off-kilter monologue, while forcing us to reckon with hard questions: What is humanity’s place in nature? What is nature’s place among humanity? The answers, as Treadwell and Herzog discovered, demand a journey into the wilderness. —Chad Comello
34. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
In a profound exploration of love, memory, and the human condition, director Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman orchestrated a film that masterfully intertwines a unique narrative structure with surreal visuals. Taking the audience on an emotional journey through the mind of Joel (a markedly subdued Jim Carrey) as he undergoes a procedure to erase memories of his failed relationship with Clementine (the wild and resilient Kate Winslet), this inventive premise raises poignant questions about the nature of love and the value of our memories, both painful and joyful. Its blend of science-fiction and romance, combined with powerful performances and a haunting score, resonates deeply, making it not only a cinematic masterpiece but also a reflective meditation on the complexities of intimacy and the desire to hold onto the past. —Natalie Bauer
33. Spirited Away
No one builds a world from the ground up quite like Hayao Miyazaki. This flick has everything: floating faceless ghosts, a giant spider man who feeds coal into a boiler room fire, a boy who is really a dragon. Miyazaki’s imagination is as boundless as his plots, and Spirited Away may just be his greatest tale of them all. —Dylan Stuckey
32. Moulin Rouge!
Where to begin with this dark delight, this hopeless romance? It’s an addicting musical drama filled with cover songs and drug-induced sequences that only Baz Luhrmann could piece together into something coherent and spectacular. The Elephant scene is a comedic wonder and the “El Tango de Roxanne” sequence is a master class in editing. This film earns its place next to the classics because it breathed new life into the genre after decades ruled almost exclusively by Disney. —Natalie Pohorski
31. Lost In Translation
Widely regarded for its poignant exploration of loneliness and companionship in a globalized world, director Sofia Coppola has created a film that beautifully captures the unexpected bond formed between two lost souls against the backdrop of a vibrant yet isolating Tokyo. Its subtle storytelling, combined with striking cinematography and an evocative soundtrack, creates an immersive atmosphere that resonates with anyone who has ever experienced this simultaneously very precise yet universal feeling of solitude. Its themes of existential yearning and fleeting intimacy are skillfully rendered, making it a timeless reflection on the complexities of human connection. The chemistry between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, along with Coppola's delicate direction, elevates the film to a meditative exploration of the human experience, solidifying its place as a modern classic. —Natalie Bauer
30. Everything Everywhere All At Once
As the MCU noisily went all-in on the multiverse, this A24 darling took the movie world by storm with its exhilarating take on alternate timelines, familial what-ifs, and hot dog hands. Michelle Yeoh is typically excellent in the lead and Stephanie Hsu shines, but for my money Ke Huy Quan steals the show in a dynamo, multi-faceted role that welcomed him back to movies with a bang. Count us as fans of this fresh, frantic, and funny film in every universe. —Chad Comello
29. Moana
On its surface, Moana is a rock-solid family movie with exceptional songs and a heartfelt, action-packed story. But beneath the surface, way out beyond the reef, is a quiet revolution of the Disney playbook. A film entirely unconcerned with romance. An emotionally charged story that dares to save the antagonist over defeating it. A film stacked with stirring moments, chief among them the ocean parting as Moana marches slowly up to Te Kā to return what was stolen from her. And perhaps most importantly to this #GirlDad is its centering of a fiercely independent heroine who discovers just how far she can go when she listens to her heart. Oh and did I mention the songs? —Kevin Prchal
28. Midnight In Paris
This one’s for the English majors who dream about meeting their literary icons. For the romantics who’d love a rainy stroll down the cobblestone streets of Paris. For the history nerds obsessed with the past yet realistic about the toxic allure of Golden Age thinking. Woody Allen keeps this 2011 foray into magical realism as light and tasty as a soufflé, using just the right ingredients—Owen Wilson’s winsome and self-effacing Allen surrogate, Corey Stoll’s seriously hilarious Ernest Hemingway turn, plus a whole crackling crew of cameos—to sweeten the bitter bite of nostalgia with a ode to art and sincere connection. —Chad Comello
27. Before Sunset
A film rightfully celebrated for its intimate portrayal of love, regret, and the passage of time, Richard Linklater’s sequel to Before Sunrise reunites Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) nearly a decade after their first meeting in Vienna. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Paris, the film unfolds in real time, allowing for deep, candid conversations that reveal the complexities of their lives and the enduring connection between them. The dialogue is rich with their own personal philosophical insights, capturing the nuances of relationships and the bittersweet nature of choices they’ve made over the years. With its authentic performances from the two lead actors and a simple yet profound narrative structure, the movie transcends traditional romance, offering a meditation on love’s evolution and the moments that shape our lives, making it a poignant and timeless work in contemporary cinema. —Natalie Bauer
26. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
It would be so easy to make this blurb consist of nothing but Anchorman references, which in itself would demonstrate just how ubiquitous and essential the Adam McKay/Will Ferrell comedy remains 20 years after kicking off an entire era of cinematic comedies. The quotable non sequiturs, the period satire, the stacked cast—all very much of their time but also timeless. When in Rome… —Chad Comello
25. In the Mood for Love
Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 masterpiece is a testament to the overarching power of unrequited love. Tension, restraint, plumes of cigarette smoke, floral print dresses, and the slowest of slow motion passes-by on a set of stone steps make for one of the great love stories of this or any other century. To steal a line from another great flick about love, “If I could bottle the sexual tension between Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, I could solve the energy crisis.” —Dylan Stuckey
24. The Descent
This story of a group of thrill-seeking friends finding themselves preyed upon by sequestered, blood-thirsty troglodytes during a subterranean excursion is a clear-cut rendering of fear in its most primal form—and one of the most frightening horror movies beyond comparison. Neil Marshall’s direction clambers to the utmost limit before falling into a realm of grisly anarchy and dark vengeance. It’s as if the movie itself regresses back in time, with the primordial impulses and indigenous cave paintings loosening a pent-up animosity buried inside the collective unconscious. —Natalie Bauer
23. The Grand Budapest Hotel
How on earth can you choose just one Wes Anderson? When in doubt, you go with the Oscar winner. Wes Anderson created a new visual language with his films. From production design through composition, framing, and editing, every last detail is perfected and they are all uniquely his. The humor, unlike most films, is also told using this language more than even the dry dialogue. This movie is absolutely hysterical and an aesthetic masterpiece. —Natalie Pohorski
22. Hell or High Water
Taylor Sheridan’s triptych of hardscrabble westerns—Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River—are as fine as any in the modern era. But this story of two bank-robbing brothers and the lawmen on their trail stands tallest among them for how it balances the timeless with the contemporary, staging a classic cat-and-mouse crime spree within the sparse landscape and post-Great Recession dilapidation of West Texas. It’s a requiem for dreams deferred, and a clear-eyed meditation on the many forms of justice, revenge, and brotherhood. —Chad Comello
21. The Tree of Life
In one of The Tree of Life’s many tender moments, a family in 1950s Texas plants a tree and the mother (played by Jessica Chastain) whispers to her son “You’ll be grown before that tree is tall.” It’s a fact, perhaps, but also a meditation on the passage of time and the enormity of life happening around us. A life made up of many things: planetary chaos and sunflower fields; skyscrapers and murmurations; a mother’s love and a blood-spattered ocean surface; prehistory, the present, and the unknowable beyond. However you choose to look at your place in the tree of life, zoomed in or out, Terrence Malick shows us with his distinctive visual poetry that there’s something powerful, even holy, in all of it. —Kevin Prchal
20. Mad Max: Fury Road
Where do action movies go from here? In so many meaningful ways, George Miller’s dystopian masterwork feels like the pinnacle of the form. Equal parts barbaric and emotional, athletic and poetic, surreal and deeply human—it’s a jolt of life to the senses, magnificently charged by the power of art in all its forms. And its junkyard-esque production design, operatic score, and Shakespearean performances keep it firing on all cylinders from one breathless sequence to the next. Where action movies go from here I don’t know, but for now this one leads the pack, flame-throwing guitars blazing. —Kevin Prchal
19. Mulholland Drive
Mulholland Drive has always been something of an anomaly due to its intricate narrative structure, strangely and seamlessly blending elements of neo-noir and psychological thriller. Directed by David Lynch, the film masterfully explores themes of identity, desire, and the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. Its surreal imagery and haunting score create an unsettling atmosphere that mesmerizes the audience, having prompted multiple interpretations and discussions over the years of What It All Means. Naomi Watts’ performance in particular showcases profound depth and vulnerability, drawing viewers into a labyrinthine tale that challenges conventional storytelling, all thanks to Lynch's bold vision. —Natalie Bauer
18. Inglourious Basterds
From Django Unchained to The Hateful Eight and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Tarantino has taken cinematic revenge fantasy to new heights. But he peaked with Inglorious Basterds, a revisionist World War II epic with several all-time sequences (you know the ones), Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz chewing the hell out of the German scenery, and a cathartic if illusory (not to mention gloriously antifascist) climax. We know this is his masterpiece. —Chad Comello
17. La La Land
To live a creative life—to pursue a creative dream—requires a bit of madness. Real-world things like meal planning, paying bills and maintaining relationships, are often an afterthought. It’s a near constant tug-of-war between the space you need to create and the space you need to live, and no movie understands this (and celebrates it) quite like Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Romantic, vibrant, whimsical, and moody, this musical for the modern age pays homage to the past while telling an unforgettable tale of its time. Here’s to Chazelle, the one who dreamed. —Kevin Prchal
[To Live and Die in ‘La La Land’]
16. No Country for Old Men
Anton Chigurh hovering the trail of Llewelyn Moss like a dark cloud. The bold choice of no music, elevating each scene to its quiet, creaky, and harrowing potential. The Coens’ signature brand of humor spattered throughout, offering a glint of levity in an otherwise grim tale. The legend Tommy Lee Jones, rundown and dishing out his hard-earned wisdom at every turn. And the sheer sinister vibe of it all makes Joel and Ethan Coen’s No Country for Old Men one of the greatest American films of all time and a high-water mark for anything that follows in its trail this century. —Kevin Prchal
15. Get Out
This directorial debut and screenplay that won Jordan Peele an Oscar changed the game. Not only did it break through genre barriers, it broke through our collective psyche in exposing the real horrors of white supremacy. Deeply disturbing and claustrophobic, it drags you down to the Sunken Place right along with Chris. The film was a cultural phenomenon that will also stand the test of time. —Natalie Pohorski
14. Signs
Few films have made me feel the way I do about Signs, an absolutely heart-wrenching family drama paired with a brilliant slowburn alien movie. Every single shot is a work of art, and every line of dialogue drips with intention. They don’t make them like this anymore, including director M. Night Shyamalan. —Natalie Pohorski
[Bad Miracles: 9 Symmetries in ‘Signs’ and ‘Nope’]
13. Pan’s Labyrinth
Pan’s Labyrinth is without a doubt a landmark film of the 21st century, blending fantasy and reality to create a poignant exploration of innocence lost amidst the horrors of war. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the movie intricately weaves a dark fairytale with the backdrop of post-Civil War Spain, using stunning visuals and rich symbolism to convey its brutality and hope. The protagonist, Ofelia, embarks on a haunting journey filled with mythical creatures and moral dilemmas, showcasing del Toro's masterful storytelling and imaginative world-building. His ability to conjure up and captivate such emotionally charged moments while addressing the complexities of human nature and the power of imagination cements this movie’s status as a modern classic that resonates with audiences across multiple generations. —Natalie Bauer
12. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
While Return of the King proved a satisfying conclusion to a grand trilogy, Fellowship of the Ring remains the stand-out installment of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings saga for how it so impressively established an elaborate fantasy world while also pairing its sweeping scope with an emotionally vibrant core. Add to that its lush score, literary spirit, and commitment to practical effects and you’d have to be a fool of a Took not to see it as a gold standard for cinematic epics. —Chad Comello
11. There Will Be Blood
Oil barons and milkshakes, oh my! In 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis teamed up to bring us the defining masterwork on American greed and capitalism. Along with Anderson’s stellar direction and razor-sharp screenplay, Day-Lewis’ riff on John Huston in the form of oil magnate Daniel Plainview is one of the great performances in the history of cinema. Spark up an oil derrick and bask in the sepia nightmare on display here. —Dylan Stuckey
10. The Dark Knight
What can you say about the movie that, despite debuting the same year as Iron Man and the MCU, remains the pinnacle of superhero cinema? The phenomenon so potent and popular that it forced the Academy Awards to expand the Best Picture category and got Heath Ledger an entirely deserved yet tragically posthumous Oscar? Christopher Nolan pointing his filmmaking superpowers towards Gotham created the superhero story audiences deserved and the one we needed. It showed that the genre is capable of so much more than giant CGI sky-beams and aliens and sarcastic quips, that it can invest in both grounded character drama and kickass in-camera action thrills, in a deep bench of supporting players and in towering leads. And that really does put a smile on my face. —Chad Comello
9. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
In Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, love fills every scene. It’s in every word spoken and unspoken, every crashing wave and creaky floorboard, every mannered formality and passionate abandonment of it. Each moment shared between Héloïse and Marianne, both very well knowing their love will not survive beyond the time they have, is treated as nothing short of sacred. Time and again when I watch this film, a hush falls over me like a crowded room witnessing an amazing live performance, and I sit back in awe of its quiet, colossal power. —Kevin Prchal
8. Parasite
When Jane Fonda stepped out to present the award for Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards, it was an unforgettable shock to the system when she uttered the word “Parasite.” For the first time in Oscars history, an International Feature was awarded the top prize. A film that demonstrated the social, political, and psychological effects of wealth disparity better than any other film of its time. And a film that, to this day, has me looking twice at my basement staircase before shutting the door. —Kevin Prchal
7. Almost Famous
Over 20 years after its release, Almost Famous is still a miracle of a movie. Its giant Crowe-shaped heart offers up something for every season of life by showing how a motley crew of characters—a warm yet neurotic mother, a jaded music journalist, a cool rock star, a flighty love interest—can all have their lives changed for the better by one starry eyed teen. Whenever I get lonely, I just go to my Blu-ray player and visit my friends in this deeply humane, instant classic of a film. —Kevin Prchal
[Gimme A Thousand Words on ‘Almost Famous’]
6. Zodiac
Of the barbarities carried out by the Zodiac Killer, the most distressing is the series of indiscriminate homicides that stunned the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s. Yes, Zodiac includes assorted cruel, tense scenes of those acts of bloodshed, complete with the “Hurdy Gurdy Man” lead-in and daytime slaughter of a young couple in a forest preserve. But the film’s undeniable focal point—and why it remains a preeminent whodunit—is the maelstrom the murderer accelerated with the exasperating brain-teasers and hints left in his wake. Everyone got in on the case, mostly against their will. And it was no dinner-party murder mystery but instead one of the most haunting still-unsolved crime sprees in the last century. The Zodiac, and the film that documents his depravity, is still speaking. —Natalie Bauer
5. Little Women
There are so many things to love about Greta Gerwig’s Little Women: Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet leading the way, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern throwing heat, Desplat’s score, Chris Cooper as a good guy, Greta Gerwig’s time-turning script, the Altmanesque ensemble scenes, the immaculate Christmastime vibes, the celebration of sisterhood and friendship and love in its many forms. Beneath it all is a grand exuberance permeating the little world of the March family, making this story more than just a creative adaptation of a literary classic, but a crackling fireplace of a film that welcomes you in with warm baked goods and a restored faith in humanity. —Chad Comello
[Have Yourself A Merry ‘Little Women’ Christmas]
4. Moonlight
Love positively radiates from Barry Jenkins’ Best Picture-winning film. It’s in Mahershala Ali’s Juan caring for a young and vulnerable Chiron, teaching him how to swim, and affirming his identity. It’s in teenage Chiron’s tender moments on a beach with his friend Kevin. And it’s in adult Chiron’s reconciliation with his abusive mother in recovery, and with Kevin over a simple diner dish. Jenkins tells this story with such compassion and care that seeing it for the first time feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket. Above all Moonlight shows us just how much love is a verb, and how love (or lack thereof) reverberates long after a moment passes. —Chad Comello
3. Arrival
“If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?” All I know is no one leaves unchanged from Arrival, the Denis Villeneuve alien invasion story that’s at once densely sci-fi and deeply humanistic, that makes you think and want to hug a loved one. Based on the Ted Chiang novella “Story of Your Life”, the film takes ostensible opposites—beginnings and endings, art and science, past and future—and loops them back towards each other like the Heptapods’ circular logograms. In typical Villeneuve style the production design, music, cinematography, and pure vibes are completely absorbing from the jump, locking us into this daunting journey alongside Louise (played by the criminally under-awarded Amy Adams) as she scrambles to make sense of the ineffable. All I know is, whenever I see Arrival from start to finish, I wouldn’t change a thing. —Chad Comello
[Non-Zero-Sum Game: How ‘Arrival’ Reframes Alien First Contact]
2. WALL-E
Define iconic: two robots meet-cute on an abandoned garbage-choked Earth and form an unlikely partnership. Define chutzpah: making the first 25 minutes of a kids movie virtually wordless yet riveting for all ages. Define stakes: defeating a sinister AI-fueled corporate overlord to redeem humanity and terrestrial life itself. However you define it, WALL-E remains a revelation—not to mention Pixar’s first Criterion Collection entrant—biting with its cultural criticism but winsome and hopeful at the core. Dystopia never felt so sweet. —Chad Comello
1. Children of Men
Through every explosive and tumultuous scene Alfanso Cuaron’s Children of Men delivers, it somehow never stops feeling intimate. This is best demonstrated in the film’s emotional climax involving a crying newborn, an African mother, a fumbling anti-hero, and a gripping and powerful ceasefire. Throw in Cuaron’s rhythmic sense of control, a mirroring fable for our times, and a goofy Michael Caine who really wants you to pull his finger and you’ve got yourself a miracle of modern cinema and our pick for the best movie of the 21st century (so far). —Kevin Prchal