The 21st century has given us some truly outstanding films, and Watchmojo has compiled a list of the top 30 best movies of the century so far. With so many great films to choose from, it’s no easy task to narrow it down, but this countdown includes some of the most impressive, memorable, and overall best movies that have graced the silver screen in recent years.
From the thought-provoking and chilling horror film “Get Out” to the visually stunning and emotionally gripping “Pan’s Labyrinth,” this list covers a wide range of genres and styles. Each film on this list has made a significant impact on audiences and critics alike, solidifying their place as some of the best movies of the century.
Whether it’s the intense psychological battle in “Whiplash,” the darkly comic crime drama of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” or the captivating period action of “Triple R,” these films have left a lasting impression on viewers. And of course, who could forget the groundbreaking success of Marvel’s “Black Panther” and the game-changing impact it had on the superhero genre.
With standout performances, expert direction, and captivating storytelling, these films have earned their spots on this prestigious list. Whether you’re a fan of intense dramas, mind-bending thrillers, or epic action sequences, there’s something for everyone on this list of the top 30 best movies of the century so far. Which of these films takes the top prize in your books? Let us know in the comments!
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Algebra like sheet music the important thing isn’t can you read music it’s can you hear it can you hear the music robit welcome to watch Mojo and today we’re counting down the top 30 most impressive memorable and overall best movies of the century so far I need to know what I
Stand to win everything how’s that you stand to win everything call it number 30 whiplash not not quite my Tempo Damen chazelle has certainly made a name for himself in the 21st century as a great director and his success began with this film Whiplash is about an aspiring drummer
And his emotionally sadistic band conductor it is a much smaller film in scope than some entries on this list but it is in no way less dramatic the intense psychological battle between teacher and student brings a true intensity to every frame the performances of Miles Teller and JK
Simmons the latter of whom won the Oscar play off each other like two Master Jazz musicians in tune and on Tempo there are no two words in the English language more harmful than good job number 29 three Billboards outside ebing Missouri I’m doing everything I can to track him down
I don’t think those Billboards is very fair Francis mcdorman stars as Mildred Hayes a woman who lost her daughter to a violent crime when the investigation into her daughter’s case goes nowhere Mildred rents three Billboards in town to encourage the police chief into action this Darkly comic crime drama was
One of the surprise hits of 2017 grossing over $162 million in addition to critical Acclaim the film garnered multiple Oscar nominations including a win for MC Dorman’s riveting lead performance director Martin MCD returned to the best picture conversation 5 years later with the Banshees of in Aaron but three
Billboards made his rawest and most challenging film to date and I know you’re going to wise when I say this but what you need to become a detective is love number 28 the wrestler this caught everyone off guard back in 2008 a movie about an aging professional wrestler played by Mickey roor directed
By the same guy who brought us reum for a dream but it just so happens to be a deeply touching drama about growing old and plucking up the courage to start a new life for yourself just need your juice and you’re all right then right again I’m just going to get big and
Strong as well as giving us tons of realistic backstage insights into the World of Wrestling it also offers up two Academy Award nominated performances from roor and Marissa to you have a beer with me I’ve got to get going it may be mostly a somber story but as is the case
With other Darren aronowski movies you can’t help but want to re-watch it multiple times for the opportunity to enjoy something new I don’t hate you I don’t love you I don’t even like you and it was stupid to think that you could change number 27 Dune your grandfather
Said a great man doesn’t seek to lead he’s called to it and he answers opinions of David Lynch’s Dune are mixed leaning towards negative and even Lynch himself has distanced himself from the film however almost 40 years later director Deni VNV took his shot at the
Story and made one of the best films in recent memory the scope of the book on which the film is based could be intimidating but VNV was able to keep it under control and not lose the audience in the vastness of the narrative it also helps that V’s Dune was conceived as the
First part of a two- film Project Dune part two was released to similarly rave reviews in 2024 and provided the continuation of Po tr’s Journey that fans were hoping for I said I would not harm them and I shall not but araus is araus and the the desert takes the weak
Number 26 black panther okay is this wakanda no it’s Kansas a lot of superhero movies have been released in the 21st century but only a handful of them were influential enough to be considered for this list black panther was one of those handful it took the MCU nearly a decade to
Produce a film with a primarily Black cast anyone who thought black panther wouldn’t reach Marvel’s usual levels of success couldn’t have been more wrong not only did black panther make over $1 billion it also earned unprecedented levels of Acclaim for the MCU this extended to the Oscars where it became
The first comic book superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture This was sadly Chadwick boseman’s only opportunity to take Center Stage estala few things last forever but wakanda will wakanda will no longer watch from the Shadows we cannot we must not number 25 Triple R Triple R stands for rudram ranam Ram but given the quality of the film they could just as easily stand for really really really good because that’s what this film is Triple R is an epic period action drama about the Battle of two Indian revolutionaries against British
Rule in the 1920s at over 3 hours the film is definitely a commitment to sit down and watch but oh is it worth it action adventure and did we mention the dancing yet the visuals are big and bold but the tale of Brotherhood at the heart
Of Triple R is what gets us pumped Above All Else number 24 city of God every once in a while a movie will come along and offer up such unrelenting realism that movie goers need to stop to catch their breath when leaving the cinema why sit city of God is one of those
Movies following the very different life Paths of two kids from the slums of Rio we learn how violence and crime can be an almost inescapable way of life and if you don’t find a way to Veer in a different direction it will completely consume you serving up some unbelievably
Good believable performances many by unknown actors city of God has a searing message to convey and it doesn’t pull any punches along the way knew my number 23 Avengers endgame disgust me but that doesn’t mean you’re useless in Avengers Infinity War Thanos destroyed half of all life in the
Universe in Avengers endgame the good guys team up again to reverse his actions they’re both great movies but when it came to selecting one for our list it had to be endgame technically Spider-Man far from home was the final film in Phase 3 of the MCU but endgame
Was truly the climax that Marvel had been building to and to paraphrase Fifth Harmony it was worth it even with the First Rate special effects and Larger than Life action the film never loses the characters and honors our emotional connection to them Avengers a symol number 22 Crouching
Tiger Hidden Dragon the movie that put put the cool back into martial arts spectaculars kicked off the Millennium in great style combining gorgeous and stunning action courtesy of acclaimed choreographer Yen W ping with the Revenge fueled drama of a western and simply wondrous and surreal special effects Crouching Tiger manages to take
The somewhat aging martial arts template and make it even more relevant and entertaining than ever before featuring huge International stars like Chia Yan fat and Michelle yo and directed with enormous Verve by Ang Lee it’s Larger than Life in all the best ways take that laws of Physics number 21 top gun Maverick you see me now come on let’s get it over with fight on fans of the first Top Gun from 1986 were Beyond excited and nervous when they heard the long awaited sequel was finally getting made excited because it would mean more Jets air action and of
Course more Tom Cruz over 30 years later though would it be able to capture the excitement and energy of the first one the answer was a resounding yes top gun Maverick not only had even better inair action than the first one but it was a surprisingly thoughtful film about
Redemption and making the most of the time you still have this one was a runaway hit with both audiences and critics raking in over $1.4 billion and earning an Oscar nomination for best picture thank you for saving my life that’s what my dad would have done
Number 20 Kill Bill the Kill Bill series proved there is still a place in cinema for cheesy over-the-top ridiculously violent action movies they offer up a smorgus board of Tarantino trademarks with iconic characters weapons sound effects monologues and close-ups everywhere essentially it’s one big Revenge plot with a series of satisfyingly savage
Arterial spray filled moments littered throughout yes we know we’ve included both volumes 1 and two in this entry but as far as we’re concerned each one is just as important as the other and both unite to create one of Tarantino’s finest Works little did Quick Draw kiddo
Know that little BB was only playing posum due to the fact that she was imper prous to bullets I’m pervious to bullets mommy number 19 Pan’s Labyrinth as with pretty much every Gamal Del Toro movie Pan’s Labyrinth is just as beautiful as it is heavy provocative and
Unsettling in essence it’s a story about a little girl who wants to prove her worthiness of being a princess but it’s The Eclectic characters and subplots throughout that make this a true spectacle picture Alice and wonder land but are rated the themes are so vast in
This movie that it really needs to be watched multiple times to fully appreciate it and its various characters be it the vicious Captain Videl the mysterious Fawn or the nightmarish pal man feel as though they could have movies of their very own number 18 Mulholland Drive I hope
That I never see that face ever outside of a dream another filmmaker you can always guarantee is going to serve up something unique is David Lynch being the Mind behind so many provocative interesting and bizarre offerings like a racer head many might have expected his movie about a car
Crash victim suffering from Amnesia to be a little well weird there was an accident you wouldn’t tell me anything else but that was your accident Reed I just know it was and mahand drive delivers in the best possible way there are time shifts character shifts dream sequences weird psychological
Hallucinations you name it and as with so much of his V Mullen Drive is something to be experienced rather than fully understood and if you do fully understand it well maybe you can explain it to the rest of us number 17 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind mixing science fiction and romance this
Michelle gandre film is a departure for funny man Jim Carrey whose performance was widely hailed as one of the best of its time alongside Kate Winslet another accomplished thespian taking on a challenging role you’re not a stalker or anything right I’m not a stalker you’re
The one that talk to me remember that is the oldest trick in the stalker book the movie is a refreshing Delight that nabbs the Oscar for best original screenplay after discovering his former love has deleted him from her memory through a new and advanced procedure protagonist
Joel beish sets out to do the same but he soon has second thoughts you’re erasing her from me you’re erasing me from Her as doctors attempt to chase down all memories of Joel’s love we enter the frightened Labyrinth of his mind oh this is this is not I’m going to I’m going to have to I’m going to have to give him this number 16 Lost in Translation one of the
Most layered and subtle movies on our list this Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson dramedy definitely explores themes of loneliness and cultural isolation as their characters Bob and Charlotte decades apart in age meet cute as they both visit Tokyo what did you study philosophy there’s a good buck in that
Racket and as each of them is tackling their own existential confusion they help each other understand what they each want from Life the more you know who you are and what you want the less you let things upset you not only is Sophia cop’s work beautiful to look at it’s
Also an example of intricate filmmaking that prioritizes the emotional Journey over flashiness a quality in films that can be difficult to find hey you plus it gets bonus points for its ambiguous and intriguing ending number 15 Oppenheimer well the purpose of this institute is to provide a Haven for independent
Minds that’s you you are the man for the job one half of 2023 is most celebrated movie meme Oppenheimer surprised many prognosticators with its almost billion doll gross worldwide at 3 hours long and without a lot of conventional action it might not have seemed like an obvious Blockbuster but that’s what Christopher
Nolan does he makes great movies they usually make a whole lot of money this biographical drama about the life of J Robert Oppenheimer is exactly that in fact the AV club called it Nolan’s best movie yet which if you look at his impressive filmography is no easy feat it Worked number 14 The Wolf of Wall Street although mainly said in the ‘ 80s and ’90s the story of Jordan Belford feels all too relevant in today’s world we live in an era where big business Reigns Supreme one thing I can promise you even in this market is that I never ask my
Clients to judge me on my winners I ask them to judge me on my losers because I have so few in Belford’s eyes the little guy is so insignificant we never even see the countless people he scammed over the years instead Martin scors say’s electrifying biopic as powerful as his
Oscar winning The Departed focuses on how a Wall Street mogal sold his soul in exchange for the American dream a fancy mansion luxury vehicles and loads of cash when you sail on a boat fit for a bond villain sometimes you need to play the part right in other words greed and
The American dream have become one and the same Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Belford as a con artist who’s Beyond despicable yet so Charming that we’d still probably buy his pen you can sell anything sell that go ahead s me that pen number 13 arrival days that Define your story beyond your
Life like the day they arrived needless to say Deni VNV is on an incredible run of films his thoughtful sci-fi drama arrival follows a Linguistics Professor attempting to figure out how to communicate with recently arrived alien spacecraft before a war breaks out rather than relying on big action and
Explosions like so many Alien movies do VNV gives us a smart completely engaging film about connecting it got Oscar voters talking as well picking up nominations in multiple categories including best picture director adapted screenplay and cinematography language is the foundation of civilization it’s the glue that holds the people together
Is the first weapon drawn in a conflict number 12 get out do they know I’m do they know I’m black yeah should they today we all know that Jordan Peele is one of the great psychological horror filmmakers working in Hollywood but back in 2017 very few
Of us would have guessed that one half of the sketch comedy Doo Key and Peele would make one of the best horror films of the 21st century in a genre where we thought we’d seen it all it turns out we hadn’t peele’s film is social commentary
Satire and horror it’s a film as funny as it is scary blending the two in ways that make for an experience unlike any other by the way I I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could best president in my lifetime handstand number 11 Inception it’ be impossible to
List the best movies of the century without talking about inception you’re waiting for a train a train that will take you far away it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb an expert dream Thief who is tasked with the difficult goal of planting an idea in a target’s mind and having it
Grow as if it were their own those were not normal projections they’ve been trained for God’s sake how could he be trained Fishers had an extractor teach his subconscious to defend itself with its star studded cast incredible set pieces and electrifying action all built on the foundation of a brilliant concept
It is yet another example of Christopher Nolan’s Mastery you were the best that I could do but I’m sorry you’re just not good enough does this feel real much like Nolan’s Interstellar it is a story as emotional personal and intimate as it is a science fiction tour to force number 10 everything everywhere
All at once what I told you to stay low and out of sight a mix of genres and film Styles everything everywhere all at once is an experience that cannot be described but instead must be seen to truly be appreciated indiewire described it as a quote orgiastic work of slap happppy
Genius and we could not have said it better ourselves the film was a surprise hit beyond the $141 million box office on a between 14 and $25 million budget it won 7 Academy Awards including best picture Best Director best actress and best screenplay in fact the film seemed
To win every Accolade everywhere all at once taking home a whopping 266 Awards out of 405 Nominations number nine hereditary listen to me Ste I know you don’t trust me and there is nothing I can do about that but they put a curse on us when we brought Charlie back we made a pack with something in case you thought that smart thought-provoking horror films had gone
Away since the Heyday of Classics like the Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby the past decade has shown otherwise amazingly get out and hereditary were both feature film directorial debuts with hereditary Ari Aster shows a directorial Mastery Beyond his years he isn’t without seasoned talent to work with Tony Colette is a revelation as
Annie Graham a grieving mother spiraling into madness and not just of the psychological variety the fact that Colette wasn’t nominated for best actress might be the snub of the decade but hereditary will persist for Generations I just don’t want to put any more stress on my
Family I’m not even really sure if they could could give me that support number eight parasite Using literal staircases director pong junho explores class structure and social and economic disparity in modern-day South Korea in This brilliant black comedy thriller while parasite satiated the audience’s desire for an engaging and surprising Story the film also reached some critical Milestones after premiering at the can film
Festival it became the first Korean film to win the coveted pondor then almost a year later it became the first non-english language film to ever take home the Oscar for Best Picture number seven No Country for Old Men picking up on the themes of their previous films the Cohen Brothers
Faithfully adapt this cormic McCarthy novel I got under control when a man finds a motherload of cash after a drug deal goes sour he becomes the target of a compassionless assassin we watches this monosyllabic Hitman plows through all that gets in his way as he hunts the money down with
With you going and I don’t have the money he can’t touch me but I can sure touch him it’s an academy award-winning case of cat and mouse masterfully executed at the hands of the Cohen Brothers which they later followed with the also astonishing but quite different inside Leen Davis number six Mad Max
Fury Road oh what day what a lovely day in 2015 we aren’t sure how many movie goers were even aware of the first madmax movie released back in 1979 regardless of whether or not you’ve seen that one or the two sequels that followed in the 1980s Mad Max Fury Road
Is well worth your while we could get into the film’s narrative but the whole post-apocalyptic story is secondary to the action the film puts all its eggs in one basket the basket being the chase through the desert landscape which comprises the vast majority of the movie
It is a bold move and it pays off big time the energy is palpable and the stunts 90% of which were done practically are incredible at least that way you know we might be able to together come across some kind of redemption number five Moonlight I’m
Sorry but you got to be sorry for the film might be remembered as part of the best picture announcement mistake at the 89th academy awards ceremony what we hope no one ever forgets is how wonderful Moonlight is and completely deserving of its Oscar win even if it
Was the second film announced that night both black and sexual identities are explored by writer director Barry Jenkins this lgbtq plus themed Coming of Age movie brings to the big screen characters rarely given this kind of loving thoughtful and forward- facing treatment along with its best picture
Oscar Moonlight also held the top spot on numerous best of the Year lists remember the last time I saw you for a long time trying not to remember Number Four The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King completing the iconic Trilogy initiated back in 2001 Peter Jackson’s Opus The Return of
The King splits its epically long runtime between Aragorn and his men battling sauron’s army and Frodo’s journey to Mount Doom to destroy the one ring look Mr F the doorway we’re almost there thanks to these two running plots we get a headyy mix of heavy violence and delicate
Storytelling that’s been called one of Cinema’s great achievements by closely mirroring JRR tolken stirring and beloved novel this movie gives Fanboys and fan girls something to shout about the academy was equally impressed awarding the picture a record tying 11 Oscars my friends you bow to no one number three There
Will Be Blood brought To Us by Paul Thomas Anderson this drama follows prospector Daniel Plan view as he builds his Empire during the Southern California oil boom if we decide to drill for oil and if the well begins to produce I’ll give your church a $5,000 signing 10,000 do you want to find
Someone else that’s going to come up here and drill Eli make the investment and do all the hard work that goes into it well he’s met with many speed bumps along the way it’s watching Daniel de Lewis portray the character’s descent into greed and Madness at the cost of
All else that makes it a truly gripping watch and for another stunningly gripping psychological drama check out Anderson’s 2012 the master with Wen Phoenix both the character and Anderson’s film are unyielding and ambitious and both helped win D Lewis his second Oscar for best actor I drink your
Milkshake I drink it up number two The Dark Knight I believe whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes youor stranger proving that superhero movies don’t need to be filled with Spandex and cheesy sendoff lines Christopher Nolan’s second Batman film redefined the genre and impressed both comic book fans and the general public
Alike it’d leave a man’s life to chance not exactly Dark Twisted and deeper than the franchise’s previous entry the story follows the Caped Crusader as he faces off against the infamous Joker played by an electric Heath Ledger you won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness though Ledger passed
Away before the film’s release he was awarded AP potimus Oscar for his work which helps give Batman’s story a gritty and realistic spin why do you want to kill me I don’t want to kill you what would I do without you before we continue be sure to subscribe to our Channel and
Ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you’re on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one The Social Network when the social network hit
Theaters Facebook was still a relatively new phenomenon jump 10 years later and it is impossible to imagine the world without the social media platform hey Cameron I’m still a little skeptical that we have enough functionality in the site to really draw the ATT ition and gain the critical mass necessary to get
A site like this to run together director David Fincher and writer Aaron sorin shaped the story of Mark Zuckerberg into a modern Shakespearean drama you have part of my attention you have the minimum amount the rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook where my colleagues and I are
Doing things that no one in this room including and especially your clients are intellectually or creatively capable of doing the question is whether this is a story of Triumph for tragedy it’s hard to say since Facebook story is far from over but this film depicts a legendary
Origin story that was relevant in 2010 and remains very much a part of the Zeitgeist all these years later drop the the just Facebook it’s clean expertly crafted brilliantly written flawlessly acted and timely while also being Tim less The Social Network shows that Cinema is still very much alive and well welcome to
Facebook which of these films takes the top prize in your book let us know in the comments maybe it’s time to finally bring this home what do you say did you enjoy this video check out these other clips from watch Mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be
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Video “Top 30 Best Movies of the Century (So Far)” was uploaded on 04/01/2024 to Youtube Channel WatchMojo.com