Film critics pick the 100 best movies of the century

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Everyone has an idea about what they consider film classics. There may be some modern flicks sprinkled in there, but the image of the “movie classic” usually involves black and white films like CITIZEN KANE or Technicolor hits like THE WIZARD OF OZ. But what about modern classics that will soon be old classics? Some snobbier critics say there aren’t any.

That’s why the BBC has stepped in to give us a list of 100 best movies exclusive to this century. The list was born out the realization that after they asked critics to name the greatest American films of all time last year, only six made the list that were made after the year 2000 (12 YEARS A SLAVE, THE DARK KNIGHT, 25TH HOUR,  ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, THE TREE OF LIFE and MULHOLLAND DRIVE).

So they went back for a new list, this time asking 177 critics from around the world to select the best movies from this century. Here are the top 20:

1. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch, 2001)

2. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (Wong Kar-Wai, 2000)

3. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007)

4. SPIRITED AWAY (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001)

5. BOYHOOD (Richard Linklater, 2014)

6. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry, 2004)

7. THE TREE OF LIFE (Terrence Malick, 2011)

8. YI YI: A ONE AND A TWO (Edward Yang, 2000)

9. A SEPERATION (Asghar Farhadi, 2011)

10. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2007)

11. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013)

12. ZODIAC (David Fincher, 2007)

13. CHILDREN OF MEN (Alfonso Cuarón, 2006)

14. THE ACT OF KILLING (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2012)

15. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (Cristian Mungiu, 2007)

16. HOLY MOTORS (Leos Carax, 2012)

17. PAN'S LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006)

18. THE WHITE RIBBON (Michael Haneke, 2009)

19. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (George Miller, 2015)

20. SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (Charlie Kaufman, 2008)

The full list is here, and also includes hits like THE DARK KNIGHT and indie flicks like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Of this list of 20 I would have to say my top five are THERE WILL BE BLOOD, BOYHOOD, ZODIAC, CHILDREN OF MEN and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. But frankly there’s so many good ones on here it’s hard to find any to disagree with—even though the full list excludes certain other beloved, franchise selections—like a HARRY POTTER or LORD OF THE RINGS film. Still, here are 100 movies to make sure you see before you die, or at least before some get swapped out for others by the end of the year.