The New York Times‘ list of the 100 best films of the 21st century features influential works by global directors published in June 2025. The list prioritizes cultural impact over box office success, with films such as Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite at the top. It includes emerging filmmakers and independent classics from 2000 onwards.
These are the 100 best films according to The New York Times ranking:
- Parasite
- Mulholland Drive
- There Will Be Blood
- In the Mood for Love
- Moonlight
- No Country for Old Men
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Get Out
- Spirited Away
- The Social Network
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Zone of Interest
- Children of Men
- Inglourious Basterds
- City of God
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Brokeback Mountain
- Y Tu Mamá También
- Zodiac
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Boyhood
- Her
- Phantom Thread
- Anatomy of a Fall
- Adaptation
- The Dark Knight
- Arrival
- Lost in Translation
- The Departed
- Bridesmaids
- A Separation
- WALL-E
- A Prophet
- American Sniper
- Call Me by Your Name
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Lady Bird
- Yi Yi
- Amélie
- The Master
- Oldboy
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Moneyball
- Roma
- Almost Famous
- The Lives of Others
- Before Sunset
- Up
- 12 Years a Slave
- The Favourite
- Borat
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Inception
- Punch-Drunk Love
- Best in Show
- Uncut Gems
- Toni Erdmann
- Whiplash
- Kill Bill Vol.1
- Memento
- Little Miss Sunshine
- Gone Girl
- Oppenheimer
- Spotlight
- Tár
- The Hurt Locker
- Under the Skin
- Let the Right One In
- Ocean’s Eleven
- Carol
- Ratatouille
- The Florida Project
- Amour
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Aftersun
- The Tree of Life
- Volver
- Black Swan
- The Act of Killing
- Inside Llewyn Davis
- Melancholia
- Anchorman
- Past Lives
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
- The Gleaners & I
- Interstellar
- Frances Ha
- Fish Tank
- Gladiator
- Michael Clayton
- Minority Report
- The Worst Person in the World
- Black Panther
- Gravity
- Grizzly Man
- Memories of Murder
- Superbad
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NYT compilation voted on by 500 critics highlights diversity of genres. Spanish films such as Almodóvar’s “Pain and Glory” make it into the top 50. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and Criterion provide full access.
