This article presents the author's critical perspective on the New York Times' "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" selected by 500 film experts, and as an alternative, introduces the bottom 50 of the author's own 100 best 21st-century films selected by his own criteria. While the author doesn't prefer ranking itself, he expresses disappointment at society's tendency to score everything despite art not being a competition, and emphasizes that movies have the power to inspire or transform audiences.

1. The Author's Thoughts on the New York Times List

After seeing the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list recently selected by vote from 500 directors, actors, and other Hollywood celebrities in the New York Times, the author couldn't hide his disappointment. He expected the list to be pretentious, but that wasn't the problem. The issue was that it seemed to reflect too many external factors like who made the film and why, rather than simply judging the quality of the movies. The author clearly states he doesn't consider such factors when evaluating films.

"This list felt less like a 'best' movie list and more like a list of movies that the people voting wished their own films would be included in."

The author says he doesn't particularly like ranking things. Whether it's movies or restaurants, ranked lists are good for "algorithms" but counterproductive in other ways. He compared it to how art is not a competition like cheeseburgers. We're already scoring everything from dating to politics like sports — we don't need to do the same with movies. He honestly admitted he even struggles to give star ratings to films and would prefer to simply evaluate them as "liked it" or "didn't like it."

He explains the difficulty of ranking by noting that movie A might be better than B, and B better than C, but C could be better than A. He also questions whether "fun movies" like superhero films or slapstick comedies can't be included in great film lists just because they lack the depth of "serious" or "art" films. The author believes any kind of movie has the power to inspire or transform us, and this thinking motivated him to create his own list. (Note: He defines the start of the 21st century as 2000, same as the New York Times.)

2. Film Selection Criteria

The author explains that he applied the following five criteria when selecting his own "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century." These criteria clearly reflect the author's values, which prioritize personal experience and emotional resonance from films.

1. Entertainment

   • Most importantly, a film must be entertaining. It doesn't have to be a "fun" movie or packed with action — even slow-paced films or ones with few events qualify if they generate interest. Sad or dark films, ones full of profound symbolism, and laugh-out-loud films can all be included. He doesn't watch much action or horror, but if a film in those genres has elements worthy of being classified as "great," he evaluates it fairly.

2. Emotion

   • He highly values films that move audiences or evoke emotional responses. Sometimes a powerful scene can bring tears, send chills down the spine, or make you feel deep sadness or great joy. He has high regard for filmmakers' ability to instill such emotions in audiences.

3. Cleverness

   • He gives credit to films that impress with clever cinematography or complex plots. Cleverness alone can't make an ordinary film great, but it certainly helps. Conversely, he points out that sloppy plots or lazy screenwriting can make even a good film mediocre.

4. Great Moments

   • Agreeing with director Howard Hawks' saying that "a good movie has three good scenes and no bad scenes," he prefers films where a few powerful moments elevate the entire movie to new heights. If there's a spine-tingling dialogue scene, he becomes captivated by the whole film.

5. My Opinion

   • Ultimately, he emphasizes that this list is simply the films he liked the most, and he's not trying to argue or say anyone else's opinion is wrong. These are the works that gave him the most joy and made him think in new ways.

3. Greg's 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century (Bottom 50)

Now let's take a detailed look at films ranked 100 through 51 from the author's selection of 100, organized chronologically.

3.1. Films from 2000

• 100. Pumpkin (2002)

  • Directed by Anthony Abrams and Adam Larson Broder, this unique film barely made the list. It's oddly similar to Heathers but more realistic and unsettling. Bizarre yet sweet, absurd yet utterly realistic, the film tells a skillfully handled unexpected love story.

• 94. High Fidelity (2000)

  • Directed by Stephen Frears, this film makes you feel like you're hanging out with the characters. It's the work that introduced Jack Black to the mainstream, filled with powerful introspection and memorable lines. Few films convey the feeling of going through a breakup better than this one.

• 80. Unbreakable (2000)

  • Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this is the second of four excellent films that launched his career. It delivers a unique superhero film unlike any other, featuring perfect pacing, dry humor, and unexpected twists. The author hopes Shyamalan can make a film like this again.

• 78. The Patriot (2000)

  • Directed by Roland Emmerich, starring Mel Gibson alongside Heath Ledger. The author expressed regret about Hollywood's reality where these kinds of blockbusters are no longer made. In the past, you could see several such films every summer, but now it's hard to find even one per decade.

• 57. Faat Kine (2000)

  • A Senegalese film directed by Ousmane Sembene, discovered by chance at a film festival. While vividly depicting life in Senegal, it addresses universal experiences of romance and marriage, making it both interesting and powerful.

• 56. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

  • Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the author considers this the most realistic depiction of heroin addiction in cinema. Extremely bleak and dark, every element of the film seems to show the reality of substance abuse.

• 27. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

  • Directed by E. Elias Merhige, this film begins with the ingenious premise: what if F.W. Murnau cast an actual vampire when filming Nosferatu? The author said even those who don't enjoy German expressionist films can appreciate this movie's charm. The scene where the vampire quotes Tennyson was particularly memorable.

• 17. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

  • Directed by the Coen Brothers, this comedy loosely adapts the classic epic The Odyssey. Remarkably, its chart-topping soundtrack consists of folk and hillbilly music classics. It entertainingly follows three chain gang escapees through the "obstacles" they encounter on their journey.

• 14. Memento (2000)

  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, it showcases an ingenious method of telling the story backward while remaining perfectly comprehensible. A suspenseful and ultimately heartbreaking story that, despite its art-film elements, would satisfy mainstream audiences as well.

• 10. In the Mood for Love (2000)

  • Directed by Wong Kar-wai, this film has barely any plot yet possesses powerful force. The author says no film has more perfectly expressed the feeling of longing. It immerses audiences in the quiet restraint of its protagonists, capturing pure emotion in cinematic form.

• 20. Gladiator (2000)

  • Directed by Ridley Scott, the scene where Maximus reveals his identity to Commodus is praised as one of the greatest moments in film history. While things may feel somewhat anticlimactic after that scene, overall it delivers tremendous emotional resonance, mixed with well-timed dry wit.

3.2. Films from 2001

• 93. A Knight's Tale (2001)

  • Directed by Brian Helgeland, evaluated as a film that transcends the teen flick. Heath Ledger's performance elevates the film further — it's a story of outsider friendships while also being a grand tale of knights, princesses, and an ordinary peasant's adventure.

• 92. Vanilla Sky (2001)

  • Directed by Cameron Crowe, somewhat forgotten now but showcasing Tom Cruise's excellent acting. Intellectual yet entertaining, it maintains balance without leaning to either side. It scatters small clues throughout, keeping audiences guessing and leading to a surprising ending. Cameron Diaz also stars!

• 61. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

  • Directed by Peter Jackson, this film is praised as revolutionary. With grand visuals, a perfect soundtrack, and astonishingly vivid realization of Tolkien's world. While the author thinks the Lord of the Rings series declined over time (especially finding The Return of the King boring), this first film is praised as perfect.

• 58. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

  • Directed by Pete Docter, the author misses the old glory of Pixar and thinks no animated character is as funny as Mike Wazowski.

• 36. Spirited Away (2001)

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this beautiful animation appeals to both adults and children. As Chihiro interacts with ghosts, dragons, and mythical creatures to save her parents, the film delivers the message that selflessness and kindness can overcome everything.

• 30. My Sassy Girl (2001)

  • This Korean film directed by Kwak Jae-yong isn't well-known domestically [in the US], but for the author it's a charming and popular work. He mentions the word "yeopgi" can be translated as "someone who seeks interesting or strange experiences" or "spicy," reflecting the heroine's personality. The story reportedly originated from actual blog posts.

• 16. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

  • Directed by Wes Anderson, who is evaluated as one of the most consistently excellent directors. This film beautifully depicts the childhood experiences that shaped a family of grown prodigies as they try to reconcile with their estranged father.

• 11. Amelie (2001)

  • Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this film is praised as not merely touching but life-changing. It gives audiences permission to live an altruistically inventive life, and many people came to admire Amelie and radically reconsider their own lives.

• 2. Mulholland Drive (2001)

  • Only David Lynch could create this perfect masterpiece. At the intersection of dream and reality, you come to understand the meaning of the performances and plot, and the film's open interpretation makes repeat viewings and conversations with friends very rewarding.

• 1. Donnie Darko (2001)

  • Directed by Richard Kelly, this is the author's most impressive film. It weaves a dense, complex story with minimal information, providing enough clues for audiences to grasp every detail and nuance. Every scene, every moment is essential — removing even a single moment would collapse the entire film. He's disappointed by the director's cut for adding unnecessary explanations, but he'll never forget the joy of spending hours analyzing the film's meaning with a friend after seeing the original version.

"The only positive was that everything explained in the director's cut matched exactly what my friend and I had thought about the movie. All the pieces were there in the original cut. If you paid attention and used your brain. Sadly, most audiences are incapable of doing either of those two things."

3.3. Films from 2002

• 98. Secretary (2002)

  • Directed by Steven Shainberg, this film has quietly exerted influence over a generation but still hides under the public radar. James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal deliver standout performances, and the author notes it explores "what it means to be a man" in a different way from Brawl in Cell Block 99.

• 89. Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

  • Directed by Justin Lin, the author saw this film only once during its limited release 22 years ago but it left a strong impression. It features a complex plot, witty and entertaining dialogue, and a bold perspective showing a different side of Asian Americans rarely seen in film. It's the story of a group of honor students who get involved in crime, based on real events. The author added that he was disappointed by Justin Lin's other work after this film.

• 77. The Birthday (2004)

  • Directed by Eugenio Mira, this film progresses very slowly, reaches a turning point, then slowly tips again. Throughout, it shows unpredictable movement but never falters. Corey Feldman's performance is better than in any other film he's appeared in, with his shy, introverted character convincingly portrayed. The author described it as "what David Lynch would have made if he tried to keep the plot coherent," and emphasized more people should see this film.

• 31. Signs (2002)

  • Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this is one of the author's favorite alien invasion films. The aliens play a minimal role; instead, the story centers on a priest who has lost his faith and is finding it again. Shyamalan shows masterful skill at building suspense, comparable even to Hitchcock.

• 19. The Rules of Attraction (2002)

  • Directed by Roger Avery, the co-screenwriter of Pulp Fiction, this is praised as his true masterpiece. It's shocking, humorous, and sometimes experimental in its direction. The technique of running an entire scene backward to reach narrative branch points showcases cinematic ambition. The author noted this film is rooted in 90s "Generation X" ideals and morals, which might be hard for today's young people to understand. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

• 4. Adaptation (2002)

  • Directed by Spike Jonze, this is arguably the most "Charlie Kaufman" of Charlie Kaufman's works. It showcases the pinnacle of meta-reference, where the movie-within-a-movie references itself, and that reference itself becomes another reference. The author said it's hard to explain how the film can be so intricately intertwined yet easy to follow and entertaining. Despite unpredictable developments like forecasting its own trailer, it keeps audiences entertained.

• 3. City of God (2002)

  • Directed by Katia Lund and Fernando Meirelles, this film achieves what almost every movie aspires to. It leaves audiences breathless, alternating between moments of pure joy and utter horror. Li'l Ze is one of the most terrifying villains in film history, instilling fear in audiences as well as the film's inhabitants. Even amidst poverty and murder, when depicting dancing, beach scenes, and the 70s atmosphere, the immersion surpasses any other film.

3.4. Films from 2003

• 97. A Coffee in Berlin (2012)

  • This German film directed by Jan Ole Gerster surprisingly matches the author's long-held idea (a story about a man who wants coffee but keeps getting interrupted). Light, charming, and entertaining. Although the author never wrote that script himself, he enjoyed watching it.

• 79. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

  • Directed by Gore Verbinski, this is the film that comes to mind when people say "they don't make them like they used to." Fun and thrilling, with beautiful faces, scary villains, and a twist-filled plot that keeps audiences engaged until the very last scene. Possibly the greatest pirate movie ever made, featuring Johnny Depp's finest performance. The sequels were all disappointing.

• 74. Anything Else (2003)

  • Directed by Woody Allen, this is praised as the last true masterpiece from the era when Woody Allen produced genius works annually. Over 35 years from 1969's Take the Money and Run through this film, he made 32 movies, many of them classics. The author noted his work became somewhat inconsistent after this film.

• 65. Lost in Translation (2003)

  • Directed by Sofia Coppola, this film is polarizing, but the author is firmly in the "love it" camp. Bill Murray delivers his driest humor here, and audiences are captivated watching him and Scarlett Johansson explore Tokyo and cultivate an unexpected friendship. Sweet, sad, always entertaining, and makes you reflect on your own life. Most of all, it's very, very funny.

• 54. Oldboy (2003)

  • Directed by Park Chan-wook, the author discovered this film by chance but it left him in shock. He guessed the ending almost from the beginning, but that didn't diminish the film's power at all. Despite its violent and depraved content, the hallway fight scene is a must-see. He hasn't seen Spike Lee's remake but heard it falls short of the original.

• 35. Old School (2003)

  • Directed by Todd Phillips, the author declares this the purest comedy film of the 21st century. It perfectly balances absurdity and sincerity, making audiences root for and empathize with Mitch. Will Ferrell is perfectly utilized in limited screen time, with his keg scene praised as one of the all-time great comedy scenes. The trio including Vince Vaughn produced something described as lightning in a bottle.

3.5. Films from 2004

• 91. The Incredibles (2004)

  • Directed by Brad Bird, the author says this is the last great Disney film from when Pixar was truly Pixar. Mourning Pixar's former glory, this film is a comedic reimagining of The Fantastic Four that delivers endless fun and laughter for all ages.

• 82. Kamikaze Girls (2004)

  • Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, this film never gets old even after multiple viewings. It tells the story of a peculiar friendship between a girl living like a Rococo-era painting and a biker gang girl, comedically yet warmly exploring how they come to rely on each other.

• 72. Team America: World Police (2004)

  • Directed by Trey Parker, the author evaluates this as an unprecedented work. Irreverent, raunchy, and gut-bustingly hilarious, it pioneered territory no film or puppet show had dared attempt. From start to finish it touches controversial taboos without letting up for a moment. It's even a musical.

• 51. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

  • Directed by Jared Hess, this film captivated the author even before release. He was hooked the moment he heard Napoleon's line "it's my ride." There's even a story about Netflix offering a prize for anyone who could build an algorithm to predict viewer responses to this film — that's how polarizing it is. The author clearly loves it.

• 49. Idiocracy (2006)

  • Directed by Mike Judge, when the author first watched this in 2006, he thought "it won't take 500 years for us to end up like that." And now he's even more certain. He jokingly says the day will come when this film's genre changes from comedy to documentary.

• 45. Sideways (2004)

  • Directed by Alexander Payne, this film is dryly funny, heartbreaking, and cringe-inducing all at once. It subverts the typical buddy road comedy cliches — the story of two men trying to have one last good time, each seemingly trying to outdo the other in foolishness.

3.6. Films from 2005

• 50. Brick (2005)

  • Directed by Rian Johnson, this film reimagines the classic hardboiled film noir detective as a high schooler. Typical teenage concerns and emotions are projected into the exaggerated noir world and high school power dynamics, making them feel bigger. A classmate could be a crime boss, a bully could be an enforcer. And there's murder.

• 43. The Baxter (2005)

  • Directed by Michael Showalter, this film makes you imagine what would happen if Ralph Bellamy actually got the girl instead of Cary Grant. It's the story of an ordinary guy trying to keep his girl at the moment the hero tries to steal her away. But will he? Will he end up left at the altar?

• 5. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

  • Directed by Shane Black, this seems to be set at Christmas. (Shane Black's films always seem to feature Christmas.) Discovered by chance — "what's the next movie showing?" — this film made the author realize Robert Downey Jr.'s superstar potential. Val Kilmer also delivers a standout performance. The author strongly argues this film doesn't frequently appear on best-of lists but absolutely should be included.

3.7. Films from 2006

• 75. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

  • Directed by J.J. Abrams, this is the only film in the series the author rates as excellent. Truly thrilling and frightening, featuring the best Ethan Hunt alongside one of film history's most terrifying villains — Philip Seymour Hoffman's Owen Davian. The author added there was no need for five more sequels after this.

• 32. The Lives of Others (2006)

  • Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, this film engages and keeps audiences tense from start to finish. The author says you come to genuinely care about the characters' lives. An excellent modern reinterpretation of the classic Cold War spy thriller that never gets old on repeat viewings.

• 6. The Departed (2006)

  • Directed by Martin Scorsese, praised as the best film he's made this century. Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg deliver their finest performances, DiCaprio is characteristically excellent, and Jack Nicholson appropriately modulates his persona to add depth. The film constantly throws tense situations and unexpected twists at audiences, keeping them off balance.

3.8. Films from 2007

• 96. Enchanted (2007)

  • Directed by Kevin Lima, the author evaluates this as Disney's last great film. Enjoyable from start to finish, with Disney hallmarks — princes, princesses, talking animals, evil queens — delighting children while a bittersweet romance story captivates adults.

• 90. The Man from Earth (2007)

  • Directed by Richard Schenkman, this little-known film was discovered by chance. It delivers a powerful impact, and everyone who watches it becomes an ardent fan. Without revealing much plot, the author describes it as a dialogue-driven film where a man slowly unravels the story of his very long life in essentially one location.

• 47. Superbad (2007)

  • Directed by Greg Mottola, this is the millennial generation's entry in the coming-of-age teen film tradition. At the time it felt like an update of Gen X experiences, but now it feels like a dated relic that Gen Z and beyond would find hard to understand. The author reminisced about the era when high schoolers drank, partied, danced, and had sex, wondering what Gen Z's coming-of-age films would look like.

• 29. No Country for Old Men (2007)

  • Directed by the Coen Brothers, the author's ranking dropped after re-watching it post-reading the source novel. While acknowledging that the novel is always better, he honestly noted this film lacked the character insight found in the novel.

• 15. There Will Be Blood (2007)

  • Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this film takes a deep and dark look at the early oil industry, exploring the dangers of unlimited competition through one oilman's battles against everyone. Young and relatively unknown Paul Dano managed to assert his presence despite Daniel Day-Lewis's overwhelming performance.

• 12. Zodiac (2007)

  • Directed by David Fincher, this film earns its place on the list just for recreating and analyzing the Zodiac murders, but exploring the characters' psychology elevated it to #12. Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo all deliver their best performances, resulting in a riveting, rewatchable work.

• 7. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

  • Directed by Wes Anderson, this film is often overlooked in his filmography, but for the author it's his most mature and polished work. Beyond Anderson's trademark beautiful color palettes and interesting cinematography, it deals with three complex characters coping with their father's death, their mother's disappearance, and how their upbringing affects their current lives. A more nuanced and mature treatment of The Royal Tenenbaums' themes — praised as Anderson's masterpiece.

3.9. Films from 2008

• 84. The Dark Knight (2008)

  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, while many people rave about this film, the author thinks it's good but somewhat disappointing toward the end. However, Heath Ledger's Joker performance is so outstanding that it earned a place in the top 100.

• 48. The Wrestler (2008)

  • Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the author notes that those who didn't see Mickey Rourke's prime in the 1980s might find it hard to imagine he once played roles like "Johnny Handsome." This film is Rourke's successful comeback, and he went on to deliver an impressive performance in Iron Man 2 afterward.

• 46. In Bruges (2008)

  • Directed by Martin McDonagh, this is a cleverly written comedy set against the backdrop of a beautiful European city. Two mismatched criminals try to lie low after a botched job. Recommended for anyone who enjoys dialogue-driven comedy.

3.10. Films from 2009

• 73. Drag Me to Hell (2009)

  • Directed by Sam Raimi, the author thinks this might be the perfect horror film. Smart, scary, entertaining, and above all, it has powerful momentum leading to a terrible final conclusion. The plot is solid, and aside from the supernatural elements, everything is rational. The author rates Sam Raimi as one of the most underrated directors in history, with talent to create masterpieces in almost any genre.

• 67. The Hangover (2009)

  • Directed by Todd Phillips, this film appeared unexpectedly in 2009 and delivered laughs throughout its entire runtime. An excellently written comedy. While it spawned mediocre sequels, the original is sidesplittingly funny. The author says this film is a lowbrow comedy and doesn't need to be anything more.

• 8. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

  • Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the author says this film makes you wonder if Tarantino himself thought, like Brad Pitt's line, "this might be my masterpiece." The author still ranks Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown higher, but emphasizes this film is excellent. Humorous yet thrilling, it introduced Christoph Waltz to the world. It's praised as having one of the greatest opening scenes in film history.

3.11. Films from 2010

• 81. Let Me In (2010)

  • Directed by Matt Reeves, the author argues this is a case where the remake surpasses the original. While the Swedish original Let the Right One In was good, this film is more polished, and young Chloe Moretz was a perfect choice for the mysterious Abby.

• 44. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

  • Directed by Edgar Wright, this film is a curious intersection of sci-fi, comedy, superhero, and teen anxiety genres. Filled with the witty, intelligent dialogue the author loves, it delivers constant jokes without ever relying on crude or easy laughs. Scott Pilgrim is described as a genuine everyman who struggles, knows who he wants to be, but can't always do the right thing.

• 26. Black Swan (2010)

  • Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this is both a psychological thriller and an erotic masterpiece that never lets tension slip for even a moment. The author suggests that on a rewatch, viewers should check his hypothesis: whether the mother exists only in the protagonist's mind.

3.12. Films from 2011

• 60. Young Adult (2011)

  • Directed by Jason Reitman, this film wouldn't make many people's best-of lists, but the author loves it passionately. Charlize Theron's Mavis Gary is a sometimes unlikeable protagonist, but the film humorously and sometimes embarrassingly depicts her attempt to return to her hometown and ruin her high school sweetheart's marriage. Patton Oswalt's Matt tries but fails to serve as Mavis's conscience. It might sound dark, but it's mostly funny and highly rewatchable.

• 42. Moneyball (2011)

  • Directed by Bennett Miller, the author says this film never gets old no matter how many times you watch it, thanks to its excellently written dialogue. Even Shakespeare couldn't improve this screenplay, and the baseball setting provides the perfect atmosphere for the drama.

• 40. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

  • Directed by Drew Goddard, this is evaluated as almost certainly the most cleverly made horror film. It examines and meta-comments on every teen horror and slasher film cliche. Intellectual, humorous, scary, and unpredictable. The author strongly recommends watching it for the first time without spoilers.

• 39. The Batman (2022)

  • Directed by Matt Reeves, while many consider The Dark Knight the greatest Batman film, the author thinks The Batman is the best Hollywood Batman movie. Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne perfectly embodies someone crazy enough to dress like a bat and fight crime, and Paul Dano's Riddler is comparable to Heath Ledger's Joker. This Batman is detective, fighter, and dark, anxious, crazed character — the author says no future version will surpass this film.

• 18. The Artist (2011)

  • Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the author acknowledges the bias of being a silent film enthusiast, but says he's not alone in loving this film. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture and is a movie for everyone who loves cinema, whether silent or sound. It delivers pleasant, clean fun from start to finish, and there's a cute dog.

3.13. Films from 2012

• 64. Dredd (2012)

  • Directed by Pete Travis, the author watched this without high expectations but was surprised by its non-stop thrilling action. A simple plot — Dredd and his partner are trapped in a building, fighting overwhelming enemies to escape — but that's all it needs to be. He strongly recommends this film be shown in film studies classes to teach how to build tension and keep the plot focused on its core.

• 63. Tropic Thunder (2008)

  • Directed by Ben Stiller, the author excitedly describes this film as literally having everything — Robert Downey Jr.'s blackface role, Jack Black's passionate performance, Tom Cruise's radical transformation, Ben Stiller's comedic acting, and Nick Nolte's appearance.

• 33. The Avengers (2012)

  • Directed by Joss Whedon, acknowledging that most of the 21st century has been the era of superhero films, the author argues this belongs on the list. Marvel's grand ensemble piece weaving multiple heroes' stories together could have gone wrong (like the Justice League films), but in Joss Whedon's hands, a perfect superhero film was born. Beautiful visuals, perfect pacing, and satisfying in every way.

3.14. Films from 2013

• 62. Nebraska (2013)

  • Directed by Alexander Payne, the author says this film tells a good story and introduces and develops excellent characters. Black-and-white cinematography enhances these elements and adds poetic resonance to the landscapes. While not a film for everyone, it perfectly suits the author's taste. He thinks it should have won the 2013 Best Picture Oscar but notes another film took it, making a self-deprecating joke about his ranking abilities.

• 41. Gangster Squad (2013)

  • Directed by Ruben Fleischer, 1949 Los Angeles plays a role as important as any character. Neon signs and lavish restaurants come alive throughout the film. Based on real events, it's filled with wonderful moments between interesting characters, delivered by excellent actors.

3.15. Films from 2014

• 87. It Follows (2014)

  • Directed by David Robert Mitchell, despite avoiding the horror genre, the author was captivated after watching this twice. While he doesn't enjoy excessive gore or jump scares, this film is enjoyable thanks to its atmosphere and clever plot. A vaguely 70s feel creates mood, and the invisible creeping enemy is quite scary. An intelligent, frightening film that doesn't treat its audience as fools.

• 71. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

  • Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, this MCU film is described as closer to a spy thriller than a superhero film. While it has the genre's expected bold action and grand scenes, the overall direction is compared to Three Days of the Condor. Watching without spoilers maximizes the dramatic moments, though it's still enjoyable even knowing the ending.

• 70. Whiplash (2014)

  • Directed by Damien Chazelle, this film shows when a jazz drummer needs tough love to become the best. J.K. Simmons stars as Terence Fletcher, delivering a performance so overwhelming that his J. Jonah Jameson feels like Mahatma Gandhi by comparison.

• 68. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

  • Directed by J.J. Abrams, this film is easily overlooked due to two terrible sequels that followed, but on its own it's the best Star Wars film after the originals. The author rates it slightly above Return of the Jedi, noting that modern production values and pacing give it a grandeur the originals couldn't achieve. Heavy use of practical effects over CG created a genuine sequel to the trilogy, packed with action and emotion.

"When Luke Skywalker's lightsaber flies past Kylo Ren's expectant hand and into Rey's, I'm not kidding — tears welled up."

• 59. The Interview (2014)

  • Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the author evaluates this as the last great comedy film to come out of Hollywood. While dozens of comedies used to come out annually, proper comedy films have been hard to find since this one. James Franco's Dave Skylark interviewing Kim Jong-un is unbelievably funny, with every gag and line delivering laughs. The author sincerely hopes Hollywood makes comedies like this again.

• 55. American Sniper (2014)

  • Another work by director Clint Eastwood, this biographical film stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal marksman in American history. It covers his life before and after four tours in Iraq, with somewhat dark content. Eastwood is praised as filming this kind of drama better than anyone.

• 52. Godzilla (2014)

  • Directed by Gareth Edwards, while expressing surprise that a Godzilla film made the list, the author praises its focus on the human story. The amazing monster scenes were a bonus. It evokes childhood nostalgia, and the anticipation built by continually delaying Godzilla's appearance was immense — when Godzilla finally appeared, the theater audience went wild.

"When Godzilla finally appeared in all his glory, the audience completely lost it. And when he breathed fire, I thought the roof was going to blow off the building. Say what you will, this is pure cinema."

• 9. Interstellar (2014)
  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film tackles the sci-fi genre while showcasing his continued originality. Bringing fresh perspective to a well-worn genre, it's scientifically clever, action-packed with tension, and treats emotional elements as deeply important — excellent in every way.

3.16. Films from 2015

• 85. Tangerine (2015)

  • Directed by Sean Baker, this isn't a film for everyone, but it became one of the author's favorite Christmas movies. It would have been more controversial if released today, but was made in "simpler times," with the author expressing regret about changing social attitudes toward transgender people. An charming but raunchy Christmas story featuring pimps, sex workers, and other non-traditional Christmas characters. Sean Baker won Best Director at this year's Oscars for Anora, and this film was shot on an iPhone.

• 83. Unfinished Business (2015)

  • Directed by Ken Scott, the author praises this as an underrated but hilarious work. Vince Vaughn's Dan Trunkman quits his company over a wage dispute and starts his own, leading to a humorous journey of fighting ever-mounting obstacles to save his company and protect his two employees' jobs.

• 37. Bone Tomahawk (2015)

  • Directed by S. Craig Zahler, this is one of the most dramatically vanished genres from cinema — the Western. Westerns have been scarce for decades, and excellent ones even rarer. While the extreme violence could classify it as horror, it's fundamentally a classic, engaging cowboys-and-Indians story.

• 23. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

  • Directed by George Miller, this is essentially two long car chases back to back, yet it's remarkably excellent. The use of practical effects over CGI in many stunts stands out, making it look like real humans performing genuinely insane stunts. The author says his experience of seeing this film in 70mm will never be forgotten.

3.17. Films from 2016

• 38. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

  • Directed by Mel Gibson, this film based on real person Desmond Doss shows how true stories can be more moving than fiction. It tells the story of the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor while serving on the Pacific front. Mel Gibson is praised for his exceptional ability to capture the horrors of combat on screen.

• 34. La La Land (2016)

  • Directed by Damien Chazelle, on the surface this is a joyful film full of bright colors, beautiful faces, and wonderful music. But for the author, a native of Los Angeles, it carries a somewhat bittersweet feeling. The film features LA's vanished heritage — Retro Dairy, the Rialto Theater, the Magnolia Theater — reminding us that the city easily discards its history. As Ryan Gosling's character says: "They worship everything and value nothing." Nevertheless, it's a moving work about what happens when you sacrifice one dream for another in a city that chases dreams, carrying the message that you can only know everything in hindsight.

• 24. The Nice Guys (2016)

  • Directed by Shane Black, this film marks another success after his excellent debut (which will be higher on this list) and a few missteps. A hardboiled noir-style comedy drama set in 1970s Los Angeles, the author says he becomes engrossed and laughs every time he watches it.

3.18. Films from 2017

• 99. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

  • Directed by S. Craig Zahler, if you can handle brutal and explicit bloodshed, it's worth trying. Beyond the crushed heads and stabbed bodies, it explores what it means to be a man. Honor, duty, and sacrifice are the film's true themes, and the prison setting is merely window dressing.

• 69. Baby Driver (2017)

  • Directed by Edgar Wright, this is a movie playlist with perfect dialogue, excellent acting, and a romance you can't help but root for. Flashy yet stylish, the author says the music so closely matches his own taste that he wondered if the director hacked his iTunes.

• 53. Dunkirk (2017)

  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, the author highly praises the handling of time. Three stories — one week on land, 24 hours at sea, one hour in the air — are layered to unfold simultaneously throughout the film. A truly excellent technique he'd never seen before. Recreating the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II, the film itself is fascinating and thrilling.

• 22. The Death of Stalin (2017)

  • Directed by Armando Iannucci, this lesser-known film is surprisingly entertaining and constantly engaging. It presents an almost entirely factual account of Stalin's death, offering a glimpse behind the Iron Curtain. Steve Buscemi delivers a completely different performance as Nikita Khrushchev, showing the transformation from Stalin's court jester to ruthless successor.

3.19. Films from 2019

• 66. Uncut Gems (2019)

  • Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie — who would have thought Adam Sandler could appear in a good film? The author notes he tried in Punch-Drunk Love, but that felt more like a wandering art film than a consistently good movie. With nothing else worth watching in his filmography of low-quality comedies, no one expected him to make a good film. But suddenly, through this film, he delivered an excellent performance. He's since returned to unremarkable films, and the author wonders if he has another masterpiece in him.

• 28. Parasite (2019)

  • Directed by Bong Joon-ho, this film topped the New York Times list. The author acknowledges it's a good, even excellent film, but doesn't consider it the best of the century. As an avid Korean cinema fan, he notes this might be the only Korean film many people have seen, which may deepen their connection to it. Nevertheless, it's praised as a clever, balanced critique of class disparity, entertaining and immersive from start to finish.

• 25. Midsommar (2019)

  • Directed by Ari Aster, this is a masterpiece of slow-burning horror and suspense, imagining what the 1973 film The Wicker Man might have been if it were actually good. Mysterious, inexplicable moments all converge at the end, delivering a monumentally powerful conclusion that stays with you long after.

• 21. Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019)

  • Directed by Quentin Tarantino, this film delivers a dense plot and deep character study about an actor receiving praise for playing a role of a best friend living in poverty. The author also praises the casting of then-unknown actors who would soon become stars — Austin Butler, Sydney Sweeney, Mikey Madison, Dakota Fanning, Maya Hawke, and others. He declares this film a masterpiece.

3.20. Films from 2021

• 88. The French Dispatch (2021)

  • Directed by Wes Anderson, this film doesn't receive the same acclaim as his others, but the author couldn't remove it from the list. It has beautiful visuals and one of the greatest opening sequences in film history, and serves as a tribute to the glorious era of the printed word. The characters' dialogue flows like prose from a master's pen.

• 86. The Green Knight (2021)

  • Directed by David Lowery, the author says this was a truly stunning work to see in theaters. The barren landscapes and winter chill seemed to emanate from the screen, and every footstep echoed through the auditorium. The Green Knight is terrifying, Sir Gawain is imperfect but chivalrous, and the film slowly builds to a perfect final moment. The author thinks it should have won the 2021 Best Picture Oscar but regrets it wasn't even nominated.

3.21. Films from 2022

• 13. Babylon (2022)
  • Directed by Damien Chazelle, the author says this film represents the pinnacle of excess. Opening with a scene where an elephant dumps excrement on someone, it leads into a Gatsby-esque party. Amid the decadent revelry, you get a glimpse of the transitional era from silent to sound film. Brad Pitt's Jack Conrad character draws inspiration from John Gilbert, Valentino, and Fairbanks, while Margot Robbie's Nellie LaRoy draws from Clara Bow. There are deeply meaningful moments amidst the chaos, and the entire film is praised as a love letter to the magic of cinema.

Conclusion

Greg Gioia's "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" goes beyond simply listing rankings — it's a personal journey infused with his deep love for cinema and critical perspective. He criticizes mainstream media lists like the New York Times' for leaning toward extra-cinematic factors, and selects films based on his own clear criteria of "Entertainment," "Emotion," "Cleverness," "Great Moments," and "My Opinion."

This summary covered films ranked 100 through 51, and his list boasts a wide spectrum from blockbusters to independent films to genre movies. His way of becoming immersed in films and feeling emotions, along with personal anecdotes from specific films, clearly reveal his belief that movies can profoundly impact our lives beyond simple entertainment. For him, film is art, experience, and a reflection of life. We look forward to seeing what films make up his top 50