The collective voice of film enthusiasts has decreed the finest cinematic production released after the dawn of the new millennium. This determination is closely drawn from the insights of around 500 prominent figures in the film industry, including actors, directors, and writers. Their opinions were gathered and compiled by The New York Times for its enumeration of the 100 best movies of the 21st century. This list was further narrowed down to reveal the top 20 movies on June 27.
Among these individuals questioned was the Oscar-winning filmmaker, Coppola. This acclaimed name in Hollywood expressed a deep admiration for ‘The Incredibles,’ the 2004 award-winning animation from Pixar. Similarly, Julianne Moore, a force to be reckoned with on screen, isn’t hesitant to express her love for a good laugh with keen interest in bawdy comedies, such as ‘Superbad’ and ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin.’
Nicholas Sparks, renowned for tear-jerking romances, surprisingly, divulges an attraction to more serious dramas as well. Notable mentions from Sparks include mind-bending narratives such as ‘Inception’ and riveting epics like ‘Gladiator’. These revelations challenge public perception, suggesting that artists often have diverse tastes spanning multiple genres.
So, what’s the best movie to grace the silver screen since the new millennium? The answer is none other than ‘Parasite,’ crafted by the masterful Korean director, Bong Joon Ho. This film broke barriers in 2020 when it clinched the best picture Oscar, becoming the first non-English film to achieve this feat. It topped the film rankings in the NYT’s survey, a testament to its wide-reaching critical acclaim.
It’s no surprise ‘Parasite’ ranked supreme considering an astonishing 99% ‘fresh’ score from close to 500 film reviews on the review aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes. The South Korean mastery of black humor, ‘Parasite,’ swept through the Oscars bagging four prestigious accolades, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Furthermore, in 2019, the reverberating social criticism the movie delivered resonated so well that USA TODAY’s film critic was on the brink of awarding it a perfect score. According to the critic, the South Korean film’s pacing, dramatic revelations, and graceful perseverance (despite progressing into violent anarchy) were commendable. The stellar acting performances were also highlighted.
Bong Joon-ho, despite earning accolade after accolade for ‘Parasite,’ maintained a humble aura, refraining from including his own cinematic masterpiece in his top picks. An admirable gesture that acknowledges the brilliance inked all across the celluloid canvas of the film industry.
The list of the highest-ranking movies featured the following films: Taking the 20th spot was ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ released in 2013. This was followed by ‘Zodiac,’ 2007’s crime thriller, ranking at the 19th position. The 2002 drama ‘Y tu mamá también,’ grabbed the 18th place. The heart-wrenching tale of ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ from 2005, was the 17th pick.
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ the renowned martial arts epic from 2000, took the 16th spot, while the Brazilian crime thriller, ‘City of God,’ stood at the 15th place. The 14th preference was ‘Inglourious Basterds,’ a war drama from 2009. The dystopian thriller ‘Children of Men’ from 2006 took the 13th spot. The ‘The Zone of Interest,’ from 2023, had an 12th place ranking.
The top 10 consisted of the 2015 release ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ at the 11th spot, and ‘The Social Network,’ an insightful biopic from 2010, rounding up the top 10. Then came the 2002 animated fantasy classic, ‘Spirited Away,’ grabbing the 9th place. Next, in 8th, we have the 2017 horror-thriller, ‘Get Out.’ The romantic sci-fi drama ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ from 2004 held the 7th place.
The last five spots hosted ‘No Country for Old Men,’ a 2007 crime thriller, at the 6th spot, followed by the 2016 drama, ‘Moonlight,’ at the 5th place. ‘In the Mood for Love,’ the 2001 romantic drama, took the 4th spot. The 2007 epic, ‘There Will Be Blood,’ grabbed the 3rd place while the 2001 mystery thriller, ‘Mulholland Drive,’ took the 2nd place.
And thus, standing atop this pillar of cinematic prowess was Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy ‘Parasite,’ a true testament to storytelling’s universal language, transcending boundaries of culture and language.