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The Best Movies of the 2000s

The 2000s ranked by our composite score across 20+ authoritative lists, awards and polls — not one critic's opinion, but the weight of the whole canon.

In the Mood for Love (2000) leads with a composite score of 5.13. Top 100 of 852 films in our library.

  1. 1
    In the Mood for Love2000 · Wong Kar-wai · Hong Kong, China / France / Thailand · romance, drama
    5.13

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #2 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #9

  2. 2
    Spirited Away2001 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, drama
    4.98

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2002 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2002 · Kehr's annual top 10 2002 #1

  3. 3
    Mulholland Drive2001 · David Lynch · United States · mystery, thriller, crime
    4.61

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2001 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #8

  4. 4
    There Will Be Blood2007 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States · drama, western, thriller
    4.26

    Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #2

  5. 5
    No Country for Old Men2007 · Ethan Coen, Joel Coen · United States · drama, thriller, western
    4.20

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2007 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #1

  6. 6
    The Hurt Locker2008 · Kathryn Bigelow · United States · action, thriller, war
    3.95

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2009 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2010 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #1

  7. 7
    The Pianist2002 · Roman Polanski · France / Germany / United Kingdom · musical, drama, biography
    3.86

    Palme d'Or winner 2002 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2003 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #1

  8. 8
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003 · Peter Jackson · New Zealand / United States · fantasy, adventure
    3.69

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2003 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2004 · Letterboxd Top 250 #11

  9. 9
    Yi Yi2000 · Edward Yang · Taiwan, China / Japan · drama
    3.56

    Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #3 · Sarris's annual top 10 2000 #1 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #8

  10. 10
    Brokeback Mountain2005 · Ang Lee · United States · romance, drama
    3.49

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2006 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2005 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2005

  11. 11
    The Departed2006 · Martin Scorsese · United States / Hong Kong, China · drama, thriller, crime
    3.41

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2006 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 2006 #1

  12. 12
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001 · Peter Jackson · New Zealand / United States · fantasy, adventure, action
    3.35

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2002 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2001 · AFI 100 (2007) #50

  13. 13
    Million Dollar Baby2004 · Clint Eastwood · United States · drama
    3.00

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2004 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2005 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 2004 #1

  14. 14
    Lost in Translation2003 · Sofia Coppola · United States / Japan · comedy, romance, drama
    2.95

    Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 2003 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2003

  15. 15
    The Child2005 · Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne · Belgium / France · drama
    2.89

    Palme d'Or winner 2005 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #4 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2005 #4

  16. 16
    4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days2007 · Cristian Mungiu · Romania / Belgium · drama
    2.80

    Palme d'Or winner 2007 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #9

  17. 17
    Slumdog Millionaire2008 · Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan · United Kingdom · romance, drama, crime
    2.65

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2008 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2009 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2008

  18. 18
    The Son's Room2001 · Nanni Moretti · Italy / France · drama
    2.59

    Palme d'Or winner 2001 · Sarris's annual top 10 2002 #2 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2001 #9

  19. 19
    Amélie2001 · Jean-Pierre Jeunet · France / Germany · comedy, romance, drama
    2.58

    César Best Film winner 2002 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2001 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #6

  20. 20
    The White Ribbon2009 · Michael Haneke · France / Germany / Austria · drama, mystery
    2.58

    Palme d'Or winner 2009 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2010 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #12

  21. 21
    Gladiator2000 · Ridley Scott · United Kingdom / United States · drama, action, adventure
    2.52

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2000 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2001 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #8

  22. 22
    Still Life2006 · Jia Zhangke · China / Hong Kong, China · drama
    2.50

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2007 #1 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2006 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2007 #2

  23. 23
    Crash2004 · Paul Haggis · Germany / United States · drama, crime
    2.48

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2005 · Ebert's annual top 10 2005 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #8

  24. 24
    Tropical Malady2004 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul · Thailand / Italy / Germany · drama
    2.46

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2004 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #62 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #95

  25. 25
    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000 · Ang Lee · United States / Taiwan, China / Hong Kong, China · romance, fantasy, action
    2.44

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2000 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #6

  26. 26
    Dancer in the Dark2000 · Lars von Trier · Denmark / Sweden / Germany · musical, drama
    2.43

    Palme d'Or winner 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #8 · Kehr's annual top 10 2000 #2

  27. 27
    Oldboy2003 · Park Chan-wook · South Korea / Japan · drama, thriller, mystery
    2.38

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2004 · Kehr's annual top 10 2005 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2004 #6

  28. 28
    Before Sunset2004 · Richard Linklater · United States · romance, drama
    2.36

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #3 · Sarris's annual top 10 2004 #1 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #26

  29. 29
    Inglourious Basterds2009 · Quentin Tarantino · Germany / United States · war, drama, adventure
    2.36

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2009 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #7

  30. 30
    Precious2009 · Lee Daniels · United States · drama
    2.29

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2009 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2009 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009

  31. 31
    Traffic2000 · Steven Soderbergh · United States / Germany / Mexico · crime, drama, thriller
    2.28

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #16

  32. 32
    The Queen2006 · Stephen Frears · United Kingdom / France / Italy · biography, drama, documentary
    2.27

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2007 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2006 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2007 #4

  33. 33
    Elephant2003 · Gus Van Sant · United States · drama, thriller
    2.26

    Palme d'Or winner 2003 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #3 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2003 #9

  34. 34
    A Prophet2009 · Jacques Audiard · France / Italy · drama, crime, thriller
    2.25

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2009 · César Best Film winner 2010 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #5

  35. 35
    A History of Violence2005 · David Cronenberg · Germany / United States · thriller, crime, drama
    2.24

    Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2005 #2 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2005 #1

  36. 36
    Sideways2004 · Alexander Payne · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.23

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2004 · Sarris's annual top 10 2004 #2

  37. 37
    The Dark Knight2008 · Christopher Nolan · United States / United Kingdom · action, film-noir, thriller
    2.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #15 · Letterboxd Top 250 #25

  38. 38
    Atonement2007 · Joe Wright · United Kingdom / France · drama, war, romance
    2.14

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2008 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2007 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #9

  39. 39
    You Can Count on Me2000 · Kenneth Lonergan · United States · drama
    2.13

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2000 · Sarris's annual top 10 2000 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #9

  40. 40
    City of God2002 · Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund · Brazil / France · drama, crime
    2.13

    Letterboxd Top 250 #10 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #6 · Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #2

  41. 41
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004 · Michel Gondry · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.13

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #2 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #17

  42. 42
    The Aviator2004 · Martin Scorsese · United States · biography, drama, thriller
    2.06

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2005 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2004 · Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #12

  43. 43
    Y tu mamá también2001 · Alfonso Cuarón · Mexico · drama, comedy, romance
    1.99

    Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #6

  44. 44
    Chicago2002 · Rob Marshall · United States / Canada / Germany · musical, comedy, drama
    1.98

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2002 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #8 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  45. 45
    Fahrenheit 9/112004 · Michael Moore · United States · documentary
    1.97

    Palme d'Or winner 2004 · Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #15 · Sarris's annual top 10 2004 #4

  46. 46
    Mystic River2003 · Clint Eastwood · United States / Australia · mystery, thriller, crime
    1.95

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2004 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #2 · Kehr's annual top 10 2003 #1

  47. 47
    Talk to Her2002 · Pedro Almodóvar · Spain · drama, romance
    1.93

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 2002 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #4

  48. 48
    Adaptation2002 · Spike Jonze · United States · comedy, drama
    1.91

    Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 2002 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #3

  49. 49
    Gosford Park2001 · Robert Altman · United States / Italy / United Kingdom · crime, mystery, comedy
    1.89

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2001 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2002 #7 · Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #2

  50. 50
    The Wind That Shakes the Barley2006 · Ken Loach · United Kingdom / Ireland / Germany · drama, war, romance
    1.89

    Palme d'Or winner 2006 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #5

  51. 51
    Departures2008 · Yōjirō Takita · Japan · drama, musical
    1.88

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2008 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2009 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  52. 52
    A Beautiful Mind2001 · Ron Howard · United States · biography, drama
    1.84

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2001 · Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #5 · Ebert's annual top 10 2001 #9

  53. 53
    The Return2003 · Andrey Zvyagintsev · Russia · drama, thriller
    1.83

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2003 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2004 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #360

  54. 54
    Zodiac2007 · David Fincher · United States · thriller, crime, drama
    1.82

    Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #3 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2007 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #19

  55. 55
    Pan's Labyrinth2006 · Guillermo del Toro · Mexico / Spain · fantasy, drama, war
    1.80

    Ebert's annual top 10 2006 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2007 #10 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #15

  56. 56
    Far from Heaven2002 · Todd Haynes · United States · romance, drama
    1.77

    Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #4 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2002 #5

  57. 57
    The Class2008 · Laurent Cantet · France · drama, comedy
    1.76

    Palme d'Or winner 2008 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #13

  58. 58
    The Twilight Samurai2002 · Yōji Yamada · Japan · drama
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2002 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2003

  59. 59
    Hula Girls2006 · Sang-il Lee · Japan · comedy
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2006 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2007

  60. 60
    A.I. Artificial Intelligence2001 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, drama
    1.74

    Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #61

  61. 61
    The Royal Tenenbaums2001 · Wes Anderson · United States · comedy, drama
    1.73

    Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #3 · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #1 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #65

  62. 62
    The Circle2000 · Jafar Panahi · Iran / Switzerland / Italy · drama
    1.72

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #12 · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #5

  63. 63
    The Wrestler2008 · Darren Aronofsky · United States / France · drama
    1.72

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2008 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2009 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #23

  64. 64
    Vera Drake2004 · Mike Leigh · United Kingdom / France · drama
    1.69

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2004 · Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #7 · Ebert's annual top 10 2004 #3

  65. 65
    The Man Without a Past2002 · Aki Kaurismäki · Finland / Germany / France · drama, comedy
    1.69

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 2002 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #7 · Kehr's annual top 10 2003 #2

  66. 66
    American Splendor2003 · Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini · United States · biography, comedy, drama
    1.64

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2003 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #5 · Ebert's annual top 10 2003 #3

  67. 67
    The Lives of Others2006 · Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck · Germany · drama, thriller
    1.60

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2007 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #11 · Letterboxd Top 250 #169

  68. 68
    Ten2002 · Abbas Kiarostami · Iran / France · drama
    1.59

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2002 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #13 · Empire 500 (2008) #447

  69. 69
    WALL-E2008 · Andrew Stanton · United States · comedy, romance, sci-fi
    1.55

    Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #47 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  70. 70
    The Hours2002 · Stephen Daldry · United Kingdom / United States · drama
    1.54

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2002 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025)

  71. 71
    Lady Chatterley2006 · Pascale Ferran · France / United Kingdom / Belgium · drama
    1.51

    César Best Film winner 2007 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #7

  72. 72
    Dogville2003 · Lars von Trier · France / Germany / United Kingdom · drama, thriller, mystery
    1.51

    Hoberman's annual top 10 2004 #2 · Kehr's annual top 10 2004 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #9

  73. 73
    Last Days2005 · Gus Van Sant · United States · drama
    1.50

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2005 #1 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2005 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #16

  74. 74
    The Sun2005 · Alexander Sokurov · France / Russia / Italy · biography, drama
    1.50

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #14

  75. 75
    Flags of Our Fathers2006 · Clint Eastwood · United States · war, drama, action
    1.50

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #10 · Sarris's annual top 10 2006 #4

  76. 76
    Gran Torino2008 · Clint Eastwood · United States / Australia / Germany · drama, crime
    1.50

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2009 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2009 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #32

  77. 77
    Werckmeister Harmonies2000 · Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky · Hungary / Germany / France · drama
    1.48

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2001 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #10

  78. 78
    Letters from Iwo Jima2006 · Clint Eastwood · United States · war, drama
    1.47

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2006 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #16

  79. 79
    The Death of Mr. Lazarescu2005 · Cristi Puiu · Romania · drama
    1.47

    Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #2 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2006 #1 · Empire 500 (2008) #270

  80. 80
    Ghost World2001 · Terry Zwigoff · United States / Germany / United Kingdom · comedy, drama
    1.46

    Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #4 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #9 · Ebert's annual top 10 2001 #4

  81. 81
    Nobody Knows2004 · Hirokazu Koreeda · Japan · drama
    1.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2004 #1 · Letterboxd Top 250 #60 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #33

  82. 82
    Turtles Can Fly2004 · Bahman Ghobadi · France / Iran / Iraq · war, drama
    1.44

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 2004 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2005 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #38

  83. 83
    Lust, Caution2007 · Ang Lee · China / Taiwan, China / United States · crime, thriller, drama
    1.43

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2007 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #4

  84. 84
    Capote2005 · Bennett Miller · Canada / United States · biography, drama, crime
    1.43

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2005 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #6 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #7

  85. 85
    Eastern Promises2007 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United Kingdom / United States · crime, drama, mystery
    1.42

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2007 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #8

  86. 86
    Bloody Sunday2002 · Paul Greengrass · Ireland / United Kingdom · drama, documentary, war
    1.42

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2002 · Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #15 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  87. 87
    A Serious Man2009 · Ethan Coen, Joel Coen · United States / France / United Kingdom · comedy, drama
    1.39

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #8

  88. 88
    Always Sanchōme no Yūhi2005 · Takashi Yamazaki · Japan · drama
    1.38

    Japan Academy Prize winner 2006 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2005 #2

  89. 89
    Fantastic Mr. Fox2009 · Wes Anderson · United States · comedy, drama, action
    1.37

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #88

  90. 90
    The Host2006 · Bong Joon-ho · South Korea · horror, sci-fi, comedy
    1.35

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2006 #3 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #3 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #71

  91. 91
    Paranoid Park2007 · Gus Van Sant · United States / France · drama, thriller
    1.33

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2007 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #7

  92. 92
    Almost Famous2000 · Cameron Crowe · United States · musical, drama, comedy
    1.33

    Ebert's annual top 10 2000 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #7 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #10

  93. 93
    Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans2009 · Werner Herzog · United States · crime, drama
    1.33

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 2009 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #34

  94. 94
    Wild Grass2009 · Alain Resnais · France / Italy · drama
    1.32

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2009 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #8

  95. 95
    Caché2005 · Michael Haneke · France / Germany / Austria · drama, thriller
    1.31

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #4 · Empire 500 (2008) #382

  96. 96
    Space Cowboys2000 · Clint Eastwood · United States · sci-fi, adventure, comedy
    1.30

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2000 #9

  97. 97
    20462004 · Wong Kar-wai · Hong Kong, China / China / France · romance, drama
    1.30

    Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 2005 #1 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2005 #7

  98. 98
    Kill Bill: Volume 22004 · Quentin Tarantino · United States · action, thriller, drama
    1.30

    Ebert's annual top 10 2004 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #8 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2004 #9

  99. 99
    Kill Bill: Volume 12003 · Quentin Tarantino · United States · action, thriller, crime
    1.29

    Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #4 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2003 #10 · Kehr's annual top 10 2003 #4

  100. 100
    Amores perros2000 · Alejandro González Iñárritu · Mexico · drama, thriller
    1.29

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2002 #10 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #16 · Empire 500 (2008) #492

The canon goes global

The defining fact of the 2000s, visible in any cross-list measurement, is that the decade's most canonized films are no longer predominantly American. The 2022 Sight & Sound poll's verdict on the decade is startling: its highest-ranked films of the 2000s are Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love (2000) — sitting in the poll's top five overall — David Lynch's Mulholland Drive (2001), and a cluster of East Asian films. South Korea arrived as a major film culture in these years: Park Chan-wook's Oldboy took the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder (2003) built the reputation that Parasite would cash in, and the "Korean wave" moved from festival curiosity to durable canon presence. Japanese animation completed its own arc when Spirited Away (2001) won the Golden Bear — the first animated film to take a major festival's top prize.

Hollywood's decade was shaped by two franchises and a format war. The Lord of the Rings proved the mega-franchise could also be an awards juggernaut — The Return of the King's eleven-for-eleven Oscar sweep in 2004 remains unmatched — while the Marvel model was being assembled at decade's end. Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008) did something subtler: it made the comic-book film a vehicle for directorial prestige, and its snub in the Best Picture race directly triggered the Academy's expansion of the category the following year — a rare case of one film changing awards architecture.

Digital, for real this time

The 2000s is also when cinema's production base actually flipped. Digital intermediate color grading became standard, digital projection began replacing film prints, and by decade's end shooting on celluloid was a choice rather than a default. The effects on the canon cut both ways: the decade's American prestige cinema (the Coens' No Country for Old Men, Paul Thomas Anderson's ascent) doubled down on classical craft, while the art cinema explored what digital looseness allowed. Documentary and animation both expanded their canonical footprint — Pixar's run through the decade put animated films into the National Film Registry pipeline at a pace no studio had managed since Disney's golden age.

Reading this page's list, notice how many films earn their composite score from multiple continents of sources — a Cannes prize plus an American registry plus a community canon. That multi-source, multi-region consensus is the 2000s' signature, and it only strengthens in the following decade.