The 25 Best Movies This Century, Ranked
From the angst of childhood to the ethics of social media, the best movies released since 2000 have been timeless and timely. They've been Hollywood blockbusters and art-house curiosities. They've been tough-to-watch dramas and family-friendly comedies.
In short, they've been as diverse as our world.
Here's a rundown of the 21st century's 25 most critically acclaimed movies to date, ranked by Metascore lowest to highest. (We display Metascores rounded to the nearest whole number, but films are ranked prior to rounding.)
The concluding chapter of the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy trilogy reigned. Writer-director Peter Jackson's epic work scored as the top-grossing film of 2003, and swept all 11 of its categories at the Academy Awards, including best picture.
“Conceived with a risk-taking flair for old-fashioned movie magic at its most precious.” — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly