Movie fans will always debate what the greatest film of each decade, and each century, is. But when over 500 of the most renowned filmmakers get together and put it to a vote, it’s hard to argue with the results. That’s exactly what has happened, as some of Hollywood’s most notable names have come together to finally answer the age-old cinephilic question: What is the greatest movie of the 21st Century? The answer probably won’t shock you — No, it’s notMadame Web.
The NY Times recently spoke to over 500 filmmakers, actors, and other notable people in Hollywood for a poll regarding the greatest movies of all time. Alongside other categories like the greatest Pixar film and the best horror movie, the participants were also asked to name the best movie of the 21st century. The list ranked the top 100 movies, which was filled with some phenomenal contenders, but, at the end of the day,Bong Joon-ho’sParasitewas crowned the undisputed winner.WhileParasiteheld the top spot, the top 10 was filled with incredible movies that every film fan needs to watch at least once. Check out the top 10 films below:
‘Parasite’ Director Calls This Thriller “The Smartest Debut Film I’ve Seen in 10 Years”
Oddly enough, like Bong’s directorial debut, this 2023 horror film by his former protege prominently involves cruelty against dogs.
Even though cinema is an incredibly subjective topic, few will argue against the decision. Bong Joon-ho’s multi-Oscar-winning thriller is often cited as one of the greatest movies of all time by film fans, so its place on this list is well deserved. As well as giving the film the top spot, the NY Times also provided a very in-depth reason as to what madeParasiteso special. Check it out below:
“A tale of haves and have-nots, and a ferocious rebuke to the devastations of neoliberalism, Bong Joon Ho’s pleasurably kinked and unsettling shocker follows a destitute family as it insinuates itself into a wealthy household. Bong, a master of genre unbound by convention, fluidly shifts between broad comedy and blistering social satire throughout, then lights it all on fire with a paroxysm of tragic violence that’s as stunning as it is inevitable.”
‘Parasite’s Cinematic Legacy
Whether you agree withParasitebeing the “greatest movie of the 21st century"or not, it’s hard to argue with the film’s cinematic legacy. Bong Joon-ho directed and co-wrote (with Han Jin-won)Parasite, which has become a firm favorite of genuine movie fans and film bros across the globe. The South Korean film introduced a whole new wave of casual moviegoers to foreign language films. Unless, of course, you watched it dubbed (but why would you do that?). It also broke ground at the Oscars, becoming the first foreign language film to win Best Picture.
The film follows two Korean families: the impoverished Kim family and the immensely wealthy Park family. When the youngest son in the Kim family is offered a job tutoring for the Parks, he sees it as an opportunity to get jobs for his entire family, sneaking them into any positions available, by any means necessary.
Source:NY Times
