Quentin Tarantino Drops His List of the 21st Century’s Best Films

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Quentin Tarantino recently shared his list of favorite movies from the 21st century, offering a glimpse into the films he’s enjoyed most over the past two decades.

The director, a well-known film buff, chose movies spanning many different genres—from action and drama to horror and animated films.

People who love movies immediately started looking at the list to find out which recent films caught his eye. His choices reveal a lot about what one of the most important directors in film history enjoys watching.

20. West Side Story (2021)

Quentin Tarantino praised Steven Spielberg’s latest film, saying it proves he’s still a master of exciting filmmaking. He was also surprisingly impressed with Ansel Elgort’s performance, admitting he hadn’t enjoyed Elgort in previous roles. Tarantino even suggested it was more thrilling than anything Martin Scorsese has directed recently.

19. Cabin Fever (2002)

He’s a fan of Eli Roth’s movies because they blend suspense, horror, and humor, particularly the wild endings. He says, “Roth’s combination of scary and funny elements is really effective, and the last 20 minutes are surprisingly hilarious.”

18. Moneyball (2011)

Quentin Tarantino highlighted Brad Pitt’s captivating performance, saying it was among the best star turns he’s seen in two decades and truly showcased Pitt’s charisma and status as a leading man.

17. Chocolate (2008)

He’s incredibly impressed with the young actress, noting her years of training, and describes the fight scenes as phenomenal. He said, “The fights are spectacular and among the best kung fu I’ve ever witnessed on film.”

16. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

Quentin Tarantino admires Rob Zombie’s distinctive style, which combines the feel of classic Westerns with horror elements. He specifically praised Zombie for perfecting a unique voice—a blend of influences like director Sam Peckinpah, cowboy films, and the Charles Manson story—that hadn’t been seen before in filmmaking.

15. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

You know, I was actually laughing during some of the really intense stuff – it was just so over the top! And honestly, Mel Gibson really knows what he’s doing as a director. He absolutely nailed it, even with all the craziness happening on screen.

14. The School of Rock (2003)

He really enjoyed the film’s lively and playful vibe, especially the combination of Jack Black’s performance with the directing styles of Richard Linklater and Mike White. He described the screening as incredibly fun and highlighted Jack Black’s energetic performance as a key element that made it stand out.

13. Jackass: The Movie (2002)

Quentin Tarantino says he hasn’t laughed so much in decades, calling a recent movie the funniest he’s seen in twenty years. He compared the experience to watching the legendary Richard Pryor, saying he laughed non-stop from start to finish.

12. Big Bad Wolves (2013)

He appreciates the film’s daring and unconventional choices, noting that American films typically wouldn’t take such risks. He explained, “They’re really brave and do things an American movie just wouldn’t.”

11. Battle Royale (2000)

Quentin Tarantino has come to the defense of the Japanese film Battle Royale, pointing out that The Hunger Games received praise for concepts it essentially borrowed from the earlier work. He stated that The Hunger Games was simply a toned-down version of Battle Royale, claiming it ‘just ripped off’ the source material.

10. Midnight in Paris (2011)

He initially didn’t care for Owen Wilson, but his performance eventually won him over. He said, “I really didn’t like Owen Wilson at first, but by the third time I watched the movie, I found myself focusing solely on him.”

9. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

He really appreciates how the film pays tribute to George A. Romero’s zombie movies and notes it’s full of memorable lines. He specifically praised it as a fantastic first film from the director, saying, “I loved how much passion he clearly had for the Romero universe he brought to life.”

8. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Initially, Tarantino was unsure, but he was ultimately very impressed with Miller’s film. He said, “You’re seeing the work of a truly gifted director… he had unlimited resources and time to create exactly the film he envisioned.”

7. Unstoppable (2010)

He considers this one of Tony Scott’s most straightforward action movies, particularly highlighting the train itself. He describes it as becoming increasingly menacing, even calling it “one of the greatest monsters of our time.”

6. Zodiac (2007)

After watching it multiple times, he completely changed his mind and it became one of his favorite films. He described it as captivating and a truly luxurious experience, saying, “It kept grabbing me… it was a whole different experience.”

5. There Will Be Blood (2007)

He’s a big fan of the filmmaking process and especially admires Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance, but feels Paul Dano’s acting brings the movie down. He praised Day-Lewis as exceptionally talented, while harshly criticizing Dano, calling him the worst actor in the Screen Actors Guild.

4. Dunkirk (2017)

You know, I heard Tarantino didn’t quite get it on his first viewing. But he kept watching it, and it totally flipped the script on him. He said it was almost overwhelming at first, but after a few times, it just blew him away – a real testament to the director’s skill, he thought.

3. Lost in Translation (2003)

He loved the film so much that he playfully suggests he also developed a crush on its director, Sofia Coppola. He described his experience watching ‘Lost in Translation’ as feeling like he’d stepped into a Jane Austen novel.

2. Toy Story 3 (2010)

He’s deeply moved by the ending every time he watches it, and considers it the best conclusion to a trilogy. He described the final five minutes as incredibly emotional, saying it felt like his heart was broken, and that the movie is nearly perfect, making it the greatest trilogy ending he’s ever seen.

1. Black Hawk Down (2001)

Quentin Tarantino calls the film a remarkable and intensely gripping accomplishment. He describes it as a true masterpiece, the only movie he’s seen that fully commits to the ambitious and immersive style of ‘Apocalypse Now,’ and says it captivated him from beginning to end.

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2025-12-02 23:16