"The Best Film of the 21st Century" is This Work — Rolling Stone's Top 100 Challenges the Definition of a "Masterpiece"

"What is the greatest film of the 21st century?" If asked, could you name one without hesitation?

A film that saved you at a certain point in your life. A blockbuster that left you breathless in the theater. A work you couldn't understand immediately after watching, but couldn't forget years later. Even with the same word "greatest," the meaning behind it differs from person to person.

Rolling Stone's "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" is a ranking that highlights these differences. At the top stands Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" (2007), a heavy and unsettling drama about a man who strikes oil and pursues wealth.

German film media Moviebreak introduced this list on September 23, 2026. However, attention should be paid to the timeline. The original English version of the ranking was published in July 2025. The social media reactions covered in this article are mainly from that time. It does not mean a new large-scale vote was conducted in 2026.

What emerges when you line up the top 10 films

Let's first check the top 10. The years are aligned with the ranking's notation and may differ from the theatrical release years in Japan.

Quiet romance films and intense action movies. Family daily life and social disparity. The lineup consists of works that cannot be easily compared with the same yardstick.

Strictly speaking, the 21st century begins in 2001, but this list includes works from 2000. "In the Mood for Love" and "Yi Yi" are included because they were selected within that range.

The fear of success posed by the film ranked first

At the center of "There Will Be Blood" is Daniel Plainview, an oil businessman played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The power to build wealth and the power to alienate people are intertwined within one person.

Let's consider how to interpret this work. The fear in this film lies in the fact that ambition does not initially present itself with an obvious face of evil. Enduring hardships, seizing opportunities, winning competitions—each of these actions is typically considered necessary for success.

But what happens if there is no respect for others or a point deemed sufficient beyond that? As what one possesses increases, the reasons for interacting with others are replaced by domination and transactions. This is the terror embedded in this story.

Even if the setting is in the past, the questions remain relevant. Business expansion, admiration for winners, fear of losing—modern audiences are not immune to these issues.

Of course, the experience of watching cannot be guaranteed by the number one ranking alone. Some may find it oppressive. Still, the experience of "not being able to take your eyes off a protagonist you don't like" reminds us of one of the powers of cinema.

The intrigue of "In the Mood for Love" and "Mad Max" being on the same list

What is particularly intriguing in the top 10 is the coexistence of "In the Mood for Love" at number two and "Mad Max: Fury Road" at number seven.

In the former, unspoken emotions and slight distances carry significant meaning. In the latter, the continuous movement of people and cars drives the film. One makes the audience experience a time of pause, while the other a time that cannot stop.

There is no need to forcibly understand these two as similar works. Rather, the methods by which films engage human senses have such a wide range. This is what becomes apparent from the same ranking.

It's not a simple hierarchy where heavier social themes are superior and entertainment is a step below. By looking at what was used to deliver the experience to the audience—whether visuals, sound, body movements, or silence—more interesting comparisons can be made than just the rankings.

On social media, "bold selections" are met with both welcome and opposition

So how did movie fans perceive it? Checking the movie-related threads on Reddit from July 2025, there is a mix of support and dissent. The following is a summary of actual posts in Japanese, not a survey of the overall opinion on social media.

On r/criterion, where film enthusiasts gather, there were posts that positively received the unconventional selections and rankings. In particular, there were voices welcoming the inclusion of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" in the top 10.

On the same thread, however, the evaluation of the comedy "Anchorman" became a topic of debate. Some couldn't agree with placing it above other highly-rated films, while others defended its strength as a comedy that generates laughter. This brought to light the issue of what criteria to use when comparing heavy dramas and comedies.

While there were dissenting opinions about "Mad Max: Fury Road" being ranked seventh, there were also posts supporting its completeness as an action film. The same ranking appeared too high for some, yet justifiable for others.

On r/movies, there were voices arguing that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, ranked 34th, should have been higher. There were also posts making jokes about the inevitable exchanges in movie rankings, such as "this film is too high, that film is too low."

Reading these reactions, dissatisfaction with the rankings doesn't seem to be mere attachment to numbers. It's the surprise that a film important to oneself doesn't hold the same weight for others.

For Japanese audiences, there is an entry point visible beyond the rankings

In Japanese films, "Spirited Away" ranked 15th, and "Drive My Car" ranked 28th.

Using these two as entry points, overseas media rankings become a bit more relatable. You can check where familiar works are placed and expand your interest to unseen films around them.

On the other hand, there's no need to directly link the absence of Japanese films in the top 10 to the superiority or inferiority of Japanese cinema. Rolling Stone explains that this list was selected by the magazine's contributors. It's not a conclusion agreed upon by all audiences and filmmakers worldwide.

Even with the same work, the way it's received changes depending on what films one grew up watching. Whether viewed with subtitles or in one's native language, the resonance of dialogue and the conveyance of humor differ. The rankings reflect not only the works but also the viewing experiences of those who chose them.

Therefore, rather than making "what rank it was overseas" the final evaluation, there's more to gain by exploring "where different perspectives from your own exist."

For the one film you haven't seen yet

If you take it as homework to watch all 100 films and evaluate them correctly, movie rankings suddenly become restrictive.

Research the film next to your favorite. Explore a director you only knew by name. Consider how you might feel about a film you didn't like before, now that you're a different person. Such a free approach is perfectly fine.

Agreeing with the number one spot or feeling dissatisfied can both serve as reasons to start watching. However, it's a shame to decide the value of a film you haven't seen yet just by looking at the rankings.

Your "greatest film of the 21st century" might be among these 100 films. Or it might be waiting for you outside the list.

Sources and References

1. Moviebreak (September 23, 2026)
   Introduction of the top 10, the first-ranked film, and commentary on the ranking.
   https://www.moviebreak.de/stories/29743/rolling-stone-kuert-die-100-besten-filme-des-21-jahrhunderts-ein-wahres-meisterwerk-landet-auf-platz-1

2. Rolling Stone Germany "Die 100 besten Filme des 21. Jahrhunderts"
   Introduction page dated September 23, 2026. Confirmation of the top 10 content and date.
   https://www.rollingstone.de/die-100-besten-filme-des-21-jahrhunderts-3192303/7/

3. Rolling Stone Australia "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century"
   English version based on the U.S. edition. Confirmation of the selection's purpose and that it was compiled by contributors, dated July 2, 2025.
   https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-movies-21st-century-list-79233/

4. Rolling Stone Australia Same Ranking Second Half
   Review of the top-ranked film, confirmation of the rankings of "Spirited Away" and "Drive My Car," among others.
   https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-movies-21st-century-list-79233/?list_page=2

5. Reddit・r/criterion "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century"
   Discussion at the time of publication in July 2025. Confirmation of support for bold selections, comedy evaluations, and opinions on the ranking of "Mad Max."
   https://www.reddit.com/r/criterion/comments/1lqa8mt/100_best_movies_of_the_21st_century/

6. Reddit・r/movies "Rolling Stone's 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century"
   Discussion at the time of publication in July 2025. Confirmation of dissent regarding the ranking of "The Lord of the Rings" and reactions making light of ranking debates.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1lp39d0/rolling_stones_100_best_movies_of_the_21st_century/