Twenty-five years ago, we were all still breathing a sigh of relief that Y2K didn’t end up being a big deal. We were staring into the endless possibility of a new century with hope and excitement.
And even if the century hasn’t turned out the way we thought it would (9/11, COVID-19, multiple financial crises, wars, social injustice, political extremism, social media, etc.), through it all, we’ve had movies.
The film industry has changed significantly in the last 25 years, but the heart of creativity still thrives under capitalism, corporations, and streaming wars. I uncovered my love of movies during this century, learning how they’re made, finding filmmakers whose voices I connect to, understanding how the industry works and discovering hundreds of new favorite movies.
One of my favorite movie podcasts, The Big Picture, recently started a series listing their 25 favorite movies of the century so far, and I thought it would be fun to come up with my own list. So throughout the year, I’ll share my 25 favorite (and what I consider to be the best) movies of the last 25 years.
For this list, I tried to balance my subjective and objective sides of my brain as best I could. I also only allowed one movie per director on the list (with one exception). Without further ado, here are numbers 25 to 21 of my top 25 movies of the century so far!
25. The Fabelmans (2022)
Movies are dreams that you never forget.
Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film about his childhood and the breakdown of his parents’ relationship has embedded so deeply in me since I first saw it just three years ago. Having such an intimate look into the heart of my favorite filmmaker feels so personal, and yet many of Sammy Fabelman’s experiences seem so universal at the same time.
One of the main themes of this movie is the struggle Sammy faces between meeting his parents’ expectations for his life and the dreams he has for himself, something so many young people can relate to. Sammy’s dad wants him to be like him and become an engineer, while Sammy fell in love with movies at a young age and has the soul of a filmmaker. In what has already become the most famous scene in the movie, as Sammy’s parents tell him and his sisters they’re getting divorced, Sammy can’t help but imagine how he would film this moment as if it were a scene in one of his films. It’s a powerful way to show how Sammy (and Spielberg himself) sees and relates to the world and how he copes with troubling experiences.
On top of this beautiful and personal story, the movie’s cast is excellent. Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy Fabelman is such an incredible discovery, and I’ve already enjoyed watching his career grow since this. And Michelle Williams and Paul Dano star as Sammy’s parents, both giving such tender, nuanced and heartbreaking performances.
In many ways, The Fabelmans acts as a skeleton key that unlocks themes that can be seen in so many of Spielberg’s previous films, from Elliott’s relationship with E.T. and his mother, to the family dynamics of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the father-son relationship in another movie that appears later on this very list.
24. Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)
Trish? At Christmas? Forget it!
Discovering a movie that feels like it was made just for you is one of the best feelings in the world. Whether they perfectly match your sense of humor, unlock a part of your inner being, or connect you with others, they become part of you and become a place of comfort in your life. I have a lot of these movies in my life that I watch over and over again – The Lord of the Rings, Streets of Fire, E.T., and Sing Street to name a few. And Barb & Star instantly joined that list in 2021.
Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar – an incredible title – is written by (and stars) Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the writers behind the iconic Bridesmaids. In a mere 107 minutes, this movie changed my life.
For context, Barb & Star are two single, middle-aged best friends with the most iconic Midwestern accents since Frances McDormand in Fargo. After losing their job and feeling lost in life, they decide to take a vacation to Vista Del Mar in Florida. Hijinks ensue, Jamie Dornan sings, there’s a talking crab that sounds like Morgan Freeman, murder mosquitos, Tommy Bahama, and Trish.
This movie, more than any other on this list, certainly won’t be for everyone. But for me, everything clicks exactly as it needs to. Every single line of dialogue and joke is absolutely perfect. Kristen and Annie are so funny together, and their comedic chemistry is exactly what I want. Kirsten Wiig plays double duty, appearing as Star and the movie’s villain, Sharon Gordon Fisherman. And the supporting characters are just as iconic, from Damon Wayans Jr.’s oversharing spy Darlie Bunkle to the members of the Talking Club and hotel lounge singer Richard Cheese.
It’s absurd, yes, but there is a real heart to the movie as well. Barb & Star is about finding yourself and finding happiness with who you are. It’s a story of friendship, how they evolve and how it’s okay to have different interests. Since its release in 2021, I’ve watched Barb & Star 12 times. They bring me joy, laughter, comfort, and I can’t wait until I see them again.
23. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Sometimes it’s easier living the lie.
In 2002, Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tom Hanks were three of the biggest names in Hollywood. Spielberg was coming off a decade of films that included Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and the criminally underrated A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Hanks had won back-to-back Oscars in the 90s from Philadelphia and Forrest Gump and then had hit after hit with Apollo 13, Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan, You’ve Got Mail and Cast Away. And Leo had officially become Hollywood’s It Boy five years earlier with Titanic.
And in 2002 those megastars aligned to make Catch Me If You Can, the somewhat true story of con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. and Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent chasing him across the country. On its surface, the movie is fun, kinetic and so entertaining, but underneath is a sorrow and melancholy that rises to the forefront at just the right times.
It’s easy to cheer and get caught up in watching Frank con his way into careers as an airline pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor, the true heart of the movie is a story of fathers and sons and a need for connection. Frank begins to act out after his parents’ divorce, feeling lost and left behind. While being pursued by Agent Hanratty, the two begin to develop a mutual respect and connection. By the end, you’re somehow rooting for them both, even though only one can succeed. (Again, watching The Fabelmans allows you to see this story through a much more personal lens).
The movie soars on the dynamite performances by Leo and Hanks, both doing some of their best work. Leo is effortlessly charming, and Hanks manages to be both daffy and intimidating. They’re captivating together – even when they’re just talking to each other on the phone. Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen also show up to give some excellent dad performances, and a young Amy Adams is a true delight.
It wouldn’t be a Spielberg movie without John Williams, and the composer delivers one of his most unique and compelling scores here, perfectly capturing the 60s vibe mixed with mystery and intrigue. Truly the best at their craft coming together to create a special film.
22. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
In another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.
In the entire multiverse of possible lives you could have lived, are you happy with and making the most out of the one you have? That’s the question at the heart of the unlikely Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once. What choices have you made that led you to this moment? And what choices did you not make that may have altered the trajectory of your life?
These questions and more follow Evelyn, a Chinese American laundromat owner, and her family as they are swept away into an adventure to save the multiverse. But under the wacky visuals, hotdog fingers and crazy fight choreography is a story about family and learning to love and accept who you are and the people in your life as they are. It also explores intergenerational relationships, especially how complex the relationship between mothers and daughters can be.
As multiverses became a fixture of movie culture in the 2020s and already feel more burdensome than thrilling, Everything Everywhere offers a wholly unique approach to the endless opportunities a multiversal story provides, allowing the characters to see different versions of themselves and consider who they want to be and who they can be. Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huey Kwan truly deserved their Oscars for their performances, bringing life, heart, humor and action into their characters. And Stephanie Hsu really shines as their daughter, often carrying both the more outlandish aspects of the movie with the most emotional.
Everything Everywhere is a movie that takes concepts and tropes that audiences are familiar with and smashes them together in a truly fresh way. It makes you take stock of your own life and asks you to not take what you have for granted. This life may be messy not easy all of the time, but it’s yours. And after all, what other movie could make a bagel seem profound and make you cry at rocks?
21. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
You think we need one more? You think we need one more. All right, we’ll get one more.
When you think of the coolest movies ever made, Ocean’s Eleven should easily be near the top of that list. It’s sleek, stylish, and endlessly entertaining. Everything from the score and soundtrack to the lighting and editing give the film a unique character that hooks you in from the first second.
Ocean’s Eleven is one of the great ensemble films. It soars thanks to its insane cast, bursting with some of the biggest stars in the world, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon. Their star power is a huge draw of the movie, something that is less prevalent today, when the draw to see a movie is more IP-based.
The scenes between Clooney and Pitt are electric, they’re truly at the top of their game here. Likewise, Clooney and Julia Roberts are magnetic together, and Roberts leaves a powerful impression in her limited screen time. And of course, Andy Garcia is such a great antagonist – you really want him to lose all that money.
Heist movies live or die by their script and pacing, and Ocean’s Eleven is one of the best. Each member of the team is established with well-defined personality and role in the heist, and the “getting the team together” montage is one of the best moments in the whole movie. The goals for the heist and the planning process are clearly defined, letting the audience easily follow the story. The movie gives you all the information you need to follow the propulsive third act while still leaving enough mystery for you to be surprised by the big twist.
Nearly 25 years later, Ocean’s Eleven still feels like lightning in a bottle. It’s smart and crowd-pleasing, inviting the audience in for the ride and rewarding them for the time they spend watching. Even though it’s grown into a franchise of its own, this movie still stands alone.
Well, there you have it! The first five movies that are some of my favorites of the century so far. Be on the lookout for the other 20 coming soon!
Movies with Mitchell 
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