Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Published Apr 5, 2026, 5:55 PM EDT
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
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While many people are quick to claim that cinema as an artform simply isn't as great as it used to be, the modern era of cinema has still found itself releasing some truly exceptional feats of artistic perfection. Whether it be massively acclaimed blockbusters that went on to win awards or smaller-scale indie films that perfectly captured their hyper-specific goals, these films have made a great name for what is possible with cinema in the modern era.
The past 9 years of filmmaking specifically have been a sprawling and diverse time for filmmaking as a whole, ever-growing and changing with each year as many great films are being brought to life by the striking visionaries of today. With so many different eras of filmmaking being defined and remembered for their absolute best offerings, it's difficult to imagine this era of film history not being so massively well-revered when these films are about as perfect as contemporary filmmaking can get.
10 'Hundreds of Beavers' (2024)
Image via CineverseHundreds of Beavers is the type of wild, unrestrained and chaotic low-budget indie film that could only truly be made in the modern era of cinema. Every scene is overwhelming in personality and charm, creating a comedic tour-de-force that not only pays tribute to classic slapstick comedies of the past, but feels tailor-made for the tastes and comedic styling of the modern era. This overwhelming charm of the film has helped it spread to be one of the 2020s quickest rising cult classics and an icon of comedy filmmaking in the 2020s.
The film's plot is brilliantly simple, as it follows a wannabe fur trader fighting off against the wildlife during a harsh winter, in the process becoming the enemy of a massive troupe of hundreds of beavers. Through its usage of zany mascot costumes, wild green-screen effects, and manic surrealist comedy, Hundreds of Beavers is one of the strangest yet undeniably memorable comedy experiences that cinema has to offer.
9 'The Zone of Interest' (2023)
Image via A24One of the bleakest and most harrowing cinematic experiences of recent memory, The Zone of Interest does a masterful job of showing the sickening evil of those responsible for the holocaust without ever showing such atrocities on-screen. The film follows the family of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss as they attempt to build and create their perfect dream life in a house and garden directly next to the infamous death camp.
So much of the brilliance and emotional pain of this film comes from its striking execution, utilizing subtle details like haunting sound design and exceptional camerawork to make the atrocities of the holocaust ever-present in the story without showing them visually. The film amplifies this pain with its forefront message of despicable evil in humanity festering in a place of complacency and willingness to ignore these atrocities in an attempt to live a "normal life." It's an especially timely and powerful message that helps the film feel like one of the most important and striking films of the 2020s.
8 'Paddington 2' (2017)
Image via StudioCanalIronically, the complete opposite in terms of tone and style, Paddington 2 is about as whimsical and feel-good as a family movie can get, amplifying the strengths of the original film to unbelievable highs and being heralded as one of the all-time greatest family movies. The film sees the lovable bear getting into all sorts of mischief and trouble, finding himself framed for stealing a pop-up book and imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. However, Paddington can't help but bring smiles and joy everywhere he goes, with his infectious good mood soon impacting his fellow prisoners.
It's rare for this type of seemingly simple family movie to so seamlessly and effectively land every conceivable mark to create a perfect family movie experience, let alone for this type of film to be a sequel. However, Paddington 2's craft and overwhelming joy is felt within every frame of its filmmaking, coming together to create an approachable and beautiful story of passion that exemplifies everything that the art form of cinema stands for.
7 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' (2019)
Image via Pyramide FilmsPeriod dramas about sapphic love have been a small yet consistent subgenre of filmmaking that has frequently resulted in massive critical acclaim and notoriety, yet French film Portrait of a Lady on Fire may just prove to be the absolute greatest example of this setup. The film takes place in the eighteenth century and follows a female painter who is hired to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman. However, her job proves to be much more difficult when the two women begin to fall for one another, despite the looming wedding approaching on the horizon.
Céline Sciamma's beautiful story of forbidden love excels thanks to the exceptional chemistry and passion between its two leads, as their palpable care and love for one another soars through the screen, making the painful limitations holding back their love all the more painful. The film has quickly cemented itself as the defining romance masterpiece of the modern era and a powerful exploration of love and the chaos it brings to one's life.
6 'Oppenheimer' (2023)
Image via Universal PicturesBuilding upon decades' worth of exceptional, groundbreaking filmmaking that had pushed dramatic and blockbuster filmmaking to their respective edges, Oppenheimer stands out as an absolute feat of biopic storytelling and sees Christopher Nolan at the height of his filmmaking abilities. The film exemplifies everything that has made Nolan's signature style of filmmaking and storytelling so captivating, blending top-notch visuals with striking non-linear storytelling that feels both timeless and exceptionally relevant to modern times.
It's easy to view the film as one of the most important films of recent memory, proving that a strong directorial vision and passion will draw out success from every conceivable metric to create an instant classic. This striking and exceptional warning sign for the consequences and pain of nuclear war only grows more timely and important with each passing year, with the film cementing its legacy as one of the best movie biopics of all time.
5 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)
Image via Sony Pictures ReleasingIn terms of animated movies that were released in the last 9 years, no film has had quite an overwhelming influence and direct impact on the industry as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This wild multiversal adventure has already made a name for itself thanks to the love letter energy that it gives to Spider-Man fans during the height of superhero movie popularity, but it's the mesmerizing animation that continues to make the film an icon of the industry.
Every frame of this beautiful, stylized masterpiece of visual storytelling manages to feel more full of character and dynamic energy than the last. While other films had found success with similar stylized animation before it, Into the Spider-Verse massively popularized it with its great storytelling and action, creating what would soon become the new standard for energetic 3D animated films. Time has only been kind to this all-time icon of animation, with it easily being among the most important animated films of the 21st century.
4 'Sinners' (2025)
Image via Warner Bros. PicturesAn instant phenomenon of original blockbuster filmmaking that took the world by storm and captivated audiences like few horror movies have ever been able to do, Sinners is the absolute magnum opus of Ryan Coogler's already exceptional blockbuster filmography. The film utilizes breathtaking visuals, top-notch worldbuilding, and an electrifying mixture of action, horror, and thematic resonance to create the type of crowd-pleaser that will be celebrated for decades to come.
This intense vampire movie both pays tribute to classic vampire movies of old while feeling wholly original in its approach and style. There are great performances from everyone in the cast, every minute detail of the production and filmmaking adds to the energy and grace of the film, and the music and score are one of the most bombastic and well-crafted scores of recent memory. The film has already cemented its status as a modern horror classic that will only grow more appreciated with each passing year.
3 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)
Image via A24A wild, over-the-top sci-fi masterclass that perfectly speaks to the distinct style of manic chaos and energy that has persisted in modern comedy, Everything Everywhere All at Once is the defining sci-fi masterpiece of the modern era. In the same vein as films like The Matrix and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind before it, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a wild swing for the fences in terms of creative possibilities mixed with expressive, layered messaging.
It's this mixture of limitless creativity with great action choreography and an exceptional emotional core that helped the film connect with so many people. While all of these elements individually would make for entertaining movies in their own ways, it's the combination of all of them that truly makes Everything Everywhere All at Once such a special, one-of-a-kind cinematic work of art. The film's manic style may not appeal to everyone, but it accomplishes its uncompromising vision to pure perfection.
2 'One Battle After Another' (2025)
Image via Warner Bros. PicturesThe most recent winner of the Academy Awards' highly coveted Best Picture award, it certainly seems a little early to be praising One Battle After Another so highly among the other cinematic achievements of the past 9 years. However, those who have experienced the film understand just how striking and entertaining it is, blending comedy and thrills together to create a modern masterpiece of the comedy thriller genre. The action sequences are wildly engaging, the characters are dynamic and command screen presence, and the overall storytelling is a perfect blend of timely satire and genuine emotional weight.
This unlikely revolutionary film feels like a culmination of Paul Thomas Anderson's entire career, building upon decades of masterpieces that he has helped create and bringing all of his strengths together to create a wild, unforgettable icon of modern filmmaking. Despite the film not even being a full year old, it easily earns its rank among the very best of filmmaking from the last 9 years.
1 'Parasite' (2019)
Image via CJ EntertainmentBong Joon Ho's striking and powerful satire on class divide, Parasite, goes beyond simply being the greatest cinematic masterpiece of the past 9 years, but is arguably in contention for the absolute greatest film of the 21st century so far. The South Korean dark comedy is one-of-a-kind in terms of its pitch-perfect pacing and exceptionally layered storytelling to create a mesmerizing cinematic experience that takes hold of the audience and never lets go.
While the film was already massively heralded as a masterpiece when it was first released, its reputation has only continued to skyrocket in the years since its release, with it almost single-handedly reintroducing the prospects and strengths of modern international cinema to American audiences. It's a film that will continue to be in the conversation of the all-time greatest films for as long as the medium of cinema continues to be celebrated, undeniably standing as the greatest film of the past 9 years.
Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?
Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.
🪜Parasite
🌀Everything Everywhere
☢️Oppenheimer
🐦Birdman
🪙No Country for Old Men
FIND YOUR FILM →
01
What kind of film experience do you actually want? The best movies don't just entertain — they leave something behind.
ASomething that pulls the rug out — that makes me think I'm watching one kind of film and then reveals I'm watching another entirely. BSomething overwhelming — funny, sad, absurd, and genuinely moving, all at once. CSomething grand and weighty — a film that makes me feel the full scale of what I'm watching. DSomething formally daring — a film that pushes what cinema can even do. ESomething lean and relentless — pure tension with no wasted frame.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
Which idea grabs you most in a film? Great films are driven by a central obsession. What's yours?
AClass, inequality, and what people are willing to do when desperation meets opportunity. BIdentity, family, and the chaos of trying to hold your life together when everything is falling apart. CGenius, moral responsibility, and the catastrophic weight of a decision you can never take back. DEgo, legacy, and the terror of becoming irrelevant while you're still alive to watch it happen. EEvil, chance, and whether moral order actually exists or if we just tell ourselves it does.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
How do you like your story told? Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.
AGenre-twisting — I want it to start in one lane and migrate into something completely different. BMaximalist and genre-blending — comedy, action, drama, sci-fi, all in one ride. CEpic and non-linear — cutting between timelines, building a mosaic of cause and consequence. DA single unbroken flow — I want to feel like I'm living it in real time, no cuts to safety. ESpare and precise — every scene doing exactly what it needs to do and nothing more.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
What makes a truly great antagonist? The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?
AA system — invisible, structural, and almost impossible to fight because it has no single face. BThe self — the ways we sabotage, abandon, and fail the people we love most. CHistory — the unstoppable momentum of events that no single person can stop or redirect. DThe industry — the machinery of culture that chews up talent and spits out irrelevance. EPure, implacable evil — a force so certain of itself it becomes almost philosophical.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
What do you want from a film's ending? The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?
AShock and inevitability — a conclusion that recontextualises everything that came before it. BEarned emotion — I want to cry, laugh, and feel genuinely hopeful, even if the world is a mess. CDevastation and grandeur — an ending that makes me sit in silence for a few minutes after. DAmbiguity — something that leaves enough open that I'm still thinking about it days later. EBleakness — an honest refusal to pretend the world is tidier than it actually is.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
Which setting pulls you in most? Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what's even possible.
AA gleaming modern city with a hidden underside — beauty masking rot, wealth masking desperation. BA collapsing suburban life that opens onto something infinite — the multiverse of a single ordinary person. CThe corridors of power and science at a world-historical turning point — where decisions echo for decades. DThe grimy, alive chaos of New York and Hollywood — fame as both destination and trap. EVast, indifferent landscape — desert and highway where violence arrives without warning or reason.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
What cinematic craft impresses you most? Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.
AProduction design and mise-en-scène — every frame composed to carry meaning beneath the surface. BEditing and tonal control — the ability to move between registers without losing the audience. CScore and sound design — music that becomes inseparable from the dread and awe of what you're watching. DCinematography as performance — the camera not recording events but participating in them. ESilence and restraint — what's left unsaid and unshown doing more work than any dialogue could.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
What kind of main character do you root for? The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.
ASomeone smart and resourceful who makes increasingly dangerous decisions under pressure. BSomeone overwhelmed and ordinary who turns out to be capable of something extraordinary. CA brilliant, tortured figure whose gifts and flaws are inseparable from each other. DA self-destructive artist whose ego is both their superpower and their undoing. EA quiet, principled person trying to make sense of a world that has stopped making sense.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
How do you feel about a film that takes its time? Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.
AI love a slow build when I know the payoff is going to be seismic — patience for a devastating reveal. BGive me relentless momentum — I want to feel breathless and emotionally spent by the end. CEpic runtime doesn't scare me — if the material demands three hours, give me three hours. DI want it to feel propulsive even when nothing is technically happening — restless energy throughout. EDeliberate and unhurried — I want dread to accumulate in the spaces between the action.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema? The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?
AUnsettled — like I've just seen something I can't fully explain but can't stop thinking about. BMoved and energised — like the film reminded me what actually matters and gave me something to hold onto. CHumbled — like I've been in the presence of something genuinely important and overwhelming. DExhilarated — like I've just seen cinema doing something it's never quite done before. EHaunted — like a cold, quiet dread that stays with me for days.
REVEAL MY FILM →
The Academy Has Decided Your Perfect Film Is…
Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.
Parasite
You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho's Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it's ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels' Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn't want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it's about.
Oppenheimer
You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.
Birdman
You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it's about. Alejandro González Iñárritu's Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor's ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn't be possible. Michael Keaton's performance and Emmanuel Lubezki's restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.
No Country for Old Men
You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers' No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.
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