Stephen King Says These Are the 10 Greatest Movies of the 21st Century – Do You Agree?

The 21st century has given us many outstanding films, from large-scale blockbusters to intimate dramatic masterpieces. But which ones does Stephen King consider the best?

We have compiled a list of the top ten movies that the master of horror himself named the most significant of the past two decades.

1. 'Black Hawk Down', 2001

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Ridley Scott was nominated for an Oscar for his work on Black Hawk Down.

Somalia is mired in a bloody civil war. Civilians are suffering from hunger, and humanitarian aid was being seized by criminals led by Commander Aidid.

A 200-man Ranger special forces unit and several Black Hawk helicopters were sent to Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. However, the operation does not go according to plan.

2. 'Million Dollar Baby', 2004

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby won four Oscars, including Best Picture. This movie is part of Eastwood's golden age – the period when he was at his best as a storyteller.

It is a gritty drama about an elderly boxing trainer whose latest student leaves him for another manager, leaving him with nothing. His last hope is Maggie Fitzgerald, whom he initially refuses to train.

3. 'The Departed', 2006

IMDb Score: 8.5/10

Martin Scorsese's The Departed is a remake of the Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. It is the only foreign film remake to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

Several years ago, Boston mobster Frank Costello sent one of his young henchmen to the police academy. Over time, the henchman rises to a high rank and becomes the eyes and ears of his boss.

The police department carries out a similar operation by introducing one of its best agents into Costello's gang. As time passes, both sides realize there is a mole in their midst.

4. 'Brokeback Mountain', 2005

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

The Oscar-winning screenplay and direction, as well as the talent of the actors, Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, firmly cemented the movie as one of the most significant statements about love.

Against the backdrop of Wyoming's picturesque landscapes, the story of the complex relationship between two young men – a ranch owner's assistant and a rodeo cowboy – unfolds.

The two meet by chance and soon realize they can't live without each other. However, fate tests their feelings.

5. 'No Country for Old Men', 2007

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

The Coen brothers' movie took home the top prize at the 2008 Oscars, beating out Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, which was also a favorite that season.

The Coens' multilayered work evokes as much admiration as it does questions. Viewers still continue to construct theories about the characters and interpret the movie in different ways.

Despite the movie's linear structure, which features murders and criminal pursuits, the directors managed to hide a multitude of mysteries that will make you rack your brains.

6. 'The Rule of Jenny Pen', 2024

IMDb Score: 6.2/10

The Rule of Jenny Pen is James Ashcroft's second movie, based on a short story by Owen Marshall.

A former judge, known for his domineering character, finds himself in a secluded care home where he unexpectedly becomes a participant in a mysterious game started by one of the residents.

As events unfold, the judge realizes that this opponent is the most insidious and dangerous he has ever faced.

7. 'Children of Men', 2006

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

Today, Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men is not only considered an absolute masterpiece of the genre, but also an alarming warning about the future.

Set in the year 2027, the movie depicts a world on the brink of extinction. Not a single child has been born in the last 18 years, and scientists cannot explain what is happening.

A government agent agrees to protect the only pregnant woman and take her to a refuge at sea. There, the birth of her child may help scientists save the human race.

8. 'Oppenheimer', 2023

IMDb Score: 8.3/10

The biography of the creator of nuclear bomb unites the key motifs of Christopher Nolan's filmography and once again offers a complex, nonlinear structure.

Only time will tell if Oppenheimer will be considered Nolan's best movie, but it is certainly one of his most impressive achievements.

9. 'Train to Busan', 2016

IMDb Score: 7.6/10

Train to Busan, a high-speed zombie action movie from South Korea, is one of the best films in the genre.

The story follows divorced businessman Seok-woo as he takes his daughter, Su-an, to Busan to visit her mother. Meanwhile, in Seoul, where the train departs, a zombie virus is spreading after leaking from a secret laboratory.

10. 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?', 2000

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

The Coen brothers' satirical road movie is notable for its witty dialogue and stunning musical scenes.

Con artist Everett McGill has urgent business, but how can he escape from prison when he's chained to two other prisoners? McGill tells his cellmates a story about a million dollars he's stashed away, promising that it will soon end up underwater.

He promises to split the loot, and his new friends agree to help him retrieve it. However, only Everett knows what it's really all about.