Tarantino's Top 10 Movies of the Century Will Surprise You
The legendary director has finally shared his personal ranking of the best movies made since the year 2000. During a recent podcast appearance, he counted down his favorites, including some unexpected choices and passionate commentary. Find out which modern classics made the cut and what he had to say about them.
The iconic filmmaker recently sat down for a chat on The Brett Easton Ellis Podcast, where he shared his definitive ranking of movies from the last quarter-century. The reveal came in two parts, with the initial rundown covering his picks from 20 down to 11, featuring titles like Battle Royale, Moneyball, and Steven Spielberg's updated West Side Story. Now, the much-anticipated top ten has been unveiled, and the movie claiming the number one position is a real curveball.
An Unconventional Top Spot
Ridley Scott's intense 2001 war epic, Black Hawk Down, earned the coveted crown. Tarantino didn't hold back his admiration for the picture. “I think it’s a masterwork, and one of the things I love so much about it is […] this is the only movie that actually goes completely for an Apocalypse Now sense of purpose and visual effect and feeling, and I think it achieves it,” he explained.
The director elaborated on its relentless pacing and powerful impact. “It keeps up the intensity for two hours 45 minutes, or whatever it is, and I watched it again recently. My heart was going through the entire runtime of the movie; it had me and never let me go, and I hadn’t seen it in a while. The feat of direction is beyond extraordinary.”
Rounding Out the Rankings
Other beloved films also received high praise. Toy Story 3 was lauded as “almost a perfect movie” that “ripped my fucking heart out.” Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation also secured a high position, prompting a humorous personal anecdote from the director. He quipped, “I fell so much in love with Lost in Translation that I fell in love with Sofia Coppola and made her my girlfriend.”
The lower half of the top ten featured an eclectic mix of genres, showcasing the director's diverse taste. This selection included action-packed Mad Max: Fury Road, the zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead and the charming Midnight In Paris.
Here is the complete list of Quentin Tarantino's top 10 films of the 21st century:
1. Black Hawk Down
2. Toy Story 3
3. Lost In Translation
4. Dunkirk
5. There Will Be Blood
6. Zodiac
7. Unstoppable
8. Mad Max: Fury Road
9. Shaun of the Dead
10. Midnight in Paris