https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html
96. Black Panther (Ryan Coogler, 2018)
There’s so much to love. It’s a superhero spectacle that actually has something important to say, about how identity, history and responsibility intersect. Wakanda, the Afrofuturistic world where the story takes place, is a visual wonder. The women (played by Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o and Letitia Wright — all excellent) aren’t just sidekicks or love interests. Michael B. Jordan, as the tragically villainous Killmonger, has never been more swoon worthy. And, of course, Chadwick Boseman shines in the title role, sadly one of his last before dying of cancer.
It’s weird, Black Panther doesn’t scratch my top 5 MCU movies. It wasn’t even the best black lead superhero movie of the same year. Into the Spider-Verse is probably in my top 10 movies.
But BP was undoubtedly one of the more culturally impactful movies in the MCU.
But then again, Deadpool 1 and 2 are great movies that have been culturally impactful. But critics don’t want to admit that.
Into the Spider-verse absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
The only animated films on this list are Spirited Away, Wall-e, Up & Ratatouille.
Ratatouille definitely doesn’t deserve a spot, it’s good but it’s so far below many other films. Wall-e I’m onboard with but Up, while having an excellent intro, both immediately and setup, is just ok in the second half.
Inside out? Incredibles? That’s what I would have expected for Pixar films.
Plus, I know it’s memed to death but Shrek should absolutely be on the list.
But, going back, if I get one animated films, Spider-verse is where I go. Hell I’d probably put both Spider-verse films on this list.
Inside Out absolutely deserves a spot. It’s my favorite Disney (+Pixar) movie and also in my top 10, and I grew up on the '90s Disney movies.
Speaking of, if there were 2 Disney movies I’d put on the list, it would probably be Inside Out and The Lion King.