Questa classifica nasce dal tentativo di provare a mappare il cinema degli ultimi venticinque anni attraverso uno sguardo che, pur rimanendo critico, non può che essere intimo e personale: il mio. Un modo per interrogarsi su chi o cosa abbia davvero lasciato un segno, riuscendo a resistere alla prova del tempo. I film più recenti, invece, sono in parte delle scommesse; altri, forse, delle provocazioni consapevoli. Una selezione che tenta di tenere conto di molteplici fattori: qualità formale, rilevanza storica, impatto culturale ed originalità espressiva.

Questa classifica non pretende di essere definitiva. È, piuttosto, un invito alla scoperta, alla riscoperta e al confronto. Buona lettura!

1. Mulholland Drive, David Lynch (2001)
2. As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty, Jonas Mekas (2000)
3. Disintegration Loop 1.1, William Basinski (2001)
4. The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer (2023)
5. Inland Empire, David Lynch (2006)
6. La Flor, Mariano Llinàs (2018)
7. Werckmeister Harmonies, Béla Tarr (2000)
8. Holy Motors, Leos Carax (2012)
9. The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Isao Takahata (2013)
10. La Commune (Paris, 1871), Peter Watkins (2000)
11. Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson (2017)
12. Love Exposure, Sion Sono (2008)
13. A New Life, Philippe Grandrieux (2002)
14. The Last Days of Humanity, Enrico Ghezzi e Alessandro Gagliardo (2002)
15. Pacifiction, Albert Serra (2022)
16. Drive My Car, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (2021)
17. Mad God, Phil Tippett (2021)
18. Aggro Drift, Harmony Korine (20239
19. Blonde, Andrew Dominik (2022)
20. The Beast, Bertrand Bonello (2023)
21. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino (2019)
22. Stray Dogs, Tsai Ming-liang (2013)
23. The Son, Jean-Pierre Dardenne e Luc Dardenne (2002)
24. One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson (2025)
25. Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese (2023)
26. The Other Side of the Wind, Orson Welles (2018)
27. The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki (2013)
28. The Turin Horse, Béla Tarr (2011)
29. Kill Bill (parte 1 e 2), Quentin Tarantino (2006)
30. The Irishman, Martin Scorsese (2019)
31. Amour, Michael Haneke (2012)
32. The Pianist, Roman Polanski (2002)
33. There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson (2007)
34. YI Yi, Edward Yang (2000)
35. In the Mood for Love, Wong Kar-Wai (2000)
36. The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick (2011)
37. Russian Ark, Aleksandr Sokurov (2002)
38. Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino (2009)
39. No Country for Old Men, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (2007)
40. Kairo/Pulse, Kiyoshi Kurosawa (2001)
41. The Neon Demon, Nicolas Winding Refn (2016)
42. Oldboy, Park Chan-wook (2003)
43. ‘Til Madness Do Us Part, Wang Bing (2013)
44. Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki (2001)
45. Close Your Eyes, Victor Erice (2023)
46. Inherent Vice, Paul Thomas Anderson (2014)
47. The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki (2023)
48. Himizu, Sion Sono (2011)
49. Annette, Leos Carax (2021)
50. 3-Iron, Kim Ki-duk (2004)
51. Mind Game, Masaaki Yuasa (2004)
52. Song to Song, Terrence Malick (2017)
53. Goodbye, Dragon Inn, Tsai Ming-liang (20039
54. Memoria, Apichatpong Weerasetchtakul (2021)
55. Malmkrog, Cristi Puiu (2020)
56. Invelle, Simone Massi (2023)
57. Nymphomaniac (director’s cut), Lars von Trier (2014)
58. Decision to Leave, Park Chan-wook (2022)
59. Trenque Lauquen, Laura Citarella (2022)
60. Into Great Silence, Philip Gröning (2005)
61. Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman (2008)
62. The Metamorphosis of Birds, Caterina Vasconcelos (2020)
63. Afternoons of Solitude, Albert Serra (2024)
64. City Hall, Frederick Wiseman (2020)
65. Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller (2015)
66. Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg (2012)
67. Despite the Night, Philippe Grandrieux (2015)
68. Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Katsuichi Nakayama, Mahiro Maeda (2021)
69. Mystic River, Clint Eastwood (2003)
70. Under The Skin, Jonathan Glazer (2013)
71. Il Divo, Paolo Sorrentino (2008)
72. Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey, Terrence Malick (2016)
73. Monsters, Inc. – Walt Disney’s Pixar  (Pete Docter) (2001)
74. The Plains, David Eateal (2022)
75. Wall-e, Walt Disney’s Pixar (Andrew Stanton) (2008)
76. Exterior Night, Marco Bellocchio (2022)
77. A Lake, Philippe Grandrieux (2008)
78. Night is Short, Walk On Girl, Masaaki Yuasa (2017)
79. Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine (2012)
80. Millennium Mambo , Hou Hsiao-hsien (2001)
81. Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno, Abdellatif Kechiche (2017)
82. France, Bruno Dumont (2021)
83. Oh, Canada, Paul Schrader (2024)
84. Nocturama, Bertrand Bonello (2016)
85. The Hateful Eight, Quentin Tarantino (2015)
86. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – Peter Jackson (2001 -2003)
87. The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson (2012)
88. Memories of Murder, Bong Joon Ho (2003)
89. Blue is the Warmest Color, Abdellatif Kechiche (2013)
90. Crimes of the Future, David Cronenberg (2022)
91. Suspiria, Luca Guadagnino (2018)
92. Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson (2021)
93. Burning, Lee Chang-dong (2018)
94. Parasite, Bong Joon Ho (2019)
95. Dogville, Lars Von Trier (2003)
96. Queer, Luca Guadagnino (2024)
97. No Other Choice, Park Chan-wook (2025)
98. Kaili Blues, Bi Gan (2015)
99. Melancholia, Lars Von Trier (2011)
100. Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Bi Gan (2018)
101. Dancer in the Dark, Lars Von Trier (2000)
102. Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood (2008)
103. The Man Who Wasn’t There, Joel Coen (2001)
104. Zodiac, David Fincher (2007)
105. West Side Story, Steven Spielberg (2021)
106. The Deliquents, Rodrigo Moreno (2023)
107. All About Lily Chou-Chou, Shunji Iwai (2001)
108. The Prestige – Christopher Nolan (2006)
109. Climax, Gaspar Noé (2018)
110. The Hand of God, Paolo Sorrentino (2021)
111. Enter the Void, Gaspar Noé (2009)
112. Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan (2023)
113. Memento – Christopher Nolan (2000)
114. Inside Out – Walt Disney’s Pixar (Pete Docter) (2015)
115. Collateral, Michael Mann (2004)
116. Challengers – Luca Guadagnino (2024)
117. The Social Network – David Fincher (2010)
118. Faust – Aleksandr Sokurov (2011)
119. The White Ribbon – Michael Haneke (2009)
120. An Elephant Siting Still – Hu Bo (2018)
121. Son of Saul – László Nemes (2015)
122. Our Time – Carlos Reygadas (2018)
123. The Handmaiden – Park Chan-wook (2016)
124. Fairytale – Aleksandr Sokurov (2022)
125. Hors Satan – Bruno Dumont (2011)
126. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Michel Gondry (2004)
127. Antichrist – Lars Von Trier (2009)
128. Trouble Every Day – Claire Denis (2001)
129. Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives – Apichatpong Weerasetchtakul (2010)
130. Maps to the Stars – David Cronenberg (2014)
131. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World – Radu Jude (2023)
132. Post Tenebra Lux – Carlos Reygadas (2012)
133. Tàr – Todd Field (2022)
134. Dry Leaf – Alexandre Koberidze (2025)
135. Days – Tsai Ming-liang (2020)
136. First Reformed –  Paul Schrader (2017)
137. A Brighter Tomorrow – Nanni Moretti (2023)
138. The Traitor – Marco Bellocchio (2019)
139. Liberté – Albert Serra (2019)
140. The Circle – Jafar Panahi (2000)
141. American Honey – Andrea Arnold (2016)
142. Only God Forgives – Nicolas Winding Refn (2013)
143. Saint Laurent – Bertrand Bonello (2014)
144. Your Name – Makoto Shinkai (2016)
145. The VVitch – Robert Eggers (2015)
146. The Card Counter –  Paul Schrader (2021)
147. The Lives of Others – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (2006)
148. Bones and All – Luca Guadagnino (2022)
149. Midsommar – Ari Aster (2019)
150. Megalopolis – Francis Ford Coppola (2024)

Menzioni onorevoli in ordine sparso:

1. The Fabelmans – Steven Spielberg (2022)
2. The House That Jack Built – Lars Von Trier (2018)
3. Love – Gaspar Noé (2015)
4. Manticore – Carlos Vermut (2022)
5. Perfect Days – Wim Wenders (2023)
6. Megalopolis – Francis Ford Coppola (2024)
7. Here – Robert Zemeckis (2024)
8. What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? –  Alexandre Koberidze (2021)
9. In Water – Hong Sang-soo (2023)
10. In Between Dying – Hilal Baydarov (2020)
11. May December – Todd Haynes (2023)
12. Happy Hour – Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (2015)
13. Drive – Nicolas Winding Refn (2011)
14. The Lighthouse – Robert Eggers (2019)
15. Knight of Cups – Terrence Malick (2015)
16. Carol – Todd Haynes (2015)
17. Poetry – Lee Chang-dong (2010)
18. Li’l Quinquin – Bruno Dumont (2014)
19. Children of the Sea – Ayumu Watanabe (2019)
20. Clouds of Sils Maria – Oliver Assayas (2014)
21. Only Lovers Left Alive – Jim Jarmusch (2013)
22. Mia Madre – Nanni Moretti (2015)
23. La La Land – Damien Chazelle (2016)
24. Guilty of Romance – Sion Sono (2011)
25. Personal Shopper – Oliver Assayas (2016)
26. Uncut Gems – Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie (2019)
27. Kotoko – Shinya Tsukamoto (2011)
28. Antiporno – Sion Sono (2016)
29. It Follows – David Robert Mitchell (2014)
30. Blackhat – Michael Mann (2015)
31. High Life – Claire Denis (2018)
32. Silence – Martin Scorsese (2016)
33. A Snake of June – Shinya Tsukamoto (2002)
34. Lady Vendetta – Park Chan-wook (2005)
35. In My Skin – Marina de Van (2002)
36. Oasis – Lee Chang-dong (2002)
37. Paprika – Satoshi Kon (2006)
38. Good Morning, Night – Marco Bellocchio (2003)
39. Dolls – Takeshi Kitano (2002)
40. Miami Vice – Michael Mann (2006)
41. The Consequences of Love – Paolo Sorrentino (2004)
42. Gomorrah – Matteo Garrone (2008)
43. Corpse Bride – Tim Burton (2005)
44. Summer Wars – Mamoru Hosoda (2009)
45. Irréversible – Gaspar Noé (2002)
46. A History of Violence – David Cronenberg (2005)
47. Eastern Promises – David Cronenberg (2007)
48. 5 Centimeters per Second – Makoto Shinkai (2007)
49. The Village – M. Night Shyamalan (2004)
50. The Departed – Martin Scorsese (2006)