Considering the Cinema Ep. 086: Considering the NY Times’ 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century (and the year 2000)

In Episode 086 of Considering the Cinema, your hosts — Jason Pyles, Mack Robins, and Dave Becker — are Considering the New York Times’ 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century (and the year 2000), a list that’s bold, baffling, and sure to stir debate! But there’s an odd twist … the Times seems to think the year 2000 is part of the 21st century (it’s not), and Jason’s co-hosts were not given advance notice about this episode’s topic. That’s right — Jason springs this mystery agenda on Mack and Dave in real time, creating an off-the-cuff episode that’s unfiltered, unprepared, and unexpectedly insightful!

Despite the surprise, your hosts charge headlong through the NYT list, highlighting the films that deserve to be there, calling out those that don’t, and passionately lamenting the glaring omissions with an extensive list of oversights over their own at the end of the show. Jason also reveals what he believes to be “the most underrated, under-appreciated film of all time” — Mack is man enough to admit when he hasn’t seen a well-known film — and Dave reveals that he doesn’t give a damn about Jay’s rules for the episode! As the trio reflects, reacts, and builds their own Top 100 lists on the fly, listeners are treated to a spirited and spontaneous discussion and debates that challenge the canon and champions the overlooked and under-appreciated. If you love movies — and strong opinions about them — this is one cinematic showdown you won’t want to miss!

Note from Jason: Though I have no love for The New York Times, I maintain some sense of decorum and will not publish its entire list here in the show notes. Therefore, I will include important and notable highlights from this episode! Join us!

Another note: This episode was recorded on July 8, 2025, and it released on July 22, 2025.

Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY HORROR MOVIE PODCAST with Mister Watson at Horror Movie Weekly.com. And of course, every Horror fan should check out Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies, The Gold Standard of Horror Movie Podcasts.

Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay, Mack and even Dr. Shock at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode.

SHOW NOTES: Considering the Cinema Episode 086

[ 00:00:01 ] – Introduction
– As this is recorded, July 8, 2025, it is the 20-year anniversary of the release of “Fantastic Four” (2005) in U.S. theaters
– Agenda: Discuss The New York Times’ newly released list (6/28/25) of the “The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century”
– Jason reviews “the rules” for this episode
– Apparently, the New York Times doesn’t understand what constitutes “the 21st century”
– An excerpt from the NY Times preface to their list

Films That One or Two CTC Hosts Would Include on Their Top 100 Best:
Grizzly Man (2005) – Jason, Dave
Gravity (2013) – Dave, Jason
Interstellar (2014) – Mack
Past Lives (2023) – Dave
Black Swan (2010) – Dave
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – Mack
The Florida Project (2017) – Dave
Let the Right One In (2008) — HORROR – Jason, Dave
Spotlight (2015) – Dave
Gone Girl (2014) – Jason, Dave
Memento (2001) – Jason, Dave
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) – Dave
Best in Show (2000) – Dave
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) – Jason, Dave
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – Jason, Dave
12 Years a Slave (2013) – Jason, Dave
Up (2009) – Dave
Before Sunset (2004) – Dave
Almost Famous (2000) – Dave
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (2019) – Jason, Dave
Old Boy (2005) – Jason, Dave
Amelie (2001) – Jason, Dave
Wall-E (2008) – Dave
The Departed (2006) – Jason, Dave
Lost in Translation (2003) – Dave
Adaptation. (2002) – Jason, Dave
Phantom Thread (2017) – Dave
Her (2013) – Dave
Boyhood (2014) – Jason, Dave
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Jason, Dave
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) – Jason, Dave
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – Dave
Zodiac (2007) – Dave
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002) – Dave
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – Mack, Dave
City of God (2003) – Dave
Inglourious Basterds (2009) – Jason, Dave
The Social Network (2010) – Dave
Get Out (2017) – Dave
No Country for Old Men (2007) – Jason, Dave
In the Mood for Love (2001) – Mack, Dave
There Will Be Blood (2007) – Jason, Dave
Mulholland Drive (2001) – Dave
Parasite (2019) – Dave

Films That All Three Hosts Agree Should Be Included:
Minority Report (2002) – Jason, Mack, Dave
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Inception (2010) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Arrival (2016) – Jason, Mack, Dave
The Dark Knight (2008) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Children of Men (2006) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Spirited Away (2002) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Jason, Mack, Dave

Strong Objections to the NY Times’ Inclusion on This List:
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) – Jason, Mack
The Act of Killing (2013) – Jason
Ratatouille (2007) – Jason
Up (2009) – Jason

Jason’s Watchlist Homework (From His Co-hosts):
In the Mood for Love (2001)
In the Bedroom (2001)
The Captain (2017)

Mack’s Watchlist Homework (From His Co-hosts):
Let the Right One In (2008)
Amelie (2001)
Adaptation. (2002)
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (2019)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Dave’s Watchlist Homework (From His Co-hosts):
Warrior (2011)
Run Hide Fight (2021)

Glaring Omissions — if We Also Counted the Year 2000
Battle Royale (2000) – Dave
Shadow of the Vampire (2000) – Dave
Sexy Beast (2000) – Dave, Jason
Meet the Parents (2000) – Jason
Frequency (2000) – Jason
Moulin Rouge! (2001) – Dave
The Ring (2002) – Mack, Jason, Dave
1917 (2019) – Jason, Mack, Dave
Gosford Park (2001) – Dave
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Mack, Jason, Dave
28 Days Later… (2002) – Jason, Dave
25th Hour (2002) – Dave, Jason
Pride and Prejudice (2005) – Mack
A Ghost Story (2017) – Jason, Dave
Hero (2002) – Dave
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) – Mack
About Time (2013) – Jason, Mack
The Dreamers (2003) – Dave
Set It Up (2018) – Mack
Apocalypto (2006) – Jason
American Splendor (2003) – Dave
The Prestige (2006) – Mack, Jason
Blue Ruin (2013) – Jason
Downfall (2004) – Dave, Jason
Godzilla (2014) – Mack
Bone Tomahawk (2015) – Jason, Dave
The Descent (2005) – Dave, Jason
The Others (2001) – Mack, Jason
Captain Fantastic (2016) – Jason, Dave
The Proposition (2005) – Dave, Jason
Dune: Part One (2021) – Mack, Jason, Dave
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) – Jason
Casino Royale (2006) – Dave
Oddity (2024) – Mack, Jason
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – Jason
Inside (2007) – Dave, Jason
A Quiet Place (2018) – Mack, Jason, Dave
The Incredibles (2004) – Jason
Rachel Getting Married (2008) – Dave, Jason
The Batman (2022) – Mack
Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Dave
Prey (2022) – Mack
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) – Jason
True Grit (2010) – Dave, Jason
The Fall Guy (2024) – Mack
No Escape (2015) – Jason
Midnight in Paris (2011) – Dave, Jason
Dunkirk (2017) – Mack
Room (2015) – Jason
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – Dave, Jason
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) – Mack
Lion (2016) – Jason, Dave
Django Unchained (2012) – Dave, Jason
Kong: Skull Island (2017) – Mack
The Village (2004) – Jason, Mack,
Evil Dead (2013) – Dave
District 9 (2009) – Mack, Jason
The Dead (2010) – Jason, Dave
Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) – Dave
Edge of Tomorrow (2014) – Mack
The Hateful 8 (2015) – Jason, Dave
The Revenant (2015) – Dave, Jason
Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018) – Mack
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – Jason, Dave
Train to Busan (2016) – Dave
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) – Dave, Mack
Nacho Libre (2006) – Mack
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – Dave, Jason
The Imposter (2012) – Jason
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) – Dave
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – Mack
Touching the Void (2003) – Jason
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) – Dave
The Wild Robot (2024) – Mack
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – Jason
Avengers: Endgame (2019) – Jason
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) – Dave
The Phantom of the Opera (2005) – Mack
Warrior (2011) – Jason
Terrified (2017) – Dave
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) – Mack, Jason
In the Bedroom (2001) – Dave
Godzilla Minus One (2023) – Mack, Jason
Elephant (2003) – Dave
Run Hide Fight (2021) – Jason
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011) – Mack, Jason
Spider-Man 2 (2004) – Dave
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – Mack
Sin City (2005) – Dave, Jason
Oblivion (2013) – Mack
The Host (2006) – Dave
Alien: Romulus (2024) – Mack, Jason
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) – Dave
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – Mack
Timecrimes (2007) – Dave, Jason
Ip Man (2008) – Mack
Primer (2004) – Jason
24-Hour Party People (2002) – Dave
Departures (2008) – Mack
Troll Hunter (2010) – Dave
Apollo 11 (2019) – Mack
Red State (2011) – Dave, Jason
Life of Pi (2012) – Dave
Dredd (2012) – Dave
Locke (2013) – Dave
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) – Dave
It Follows (2014) – Dave
The Final Girls (2015) – Dave
Green Room (2016) – Dave
The Devil’s Candy (2017) – Dave
The Captain (2017) – Dave
The Death of Stalin (2018) – Dave
Doctor Sleep (2019) – Dave
The Devil’s Rejects (2005) – Dave
Match Point (2005) – Dave
Toy Story 3 (2010) – Dave
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) – Jason

Wrap-Up

Links for this episode:

Catch up with Mack here:
– Horror podcast: Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies
— IMDb.com Page: Mack Robins

Catch up with Dr. Shock here:
– Horror podcast: Jay of the Dead’s New Horror Movies
— Blog: DVD Infatuation.com
— Podcast: The DVD Infatuation Podcast
— Horror podcast: Land of the Creeps
— Podcast: The Illustrated Fan

— Movie Podcast Weekly has returned for MONTHLY releases

— Listen to Jay of the Dead’s Horror Movie Weekly with Mister Watson every Sunday!

Jay recommends Nate Johnivan’s music:
— Spotify Playlist
— Quarantine Dream iii

CTC on X: @ConsiderCinema
Film Blog / Audio Podcast: ConsideringTheCinema.com
HORROR-Only Content: ConsideringHorrorCinema.com
Email: ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com
Voicemail: (801) 215-9704
Letterboxd: Letterboxd.com/ConsiderCinema
Don’t forget to check out Considering the Cinema’s new Episode Archive