My Favourite Movies Released Since I Was Born

I was born on the 18th of July, 2003, well over a century since Train Pulling Into a Station came out. Filmmaking has come a long way since both of those times, and I’ve evolved as well, branching out into a wide variety of preferences and pet peeves. Sometimes, it’s important to remember those preferences, and break down which films have really affected me over the years, so I can maintain my standards for when I watch more movies in future.

I’ve pulled up my Letterboxd account and sorted through to find the movies which will stick in my mind for all the positivity and love I’ve shined upon them. I highly recommend that you check all of these movies out at least once in your life.

And yes, this is all my opinion. So there.

First, some honourable mentions…

· 1917 (2019) – Directed by Sam Mendes

· Coraline (2009) – Directed by Henry Selick

· First Man (2018) – Directed by Damien Chazelle

· Good Time (2017) – Directed by Josh and Bennie Safdie

· How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

· Jojo Rabbit (2019) – Directed by Taika Waititi

· Joker (2019) – Directed by Todd Phillips

· Minari (2020) – Directed by Lee Isaac Chung

· Nomadland (2020) – Directed by Chloé Zhao

· Persepolis (2007) – Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud

· Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Directed by Edgar Wright

· Soul (2020) – Directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers

· Uncut Gems (2019) – Directed by Josh and Bennie Safdie

· Up (2009) – Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

· The Vast of Night (2019) – Directed by Andrew Patterson

And now, for my 20th favourite film since July 2003…

20. A Monster Calls (2016) – Directed by J.A. Bayona

Adapted from the book of the same name by Patrick Ness (who also wrote the screenplay), the book and this movie is a masterpiece of heartbreaking storytelling. It feels both so fantastical and yet so real, with visually stunning set pieces and emotional brutality to go along with it. I love this movie and everything else that Patrick Ness has done or adapted so far (probably until Chaos Walking), and I think that this might be my favourite fantasy movie of all time.

19. Train to Busan (2016) – Directed by Yeon Sang-Ho

Zombie filmmaking has never peaked as much as this since George A. Romero’s classic thrillers from the 60’s. Kinetic, bloody and utterly gripping from start to finish, the South Korean Train to Busan takes Hollywood clichés and twists them so beautifully into a masterful action movie which also brings in subtle themes of class warfare and father-daughter love. This is one of the best action movies of the past decade, and one of the must-sees if any of you have a subscription to Netflix.

18. Hot Fuzz (2007) – Directed by Edgar Wright

Edgar Wright is one of the best directors to have risen entirely within my lifetime, and Hot Fuzz is his masterpiece. It’s a brilliant satire of buddy cop action in storyline, characters and even the overblown action, meticulously crafted and gloriously funny. It’s also endlessly re-watchable, meaning that any foreshadowing or clever messages that Wright has hidden throughout the film become even more entertaining as you reflect and process this film again and again.

17. Moon (2009) – Directed by Duncan Jones

From the son of David Bowie comes a gripping sci-fi mystery about a man who discovers a conspiracy possibly simmering while mining regolith on the moon. Intelligent and realistic in its depiction of science, Moon also brings a ton of emotion to the table with its stellar writing and direction, as well as Sam Rockwell giving an amazing performance as a man dealing with every emotional barrier thrown at him.

16. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) – Directed by Martin McDonagh

Incendiary and controversial, Martin McDonagh’s uncomfortable black comedy about the repercussions of police failure in midwestern America is also ludicrously engaging from start to finish. Original, daring and merciless in its treatment of the audience to some truly brutal violence both physical and emotional, this movie is a must-see for its performances alone. I’ve never forgotten this movie in the years since I’ve seen it, and that is why it’s on this list.

15. The Dark Knight (2008) – Directed by Christopher Nolan

Batman has had some truly phenomenal interpretations throughout the years, but The Dark Knight is easily the best out of all of them. It focuses not just on the cool action, but also on the deep psychological and social issues brought on by a character like Batman, and is as rich a story as it is a wonderful action film. It also helps that Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart deliver two of the best interpretations of any comic-book villain ever, leading to a heart-breaking yet ultimately inspiring arc for our tragic hero Batman.

14. The Wind Rises (2013) – Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Studio Ghibli’s least fantastical effort is also their most emotionally resonant film, as it’s based on a genuine love story between real people nearly torn apart by war and disaster. Less like a magic adventure and more like a romantic drama, the studio’s typical painterly art style lends itself well to the poetic storytelling, while brilliant vocal performances and direction makes this one of the best animated films of the 2010’s/

13. Spotlight (2015) – Directed by Tom McCarthy

Spotlight is a movie about the inspirational actions of essentially ordinary people, who trawl through years of bullshit and red tape to uncover the truth about the destruction of the lives of hundreds of children. It’s uncomfortable to watch and often sickening to hear, but also so engaging and emotionally resonant due to its Oscar-winning writing and an amazing cast ensemble who deserved every award they got.

12. The Incredibles (2004) – Directed by Brad Bird

This movie has made every member of my family burst out into raucous laughter every time we watch it, and it’s never gotten old to hear the immensely quotable lines from this brilliant superhero movie. With animation that holds up surprisingly well 17 years later and a genuinely moving dynamic that few action movies explore, The Incredibles is a rare combination of family entertainment and serious drama that will never grow old and will always be treasured.

11. Arrival (2016) – Directed by Denis Villeneuve

A slow-burning sci-fi with as much on its mind as it has on the screen, Arrival is a surprisingly intimate story told through beautiful imagery and a dense plot filled with twists and turns that never tire out. It understands perfectly that the key to great science-fiction is not simply to look cool, but to present technology and human concepts that we take for granted in a new perspective that makes us appreciate everything – including this film – a hell of a lot more. I cannot recommend enough that you see this film.

Onto the final 10, starting with…

10. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Directed by George Miller

My older brother’s favourite film of all time, Fury Road is so relentless in its presentation and so brilliant in its filmmaking that the only appropriate reaction while watching the film is to cheer like QuakeCon at every explosion. There has barely been a pure action movie so well-presented and well-framed, that to simply glance at it is to be lost in the perfect cinematography, production, acting and writing. If this every gets re-released in IMAX, I will be buying a ticket to experience it all on the big screen once again.

9. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) – Directed by Matt Reeves

It may seem odd to put a movie like this so high, but I wept like a baby when this film ended. It perfectly caps an amazing trilogy of movies by tying up every plot thread, every theme and every action set-piece into one huge crescendo of emotion that feels brutal yet ultimately rewarding. It may be about monkeys, but it clearly made a monkey out of me, but there has hardly been a more mature and emotionally resonant blockbuster film released this decade.

8. The Martian (2015) – Directed by Ridley Scott

This is the movie that made me want to make movies, or write about them.

When I saw it for the first time, I was only 12, but I loved it like I had never loved film before. It has everything I want in a movie – an intelligent plot, beautiful visuals and cinematography, an original interpretation of the typical stranded-person story, a focus on comedy in places where it would not normally be found, and a surprising emotional pondering that I’ve never thought about before. Please, Ridley Scott, get off Alien and start making more films like this, I beg you.

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – Directed by Bob Perschietti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman

This is, in my opinion, the best superhero film ever made. Period.

Not only is it incredibly original and brilliant in its unique animation style, but it presents the superhero arc in ways which I’ve never seen, and which are easily the best in the genre. The momentum, the humour, the incredible voice-acting and stunning animation all combine to create a genuinely Oscar-worthy experience out of superheroes. I love this movie.

6. BlacKkKlansman (2018) – Directed by Spike Lee

Something a little less pleasant here, this movie chilled me to the bone both as an intense thriller and as a critique of just how little progress has been made in America over racial injustice. An outstanding ensemble cast, brilliant direction and terrific editing make this movie feel terrifying and hard to watch, yet sometimes inspiring. This may be the hardest film on the list to watch, but it’s still utterly incredible.

Now onto the final 5…

5. Ex Machina (2014) – Directed by Alex Garland

In an impressive directorial debut, Alex Garland turned what could have been a schlocky Black Mirror-esque horror into a deeply intelligent drama-thriller about the extent that A.I. has come. Sure to encourage debate between anyone who watches it (the sign of a truly impactful movie), Ex Machina also features a trio of outstanding performances, amazing visual effects and genuine originality in its structure and presentation. Don’t miss this one out.

4. District 9 (2009) – Directed by Neill Blomkamp

Proving that even the horror of xenophobia can be turned into blockbuster science-fiction, District 9 is a masterclass in both presentation and story. It may feature aliens in place of humans and seem ludicrous for that fact alone, but that doesn’t change the excellent visuals or incredibly engaging story, led by an underrated great performance by Sharlto Copley. In a decade full of great science-fiction movies, this is a total standout.

3. Parasite (2019) – Directed by Bong Joon-Ho

Parasite as a movie just blew me away. I didn’t see it coming in any regard. I was expecting a highbrow commentary on class warfare, but what I got instead was a sizzling black comedy that relied less on subtle metaphors and more immersing you in the grand scale of a world inaccessible to many people.

If you take anything away from this film – even if you don’t like the very thought-provoking take on class warfare – it’s that a director’s priority for a global issue movie shouldn’t just be the message, but to stand out as a piece of entertainment also. Watch. This. Movie.

2. Inside Out (2015) – Directed by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen

Inside Out is a movie that will both have you bursting at the seams with laughter and tearing up wildly as the mind of a child descends into chaos. People underestimate this as a kid’s comedy and point out plot holes, but there’s a resonance to its themes that any person can understand and connect to. It’s a movie that’s stuck with me dearly in the nearly 6 years since I first saw it, and it’s always been one of my favourite films of all time – beautifully animated, wonderfully acted, and a story that will somehow resonate with everyone who watches it.

And now for my favourite film that has been released since I was born…

1.Children of Men (2006) – Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

It’s a bleak, depressing dystopia of a movie, but Children of Men is also likely one of the best films ever made, period.

Everything about this movie is perfectly done. The cinematography perfectly conveys a bleak atmosphere and keeps you riveted to the screen at every moment. The acting is urgent and both withdrawn and emotional, keeping in line with the bleak acceptance of these character’s fates. The action and direction is far beyond what big-budget Hollywood movies can ever look too. Even minor things such as sound design are tuned to the best settings ever.

I love this movie.

Well, that was my list of my favourite movies released since 18/07/2003. I hope you enjoyed this, and go to actively watch all of these at some point.

Leave any queries in the comments section below.