Movies & TV

What Do Critics Think is the Best British Film of the 21st Century?

April 17, 2022

What's your favorite British movie of the last 20-odd years?

Sometimes, the folks in Hollywood forget there is an entire world out there making movies. I like to correct my blindspots by checking out how critics from different countries rank their movies. That's why I was so elated when I found out Massive Cinema had made a list of the best British Movies of the 21st Century.

As Massive says on their site, "The goal was simple—streamlining all the greatest films both made and released in the UK since the year 2000, with, as is always our aim at Massive, the intention of championing British filmmaking talent in front of and behind the camera."

In the end, 60 critics named almost 180 films in total in all of their respective top 10 lists. The list was compiled by seeing who voted for what and then narrowing it down. When you read it, you'll see a lot of movies tied for certain rankings thanks to the number of votes. But there was a clear winner.

Check out the complete list below and tell me your favorites in the comments.

What Do Critics Think is the Best British Film of the 21st Century?

THE TOP 100

=98. Beats (2019) dir. Brian Welsh
=98. In The Cut (2003) dir. Jane Campion
=98. Looking for Eric (2009) dir. Ken Loach
=98. Monsters (2010) dir. Gareth Edwards
=98. Promising Young Woman (2020) dir. Emerald Fennell
=98. Remainder (2015) dir. Omer Fast
=98. Supernova (2021) dir. Harry Macqueen
=98. The Act of Killing (2012) dir. Joshua Oppenheimer
=98. The Hours (2002) dir. Stephen Daldry
=98. The Prestige (2006) dir. Christopher Nolan
=86. A Dark Song (2016) dir. Liam Gavin
=86. Another Year (2010) dir. Mike Leigh
=86. Birth (2006) dir. Jonathan Glazer
=86. Calvary (2014) dir. John Michael McDonagh
=86. Ear for Eye (2021) dir. Debbie Tucker Green
=86. Gosford Park (2001) dir. Robert Altman
=86. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) dir. The Coen Brothers
=86. London: The Modern Babylon (2012) dir. Julien Temple
=86. Moon (2009) dir. Duncan Jones
=86. Mr Turner (2014) dir. Mike Leigh
=86. The Arbor (2010) dir. Clio Barnard
=86. The Magdalene Sisters (2002) dir. Peter Mullan
=77. I for India (2005) dir. Sandhya Suri
=77. Sunset Song (2015) dir. Terence Davies
=77. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) dir. Tomas Alfredson
=77. Topsy-Turvy (2000) dir. Mike Leigh
=77. Disobedience (2017) dir. Sebastian Lelio
=77. Dreams of a Life (2011) dir. Carol Morley
=77. In Fabric (2018) dir. Peter Strickland
=77. Man On Wire (2008) dir. James Marsh
=77. The Deep Blue Sea (2011) dir. Terence Davies
=66. Under the Shadow (2016) dir. Babak Anvari
=66. Amy (2015) dir. Asif Kapadia
=66. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) dir. Sharon Maguire
=66. Carol (2015) dir. Todd Haynes
=66. Censor (2021) dir. Prano Bailey-Bond
=66. Chicken Run (2000) dir. Nick Park, Peter Lord
=66. Ray & Liz (2018) dir. Richard Billingham
=66. Sleep Furiously (2007) dir. Gideon Koppel
=66. The Power of the Dog (2021) dir. Jane Campion
=66. Two Years at Sea (2011) dir. Ben Rivers
=66. Wuthering Heights (2011) dir. Andrea Arnold
=63. Limbo (2021) dir. Ben Sharrock
=63. Sunshine (2007) dir. Danny Boyle
=63. The House of Mirth (2000) dir. Terence Davies
=61. Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) dir. Mike Leigh
=61. Tyrannosaur (2011) dir. Paddy Considine
=57. Skyfall (2012) dir. Sam Mendes
=57. Archipelago (2010) dir. Joanna Hogg
=57. Saint Maud (2020) dir. Rose Glass
=57. The Descent (2005) dir. Neil Marshall
=53. An Education (2009) dir. Lone Scherfig
=53. Hot Fuzz (2007) dir. Edgar Wright
=53. Phantom Thread (2018) dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
=53. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) dir. Danny Boyle
=49. Of Time and the City (2008) dir. Terence Davies
=49. Interstellar (2014) dir. Christopher Nolan
=49. Pride (2014) dir. Matthew Warchus
=49. The Selfish Giant (2013) dir. Clio Barnard
=47. Cold War (2018) dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
=47. The Lobster (2015) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
46. Vera Drake (2004) dir. Mike Leigh
45. The Father (2020) dir. Florian Zeller
=43. Atonement (2007) dir. Joe Wright
=43. Mangrove (2020) dir. Steve McQueen
=41. Casino Royale (2006) dir. Martin Campbell
=41. Red Road (2006) dir. Andrea Arnold
=39. In Bruges (2008) dir. Martin McDonagh
=39. Unrelated (2007) dir. Joanna Hogg
=36. Dunkirk (2017) dir. Christopher Nolan
=36. 45 Years (2015) dir. Andrew Haigh
=36. Kill List (2011) dir. Ben Wheatley
35. Lady Macbeth (2016) dir. William Oldroyd
34. Attack the Block (2011) dir. Joe Cornish
=32. 28 Days Later (2002) dir. Danny Boyle
=32. The Death of Stalin (2017) dir. Armando Iannucci
31. Sightseers (2012) dir. Ben Wheatley
=29. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) dir. Peter Strickland
=29. I, Daniel Blake (2016) dir. Ken Loach
28. Dead Man's Shoes (2004) dir. Shane Meadows
27. Pride & Prejudice (2005) dir. Joe Wright
=24. 24 Hour Party People (2002) dir. Michael Winterbottom
=24. American Honey (2016) dir. Andrea Arnold
=24. Four Lions (2010) dir. Chris Morris
=22. Paddington (2014) dir. Paul King
=22. Weekend (2011) dir. Andrew Haigh
21. Bright Star (2009) dir. Jane Campion
20. The Souvenir Part II (2022) dir. Joanna Hogg
19. Bend It Like Beckham (2002) dir. Gurinder Chadha
18. Hunger (2008) dir. Steve McQueen
17. Lovers Rock (2020) dir. Steve McQueen
16. Shaun of the Dead (2004) dir. Edgar Wright
15. Sexy Beast (2000) dir. Jonathan Glazer
14. Rocks (2020) dir. Sarah Gavron
13. Ex Machina (2014) dir. Alex Garland
12. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) dir. Lynne Ramsay
11. Shame (2011) dir. Steve McQueen
10. God's Own Country (2017) dir. Francis Lee
9. You Were Never Really Here (2018) dir. Lynne Ramsay
8. Children of Men (2006) dir. Alfonso Cuaron
7. The Favourite (2018) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
6. This Is England (2006) dir. Shane Meadows
5. The Souvenir (2019) dir. Joanna Hogg
4. Fish Tank (2009) dir. Andrea Arnold
3. Paddington 2 (2017) dir. Paul King
2. Morvern Callar (2002) dir. Lynne Ramsay
1. Under the Skin (2013) dir. Jonathan Glazer