Episode Overview

Podcast: American History Hotline
Episode: Are These Really the Best Movies of the 21st Century? Debating the NYT’s Top 100
Host: Bob Crawford
Guest: Mark Ellis (Comedian and Rotten Tomatoes correspondent)
Release Date: December 24, 2025

Main Theme:
Bob Crawford and guest Mark Ellis dive into the New York Times’ Top 100 Movies of the 21st Century list. Together, they dissect the list’s tone, discuss surprising inclusions and omissions, debate the fate of comedies and genre films, and consider how moviegoing and film culture have changed since 2000. Listener questions and comments punctuate their discussion, offering additional perspective on the list’s choices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The “Vibe” of the List and the Century

• Post-Grunge Mood ([00:00], [06:22])

  • Mark Ellis characterizes the list’s overall feel as “post-grunge,” referencing the seriousness and bleakness prevalent in many selections.
    • “It does. It feels. To borrow a term from the world of music, it feels a little post grunge, this list.” — Mark Ellis [00:12]/[06:22]
  • Host Bob Crawford remarks on the alignment between this mood and broader 21st-century societal themes.
    • “Sounds very 21st century to me thus far. Thus far, look, the century begins with a hanging chad, you know what I'm saying? And now we're the second Donald Trump term.” — Bob Crawford [07:11]

• Hope and Uplift Are Scarce ([06:22])

  • Mark notes that the list contains few uplifting movies, apart from Pixar and occasional comedies. “There's not a lot of positivity…” — Mark Ellis [06:22]

Industry List vs. Audience Pleasers

• Not an Audience List ([07:35])
  • The selections are weighted heavily toward films esteemed by industry insiders, not popular audience favorites.
    • “I don't think this is an audience based list… I think most folks reading this list may not have even heard of [many selections].” — Mark Ellis [07:35]

Listener Reactions: Surprises and Sidelined Films

• “Gladiator” and the Perils of Rankings ([08:21]–[08:52])

  • Listener Elaine in Sacramento is surprised “Gladiator” is 25 years old and only #92. Mark thinks it deserves a spot in the 40s or 50s.
    • “If I'm just eyeballing the list, I probably would have slotted Gladiator in there around the 40s or 50s, as opposed to being 92…” — Mark Ellis [08:52]

• Comedies: Always the Underdogs ([09:26]–[11:24])

  • Mike in Duluth is happy “Superbad” made the list (at 100), but wishes it ranked higher. Bob and Mark launch into a discussion about comedy’s lack of recognition.
    • “Comedy and comedic actors just are not recognized in the same way that drama and dramatic actors are.” — Mark Ellis [09:59]
  • Mark singles out “Bridesmaids” as essential for legitimacy (and reminisces about the joy of communal laughter in a theater).

• The Fate of Comedies in Theaters ([11:24]–[12:32])

  • Comedies are made, but less often shown theatrically—they’ve moved to streaming.
    • “It’s not that we’re not making comedies... it’s just that the way that we’re digesting them is more at home than it is in a movie theater, which is a bummer.” — Mark Ellis [11:26]

Foreign Films and Global Perspectives

• Celebration of International Cinema ([12:44]–[14:10])

  • Bob and Mark highlight the prominence of foreign films, from “Parasite” to “Spirited Away” and “Roma.”
    • “This is the list for you. Because there's a lot... that is not just from a different place. It feels out of time.” — Mark Ellis [13:00]
    • “If you haven’t seen Parasite, it’s worthy of winning the Oscar.” — Mark Ellis [13:00]

• “Almost Famous” Surprise ([14:10]–[15:02])

  • Listener Mesa in Greensboro is thrilled “Almost Famous” appears at #47; Mark would swap its position with “Gladiator.”

Significant Omissions and Genre Debates

• Missing Sports and Comic Book Movies ([18:21]–[22:10])

  • Missing: “Creed,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” more sports films.
    • “The biggest omission on this list is Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse not being a part of the show…” — Mark Ellis [18:21]
    • “You only got one Spielberg movie on there. That just seemed weird to me.” — Mark Ellis [20:46]
  • Mark defends films that reinvent classic franchises (e.g., “Casino Royale” for Bond).

• Horror: A Scarce Presence ([23:55]–[25:37])

  • Listener “Matt from San Bernardino” facetiously asks about “Human Centipede”—Bob and Mark use this to discuss the lack of horror. Mark is surprised “The Witch” isn’t there.
    • “It was a 10 out of 10 for me. That's the movie I would put on there, and I think it belongs alongside a film that was on the list, Let the Right One In.” — Mark Ellis [24:19]

The Top 10 and the “Best” Film

• “Get Out” at #8 ([26:29])

  • Both agree Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” is an unassailable inclusion in the top 10.
    • “Get Out is unassailable, in my opinion.” — Mark Ellis [26:41]

• Moonlight’s Impact ([26:54])

  • Listener Sharon from White Plains thinks “Moonlight” should be #1; Mark is content with its #5 placement and effusive about its emotional effect.
    • “It made me feel things that I was not expecting and that I haven't felt watching a movie in a long time.” — Mark Ellis [27:07]

• Number 1: “Parasite” ([27:58])

  • Both celebrate “Parasite” as the deserving top film, lauding its depth, themes, and mainstream success post-Oscar.
    • “It has everything in it in terms of class and discrimination and the haves versus the have nots.” — Mark Ellis [27:58]

The Changing Movie Landscape

• How We Watch Films: Theater to Streaming ([28:48]–[30:37])
  • Bob and Mark reflect on the evolution from theaters and DVDs to streaming and binge-watching.
    • “We have giant screens at our homes now... my only suggestion...put away your cell phone for 90 minutes or for two hours and just turn off the lights and really engage…” — Mark Ellis [29:32]
  • Ellis encourages aspiring filmmakers—there’s no one way to break in, and the diverse films on the list prove that original voices matter.

Current Recommendations and Contemporary Landscape

• Mark’s 2025 Recommendations ([30:37]–[33:14])

  • “Predator Badlands” (new this year), “Weapons” (a horror-comedy hybrid), “Sinners,” and the upcoming “Marty Supreme” (a ping-pong sports movie with Timothée Chalamet).

    • Mark also predicts “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will be a huge theatrical event.

  • Both discuss the current box office struggles and shifts in cinema viewing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the List’s Mood:
  “There's not a lot of positivity in is for is what I'm seeing on the list.” — Mark Ellis [06:22]

• On the Value of Debate:
  “What I love about these kind of lists is that they get us talking... amongst your friends, amongst your family and certainly... on social media.” — Mark Ellis [04:54]

• On Comedies in Today’s Film Culture:
  “There's nothing like being in a theater that's packed opening weekend and just laughing.” — Mark Ellis [11:26]

• On Foreign Films:
  “If you're looking for foreign films, this is the list for you... it feels out of time.” — Mark Ellis [13:00]

• On “Get Out”:
  “Get Out is unassailable, in my opinion.” — Mark Ellis [26:41]

• On “Moonlight’s” Power:
  “It made me feel things that I was not expecting and that I haven't felt watching a movie in a long time.” — Mark Ellis [27:07]

• On Changing Audiences:
  “We have giant screens at our homes now... Put away your cell phone... and just turn off the lights and really engage and relate to the movie and what its themes are.” — Mark Ellis [29:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12 | Start of Core Conversation: Bob introduces Mark Ellis and the episode’s question about the NYT movie list.
• 04:54 | Are You a List Guy? Mark on the joys and pitfalls of ranking art.
• 06:22 | The “Vibe” of 21st-Century Films: Discussion of the mood and tone of the list.
• 07:35 | Is This an Audience List? Industry vs. popular taste.
• 08:21 | Listener Elaine on “Gladiator” and Mark’s Ranking Thoughts.
• 09:26 | Listener Mike on “Superbad,” Comedies, and Their Place in Film Canon.
• 11:24 | Theatrical Decline of Comedies: Where are comedies being released now?
• 12:44 | Foreign Films: Recommendations and the importance of international cinema.
• 18:21 | Omissions: Sports movies, superhero movies, and the lack of Spielberg/Bond.
• 23:55 | Horror’s Place in Modern Film: What’s missing, and what should be there?
• 26:29 | The Top Ten: “Get Out,” “Moonlight,” and the #1 movie, “Parasite.”
• 28:48 | How Viewership Has Changed: From theaters and DVDs to streaming/binging.
• 30:37 | Current Movie Recommendations: Mark and Bob share recent favorites.
• 33:14 | Outro and Thanks.

Flow & Tone

The episode is energetic and conversational, blending film buff enthusiasm with the playful, lightly satirical tone of two friends dissecting a pop culture artifact. Mark’s comedic sensibility keeps the discussion lively, but the genuine affection for movies—classic, global, silly, or serious—remains front and center.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of American History Hotline offers a freewheeling, passionate deep-dive into what makes a great “modern classic,” questioning assumptions about list-making, genre prestige, and audience taste. Mark Ellis and Bob Crawford’s debate underscores that cinema in the 21st century is a landscape both fractured and vibrant: as shaped by despair as by joy, and as open to new stories as it is nostalgic for old ones. Whether you agree with the NYT list or not, this conversation is a great companion to revisiting (or discovering!) the films that define our era.