Are These Really the Best Movies of the 21st Century? Debating the NYT’s Top 100

Summary

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Transcript

[Bob Crawford]

Is there a vibe to this? The films on this list? Is there like, what can we say about this? The past 25 years in filmmaking? Is it. Does it feel 21st century to you?

[Mark Ellis]

It does. It feels. To borrow a term from the world of music, it feels a little post grunge this list.

[Bob Crawford]

You've reached American History Hotline. You ask the questions, we get the answers.

[Mark Ellis]

Leave a message.

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[Bob Crawford]

Hey there, American History Hotliners. Bob Crawford here again. Thrilled to be joining you with another episode of American History Hotline, the show where you ask the questions. And the best way to get us a question is to record a video or a voice memo on your phone and email it to AmericanHistoryHotlinemail.com that's AmericanHistoryHotlinemail.com okay, today's question is actually one we asked you, the listener. I'll explain more about that in a second. But first, let me introduce you to today's guest, Mark Ellis. He's a comedian and Rotten Tomatoes correspondent. Mark, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

[Mark Ellis]

It's a pleasure to be here, Bob. I have so many questions to ask you about American history that I'm just gonna have to start submitting my own videos to the show because I got more questions than answers over the last 270 years. Ish.

[Bob Crawford]

We appreciate that, and we will happily accept your questions anytime. Okay, Mark, we asked our listeners to send us their takes on the New York Times list, the best 100 movies of the 21st century, basically, the best movies of the past 25 years. We'll put a link in the show notes if anyone wants to take a look at it. Sadly, Snow Dogs with Cuba Gooding Jr. Didn't make that list. Maybe it was 101, but Mark, let's work our way up the top 10 best movies. First, what's your reaction to this list? I mean, are you a list guy?

[Mark Ellis]

I am a list guy, and I think that that goes all the way back to, you know, I'm a huge sports fan as well. And sports fans spend way too much of our lives debating and ranking and trying to figure out who's the greatest of all time and who's in the top 10. And so this is right in my wheelhouse, even though I will also stand on the perch of it's hard to make art competitive and it's such a subjective kind of thing when it comes to film, where everybody has your own interpretation and your own viewpoint going into a theater. So naturally you're going to have a slightly different take on whatever you just saw as you walk out of the theater. Having said all that, I found this list to be wonderful. There's movies that are on it that I don't think I need to see. There's movies that are not on it that I'm a little upset about. But what I love about these kind of lists is that they get us talking. Not just doing podcasts like this, but. But they just get us talking amongst your friends, amongst your family and certainly as we've seen in the last few months on social media, about this list in particular, let me ask you this question.

[Bob Crawford]

Here we are. This is a list of. It's a 21st century list. And the history of film, you know, begins early in the 20th century. What can we say overall? Like, is there a vibe to this, the films on this list? Is there like, what can we say about this, the past 25 years in filmmaking? Is it. Does it feel 21st century to you?

[Mark Ellis]

It does, it feels, to borrow a term from the world of music, it feels a little post grunge this list now. But I say that with the exception of some hopeful and uplifting movies, but those are usually the films that I think a lot of critics are, would consider to be more populous movies or even movies for kids. So you have a couple Pixar movies on here, you have some comedies that I think are the bulk of the uplifting, happy, kind of, you know, lead the theater on a high note kind of film. But a lot of these are really intense. A lot of these feature a lot of struggle. There's despair, there's hopelessness. And so if you're looking for pockets of hope on this list, you're really going to have to get your microscope out. It's a great list overall, but there's not a lot of positivity in is for is what I'm seeing on the list.

[Bob Crawford]

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. Okay, so this list was made by directors and actors and Hollywood insiders. Does it feel like it's in line with what audiences might think?

[Mark Ellis]

I don't think this is an audience based list. That was the first thing that kind of stuck out to me when I was looking at it is that this is a list from folks who are in the industry. There's a lot of movies that I think most folks reading this list may not have even heard of or they may have said, oh yeah, I heard about that. I mean, even if you look at just like the top five, you know, it's hard to look at a movie that crushed at the box office. I mean, I know There Will Be Blood was talked about a lot and it's a great movie, but as far as the movies that were box office starlings, you're not Going to see a lot of those on this list. But that's also one of the reasons why I like that this is a New York Times 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list because this is going to be read by folks who are then going to go explore these movies and have their own takes on it.

[Bob Crawford]

Let's get to some of our listeners, questions and comments. Elaine in Sacramento wrote to us and said, I'm glad to see Gladiator made the list, but I can't believe it came out 25 years ago. Mark, Gladiator was 92 on the list. Like you talked about this. This isn't a box office list. This is, I don't want to say bougie. It's cerebral. Right? This is a. More of a cerebralist. Where do you think Gladiator should sit? Where, where would it sit on your list?

[Mark Ellis]

You know, I would have, 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, where anytime you get into the 90s, and you can also say this about number 100, Superbad, it's almost like, hey, thanks for, thanks for playing. You were never in consideration to be a great movie of this century, but we're going to put you on the list. It's a little bit like when you have a college football playoff and you have your teams that you know can win and then you also have like, hey, James Madison is in there. Good for you guys. Go win a game. But you're not going to be in the top 10 ever.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah. So I'm glad you mentioned Superbad, because Mike in Duluth said, I think Superbad should have been higher than 100, but I'm glad it made the list. Same with anchorman Mark. This raises an issue that happens a lot with awards season. Are comedies undervalued? You talked about the hopelessness and the despair that kind of runs through a lot of 21st century films. Talk about comedies and specifically maybe a few of the comedies on this list.

[Mark Ellis]

I mean, look, if people want a list that is just 100 movies that are like Parasite and no country for Old Men, then have at it. But at some point you're gonna wanna laugh. And this is something that obviously me being a comedian that we talk about a lot in the green rooms of comedy clubs. And there was a great documentary on Eddie Murphy recently that came out on Netflix and he's talking about this very subject, how comedy and comedic actors just are not recognized in the same way that drama and dramatic actors are. So that's a debate. We can have all day. Seeing comedies on this list made me happy, though. The movie that I thought, okay, this list is bunk. If this movie is not on it for me was Bridesmaids, because not only is it a hilarious movie, it was an incredible theater experience. And I. It felt like a movie that universally entertained everyone that went to see it. So Bridesmaids being on the list, I was like, okay, we got some legitimacy here. Super bad. Being at 100, it felt like you could change that movie out with a couple other comedies that have come out this century where you could have taken out Superbad, put in the Hangover, or put in Good Boys or put in Step Brothers or something like that. So to have Superbad, I look at it more as a spiritual representation of a lot of the comedies and laughs that we got this century as opposed to that one movie. But nevertheless, I think it's important to include those kind of movies. Especially when you look at how dark and dreary a lot of the other films on the list are.

[Bob Crawford]

Do you find that they're making fewer comedies?

[Mark Ellis]

Even in the past five years, it feels like that. And I think that theatrically we've seen less comedies be released to wide audiences, whereas you have your Marvel movies and you have your sci fi flicks and you have your big time event kind of films and comedies have sort of found more life on streaming networks these days. So it's not that we're not making comedies or funny things anymore. 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 because there's nothing like being in a theater that's packed opening weekend and just laughing. I mean, I still remember Bridesmaids. I remember the Hangover. I remember going all the way back to my youth and seeing something like Naked Gun two and a half or seeing Ace Ventura or Liar Liar in the theater. And there's just nothing like those experiences. I mean, sitting in a theater watching Eddie Murphy and the Nighty professor was life changing for me. And it wouldn't be that way if I just watched that movie at home. So there's a lot of great comedy out there. You just have to work to find it a little bit harder than you used to.

[Bob Crawford]

Well, this is a different century, so it's for a film, for a different list. But I remember watching Raw, Eddie Murphy, Rawl in the theater, and I was in high school.

[Mark Ellis]

Oh, My gosh.

[Bob Crawford]

And it's an amazing experience. So foreign films, there's plenty of them on this list. Oldboy, Amelie, the Lives of Others. Are there any foreign films on the list that you'd recommend to our listeners?

[Mark Ellis]

I mean, if you haven't seen Parasite, it's worthy of winning the Oscar that year. In most years. I would also say the Miyazaki film, Spirited Away, we would have ride it if it wasn't in the top 100. But the fact that it's in the top 10, I think it's one of those movies where, yes, you see, it's animated and I have a niece who loves the movie, but it's a. It's a wonderful film. And if you're looking for foreign films, this is the list for you. Because there's a lot of stuff on here that is not just, you know, it's not just from a different place. It feels. It feels out of time. And even something that you're looking at, at a City of God, something like that. Roma is on the list, which a lot of people were aware of. I'm not sure how many people have actually seen it. And these are movies that you just don't see released from American filmmakers. And it's a completely different perspective. And that's why I think filmmakers and lists like this are so important to. To. To take in the entire globe and what people are releasing as opposed to just looking at, here's the top 100 movies from America this century. Because, honestly, the list would not be nearly as exciting or expansive as it is.

[Bob Crawford]

Mesa in Greensboro said, I was so happy to see Almost Famous on the list. It's definitely my favorite movie, Mark. I was surprised to see that one on the list as well. I thought it was older, actually.

[Mark Ellis]

I thought it was, too.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah, yeah, it's. But it's from 2000. It's number 47 on the list. Where would you put it on your list?

[Mark Ellis]

I might look. I went to school in Winston Salem, North Carolina. I was born there, so my heart is with Greensboro. My area code is 336 for way too long. I feel you. It belongs on the list of the hundred best movies of this century. Being in the 40s, you know what? I might actually work out a trade. This is my first trade of the day. I'm just going to swap Almost Famous and Gladiator. I'm just going to take Almost Famous, put it in the 90s, but Gladiator in the 40s, and I feel much better about this list.

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[Mark Ellis]

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[Bob Crawford]

This is American History Hotline. I'm your host Bob Crawford. Today my guest is Mark Ellis, comedian and Rotten Tomatoes correspondent. We're talking about the best films of the 21st century. Send us your thoughts on films or whatever, anything to do with American history. We'll share them in a follow up episode. Remember, record yourself asking a question with the voice memo app on your phone or make us a video and email it to AmericanHistoryHotlinemail.com that's AmericanHistoryHotlinemail.com now back to the show. Mark, let's talk about what's not on the list. Are there any glaring omissions in your opinion?

[Mark Ellis]

All right, so glaring omissions, my first thought and actually the movie that I was hunting for when I was looking at this list is a movie that is on it. But I thought it wasn't. So I was initially really mad and I was just gonna come on this show and rant about why Spotlight isn't on the list. But. But it is. So we don't worry about that anymore. The big omissions for me are I feel like sports movies. I believe Moneyball is on there and I don't think that there's much else in the way of athletics, which you don't need a lot of sports movies. But I feel like Creed belonged on the list. I feel like everything that Creed did from a reinventing Rocky, but not feeling like we've seen this movie before and it's just a tired retread to inject fresh life into that series while retaining the star of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone in an Oscar nominated performance, Michael B. Jordan. Ryan Coogler is really coming out of his shell directing and just showing everybody who he is and what he's going to go on to do. I feel like Creed is a film that belongs in the top hundred somewhere. And the other thing that really surprised me is I know that you're not going to have a lot of votes for comic book movies. The Dark Knight, obviously, even though I would have swapped the Dark Knight out for Batman Begin, that's my personal take and I'm not going to win that argument. I feel like it's a the biggest omission on this list is Spider man into the Spider Verse not being a part of the show that is. That's going to bother me for quite some time because it was such a, pardon the pun, it was a marvel to watch. I've never seen anything like it before. That animation style is so impressive. The storytelling is incredible. The, the comedy works, the action works. It's a movie for everyone. Regardless of which Spider man is your favorite, regardless if you've never heard of Spider man. It's an incredible filmmaking achievement and I feel like one of these Spider Verse movies should have been recognized.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah, I have to agree with you on that, that that film is. It's incredible. It is absolutely. It was stunning to watch. And, you know, the. The superhero films as a genre you talk about, again, film in a time of hopeless, film in a time of hopelessness. We're searching for the hero and we've only found them in film. And that's probably the biggest genre of this century, right? So far, commercially, at least.

[Mark Ellis]

Yeah. I mean, you look at the box office receipts and unless your name is Avatar, nobody's playing in the world that is the Marvel and DC for that matter. I mean, comic book movies have completely taken over and it's one of the reasons why, if you look at theaters and you look at going back to the comedy question, I think that those big spectacle movies are kind of more what we go to the cinemas for now, as opposed to comedies, but you can't deny their impact. And so while I wasn't surprised to not see something like Endgame on there, into the spider verse, I was really surprised. I was happy to see Black Panther on there. I think that of all the Marvel movies, either Black Panther or Iron man, the first one would have deserved that recognition. But it feels almost like Black Panther is not only representing itself, but it's representing a whole lot of other movies on that list. But, you know, the other thing, if we're talking about snubs, that bothered me is that you only got one Spielberg movie on there. And that just seemed weird to me. It didn't. And it wasn't Munich and it wasn't Catch Me if youf can and. And we didn't have any James Bond films on there either. And I feel like Casino Royale belongs on that list. Some folks would have preferred Skyfall. I say Casino Royale is by far the best of the Craig movies. And I think that again, reinventing that Bond wheel and making it fit into our new time frame was a landmark achievement that should not be overlooked.

[Bob Crawford]

Well, considering where this list comes from. Right, who the directors and the actors and the industry people who put this, who helped contribute to what this list became, do you think that there is a sense, no matter the quality of reinvention, that people hear Spielberg or people hear Bond and they think of a different time?

[Mark Ellis]

That's fair. And it may not even be they're thinking of a different time, but they're thinking of, look, you had 30 cracks at this bat before we got to this century, so let's make this list about this century. But I also think, going back to my point about Creed and is that there is room and it's necessary to see the kind of stories that we used to tell and to see if you can properly reinvent them for a new time period. And so while not everything is able to do that, and, I mean, I'm a huge Star wars fan, I'm not going to argue that the Force Awakens or Last Jedi should be on this list. I think Rogue One might have been able to be there. But, you know, I do. I do understand that you want a lot of original films on here, and that's what I would want as well. But if you're looking at something like Casino Royale or Creed, I feel like that they did their homework, they did the assignment, and they just got left off this list. For reasons that baffle me, Matt.

[Bob Crawford]

And San Bernardino says, I actually thought Human Centipede would be on the list. People have no taste in cinema, I guess. Mark.

[Mark Ellis]

I don't even know where.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah, I don't even know where we should begin on that comment.

[Mark Ellis]

Matt. Don't worry, I'm. Centipede is on a lot of other lists that you can search online. So it may not be in the New York Times one, but there's a lot of corners in New York where you can find Human Centipede on their list.

[Bob Crawford]

Matt. But Matt's comment raises a good point. There's not a lot of horror films on this list, and especially when we're talking about a period of great despair and hopelessness. And we've. We've had great horror films in the 2000s, arguably, like, you know, Drag Me From Hell, the Ring. Where are all the horror films if.

[Mark Ellis]

If you're going to put a movie on there? I, I was actually looking at this list and thinking, okay, where is it? I know it's coming. Where is it? And it never showed up. The Witch, directed by Robert Eggers. I feel like the Witch is a stunning film that puts you in that time period in a way that I don't think I've ever felt before as far as the 1600s. And, and just looking at these, at these folks trying to get by, and you have all these different themes that are coming into play. You have such a looming, eerie presence, and it doesn't show a lot. Doesn't need to show a lot to borrow the Jaws term. You don't see the shark a whole lot in this movie, and you don't have to, because Robert Eggers is just that talented of a director, and the story he's weaving here is just so compelling, and it never relents. And the climax at the end of the. It just. It all builds up to something that pays off. And so many times in horror movies, you get some good scares going up to it, and then it doesn't really close the deal with the third act. I feel like the witch stuck the landing. It was a 10 out of 10 for me. That's the movie that I would put on there, and I think it belongs alongside a film that was on the list, Let the Right One in. So I'm happy to see that one on there. You know, I didn't need to see, like, the Conjuring or anything like that on there. It's. That's a great horror movie. I love the Ring. I didn't need to see it on there, but, man, I feel like the witch got left out, you know, I.

[Bob Crawford]

Saw Weapons this summer and. And I thought that was a horror film that kind of reinvented how we tell. You talk about jump scares, you know. Yeah, all the jump scares are there. And it reinvented or manipulated how we tell the story.

[Mark Ellis]

It was such a great theater experience for me because you're watching it and you're expecting a horror film, and you get plenty of thrills and chills and jump scares. But there's also a lot of laughs in that movie that I wasn't anticipating, but it somehow elevated my overall experience. So that was kind of the best of both worlds, where you're laughing in a collective group and you're scared in a collective group. So Weapons. Weapons did a lot for me. I. And I was so excited to see it when I heard about it this past year at Las Vegas Cinemacon. It. I don't know that I would put it on the top hundred of this list, but it's a. It's a contender for sure.

[Bob Crawford]

All right, let's get to the top 10. I will note that get out was number eight on the list. That. That feels pretty good. Thoughts? Any thoughts? Are you good? Are we in agreement?

[Mark Ellis]

I feel like get out is the horror movie that, if you want to call it a horror movie, it's the horror suspense thriller that belongs in the top 10 on this and pretty much any other list you want to put it on. Get out is unassailable, in my opinion.

[Bob Crawford]

Sharon from White Plains said, I think moonlight should have been number one. I never felt a movie so deeply before. I literally couldn't breathe. Moonlight was number five. How do you feel about that, Mark?

[Mark Ellis]

I'm fine with moonlight being number five. It wasn't in the top 10 somewhere, then I would be Very disappointed. I feel like moonlight, you know, I actually feel like just because of their shared history, moonlight should have been number five and La La Land should have been 95. Like, put them five spots from each other. But if you're looking at moonlight as a movie that impacts you in a way that it's so. It's so personal, it's such an emotional film, but it sticks with you and you can't stop thinking about it after you're done watching it. And that's a film that I think was not only worthy of winning the Oscar that year. I think most years that movie takes the cake. It is. It is a. It made me feel things that I was not expecting and that I haven't felt watching a movie in a long time. And I don't know that I've felt that way since.

[Bob Crawford]

Let's get to it. Let's get to the number one film on the list. Mark. What was it?

[Mark Ellis]

It was Parasite, and it's the film that's directed by Bong Joo Ho. And it has everything in it in terms of class and discrimination and the haves versus the have nots. And it was the Oscar winner for the year it was released. And it's a movie that I think it's one of the reasons why I do like the Oscars. There's many bones I can pick with the Oscars, but when something wins the Oscar for Best picture and everybody now needs to go see it now you have folks like my mom who as soon as the nominations come out, she's going to run to the theater and see everything that's nominated. Even if you're not that diligent, you see a movie, one Best Picture, you're going to want to check it out. And I think that that platform for Parasite was incredibly important, not just in getting it to a list like this, but in getting a lot of eyeballs on a movie that deserves to be seen.

[Bob Crawford]

Let's. To wrap up here, let's think about where films, not only the actual creative aspect of making films has come in the past 25 years, but the way we watch films. Is there anything about this list and this century going from you have to go to the theater to you go to the. The video store or the concession box and you get the DVD and you send in the original Netflix to now to now, People just binging in the habit of binging. There's so much content. You know, talk about that.

[Mark Ellis]

I mean, look, we have giant screens at our homes now. And my only suggestion to people, if you don't feel like running out to the theater. I totally understand that. I think that you just aim to give yourself the best theater experience at home. And that means put away your cell phone for 90 minutes or for two hours and just turn off the lights and really engage and relate to the movie and what its themes are and what it's trying to tell you and how you feel about that. As far as where filmmaking is going, I would look at this list if I was a young filmmaker and I would feel inspired because this proves that there is no one way to make a film. There's no one way to get into the business. And now with so many tools literally in our pockets with our cell phones, and there are ways to get your voice out there, there's still a lot of pitfalls and a lot of hurdles and a lot of unfairness that it feels like in the moviemaking industry. But when you look at this list, it is filled not just with great movies, but with great stories about different ways to get your script to the right people, to get your film made with the right people, and to get it released and to find an audience.

[Bob Crawford]

Mark, before we go, can you give us some movie recommendations currently?

[Mark Ellis]

Okay, so I guess it was too recent that Predator Badlands wasn't on this list because that movie blew me away this year. My recommendations for the year, I would also throw weapons in there. I think the Weapons was, again, it's one of the movies that you watch and you're like, I need to go to the movies more. It was that kind of feel for me. If I'm looking at, you know, the best movies that I saw as far as, like, something that you would see ranked highly on Rotten Tomatoes. A lot of those movies are going to be coming out, are going to be in higher sort of demand as we get closer to Oscar season. If, you know, I'm struggling to put together something that I saw that really blew me away recently. But I would say, why don't you take it? And then I'm going to look at my personal. I'm going to look up my list of my favorite movies of the year.

[Bob Crawford]

Well, I mean, I took my daughter to see Zootopia 2 last weekend. But I mean, I haven't really. What I've noticed is a lot of stories out there about how bad, poorly films are doing right now. The box office is doing the movie theater. And I don't know what to attribute that to. I haven't seen the Wicked or The Wicked Part 2. I haven't seen those films. But I don't know what else is kind of out there right now, to be honest with you. And I may be part of the problem.

[Mark Ellis]

Well, you're gonna have a big movie coming out in a couple weeks with, or it might even be this week, which is Avatar, Fire and Ash. So that's gonna be a huge spectacle. And look, you can say you want about those movies. I feel like every time I sit in a theater to watch an Avatar movie, I am transported to Pandora. And it's an incredible. What James Cameron's able to do with that world and still put butts in seats is, is remarkable. As far as movies that I've seen this year that did have pretty good box office returns, I would put Sinners up there and, and again, you're talking about horror movies. I feel like that was such a, such a different unique take on that time period and obviously with vampiric horror films and then a movie coming up that it may not be the biggest box office winner, but you're going to be hearing about it come Oscar time. And it's a sports movie. And that would be Marty Supreme. It's. I'm going to tell you Ping pong and you're going to be like, what? But then I'm going to tell you, Timothy Chalamet, you're going to be like, all right, I'll give it a chance.

[Bob Crawford]

I've been talking with Mark Ellis, comedian and Rotten Tomatoes correspondent. Mark, we'll have to do it again sometime.

[Mark Ellis]

I would love to, Bob. It's been a pleasure.

[Bob Crawford]

You've been listening to American History Hotline, a production of Iheart podcasts and Scratch Track Productions. The show's executive producer is James Morrison. Our executive producers from Iheart are Jordan Runtal and Jason English. Original music composed by me, Bob Crawford. Please keep in touch. Our email is americanhistoryhotlinemail.com if you like the show, please tell your friends and leave us a review in Apple Podcasts. I'm your host, Bob Crawford. Feel free to hit me up on social media to ask a history question or to let me know what you think of the show. You can find me at bobcrawford Base. Thanks so much for listening. See you next week.

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[Mark Ellis]

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[Mark Ellis]

And Doug.

[Bob Crawford]

What a horrible call. Hey, ref.

[Mark Ellis]

Open your eyes, ref. You're really not gonna call that?

[Bob Crawford]

Come on.

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[Mark Ellis]

I don't think you get what we're doing.

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[Bob Crawford]

Nope, that's not it.

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[Mark Ellis]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Bob Crawford]

Liberty. Go.

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[Mark Ellis]

This is where mindset comes in.

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