Stephen King Voted For These 10 Films as the Best Movies of the 21st Century
Stephen King Voted For These 10 Films as the Best Movies of the 21st Century
Carly SilvaSun, April 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC
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With over 50 feature films adapted from his stories, it's safe to say Stephen King knows what makes a good movie.
The legendary author and "King of Horror" was one of many celebrities who cast their votes for the New York Time's ranking of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, selecting 10 movies he believes deserved a spot on the list.
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King's ballot contained a wide range of selections, featuring some critically-acclaimed films and, of course, a few horror movies—though he notably didn't include any films based on his own works. But six out of the 10 movies King selected ended up making the master list, speaking to his impeccable taste.
Check out which movies earned King's vote for the best films of the century:
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Black Hawk Down, a 2001 war film based on the true story of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film starred Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Tom Sizemore.
Rotten Tomatoes score:77%
Average Letterboxd rating: 3.7/5 stars
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romance film that portrays a pivotal LGBTQ+ narrative between two cowboys, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. It received eight Academy Award nominations, it won three (Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score).
Brokeback Mountain was also named on the Times' final list of winners, ranked at #17 on the 100 Best list.
Rotten Tomatoes score:88%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.2/5 stars
Children of Men (2006)
Children of Men, a 2006 dystopian sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is set in a post-apocalyptic world in 2027. It stars Julianne Moore, Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and was nominated for three Oscars.
Children of Men also ranked on the full 100 Best list, coming it at #13.
Rotten Tomatoes score:92%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.3/5 stars
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Released in 2004, Million Dollar Baby is a sports drama film directed by and starring ClintEastwood, as well as Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. It won Picture of the Year at the Oscars in 2005, and also took home the Lead Actress and Supporting Actor categories. Eastwood also won the Academy Award Oscar for Best Directing.
Rotten Tomatoes score:90%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.0/5 stars
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No Country For Old Men (2007)
No Country For Old Men was ranked at #6 on the full 100 Best list, and it was also named as one of King's favorites. Starring Javier Bordem, Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones, the 2007 film was directed by Ethan and Joel Cohen, and won four Oscars at the 2008 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Rotten Tomatoes score:93%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.3/5 stars
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Another selection from the Cohen Brothers, King selected O Brother, Where Art Thou? on his ballot. The 2000 comedy-drama film stars George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? also ranked on the full 100 Best list, coming it at #76.
Rotten Tomatoes score:78%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.0/5 stars
Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, released in 2023, is a dramatization of the real life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist who played a pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb. It won a whopping seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Directing.
Oppenheimer was also ranked at #65 on the full 100 Best list.
Rotten Tomatoes score:93%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.2/5 stars
The Departed (2006)
#31 on the Times' full 100 Best list, The Departed is a 2006 crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. It won four Oscars, including Best Picture.
Rotten Tomatoes score:91%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.3/5 stars
The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024)
True to his horror roots, King included The Rule of Jenny Pen on his ballot. Released in 2024 and directed by James Ashcroft, it stars John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, Nikki MacDonnell and Maaka Pohatu.
Rotten Tomatoes score:72%
Letterboxd average rating: 3.1/5 stars
Train to Busan (2016)
A 2016 action-horror film, Train to Busan is a Korean film directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi and Ma Dong-seok.
Rotten Tomatoes score:95%
Letterboxd average rating: 4.0/5 stars
Related: This Classic Film's Canine Star Was Named the 'Best Movie Dog of All Time'
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
