The Best 21st Century Movies Directed By Women, According To The New York Times

1-11

Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - July 3rd 2025, 23:50 GMT+2

Cropped fish tank — Fish Tank (2009) – Andrea Arnold (#91)

Teen rebellion, power dynamics, and fleeting dreams come crashing together in *Fish Tank*, one of Andrea Arnold’s most visceral and intimate works. The film follows Mia, a 15-year-old navigating poverty, isolation, and the emotional chaos of adolescence in East London. Katie Jarvis gives a fiercely authentic performance as Mia, while Michael Fassbender brings both charm and danger as her mother’s new boyfriend – their unsettling chemistry forms the film’s emotional core. Arnold’s naturalistic style, often using handheld camera work and untrained actors, immerses viewers in Mia’s world with uncomfortable closeness. It’s a film that doesn’t just depict working-class life but inhabits it fully, without romanticizing or simplifying its struggles. A key example of British social realism and a landmark in women-directed cinema, *Fish Tank* remains unforgettable. | © BBC Films

Cropped The Gleaners I — The Gleaners & I (2000) – Agnès Varda (#88)

Few filmmakers have ever made a documentary as personal, playful, and profound as Agnès Varda does in *The Gleaners & I*. What begins as an exploration of people who gather society’s leftovers – whether food, objects, or ideas – evolves into a meditation on art, aging, and mortality. Varda turns the camera on herself just as much as on her subjects, weaving her own life, curiosity, and reflections into the film’s fabric with a warmth that only she could conjure. Every frame feels like a conversation, not just with the viewer but with time itself. It’s a quiet celebration of the overlooked and the undervalued, both in society and in cinema. An essential work of 21st-century feminist filmmaking, this documentary captures the heart of Varda’s lifelong creative spirit. | © Ciné Tamaris

Cropped past lives — Past Lives (2023) – Celine Song (#86)

With aching sensitivity and emotional precision, *Past Lives* unfolds the story of two childhood friends whose bond stretches across decades, continents, and unspoken desires. Celine Song crafts a deeply resonant tale about identity, immigration, and the roads not taken – themes brought to life through deeply nuanced performances by Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. Their chemistry is subtle yet powerful, especially in the presence of John Magaro, whose grounded portrayal of Nora’s husband adds quiet emotional complexity. The film doesn’t shout; it lingers, gently asking what it means to live one life while wondering about another. Its restrained storytelling and poetic pacing make it stand out in the crowded landscape of modern romance dramas. *Past Lives* cements Song’s place as one of the most promising voices in contemporary cinema. | © A24

Cropped aftersun — Aftersun (2022) – Charlotte Wells (#78)

Memory is fragile and haunting in *Aftersun*, Charlotte Wells’ extraordinary debut that captures the unspoken bond between a father and daughter during a seemingly simple vacation. Paul Mescal delivers a performance full of tenderness and quiet sorrow, while Frankie Corio’s natural presence adds a layer of innocence and immediacy that makes the film deeply affecting. What makes *Aftersun* so impactful is how it frames recollection – as flickers, fragments, and sensations that don’t fully explain themselves but leave an emotional imprint. Wells avoids melodrama in favor of subtle observation, allowing the film’s heartbreak to slowly emerge. It's a story about what we remember, and what we never truly knew. Quiet yet powerful, *Aftersun* is one of the most evocative father-daughter films in modern cinema. | © A24

Cropped the hurt locker — The Hurt Locker (2008) – Kathryn Bigelow (#68)

Tension crackles in every frame of *The Hurt Locker*, a searing portrait of war that eschews politics for an intimate look at the psychological toll of combat. Kathryn Bigelow directs with relentless precision, placing the audience in the boots of a bomb disposal team in Iraq. Jeremy Renner’s breakout performance as Sergeant James is riveting – his addiction to danger becomes the film’s central obsession, echoed by Anthony Mackie’s grounded counterbalance. The film’s documentary-style visuals heighten the realism, pulling viewers into the terrifying unpredictability of each mission. Bigelow’s historic Oscar win shattered a major glass ceiling for female directors, but beyond its accolades, *The Hurt Locker* remains one of the most gripping war films of the century. It’s as much about identity and isolation as it is about conflict. | © Voltage Pictures

Cropped little miss sunshine — Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – Valerie Faris (#63)

Quirky and heartfelt, *Little Miss Sunshine* strikes a rare balance between laugh-out-loud comedy and deep emotional truth. Co-directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, the film follows a wildly dysfunctional family as they travel across the country to support young Olive’s dream of entering a children’s beauty pageant. Abigail Breslin’s endearing performance as Olive anchors the story, surrounded by a stellar ensemble including Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, and Alan Arkin – who won an Oscar for his hilariously foul-mouthed, heroin-snorting grandfather. Faris brings just the right mix of indie charm and narrative polish, helping the film tap into deeper themes of failure, hope, and resilience. It remains one of the most beloved American indies of the 2000s – a standout in both comedy and women-directed cinema. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped toni erdmann — Toni Erdmann (2016) – Maren Ade (#59)

Few films walk the line between absurdity and emotional depth as masterfully as *Toni Erdmann*. Directed by Maren Ade, this German comedy-drama tells the story of a prank-loving father who tries to reconnect with his overworked, emotionally distant daughter by inventing an alter ego. Sandra Hüller gives a powerhouse performance as Ines, whose guarded exterior slowly unravels in the face of her father’s unpredictable antics, played by Peter Simonischek. While its runtime is generous, every scene is rich with tension, humor, and heartbreaking insight into modern corporate life and fractured family bonds. The film’s balance of deadpan wit and profound vulnerability earned it global acclaim and cemented Ade’s status as a vital voice in international cinema. *Toni Erdmann* is not just a feminist triumph – it’s one of the boldest and most original films of the 21st century. | © Komplizen Film

Cropped lady bird — Lady Bird (2017) – Greta Gerwig (#39)

Greta Gerwig’s *Lady Bird* is a near-perfect coming-of-age film that blends sharp wit with heartfelt honesty, capturing the turbulent journey of a teenage girl longing for independence. Saoirse Ronan is luminous as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a Sacramento high school senior navigating her final year before college, while Laurie Metcalf gives a moving performance as her tough-loving, emotionally complex mother. The film is filled with tiny, specific moments that feel universal – fights in thrift stores, college rejection letters, awkward romances – all presented with Gerwig’s signature humor and emotional clarity. With supporting roles from Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges, and Beanie Feldstein, the ensemble cast sparkles. *Lady Bird* marked Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, earning her Oscar nominations and a place among the most important female filmmakers of her generation. | © A24

Cropped portrait of a lady on fire — Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) – Céline Sciamma (#38)

*Portrait of a Lady on Fire* is a slow-burning, visually stunning meditation on forbidden love, desire, and the act of looking. Directed by Céline Sciamma, the film unfolds on a remote island in 18th-century France, where a painter is commissioned to secretly capture the likeness of a bride-to-be. Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel deliver unforgettable performances as their characters fall into a love that feels as transcendent as it is doomed. Sciamma’s direction is meticulous – every glance, brushstroke, and silence holds weight – and the film builds toward a crescendo of emotion without ever raising its voice. With a haunting final sequence that lingers long after the credits roll, *Portrait of a Lady on Fire* is widely regarded as one of the most important queer love stories of the 21st century. | © Lilies Films

Cropped lost in translation — Lost in Translation (2003) – Sofia Coppola (#30)

Melancholy, atmospheric, and deeply personal, *Lost in Translation* marked a defining moment in early 2000s cinema. Sofia Coppola crafts an intimate story of two lonely souls – played by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson – who form an unlikely connection in the neon glow of Tokyo. Their chemistry is understated but powerful, capturing the kind of emotional intimacy that defies clear explanation. Coppola’s direction is quiet and observational, allowing the city’s rhythms and silences to shape the narrative as much as the dialogue. The film earned her an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and made her the third woman ever nominated for Best Director. With its ethereal tone and exploration of identity, alienation, and fleeting relationships, *Lost in Translation* remains one of the most iconic women-directed films of the century. | © Focus Features

Cropped anatomy of a fall — Anatomy of a Fall (2023) – Justine Triet (#26)

Blending courtroom drama with psychological thriller, *Anatomy of a Fall* is a gripping dissection of truth, bias, and the invisible roles women are forced to play. Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or–winning film centers on a novelist, played by Sandra Hüller, who becomes the prime suspect in her husband’s mysterious death. As the investigation unfolds, so does a portrait of a marriage filled with complexity, resentment, and power struggles. Triet builds tension with masterful restraint, turning the courtroom into a stage for both legal and emotional reckoning. Hüller’s riveting performance anchors the film, as does the subtle but potent role of the couple’s visually impaired son, whose testimony becomes a moral crux. *Anatomy of a Fall* challenges viewers to question not just what they believe, but why they believe it. | © Les Films Pelléas

1-11

When The New York Times released its list of the best films of the 21st century, it sparked both celebration and conversation. Among the many standout titles, a smaller but powerful subset deserves special recognition: the films helmed by women directors. In an industry historically dominated by men, these works not only broke through barriers but also helped reshape modern cinema. From intimate dramas to bold experiments in storytelling, this article highlights every film on that list directed by a woman – and why each one matters. Whether you're a cinephile or simply exploring new voices in film, this guide shines a light on the female filmmakers redefining the art form in the 21st century.