As we approach 2025 and the end of the 21st century’s first quarter, we wanted to look back to see which actors, actresses, directors, and movies have stood the test of time. With that in mind, for the rest of the year, the Bitesize Top Five will be giving a consensus view on what we think are the Bests of everything since 2000. We are only looking at work released since January 1, 2000, so don’t get mad because your favourites of the 90s didn’t make it.
As always, each writer ranks his or her top 15 in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. STEVEN SPIELBERG
One of the most decorated, successful, and influential directors of all time, Steven Spielberg has been a blockbuster legend for more than 50 years. Yet, he continues to produce both critical and commercial successes that resonate with audiences everywhere, having been nominated for four Best Director Oscars since 2006 (not to mention directing two Best Picture nominees that he himself wasn’t nominated for as director). Spielberg’s filmography is unmatched, combining masterful storytelling, incredible cinematography, and emotional narratives with a personal touch. The director has proven he thrives in any genre, creating countless enduring classics, including some of my favourite films. Spielberg operates in a league of his own, with an evolving style that spans generations, and is undoubtedly one of the most famous and impressive filmmakers of our time. - Katie
4. QUENTIN TARANTINO
If you were to ask me who the one director is that will guarantee my seat in the theater on opening day, it would have to be Quentin Tarantino. His gritty style is never timid, and the dialogue (which he often writes) and scene-building inevitably leads to the most historical and memorable moments in film. His appearances in his films, reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock, give fans the little “easter egg” we yearn for, while his usage of unconventional narratives and heroes guarantees your undivided attention and fan-like devotion forever. He has directed no film rated less than a seven-out-of-ten on IMDb since the turn of the century, and he undoubtedly deserves one of our coveted top spots! - Preston
3. DENIS VILLENEUVE
After bursting into the mainstream with Prisoners in 2013, Denis Villeneuve has gone on to prove himself time and time again. He’s solidified himself as one of this generation's most consistent filmmakers, providing audiences with everything from psychological horror movies to challenging sci-fi epics. His recent success with the Dune franchise, in particular, has launched him to superstardom…and for good reason. Dune is one of the best showcases of his talent for combining stunning compositions with complex, multi-faceted narratives. With a body of work as outstanding as Villeneuve’s, it’d be a crime not to put him on our list. - Caleb
2. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
I don’t believe there is another director on this list who has put out as consistent, as original, and as well-known a filmography without a complete miss as Christopher Nolan. He is the event director that has carried Steven Spielberg’s mantle of “King of Blockbusters” into the new century, and he’s done it with movies that stick with you long after their runtime because of his intricate attention to detail, superb writing, and epic storytelling spectacle. Salute to my favorite director working today, who created my favorite movie of all time. I’ll let you figure out which of his classics that is. - Amarú
1. MARTIN SCORSESE
What more is there to say about Martin Scorsese? When your output from the '60s to the '90s is as legendary as his is, the expectations will automatically be high. Yet, he began the century with hit after hit with Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Departed (the film that finally won him an Oscar), which showed his sensibilities had no sign of slowing down. Then he branched out with Shutter Island and Hugo before returning to the crime genre with The Wolf of Wall Street, proving he still had it in him. However, in my opinion, his recent, slowed-down, and more introspective output of Silence, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon rank amongst his best. Scorsese's widely agreed to be one of, if not the, best to ever do it, and you don't have to look too far as to why that is. - Adriano
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DAVID FINCHER
EDGAR WRIGHT
GUILLERMO DEL TORO
THE COEN BROTHERS
SOFIA COPPOLA
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Academy Awards; Photo 2, 5 - Getty Images; Photo 3 - Associated Press; Photo 4 - Reuters