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.
Over the next four months we will do Top Five Dramas, Comedies, Horrors, and Action Films of this century. For our purposes, we worked with the idea that every movie falls under one of those broad umbrellas. It’s imperfect, but it felt like the best course of action.
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. THE DESCENT
When I saw The Descent in 2006, I was 25 years old, and it had been a minute since a horror movie had moved my fear needle. However, The Descent was able to tap into childhood phobias that had long passed but are relatable to most everyone: the dark and tight spaces. Through unrelenting suspense, palpable tension, visceral blood & gore, effective jump scares, nightmare imagery, and adrenaline-pumping action, director Neil Marshall plays into those long dormant fears excellently, resulting in a film that is both physically and psychologically terrifying. Plus, he does it with an unknown all-female cast that, at the time, was relatively groundbreaking for the genre. As a British indie, it hasn't had the staying power as some other horror movies of the era, but I'm hoping this reintroduces you to the modern horror classic. - Quentin
4. HEREDITARY
Ari Aster’s feature debut, Hereditary, is very close to my heart. Unlike my personal number one The Babadook, which addresses the issue of grief by standing up to its monstrous manifestation and locking it away safely, Hereditary is devoid of hope, showing what happens when grief is uncontrollable and all-encompassing. Every time I watch it, I’m gripped by its dread-laden atmosphere and the way Aster submerges the audience in the family’s emotional turmoil and terror. It makes for a relentless, unforgiving portrayal of grief and trauma that is uniquely unsettling. Plus, Toni Collette is sensational and completely engrossing, giving one of the most terrifying performances I’ve ever seen. - Katie
3. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
As much as I've grown to love horror films, they do have a habit of falling into a repetitive pattern. The Cabin in the Woods has none of that. A wonderfully unique and off-the-wall idea from writers Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard - known for their work together on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel - this film takes the traditional slasher concept and turns it on its head. The main ensemble blends comedy and horror together perfectly, while the pair of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins steal every scene they pop up in. It's one of the most inventive and flat-out fun horror films we've seen in a very long time, and it rightfully earns its spot on this list. - Nick
2. A QUIET PLACE
As we discuss HERE, there are certain movies whose theater experience sticks with you for life. I watched A Quiet Place at the Magic Johnson Theater on 124th Street in Harlem, New York, and I can still hear the cavalcade of “yooos,” “sons,” and “Bs” that exploded out of the theater when that little boy got snatched up. John Krasinski’s master class of tension, sound, acting, directing, and horror earns every bit of that New York love. A Quiet Place had all of us holding our collective breath for 90-minutes straight, and kickstarted a fresh new horror franchise that should give us continued thrills for years to come. - Amarú
1. GET OUT
Do you know what is scarier than ghosts and monsters?!? Racist and elitist white people, and Get Out delivers on that idea. With its enthralling premise, writer/director Jordan Peele provides a social commentary that makes for one of the most inventive horror features to date. Peele found a way to make a horror movie that is clever, terrifying, and timeless; a modern-day masterpiece that perfectly blends intense horror and tongue-in-cheek humor. Get Out is one of the most entertaining moviegoing experiences you will ever have, thanks to its phenomenal screenplay, unsettling atmosphere, and across-the-board-stellar performances. It has solidified its status as an instant horror classic that will continue to be discussed for years to come! - Paige
HONORABLE MENTIONS
IT FOLLOWS
FINAL DESTINATION
CLOVERFIELD
READY OR NOT
SAW