20 of the most influential movies of the past 20 years

It is impossible not to mention this movie, which has influenced a whole generation. The director Jean-Pierre Jeunet came back strong after having struggled on the set of Alien IV, even though he did manage to successfully tame the xenomorph. We expected to find him at the helm of another American blockbuster after that. But Jeunet took his audience by surprise with this lighthearted and surprising romantic comedy that allowed actress Audrey Tautou to rise to international fame. At the beginning of the millennium, French cinema delivered a beautiful message with this poetic and positive story. A picturesque universe that is a true work of art thanks to the excellent storytelling and supporting actors. Amélie is without a doubt a brilliant movie that deserves its spot in this non-exhaustive list.

In 20 years, Korean cinema has gained a worldwide reputation and Oldboy most likely paved the way for Parasite’s success. The story of this unknown man, who is held captive for fifteen years and released just as abruptly, who sets out in search of an explanation and revenge, is truly captivating. Director Park Chan-Wook’s technical skill, as well as the channeling of Dae-su’s delirium into what seems to be wandering, is the result of a carefully orchestrated trajectory, the symbolic expression of anger against his own country which had just emerged from dictatorship. A fascinating movie in terms of visual impact and emotional power, and a chance to discover a great filmmaker awarded the Grand Prix at Cannes. A must-see!

Very few Japanese anime directors make a lasting impression on international cinema. There was Otomo with Akira in the early 90s, then Miyazaki and Oshii, and, more recently, Hosoda and Shinkai. But there is a very special director whose name is synonymous with powerful emotional experiences: Satoshi Kon. He is the director of only four animated feature films including Paprika, his last movie before his death in 2010. Evoking the dream world, Paprika is a breathtaking visual delirium that has influenced filmmakers like Christopher Nolan. With just a few works, Satoshi Kon established himself as an anime legend. His movies, from Perfect Blue to Millennium Actress, are dreamlike cinematographic experiences to be watched again and again.

The Coen brothers have been around since the 80s with their surprising projects, and No Country for Old Men further reinforced (if it was necessary) their notoriety. Joel and Ethan are so prolific that I had to choose one of their movies for this list. I chose this one because not only is it an excellent thriller that was widely acclaimed in many international festivals, it also brings together a trio of exceptional actors: a young Josh Brolin who reveals his talent in this movie, Tommy Lee Jones who has successfully portrayed several Texan cops, and Javier Bardem (with his questionable haircut) who is more terrifying than ever. A striking film that impresses with its mature production, intense pace and humor-tinged dialogues, all enveloped in an exceptionally violent atmosphere. As critics often say: an instant classic!

James Cameron takes his time when making movies… We had to wait twelve years after Titanic for the release of Avatar in December 2009. In concluding the first decade of the 21st century, Cameron also opened the door to the future of cinema. He imposed 3D technology on cinemas across the globe and made a movie with unparalleled technical achievements. By combining the talents of Peter Jackson’s magicians at Weta and George Lucas’ ILM masters, they succeeded in transporting us to Avatar’s distant universe on planet Pandora. It was an unforgettable trip for the many viewers who enjoyed it. Up until the latest Avengers movie, Avatar was the highest grossing movie ever at 2.7 billion dollars. A phenomenal success that established James Cameron as one of Hollywood’s greatest visionary directors. The digital techniques used to create Avatar have served as references for all productions to date. A journey into the alien tribes of Pandora, which offered the viewer an unprecedented immersive experience. Avatar was a real turning point in cinematographic worldbuilding.

2011 was a successful year for French cinema thanks to this dramatic comedy directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. Based on true events, this very moving story is about a quadriplegic man (played by François Cluzet) from a well-to-do family who rediscovers the pleasure of living thanks to his caregiver, a Senegalese man from the Parisian suburbs portrayed by Omar Sy. Everything that opposes the two protagonists and the hardships they experience together, which inevitably brings them closer together, really tug at the viewer’s heartstrings. A clever balance between comedy and social commentary and, above all, a duo that makes the story come alive yet never becomes caricatural. When this chemistry works, it produces an inspiring and profoundly human movie that is an important piece of French cinema.

Leonardo DiCaprio again, but this time with Martin Scorsese for a movie that marked the director’s return to form. Based on true events, the story plunges us into the world of the Stock Exchange and brokers, notably their embezzlement schemes in the 80s. The audience didn’t expect to find the mafia-like atmosphere of Casino, but Scorsese manages to immerse us in an even more crime-ridden universe with these traders. It is the extravagance and excess of this movie that is astounding, along with the 71-year old filmmaker’s ability to show us the boundless overindulgence of the main character. Goodbye morality! The Wolves of Wall Street are unleashed and Scorsese follows them to their limits with a series of now-cult scenes seldom seen in this kind of financial thriller.

At the risk of repeating myself, here is another 70-year old director who shows the younger generation how it’s done by successfully bringing back a mythical character to the big screen: Mad Max: Fury Road is not far from being a perfect movie. We weren’t expecting to see 80s hero Max again, especially not in a sequel… Miller succeeded in replacing the iconic Mel Gibson with Tom Hardy, who is less charismatic but is accompanied by Charlize Theron, who steals the show with her masterful portrayal of Imperator Furiosa. Fury Road is an impressive visual ballet that completely renews the genre, a feast for the eyes with a well-delivered dose of feminism. A huge box-office success, this fourth installment in Max’s adventures also received rave reviews. This movie reigned supreme in 2015 with an impressive list of awards from around the world. We’re waiting for the sequel now George!

If we could pick only one movie from the entire galaxy of superhero movies released since 2008’s Iron Man, which ushered in the Marvel era, it would have to be James Manigold’s Logan. The latter is an excellent director, who had already released several hits such as Cop Land with Sylvester Stallone and 3:10 to Yuma, a stunning western starring Russel Crowe and Christian Bale. Logan is his second (and last) installment in the adventures of Wolverine, who is portrayed by the excellent Hugh Jackman. Taking place in the near future, the story depicts an ageing superhero at the bedside of Professor X, played by Patrick Stewart, who can no longer control his powers. The whole thing smacks of disaster. Everything changes when Wolverine meets a young girl who is on the run and who has powers similar to his. An emotional and tenebrous movie that brings credibility to the genre. As soon as it was released, critics unanimously hailed Logan as a new reference of the genre and lauded its authentic and moving story. Besides the graphic violence, the characters finally received a depth and humanity we didn’t expect for a Marvel movie.

To wrap up our selection, we’re returning to Korean cinema with the completion and confirmation of 20 years of development of Asian productions. Parasite is an excellent movie, with great characters, atmosphere and direction. Bong Joon-Ho, strengthened by his experience with Memories of Murder, The Host and Snowpiercer, created an unpredictable thriller. One of the great strengths of Korean movies is their unguessable endings. Even though the characters and situations are complex, the flow of the story still seems good. The dramatic process transports the viewer exactly where the director intends. And we ask to see more with almost culpable enthusiasm. This movie, in which the house is at the center of a poisonous plot, pits two parts of the Korean population against each other and is a social satire that doesn’t forget to immerse us in the rhythm and tension of a thriller. A highly accomplished movie deserving of the shower of international awards it received, from the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Picture in Hollywood, a first for a Korean production.