8 Greatest Epic Movie Masterpieces of the 21st Century, Ranked

Building off the foundations of 20th-century cinema, the 21st century has produced some stellar films that rank among the greatest of all time. And of these, some of the greatest are the epics, movies that offer such grand scale and sweeping storytelling as to stand alongside the classical canon as true works of art. From sprawling dramas and ensemble fantasies to exciting thrillers, fantastical adventures, and more, the great epics of the 21st century are modern-day classics whose influence is sure to be felt for decades to come.

It is still early in the century, so there’s every chance that the best of 21st-century cinema is still to come, and of the films we’ve seen so far, relative greatness is obviously subjective. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t think of some 21st-century films that are undeniable century-defining masterpieces. So, with that in mind, here’s our ranked selection of some of the greatest epic movie masterpieces of the 21st century.

1

‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)

Image via Paramount Vantage

Loosely inspired by Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil!, There Will Be Blood is an epic period drama written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as miner-turned-oil tycoon Daniel Plainview, and the movie follows his lifelong quest for wealth and power during the California oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movie’s ensemble cast also includes Paul Dano, Kevin J. O’Connor, Ciarán Hinds, Dillon Freasier, and more.

A sprawling character drama that’s widely hailed as one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s greatest films, There Will Be Blood was a critical darling and a box office success. Praised by viewers and reviewers alike for its direction, cinematography, performances, and music by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, the movie is an incredible epic that examines the greed and moral decay encouraged by a runaway capitalist system. The film has earned several prestigious awards and had the rare honor of being named one of the top 10 films of the year by the National Board of Review, the American Film Institute, and the National Society of Film Critics.

2

‘Gangs of New York’ (2002)

Image via Miramax Films

Based on Herbert Asbury‘s 1928 book and directed by Martin Scorsese, Gangs of New York is a historical drama set in New York in the late 1800s. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as “Amsterdam” Vallon, and the film follows his quest for revenge against Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), the man who killed his father. The film also stars Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan, Brendan Gleeson, and Liam Neeson in supporting roles.

When it first hit theaters in 2002, Gangs of New York was well-received by critics, but it wasn’t a box office success. Its reputation, however, has grown significantly in the years since, and the film is now regarded by most fans as one of Martin Scorsese’s greatest crime masterpieces. Anchored by its intense performances, particularly those by DiCaprio and Day-Lewis, the movie is an epic crime story with immersive and impeccable production design. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance in the film earned him nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe and won him a BAFTA. The movie received numerous other accolades as well, including a total of 10 Academy Award nods.

3

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds is a World War II black comedy thriller that takes its name from the fictional unit of Jewish American soldiers it’s centered on. The film explores two parallel plots to assassinate important Nazi leaders, one by the French Jewish proprietor of a Paris theater (Mélanie Laurent) and the other by the Basterds, led by their commander, U.S. Army lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt). The movie also features Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, and more in other key roles.

Whether Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino’s masterpiece or not is debatable, but the film is undeniably one of the greatest of the 21st century so far. A violent and darkly funny thrill ride that reimagines WWII history, the film forgoes the usual melodramatic tropes common in war movies, replacing them with wit, tension, and explosive action. The film has been widely praised for its narrative, dialogue, and well-choreographed set pieces, and it won several awards, earning Christoph Waltz his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

4

‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

Image via Warner Bros.

Adapted from the second half of Frank Herbert’s Dune, Dune: Part Two is an epic space opera film directed, produced, and co-written by Denis Villeneuve and a sequel to his 2021 film Dune: Part One. Picking up after the events of the first movie, the sequel continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who joins Arrakis’ Fremen people in their resistance against House Harkonnen. Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and more reprise their roles from the first film, with the ensemble also including new cast members Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Souheila Yacoub.

One of the highest-grossing films of 2024, Dune: Part Two received near-universal acclaim at the time of its premiere, pushing the franchise to greater heights. Combining stunning visuals with engaging performances and a sprawling story, the film is a sci-fi masterpiece that brings greater character development and epic battles to the story. It’s also a technical triumph, notably incorporating a real partial solar eclipse into its opening scene, and the movie has earned many honors, including the Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

5

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Image via Universal Pictures

Directed, written, and produced by Christopher Nolan and based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s 2005 biography American Prometheus, Oppenheimer is a biographical thriller that follows the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The film stars Cillian Murphy in the title role and explores Oppenheimer’s involvement in the development of the first nuclear bomb during World War II. Besides Murphy, the movie also features Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, and more in significant roles.

An acclaimed, Academy Award-winning drama, Oppenheimer was a pop culture phenomenon when it first hit theaters in 2023, and it’s been widely hailed as a genre-blending masterpiece that’s part biographical epic, part psychological thriller, and part philosophical drama. A critical and commercial success, the film won seven Academy Awards out of 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), as well as several other accolades. Featuring stellar direction, cinematography, performances, and practical effects, Oppenheimer is easily one of the greatest war films of the 21st century so far.

6

‘The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King’ (2003)

Image via New Line Cinema 

Directed and co-written by Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s volume and the third and final film of Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows the final act of the Lord of the Rings saga, with the hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) making their way to Mount Doom while the other members of the Fellowship wage a final, climactic battle against Sauron and his legions. The ensemble cast includes Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, and more.

Technically speaking, the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy ranks among the greatest movie epics of the century, but of all three films, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is arguably the greatest. A beloved fantasy landmark and one of the highest-grossing films of all time, the movie was very warmly received by critics and fans when it was first released in 2003, and it has been widely hailed as one of the best fantasy movies ever made. Featuring some truly spectacular battle scenes and mindblowing landscapes, The Return of the King is a true masterpiece, and it appropriately earned several prestigious awards, including 11 Oscar wins.

7

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Co-written, co-produced, and directed by George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road is the long-delayed fourth installment in Miller’s Mad Max film series, released 30 years after its predecessor, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Set in a dystopian wasteland where water and fuel are commodities worth killing for, the post-apocalyptic action epic follows Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he helps Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) rebel against the warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). The film also features Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, and more in supporting roles.

An epic film in both scale and production, Mad Max: Fury Road is widely hailed as one of the greatest action films of the 21st century, and it’s easily the most acclaimed and commercially successful film of the franchise. Featuring incredible visuals, compelling characters, and intricate worldbuilding, the film is a masterwork that ranks among George Miller’s best, anchored by the stellar performances of Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. The film earned numerous accolades, including six Academy Awards and four BAFTAs.

8

‘1917’ (2019)

Image via Dreamworks Pictures

Co-written and directed by Sam Mendes, 1917 is a British war drama set during World War I that stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporals William “Will” Schofield and Thomas “Tom” Blake, respectively. The film follows the two young soldiers as they attempt to deliver an important message to another battalion, risking their lives to save 1,600 men from slaughter. The movie’s ensemble cast also includes Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Easily one of the greatest war movies of the 21st century, 1917 was a critical and commercial success when it premiered in 2019, grossing over $446 million worldwide and winning several accolades. An epic story of wartime heroism, the film is a highly immersive audiovisual journey enhanced by its powerful performances and the stunning cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins, who won an Oscar, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Award for his work in the movie. 1917 was also named one of the best movies of the year 2019 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.

Release Date

January 10, 2020

Runtime

119 minutes