The New York Times' list of the 100 best movies of the 21st Century has been the talk of the town since its publication on the 22nd of June 2025.Imminent celebrities, actors, directors, songwriters, novelists, and producersparticipated in a poll that was then used to create the list of the 100 best films of the last 25 years.
From ascarily relevant Joaquin Phoenix movieto amovie filmed secretly inside Walt Disney World, the list includes many expected films of great renown and many surprising picks that don’t often find their way onto such lists. Despite the contentions over what movies made it to the list, it is undoubtedly a celebration of 21st-century cinema.
The votes revealwhat films celebrities consider to be the greatest of the 21st Century, and even if they aren’t on the final list of 100, they’re great films worth watching and celebrating. Many great movies that should have made it onto theNew York Times' list of top filmshave been recognized by the voters in their individual selections.
Gabourey Sidibe Picked Pariah As A Top Movie Of The Century
She Is Most Famous For Her Role In Precious
Gabourey Sidibe won an Academy Award nomination in 2010 for her incredible performance as the protagonist in the harrowing dramaPrecious.She has since appeared in films likeGrimsby,Tower Heist,Seven Psychopaths, and most recently, in the 2025 Lifetime movie,Give Me Back My Daughter. Sidibe was among the voters chosen by the New York Times.
Gabourey Sidibe chose five films for the poll of the 100 best movies of the 21st Century, and among them wasPariah, an underrated film that deserved to be on the list. There are manysurprising films on the New York Times' list, and Sidibe’s pick makes one wonder if it deserves a spot in place of one of them.
The most frequently discussed LGBTQ-themed films are on the New York Times' list, but most of the niche films are missing.
Seven Psychopaths, in which Sidibe plays a minor role, is the only film on her list that she appears in. The James Mangold thrillerIdentityis also among her choices. One of the other films is the 2023 remake ofThe Color Purple. Her list is closed out by whatmany are saying is 2025’s best film, Ryan Coogler’sSinners.
Pariah Was A Breakout Movie For Both Its Star & Director
Pariah, written and directed by Dee Rees, follows a 17-year-old Brooklyn girl, Alike, played by Adepero Oduye, who grapples with her identity as a lesbian. It is a moving exploration of queer sexuality and expression, the roles of family and environment in shaping who we become, and the importance of individuality and experimentation in claiming one’s identity as their own.
14 years ago, both Dee Rees and Adepero Oduye broke out onto the scene withPariah.Dee Rees has since directed films like the biopicBessie, starring Queen Latifah, the post-War dramaMudbound, and the political thrillerThe Last Thing He Wanted. Most recently, she was one of the five directors of the war drama miniseriesMasters of the Air.
Pariahwas an influential film, but it remains underrated.
Meanwhile, Adepero Oduye has nabbed herself roles in films likeThe Big Short,12 Years A Slave,Half Nelson,Galveston,The Dinner,Geostorm, andWidows. She has also appeared inthe MCU miniseriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and most recently in the 2024 Netflix miniseriesEric. So,Pariahwas an influential film, but it remains underrated.
Pariah
Pariah: Released on July 09, 2025, Pariah follows a Brooklyn teenager navigating conflicting identities, friendship, and family dynamics while seeking sexual expression. The story delves into the complexities of adolescence and self-discovery.
