The Best Cinematography of the 21st Century
Created by Igor_Brynner.
Favorited 2 times, disliked 0 times, added to 0 watchlists.
The technology of cinematography has undergone some of the most seismic shifts in film history this century, with what began in the 2000s as an almost entirely photochemical process transforming into the digitally captured, manipulated, and projected images of today. The art of cinematography, however — using light, color, and texture to express ideas and elicit emotional reactions from the audience — remains intact.
In 2017, IndieWire made a list of the best shot feature films of the century thus far; the list was updated in 2020, and what follows is the third and most extensive version of the list. It’s also the first to be spearheaded by the IndieWire Craft team, which has grown considerably since this list was first published. Ranking cinematography is, in some ways, a fool’s errand given the broad variety of genres, resources, and intentions encompassed by the films below, but these are 60 titles that IndieWire believes will stand the test of time.
Pssst, want to check out the The Best Cinematography of the 21st Century list in our new look?
Filter
-
1 new
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward...
2007, in 7 top lists Check -
18 new
Mr. Turner
2014, in 1 top list Check -
44 new
The Aviator
2004, in 8 top lists Check -
67 new
Bright Star
2009, in 4 top lists Check -
71 new
Le scaphandre et le papillon
2007 — a.k.a. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, in 7 top lists Check -
77 new
Yi dai zong shi
2013 — a.k.a. The Grandmaster, in 2 top lists Check -
93 new
The New World
2005, in 10 top lists Check -
99 new
Renoir
2012, in 0 top lists Check -
101 new
Rush
2013, in 6 top lists Check
Last updated on Aug 20, 2023; source