Recently, The New York Times polled several hundred names in Hollywood to find the 100 greatest movies of the 21st century. Actors, producers, directors, and more provided their own personal top 10 films since the year 2000 and one of them was acclaimed filmmaker Celine Song.

Celine Song made waves when she wrote and directed the crushing Past Lives in 2023, which ended up nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Her follow-up, Materialists, was one of the most talked-about movies of 2025 and cemented her as one of the top names telling modern romance tales.

Among the films she named that made the official list were Children of Men and Mad Max: Fury Road. However, she was the only person to name a few movies like Computer Chess and one 2024 release that is also an intriguing tale of modern romance.

Celine Song Says Queer Is One Of The Best Movies Of The Century

She Was The Lone Person To Name This Film

Celine Song named Queer as one of the best movies released since 2000. The film comes from the mind of Luca Guadagnino, who directed it, and Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote the movie. Queer is set in Mexico City and Ecuador during the 1950s and centers on an American man (Daniel Craig) named William living there.

While there, William becomes infatuated with a younger man (Drew Starkey), leading to an explosive connection. The film was met with strong critical acclaim, with most of it going toward Daniel Craig, who landed nominations at the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe Awards for his performance.

It’s understandable that Song was the only person to name the movie. As good as Queer is, not many films from the past couple of years were mentioned as the focus was more on projects that had staying powers and lasting impacts. Something from 2024 hasn’t had the chance to prove that just yet.

Queer Proves Luca Guadagnino Is A Top Director Of The 21st Century

He’s Been Behind Some Of The Best Films In Recent Memory

Luca Guadagnino made his directorial debut back in 1999 with The Protagonists but he didn’t truly break out until the 2010s. He helmed the well-received A Bigger Splash before Call Me By Your Name really made him a director to watch, since it was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

His follow-ups included a remake of Suspiria, the cannibalistic love story Bones and All, and the critically acclaimed tennis film Challengers. The movies being critical darlings are enough to make him a top director of the era but it goes beyond that.

Guadagnino has consistently worked with some of the best talent in Hollywood. He’s made multiple movies with Dakota Johnson (who just did Materialists with Celine Song), Tilda Swinton, and Timothée Chalamet. Challengers also saw him work with the wildly popular Zendaya in what might be her best role.

Guadagnino tells complex, unique stories of love, often in the LGBTQ+ realm, and it helps him stand out as one of the best filmmakers currently in Hollywood. His next film, After the Hunt, looks to continue his string of success.