🎦 for cinephiles: MUBI's top 50 films 1990-2023
the Top 50 list ranks only films released that year and does not change, so it's more like a time capsule. (although there is some overlap, this differs from the Top 1000 list which ranks all films from all years and updates weekly.) each year's list is compiled of films worldwide so only a handful of titles from MDL will make it. sorting here is in reverse chronological order, then as ranked on MUBI (except animation which is listed at the end). sources are linked on each title below.
► some titles link to kanopy and/or hoopla, which are free streaming services with no ads accessible through participating public libraries and universities. they have titles that can't be found elsewhere but there's a limit to "borrowing" (i've seen 4 titles per month for each service but ymmv). these are meant to be a last resort because technically it's only free for the end user - the library is the one being charged. (film quarterly article about this) ◄
also see ~ MUBI's Top 1000 Films | IFF LGBTQ films | more of my custom lists
cw: for warnings on anything you may find disturbing or offensive (depictions of queerphobias, discrimination, shaming, violence, or other triggering content), please check tags* on the title's page, user reviews, and/or Does the Dog Die (although not all titles are there). [*click "Vote or add tags" to see all - but this will include spoilers.]
-
1. Perfect Days
Japanese Movie - 2023
#12 for 2023
-
2. Monster
Japanese Movie - 2023
#20 for 2023
♦ directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
-
3. Decision to Leave
Korean Movie - 2022
-
4. The Novelist's Film
Korean Movie - 2022
#27 for 2022
♦ written and directed by Hong Sang Soo
-
5. Broker
Korean Movie - 2022
#33 for 2022
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
-
6. Drive My Car
Japanese Movie - 2021
#5 for 2021
♦ written by Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Oe Takamasa | directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
-
7. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Japanese Movie - 2021
-
8. The Woman Who Ran
Korean Movie - 2020
-
9. Days
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
-
10. Parasite
Korean Movie - 2019
#1 for 2019
♦ written by Bong Joon Ho & Han Jin Won | directed by Bong Joon Ho
-
11. Shoplifters
Japanese Movie - 2018
#4 for 2018
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► hoopla (w/library card) | dramacool | amazon (rent, buy, or magnolia selects sub) ◄
-
12. Burning
Korean Movie - 2018
-
13. On the Beach at Night Alone
Korean Movie - 2017
-
14. The Handmaiden
Korean Movie - 2016
#4 for 2016
♦ co-written and directed by Park Chan Wook
-
15. The Wailing
Korean Movie - 2016
-
16. Happy Hour
Japanese Movie - 2015
#2 for 2015
♦ co-written and directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
-
17. Cemetery of Splendour
Thai Movie - 2015
#11 for 2015
♦ written and directed by Joei Apichatpong Weerasethakul
-
18. Our Little Sister
Japanese Movie - 2015
-
19. Right Now, Wrong Then
Korean Movie - 2015
#17 for 2015
-
20. Kaili Blues
Chinese Movie - 2015
-
22. Snowpiercer
Korean Movie - 2013
#22 for 2013
♦ South Korea / Czech Republic Movie
♦ directed by Bong Joon Ho, his first English language film
-
23. A Touch of Sin
Chinese Movie - 2013
#31 for 2013
-
24. Like Father, Like Son
Japanese Movie - 2013
-
25. The Grandmaster
Hong Kong Movie - 2013
#40 for 2013
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
-
26. Like Someone in Love
Japanese Movie - 2012
-
27. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Thai Movie - 2010
#15 for 2010
♦ directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
-
28. I Saw the Devil
Korean Movie - 2010
-
29. Poetry
Korean Movie - 2010
#32 for 2010
► coming to tubi on june 1st (free w/ads) ◄ -postponed previously so ??-
-
30. 13 Assassins
Japanese Movie - 2010
#35 for 2010
♦ directed by Miike Takashi
-
31. Confessions
Japanese Movie - 2010
#46 for 2010
-
32. Mother
Korean Movie - 2009
-
33. Thirst
Korean Movie - 2009
#32 for 2009
♦ written and directed by Park Chan Wook
-
34. Still Walking
Japanese Movie - 2008
-
35. Departures
Japanese Movie - 2008
-
36. Tokyo!
Japanese Movie - 2008
-
37. Love Exposure
Japanese Movie - 2009
-
38. Tokyo Sonata
Japanese Movie - 2008
#45 for 2008
♦ directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
-
39. The Chaser
Korean Movie - 2008
-
40. Lust, Caution
Chinese Movie - 2007
#42 for 2007
♦ directed by Ang Lee
══════════
◘ My Blueberry Nights
Chinese / French / Hong Kong / United States Movie - 2007
#44 for 2007
♦ directed by Wong Kar Wai, his first English language film
{MDL does not add titles if country of origin is split with any non-MDL countries}
► tubi (free w/ads) ◄══════════
-
41. The Host
Korean Movie - 2006
-
42. Syndromes and a Century
Thai Movie - 2006
#26 for 2006
♦ directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
-
43. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
Korean Movie - 2006
-
44. Still Life
Chinese Movie - 2006
#34 for 2006
♦ directed by Jia Zhang Ke
-
45. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Korean Movie - 2005
-
46. The Wayward Cloud
Taiwanese Movie - 2005
#35 for 2005
-
47. Three Times
Taiwanese Movie - 2005
#45 for 2005
-
48. A Bittersweet Life
Korean Movie - 2005
#46 for 2005
► coming to tubi on june 1st (free w/ads) ◄ -postponed previously so ??-
-
49. 2046
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
#8 for 2004
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 3 of informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild | part 2: In the Mood for Love (both are also on this list)
► dramacool ◄
-
50. 3-Iron
Korean Movie - 2004
-
51. Nobody Knows
Japanese Movie - 2004
#21 for 2004
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► tubi (free w/ads) | dramacool | amazon (ifc or amc+ sub) ◄
-
52. Tropical Malady
Thai Movie - 2004
-
53. Kung Fu Hustle
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
#28 for 2004
♦ written by Stephen Chow (Chow Sing Chi) & Tsang Kan Cheong | directed by Stephen Chow (Chow Sing Chi)
-
54. House of Flying Daggers
Chinese Movie - 2004
#32 for 2004
♦ written by Wang Bin | directed by Zhang Yi Mou
-
55. Tony Takitani
Japanese Movie - 2005
-
56. Old Boy
Korean Movie - 2003
#3 for 2003
♦ written and directed by Park Chan Wook
-
57. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring
Korean Movie - 2003
#15 for 2003
♦ written and directed by Kim Ki Duk
► dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) | -also youtube and google play (both rent or buy)- ◄ ▼ might link later! ▼
-
58. Memories of Murder
Korean Movie - 2003
#17 for 2003
♦ written and directed by Bong Joon Ho
-
60. A Tale of Two Sisters
Korean Movie - 2003
#20 for 2003
-
61. Last Life in the Universe
Thai Movie - 2003
#24 for 2003
-
62. Goodbye, Dragon Inn
Taiwanese Movie - 2003
#30 for 2003
-
63. Cafe Lumiere
Japanese Movie - 2004
#46 for 2003
-
64. Hero
Chinese Movie - 2002
#10 for 2002
♦ written by Wang Bin | directed by Zhang Yi Mou
► amazon (rent or buy *subbed version*) ◄
language not specified: google play (rent or buy; trailer in english so probably dubbed) english dubbed: youtube | pluto (free w/ads) | youtube (rent or buy) not available:
mubi|tubi?|kanopy|hoopla|dramacool -
65. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Korean Movie - 2002
-
66. Infernal Affairs
Hong Kong Movie - 2002
#19 for 2002
-
68. Blissfully Yours
Thai Movie - 2002
#41 for 2002
-
69. The Twilight Samurai
Japanese Movie - 2002
#49 for 2002
-
70. Ichi the Killer
Japanese Movie - 2001
#18 for 2001
♦ directed by Miike Takashi
► mubi | hoopla (w/library card) ◄ ·=═ leaving mubi soon ═=·
-
71. What Time Is It There?
Taiwanese Movie - 2001
#23 for 2001
-
72. Millennium Mambo
Taiwanese Movie - 2001
#33 for 2001
-
73. All About Lily Chou Chou
Japanese Movie - 2001
-
74. Visitor Q
Japanese Movie - 2001
#40 for 2001
♦ directed by Miike Takashi
-
76. Shaolin Soccer
Hong Kong Movie - 2001
-
77. In the Mood for Love
Hong Kong Movie - 2000
#3 for 2000
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 2 of an informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild | part 3: 2046 (both are also on this list)
-
78. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Chinese Movie - 2000
-
79. Battle Royale
Japanese Movie - 2000
-
80. Yi Yi
Taiwanese Movie - 2000
#15 for 2000
♦ written and directed by Edward Yang
-
81. Joint Security Area
Korean Movie - 2000
-
82. The Isle
Korean Movie - 2000
#36 for 2000
♦ written and directed by Kim Ki Duk
-
87. Peppermint Candy
Korean Movie - 2000
#49 for 1999
-
88. After Life
Japanese Movie - 1998
-
91. Flowers of Shanghai
Taiwanese Movie - 1998
#42 for 1998
-
92. Happy Together
Hong Kong Movie - 1997
-
96. Kids Return
Japanese Movie - 1996
#32 for 1996
-
97. Goodbye South, Goodbye
Taiwanese Movie - 1996
#49 for 1996
-
98. Fallen Angels
Hong Kong Movie - 1995
-
100. Chungking Express
Hong Kong Movie - 1994
#4 for 1994
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai