Over the past quarter-century, cinema has adapted to new technologies and storytelling devices. This piece explores the significance of 92 essential films that define the best of the 21st century so far, reflecting on why these movies still resonate with audiences around the world.

Robert Redford, the revered Hollywood titan, died Tuesday at 89. Around the globe, fans are streaming his iconic films—chief among them “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”—to celebrate a transformative career that left a deep mark on American cinema. Having shaped countless facets of film and culture, he remains an enduring figure in the collective imagination.