Oman today_ At the close of 2025, the Spanish newspaper El Diario published the results of a special survey conducted among a group of Spanish film directors, presenting a list of the best films of the 21st century. In this ranking, Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation secured fifth place.
The survey was inspired by the previous list from The New York Times and included contributions from directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Carla Simón, Olivier Laxe, and Alejandro Amenábar. Interestingly, Parasite by Bong Joon-ho, which topped the New York Times list, did not appear among the 25 favorite films of the Spanish filmmakers.
In contrast, David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive claimed the top spot in this survey, followed by Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love in second place. Other acclaimed American films, including Moonlight, Get Out, There Will Be Blood, The Social Network, No Country for Old Men, and Mad Max: Fury Road, did not make the top 25, whereas A Separation, absent from the New York Times list, earned fifth place.
Best Films of the 21st Century according to Spanish filmmakers:
Mulholland Drive – David Lynch
In the Mood for Love – Wong Kar-Wai
La Ciénaga – Lucrecia Martel
The Piano Teacher – Michael Haneke
A Separation – Asghar Farhadi
The Gleaners & I – Agnès Varda
Amour – Michael Haneke
Talk to Her – Pedro Almodóvar
Under the Skin – Jonathan Glazer
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Céline Sciamma
Toni Erdmann – Maren Ade
Spirited Away – Hayao Miyazaki
A Prophet – Jacques Audiard
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Michel Gondry
The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer
Petite Maman – Céline Sciamma
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives – Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Volver – Pedro Almodóvar
The Wonders – Alice Rohrwacher
The Turin Horse – Béla Tarr
Yi Yi – Edward Yang
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days – Cristian Mungiu
Phantom Thread – Paul Thomas Anderson
Werckmeister Harmonies – Béla Tarr
The White Ribbon – Michael Haneke
This list highlights that Spanish filmmakers’ perspective on 21st-century cinema blends classic and contemporary international works, showing that films widely celebrated in the media can hold different standings in the eyes of industry professionals.