This is the best animated film of the 21st century, according to The New York Times, and you can watch it on Netflix.

The prestigious American newspaper The New York Times has published its ranking of the 100 best films of the 21st century so far, a list compiled from the votes of more than 500 film professionals. Among arthouse films, cult films, and box office hits, one animated film stands out, chosen as the best of its genre in 25 years, and currently available on Netflix.

Hayao Miyazaki's 2001 masterpiece, Spirited Away , has reached ninth place on the overall list and first in the animation field . This Studio Ghibli production not only marked a before and after in Japanese cinema, but also won the hearts of international critics by combining elements of fantasy, spirituality and ecology with a story of personal growth, and in traditional animation, just as 3D was beginning to emerge with Pixar .

Chihiro is a ten-year-old girl traveling by car with her parents. After passing through a tunnel, they arrive at a fantasy world where there is no place for humans, only for first- and second-class gods. When she discovers that her parents have been turned into pigs , Chihiro feels very lonely and scared.

A phenomenon since its premiere

The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and became a global cultural phenomenon. The New York Times' recognition is no coincidence: the survey was based on votes from directors, screenwriters, actors, and actresses such as Guillermo del Toro, Pedro Almodóvar , Sofia Coppola, and Julianne Moore, reinforcing the authority of the list.

In this context, Spirited Away has been acclaimed for its ability to transcend cultural and emotional boundaries, as well as for Studio Ghibli's unmistakable artistic signature. This film's presence in the top ten reflects its status as one of the most influential and imaginative films of the 21st century, and lends importance to a genre often considered minor within cinema.

Among the 100 films best rated by professionals, Mulholland Drive, There Will Be Blood, In the Mood for Love, Moonlight, No Country for Old Men, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Get Out, and The Social Network also share the ranking. First place goes to Bong Joon-ho's Korean film Parasite .