Misunderstood Movies of the 21st Century

2025: McNeill's Final Top 10

It finally comes full circle. In this final episode of 25 Cent Film, host McNeill Mullikin goes solo to close out the podcast, and a quarter century of cinema, with a look back at the films of 2025. Counting down his Top 10 Movies of the Year, McNeill reflects on what he considers the strongest year of the 2020s so far. From standout horror and bold socio-political commentaries to comic-book spectacles and deeply poetic dramas, this episode is both a celebration of the year and a farewell to the journey that began with revisiting cinema one year at a time. A fitting conclusion to 25 years of movies and to 25 Cent Film itself. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 03:02 — Honorable Mentions 04:51 — #10 07:34 — #9 10:43 — #8 13:58 — #7 18:06 — #6 21:06 — #5 25:05 — #4 28:20 — #3 32:52 — #2 37:39 — #1 42:34 — Justin and Fiona’s Top 5s 44:00 — Farewell Follow 25 Cent Film on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow McNeill Mullikin on Letterboxd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Justin's Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link ⁠Fair Use Disclaimer: As we embark on this cinematic journey, it's important to note that the discussions and clips shared in this podcast fall under the umbrella of fair use. We aim to provide commentary, analysis, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Misunderstood Movies of the 21st Century

Some movies don’t just fly under the radar, they’re misread entirely. In this episode of 25 Cent Film, McNeill and Justin are joined by guest John Thomas to unpack some of the most underrated and misunderstood films of the 21st century. These are the movies that critics dismissed, audiences misinterpreted, or that simply asked too much of casual viewers. From bold artistic swings to complex narratives that reward deeper reflection, we dig into why these films deserve a second look and what they were really trying to say all along. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 05:34 — Scream IV 10:08 — Prometheus  20:37 — Changeling  25:49 — Terminator: Salvation  32:35 — Trap  42:56 — Don’t Look Up  51:11 — Joker 01:04:50 — Leave the World Behind  01:13:25 — Transformers  01:18:59 — Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi 01:40:48 — Eternals  01:49:05 — Man of Steel  Follow 25 Cent Film on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Follow McNeill Mullikin on Letterboxd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ ] Justin's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link [Justin's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link ] Fair Use Disclaimer: As we embark on this cinematic journey, it's important to note that the discussions and clips shared in this podcast fall under the umbrella of fair use. We aim to provide commentary, analysis, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

21st Century Plot Twists

Nothing keeps you glued to the screen quite like a great twist. In this episode of 25 Cent Film, McNeill and Justin break down their favorite 21st century plot twists, pulling from every genre and spotlighting some of the most acclaimed directors working today. From shocking reveals to reality-bending finales, these are the twists that left us speechless—and still spark debate long after the credits rolled. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 03:13 — Malignant 07:09 — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 12:29 — Get Out 16:11 — Interstellar 24:02 — Gone Girl 29:42 — The Prestige 37:55 — Mulholland Drive 48:27 — Saw 52:15 — Arrival 01:04:40 — Recap/Outro Follow 25 Cent Film on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow McNeill Mullikin on Letterboxd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ Justin's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link Fair Use Disclaimer: As we embark on this cinematic journey, it's important to note that the discussions and clips shared in this podcast fall under the umbrella of fair use. We aim to provide commentary, analysis, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

21st Century Comic-Book Movie Draft

Capes, cowls, and cinematic clashes—it’s time for our 21st Century Comic-Book Movie Draft! From Marvel’s box office titans to DC’s darker takes, and from beloved fan favorites to the polarizing picks that divided audiences, McNeill and Justin each draft 5 comic-book films that define the modern era. Who built the stronger cinematic squad? That’s for you to decide. Cast your vote and settle the score.Chapters:00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4] — Intro03:20 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=200s] — The Dark Knight / The Batman08:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=497s] — Logan13:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=830s] — Avengers: Infinity War20:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=1231s] — Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse26:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=1568s] — Spider-Man 232:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=1935s] — Man of Steel42:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=2537s] — Captain America: The Winter Soldier50:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=3040s] — Joker01:01:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=3690s] — Superman (2025)01:12:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=4348s] — Draft Recap01:13:58 — Honorable Mentions01:19:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAN9CSZMcI4&t=4755s] — Final Thoughts/OutroFollow 25 Cent Film on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ]Follow McNeill Mullikin on Letterboxd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠ ]Justin's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link [https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=link]Fair Use Disclaimer: As we embark on this cinematic journey, it's important to note that the discussions and clips shared in this podcast fall under the umbrella of fair use. We aim to provide commentary, analysis, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

21st Century Horror Movie Draft

In this spooky special, McNeill and Justin face off in a 21st Century Horror Movie Draft. From slashers and psychological chillers to vampires, zombies, and everything in between, they each build a five-film roster of the best horror the century has to offer. Who built the scarier, stronger, and more iconic lineup? That’s for you to decide—listen in, then cast your vote for the winner! Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 08:27 — American Psycho 12:43 — Sinister 17:50 — A Quiet Place 24:51 — Saw 33:29 — Nosferatu 41:19 — The Witch 48:03 — The Conjuring 55:25 — Dawn of the Dead 01:01:06 — Midsommar 01:07:55 — Halloween (2018) 01:16:26 — Draft Recap 01:18:08 — Honorable Mentions 01:22:32 — Final Thoughts/Outro Follow 25 Cent Film on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/25centfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow McNeill Mullikin on Letterboxd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/McNeillMullikin/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Justin's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema3d?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=fbc0f5a2-ed01-4703-a9c6-f026191a31f1 Fair Use Disclaimer: As we embark on this cinematic journey, it's important to note that the discussions and clips shared in this podcast fall under the umbrella of fair use. We aim to provide commentary, analysis, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.