The Big Picture

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 20 - ‘Melancholia’

May 14, 2025·43m

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Show notes

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Lars von Trier’s ‘Melancholia,’ the deeply upsetting 2011 science fiction drama, which stars Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland and features one of the greatest opening scenes of all time. They discuss Dunst’s astounding performance, explain why this was such a critical project for von Trier’s career, and revisit the infamous controversy at the Cannes Film Festival and consider what it means for the legacy of the film.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders