100 Greatest Fictional Movies that I Made Up from 2000-2024

 So not too long ago the New York Times released their list of the 100 best movies from the past quarter century. It generated a lot of discussion as people began posting their lists of the top 10 movies, while others went about trying to watch all of the movies on the list they hadn't seen before. (I've personally seen only 69 of the 100). However, I had a different response. As you might know I have been coming up with fake movies produced in a fictional country that I made up (called L World), then awarding those movies with fake film awards for almost 30 years. I come up with at least a dozen films in each of those years, which means that in the 25 years that the NYT covered I have well over 250 films that I've come up with that I can sort into a top 100 list.

So while other people were tracking down real-life films missing from their lists, I've been taking a look at the films I've come up with, compiling a list of over 300 of them. From there I began paring down the list until I ended up with 110, and then began sorting them based on how I'd view the film at this point in time. Naturally, there would be some pretty dramatic differences in how I viewed films in 2000 when I was a 15-year-old teenager compared to how I would in 2025 when I am 40, and that is reflected in the rankings. But I've finally come up with a top 100 ranking and like the New York Times I'll be publicizing the list in segments.

Some of these films might be familiar to you readers because they may have appeared in the Best Picture votes that I do most years, while others may be films I only mentioned when I looked back at 20 years of AMPS winners a few years back. Some of the films may be ones that I never covered at all. But for each film I'll be listing some basic statistics as well as a small blurb. It won't be a complete summary but will more about why I think that film is great. Even though 

I HAVE NOT SEEN THESE FILMS

NOBODY HAS SEEN THEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EXIST

THESE ARE MOVIES THAT I MADE UP

AND EXIST ONLY IN MY IMAGINATION

100. The Adventures of the Fucking Gang (2001)
Rated NC-17
150 minutes

Dir: Norman S. Parose

The Adventures of the Fucking Gang was certainly one of the most controversial films in the past quarter century, as this bawdry animation had an R-rated version released with more than half of its runtime cut. Yet the original NC-17 cut had generated a cult following that remains intact, especially as beyond its ribald exterior lies a surprisingly touching tale of broken communities healing through the actions of the titular gang. 

99. The Ghost Hunters (2002)
Rated PG-13
118 minutes
Dir: Evan Pulsh
On the surface The Ghost Hunters was a creepy horror comedy about a group of teenagers that spend a summer vacation exploring haunted locales, but at its heart it was a coming-of-age film exploring the evolving nature of friendships. It became a box office hit and was the top grossing film of 2002, headlined by a strong performance by Nancy Anson that helped her gain the role in The Quest series a year later.

98. Youth League (2006)
Rated PG-13
180 minutes
Dir: Mike McCormick

This epic ensemble satire about youth sports, covering everything from relentless practice to overbearing parents, was a surprise hit in 2006, capturing the box office crown of that year. Furthermore, the widespread auditioning helped launch the careers of several child actors, many of whom went on to become stars as adults, such as Samantha Banner, one of the top actresses of the 2010s.

97. The Condemned (2011)
Rated R
158 minutes
Dir: Ted McIntosh

Famed director Ted McIntosh turned his attention to the gritty world of death row with this searing drama about a convict's path from his sentence to his walk to the gurney. Yet despite the inevitability of the conclusion, The Condemned never strays into depressing territory, turning a journey to the grave into a journey of enlightenment, providing an affirmation of life.

96. The Divination (2015)
Rated R
128 minutes
Dir: Matthew Mulroney
Diane Pye has proven to be one of the most acclaimed actresses of the past quarter century, not only being a major box office draw but also capturing the attention of awards voters. The Divination was her major breakthrough, as her performance as a sullen psychic teenager provided much of the atmosphere in this unsettling crime thriller.

95. Kids Court (2014)
Rated PG-13
148 minutes
Dir: Harmon Wilson
Kids Court filled a rare niche upon its release as a rare legal comedy. This tale about a jaded alcoholic defense attorney helping a group of kids solve a murder proved to be an unexpected box office smash, finishing as the grossing film in its year of release. The dark juxtaposition between the jovial nature and gritty murder plot helped it remain popular even to today.

94. Ursa Major (2014)
Rated R
117 minutes
Dir: David Porsey

Ursa Major told the tale of a man's surreal journey through the underbellies of a city on one Halloween night, and it proved to be popular with horror enthusiasts with its eerie atmosphere and its use of increasingly unnerving camera tricks and angles. 

93. The Kings of the Road (2021)
Rated R
238 minutes
Dir: Simon Christopher

One of the more ambitious films in a quarter century full of epics, The Kings of the Road tracks a biker gang war brewing over 40 years, with a special focus on best friends that turn into enemies. It was filled to the brim with neo-noir influences and left an impact on viewers willing to sit through its four-hour run-time.

92. Three Men and Their Cat (2022)
Rated R
156 minutes
Dir: Heinrich Morgan
There was some controversy when it was initially announced that the three men in the title were Nazi soldiers that had been in hiding for over 50 years, but this German-language fish-out-of-water road-trip film never hesitates to frame these men as the anti-heroes that they are. And what resulted was one of the most fiendishly delightful black comedies. And it's got a cat.

91. The Told Tale (2000)
Rated R
127 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Double Entendre Productions, the production company founded by best friends Jim Abrahms and Max Snow in 2000, was one of the most impactful studios over the past 25 years, and The Told Tale was the first film released under the label. Of course, beyond the historical significant was a sharply funny adult animation about a man trying to decide between his wife and his mistress, all told in Shakespearean dialogue.

90. Lost Ark Lodge (2018)
Rated R
86 minutes
Dir: George Multulla

Director George Multulla had become one of the premiere horror directors in the past 25 years, and Lost Ark Lodge is perhaps his most frightening work. Telling the story of a group of young nouveau riche that spend a night in the titular lodge before being haunted by their past sins along with something more supernatural, this period piece left its terrifying imprint on audiences.

89. The Nintendo Club (2000)
Rated R
133 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

Despite its kiddy name, The Nintendo Club took a sobering look at adult male friendships by telling of a close-knit group of 30-something gamers and their fierce loyalty towards one another as each navigate through personal crises. Beyond that it was a rare film that explored the effects that video games has on society in a more positive light.

88. Action (2020)
Rated R
133 minutes
Dir: Max Snow

Director Max Snow's trilogy on filmmakers making movies in different genres continued 17 years after the last entry. And Action more than lives up to its title with its white-knuckle action sequences to go along with its irreverent and hilarious critique of the paradoxes of the filmmaking industry. 

87. Limitless Boundaries (2013)
Rated PG-13
157 minutes
Dir: Phillip Darwin

Mankind's fascination with flight comes to life with Limitless Boundaries, a poignant dramatization of the early experiments involving flying machines from da Vinci to the Wright brothers. Coupled with soaring cinematography and dazzling special effects, the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice made by these visionaries becomes fully tangible on screen.

86. Class Trip (2001)
Rated R
200 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

While Class Trip's Best Picture victory at the L Awards that year has not aged gracefully, the epic still strikes a chord with audiences thanks to its gripping and human tale of a high school foreign language class that gets caught up in a revolution that broke out on their trip to a foreign country. 

85. Happy Campers (2000)
Rated R
181 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

Director Joe Lee's epic three-hour R-rated supernatural horror film about campers facing an evil deity at a summer camp became an unexpected smash hit, becoming not only the top grossing film of 2000 but one of the top grossing films of all-time. It spawned two sequels that were also highly regarded, but the chilling nature of the original still lingers after a quarter century.

84. The Young Artist (2022)
Rated PG
86 minutes
Dir: Jessie Fineline Pettner

This quaint period dramedy about a pre-teen artistic prodigy and her overbearing art teacher (played to perfection by Diane Pye) was a box office success, becoming the highest grossing film of the year. Its tender look at the crushing expectations placed upon children greatly resonated with its audience.

83. The Lam (2016)
Rated R
148 minutes
Dir: Simon Christopher
The Lam is a stirring crime drama about a criminal roped back into the business shortly after release from prison before having to go on the run after being betrayed by one of his cohorts. Its unflinching look at a life of regrets amidst dangerous circumstances was an eye-opening experience.

82. The Not-So-Serious and Totally True Account of the Absurd Life of Ms. Mayzie Mays (2022)
Rated R
91 minutes
Dir: Donny Shaw

Fresh off the box office success of his first Abel the Able-Bodied Rabbit film, director Donny Shaw's next animated project was one that was much more adult in naure. Ms. Mayzie Mays dealt with hard-hitting themes such as racial discrimination and sexual trauma, all with the bombastic humor that comes in a film with the audacity to label a fictional story as Totally True.

81. Gridiron Gridlocked (2020)
Rated R

216 minutes
Dir: Rondell Miller

Football doesn't quite hold the same level of respect in my fictional country as that of baseball, but this hard-hitting epic comedy-drama still managed to win plenty of respect from audiences, largely thanks to its focus on the human side of the players and their struggles to find a happy ending amongst disastrous circumstances. Of course there is enough bone-crunching action to satisfy football fans.

80. Scheiss (2003)
Rated R
151 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Scheiss is the highest ranking film on this list that failed to make the Best Picture shortlist for the L Awards in its respective year of release, yet the reputation of this German language heist comedy has only grown in the years since its release thanks to its colorful characters, snappy dialogue, and unflinching scenes of violence.

79. The Hanging of Abraham (2018)
Rated R
183 minutes
Dir: George Bond

The Hanging of Abraham manages to accomplish the difficult task of telling an epic story of a drug smuggling ring while combining a multitude of Biblical allegories to the Book of Genesis. By likening the growth of the ring to an alternate tale where Abraham hung himself instead of sacrificing Isaac, it presents viewers with a darkness rarely seen in movies.

78. Yi Ching (2000)
Rated R
186 minutes
Dir: Yizhi Chen

With his first major film, director Yizhi Chen created an epic mystery that is as educational as it is thrilling. Viewers followed archeologists as they struggle to decipher the hexagrams as described in the classic Chinese text Yi Ching, or the Book of Change. As they grow closer to the root of the mystery the connections between the hexagrams and natural phenomena become much more visible.

77. The People's Church (2013)
Rated R
108 minutes

Dir. Mark Paul Rennart

With The People's Church, director Mark Paul Rennart took his irreverent and gross-out brand of humor and infused it with a gradually awakening sense of social consciousness. This tale of a pair of con artists that try to swindle a poor Central American village out of money to build a church, and the growing belief in the villagers' faith in one of the two is just as touching as it is funny.

76. The Missing Piece (2019)
Rated R
188 minutes
Dir: George Multulla
Director George Multulla's follow-up to Lost Ark Lodge may be his finest work. While The Missing Piece does not contain the outright terror found in its predecessor, but this epic about a recent retiree caught up in a mysterious game is full of an unsettling atmosphere that shook viewers to the core, especially with its stunning climax.

75. Family (2015)
Rated R
141 minutes
Dir: Mark Wilson

From the director of the 1996 classic Lagoons comes a touching comedy-drama about a divorce and custody battle as seen through the eyes of the couple's eight-year-old daughter. Through the visitations and the hearings; through the laughter and the tears, and buoyed by strong performances from all involved, the trio come to realize what it really means to be a family.

74. The Double Entendre Comedy Hour (2007)
Rated R
118 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms, Yizhi Chen, Jon Pantermeyer, Claude Rayner, Josh Redmond & Max Snow

Double Entenre Productions had never been afraid to try new things with their films, and The Double Entendre Comedy Hour is no exception. This is an anthology film made up of sketch comedies about themes that had long been a major part of Double Entendre films: sex, crime, and bizarre social interactions. The 20-some skits are variable in quality, but the standout is the recurring sketch about a noirish detective, brilliantly portrayed by Pete Klao, as he conducts an investigation with an uncertain end result.

73. Paint Thinner (2013)
Rated R
139 minutes
Dir: Zach Sulliavn

Director Zach Sullivan both starred and directed this chilling thriller about a house painter that doubles as a serial killer. The descent of the unnamed anti-hero into madness is heightened by Sullivan's decision to use increasingly distorted camera lens, static long-takes, and a complete lack of dialogue involving the main character. It all leads to a terrifying experience that sticks with the audiences.

72. The Serviceman's Wife (2006)
Rated R
142 minutes
Dir: Ted McIntosh

Wilma Dent swept all of the major film awards with her portrayal as Mrs. Jewls in the Wayside School adaptation in 1996. Ten years later, she repeated the feat in Ted McIntosh's domestic drama. Her  sublime performance as a military wife learning about her husband's infidelity during his deployments formed the emotional crux of the film, one greatly aided by Pete Klao's strong performance as the titular serviceman.

71. People's Republic of China (2002)
Rated R
179 minutes
Dir: Rebel Edwards

Director Rebel Edwards began a project to make a movie about every country in 2001. His longstanding Countries of the World Series saw its apex with its film about mainland China. This historical epic told the tale of a forbidden romance between the daughter of a KMT official and a CCP fighter that began in the early 1930s and continued all the way through the Chinese Civil War and World War II to the final establishment of the People's Republic in 1949.

70. Cupcakes & Lollipops (2016)
Rated PG-13
106 minutes
Dir: Jessie Fineline Pettner

Award winning child actor Jessie Fineline Pettner completed his transformation from child star to popular director with his debut film which charmed both critics and audiences alike. Cupcakes & Lollipops was such a smash hit that it ended up as the highest grossing film in the 2010s. It also featured the first starring role for Diane Pye, as she won rave reviews for her portrayal of the ebullient teenager hiding some sad secrets.

69. Lesbian Ladies (2018)
Rated NC-17
118 minutes
Dir: Mark Paul Rennart

The script for Lesbian Ladies had been the most notorious unproduced script for 20 years, as nobody was willing to touch the story of a young woman's sexual awakening as she falls in love with her best friend. At least nobody was until director Mark Paul Rennart came on to both produce and direct the film. And when he was finished he had crafted a tender comedy that was also a celebration of female sexuality and a champion of LGBT rights.

68. Fresh Talk High (2000)
Rated R
131 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

While Jim Abrahms is one of the most celebrated directors in L World, his first few films were chaotic messes that were so full of sex and swears that it obscured his artistic brilliance. His high school comedy was also full of sexual innuendo and cursing, but it also contained enough pathos to set it apart. It tells the tale of a nervous freshman who found a senior willing to take him under his wing, but their friendship becomes complicated when the freshman falls in love with his mentor's strong-willed girlfriend. Fresh Talk High was buoyed by strong performances from the teenage leads, with Ellen Hurse getting especially strong reviews for her role as the girlfriend caught in the middle. 

67. We Cannot Live Without the Planet Pluto (2021)
Rated PG-13
123 minutes
Dir: Helen Ashley

The film landscape in L World was dominated in 2021 by one film that will be seen later in the list, but We Cannot Live Without the Planet Pluto was a movie that still managed to make a mark. It is a warm tale of the strength of human relationships in a science fiction setting, as it tells the story of an astronaut selected for a 30-year million to Pluto and his girlfriend that he is leaving behind. Their connection amongst the vast distances of space and external pressures is a testament to the human spirit/

66. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Grand Canal (2013)
Rated R
217 minutes
Dir: Yizhi Chen & Ke-Gang Lin

A Journey Through Chinese History is an award-winning television series that depicts stories from throughout the history of China, but once a year one particular legend is selected for an epic feature film that gets a theatrical release. The Grand Canal is the film released in the 10th anniversary of the series and depicts the tyrannical rule of Emperor Yang of Sui and his efforts to complete the Grand Canal. By showing the perilousness of the monumental undertaking and the increasing corruption of the emperor amidst failed military endeavors, it paints a stark picture of a dynasty heading towards extinction.

65. Sporks! (2004)
Rated R
154 minutes
Dir: Roger Eugene McCaffrey

Despite its quirky title, Sporks! is a dark political thriller that addresses the topic of media censorship and the lengths that some will go to remain in power. The film tells the story of a teenager who, after coming into possession of some unsavory information regarding some local politicians, becomes a muckraking blogger, writing under the username "Sporks!" As he follows up on his investigations his scope expands to involve much larger figures, many of whom do not take his writing lightly.

64. The Quest: The Final Battle (2012)
Rated R
392 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

The Quest was a passion project for director Joe Lee, as it is a multi-part epic film series about the Quick sisters Amy and Susie and their ragtag group of partners as they strive to stop the demon king Heylel and his efforts to bring upon Armageddon. The penultimate film in the series shows the group's final trek through Heylel's labyrinth as they make their way to the final confrontation with the demon, along the way suffering through sacrifices and betrayals from their team members. It is a tense and heartbreaking climax to a series that had lasted for so long.

63. The Quest: Saving a Sister (2006)
Rated R
367 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

Saving a Sister is the eighth film within The Quest series, as it follows the kidnapping of Susie Quick at the end of the previous film Out of the Frying Pan. By showing Amy's efforts to gather information and execute a rescue mission in spite of the fierce opposition by the rest of the group, Saving a Sister is a touching portrayal of the strength of a sisterly bond amidst a chaotic landscape.

62. The Death of Innocents (2007)
Rated R
148 minutes
Dir: Zahra Mansoor

The Iranian Revolution was a turbulent time for the nation of Iran with the installment of the ultra-conservative, theocratic Islamic Republic. It was followed by the arrest and execution of individuals thought to oppose the rule of the Ayatollah. The Death of Innocents dramatizes this tumultuous time as seen through the eyes of a family whose father is arrested and executed. The surviving mother and daughters must navigate the oppressive landscape trying to prove their innocence. It is a heart-rendering tale boosted by strong performances.

61. Leadershit (2003)
Rated R
108 minutes
Dir: Josh Redmond

The debut film of Josh Redmond, later a member of the prestigious Double Entendre Productions, gained notoriety even before its release thanks to its provocative title. Yet Leadershit quickly became a well received comedy that also addressed the themes of unionism and gay rights. It tells the story of collective bargaining within a steel mill that quickly becomes contentious thanks to factions on both sides of the bargaining table. Yet it does so with a zany and frenetic style that made it one of the funniest films of the year.

60. Home (2009)
Rated R
128 minutes
Dir: Timothy Anderson Jr.

Rather than being a poorly received animated film about an alien outcast, this version of Home is a taut action-thriller about a police detective who makes the decision to go rogue to get revenge on the individuals that had murdered his family once he finds out the culprits were well-connected with those in top political offices. Besides the breathtaking action sequences, this film also addresses the themes of grief, revenge, and corruption to make for a complex piece of work.

59. The Lighthouse (2002)
Rated R
154 minutes
Dir: Victor A. Slomon

95-year-old legendary director Victor A. Slomon came out of retirement to direct this domestic thriller. Set in a quaint seaside town, The Lighthouse concerns itself with the problems facing the members of the Sewell family as well as their neighbors the Gedmans. The aforementioned problems will resolve itself in a destructive way, one that will find its conclusion at the site of the giant lighthouse that dominates the town. It features spectacular performances from an all-star cast that includes Pete Klao, Ellen Hurse, James Turnboil, and Augustine Wallaby.

58. The Quest: Approaching Oblivion (2011)
Rated R 
347 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

The 24th film in The Quest series begins with the group celebrating the destruction of the 20th and supposed final pillar of darkness, which they accomplished in the previous film The Power of the Damned, and one they thought would end the demon king Heylel's plans of Armageddon. However, when the spiritual guide Brother Matthias notices the path towards Armageddon continues unabated, the group makes the stunning realization there is a hidden 21st pillar that they must detect and destroy before it's too late. The subversion of expectations of the characters and the audience along with the hastening signs of Armageddon makes Approaching Oblivion an unforgettable entry into The Quest series.

57. The Maiden (2001)
Rated PG-13
200 minutes
Dir: Yizhi Chen

Following his debut with Yi Ching and prior to his involvement in the A Journey Through Chinese History series, Yizhi Chen came out with The Maiden, the epic historical comedy set in the Qing dynasty in the 18th century. The maiden in this story is the daughter of a British merchant trading in China. Through a series of mishaps and a case of mistaken identity, she becomes a concubine in the imperial harem of the Emperor Qianlong. She must deal with homesickness and the jealousy of the other members of the imperial harem, but she ultimately becomes the Fragrant Concubine in Chinese legend. By taking a playful retelling of Chinese history, The Maiden became an instant hit, boosted by a sterling performance by Jennifer Heather.

56. Survival of the Fittest for Wii U (2017)
Rated R
190 minutes
Dir: Zachary Powell

Zachary Powell's Survival of the Fittest series about deadly underground tournaments of the popular Nintendo fighting game Super Smash Bros. became a cult classic with the release of the first film in 2002. By the release of the fourth entry the series had become popular with critics as well. The fourth entry features two films that were combined into one for awards consideration, but released separately. Survival of the Fittest for Wii U was the stronger of the two, as the epic tale deals with the questions of welfare and revenge. Besides a stirring story that brought together the protagonists of the previous films, it also features exciting Super Smash Bros. matches by professionals.

55. Silica (2008)
Rated R
94 minutes
Dir: Dan Stillner

Audience and critics weren't quite sure what to make of Silica when it first came out. On the one hand, it was an ultra-violent thriller about a spree killer terrorizing a region. On the other hand, it was told entirely through narration and dialogue done in the style of Seussian rhyme. The jarring juxtaposition made it a unique entry into the cinematic landscape, but as time went on its reflections on evil and the dangers of burnout made Silica an unforgettable film.

54. American Menace (2016)
Rated R
138 minutes
Dir: Zachary Crews

The idea of America being an oligarchy has gained traction, and it is this idea that is being addressed in this satirical darkly-comic action film. American Menace tells of a lower class revolution against their upper class oppressors amidst a dystopian landscape where the middle class had been completely eliminated. The bleak narrative is contrasted with a bright and colorful style along with a playful and irreverent humor to create one of the most memorable films of the year.

53. The Last Stand of 'M' (2016)
Rated R
222 minutes
Dir: George Cattell & Joe Lee

The May French Trilogy became a cultural phenomenon with the release of the first two films in 2012 and 2014. The Last Stand of 'M' doesn't quite reach the heights of its two predecessors, but it is still an epic ride for Ellen Hurse's criminal mastermind anti-heroine. This third part sees May, still reeling over the death of her beloved wife Helen at the end of the previous film, getting into the sale of a mysterious substance known as Ambrosia. Her neglect of investigating the supplier of Ambrosia would have drastic consequences. The Last Stand of 'M' has the thrilling action viewers had come to expect after the first two films, while also meditating on the nature of grief. Besides Hurse's impeccable work, it also features an excellent performance from Hurse's former Wayside School co-star Tammy Buyos.

52. The Hitman's Elegy (2024)
Rated R
143 minutes
Dir: Quincy Tarantella
One of three films from 2024 that made it onto this list, The Hitman's Elegy is a contemplative thriller that takes a look at the damaging effects of aging as well as feelings of guilt as it follows the titular hitman as he prepares for what could be his final job. It intersperses long moments of silence with quick bursts of action to create a film that gives audiences a chance to think and catch their breath. It is greatly helped by the work of longtime character actor Rick Jennings as he delivers what may be his finest performance, as well as a somber soundtrack taking songs from different decades to create a sense of nostalgia.

51. Ginny and the Ghosts (2023)
Rated PG-13
112 minutes
Dir: Jessie Fineline Pettner
While Ginny and the Ghosts was promoted as being the first film to feature both Diane Pye and Candy Cross, two of the top Generation Z actors in L World, audiences quickly found that it was much more than that. It tells the story of the titular Ginny that must overcome her debilitating social anxiety in order to solve the mysterious deaths of the three ghost siblings that occupy her new home. The film does a fine job of mixing tense mystery with comedic moments in the interactions between Ginny and her new ghostly friends. Moreover, it also depicts the damaging effects of anxiety and the triumph of overcoming fear. It is this combination that made Ginny and the Ghosts the top box office hit of 2023 along with critical acclaim.

50. Abel the Able-Bodied Rabbit in A Forbidden Romance (2024)
Rated R
107 minutes
Dir: Michael Milford & Donny Shaw
Abel the Able-Bodied Rabbit debuted as a character with the 2020 film Executive Hijinks, and the animated black comedy satirizing corporate culture with anthropomorphic animals quickly became a huge hit, becoming the highest grossing film of the year and receiving Best Picture nominations in all three major film categories. Its success led to two sequels, and A Forbidden Romance stands apart as the best of the series. The R-rating that came from its highly charged animated sex scenes limited its box office, but it shines with its story featuring Abel having to decide between advancement in his career or pursing a romance with the chairman of the board's leporine daughter. It's full of the absurd humor of the first two films while also featuring an emotional core.

49. The Quest: Seeking Salvation (2012)

Rated R

329 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

The Quest series was drawing to a close by 2012, with the destruction of all of the secret pillars the year before. Yet before the group can face off against the demon king Heylel once and for all, they must locate the entrance to his lair. And that is the mission at the heart of Seeking Salvation, the film that came before The Final Battle. With the entrance to the lair hidden by supernatural forces, Amy must make a pilgrimage to renew her faith, during which the rest of the team must blend in with the rest of the denizens of the town surrounding the lair. The juxtaposition between Amy's confrontation with her own self-doubt and the growing tension with the rest of the group makes Seeking Salvation a memorable entry into the epic series.

48. Darlene's Revenge (2020)

Rated R
149 minutes
Dir: Barry Talvend

Barry Talvend has had a long and productive directorial career specializing in science fiction or fantasy films with a comedic edge. Yet as he grew older his comedic side began disappearing from his work, and that culminated in his final film before retirement, Darlene's Revenge. This gritty dystopian sci-fi epic features the titular Darlene as a housekeeping clone that awakens to the memories of trauma that had happened to her generations upon generations, leading her to take her revenge on the ruling class. The dark tone heightened by the magnificent art direction as well as the graphically violent action sequences pair well with the deliberation on the destructive nature of capitalism and the morality of wage gaps make Darlene's Revenge an unforgettable romp.

47. The Demon's Mount (2012)

Rated R
125 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Jim Abrahm's final film before his untimely death was envisioned as a choose-your-own-adventure type film, where audiences are given clickers and can select the protagonist's actions at certain points of the movie, the choices of which can determine not only the fate of the characters, the ending of the tale, or even the genre of the film. It was an ambitious idea that was ultimately well executed, yet it was overshadowed by Ahrahms' decision to commission one-of-a-kind works of art from the greatest artisans to use as props for the film only to have them all destroyed during filming. Audiences mostly stayed away and it became a box office flop. Yet this film about a young college graduate and his mysterious new boss was a brilliant showcase of Abrahm's mastery with multiple genres, from gross-out comedy to romantic comedy to gripping drama to horror and more.

46. The Countess of Monte Carlo (2020)
Rated R
168 minutes
Dir: Samantha Schmidt

Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo is a literary masterpiece touching on the themes of justice, revenge, and forgiveness that has endured for over 170 years. It was also the basis for Samantha's Schmidt's 2020 epic that shifts the story from 18th century France to 21st century L World while also gender bending its main characters. The film won rapturous praise for its faithfulness to the original work despite all of the changes as well as the performances from its largely young cast. Particular attention was paid to Candy Cross, whose portrayal of the crafty mentor Farah Abbott (the character of Abbe Faria in the original work) helped her achieve the next level of stardom.

45. A Chemist's Guide to Love & Revenge (2005)

Rated R
148 minutes
Dir: Josh Redmond

Director Josh Redmond made waves with his debut feature Leadershit, but his follow-up may have been even better. He turned his attention to the field chemistry as he tells the story of a lonely young chemist that tries to win the heart of the object of his affection through love potions designed through chemical reactions. When this fails he decides to exact revenge on his crush and her new boyfriend, also through the power of chemistry, and he quickly learns that chemistry is much more useful in revenge than love. A Chemist's Guide to Love & Revenge contains the same frenetic energy as Leadershit while also remaining deeply rooted in science, with chemical reactions depicted through animated sequences, and that made it a major hit upon release.

44. Cataclysm (2014)
Rated R
165 minutes
Dir: Jim Walkins

Cataclysm was a revelation when it hit theaters, as it evolved from a domestic drama to a romantic comedy to a fantastic science fiction disaster epic through its three-part structure. The first part "Reason" tells of a single mother homeless with her five-year-old daughter after being evicted, only to meet an older gentleman through his dog that offers the two a place to stay. In the second part "Emotion" the two adults form a budding romance as she learns about his role in scientific research. All this falls part in the third part "Cataclysm" when an unexpected result in the research project led to a disaster in the making, forcing one of the three main characters to sacrifice their lives to end the cataclysm. The ever-expanding scope of the film that touches on the theme of family and sacrifice makes Cataclysm a memorable entry in the sci-fi library.

43. The Rite of Passage (2003)
Rated R
196 minutes
Dir: Stan Shemp

In between his work on the renowned Heroes: Astros series, director Stan Shemp came up with a coming-of-age epic that he describes as an "urban fairy tale." It tells the story of a young high school outcast who has a meaningful interaction with a famous record executive. When he tells his three fellow outcasts of the meeting, they refuse to believe that it happened, forcing him to take them on a perilous trip to the record label office in order to prove that it did. Through awkward interactions on public transportation to hitchhiking misadventures the quartet meets an increasingly zany cast of characters as they slowly learn that their lives do have worth and they must make every moment count or remain outcasts. Some have criticized the film for its downer ending that belies the comedy of the film that came before it, but the perception of The Rite of Passage has only risen through the years.

42. Unyielding (2018)
Rated R
136 minutes
Dir: George Wilkinson

Unyielding was an unassuming film that came out of nowhere to become a box office smash hit and also sweep the Best Picture prizes at all three of the major film awards. It throws a twist in the audience's expectations by casting the main protagonist as an anti-hero that strives to be a criminal mastermind while growing up in a family of police officers. The use of several tropes regarding perseverance and defying expectations took on a different meaning when the activities involved include fraud, theft, and murder. The resulting dissonance made Unyielding a delightful romp that pokes fun at the very nature of inspirational films.

41. The Killer (2016)
Rated R
144 minutes
Dir: Norman S. Parose & Barry Talvend

The Killer was a popular sketch comedy routine from the late 1990s by Audrey Woodson about an assassin named "The Killer" that must recite a monologue every time he hears the phrase "Oh no! The Killer," leading him to fail in his assassination attempts. 20 years after the sketch's inception, it was adapted into a feature film that tells a more complete portrait of "The Killer," starting from his time atop his profession to his fall from grace with the discovery of the fail-safe mechanism and finally his quest to have the fail-safe mechanism removed. The result was an earnest yet hilarious character study that shows the pride that one has in his work and the loss of such pride when he is no longer able to perform.

40. The Cell Cycle (2002)
Rated R
235 minutes
Dir: Hamelin Jacobs

Director Hamelin Jacobs took a decade-long sabbatical from filmmaking as he studied cell biology at a master's degree level, and he used what he had learned to create an epic dramatizing the five phases of a cell cycle culminating in mitosis, the process by which the cell divides to form two new cells. The film portrays the squamous cell within a human cheek as a factory complex and the proteins as individual workers that must not only work in producing and exporting the mucin that is the cell's primary secretion, but also constructing the organelle buildings as well as the chromosomal structure that will go to each new complex when the cell divides. The detailed and diverse look at the multitude of moving parts and the addition of storylines within individual characters keep the film from getting boring in the four-hour runtime, and the climactic metaphase scene depicting chromosomal separation remains awe-inspiring even today.

39. Dangerous Inquisitions (2015)
Rated R
168 minutes
Dir: George Wilkinson

Three years before making Unyielding, director George Wilkinson explored the power of investigative journalism, the fallacy of memory, and the destructive effects of trauma with Dangerous Inquisitions. It tells the story of a reporter who survived a shooting at the theatrical release of a blockbuster film whose suppressed memory of the event is triggered with the execution of the man convicted for the offense. Compelled to look into the notes for the perpetrator's trial several years earlier, he discovers discrepancies with his memory that is corroborated by other survivors. His investigation into the reason for the discrepancies lead him to a rabbit hole of lies and cover-ups, but as he gets closer to the truth forces come out that threaten not only his search but also his life. Dangerous Inquisitions is a tense, noir-ish thriller that left audiences on the edge of their seats. 

38. FUUF (2011)
Rated R
128 minutes
Dir: Zachary Leonard

Director Zachary Leonard's Triple F became an unexpected but runaway hit when it was released in 2003. The film (whose title was originally Fucking Fuck, Fucker) tells the story of man-child Frank F. Funcke and his misadventures with his kooky buddies. It spawned a sequel FAPoS in 2006 which was a bit of a letdown. However, the third film in the Frank F. Funcke series was a completely different story. FUUF (which was short for Fuck yoU, yoU Fuck) features Funcke in a secret relationship with his friend Marvin's younger sister. When Marvin finds out it set off a chain reaction of misunderstandings that forced Funcke to come to terms with his lifestyle and decide what sort of life he wants to live. FUUF featured the same wacky sense of humor of the first two films, yet by forcing Funcke to address the consequences of his actions, it contained a level of ethos that one would not have expected from a film such as this.

37. Silvermore (2020)
Rated R
158 minutes
Dir: George Barrett

Depression is an insidious illness that can strike anybody no matter his or her life circumstances. That is the lesson that popular high school quarterback Matthew Silvermore must face in this searing drama. Even though he seemingly lives a charmed life where he is playing for the state title and has the respect of the entire student body, he lives life with soul-crushing depression and self doubt, one that comes to a head when he loses the state title on a forced fumble returned for a touchdown. All of his negative emotions pouring out and he attempted to end his own life. As he recovers from the failed attempt, he finds an unexpected ally in his football coach. Silvermore was lauded for its realistic yet unrelenting portrayal of depression and its condemnation of toxic masculinity that forces young men to suppress his emotions, and it became a hit in spite of its difficult and controversial subject matter.

36. Blossoming Flower (2017)
Rated R
127 minutes
Dir: Ruo-Liang Li

Blossoming Flower is a touching coming of age story of a young farmgirl and her sexual awakening in late 1960s China in the setting of the Countryside Movement following the Cultural Revolution. The main character Ah Mei was always content to focus on her farm work, but when her vivacious best friend is punished for being in a secret relationship with the son of a local official, her rebellious side is awakened, and she pursues a secret relationship of her own with a young intellectual that was sent to the countryside. The grainy cinematography meant to appear like the rough film stock from the 60s helps provide the film with a sense of nostalgia and heightens the romance, yet it is also filled with an undertone of tension. More critically, the film also serves as a condemnation of the Cultural Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party. Either way, it was a film that resonated with audiences.

35. Bob's Birthday (2012)
Rated R
216 minutes
Dir: Claude Rayner & Josh Redmond

Bob's Birthday is the middle film in the trilogy from Double Entendre Productions about Bob Leonard, a misanthropic self-proclaimed "fucker" brilliantly played by Double Entendre co-founder Max Snow. The main film about Bob coming upon his 40th birthday and questioning his way of life is a decent piece of work, but what really elevates Bob's Birthday is the companion film directed by Josh Redmond. It was designed to be a feature-length extension of the Double Entendre Productions company logo and tells the story of two men (played by Snow and his fellow Double Entendre co-founder Jim Abrahms) as they try to do some odd jobs in order to pay off one of the men's gambling debts. The men are never named, but it was highly implied that the one played by Snow is Bob. The segment's shocking end pairs well with the main feature to create a film that is a contemplation on regret.

34. The Danville Quarterly (2008)
Rated R
149 minutes
Dir: George Bond

Ellen Hurse and Pete Klao were two of the two actors in the 21st century, but through 2008 they hadn't acted together. They were both in The Lighthouse in 2002, but neither of them had any shared scenes. All that had changed with The Danville Quarterly, the explosively erotic small town drama that saw both actors give it all they've got. Hurse played a young journalist that moves to a small town to fulfill her small town dreams, only to find it become a nightmare especially after getting romantically involved with the newspaper's editor in chief, played by Klao. The duo won praises for their performances of the complex characters, particularly Hurse who would soon take her acting to the next level.

33. A Journey Through Chinese History: Shiji (2008)
Rated R
229 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms & Yizhi Chen

The A Journey Through Chinese History series borrow heavily from Chinese historical texts, but in the case of the sixth movie in the series, it is the writing of the historical tome that becomes the story. Shiji tells the story of Sima Qian, a scholar during the western Han dynasty. His father Sima Tan was busy with documenting the history of China from the time of the Yellow Emperor, but with Tan's untimely death the task fell upon Qian to complete the epic history. Things were progressing well until Qian becomes embroiled in a controversy defending a Han general that suffered a battlefield defeat, resulting in a death sentence. In order to have his sentence commuted to fulfill his filial mission, Qian must endure the greatest shame of all. Shiji is a stunning drama about filial duty, with a few smaller historical stories mixed in as well.

32. Astros: Fallen Heroes (2024)
Rated R
137 minutes
Dir: Stan Shemp

Heroes: Astros was a landmark 1997 comedy that featured the Houston Astros baseball team and received numerous accolades, and it eventually spawned several sequels that just happened to come nine years apart, with its subject matters based on the ebb and flow of the team itself. Fallen Heroes is the most recent film in the series, and it just happened to follow the Astros as they achieve the pinnacle of success on the field with their two World Series, but also their greatest scandal off the field with the revelation of the sign-stealing scandal. The controversial success is mirrored in the female lead who becomes the chief of police only to be plagued by accusations of nepotism and incompetence. The parallels are obvious yet never overwhelming, and the film does contain plenty of playful humor and player cameos that one would come to expect of the series.

31. Astros: The Lost Heroes (2015)
Rated R
136 minutes
Dir: Stan Shemp

The third film within the Heroes: Astros series came as the team was coming off the worst stretch in their history, with three consecutive seasons of over 106 losses but with the emergence of a burgeoning core. The film also mirrored this fall from glory by showcasing the male lead as being just as down on his luck as his team, having separated from his wife and stuck in a boring desk job. As if things weren't bad enough it was his ex-wife's new husband that took pity on him to give him a new opportunity, but it's up to him to make the most of it. The Lost Heroes took a much darker and dramatic turn from the two previous film in the series, yet it was also a reminder of hope in the face of despair. 

30. Bob (2017)
Rated R
137 minutes
Dir: Claude Rayner & Max Snow

The final film in the Bob trilogy was released as Bob's Dilemma in theaters due to reasons that will become evident when the first film in the trilogy is unveiled later in the list, but truthfully it is simply called Bob, and it is a culmination of everything in Bob's life. In this film Bob had found work as being an enforcer for a criminal enterprise, a job in which he excels and he loves. Yet when he is tasked with assassinating the only person that had ever shown him kindness, Bob must once again come to a decision of how to proceed in this life or death proposition. It is a stunning conclusion to a well received series of films, and one that addresses the age-old question as to whether it is nature or nurture that determines an individual's destiny. 

29. The Elites (2006)
Rated R
134 minutes
Dir: Harmon Wilson

In this age of income disparity, it has become increasingly evident that celebrities and the ultra-wealthy are completely out of touch with the lives of the average individual. That is the question addressed in the satirical black comedy The Elites. The film is centered around the trial of a former football player turned media personality, who as he claimed hugged his infant son to death only to try to dispose of the body by burning it in his barbecue grill. As the trial goes on and more lurid details emerge about the defendant's personal life, it has profound effects of the celebrities around him. And as his fellow upper class come out to support his cause in the light of increasingly negative public perception, their complete disregard for human life and the vacuity of their thinking become readily apparent. 

28. Cancer (2005)
Rated R
206 minutes
Dir: Hamelin Jacobs

Hamelin Jacobs's follow-up to The Cell Cycle was Cancer, a horror war film that dramatizes the battle that develops in the body with a cancer diagnosis. It presents cells within the body as individual characters, with cancer cells as a mutated self-cloning monster that disrupts the well-balanced equilibrium of a working system, fighting off an army of white blood cells and surviving a barrage of radiation and chemical weapons, all without knowing that the destruction of the world in which it thrives will lead to its own demise. The grisly, visceral nature of the attack of the monsters on the ordinary citizens of the body make Cancer a terrifying viewing, yet one in which the audience can't turn away.

27. Loose Change (2007)
Rated R
136 minutes
Dir: Mark Paul Rennart

Mark Paul Rennart made his film debut in 2006 with Driving Nude, a modest success that established his brand of lewd comedies. However, it was his follow up film Loose Change that established him as an auteur to be reckoned with. It tells the story of a group of college students that is lured to participate in a research project only to be drugged and placed in suspended animation for 150 years. The world into which they emerge is different from anything they could have imagined, and as they try to pick up the pieces they find that not only has everything they once knew and love gone forever, but they are not welcomed in this world either. The film gained plenty of controversy with its depiction of graphic sex orgies within the dystopian future, but that only serves to heighten the raw and powerful storytelling that would come to define Rennart's works, as the film's stature has only risen in the years following its release.

26. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Legend of Yueh Fei (2022)
Rated R
256 minutes
Dir: Ke-Gang Lin & Da-Biao Wang

A Journey Through Chinese History reached a bit of a lull in the late 2010s and early 2020s as the role of director of the feature films went from Yizhi Chen to Ke-Gang Lin to Da-Biao Wang as the series received criticism over the increasing length of the movies, some of which reached five hours in length. Wang's technical prowess was undeniable as he crafted three-hour epics detailing the fall of the Tang dynasty and the rise of the Song dynasty. yet it became fairly evident that he was lacking in the emotional storytelling in which Chen and Lin excelled. That led to Lin returning with The Legend of Yueh Fei, an epic war drama about one of the greatest heroes in Chinese history and the political maneuvering that led to his betrayal. The contrast between grand battle sequences and the noir-ish backroom dealings made The Legend of Yueh Fei a gripping tale, even as its runtime crept above four hours once again.

25. Evocation (2023)
Rated R
185 minutes
Dir: George Wilkinson

Director George Wilkinson has reached critical and commercial success with such films as Dangerous Inquisitions and Unyielding, both of which were profiled earlier in the list, but his masterpiece may be the science fiction epic Evocation. It tells the story of a fictional country of Terravia that uses children with psychic powers called Evokers to aid their military in their campaigns. When one Evoker makes the stunning discovery that the battles they thought were defensive were actually aggressive, he must make the decision to push back on what he felt is wrong or remain complacent, a choice that becomes much more difficult when his fellow Evokers all choose the latter route. Evocation is a tense thriller that makes the powerlessness that one feels when facing a solo crusade palpable, made all the more powerful with a memorable performance from the child actor playing the main Evoker. 

24. A Life Worth Living? (2008)
Rated R
178 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Double Entendre Productions was responsible for some of the most memorable films in the 21st century, but their magnum opus may be the hexalogy of movies about a group of criminals that came out between 2001-2008 that also included a 26-episode television series. A Life Worth Living? marked the conclusion of the series. Danny, the sole surviving member of the quartet is paroled for good behavior, but finds his wife had filed for a restraining order, and the only job he could find is with a struggling data company run by the only person willing to give him a place to stay. He must try to scratch his way to survival while trying to decide on the answer posed by the film's title. A Life Worth Living? is a bit of a departure from the other films in the series in that it is about a convict's effort to stay clean rather than committing a crime, but it still full of the sardonic black humor found throughout most of Double Entendre's works. It is aided greatly by the tremendous performance by non-actor Reginald Stovey who has to largely carry the film on his own, although the presence of James Turnboil in a supporting role certainly helped.

23. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Chu-Han Contention (2007)
Rated R
457 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms & Yizhi Chen

The A Journey Through Chinese History series had some tremendous critical and commercial success with its first four entries, and that emboldened the filmmakers to go all out with the fifth film. After dedicating the 2006-07 television season to the life of the tyrannical Qin Shi Huang who united all of China, the team decided to focus the upcoming theatrical feature on the conflict to decide the next rulers of China, led largely by Xiang Yu's Kingdom of Chu and Liu Bang's Kingdom of Han. Of course the four-year conflict was full of not only epic battles, but also dramatic moments such as the murder of the treacherous Zhao Gao by the puppet king Ziying, the Hongmen Banquet where Xiang Yu plotted to assassinate Liu Bang, the sacking and burning of the Efang Palace, and the tragic romance between Xiang Yu and Consort Yu, which ended with Consort Yu's suicide at the climactic Battle of Gaixia, during which the Han soldiers lowered the Chu morale by playing traditional Chu songs. Trying to fit all the storylines led to a six-and-a-half hour behemoth that was epic in scope yet still cut out plenty of detail. The filmmakers would later express their regret with the overambition of the project, especially after it failed to meet projections at the box office, yet the finished product is still an impressive piece of historical filmmaking.

22. Raep Tiem (2015)
Rated NC-17
218 minutes
Dir: Mark Paul Rennart

The film world shuddered when it was announced that Mark Paul Rennart was in production on a film about rape in which the title would be the words "rape time" spelled incorrectly. Yet the finished product was completely different from what anybody would have expected. Instead of a light-hearted comedy that made fun of a difficult subject, Raep Tiem turned out to be a biting social commentary on the cruelty of rape, the damaging effects that it can have on a victim's life, and the shocking lack of support shown towards the victims. It does so through the vivid portrayal of a rape of a young lady at a college party by two of her male friends, and the aftermath including the growing power imbalance between the victim and her rapist. The depiction of the entire rape in all of its lurid detail shocked audiences, yet it added a sense of identification with the main character. The sense of the prevalence of the act is furthered when she visits a rape victims support group where she hears actual rape victims invited by Rennart to tell their story. Rennart's decision to add plenty of humor to keep the film classified as a comedy also added to the controversy as viewers were either too shocked or too outraged to laugh, but it was a very deliberate stylistic choice to heighten the lack of respect the topic has received. Raep Tiem certainly stands as the most controversial film in the 21st century, but its impact cannot be denied.

21. The Quest: Destiny Awakened (2003)
Rated R
416 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

The Quest series began almost a decade before The Final Battle with Destiny Awakened, the first film in the series. It was an explosive introduction to the characters of Amy and Susie Quick whom audiences would follow over the next nine years and nearly two dozen films. It also established the foundation of the quest by showing the growing power of the demon king Heylel and the devastation that would be brought on by his plans of Armageddon even before introducing the Quick Sisters. Much of the film is dedicated to the monk Brother Mattias and his efforts to convince Amy and her family of Amy's role in stopping Heylel, a task that proves difficult but one that ultimately becomes successful with the signs of Armageddon becoming visible. Then Amy is immediately thrust into the task of destroying the first pillar of darkness alongside Susie who joined the quest as a stowaway. The entire proceedings ended up being six hours in length which soon became a point of contention with the entire series, but Destiny Awakened succeeded at its worldbuilding, character introduction, and stunning action to whet viewers' appetites for more.

20. A Journey Through Chinese History: Episode I (2003)
Rated PG-13
210 mimnutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

A Journey Through Chinese History was always envisioned as a television series by showrunner Yizhi Chen. However, his mentors and co-collaborators Jim Abrahms and Max Snow convinced him to release the pilot as a theatrical feature, with Abrahms taking the mantle as director. Episode I combined both mythology and archeology, telling the tales of some of the legends that had passed down through Chinese history interspersed with a documentary-like look at ancient cultures in the lands that is now China. Some of the myths that were featured included Pangu and his separation of the heavens and the earth, Nüwa creating humankind and also fixing the Pillar of Heaven, the war between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, and the abuse of the future Emperor Shun at the hands of his cruel stepmother. The film culminates with the great Yu controlling the flood waters of the Yellow River and taking up the throne, finding the Xia dynasty. Episode I turned out to be a critical and commercial success as it received praise for its tremendous storytelling and imaginative visual effects, setting the A Journey Through Chinese History series on a course that continues to this day. 

19. Mikey Boulevard (2009)
Rated R
167 minutes
Dir: Perry Cantu

Director Perry Cantu's Mikey Trilogy, about the titular character played to perfect by James Turnboil, was celebrated largely for the diversity in genres displayed through the three films in the series. 1999's Mikeytown was a fantasy-action comedy, where Mikey ended up in a world populated by himself. 2004's The Maturation of Mikey was more of a screwball comedy, where Mikey goes on an affair with his high school daughter's best friend. As lighthearted as the first two films were, it all came crashing down with Mikey Boulevard, which is best classified as a neo-noir black comedy. Mikey has indeed matured since his previous film, and achieved fair success as he gets ready to celebrate his 50th birthday, having been promoted to vice president of his corporation and watching his daughter Joanie grow up into strong and successful young woman. However, his life is turned completely around when some gangsters with whom he had collaborated in his younger days came back into his life wanting some compensation for a perceived slight from 30 years prior. Mikey Boulevard was a shocking conclusion for its sheer absurdity, and won significant praise for the performances of Turnboil and Ellen Hurse as Joanie. 

18. The Quest: The Lost Years (2013)
Rated R
167 minutes
Dir: Joe Lee

Director Joe Lee concluded The Quest not with The Final Battle, but with The Lost Years, a coda of sorts ten years after Destiny Awakened. It features the Quick Sisters Amy and Susie, the sole survivors of the quest to defeat the demon king Heylel, as they return to their hometown ten years after their initial departure. Having never had the chance to call home, they find that their family had long presumed that they had died. As they try to assimilate back into their previous lives, they are haunted by the trauma of what they had experienced, while also grappling with the question as to whether the entire quest was worth it. After multiple failed attempts to hold down jobs and numerous broken friendships, Susie ended up attempting suicide and finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, leading to Amy having a crisis of her own. The domestic despair so prevalent The Lost Years was in stark contrast to the rest of The Quest films, which were full of action and humor as well as colorful characters. Yet it was widely applauded for its realistic portrayal of post-traumatic stress as well as the tremendous performances from actresses Janice Hallston and Nancy Anson, who had both been the beating heart of The Quest series as the Quick sisters for a decade.

17. A Family Affair (2017)
Rated PG-13

292 minutes
Dir: George Bond, Earl Liu & Ted McIntosh

The making of A Family Affair is about as eventful as this five-hour epic. The film was the vision of Ted McIntosh, respected veteran director of films such as The Serviceman's Wife and The Condemned. He planned a film that explored 100 years of Chinese history through the lens of one family, focusing on events a quarter century apart, from the hellscape of World War II in 1942 to the depths of the Cultural Revolution in 1967 to the reform campaign of 1992. He found a collaborator in Earl Liu to work with the predominantly Chinese cast, and they inserted the extra storyline of how each time period also featured the birth of the next generation. The film's production was thrown into turmoil with the sudden, unexpected death of McIntosh from a burst abdominal aortic aneurysm shortly after filming started. With Liu continuing production, the producers brought in George Bond, another veteran director that helmed The Danville Quartery. The film eventually completed production, and opened to rave reviews. There was some criticism levied at the film for its epic runtime, especially with the World War II segment taking up two hours of its own. However, it was equally celebrated for its production values that explored several crucial periods in Chinese history, and special mention was paid to Julie Chen for her performance of the same character at four different ages in all four time periods.

16. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (2016)
Rated R
288 minutes
Dir: Ke-Gang Lin

In 2016 A Journey Through Chinese History showrunner Yizhi Chen took a step back from directing the annual theatrical features to focus on planning and directing of the television series. The job of director for the 2016 feature fell to Ke-Gang Lin, who had been a co-director since The Grand Canal back in 2013. The film he directed was on one of the most famous romances in Chinese history, the romance between Emperor Xuanzhong of Tang and his treasured consort Yang Guifei. The film took its Chinese and English titles from Bai Juyi's epic poem on the romance, and borrows heavily from the poem as well as historical texts in crafting the tragic tale. Emperor Xuanzhong was one of the Tang dynasty's greatest ruler, as he presided over the dynasty's golden age, but that changed late in his reign when he became enamored with his harem of imperial consorts. Yang became his favorite, even though she was the wife of his son. Through some back-handed methods the emperor made Yang his treasured consort, and he even named her brother Yang Guozhong his chancellor. However, chancellor Yang did not get along with favored general An Lushan, leading to a rebellion that would signal the weakening of the Tang dynasty, and the forced execution of Yang. The film ends with a fantasy sequence incorporated from the poem, with Xuangzhong seeking out a Daoist priest to find her spirit so they can reunite one final time. The Song of Everlasting Sorrow drew some consternation over its five-hour runtime, and there was some controversy over the age difference between 65-year-old Yan-Hao Li as Xuanzhong and 23-year-old Julie Chen as Yang. Nevertheless, the emotional storytelling mixing history and fantasy made the film an unforgettable experience.

15. A Fucker Named Bob (2007)
Rated R
137 minutes
Dir: Claude Rayner

The films and series from Double Entendre Productions were largely dominated by ones directed by co-founders Jim Abrahms and Max Snow, but by the late 2000s the team had recruited a few younger directors to work on projects of their own. The most successful of these is the Bob Trilogy directed by Claude Rayner, and it is the first film in the series that left the strongest impression on viewers. The provocative title A Fucker Named Bob which led to the film being released and promoted as Bob certainly made it noticeable before its release. The story involving the misanthropic titular Bob and his resistance of the efforts of his cheerful neighbor Daisy was even more notable. It's rare for a main character for any movie to not only go through the entire film without any personal growth, but even more to see one actively reject growth without being labeled as lazy and one-dimensional. Yet through the deft performance of director-turned-actor Max Snow, Bob comes across as a fully realized individual that has his reasons for being the way he is, although he will never share it with others. While his past is explored more in the later films of the series in Bob's Birthday and Bob, it is the inscrutable nature of Bob's characterization that makes A Fucker Named Bob such a memorable film. 

14. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Three Visits (2010)
Rated PG-13

186 minutes
Dir: Yizhi Chen

The team behind A Journey Through Chinese History had seemingly learned their lesson from The Chu-Han Contention and its disappointing showing at the box office, and their ensuing films were more focused in nature. This focused approach certainly aided the series with The Three Visits. The series dedicated an entire season in 2010 and 2011 to the turbulent Three Kingdoms period, when the kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han, and Wu battled for domination over a fractured China. This period is notable for inspiring the legendary Ming-era novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as well as several more historical works about the period. Director and showrunner Yizhi Chen decided that the theatrical feature should specifically focus on Shu king Liu Bei and his sworn brothers Guang Yu and Zhang Fei, and their three attempts at meeting the fabled strategist Zhuge Liang. The event was a major plot point in Romance, and The Three Visits mixed historical record and romanticized fiction in telling the story. The end result was a film that was tremendously poetic in its narrative, which detailed an early meeting between Liu and Zhuge, leading to the titular three visits with Liu specifically seeking Zhuge's guidance. The Three Visits won great acclaim for its tight storytelling and the strong performances throughout and was a major success for A Journey Through Chinese History. 

13. Obsession (2003)
Rated R
158 minutes
Dir: George Cattell

George Cattell was a longtime assistant director for celebrated director Joe Lee, largely operating within the shadows. However, with Lee hard at work over The Quest series, Cattell stepped up into the limelight to direct some of Lee's other projects, starting with Obsession. Obsession was a haunting psychological horror about the dangerous side of fanaticism. It tells the story of a high schooler with a strong attraction towards a famous actress. At first it was mostly harmless, but with the actress's sudden retirement from film to focus on her studies, it sent him down a path of self-destruction from which there would be no escape. The depths of the obsession was stunning to viewers, even with the decision not to include any stalking within the story. The use of filmmaking techniques such as changes in lens lengths and color palette to depict the gradual descent into madness was striking, and teenage actor Eddie Fawn won rave reviews for his stirring portrayal of the main character. Obsession was a massive hit despite its dark themes, and not only did it beat out The Quest: Destiny Awakened at the box office, but it triumphed over Lee's film by capturing Best Picture in which they were in direct competition in all three major film awards.

12. Comedy (2000)
Rated R
136 minutes
Dir: Max Snow

Max Snow is one of the most celebrated figures in filmmaking in the 21st century, being the co-founder of Double Entendre Productions, screenwriter of many of their masterpieces, and multi-award winning actor within the Bob Trilogy. However, before the year 2000 he was more known for being the director of quirky comedies centered around food, with the most notable being Fresh Meat from 1998. All that would change in 2000, when Snow would direct a film about filmmaking titled Comedy. It is a comedy about six out-of-work filmmakers that is still determined to make a comedy film, although their efforts are hampered by an inability to secure financing, a failure to find a cast or crew besides themselves, their complete lack of a sense of humor, and the unfortunate fact that they all hate each other with a passion. Snow's deep understanding of the business of filmmaking from his own experience with independent film as well as his artistic eye and his penchant for strong storytelling helped Comedy resonate not only with other filmmakers, but also audiences everywhere. It was a massive success that, combined with Jim Abrahms's own successful release of Fresh Talk High, allowed the two longtime buddies to team up to find their own studio in Double Entendre Productions. 

11. The Brotherhood of the Peach Groves (2005)
Rated R
154 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Double Entendre's celebrated hexalogy crossed the midway point in 2005 with The Brotherhood of the Peach Groves. The first three films was about the criminal quartet in the present, but with The Brotherhood of the Peach Groves the focus turned to the group's past. It utilizes the sole survivor of the team as he lays bare the tale of how the four members met at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport in 1987 during a flight delay, and their first heist that took them from Taiwan to Hong Kong. The filmmaking, which is heavily inspired by the works of the legendary Hong Kong director John Woo, is sharp and exciting while carrying the absurd humor that has come to define most of the films by Double Entendre. The trio of young actors that had also starred in the Wayside School adaptation from 1996 as well as former L World head of state L L did a tremendous job of capturing the characterization that were well established in the previous three films. And the title itself was a clever reference not only to the celebrated historical brotherhood of the peach grove from the Three Kingdom period China, but also from the group coming together in Taoyuan, which is Chinese for "peach grove." The Brotherhood of the Peach Groves was yet another smashing success from Double Entendre Productions, and one that led straight into the one-season television series The Years of Yonder, which further detailed the quartet's criminal accomplishments.

10. Rated R (2001)
Rated R
128 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

Rated R was where it all began for director Jim Abrahms and Double Entendre Productions. The Told Tale was the first film released under the Double Entendre Productions label, but as an animated film the majority of the production was done before the studio's founding, with only post-production happening after. Rated R was the first film to be entirely produced through Double Entendre Productions. Furthermore, Rated R was the first film of Double Entendre's hexalogy, although Abrahms had never imagined that the story would stretch across six films and a television series. All he had ever wanted to created an R-rated film and title it Rated R, so the trailer narrator would say "Rated R, rated R." He wanted to wait until he had a story that was befitting of the title, and one finally came about when he came up with the tale of a heist where everything that could go wrong went wrong. Rated R was about a quartet of petty thieves and con artists that reunited after ten years apart for one final job to swipe some jewels from a penthouse: the stoic leader Jackson, the fiery getaway driver Nick, the timid thief Josh, and the reluctant planner Danny. As one might expect, nothing went right leading to hijinks, improvisation, and lots and lots of swears. Where Rated R succeeds was in the strength of the characterization, as each of the team's personalities comes shining through, as well as an underlying tension that went unspoken but one that would become evident in a future film. Whether one takes the film on its own as a piece of entertainment or in its historical role as the genesis of one of the most renowned film series, Rated R is an absolute success.

9. Hang 'Em High (2019)
Rated R
219 minutes
Dir: Mark Paul Rennart

Over his short career, director Mark Paul Rennart had evolved from being an irreverent and controversial director to being a well respected albeit still controversial director that is unafraid to tackle some difficult social issues. After films such as The People's Church, Lesbian Ladies, and Raep Tiem won him acclaim in addition to some criticism, Rennart just wanted to make a film in which he and everybody involved could just sit back and have fun. What few people expected was that this would become his magnum opus, and tragically would become his final film. He had planned a western comedy about a pair of outlaw brothers that were scheduled to be hanged in a rough and tumble Kansas town in the late 19th century. When the brothers escaped on the day of their execution, the ensuing manhunt drew eight teams of mercenaries ready to capture the pair to win the prize money. What began as a simple concept soon ballooned into epic proportions as any actor that Rennart invited to take part all agreed. That led to one of the most stacked ensemble casts ever assembled, including Pete Klao, Ellen Hurse, Diane Pye (playing four characters), the Rated R quartet, the Brotherhood of the Peach Groves quartet, and more. Even James Turnboil and Joe Lee showed up as the escaped convicts. With such a monumental cast it became a challenging task to ensure each character gets their fair share of screen time and character depth, but Rennart handled it magnificently while filling the story with enough danger and comedy that it never gets old in its epic 3.5-hour runtime. From start to finish Hang 'Em High is a rollicking good time and a masterpiece.

8. The Bogotan Chronology (2002)
Rated R
151 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

One defining feature of Double Entendre Productions is that they were never afraid to try new approaches to filmmaking, starting with their first film being an adult animated film done in Shakespearean dialogue to television tie-ins with their films as in The Years of Yonder to even being involved in the production of the first two A Journey Through Chinese History films. Of course, one of their boldest works was the experimental film The Bogotan Chronology, which was described as being a "stream of consciousness movie." The entire film is a monologue, written and narrated by Max Snow, that is an inner dialogue of a young man as he commentates on his morning and the interactions he has with his friends and co-workers, but as he looks back on some of the perceived slights he felt, and suffers an emotional breakdown. Given the stream of consciousness design, the running internal dialogue is partially related to the actual events at hand, but also prone to going into free association and non-sequiturs to other subjects, some of which are only marginally connected to the events. Similarly, the film's visuals as directed by Jim Abrahms also plays into the stream of consciousness motif. Part of the film is shot from a first person perspective, but frequently is interspersed with scenes that have nothing to do with the events at hand, such as clips from other events, movies, or even video games. The Bogotan Chronology was an extremely divisive work upon its release, with some praising the film for its bold filmmaking, while others criticizing it for being an avant-garde mess that is obtuse just for obtuseness's sake. Over the years the brilliance of Max Snow's writing and Jim Abrahms's directing had become much more prominent, as The Bogotan Chronology is celebrated as a masterpiece.

7. Excrement (2011)
Rated R
868 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms

By 2011, Jim Abrahms was one of the most renowned directors in L Award, an artistic visionary and marvelous storyteller whose films have been box office successes while garnering multitudes of praise and honor. That was the year in which he would come out with his most ambitious and personal film, one that had been three years in the making. It was a film that he felt would encapsulate his pessimistic worldview that life was meaningless and full of unnecessary pain and agony; that life was shit. And of course he bestowed upon this masterwork the apropos title of Excrement. The film is about the residents of Sunny Valley Apartments, a once high-class and exclusive apartment building that had seen better days. Their lives are thrown into disarray when Jane, the high-spirited teenaged daughter of the building manager Harold, moves in to stay with her father. Her presence would change the lives of these longtime residents, some for the better and others for the worst. Abrahms shot so much footage that he was able to cobble together three different cuts of the film, all of which followed the same general plot but with differing amounts of details based on the length. Of course, the lengths of all three versions were shocking to viewers, with even the shortest Diarrhea Edition clocking in at a whopping 6 hours 56 minutes, and the Constipation Edition being a whopping 29 hours 27 minutes. Even the standard release came in at a daunting 14 hours 28 minutes. Excrement won some of the best reviews of any film by Jim Abrahms, with special praise being heaped upon the acting of Ellen Hurse and James Turnboil who starred as daughter and father once again as well as Pete Klao as a grizzled former ballplayer forced into retirement by a shoulder injury. Nevertheless, there was quite a few criticism as to why Abrahms didn't just release Excrement as a miniseries. Audiences generally stayed away and Excrement was the biggest box office bomb in Double Entendre Productions history. Yet despite its failure, the artistry and compelling storytelling found in Excrement helped it achieve renown over a decade after Abrahms's tragic passing.

6. Unkept Promises (2006)
Rated R
167 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms & Max Snow

The penultimate film in the Rated R hexalogy is perhaps the most dramatic, as it followed The Brotherhood of the Peach Groves and the one season of The Years of Yonder to finally address the question as what drove the quartet apart ten years prior to the events of Rated R. Told in flashback like Brotherhood and every episode of Yonder, Unkept Promises sees the group head to England to meet with the snotty young gang boss Victor Swell, who wants to hire the bunch to rob his wealthy parents of millions of pounds. The job goes off without a hitch, but things become complicated when Victor stiffs the group of their pay, and they must utilize their skills to con Victor of what they felt they were owed and something extra. Things get even more hairy when Nick and Danny become romantically involved with Victor's seductive girlfriend Elaine, whose loyalties remained constantly in question. Unkept Promises was reminiscent of the frenetic crime comedies of Guy Ritchie such as Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, full of madcap action and slick dialogue, all while a powder keg boiled underneath it all. And things finally come to an end in a jaw-dropping climax that left audiences stunned and answered several questions that remained unanswered in Rated R. The cast won rave reviews, from the quartet that delivered one strong performance after another through Brotherhood to Yonder, to fellow Wayside School alum Coby Dillards as the diabolical Victor Swell. And yet the greatest acclaim went to Ellen Hurse, who returned after a two-year sabbatical where she participated in mostly stage productions to portray the enigmatic Elaine, whose evolution from a ditzy girlfriend to the linchpin of the entire movie over the course of the film remains one of her most memorable roles to this day, and helped Unkept Promises become one of the most significant films in the 21st century.

5. The Wrong Way Home (2004)
Rated R
144 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms & Max Snow

Sorry to spoil a 24-year old movie (that doesn't actually exist), but Rated R ended with the quartet being apprehended by police. It was a bit of a downer of an ending, but it ultimately set the stage for two other sequels that would form the trilogy that would ultimately become a hexalogy. 2003's Not as Simple as It Seems, the second film in the series, detailed the group's life in prison in which they were ultimately sentenced, and their daring plan to escape. It was a delightfully funny film and received strong reviews, but ultimately didn't break new ground, and so it remains the only film in the hexalogy that didn't make it onto the top 100. Co-director Jim Abrahms and Max Snow made sure that things would be different for The Wrong Way Home. Having successfully escaped from prison at the end of Not as Simple as It Seems, the quartet spends The Wrong Way Home trying to evade the authorities, led by determined FBI Agent Gustafson. However, each of their secondary goals are different, with Jackson wanting to plan their next heist, Nick desiring revenge against those that led to their capture, Danny just wishing to return to his family, and Josh actually wanting to return to prison. The disparate motivations lead to conflict that is at times funny but ultimately heartbreaking. The most distinct aspect of The Wrong Way Home is its strict adherence to film noir techniques, right down to the black and white cinematography that accentuates the use of shadows, and the use of 1940s style costumes, a joke that is addressed in the film itself. The Wrong Way Home was an artistic triumph, and while it had the misfortune of coming in the same year as one of the few films that rank even higher on the list, but it's still appreciated as a comedic masterpiece today.

4. The Trials and Tribulations of 'M' (2014)
Rated NC-17
237 minutes
Dir: George Cattell & Joe Lee

The May French Trilogy, which had concluded with The Last Stand of 'M', was a major cultural phenomenon upon its first release, and that was true with the epic middle film of the series, even in spite of its four-hour runtime and the shocking NC-17 rating. In this entry, May had unified all of the criminal enterprises in the city, which she rules with an iron grip under the cryptic moniker of "M." However, she faces challenges to her reign, none more so than the new police chief Georgia Jennings, who has designs on cleaning up the criminal elements to her city. She finds a helpful informant in May's close confidant Alyson Landgraab, who may or may not be her half-sister. However, to the consternation of May's personal assistant Siddhartha Koffi, May is far more concerned with her relationship with her new wife Helen, who has her own concerns that May's criminal background can affect her burgeoning career as a teacher. As Georgia's investigation draws closer while Helen becomes more emotionally distant, things will be bound to explode in an action-packed climax. The emotional twists and turns to Trials and Tribulations helped it connect with audiences and elevated it into a much more humanistic work that one could have imagined. The romantic elements to the film was further depicted by intimate lesbian sex scenes between May and Helen that evolved based on their emotional connection, which not only helped the film earn the NC-17 rating, but also provides a stark contrast with the action sequences that provided plenty of energy, the highlight of which was a 25-minute gunfight between May and her police pursuers. The Trials and Tribulations of 'M' ended up being the highest grossing film rated NC-17, breaking a record that had stood for over a decade with the release of The Legend of the Fucking Gang in 2003.

3. Wayside School: The Cloud of Doom (2021)
Rated PG
111 minutes
Dir: George Cattell & Joe Lee

1996's Wayside School may very well be one of the most important films released in L World in the 20th century. The adaptation of the first three "Wayside School" books by Louis Sachar was not only a massive box office hit and an awards juggernaut, but became a launching ground for some of the most significant actors, not only through those that had major roles such as Ellen Hurse who played Joy, but also from those that didn't quite land credited roles but did make it onto a directory of child actors found through the audition process that helped them begin their careers with other projects. It was such a cultural phenomenon that when Sachar wrote a fourth book, "Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom" in 2020, 25 years after the last entry, there was no doubt that it would be adapted to film. This latest entry covered the continued antics of Mrs. Jewls's class on the 30th story of the school that was built sideways, as the students must deal with collecting a million nail clippings, funny faces that stick, a closet that isn't there, abuse of paper clips, Kathy actually becoming nice, a chance to ring the school Gong, and an Ultimate Test, all while the titular Cloud of Doom hovers ominously overhead. There was some controversy as instead of hiring an all-new cast to play the students, a good 2/3 of them were hired back from the 1996 original and given an extreme de-aging process to turn them from their 30s to their preteen, a process more akin to motion capture. Yet all was forgiven when the film was released, as it had captured the absurdist and madcap humor that made the original film such a beloved comedy classic, with an underlying sense of danger and a visual artistry that one might not have expected from a Wayside School adaptation. The acting was also highly praised, with several of the mo-cap performances winning strong reviews, particularly that of Tammy Buyos as the changed Kathy. Wilma Dent won more awards in her return as the beloved Mrs. Jewls, while Pete Klao won some of the best accolades of his illustrious career after taking over the role of Mr. Kidswatter from the late Justin Morre. And some of the younger actors went on to solid careers, with Bianca Slaton (Allison) appearing as the titular role in The Young Artist while portraying a major character in Ginny and the Ghost, and Stephen Blaen (Stephen) winning raves for his performance as Enoch in Evocation. Wayside School: The Cloud of Doom ended as being the highest grossing film released in the 21st century, and is just about as beloved as the original, but it was not enough to capture the top spot on this list.

2. A Journey Through Chinese History: The Rise of Zhou (2004)
Rated R
224 minutes
Dir: Jim Abrahms & Yizhi Chen

If Episode I was a strong start to the A Journey Through Chinese History series, then the second film sent the series soaring into the stratosphere. With the first season of the show focused on legends from the Xia and the Shang dynasties, of which much history is lacking within the historical record, the series jumps ahead 1,000 years to the end of the Shang dynasty. And the second theatrical feature highlights the family that would take down the Shang dynasty and their corrupt king Shou, the most infamous tyrant in Chinese history. After a prologue that details the life of Hou Ji, a possible ancestor of the Ji family, the film moves forward to the reign of King Zhou, a legendary figure of brute strength and great intelligence. Yet the defiant king chooses to waste his gifts on a life of luxury along with his beloved consort Daji, who may or may not be a malevolent fox spirit, ignoring the increasing desperation of his citizens as well as his loyal advisors, many of whom he punished with some of the most gruesome deaths imaginable. One such dignitary that was imprisoned but escaped death was Ji Chang, the leader of a state in the Shang dynasty lands by the name of Zhou. While he managed to escape with his life thanks to some well-received bribes, he lost his oldest son Bo Yikao when the virtuous young man that went to plead for his father rebuked the seductive efforts of Daji. Furthermore, Ji Chang had to face the indignity of eating a meat bun made out of his own son's flesh. The atrocities that he had witnessed led him to plot a revolution against the corrupt King, aided by his sons Ji Fa and Ji Dan as well as military advisor Jiang Ziya. Together they took upon a campaign that would ultimately end 600 years of Shang rule and begin the dynasty of Zhou. The fall of the Shang dynasty and the subsequent establishment of the Zhou dynasty is one of the most famous Chinese legends, one that had been retold numerous times, often with mythological elements thrown in. The Rise of Zhou took some of the more realistic portions of the tale with some of the mystical elements sprinkled in and crafted a tale that is as gripping as it is exciting. The excesses and cruelty of King Zhou's lifestyle is displayed in its entirety, such as the infamous Wine Lakes and Meat Forests as well as the hot iron methods of execution. The graphic violence is contrasted with moments of placid beauty, such as the scene of Jiang Ziya being found fishing without bait. The two extremes combine to make The Rise of Zhou one of the most shocking works of art that still stands as the finest film within the A Journey Through Chinese History series. 

1. The Secret Life of 'M' (2012)
Rated R
207 minutes
Dir: George Cattell

Ellen Hurse has had a long and illustrious career dating back to her film debut in the 1996 adaptation of Wayside School. She had given several tremendous performances over the year that had garnered her plenty of awards in films such as Fresh Talk High, The Lighthouse, Unkept Promises, The Danville Quarterly, Mikey Boulevard, and Excrement. Yet for all of her success she had never been much of a box office draw. Audiences had regarded her more of a high-brow art-house actress and never one that would drive them to go see a picture. All that would change when her greatest performance burst onto the scene, that of the chillingly evil May French. May is the cold and calculating sociopath that is always in a state of preternatural calm as she is often several steps in front of those around her. She can charming and prim, always wearing a red and black dress, yet when push comes to shove she can beat you in a fight, either through her well-honed martial arts prowess or through her elite sharpshooting skills. She is the type of character that any actress would be dying to play, yet only Ellen Hurse can imbue her with the vulnerability and depth that keeps her from being a Mary Sue, a character archetype scorned for being too flawless. 

Of course, a strong character like May French needs a worthwhile story befitting her stature. Thankfully screenwriter Joe Lee and director George Cattell had delivered with a worthwhile film for May French to make her long-awaited debut. The Secret Life of 'M' tracks May's life from her turbulent childhood to her coronation as the Empress of Evil where she rules the underworld as an entity known as 'M'. She was born as the second of twin sisters, although she became an only child once her older sister drowned under mysterious circumstances. Left on her own thanks to a neglectful, drug-addicted mother and a father that abandoned the family to chase his musical dreams, May hones her physical and mental acuity with the express desire to join the criminal underworld, which she does by joining the gang led by mob boss Charles Foster "Lanky" Kong. Finding herself in a patriarchal and misogynistic environment, May is forced to perform humiliating tasks and even suffers a sexual assault, yet she holds her ground and rises the ladder through her exemplary performance. As she makes her way into Lanky's inner circle, she faces significant opposition, but through her own planning as well the support of her best friend Alyson Landgraab, her loyal lackey Siddhartha Koffi, and her lesbian girlfriend Helen Li, she enacts her plan to take over not only Lanky's operations, but also the criminal underworld as a whole.

The Secret Life of 'M' was a revelation upon its release. It was very much a paradoxical work. It is structured like an underdog tale, although in this case the underdog is a sharp, intelligent and capable young woman who is clearly smarter than those around her. It is an inspirational story of triumph when the heroine is a cruel and sinister individual who murders multiple individuals onscreen. Yet the entire film works through the tremendous performance of Ellen Hurse, who gives May French just enough of a hint of humanity to become relatable to audiences despite spending much of the film wearing reflective shades and speaking in a cold cadence. It certainly helps that she is surrounded by a strong cast of supporting characters, including Zoe Chunlun as her mother Sandi, Eddie Fawn as Siddhartha Koffi, Julie Chen as Helen Li, and Pete Klao as the oblivious Lanky Kong. Despite its grisly violence and epic length, The Secret Life of 'M' was an instant smash hit at the box office. It also lifted Ellen Hurse from being a largely art-house actress to a bankable box office star. It won tremendous reviews. And it stands as the best film that I had made up for the L World film awards in the first quarter of the 21st century.

Thanks, May French

"You're welcome."

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Well, here you go, the 100 best films that I had come up with between 2000 and 2024. I apologize if some of the blurbs are repetitive or become deep dives into plotlines that nobody cares about but me. This project took me much longer than I would have hoped, especially since once we had gotten into the top 25 we get to the films that I had spent the most time thinking about. And looking farther into the list, it does seem that I subscribe to the auteur theory of filmmaking, especially since so many directors are represented multiple times: Mark Paul Rennart with five films, George Cattell also with five films, Max Snow with six films, Yizhi Chen with eight films, Joe Lee with 12 films, and Jim Abrahms with a whopping 16 films. I suppose part of it comes from me being lazy and not wanting to come up with directors, but another part may just be the fact that sometimes I do come up with styles for directors, so if I come up with a film sometimes I see if it fits in with a director's particular style, and if it does then they get another film on the list. 

Of course the fact that I had put so much time and effort into coming up with these stories and have taken absolutely no attempts at turning them into something more like an actual script is definitely a mark on me, but what can you do? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this project and I hope you can leave a comment as to which films you felt deserve some more development.