From razor-edged satires to dark fairy tales, inspired haunted house riffs and nerve-shredding accounts of supernatural possession, the 2000s have been a goldmine for fright freaks.

I was delighted when The New York Times announced its top 100 movies of the 21st century — especially since so many of my personal faves made it to the list! So, fellow cinephiles, let’s clink our glasses to the NYT's ultimate ranking of the best films to come out since the year 2000.

From sweeping orchestral themes to minimalist masterpieces, these scores didn’t just accompany the action—they defined it.