The Hechtman Blog
Explore Max Hechtman's blog for insights on filmmaking, film lists, reviews, and industry updates from a professional filmmaker, editor, and videographer.
My Ballot For The New York Times Readers' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
Last summer, The New York Times invited readers to assemble their own ballots for a “Readers’ Choice” edition of its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. For my ballot, I picked 10 somewhat random films from this century that I had watched (several of which have directly influenced my approach to filmmaking) and submitted them for consideration. A few of my choices ultimately appeared on The New York Times’ official list, while others received honorable mentions. Below are the ten films I selected, presented in alphabetical order, along with brief notes on why I consider each one to be among the standout films of the century.
My Most Anticipated Films of 2026
With 2025 about to be a year behind us, here’s a look at my most anticipated films of 2026, ranking from what I’m really most excited about to ones where I’m simply just going to go in with an open mind and see what happens.
Max Hechtman's Top 10 Films of 2024
As the year begins to come to an end, here’s my list of the top 10 films of 2024. From blockbusters to long-awaited follow-ups, emotionally-moving independent cinema to intimate documentaries, this was for sure another memorable year for cinema. What were your favorites from this year?
Max Hechtman's Top 10 Movies of 2021
Signing off from 2021 with a look at my list of the Top 10 films I have seen this year. Happy New Year and see you in 2022!

