39. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
 
New Zealand/USA
dir. Peter Jackson
world premiere 2001
U.S. release 2001
 

 
Because it inherits, polishes, expands, and exalts what felt like a lost ideal of what Hollywood studios and generous budgets can achieve when fused to unhomogenized creativity, an uncynical team of artists, and a powerful but unstuffy respect for complex source material. The artform owes millions of new believers around the world to this movie.