Critics’ Picks: Berlin · Recognition 2021–2026

How to choose from this collection

This collection contains 25 films with Berlinale main competition selection, including winners during 2021–2026. Every film has a known Critics Score of at least 85. Missing critics’ ratings are excluded. Critics Score combines ratings from trusted sources; it is not an individual Rotten Tomatoes percentage or Metacritic score. Only main competition films and their recorded awards are covered; other festival sections are outside this selection.

Past Lives leads this Critics Score ranking with 94.8. Josephine has one of the highest Audience scores in the selection (82.5). Past Lives has one of the highest known Critics scores (94.8). Comparing these separate scores can help you choose between the films.

1. 1. Past Lives

   Celine Song · 2023 · 105 min

   Audience 79.7 · Critics 94.8 · Total 94.4

   Berlin 2023: Main Competition

2. 2. Petite Maman

   Céline Sciamma · 2021 · 73 min

   Audience 74.8 · Critics 94.6 · Total 89.8

   Berlin 2021: Main Competition

3. 3. What Marielle Knows

   Frédéric Hambalek · 2025 · 86 min

   Audience 68.1 · Critics 93.9 · Total 89.0 (provisional)

   Berlin 2025: Main Competition

How the ranking works

Films are ordered by their known Critics Score. The 85-point minimum is applied before ranking. A Critics score marked ~ is estimated from the catalogue median; its Total is provisional. Recognition years refer to ceremonies and festival editions, not necessarily release dates.