Few decades have experienced so much cinematic wonder and captivating tales quite as memorably as the 2000s have. This was the decade to truly experience a wide range of creativity and new, exciting stuff. It was when the building blocks of the modern superhero genre were forming, mega-blockbusters were taking off, and audiences were experiencing a plethora of new and innovative works of art. In short, the 2000s really were a blast, aren’t they?
The following ten are iconic 2000s movies that are best to look back on and reminisce about this glorious time. They may not all be the most perfect or Best Picture-worthy, but they powerfully represent the joy of going to the movies back then. They’re fun and memorable, and some have even defined the childhoods of many cinema buffs today. Sit back and enjoy a trip back to a charming cinematic time.
10
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)
Ang Lee‘s masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon kicked off the 2000s on a soaring high note, where it still stands today as a wonderful achievement that catapulted foreign-language and martial arts films more into the mainstream. It stars Chow Yun-Fat and Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh in a story about two warriors who must recover a sacred sword from a thieving politician’s daughter in 19th-century China.
This delightful mix of action, drama, and romance took the world by storm, blowing audiences away with its Oscar-caliber cinematography and gorgeous fight choreography. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a gripping and simply eye-catching experience, making an unforgettable classic that started the decade off strong and exciting.
9
‘Shrek’ (2001)
DreamWorks’ Shrek is one of the most beloved animated films of the 21st century. It’s an unforgettable comedy that defined many young childhoods in the 2000s with its brilliant jokes and legendary voice performances. Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy lead this now classic story about a lonely ogre and talking donkey as they set out on a quest to deliver a beautiful princess to an evil ruler.
Shrek has become timeless thanks to its quotable lines and lovable characters. Its story is fascinating as it hilariously subverts and pokes fun at fairy tales and their clichés. It’s smart and creative, and never fails to entertain audiences for decades, as it’s so entertaining and endlessly funny. Shrek has an enduring legacy and will remain one of the most iconic films to ever come out of the 2000s.
8
‘Spider-Man’ (2002)
Superhero movies at the turn of the 21st century were slowly on the rise again after a dark period in the mid and late 1990s. Popular franchises like the X-Men were taking off, and Disney’s MCU was jump-starting thanks to 2008’s Iron Man. But truly, the superhero genre in the 2000s was defined by Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man trilogy. In 2002, this iconic series started with the first installment, a beloved blockbuster that saw everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) in a thrilling first outing as he battles the sinister Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe).
This wildly entertaining superhero classic has become a massive influence on the genre ever since it became a smash hit in 2002. It established the exciting feel when watching a superhero film, and this effect hasn’t dwindled in the years since. It’s always enjoyable, endlessly memorable, and is a thrilling banger from start to finish. It’s overall as fun to watch now as it was back then, making it one of the most beloved films of the decade and certainly a must-watch.
7
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings books were in talks of being turned into full-length feature films for decades, but with the thought of technological and financial limitations, it seemed like an impossible franchise to conceive. Finally, with the rise of modern filmmaking innovations, the 2000s were the perfect time to start, and so New Zealand director Sir Peter Jackson was given the task of adapting them to the big screen, in which he greatly succeeded.
In 2003, the epic conclusion to this now legendary trilogy, The Return of the King, rolled into theaters and became a massive critical and commercial success, even earning the prestigious Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards. The Return of the King is often regarded as the best of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a filmmaking and storytelling marvel with incredible action, flawless performances, and jaw-dropping visuals. It’s an undeniable masterpiece that became the movie-going event of the early 2000s, and stands today as one of the most recognizable and still beloved classics to come out of this time.
6
‘Mean Girls’ (2004)
2004 was stacked with one beloved modern classic after another. Seriously, this is a year full of incredibly nostalgic films: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2, Millon Dollar Baby, and The Incredibles, just to name a few. But, when it comes to the “most” nostalgic, this next spot goes to Mean Girls, the cult classic coming-of-age comedy, starring Lindsay Lohan, as a fish-out-of-water homeschooled girl, as she conspires with others to dethrone the popular queen bee (Rachel McAdams) of her new high school.
With gut-busting humor, iconic fashion, memorable performances, and legendary lines, Mean Girls is an unforgettable comedy masterpiece that only gets better with age. Watching it now takes audiences on a trip back to this fun year of the 2000s, and it’s a feeling that only gets stronger with every rewatch. This may not be the best film to come out of 2004, but it’s easily one of the most iconic and represents the culture of the time.
5
‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
Considering it’s one of the most epic sci-fi franchises of all time, of course, talking about the most nostalgic films of the 2000s wouldn’t be complete without mentioning one of the Star Wars prequel films. And when it comes to the best, 2005’s Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is still the most entertaining from this time. This grand finale brings the prequels to an epic close, showing Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) as he tragically falls to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader.
This is a non-stop action thrill ride that became one of the biggest hits of the 2000s. It was a blast of entertainment that made it absolutely enjoyable to be a fan, and it’s highly regarded today as the most thrilling film in the entire Star Wars series. It’s endlessly fun and is constantly rewatched by fans. No doubt, it’s the Star Wars film that made many young audiences of the 2000s fall in love with the franchise.
4
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
From the remarkably talented filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, 2006’s Pan’s Labyrinth is an incredible and unforgettable cinematic achievement that defined the year. Set during the brutal Franco-fascist regime of WWII-era Spain, it follows a young girl (Ivana Baquero) as she escapes her oppressive new family household by escaping into a magical but dangerous fantasy world.
It was powerfully creative, brilliantly told, and blew audiences away with its impressive visuals. Pan’s Labyrinth is a memorable dark fantasy epic that can be experienced constantly throughout the years, and doesn’t feel restricted to the decade since it came out. It has a timeless quality and look and is incredibly spectacular, making it simply one of the 2000s’ most stand-out features.
3
‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
Based on the iconic best-selling novel by Cormac McCarthy, The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a timeless neo-Western that rightfully deserved its Best Picture Oscar win. Starring Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, and Javier Bardem in a Best Supporting Oscar-winning performance, it follows an ordinary Texas man as he engages in a tense game of cat-and-mouse against a ruthless cartel hitman after coming across a suitcase full of money.
It’s definitely the Coen Brothers’ most compelling effort, a grand story that’s become endlessly talked about and praised by cinema buffs since its release. No Country for Old Men has become one of the 2000s’ greatest masterpieces and shows no signs of being forgotten, thanks to its well-written story and acclaimed performances. Overall, it’s the most essential film of 2007.
2
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Not just one of the best movies of the 2000s, but also one of the greatest movies of all time, Sir Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight reigns supreme today as a cinematic legend. An epic superhero flick that fires on all cylinders, it stars Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger in a posthumous Oscar-winning performance in a story that follows the caped crusader in a desperate battle against the Joker to save Gotham from crumbling.
The Dark Knight is often considered the definitive Batman movie, and it’s not hard to see why. From its compelling performances to its impressive visuals and great direction, it’s a masterpiece that hasn’t dwindled in popularity. It helped further establish the 2000s as the decade of superhero movies and is still endlessly watched and praised by fans.
1
‘Up’ (2009)
Ending the decade with something fun, light-heated, and so incredibly touching, 2009’s Up is often considered Disney Pixar’s most celebrated film of this era. An animated masterpiece, it’s a fantastic and profoundly emotional story that follows an elderly man as he fulfills his deceased wife’s dream of bringing their house to a South American waterfall.
Up capped off the 2000s strong with one last compelling and enduring story that film lovers still cherish today. It’s a film that all generations can love and grows in popularity with newer audiences every generation. It’s got a charming feel and a timeless story that’s made it a cinematic legend and easily one of the greatest films to ever come out of the 2000s.
Up
- Release Date
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June 11, 2009
- Runtime
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96minutes
