We may earn a commission from links on this page.The 2000s, in some ways, culturally feel neither here nor there: They don’t have the neon vibe we associate with the 1980s, and lack the grunge appeal of the ‘90s. There’s plenty to appreciate, however, in movies over the decade that was bookended by blockbusters: Lord of the Rings in the early years, and Iron Man, Dark Knight, and Avatar at the end. None of those feel particularly cookie-cutter in the way that their successors would often be, and, in the middle years, there were many successful movies of the kind they don’t really make anymore: mid-budget movies with personal, rather than galactic, stakes, that still managed to do brisk business at the box office. It was a decade on the cusp of our mega-blockbuster era, and that tension between the indie-loving ‘90s and the present kept things interesting.Charlie's Angels (2000) A sly, frequently goofy action comedy that sees Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the latest generation of Angels working for the mysterious millionaire Charlie Townsend (John Forsythe, reprising his role from the 1970s TV series). The chemistry is great, the action is fast and fun, and Crispin Glover's Thin Man makes for one helluva creepy villain. Tom Green has a supporting role and Blink-182 pops up on the soundtrack, among the many things that lend the movie extra 2000s cred. Stream Charlie's Angels on MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Charlie's Angels (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Inglourious Basterds (2009) Quentin Tarantino has a great time rewriting history in this (unsurprisingly) violent story of two converging schemes to decapitate Nazi leadership—one involving a vengeful French cinema proprietor owner (Mélanie Laurent), and another carried out by a group of Jewish American soldiers. Bloody, funny, and very satisfying. Stream Inglorious Basterds on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Inglourious Basterds (2009) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Dreamgirls (2006) The cast here is incredible: Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Beyoncé, just for starters. Even more incredible are the absolutely electric musical numbers, including, and especially, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” Stream Dreamgirls on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Dreamgirls (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Mist (2007) Frank Darabont, known for earlier, generally feel-good Stephen King adaptations The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, goes quite a bit darker with this take that sees a bunch of locals at each other's throats in a grocery store at the end of the world. The fear, ignorance, and religious extremism on display here are all potent reminders that hell isn't outside—it's within. Stream The Mist on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Mist (2007) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Moulin Rouge! (2001) Romance and tragedy done in extravagant Baz Luhrmann style against a jukebox of pop songs. The movie is almost overwhelming in its incomparable boldness, always seeming like it's about to run off the track—yet, somehow, we're still in tears by the end. Rent Moulin Rouge! from Prime Video. Moulin Rouge! (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Catch Me If You Can (2002) Spielberg crafts some flawless period vibes with this 1960s-set crime story involving real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. and the FBI agent who spends years pursuing him. The flighty Abagnale (DiCaprio) successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor, and a Secret Service agent; Tom Hanks' more down-to-Earth agent is a fine foil. The tone is wonderfully light and breezy. Stream Catch Me If You Can on MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Catch Me If You Can (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video No Country for Old Men (2007) The Coen Brothers' magnum opus won four Oscars, including one for Best Picture and for Javier Bardem's performance as merciless killer Anton Chigurh. The noir western finds Josh Brolin's Llewelyn Moss stumbling upon, and making off with, the cash left behind when a drug deal goes wrong. He's pursued by not only Chigurh, but Tommy Lee Jones' Sheriff Bell. Stream No Country for Old Men on Kanopy and Prime Video. No Country for Old Men (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Ghost World (2001) Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) face high school graduation, and a crush on Steve Buscemi, in Terry Zwigoff’s indie dark comedy. Stream Ghost World on Tubi, Kanopy, and Prime Video. Ghost World (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Meryl Street is one of cinema's all-time great villains as boss from hell Miranda Priestly, facing down (and tearing down) Anne Hathaway's put-upon personal assistant, Andy Sachs. Stream The Devil Wears Prada on Disney+ and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Almost Famous (2000) Cameron Crowe’s ‘70s-era comedy/drama about a young music journalist going on the road with a major band is a funny, touching crowd pleaser that’s not afraid to veer off in some unexpected and idiosyncratic directions. Hold me closer, tiny dancer. Stream Almost Famous on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Almost Famous (2000) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ The Incredibles (2004) This Pixar triumph hit before the superhero movie wave really crested, and is all the better for it. If only they were all this good. Stream The Incredibles on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Incredibles (2004) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Brokeback Mountain (2005) Ang Lee’s cowboy drama has a big heart and a minimal understanding of the mechanics of gay male sex, while also deserving far better than its fate as an Oscar also-ran to the inferior Crash. Rent Brokeback Mountain from Prime Video. Brokeback Mountain (2005) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Love & Basketball (2000) Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps play next-door neighbors who, over the course of several years, struggle with their growing attraction to each other, even while their basketball ambitions pull them apart. Off-the-charts chemistry here. Rent Love & Basketball from Prime Video. Love & Basketball (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video In the Mood for Love (2000) Wong Kar-wai's lush, extravagant story of sex and yearning finds Chow (Tony Leung) and Su (Maggie Cheung) developing feelings for each other after their spouses have affairs. The '60s-set movie is much more than just style, but that style is impeccable. Stream In the Mood for Love on HBOMax and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. In the Mood for Love (2000) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Jennifer’s Body (2009) Only the real ones knew what to do with Jennifer’s Body in 2009, and the film took a long time to become the cult classic it was probably always destined to be. Here, popular teenager Jennifer (Megan Fox) is turned into a succubus by abusive men, gleefully killing boys around school to the general horror of her friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried). Rent Jennifer's Body from Prime Video. Jennifer’s Body (2009) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mean Girls (2004) Given the movie’s impressive longevity, it’s tempting to call Mean Girls a cult classic—except that it made boatloads of money back in the day, as well. When Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) gets accepted into the cool clique at her public school, she quickly realizes that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Stream Mean Girls on Kanopy, Peacock, and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Mean Girls (2004) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Barbershop (2002) Everything from sex, to relationships, to O.J. and civil rights is on the agenda in this comedy/drama, and the cast of lively and entertaining characters make it a fun place to spend time. Stream Barbershop on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. Barbershop (2002) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Requiem for a Dream (2000) A symphonic ode to the misery of addiction, Darren Aronofsky’s second feature plays like an X-rated version of the anti-drug films you watched in high school. Over the course of two punishing, stylishly filmed, and artfully edited hours, we watch as four characters’ lives fall apart as they try to use drugs—from heroin to diet pills—to fill the empty places inside. It doesn’t work out. A hypnotic, traumatizing, feel-bad classic. Stream Requiem for a Dream on Tubi and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Requiem for a Dream (2000) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Departed (2006) Martin Scorsese’s remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs finds Leonardo DiCaprio going undercover in a crime organization, while Matt Damon infiltrates the police. It’s all very twisty-turny, and provides a last, great performance from Jack Nicholson (barring a surprise un-retirement). Stream The Departed on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. The Departed (2006) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Infernal Affairs (2002) Or you could watch the Hong Kong original from directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak—a smart, emotional crime thriller in its own right. Stream Infernal Affairs on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Infernal Affairs (2002) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max The Princess and the Frog (2009) Proving there’s still a place for traditional animation at Disney, the gorgeously animated film set in New Orleans of the 1920s introduced Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) to the pantheon of Disney princesses. Stream The Princess and the Frog on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Princess and the Frog (2009) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Y Tu Mamá También (2001) Two teenage boys set out on an impromptu road trip with the slightly older (and married) woman on whom they both have a crush. Alfonso Cuarón’s film is a sweet, funny, and sad coming-of-age movie. Stream Y Tu Mamá También on Hulu and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Y Tu Mamá También (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu House of Sand and Fog (2003) A battle of wills between two indefatigable adversaries that ends well for neither of them—nor for their families. Recovering drug addict Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly) is mistakenly evicted from her home, which is then bought for a pittance by a former Iranian Army colonel (Ben Kingsley) whose fortunes have fallen since coming to America. Shohreh Aghdashloo, who was nominated for an Oscar, steals every scene in her supporting role. Rent House of Sand and Fog from Prime Video. House of Sand and Fog (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) There are a couple of love stories in the margins of Ang Lee's martial arts masterpiece (and international blockbuster), but the most poignant is in the central story of retiring swordsman Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and his confidante and associate, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Despite a mutual attraction, honor and loyalty keep the two apart until a lovely, tear-soaked final act. Rent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon from Prime Video. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Before Sunset (2004)Sequels very often fall short of the original, so it’s a tribute to all involved here that Before Sunset is able to top 1995's swoonily romantic two-hander Before Sunrise. Brisk, smart, and with an all-time great cinematic ending. Rent Before Sunset from Prime Video. Before Sunset (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Crank (2006)You're invited to look past (or even revel in) the film’s inherent silliness and just admire it on that merit of it brilliant high-concept: Jason Statham plays Chev Chelios, a man poisoned in such a way that he needs to keep his adrenaline levels at a constant maximum, or he’ll die. How he keeps ramping himself up? That’s the fun part. Rent Crank from Prime Video. Crank (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Shrek (2001) The filmmakers behind Shrek turned the Disney formula on its ear by blending some slightly crass but very funny humor with a genuinely heartfelt story about self-acceptance. In the process, they won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and the movie picked up an Adapted Screenplay nomination—the first ever for an animated film. Not bad for a gassy ogre. Plus: The movie opens with a montage set to Smash Mouth, and it doesn't get more 2000s than that. Stream Shrek on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Shrek (2001) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) In plenty of other stoner-type comedies, Indian- and Korean-Americans are most likely to show up as secondary characters and broad stereotypes—here they’re in the lead. It doesn’t hurt that the movie is pretty damn funny. Rent Harold & Kumar from Prime Video. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Session 9 (2001) A bona fide horror cult classic, Session 9 stars David Caruso as part of an asbestos abatement crew working at abandoned mental asylum. The location is appropriately creepy, but the movie is ultimately a psychological mind-bender, with the experiences of the work crew beginning to parallel those of former patients. Rent Session 9 from Prime Video. Session 9 (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Chicken Run (2000) The sharp Aardman Brothers comedy has some incredibly fun stop-motion animation and an awful lot of chickens. Cute without ever being cloying, it remains the top-grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time. Rent Chicken Run from Prime Video. Chicken Run (2000) Learn More Learn More Up (2009) Ed Asner plays cantankerous widower Carl Fredricksen, who finds an unlikely ally in a 13-year-old wilderness explorer in his plan to relocate his entire house to Paradise Falls in South America to honor his late wife. Stream Up on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Up (2009) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Oldboy (2003) Park Chan-wook's revenge classic is not for the faint of heart on any level—it's a disturbing action spectacle leading to an all-time shocker of a last-act reveal. Stream Oldboy on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Oldboy (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Spy Kids (2001) A smart, family-friendly action classic in which a couple of kids learn the spy ropes when they're forced to save their parents—themselves former spies. The best of a franchise that's still going. Stream Spy Kids on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. Spy Kids (2001) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Juno (2007) Diablo Cody won an Academy Award for her screenwriting debut in this sweet, quirky story about an independent-minded teenager dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and the various ways in which it complicates her life. Elliot Page stars, with Michael Cera, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons are among the pretty flawless cast. Rent Juno from Prime Video. Juno (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Descent (2006) Getting lost in those caves is scary enough, even before we discover that we're not alone down there. The ultimate in spelunking horror. Rent The Descent from Prime Video. The Descent (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beauty Shop (2005) This Barbershop spin-off follows widowed hairstylist Gina Norris starting over in Atlanta with her daughter, and opening her own shop when a job doesn't pan out. Queen Latifah is as delightful as ever, and is joined by a great cast including Alfre Woodard, Della Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon, and Djimon Hounsou. Stream Beauty Shop MGM+ and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Beauty Shop (2005) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Training Day (2001) Director Antoine Fuqua and company crafted a tense, brutal crime drama that won Denzel Washington his single Best Actor Oscar. Is it his best performance? Probably not, but he's memorably over-the-top as thoroughly corrupt cop Alonzo Harris. Stream Training Day on MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Training Day (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mulholland Drive (2001) This love/hate letter to Hollywood has come to be (justly) regarded as one of director David Lynch’s best, and most oddly crowd-pleasing, works: an L.A. noir about murder and obsession and a blue box that’s very significant of, well, something or other. Rent Mulholland Drive from Apple TV+. Mulholland Drive (2001) at Apple TV+ Learn More Learn More at Apple TV+ Lost in Translation (2003) A declining American movie star in the midst of a midlife crisis and a young grad student facing a similarly uncertain future meet while staying at an upscale hotel in Tokyo. The movie that cemented director Sofia Coppola’s spot in the filmmaker pantheon. Rent Lost in Translation from Prime Video. Lost in Translation (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) A movie musical about a gender-queer punk rocker with a title referring to the results of a botched gender affirmation procedure, the movie has a huge heart and a score that genuinely rocks. Stream Hedwig and the Angry Inch on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Whale Rider (2002) Pai is a 12-year-old Māori girl and the direct descendant of their tribe’s traditional notable ancestor, the Whale Rider—except that, traditionally, women can’t lead. Star Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for a Best Actress Oscar for her open, genuine performance. Stream Whale Rider on Tubi, Kanopy, and Shout Factory TV or rent it from Prime Video. Whale Rider (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Dark Knight (2008) While it often feels as though modern superhero films need to be some version of dark and "mature" if we're to take them seriously, Christopher Nolan's sequel squares that circle rather elegantly, telling a story that feels both grounded in its action (looking to films like Michael Mann's Heat for inspiration) and over the top in its comic book flourishes—including its villains. Heath Ledger, of course, earned a posthumous Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the Joker. Stream The Dark Knight on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Dark Knight (2008) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Josie and the Pussycats (2001) Josie gained an audience over time because of its goofy charm, but also because it came to feel increasingly more relevant in its satirizing of the crass commercialization of mass entertainment. Rent Josie and the Pussycats from Prime Video. Josie and the Pussycats (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Superbad (2007) High school is awkward as hell, and Superbad is another classic of the genre: a movie about two nerds (Michael Cera and Jonah Hill), each looking to have sex before graduation, but with a surprising amount of heart. Rent Superbad from Prime Video. Superbad (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Children of Men (2006) Alfonso Cuarón’s dystopian thriller is a truly great high-concept science fiction film, and offers up as depressingly prescient a vision of the near future as we’ve seen. Still: It’s beautiful, exciting, and often moving. Rent Children of Men from Prime Video. Children of Men (2006) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bring It On (2000) An endlessly repeatable teen comedy, Bring It On is also a secret sports movie and a stealth musical (if you consider elaborate dance sequences set to music in the same light as characters bursting into song), two genres with comforting formulas that stand up to repeated viewings. As much fun as it is to witness the literal gymnastics on display, it's also a kick to watch young Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union snipe at one another. Stream Bring It On on Tubi and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Bring It On (2000) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock District 9 (2009) With parallels to South African apartheid, writer/director Neill Blomkamp crafted the kind of smart, pointed sci-fi film that studios think audiences don’t care for—except that District 9 was a blockbuster, earning many times its budget at the box office. Stream District 9 on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. District 9 (2009) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Spirited Away (2001) After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba, 10-year-old Chihiro takes a job working in her bathhouse with the hope of finding a way to free them. This might be my favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie, but I say that a lot. Stream Spirited Away on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. Spirited Away (2001) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Scary Movie (2000) The lunacy of Scary Movie (directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans) feels inspired—with jokes coming at you so fast that there's no time to notice any that don't land. Think Spaceballs, but even goofier and with a laser focus on then-recent horror movies (Scream, especially). It's still pretty funny, even with all of its period references, with Regina Hall and Anna Faris proving to be comedy MVPs. Stream Scary Movie on MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Scary Movie (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Tyler Perry (who wrote and starred in this one, but didn’t direct) introduced the street-smart Madea, brought over from his stage plays featuring the character. The box office hit kicked off a franchise that’s still going strong. Stream Diary of a Mad Black Woman on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Scary Movie (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Twilight (2008) The epic sparkly vampire romance of Bella Swan (Kristin Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) begins here (well, OK, it began in the Stephenie Meyer book series)—but, with this movie, they earned a permanent place in pop culture history. Whether you love supernatural soap opera or remain indifferent, there's no doubt that vampire/human/werewolf love triangles were on everyone's minds for a few years there. Rent Twilight from Prime Video. Twilight (2008) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video