Dive into a nostalgic journey through cinema's golden year! We're exploring 25 incredible movies from 2000 that have stood the test of time, proving that great storytelling is truly timeless. From groundbreaking superhero films to heart-wrenching dramas, these movies continue to captivate audiences decades later.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Strength and honor.
00:01Strength and honor.
00:02Strength and honor.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best movies from the
00:07turn of the century that are still worth watching today.
00:09We will be including movies that first premiered in 1999 or were wide-released in 2001.
00:14As long as they attracted attention of some kind in 2000, they'll count.
00:18If we talk for too long, I'll forget how we started, and next time I see you, I'm
00:21not going to remember this conversation.
00:24Number 25, Meet the Parents.
00:27Few actors can turn an awkward situation into comedy gold like Ben Stiller, and his
00:42abilities reach a fever pitch in this lovable cringe-fest.
00:45Greg is a nurse looking to propose to his girlfriend, Pam, but he must first endure
00:49that universal, yet no less frightening experience of meeting his future in-laws.
00:53Running afoul of Pam's overbearing father, played by an amusingly deadpan Robert De Niro,
00:58Greg's unintentional antics lead to a nightmarish weekend of hilarious proportions.
01:02Although its exchanges are uncomfortable, Meet the Parents is an exceptionally well-written
01:06movie because of that, and the terrific chemistry between its two leads sell every awkward beat.
01:22These characters may be a little salty, but the movie's message about family and acceptance
01:27is certifiably sweet.
01:29Number 24, Billy Elliot.
01:31Another heartwarming story of family, Billy Elliot earns its wholesome distinction for
01:35entirely different reasons.
01:37Following a working-class boy who discovers his passion for ballet during a time of social
01:41upheaval, it's a film that offers universal lessons regardless of the time and place it's
01:46set in.
01:47Billy's ability to channel his unexpressed feelings into his art speaks to anyone who
02:01longs to do the same, regardless of what others may think.
02:04But the movie doesn't hand us that lesson on a silver platter, as its honest portrayal
02:08of unrest and inequality ensures us that we must earn our accomplishments every step of
02:13the way.
02:14With excellent dance sequences and hard-won inner battles, Billy Elliot comes together
02:18like the most beautiful cinematic bow.
02:33Number 23, Snatch.
02:35Of the many imitators who hope to replicate the quirky dialogue and crime thrills of Pulp
02:39Fiction, Guy Ritchie did it better than anyone with Snatch.
02:45With a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and Benicio Del Toro, this black comedy
02:50set in London's criminal underworld brings together the stories of a boxer, a mob boss
02:55and a coveted diamond.
02:56Tarantino's influence can be felt in the larger-than-life characters and over-the-top
03:00violence, but Ritchie's direction and supremely quotable screenplay help make Snatch its own
03:05thing.
03:06Amplified by its self-aware tone and buffoonish performances, it's a roller coaster that
03:10runs on its own track, but it's one we should be willing to ride at least once, even if
03:15we have to use subtitles to understand anything.
03:29Number 22, Shadow of the Vampire.
03:41Believe it or not, 2024's Nosferatu was not Willem Dafoe's first encounter with
03:45the monstrous Count Orlok.
03:47That actually came with this satirical horror flick, which recounts the making of the original
03:51Nosferatu, and stars Dafoe as Max Schreck, the actor who first assumed the role of Orlok.
03:56Shadow of the Vampire throws us for a loop by envisioning Schreck as an actual vampire
04:00who hunts the crew and his fellow castmates.
04:11In an Oscar-nominated performance, Dafoe uses popular conceptions about the legendary actor
04:16to his advantage, using his introverted disposition as a mask for his dark tendencies.
04:20While it makes for an amusing send-up of the filmmaking process, it's also a surprisingly
04:24scary film that honors the legacy of horror in its earliest days.
04:29Number 21, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
04:32The story itself was already a classic, and inspired an iconic TV special back in 1966.
04:37But the perennial delights of revisiting this take on How the Grinch Stole Christmas can
04:41be summed up in two magical words, Jim Carrey.
05:00Dressed from head to toe in Oscar-winning makeup, Carrey's grumpy antics and hilarious
05:05improvisations make for what may be the most memorable version of the Green Meanie.
05:09But with an expanded story, this Grinch brings its message about community and friendship
05:14into greater focus by giving the character a backstory that we can't help but sympathize
05:18with.
05:19There's room for everyone in our hearts, especially during the holidays, and thanks
05:22to Carrey's commitment, it's easy for us to carve out a place for the Grinch.
05:37Number 20, Unbreakable.
05:39M. Night Shyamalan's movies have invited plenty of skepticism, some of them with good
05:43reason.
05:44But the writer-director did well to anticipate moviegoers' increasing fascination with
05:48superheroes in his underrated sophomore outing.
06:03Seeing Bruce Willis as an everyman reluctant to embrace his superhuman abilities, Unbreakable
06:08delivers on the hallmarks of comic book-inspired stories through Shyamalan's unique visual
06:12style.
06:13But it's the relationship between David Dunn and Samuel L. Jackson's Elijah Price
06:17that elevates the film into a more suspenseful and meditative superhero outing with real-world
06:22implications.
06:36This grounded approach brings with it a greater focus on character than the genre often gets
06:41on the big screen.
06:42The terrific performances and disturbing twists do much to distinguish Unbreakable in a time
06:46dominated by more conventional fare.
06:49Number 19, You Can Count on Me.
07:05Having won an Oscar for Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan solidified his gift
07:10for writing naturalistic family drama.
07:12That uncompromising realism propelled him to notoriety when his debut feature, You Can
07:16Count on Me, took home the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
07:20Starring Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo as a pair of estranged siblings reconnecting
07:24after years apart, the movie is at its best when the characters are forced to reveal their
07:28innermost selves.
07:42This relationship is contentious to say the least, but You Can Count on Me is better off
07:46for not giving them an easy path to redemption.
07:48It's a movie that feels all too real at times, but it speaks perfectly to the often agonizing
07:53experience that is life.
07:55Number 18, Amores Perros.
07:57Overlapping narratives is a recurring theme on this list, and this interconnected drama
08:02for Mexican auteur Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is one of the finest the country has to offer.
08:08Amores Perros chronicles the lives of three people on the outskirts of society, and their
08:12stories are connected by a fateful car accident in Mexico City.
08:16Each story captures the character's desire for connection and understanding, and while
08:20their goals are simple, the lengths they'll go to achieve them are chaotic and at times
08:24disturbing.
08:25Inarritu's direction is intense, yet tightly focused, giving us cause to look away, but
08:46understanding that we must keep watching one story in order to understand the others.
08:50It's far from a happy experience, but a powerful one nonetheless.
09:06Number 17, Remember the Titans.
09:092000 gave us another heartfelt football film in the replacements, but when it comes to
09:13inspirational gridiron flicks, Remember the Titans is the cream of the crop.
09:18Launching an underrated streak of biographical sports dramas for Disney, this one finds Denzel
09:22Washington as the head coach of a newly integrated football team.
09:38The Titans find themselves forced to confront the prejudice of their community in order
09:42to put together a winning season, but they have a valuable voice of reason in coach Boone.
09:47Washington's charisma and knack for delivering powerful monologues provide Remember the Titans
09:51with the right ingredients for a cinematic touchdown.
10:12But the movie truly excels in portraying difficult subject matter without talking down to those
10:16hoping to learn from it.
10:18Number 16, Chicken Run.
10:20A not-so-subtle reimagining of The Great Escape, only the geniuses at Aardman Animation could
10:24center a story of heroic daring-do around a flock of animals known for their cowardice.
10:45Chicken Run absolutely soars thanks to the absurdity of its concept, which comes complete
10:50with entertaining characters and an intelligent script for good measure.
10:53Aardman's signature blend of claymation and slapstick humor gives the film a timeless
10:57quality, providing enough physical texture to balance out the film's surprisingly thoughtful
11:01theme.
11:14The strategy and execution of the chicken's farm escape remains incredibly exciting, staying
11:17true to the spirit of the movie it riffs on, but it's the sincere approach to ideas like
11:21feminism, exploitation, and revolution that make Chicken Run a cut above the average family
11:26film.
11:27Number 15, High Fidelity.
11:29Why does love hurt so much, and why does it seem like we can only make the wrong moves
11:33in our relationships?
11:34These are the questions this offbeat rom-com attempts to answer.
11:38With John Cusack in the lead role, High Fidelity zeroes in on Rob Gordon as he attempts to
11:43understand why he's doomed to be single.
11:45With a killer soundtrack and ingenious fourth wall breaks in tow, Rob takes us through his
11:50most memorable scenes in the film, as well as his most memorable scenes in the movie.
11:54The first scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
11:58single-man role.
11:59The second scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:02single-man role.
12:03The third scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:06single-man role.
12:07The fourth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:08single-man role.
12:09The fifth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:10single-man role.
12:11The sixth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:12single-man role.
12:13The seventh scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:14single-man role.
12:15The eighth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:16single-man role.
12:17The ninth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:18single-man role.
12:19The tenth scene is a bit of a mystery, but it's the first time we've seen Rob in a
12:20Nevertheless, Cusack's self-deprecating wit gives Rob the tools to grow, effectively
12:41heightening the movie's refreshingly honest take on the genre.
12:44Number 14.
12:45The Virgin Suicides
12:47Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999, before going wide a year later, this
12:52drama announced Sofia Coppola as a filmmaking talent to rival her legendary father.
12:57Following a group of sheltered sisters who become subjects of fascination to the neighborhood
13:00boys, The Virgin Suicides is distinguished by its unorthodox structure.
13:05The movie purposefully keeps us at a distance from the Lisbon family, almost as if we can
13:09only see what happens in their home from the sidewalk outside.
13:21This ambiguity gives the film a relatable feel, paralleling our lack of understanding
13:25with the sisters' inability to discover their true selves.
13:28Although it culminates in a tragic outcome, The Virgin Suicides remains palatable due
13:32to its mature approach to subjects like conservatism and self-harm.
13:44Number 13.
13:45Best in Show
13:46The true brilliance of this mockumentary is just how well it understands the ridiculousness
13:50of the culture it's parodying.
13:52In other words, if Best in Show were a genuine account of real people in the dog show scene,
13:56it would still be just as strange and hilarious.
14:09That only makes its eccentric ensemble of aspiring champions and their canines that
14:14much more endearing.
14:15Choosing this cast was clearly a delicate art unto itself, as the likes of Catherine
14:18O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Jennifer Coolidge all understand their improvisational assignments.
14:26They could read as potentially annoying, but writer-director Christopher Guest ensures
14:38that there's something to love about each of them.
14:40It's a balance of silly and sweet that any comedy hopeful should look to for inspiration.
14:45Number 12.
14:47X-Men
14:48The X-Men will always be around to save the day, yet the call they answered back in 2000
14:53was so much bigger than they, or any of us, could have anticipated.
14:57After a series of commercial failures left superhero movies dead in the water, the genre
15:00found a remedy, and then some in Xavier's school for gifted youngsters.
15:17With its perfectly assembled cast, thought-provoking themes, and perhaps most importantly, faithfulness
15:22to the comics, X-Men embodies everything great about superhero fiction.
15:26As the first installment of the long-running franchise, its most commendable quality is
15:30arguably its humility.
15:31It understands the richness of its characters and ideas without forcing everything on us
15:35at once, leaving us satisfied yet all the more excited to move on to the sequels.
15:56Number 11.
15:57The Emperor's New Groove
15:58One of the great what-ifs in Disney's storied history, there's no telling if the epic musical
16:02drama The Emperor's New Groove was originally conceived as would have been great.
16:06We only know that what it became is a tough act for any animated movie to follow.
16:19Starring a slew of hilarious characters, this wacky tale of a self-absorbed emperor who
16:23is turned into a llama by his power-hungry advisor is about as close to a Looney Tunes
16:27short as Disney gets.
16:29Super comedic chemistry amongst the cast gives the film loads of personality, as does an
16:34infinitely quotable screenplay that never fails to make us roll on the floor laughing.
16:50It's absurdist comedy for absurdist comedy's sake, and we can't get enough of it.
16:55Number 10.
16:56Cast Away
16:57Anyone who believes that spending two hours with only one character is a chore should
17:01put Cast Away at the top of their watchlist.
17:03Robert Zemeckis' adventure drama makes expert use of its solitary setting and its sole inhabitant.
17:21In one of his most transformative and gut-wrenching performances, Tom Hanks gives life to FedEx
17:25worker Chuck Noland, who spends four years calling his tropical surroundings home after
17:30a fatal plane crash.
17:31With only a volleyball named Wilson to keep him company, Chuck's determination to survive
17:36is as moving a testament to the human spirit as cinema has to offer.
17:54Although Zemeckis' films are known for their use of groundbreaking visual effects,
17:57it's the simplicity and tangibility of Cast Away that make it one of its finest offerings.
18:02Number 9.
18:03Requiem for a Dream
18:05Few movies take as direct an approach to dire subject matter the way this one does, but
18:09that's exactly why Requiem for a Dream deserves to be experienced.
18:23Following four people in the throes of substance use disorder, its morose tone and riveting
18:27performances make it one of cinema's most consistently heartbreaking movies.
18:31With each character helplessly searching for their next high in an internal struggle, the
18:35film both starts and ends from a place of desperation and despair.
18:39The haunting imagery is both thought-provoking and utterly terrifying, taking things about
18:44as far as they can go without descending into traditional horror.
18:53Requiem for a Dream initiates the conversation around the issue with open honesty, and the
18:57results are both deeply troubling and deeply effective.
19:01Number 8.
19:02O Brother, Where Art Thou?
19:03We're more than excited about Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey,
19:07but we haven't forgotten about the fantastic, if not quite as fantastical take on Homer's
19:12epic that the Coen brothers have already blessed us with.
19:28Exchanging ancient Greece for Depression-era Mississippi, George Clooney assumes the Odysseus
19:33role as Everett, a convict who ropes his two buddies into ditching their chain gang to
19:37search for treasure.
19:39It's an old-fashioned adventure made all the more enthralling by its incredible soundtrack,
19:43which is widely considered one of the greatest of all time.
19:46The eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass, and gospel is, in many ways, a character unto itself,
19:52giving the outlandish escapades a homespun charm that enhances the film's perfect recreation
19:57of a time gone by.
20:16Number 7.
20:17Traffic
20:18Steven Soderbergh is one of the only filmmakers to receive two Oscar nominations for Best Director
20:23in the same year.
20:24While his work on Aaron Brockovich is equally commendable, the movie he ultimately won the
20:28award for, Traffic, takes rawness and urgency to the next level.
20:32Centering multiple stories around the illegal drug trade, each thread is united by the film's
20:37uncompromising depiction of a world corrupted by substance use and its long-term effects.
20:55With an all-star cast providing humanity to even its most unlikable characters, Traffic
21:01bravely explores morally grey concepts like justice, self-interest, and accountability.
21:06It's by no means easy viewing, but it understands the dimensions of its subject enough to know
21:11that posing difficult questions is more meaningful than providing easy answers.
21:32Number 6.
21:33American Psycho
21:34This adaptation attracted about as much controversy as the Bret Easton Ellis novel that inspired
21:39it, but with its unique blend of psychological horror and biting satire, American Psycho
21:43has only grown more and more relevant with each passing year.
22:00Christian Bale is at his absolute best as the vain and sociopathic Patrick Bateman,
22:05containing nuance in the vain exterior that just barely conceals the investment banker's
22:10murderous proclivities.
22:11American Psycho is at once deeply disturbing and uncomfortably hilarious, casting aspersions
22:16on capitalism and toxic masculinity in one fell swoop.
22:20With a troubled protagonist that we both fear and can't help but laugh at, the brilliant
22:24tonal balance is matched only by its iconic lead performance and its oddly quotable dialogue.
22:35Number 5.
22:44In the Mood for Love
22:45Hailed for his vivid color palette and introspective storytelling, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai
22:50made the most romantic movie of the year with In the Mood for Love.
22:54Following two people who begin seeing one another after their spouse's start an affair,
22:58it's a movie all about the missed opportunities that come with unfortunate circumstances.
23:12The chemistry between Maggie Chung and Tony Leung Chow Wei is off the charts, with quiet
23:17moments and longful expressions conveying more than physical contact ever could.
23:21As Cho and Su reckon with their desires and their need to protect what they already have,
23:25it becomes clear that this won't be a fairytale ending.
23:28And yet, it remains one of cinema's greatest depictions of romance at its most intimate
23:33and complicated.
23:50Number 4.
23:51Almost Famous
24:06Loosely based on his own experiences, Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this coming-of-age
24:10tale about a teenage journalist covering the life and times of the rock band Stillwater.
24:14Although Almost Famous wasn't a financial success, it was one of the most acclaimed
24:18films of 2000.
24:19With its nuanced yet entertaining assortment of easy-going rockers, not to mention its
24:23authentically calibrated soundtrack of 70s classics, the film perfectly captures the
24:28mentality of the period it celebrates.
24:43But Crowe's deft handling of sobering themes like the price of fame and its superficial
24:47pleasures is what truly sets it apart from others like it.
24:50There aren't many movies that use rock and roll to teach us a valuable lesson, and that's
24:54exactly what this one does.
24:56Number 3.
24:57Gladiator
24:58About halfway through this phenomenal historical epic, imprisoned gladiator Maximus asks his
25:03spectators a very important question, and one that echoes the experience of watching
25:07his story.
25:16And we most certainly are.
25:18As Gladiator has held up as a cornerstone of its genre, strong enough to rival any of
25:22its forebearers from decades prior, it accomplishes all of this with heart-racing action, impeccable
25:27production values, and stunning performances from Russell Crowe as Maximus and Joaquin
25:32Phoenix as the wicked comedists.
25:34Director Ridley Scott's perfectionist tendencies more than paid off, as Gladiator would go
25:38on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and inspire a veritable army of imitators.
25:43Not bad for a movie that started shooting without a completed script.
26:07Number 2.
26:08Memento
26:09Although he's now one of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers, Christopher Nolan first
26:12made a splash with this unassuming, yet innovative thriller.
26:16Starring Guy Pearce as an amnesiac searching for his wife's killer, it's one of cinema's
26:20truest testaments to word-of-mouth interest and the power of going into a film completely
26:24blind.
26:35With a narrative involving two plotlines that play out in different orders, Memento is undeniably
26:41inviting both frustration and intrigue, but it's also a wholly unique depiction of grief
26:46that drops us fully into its protagonist's dizzying state of mind.
26:49Topped off by an ending so good, we wish we could wipe it from our memories.
26:53It's a puzzle we'll never completely solve, but Nolan more than trusts us to keep trying.
27:06Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
27:10about our latest videos.
27:11You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
27:15If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
27:22Number 1.
27:23Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
27:25Both the action genre and international cinema have hit a stride in the 21st century, and
27:30it's arguably thanks to the unprecedented success of this wuxia masterpiece.
27:35Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stars screen legends Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-fat as
27:40two warriors searching for a mythical sword in 19th century China.
27:57Setting the example for every martial arts movie to follow, the delicate wirework gives
28:01the characters a gravity-defying appearance, lending the fight scenes a balletic and ultimately
28:06incomparable feel.
28:08Any one of them are movies unto themselves, but they're made stronger by terrific performances
28:12and Ang Lee's calculated direction.
28:14The quest for the green destiny has true consequences, and we can't help but hold our breath every
28:19time we see it play out.
28:33What's your favorite movie from the year 2000?
28:35What movies will we still be talking about in the year 3000?
28:38Let us know in the comments!