The 2000s were a transformative decade for cinema, marked by technological advancements, diverse storytelling, and a blend of genres that pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. From groundbreaking visual effects to compelling narratives and unforgettable characters, the films of this era left an indelible mark on the industry and audiences alike. It didn’t feel like it at the time but it was most certainly a mixture of the best elements of the previous two decades. Some of the best films of any genre were produced during this period and it was the last time movies felt like they were made by artists, not products cranked out by a money-hungry machine. This list celebrates the greatest movies of the 2000s, highlighting those that defined the decade and continue to influence the art of cinema today. Whether it’s epic blockbusters, poignant dramas, or innovative indies, these films represent the best of what the aughts had to offer.
These are the 100 Greatest Movies of the 2000s.
10. The Dark Knight (2008)
Even though Batman Begins isn’t on the same pedestal as some of the best first entries in trilogies, there’s no denying that this is among the best sequels ever made. Other ones like Toy Story 2 or Godfather 2 might be more impressive since they’re following up masterpieces and are somehow better in most regards but I’d argue that this is just as impressive a feat because not only does The Dark Knight improve upon everything from the first one, it actually makes the first one better. It compliments that first film in a way few sequels do. Every plot element Begins started, Dark Knight added to. It’s like that famous drawing from M.C. Escher where two hands are drawing each other, both are essential to the other and neither exists without the other. Nolan needed to climb that hill to tackle this mountain.
And what a mountain it is. I can count on one hand how many films have as many iconic moments and set pieces as this one does. From the Heat-inspired heist at the beginning to the hospital blowing up to the magic trick and the truck flip and on and on and on. It’s a Christmas present that keeps on giving, which is a perfect way to describe Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker. A controversial casting at the time, Ledger would eventually prove all the haters and doubters wrong by giving one of the greatest performances in the history of film. With his Tom Waits voice and his penchant for licking his lips, Ledger created a memorable maniac who’s the epitome of a scene-stealer. Every time he’s on screen, you can’t look at anything else nor do you want to. He’s electric, magnetic, and captivating. When he was nominated and then won a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, no one was surprised. He’s the cherry, whipped cream, and nuts on top of a four-scoop sundae covered in the finest butterscotch and chocolate. The Batman mythos has been adapted many times before and since, but none have reached the heights of this masterpiece and I doubt any other movie ever will.
–Sailor Monsoon
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
It’s really no surprise that all three movies from The Lord of the Rings trilogy has made it onto this list. Not only are they some of the best movies of the 2000s, but certainly one of the best film trilogies of all time. Peter Jackson has taken an epic saga and somehow managed to trim the fat, so to speak, and still provide the audience with an emotionally charged journey that gives proper attention to everyone involved. We cheered, we laughed, we cried, and we felt that profound sense of loss when it all came to an end. Three years of taking this journey beside these characters. Did we really have to say goodbye to them? Thank goodness The Return of the King is an infinitely rewatchable film.
The Return of the King embodies what an epic ought to be. So many high fantasy films have attempted to re-create The Lord of the Rings’s magic, but they always fall short. As I say, with so many films that cannot be replicated, The Return of the King is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle movies. One misstep and it could have been a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise remarkable film trilogy, but Peter Jackson maintained the astonishing upward momentum of the first two films and gave us an exhilarating conclusion worthy of… oh, 11 Academy Awards.
–Romona Comet
8. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Most fantasy flicks tend to exist solely within the world of their fantasies. Much of the beauty of Pan’s Labyrinth is because its fantasy world exists in stark contrast to the woes of the real world. The juxtaposition reminds us of why we as humans need to create fantasy spaces. Ofelia’s need for escapism cannot be more obvious, which makes the magic of when she dips back into the Faun’s labyrinth so much more apparent. Guillermo del Toro is in his absolute bag here. His ability to dream this world up and bring it to life with such amazing detail is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I’m not sure if he’ll ever reach these heights again, but the fact that this movie exists remains a gift that keeps on giving.
–Raf Stitt
7. Wall-E (2008)
Wall-E is not only one of Pixar’s crowning achievements, but it’s also one of the best science fiction movies ever made. The depth of this movie’s heart blew me away during my first viewing. It completely shifted my perspective on what a children’s animated movie could be. It made me realize that Pixar is in the business of making emotionally rich movies that tackle complex issues in ways that respect both adult and child viewers. The space dance sequence is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. Who would’ve thought that a little robot guy would bring out so much human emotion?
–Raf Stitt
6. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Inglourious Basterds famously ends with Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) proclaiming “You know, I think this just might be my masterpiece.” While the comment makes perfect sense in the context of the movie, many have taken the comment as a meta-statement from director Quentin Tarantino proclaiming this film to be his masterpiece. While Pulp Fiction holds that regard for many, I am in the camp with Tarantino and other that believe Basterds truly is his masterwork. Cristoph Waltz has never been better than his performance as Hans Landa, the multilingual “Jew hunter” that can turn from silly to intimidating on a dime. The opening scene introducing us to Landa is one of the all-time great scenes in cinema. And for my money, the tavern scene is right up there as well. The heart of the story is the murder of Shoshanna’s family by Landa and her eventual comeuppance, but the movie is named after the eponymous Basterds, a unit of Jewish-Americans who become a nightmare for the Nazis. Tarantino finds a way to weave these two stories together in an outrageously entertaining way. Shoshana’s ghostly visage projected onto the smoke as the entire Nazi leadership burns to death inside of a locked theatre is possibly the greatest revenge scene ever. Pitt is consistently hilarious as Raine, particularly when he has to pronounce his fake Italian surname (Gore-Lah-Mee) to an amused Landa. This is the film where Landa shows his true mastery of the craft, effortlessly oscillating between slowly ratcheted tension and a rollicking mix of violence and comedy that hits every note.
–Jacob Holmes
5. In the Mood for Love (2000)
If I say In the Mood for Love is one of the greatest films of the 2000s and you’ve seen In the Mood for Love then you’d probably shrug and say, “Yeah of course,” because In the Mood for Love is one of the greatest films of all time. If you haven’t seen In the Mood for Love, well…
Wong Kar Wai’s ’60s-set masterpiece stars Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as neighbors who grow close to one another after discovering their partners are having an affair. It’s a sultry and sensual anti-romance, showcasing two of the finest actors to ever do it as they explore heartbreak, newfound connection, and melancholic longing. Their palpable chemistry is invigorated by Shigeru Umebayashi’s unforgettable score, while WKW’s frequent collaborator Christopher Doyle captures the story’s intimacy with a lush, painterly touch.
–D.N. Williams
4. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Every time I think of No Country For Old Men it’s the scene where Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) is hesitating about entering a hotel room where the killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) may or may not be hiding. He doesn’t know if Chigurh is in there or not. He doesn’t know if he’ll die or not. During the film Chigurh asks people to choose heads or tails in the flip of a coin, basically asking them to wager their lives, as he’ll kill them if the toss goes against them. I think of that scene with the hotel as the same thing for Bell – he wagers his life on a chance. I think of that moment, and I get the same chill that I did when watching it for the first time. This was the Coen brother’s first adaptation – of a Cormac McCarthy novel – and remains one of their best and most impactful films. Every scene hits like a brick. Every word is meaningful. Every performance a masterpiece.
–Bob Cram
3. Oldboy (2003)
I was spoiled about Oldboy pretty early on, and I avoided watching the film for the longest time as a result. I was ready to dismiss it as simply exploitation cinema, a film violent and transgressive for its own sake. That does the film a major disservice. Yes, it’s violent and transgressive, but it’s so much more than that. It’s Oedipus by way of John Woo (or, more accurately, by way of Park Chan-wook). It’s a morality play with hammers. It’s a classic tragedy with live octopi. I think you should watch Oldboy at least twice. The first time through the visceral nature of the film is overwhelming, and you may be left with only memories of brutality and misery. Watching it again you’ll be able to appreciate the emotion of the film, as operatic as it is at times. You may even pick up on mythological touches that Park Chan-wook has peppered throughout the film. Or you may just watch that scene in the hallway and go “holy shit.”
–Bob Cram
2. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
When it comes to the work of Charlie Kaufman, you either think he’s a genius or one of the most pretentious writers working today. There’s almost no in-between with Synecdoche, New York being the perfect litmus test. Roger Ebert named it the best film of the decade, while Rex Reed, Richard Brody, and Roger Friedman all labeled it one of the worst films of 2008. Where you’ll fall depends on the level of enjoyment you get from dissecting motifs, unraveling symbolism, your knowledge of Jungian psychology and postmodernist philosopher Jean Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra and simulation, your threshold for surrealism, and your love for Philip Seymour Hoffman.
That checklist alone is about as hipster douchebag pretentious as you can get, so I get it if you just checked out completely but if you managed to make it to the end without your eyes rolling so hard that they popped out of your skull, you most likely subconsciously nodded in appreciation of Philip Seymour Hoffman. There’s not a single cinephile walking the Earth that didn’t love him when he was here and doesn’t miss him now that he’s gone. He was one of the greats and his performance as ailing theater director Caden Cotard is one of, if not, the best he ever gave.
–Sailor Monsoon
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
A towering achievement in every regard. Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Daniel Plainview is perhaps the best big screen acting anyone has ever done. Jonny Greenwood’s score is impeccable. The cinematography is delectable. Paul Thomas Anderson’s writing and directing are on an unmatched level of command. Like many of his movies, There Will Be Blood benefits from being a superbly crafted, layered and rich drama that also happens to be extremely hilarious. The way that Day-Lewis’ Plainview and Paul Dano’s Eli play off each other is absolutely brilliant. There Will Be Blood isn’t an overwhelmingly influential masterpiece in the way that many other movies with that distinction do. But it’s impossible to deny it’s greatness as one of the few truly flawless films to ever exist.
–Raf Stitt
20-11 | Rewind?
What are some of your favorite movies from the 2000s that didn’t make the list? Share them in the comments!