Ah, the 2000s. It truly was a time to be alive. Over the course of the decade, some seriously great movies came out. And a bunch more that may not have been Oscar material, but were still memorable in their own right .
This list has some of the most re-watchable movies from the decade. For better or for worse, they were truly some entertaining pieces of cinema.
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The Devil Wears Prada (2006).
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt in one movie? Yes, please! Of course, like pretty much everything she’s in, Streep totally steals the show. Such an iconic movie that you can’t help but want to watch again and again.
Spy Kids (2001).
This is the kind of movie you pretty much have to watch with your kids. Don’t have kids? Well, just re-watch it anyway. It was such a fun family adventure that it honestly feels kind of timeless.
The Dark Knight (2008).
This movie is so good, it makes you forget that it’s actually a sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins (which was also really good). Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is still pretty much considered the gold standard for the character.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004).
This is a movie that shouldn’t have been as good as it was. It was like nothing that came before it, and there hasn’t really been a movie quite like it since. Such a classic teen comedy.
Superbad (2007).
Though they’re both considered teen comedies, Superbad couldn’t be any more different than Napoleon Dynamite . I swear, every time I’ve seen this movie, it feels like I’m watching it for the first time. It’s just that good.
Iron Man (2008).
It might have come after a long string of superhero movies, but 2008’s Iron Man still stands in a class of its own. It was so wildly successful, it launched an entire cinematic universe and relaunched Robert Downey Jr.’s career .
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005).
Look, this movie is worth re-watching for the chest waxing scene alone. Of course, that’s not the only thing it has going for it. This is one of those movies that, nearly two decades later, people still quote.
Paranormal Activity (2007).
This movie gave me nightmares when I first watched it. So naturally, I watched it again.
It might not be the first ever found footage horror movie , but it’s kind of a genre-defining one. And it was good enough to turn into a whole franchise.
Mean Girls (2004).
You basically can’t talk about 2000s movies without bringing up Mean Girls . It’s literally so re-watchable, so quotable, so iconic. It’s actually hard to believe that it came out so long ago, because it still feels relevant.
Freaky Friday (2003).
Lindsay Lohan was in a lot of iconic movies in the mid 2000s, and Freaky Friday is no exception. How could a movie be so hilarious and so wholesome at the same time? I literally couldn’t tell you.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006).
This movie is somehow both terrifying and sad. It’s like watching a fairytale, with all the creepy stuff still in there. You know, the stuff they usually get rid of in the Disney adaptations?
Spirited Away (2001).
This is one of those movies that prove that anime is an artform. Like, not only does Spirited Away have such a good story, but it’s visually so much fun. I could seriously stare at the environments in this movie all day.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
This movie won 8 of the 10 Oscars it was nominated for that year. And for good reason. It’s literally so good! It has you feeling pretty much every emotion over the course of its runtime, and it’s all just beautiful.
Legally Blonde (2001).
“What, like it’s hard?” Sure, the movie centers around a woman who gets into Harvard Law just to win her ex back, but it’s so much more than that, too. It kind of makes you feel like you can do anything.
Shrek (2001).
This movie is the first one to ever win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. But personally, I think it should’ve been contender for Best Picture.
Between Shrek and Shrek 2 , you’re in for a pretty good movie night.
Twilight (2008).
Okay, hear me out on this one. Yes, the Twilight series is strange, unrealistic, and problematic. But it’s also really iconic. That first movie has a surprising amount of heart and aesthetic, even if the acting is far from superb.
Up (2009).
The 2000s was a really good time for Pixar. Wall-E , Ratatouille , The Incredibles , Finding Nemo , and of course, Up. This movie is so much fun, and so emotional (especially that opening sequence). And even though it makes you cry every time, you can’t help but want to see it again and again.
School of Rock (2003).
I took music in high school, and we would watch this movie whenever we had substitute teachers in. It was that good.
Also fun fact: Mike White, who wrote the film and appeared as (the real) Ned Schneebly, ended up being on Survivor in 2018 , and was the runner-up.
Dreamgirls (2006).
It’s crazy to think about how much of the marketing for this movie focused on everyone but Jennifer Hudson back in the day. Because she’s very clearly the strongest part of this (incredibly strong and talented!) cast. How can you just watch this one once?
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).
I feel like I was too young to really appreciate this movie when it first came out. Luckily, it’s so good and re-watchable, that I can watch it any time as an adult and it’ll just be that much better.
