Best Movies of the 2000s: 20 Standout Films to Watch
Key takeaways
- Explore a spoiler-free selection of films first released between 2000 and 2009, spanning countries and genres.
- Start with Spirited Away for animation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for inventive romance, Children of Men for science fiction, or There Will Be Blood for character drama.
- Find recommendations for dramas, science fiction and fantasy, animation, crime, suspense, and dark comedy.
- Use the “Where to start” guide to choose films by mood, from accessible favorites to darker and quieter stories.
Table of contents
The best movies of the 2000s range from intimate romances and unsettling thrillers to animated adventures and large-scale fantasy. This spoiler-free selection covers films first released between 2000 and 2009, with picks from several countries and genres. It isn’t a definitive ranking: the choices balance distinctive storytelling, filmmaking craft, and variety, rather than claiming a single measure of “best.”
If you want a quick starting point, try Spirited Away for animation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for inventive romance, Children of Men for science fiction, or There Will Be Blood for a demanding character drama.
Essential dramas of the 2000s
In the Mood for Love (2000) — directed by Wong Kar-wai
Set in 1960s Hong Kong, this restrained romantic drama follows two neighbors who form a close bond after discovering that their spouses are having an affair. Wong Kar-wai tells much of the story through glances, repeated encounters, music, and richly composed images rather than direct explanations. The result is a film about longing that leaves space for the viewer to read between the lines.
Best for: Viewers who like slow, visually expressive romances.
Brokeback Mountain (2005) — directed by Ang Lee
Two young ranch hands meet while working in Wyoming and develop a relationship that continues, in private, over many years. The film’s quiet pacing and spare landscapes make room for a story shaped by love, social pressure, and the costs of concealment. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal lead a cast that includes Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway.
Best for: A moving, character-focused drama rather than a conventional romance.
There Will Be Blood (2007) — directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Daniel Plainview, an ambitious oil prospector, builds an expanding business in early 20th-century California. His drive for wealth and control brings him into conflict with a local preacher, played by Paul Dano. The film’s patient approach and Daniel Day-Lewis’s commanding lead performance make this a portrait of ambition that is as absorbing as it is severe.
Best for: Viewers drawn to intense performances and morally complicated characters.
Before Sunset (2004) — directed by Richard Linklater
Jesse and Céline, who first met in Before Sunrise (1995), reconnect in Paris years later. The film unfolds over a single afternoon, relying on conversation and the changing dynamic between its two leads. It can be watched on its own, though seeing the earlier film adds context to their history.
Best for: A talk-driven romance with an emphasis on time, memory, and missed chances.
Science fiction and fantasy worth revisiting
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) — directed by Michel Gondry
After a painful breakup, Joel discovers that his former partner, Clementine, has undergone a procedure to erase memories of their relationship. The premise gives the film a playful, fragmented structure, but its focus remains on the emotional details of a relationship: its routines, irritations, and tenderness. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play against familiar screen personas in a story that blends romance with science fiction.
Best for: Viewers who want an inventive love story that still feels grounded in everyday emotion.
Children of Men (2006) — directed by Alfonso Cuarón
In a near-future world facing human infertility, a disillusioned former activist is drawn into a dangerous effort to protect a young woman. The film uses its dystopian setting to build a tense, lived-in world rather than pause for lengthy explanations. Its long, carefully staged action sequences place viewers close to the confusion and danger surrounding the characters.
Best for: Serious science fiction with urgent action and a strong sense of place.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) — directed by Guillermo del Toro
In postwar Spain, a girl named Ofelia encounters a mysterious underground world while living with her mother and a brutal military stepfather. The film moves between the harshness of its historical setting and dark fantasy, allowing each to sharpen the other. It’s an unsettling fable rather than a light, child-friendly adventure.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy fantasy with eerie imagery and a darker edge.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) — directed by Peter Jackson
Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels follows Frodo Baggins and his companions on a journey to destroy a powerful ring. The three films—The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003)—work best as one continuous epic, combining large battles with a smaller story about friendship and responsibility.
Best for: Anyone ready to settle in for a sweeping fantasy journey. Watch the films in release order.
Animation for different moods
Spirited Away (2001) — directed by Hayao Miyazaki
When Chihiro’s parents are transformed, she must find a way to survive in a strange spirit world and help them. The film’s imaginative setting is full of memorable creatures and unusual rules, but its emotional anchor is Chihiro’s gradual growth in confidence. Its rich hand-drawn animation rewards close attention without requiring the viewer to decode every detail.
Best for: Families with older children and adults looking for imaginative, hand-drawn fantasy.
WALL-E (2008) — directed by Andrew Stanton
A small waste-collecting robot is left alone on an Earth covered in rubbish. His routine changes when he encounters EVE, a sleek robot on a search mission. The film begins with extended stretches of visual storytelling before opening into a broader science-fiction adventure, making its central character’s simple gestures especially important.
Best for: Viewers who want heartfelt animation, gentle comedy, and a sci-fi setting.
Up (2009) — directed by Pete Docter
Retired widower Carl Fredricksen sets off on an improbable journey with a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. The story pairs a grumpy, solitary lead with an eager child, then uses their adventure to explore grief, companionship, and the possibility of starting a new chapter. Its tone moves between comedy and more reflective moments.
Best for: A family-friendly adventure with an emotional streak.
Crime, suspense, and dark comedy
City of God (2002) — directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund
Set in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, this Brazilian crime drama follows young people growing up amid gang violence. Its energetic style and shifting focus create a broad, fast-moving portrait of a community rather than a story centered on one conventional hero. The subject matter is harsh, so it’s a better fit for viewers prepared for intense violence.
Best for: Viewers seeking an urgent, ensemble-driven crime story.
Oldboy (2003) — directed by Park Chan-wook
A man is imprisoned for years without being told why. After his release, he sets out to uncover the reason and find the person responsible. Park Chan-wook turns the mystery into a highly stylized revenge thriller, with escalating violence and a bleak atmosphere. It’s best approached with minimal plot detail.
Best for: Fans of dark, formally bold thrillers. Content note: Contains graphic violence.
The Departed (2006) — directed by Martin Scorsese
An undercover state trooper enters a Boston criminal organization while a criminal informant works inside the police department. As both sides search for the person feeding information to the other, the film builds tension through parallel storylines and shifting loyalties. The ensemble includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Vera Farmiga.
Best for: A brisk, star-filled crime thriller with intersecting plots.
No Country for Old Men (2007) — directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
A man finds a case of money near the site of a drug deal gone wrong, setting off a pursuit involving a relentless killer and a veteran sheriff. The Coens keep the tension spare, often letting silence and off-screen action do the work. It’s a thriller that resists easy explanations and favors an unsettled mood.
Best for: Viewers who appreciate slow-building suspense and open-ended storytelling.
Inglourious Basterds (2009) — directed by Quentin Tarantino
Set in Nazi-occupied France, Tarantino’s alternate-history war film follows several storylines involving a group of Jewish American soldiers, a cinema owner, and a German officer. Long stretches of conversation build tension before the film breaks into sudden violence. Its stylized dialogue and deliberate historical liberties make it a distinctive, not conventional, war movie.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy dialogue-heavy, revisionist war films.
More memorable 2000s picks
Mulholland Drive (2001) — directed by David Lynch
An aspiring actor arrives in Los Angeles and becomes involved with a woman who has lost her memory. The film begins like a Hollywood mystery, then shifts into stranger territory, using dreamlike scenes and recurring images rather than a straightforward explanation. Its ambiguity is part of the experience, though it may frustrate viewers who want every question answered.
Best for: Fans of surreal mysteries and films that invite interpretation.
Shaun of the Dead (2004) — directed by Edgar Wright
Shaun, a directionless Londoner, tries to get his life in order just as a zombie outbreak begins. The film balances horror-comedy with affectionate detail, using visual jokes and repeated actions to turn everyday habits into part of the comedy. Its humor works even if you aren’t deeply familiar with zombie films.
Best for: Viewers after a funny, fast-moving horror comedy.
A Prophet (2009) — directed by Jacques Audiard
A young man enters prison with little power or protection and learns how to navigate its rival groups. This French crime drama follows his gradual transformation without presenting it as a simple rise-to-success story. Its prison setting gives the film a tense, close-up focus on survival, strategy, and shifting loyalties.
Best for: Viewers who like gritty crime dramas centered on character development.
Where to start
For an accessible first watch, choose Spirited Away, WALL-E, Shaun of the Dead, or The Departed. If you’re in the mood for something quieter, try In the Mood for Love or Before Sunset. For a darker evening, No Country for Old Men, Oldboy, and A Prophet take very different approaches to crime and suspense.
These films aren’t a definitive ranking of an entire decade. They’re a varied starting point: a way to move from familiar studio favorites to international cinema, slow-burn drama, and stranger forms of storytelling.
