The 15 Best Movies of 2000s That Still Become the Icon

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Everyone has a different opinion about which decade was the golden era of movies. Some people love the classics from the 1970s, while others prefer the big blockbusters of the 1990s. But one thing we all know for sure is that every decade has given us some of the most iconic films in history, and the best movies of 2000s are no exception to that rule.

Choosing the best movies of 2000s is not an easy task. This decade gave us so many great stories, from superhero films to emotional dramas, from animated masterpieces to action-packed adventures. Each film had something special that made it stand out and stay in the hearts of millions of people around the world for many years.

So, without making you wait any longer, here is our list of the 15 best movies from the 2000s that have truly stood the test of time and become real icons of cinema.

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

The first on our list, we have one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. The Dark Knight follows Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman, as he tries to protect Gotham City from a terrifying criminal called the Joker. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, whose unforgettable performance as the Joker won him a posthumous Oscar, this film changed what superhero movies could be.

Where to Watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Starz, Philo, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand

This movie tells the story of Andy Sachs, a young woman who gets a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestly, the most powerful and demanding fashion magazine editor in New York City. As Andy tries to survive in this new, glamorous world, she begins to lose sight of who she really is. Meryl Streep delivers an iconic performance as Miranda, making this one of the most memorable films of the decade.

Where to Watch: Disney+, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

Directed by James Cameron, Avatar takes place on a distant moon called Pandora, home to a blue-skinned people called the Na'vi. A human soldier named Jake Sully is sent to Pandora as part of a mission but slowly falls in love with its land and people. Becoming the highest-grossing film in history at the time of its release, Avatar was also a visual revolution that changed how audiences experience movies in theaters.

Where to Watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, JustWatch TV, Spectrum On Demand, Plex, Kanopy

Almost Famous is a coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old boy named William, who gets the chance to travel with a rock band called Stillwater and write a story about them for Rolling Stone magazine. Based loosely on the real life experiences of writer and director Cameron Crowe, the film captures the magic and the chaos of the 1970s rock world in a warm, funny, and deeply human way.

Where to Watch: Hulu, Peacock Premium, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

What if you could erase a painful memory forever? That is the question at the heart of this beautiful and strange film. Joel discovers that his ex-girlfriend Clementine has deleted all her memories of him. He decides to do the same, but while the procedure happens, he relives their love story and realizes he does not want to forget. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet lead this deeply moving film directed by Michel Gondry.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

Wes Anderson's quirky family drama follows the Tenenbaum family, three former child prodigies who all grew up to have difficult adult lives. When their father, Royal Tenenbaum, played by Gene Hackman, suddenly returns after years away and claims he is dying, the whole family must come back together. With its unique visual style, dry humor, and an all-star cast including Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Stiller, this film became a cult classic.

Where to Watch: Philo, Spectrum On Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

A Boston police officer goes undercover inside a powerful Irish mob, while at the same time a criminal has secretly joined the police force. Both men are desperately trying to figure out who the other spy is before they are caught. Martin Scorsese directed this tense crime thriller, which features an incredible cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2007.

Where to Watch: Paramount+, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Plex 

Cady Heron has spent most of her life being homeschooled in Africa, so starting at a regular American high school is a huge shock. She quickly gets pulled into the most popular and most cruel group in school, known as "The Plastics," led by the queen bee, Regina George. Written by Tina Fey and starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, this sharp comedy about teenage social life remains endlessly quotable more than 20 years later.

Where to Watch: Paramount Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, JustWatch TV, Spectrum On Demand, Kanopy, Hoopla

Set in a dangerous neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, City of God follows the lives of several young people growing up surrounded by crime and violence. The story is told through the eyes of Rocket, a boy who dreams of becoming a photographer. Directed by Fernando Meirelles, this Brazilian film was praised around the world for its raw, powerful storytelling and its honest look at poverty and crime, earning four Academy Award nominations.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Fawesome

Uma Thurman plays a woman known only as "The Bride," a former assassin who wakes up from a coma after being nearly killed on her wedding day by her old boss, Bill, and his deadly team. She has only one goal: revenge. Director Quentin Tarantino filled this film with explosive action sequences, stylish visuals borrowed from martial arts films and classic westerns, and a sharp, unforgettable soundtrack that made it unlike anything else in cinemas at the time.

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home 

Perhaps the most ambitious film series of the entire decade, Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved novels tells the epic quest of a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins, who must carry a powerful and dangerous ring to its destruction to save the world of Middle-earth. With breathtaking New Zealand landscapes, groundbreaking visual effects, and a massive ensemble cast, the trilogy won 17 Academy Awards in total, including Best Picture for its final chapter.

Where to Watch: Paramount+, fuboTV, Kanopy, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, JustWatch TV, Spectrum On Demand, Plex 

Russell Crowe stars as Maximus, a powerful Roman general who is betrayed by the emperor's corrupt son, Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Maximus loses everything — his title, his family, and his freedom — and is forced to become a gladiator, fighting for his life in front of screaming crowds. Director Ridley Scott brought ancient Rome to life with stunning visuals and thrilling battle sequences, and the film walked away with the Oscar for Best Picture.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Apple TV Store

Casino Royale introduced Daniel Craig as a brand new James Bond, showing audiences how the world's most famous spy first earned his license to kill. The story follows Bond as he tracks down a dangerous terrorist financier named Le Chiffre and faces him in a high-stakes poker game. This reboot of the iconic franchise was darker, grittier, and more emotional than any previous Bond film, completely reinventing the character for a new generation of fans.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

Ridley Scott directed this sweeping historical epic set during the Crusades of the 12th century. Orlando Bloom plays Balian, a French blacksmith who travels to Jerusalem and becomes caught in the violent struggle between Christian and Muslim forces for control of the holy city. The extended Director's Cut of the film is widely considered a masterpiece of the historical epic genre, praised for its detailed world-building, moral complexity, and stunning large-scale battle sequences.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Apple TV Store

For the last movie on this list, we have the famous Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Spirited Away. The story follows a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro, whose parents are transformed into pigs after wandering into a mysterious spirit world. To save them, she must work in a magical bathhouse run by a powerful witch. Written and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, this film became the first, and still the only, hand-drawn animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.