Its tremendous commercial success inspired big Greco-Roman movie releases like Troy and 300 in 20 respectively. Box-office-wise, it was a megahit with $500 million in gross sales. The film also won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe who beat versatile actor Tom Hanks in Castaway. Russell Crowe delivered a compelling performance in the titular role of the wronged Gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius. Scott set the trend once again in the 2000s with his epic historical drama which has sultry R-rated action sequences. The 2000 blockbuster took inspiration from the sword-and-sandal theatrical pieces such as Spartacus in the 1960s. The film’s supporting cast includes Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman.Īcclaimed director Ridley Scott welcomed the arrival of the new millennium with the cinematic epic Gladiator. It became the 4th highest-grossing film of all time with over $1 billion revenue worldwide at the time. The Dark Knight is dubbed the best film released in 2008.
Fans eternally remember Ledger for his astonishing iconic performance as a supervillain in this superhero flick for grown-ups. He also perfected his rendition by bringing in the brilliant late actor Heath Ledger to portray a ruthless, deranged Joker. This tour de force showcased Nolan’s genius for creating a rich and epic film lauded by movie critics. The dark-themed rendition starring Christian Bale reinvented the iconic superhero character as a simple, emotionally pained millionaire recluse. The second installment in his Batman trilogy is arguably one of the decade’s greatest cinematic masterpieces. The 2000s was a decade of remarkable Hollywood talents such as the multi-awarded director Christopher Nolan. Other huge stars include Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, and the like. The Peter Jackson film features a stellar ensemble cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, and Cate Blanchett.
The most visually stunning TLOR movie also saw tremendous commercial success by raking in over $1 billion in gross sales. The Return of the King set records by winning 11 Academy Awards, achieving the same success as Titanic and Ben-Hur. Critically acclaimed by both critics and audiences, the franchise became the landmark in creating films that have a massive connected universe. The fitting conclusion to the fantasy saga runs for more than 3 hours of riveting storyline and breath-taking heroic stunts. Tolkien’s eponymous novel features high-packed with giant battles and life-changing moments for the characters. Peter Jackson hit the right climactic notes to end the fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2003. Note that our list comes in no particular order. This viewing guide will quickly jumpstart you to a marathon of the glorious decade’s greatest flicks ever made. Now, we oblige ourselves to curate the 20 best movies of the 2000s just for you. That said, an era of epic classics ranging from horror to comedy will sate your craving for some blast from the past. Simply put, these significant times for remarkable cinematic masterpieces that come in various genres help define the entire decade. We saw gripping follow-ups for Iron-Man, The Bourne Identity, Fast & Furious, and other big titles. After the colossal success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, film studios started creating sequels for blockbuster movies. Some of the best 2000s movies released in 3-D include The Dark Knight (2008), Avatar (2009), and Up (2009). Moreover, the 2000s decade revolutionized theatrical experience with explosive releases of both 3-D films and IMAX films. Peter Jackson’s second installment to The Lord of the Rings trilogy released in 2002 combined CGI imagery with “motion capturing.” This advancement in filmmaking enabled Jackson to capture Andy Serkis’ movements and expressions to produce the character of Gollum. It was an exciting age in film history that saw the use of advanced special effects (CGI and motion capture). On top of these technological breakthroughs, however, the 2000s also heralded a golden era for filmmaking that elevated cinematic entertainment. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009): $934 Million.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007): $942 Million.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): $947 Million.Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007): $961 Million.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): $1.006 Billion.Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006): $1.066 Billion.The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): $1.146 Billion.As a bonus, here are the top 10 highest-grossing movies of the 2000s:.Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).