Top Movies of the 2000s

This page offers lists of the top 25 movies of the decade as determined by two different metrics. The first list is based on box office and the second is based on critics’ picks.

Box Office: Top 25 of the 2000s These are the top 25 movies of the decade as determined by worldwide box office gross. The first number indicates dollars made in millions.

1. 2923.71: Avatar (2009) 2. 1147.63: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 3. 1066.18: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) 4. 1026.41: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (aka “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”) (2001) 5. 1006.23: The Dark Knight (2008) 6. 961.69: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) 7. 942.86: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) 8. 941.64: Finding Nemo (2003) 9. 941.06 :Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) 10. 938.24: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 11. 932.53: Shrek 2 (2004) 12. 898.47: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) 13. 891.68: Spider-Man 3 (2007) 14. 888.17: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) 16. 882.74: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) 17. 850.04: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) 18. 836.30: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) 19. 825.03: Spider-Man (2002) 20. 808.49: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) 21. 808.31: Shrek the Third (2007) 22. 795.11: Spider-Man 2 (2004) 23. 791.22: 2012 (2009) 24. 786.60: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 25. 760.01: The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Critics’ Picks: Top 25 of the 2000s These are the top 25 movies of the decade as determined by a combination of the movies’ ratings points and awards points.

1. No Country for Old Men (2007) 2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 3. Brokeback Mountain (2005) 4. The Hurt Locker (2009) 5. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) 6. The Dark Knight (2008) 7. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 8. Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) (2006) 9. Sideways (2004) 10. Gladiator (2000) 11. There Will Be Blood (2007) 12. Avatar (2009) 13. Chicago (2002) 14. A Beautiful Mind (2001) 15. The Departed (2006) 16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (2000) 18. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 19. Wall-E (2008) 20. Juno (2007) 21. The Pianist (2002) 22. Million Dollar Baby (2004) 23. Lost in Translation (2003) 24. Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) (2001) 25. Ratatouille (2007)

Resources: Dave’s Movie Database: Eras Dave’s Movie Database: Movies of the Year Dave’s Movie Database: Box Office Dave’s Movie Database: Awards Page Dave’s Movie Database: Ratings Page Originally posted 3/5/2025.

Brokeback Mountain loses Best Picture Oscar to Crash

Brokeback Mountain Released: December 9, 2005 Studio: River Road Entertainment, Focus Features Genre: romantic drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 83.03 Worldwide: 178.04 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Ang Lee Screenwriting: Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Randy Quaid Review: Brokeback Mountain is a “2005 neo-Western romantic drama” WK adapted from a 1997 short story by Annie Proulx. “Its plot depicts the complex romantic relationship between two American cowboys, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, in the American West from 1963 to 1983.” WK The story starts in 1963 when Ennis (Ledger) and Jack (Gyllenhaal) are hired as sheep ranchers in Wyoming. Jack makes a pass at Ennis one night after they’ve been drinking and Ennis eventually becomes receptive. He insists, however, that it was a one-time thing. The two move on. Ennis marries Alma (Williams) and they have two daughters. Jack marries Lureen (Hathaway) and they have a son. Jack and Ennis get together over the years for private fishing trips and when their marriages disintegrate, Jack tries to convince Ennis that they should build a life together. Cinematically, “the landscapes astound. The woods and mountains of America’s West convey a sense of serenity, as well as an air of promise.” HC The relationship between Jack and Ennis seems to be comprised of “aggression, conflict, and confused passion” HC without “any significant emotional or interpersonal growth.” HC Sadly, these are men locked into worlds of silent masculinity that keeps them from expressing themselves with complete honesty. The film generated several controversies. While the movie is now seen “as a turning point for the advancement of queer cinema into the mainstream” WK it faces criticism and censorship from conservative media outlets at the time. It was also considered a shock when it lost the Best Picture Oscar to Crash, which has now become infamous as one of the least-deserving wins in Oscar history. Sources: HC The Harvard Crimson review by Julia J. Hynek WK Wikipedia

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Genre Lists: Eras: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 3: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score Nominations: 8: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ledger), Best Supporting Actor (Gyllenhaal), Best Supporting Actress (Williams), Best Cinematography Lists: Hall of Fames: First posted 3/5/2025.