The 25 Best Movies of 2001

As a director, Robert Rodriguez seems to have two main modes: sick-ass, violent exploitation action flicks and absurdist, heartfelt family films. All respect to the nostalgia those of a certain age have for The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, but Spy Kids is inarguably his finest example of the latter. Between the bizarro character design (let me remind you of those thumb fuckers), some genuinely unsettling stakes (citation), and a plot that made every kid feel like they too could save the world if duty called, Spy Kids holds up as an effective, entertaining romp for spies of any age. — Jonah Krueger

Watch Spy Kids now on Hoopla and Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Only Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell could have pulled off adapting a 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards skit into a comedy classic. Centering on a dim-witted supermodel brainwashed into assassinating a foreign political leader to "protect" the fashion industry, the plot hardly feels far-fetched 25 years later. In 2001, however, it damn sure was an over-the-top parody, spawning everlasting memes like "Blue Steel" and Derek's inability to turn left. While this level of ridiculousness requires total commitment to the bit, this all-star cast made it look effortless. — Eddie Fu

Watch Zoolander now on Peacock, MGM+, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Paramount or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Consider this a warning for the squeamish: This wildly feminist horror film is not afraid of blood — any kind of blood. Eight years before Jennifer's Body had its fun with the genre, director John Fawcett and screenwriter Karen Walton drew a direct connection between the act of menstruation and the werewolf curse, leading to a darkly funny tale that also understands the complicated nature of the sisterly bond. Hailing from Canada, Ginger Snaps has become a cult favorite amongst horror fans, unflinching in its gore and its themes. — L.S. Miller

Watch Ginger Snaps now on AMC+, Hoopla, Shudder or Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

It’s tempting to spend the entirety of this entry gushing about Ben Kingsley’s unhinged Don Logan, and it wouldn’t be unwarranted — I mean, you don’t make Slant Magazine’s 15 Famous Movie Psychopaths list with just any ol’ performance — but Jonathan Glazer’s directorial debut is certainly more than a single memorable character. The black humor, palpable tension, and unique pacing for a gangster flick all contribute to it being one of the most impressive first outings of this millennium. In fact, just talking about it makes us want to watch it again. — J. Krueger

Watch Sexy Beast now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

For all its predictability and turn-of-the-millennium fluff, Legally Blonde is so much better than that. The era's female empowerment messages are omnipresent, from "believe in yourself" to "unapologetic femininity and intellectual capability aren't mutually exclusive." What sells those sentiments, however, is the character and actress embodying them. Reese Witherspoon is irresistible as the endearingly ditzy yet convincingly confident Elle Woods, her drive and intelligence played as underestimated rather than ironic. Its cult musical adaptation, in-development threequel, and Elle prequel series prove the IP's surprising longevity, something due in large part to Witherspoon's performance elevating Legally Blonde to comedy classic status. — Ben Kaye

Watch Legally Blonde now on MGM+ or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Despite its distinguished status as the winner of the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Shrek mainly exists out of spite. The film was a hearty "fuck you" from former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg to incoming boss Michael Eisner, who unceremoniously ousted Katzenberg. Yet alongside key anti-Disney details flooding in from multiple directions (an unlikely hero and a princess, hello?), Shrek captured the essence of the everyman. Lead voice actors Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz further amplified the charm of the underdog spirit that flows through the film. Who would have guessed that a story about an ogre would be so wholesome, and also ridiculously successful? I'll tell you who: Jeffrey Katzenberg. — Kiana Fitzgerald

Watch Shrek now on Peacock and Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

The winner of the 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, No Man's Land takes place during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War — but it could really be set during any recent conflict. The story focuses on two opposing soldiers who have found themselves trapped together between their respective sides, along with another soldier whose prone body is the only thing keeping a bomb from killing them all. And it's a comedy! Well, it's more of a satire, the movie's grim sense of humor giving it permission to descend into some dark areas. It's that humor which allows writer/director Danis Tanović to capture the maddening complexity of modern day warfare — and its absurdities. — L.S. Miller

Watch No Man's Land now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Writer/director John Cameron Mitchell did amazing work translating his off-Broadway original production (created with Stephen Trask) into one of the great rock movie musicals. Deliciously gender-queer and rich with wit, Hedwig and the Angry Inch soars thanks to the irrepressible spirit of its protagonist — her life may be full of tragedy, but that only fuels her music. Speaking of which, the soundtrack remains irresistible to this day, from sing-a-long hit "Wig in a Box" to achingly romantic "The Origin of Love." Today, Hedwig feels ahead of its time in key ways, unafraid to explore the fundamentals of identity, and finding grace for all its characters along the way. — L.S. Miller

Watch Hedwig and the Angry Inch now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Pixar movies have a way of leaving a lasting impression on audiences, with humor and charm that resonates for all ages. That's especially true of Monsters, Inc., one of those films that just never gets old. The animation style, featuring rich textures that make its monstrous leads feel authentically tactile, remains impressive 20 years later, and it features a remarkable voice cast including stalwarts like John Goodman, Billy Crystal, and Steve Buscemi. The concept of a city being sustained by the screams of children feels a bit dark for a kids' film, but watching Sulley and Mike Wazowski come to embrace their accidental new ward Boo is undeniably heartwarming. — Sun Noor

Watch Monsters, Inc. now on Disney+ or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, Ghost World came at a time when Hollywood was starting to notice how even comic books without superheroes might become good movies. Admittedly, director Terry Zwigoff's adaptation didn't burn up the box office, but it did offer a tender look at the very complicated and unconventional bond between young Enid (American Beauty’s Thora Birch) and the lonely Seymour (Steve Buscemi). Also, Scarlett Johansson became a professional actor at the age of nine, so Ghost World was hardly the start of her career, but it did signal her graduating into adult parts with remarkable nuance. Ghost World stands out for how well it captures the spirit of Clowes' original story, a melancholy work capable of both great cruelty and kindness. — L.S. Miller

Watch Ghost World now on MGM+, Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, and Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko ostensibly centers itself on the mystery of mental illness and the way it interweaves with teen angst. Released at a time when mental health conversations were extremely restricted and watered down, the film approaches the topic through the lens of Jake Gyllenhaal's titular character, who is overwhelmed by disturbed commands and disconcerting information from a demented humanoid rabbit. The events that unfold across the film feed into the mythology of the experience; there are a whole lot of enigmatic twists and not too many straight-forward answers. Donnie Darko is a certified mindfuck, through and through. That's why it's a cult classic, in any year. — K. Fitzgerald

Watch Donnie Darko now on Prime Video, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, The Criterion Channel, Pluto TV, and Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Developed in collaboration with Stanley Kubrick, this off-kilter Pinocchio riff is a movie that couldn't have been made without the existence of Haley Joel Osment; Kubrick originally wanted to cast an actual robot as the central robot boy who wants to be real, but Osment's pitch-perfect performance surpasses anything that an artificial creation could have achieved. Initial reactions to Steven Spielberg's sci-fi opus were a little mixed upon the movie's release, with critics grappling to understand the full meaning of that ending: Too bleak? Not bleak enough? Also, were those aliens or robots? Now, with the passing of time (imagine Ben Kingsley narrating that last bit), A.I. has emerged as one of Spielberg's darkest and most complex works, existential and haunting, in sharp contrast to its perceived fairy tale sparkle. — L.S. Miller

Watch A.I. Artificial Intelligence now on Paramount+, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Tubi or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Actors on a Michael Showalter and David Wain set seem encouraged to have as much fun as possible. Wet Hot American Summer’s ensemble cast exemplifies this philosophy, each actor throwing in as many bits, ridiculous line readings, or overdramatic reactions as possible. The story goes that the filming of Wet Hot American Summer was so low budget and faced so many challenges that it was more like boot camp than summer camp, but when watching the film, all you see is a group of comedians having the time of their lives. A few jokes may feel dated or overly silly, but the anarchic camp spirit remains infectious. — P. Ragusa

Watch Wet Hot American Summer now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

As Detective Alonzo Harris, a locked-in Denzel Washington is the King Kong of gang-controlled LA neighborhoods. Leading an elite narcotics squad, Harris plays rival criminal groups against each other, using a bravado front to hide a failing tightrope act. Ethan Hawke's more reserved performance as the fish-out-of-water Officer Jake Hoyt makes for a stark contrast, serving as a stand-in for the audience. David Ayer's dialogue crackles with authenticity, and Antoine Fuqua's on-site filming makes South Central its own character. — E. Fu

Watch Training Day now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

The film that made director Baz Luhrmann a household name also got a whole generation of theater kids into David Bowie and later inspired me to try American-style absinthe on my 21st birthday (it was awful). Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor have rare romantic chemistry, while Jim Broadbent (as Harold Zidler) and John Leguizamo (as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec) use their screen time to run away with the spotlight. If you can get past the annoying fans who sang every word of the soundtrack in high school hallways, what’s left is a sweet, maximalist love letter to the roles we all play and the idea of performance itself. — Wren Graves

Watch Moulin Rouge! now on Netflix or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 isn’t just one of the most successful remakes of the 21st century, but that it’s one of the all-time “guys being dudes” flicks. And, to be clear, an individual of any gender can be a “guy” or a “dude” in this case — it’s less a matter of masculinity and more about the infectious slickness of both the filmmaking and the elaborate heist. Heightened by memorable performances, kick-ass montages, and effective bait-and-switches, the magic of Ocean’s Eleven has just as much to do with the jovial friendship of the titular gang as it does the job or George Clooney and Julia Roberts’ complicated romance. Unrelated, but does anyone wanna get together this weekend and try to pull off some carefully choreographed shenanigans? — J. Krueger

Watch Ocean’s Eleven now on Starz or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

No one expected this adaptation of a 1960s Archie Comics series to be a sugarcoated They Live for the new millennium, or that its hyperconsumerist satire would feel even more relevant 25 years later, but this movie has so much more to offer than prescience. The comedy itself is frequently laugh-out-loud funny, Parker Posey and Alan Cumming give standout performances as music industry caricatures, and the fictional boy band Du Jour nearly steals the whole movie with their comically limited screen time. The soundtrack is one of the best albums from any fictional band, too. One might say that it's totally jerkin'. — T. Franklin

Watch Josie and the Pussycats now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

If you look up "whimsy" in the dictionary, you’ll find a still shot from Amélie. In this tale of a young cafe worker scheming to make people happier, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel created a charming, whirling feast for the eyes. This study of a quirked-up French girl wouldn’t work without the revelatory performance of Audrey Tautou, who manages to make Amélie’s broad characterizations feel lived-in and real. Whether you’re celebrating the highs or trying to get out of the lows, Amélie just works. — W. Graves

Watch Amélie now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

This murderously funny movie about a hunting party at a British manor house demonstrates good taste from top to bottom. The idea came from co-star Bob Balaban and director Robert Altman, while Julian Fellowes — later known for Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age — turned in his first classic script. Among those dwelling upstairs, Michael Gambon and Kristen Scott Thomas balance comedy and pathos, while Maggie Smith steals every scene. But the film’s loyalties clearly lie with the downstairs staff, anchored by Helen Mirren, Kelly Macdonald, and Clive Owen in his star-making role. The whodunit is interesting but not the point; the stacked cast wields dialogue sharper than any knife. — W. Graves

Watch Gosford Park now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Christopher Nolan's second film isn't just a trippy experience, it's an incredibly thoughtful film about guilt, psychological manipulation, and existential dread. In one of his best performances, Guy Pearce guides us through Leonard's desperate quest to find his wife's killer in a linear reverse narrative, with Nolan designing the timeline merge at the end of the film to be a rewarding moment of illumination. Memento has some excellent nods to noir and older films, but its experimental narrative approach feels novel and well-executed. Twenty-five years later, it's still a masterclass in story building. — P. Ragusa

Watch Memento now on Prime Video, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Pluto TV or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

The second and third films of The Lord of the Rings trilogy have quite a lot of high-stakes action, making the slow burn world-building of Fellowship a rejuvenating watch. Director Peter Jackson brings Middle-Earth to the screen with lively wit and fully-realized characters. The sequences in the Shire are funny and bright, and when that titular fellowship finally comes together, the sense of adventure and purpose is earned. It's a beautiful introduction to Tolkien's fantastical world, paced with just enough drama and action and tied together by earnest, heartfelt performances. It launched one of the greatest action franchises ever, but even as a standalone film, Fellowship is a rewarding watch. — P. Ragusa

Watch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring now on HBO Max or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Adapting to any environment that is not your own is a challenge. Spirited Away takes that notion and ratchets it up by several degrees. The main character Chihiro must find her way back to her parents, and truly, herself; animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki imbues his seemingly endless supply of interfering personas with whimsical detail. The sheer breadth of imagination that Miyazaki brings to life through this film is astounding, and begs to be dissected on multiple re-watches. In addition to a compelling storyline, the artful specificity of the settings and the level of care given to even the most tangential of characters make Spirited Away an enduring classic, and most certainly among the best movies of 2001. — K. Fitzgerald

Watch Spirited Away now on HBO Max or on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Is this the best Wes Anderson joint? Well, not quite, at least according to our completely objective, definitive ranking, but it’s hard to fault anyone who would answer with an emphatic yes. Emotionally rich and boasting more iconic characters than you could pack into a minivan, The Royal Tenenbaums is the perfect balance between the more aesthetically subtle Anderson flicks (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore) and the full-on storybook, symmetrical style he’s now known for (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou). The visual style and Andersonian dialogue are certainly here in droves, though it manages to remain surprisingly grounded even as the absurdity of the world spirals out. For that, it’s a certified 2001 classic. — J. Krueger

Watch The Royal Tenenbaums now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.

Few movies have had as improbable a journey to the big screen as Mulholland Drive, considering that it originally was shot as a pilot for ABC, the same network for which David Lynch had made Twin Peaks. After ABC passed on the show (a real Sliding Doors moment for pop culture — imagine if they'd picked it up?), Lynch took what he'd shot, wrote a new ending, and filmed new material to complete what would be remembered as one of his greatest movies.

Naomi Watts became an almost instant star thanks to the ferocity of her performance as Betty, a seemingly innocent young actress who falls in love with the mysterious amnesiac "Rita." Solving the mystery of Rita's past is just one of the tangled plot threads Lynch explores here, drawing us like no other filmmaker could into a landscape of dreams and nightmares. Mulholland Drive was such an achievement that although it was overlooked in every other category at the following year's Oscars, Lynch's undeniable achievement was recognized with a Best Director nomination. No one may fully understand this movie, but it's not a movie that wants to be understood. It's a movie that wants to blow your mind wide open, to all the wonders and horrors the world contains. — L.S. Miller

Watch Mulholland Drive now on VOD via Apple TV and Amazon.