It’s a little frightening that the start of the millennium was now 25 years ago. Time is an illusion, as the saying goes. However, all these years later, many movies released in the year 2000 have left a significant impression on the world of cinema, and I’m here to celebrate the best movie of that era Even if I must admit, I saw these flicks years after their initial release. I turned 5 years old in 2000, and was watching little beyond Disney VHS tapes at that time.
My round-up of the best movies from 2000 includes one of Christopher Nolan’s first features, a comic book movie that set the stage for the juggernaut the superhero genre would become in the decades to come, and a dystopian battle that makes “The Hunger Games” look like a friendly competition in comparison. These movies may now be old enough to buy a beer or rent a car, but they remain must-watches even in 2025.
‘Memento’
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After his independent debut with “Following” in 1998, Christopher Nolan broke onto the scene with “Memento” just two years later, and his status as one of the industry’s most bankable filmmakers has only further solidified in the decades since. Far from a slow starter, Nolan was making mesmerizing movies from day one, with “Memento” a taunt and tense psychological thriller with a neat hook and a committed performance from Guy Pearce.
“Memento” may lack the grand scale of Nolan’s more recent work (it was made on a $10 million budget; his upcoming blockbuster “The Odyssey” is rumored to cost $250 million), but the British director works wonders with relatively modest components. A masterclass in nonlinear storytelling, this thriller presents two separate narratives that at first appear confusing and contradictory, but by the end join together to form a satisfying full-circle moment. Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, a former insurance agent, suffering from amnesia, and on the hunt for the man he believed murdered his wife.
Watch “Memento” on Peacock now
‘X-Men’
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The 2010s were the decade when superhero movies ruled Hollywood, but the seeds of that dominance were sown in 2000 when director Bryan Singer brought Marvel’s “X-Men” to the big screen. It wasn’t the first blockbuster superhero movie ever released, but it quickly became the standard by which the genre was measured, and introduced millions of viewers to this iconic group of superpowered mutants (including yours truly). It also marks Hugh Jackman’s first appearance as the metal-clawed ball of rage known as Wolverine. A portrayal of the fan-favorite character that has become so iconic that Jackman is still playing the role now.
Also starring Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops and Halle Berry as Storm, Singer’s spin on the “X-Men” has aged remarkably well. Striking a fine balance between comicbook fun and a darker exploration of these beloved characters (the World War II-set opening is particularly excellent), this comicbook movie felt extremely fresh at the time. The 2003 sequel may be superior, but I still love the original.
Watch “X-Men” on Disney Plus now
‘American Psycho’
Another 2000s movie that has aged seriously well is “American Psycho.” Reviews were generally positive upon release, but some critics disliked its graphic violence, nihilistic narrative and alienating main character. Over the years, its reputation has only improved, and it’s even become a part of meme culture, with numerous scenes snipped up and shared across social platforms. Christian Bale’s portrayal of Patrick Bateman, a banker by day, serial killer by night, is now considered one of the strongest of his career.
Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, it’s set in a satirical world dominated by vapid appearance and a gluttonous greed for status, money and control. Quite alarmingly, our own society mirrors the one present in “American Psycho” more with each passing year. Between Bale’s sharp performance and the large dashes of dark comedy sprinkled throughout, “American Psycho” is disturbing but impossible to ignore. Not bad for an adaptation of a novel once labeled “unfilmable” by its own author.
Watch “American Psycho” on Peacock now
‘Requiem for a Dream’
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If you saw “Requiem for a Dream” back in October 2000 when it arrived in theatres, this is one entry on the list you’re probably comfortable skipping. That’s not a dig at its quality, but rather because this psychological drama is, for many viewers, a “one and done” experience. It’s so bleak, and it sees its characters spiral so far into the darkest corners of the human psyche, that it’s a movie that burns itself in your brain. However, having braved a rewatch earlier this year, I can attest to its enduring power and quality.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, “Requiem for a Dream” focuses on four lead characters (Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans), who all face addiction. The movie plots how their impulses lead them on the road to ruin, and ultimately into a state of total destruction. It’s Burstyn’s performance as Sara, a senior widow obsessed with a TV gameshow and eventually amphetamines, that still rattles around in my mind. Much as I love this unflinching flick, you need to be in the right headspace to watch.
Watch “Requiem for a Dream” on Peacock now
‘Battle Royale’
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For the uninitiated, “Battle Royale” is basically “The Hunger Games” but with the YA gloves ripped off. Its core premise is very similar (I should note “Battle Royale” came first), and sees a group of Japanese high school students taken to a remote island and forced to battle to the death until only one is left standing. The reason for this twisted event is to curb increasing youth delinquency, giving the flick some social commentary that remains timely.
Intense from the drop, and overflowing with brutal violence, “Battle Royale” is a wild ride. But there’s also a more compelling draw here than just bloodshed. Viewers are given something to root for in the form of two students, Shuya (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and Noriko (Aki Maeda), who attempt to escape their ordeal and find a way to punish those who created the system. 25 years on, and the influence of “Battle Royale” is still being felt across media in the likes of “Squid Game” and, of course, “The Hunger Games.”
Watch “Battle Royale” on Prime Video now
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