2000 was a strong year for the movies, serving up unforgettable performances, groundbreaking narratives, and films that would shape the next two decades of cinema.It was a year that refused to play it safe.Directors pushed boundaries, telling stories that were challenging, stylish, and often ahead of their time. Some of these films became instant classics, while others gained cult followings in the years that followed.
With this in mind, this list looks at some of the must-see films of that year, from the haunting psychological descent ofAmerican Psychoto thewuxiabeauty ofCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Though they traverse a range of genres, these movies all left a lasting impact and continue to hold up today.
10’Erin Brockovich' (2000)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
“They’re called boobs, Ed.” 2000 was a big year forSteven Soderbergh, seeing him release bothErin BrockovichandTraffic(and receiving Best Director Oscar nods for both of them). WhileTrafficis excellent,Erin Brockovichjust beats it in terms of entertainment value. No small part of this isthe energetic lead performancefromJulia Robertsas the brash and tenacioustitle character, a single mother struggling to find work who stumbles upon a massive environmental case against a powerful corporation.
Hired as a legal assistant by an initially skeptical attorney,Ed Masry(Albert Finney), Erin uses her wit and relentless determination to uncover a cover-up that has left an entire town poisoned by contaminated water. This basic plot has since been imitated many times; it’s one of the defining movies in its subgenre. It stands out becauseSoderbergh has a knack for grounding his characters in authentic, everyday settings, making them feel both relatable and fully realized, andErin Brockovichis one of the best examples of that.
Erin Brockovich
9’American Psycho' (2000)
Directed by Mary Harron
“I have to return some videotapes.“Christian Baleturns in one of his strongest (and most unsettling) performances here as a New York investment banker who hides his insatiable bloodlust behind an immaculate facade of charm and sophistication.This is a barbed satire disguised as a horror.Between meticulously analyzing business cards, critiquing 80s pop music, and committing horrifying acts of murder, Bateman embodies the soulless excess of Wall Street culture with terrifying precision. Although the character is often absurd,he serves as a critique for real issuesaround materialism and the unmoored profit motive.
Bret Easton Ellis, who wrote the original novel, consideredAmerican Psychoto be unfilmable, yet directorMary Harronnailed it. She strikes a careful balance between horror and black comedy, using a restrained aesthetic and a muted color palette, alongside occasional injections of visual flair. She composes a world for Bateman that is sterile and cold, a white void, mirroring his inner emptiness.
American Psycho
8’Battle Royale' (2000)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
“Life is a game. So fight for survival and see if you’re worth it.” An archetypal entry in the ‘people forced to kill each other for sport’ subgenre,Battle Royaletakes place in a near-future Japan, where high school students are randomly selected to participate in a deadly government-run program. Stranded on an isolated island, they are each given weapons and a simple set of rules—kill or be killed.
This is a dystopian thriller done right, towering over imitators likeThe Hunger Games. The violence is explosive and the storytelling kinetic, emphasizing the critique of social control and authoritarian governments. But another key part of what makesBattle Royalework is the fact that it’s essentially an ensemble drama. The characters aren’t just pawns in a slaughterhouse; they are deeply human, with clashing personalities and layered internal struggles. Not for nothing,Quentin TarantinohascalledBattle Royaleone of the greatest films of all time.
Battle Royale
7’Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
“No growth without assistance. No action without reaction. No desire without restraint. Now give yourself up and find yourself again.” This martial arts gem centers on warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and his longtime companion Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) as they track down a stolen legendary sword.Their quest becomes an operatic and visually stunning wuxia extravaganza, once again demonstratingAng Lee’s remarkable range.
The fight sequences, choreographed byYuen Woo-Ping, feel like elegant dances, defying gravity with breathtaking grace. But beneath its action-packed exterior,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonis a deeply emotional story about love, duty, and the sacrifices people make for honor. One of the highlights isZhang Ziyi’s wonderful turn as the passionate Jen, whose youthful defiance drives much of the narrative. There are a few pacing problems and it’s probably overlong, but the movie is still an impressive achievement, transcending its genre tropes to becomea modern epic with global appeal.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
6’Almost Famous' (2000)
Directed by Cameron Crowe
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.“Almost Famousis a love letter to rock and roll, seen through the eyes of William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a 15-year-old aspiring writer who lands a job withRolling Stoneand is sent on tour with the band Stillwater. Along the way, he forms a close bond with the band’s enigmatic guitarist, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), and falls under the spell of the free-spirited groupie Penny Lane (Kate Hudson).
The finished product is an engaging snapshot of the chaotic 1970s music scene, populated with complex and contradictory characters. In this regard, it drew on writer-directorCameron Crowe’s own experiences, as he had been a music journalist in his youth. The movie captures the fun and excitement of the era but also its dark side, particularly the dangers of drugs and the pitfalls of fame.
Almost Famous
5’In the Mood for Love' (2000)
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
“As though looking through a dusty window pane, the past is something he could see, but not touch.” Set in 1960s Hong Kong,In the Mood for Lovefollows Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), two neighbors who discover that their spouses are having an affair. As they spend more time together, they form a deep, aching bond, but they refuse to cross the same line that their partners did. Instead, they navigate a world of stolen glances, lingering silences, and bittersweet longing.
This is simply a gorgeous, exquisite film, from the music and cinematography to the heartfelt performances. DirectorWong Kar-wai(Days of Being Wild,Chungking Express) delivers a masterclass in unspoken desire and restrained passion, proving that a great romance does not need a breakneck plot or an abundance of steamy scenes. His recreation of this particular time and place is also evocative, almost dreamlike, oozing nostalgia.
In the Mood For Love
4’Snatch' (2000)
Directed by Guy Ritchie
“Do you know what ‘nemesis’ means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent.“Guy Ritchieburst onto the scene with 1998’s punchyLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but he upped the ante with his sophomore effort,Snatch. It’s a high-octane crime comedy packed with fast-paced dialogue and eccentric characters, including Turkish (Jason Statham), a small-time boxing promoter in over his head, and the unintelligible but oddly charismatic bare-knuckle boxer Mickey O’Neil (Brad Pitt). It’s certainly one of Pitt’s more offbeat roles.
Ritchie’s ‘British Tarantino’ shtick doesn’t always work, but here it’s enjoyably energetic and hyper-stylized, with more than enough wit, grit, and exhilarating unpredictability to keep things fresh. Placing style over substance is fine when you’ve got this much style.The dialogue is razor-sharp dialogue, the stunts are impressive, and the editing is delectably kinetic.For all these reasons,Snatchis easily one of the most entertaining flicks of that year.
3’Requiem for a Dream' (2000)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
“Somebody like you can really make things all right for me.“One of cinema’s most harrowing studies of addiction,Requiem for a Dreamfocuses on an ensemble cast including Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), an aging widow obsessed with appearing on television, her son Harry (Jared Leto), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). As each character chases their version of happiness—whether through weight-loss pills, heroin, or get-rich-quick schemes—their lives spiral into darkness and despair.
Requiem for a Dreamis as aesthetically inventive as it is thematically devastating.Darren Aronofskybombards the viewer with rapid-fire montages and a bevy of visual tricks, including split screens, fish-eye lenses, and body cam shots that lock actors' faces in the center of the frame as the world around them jolts and shifts. He also crafts several striking and memorable sequences, the best of which provide a sharp peak inside the characters' mental states.
Requiem for a Dream
2’Memento' (2000)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Image via Newmarket Films
“We all lie to ourselves to be happy.” Even back in 2000,Christopher Nolan’s storytelling prowess was considerable. WithMemento, he shows off his skill at handling nonlinear structures and mind-bending plots. It tells the fragmented story of Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man suffering from short-term memory loss, as he tries to piece together the truth behind his wife’s murder. Told in reverse order, the film forces the audience to experience Leonard’s confusion firsthand, as he relies on tattoos, Polaroids, and notes to track down his wife’s killer.
With its signature fractured, looping structure,the film traps both Leonard and the viewer in a perpetual state of uncertainty.It’s a puzzle box of a movie, intricately constructed and loaded with commentary on the nature of truth, memory, and self-deception. In this sense,Mementois a great microcosm of Nolan’s work, hinting at techniques and ideas he would explore in greater depth later.
1’Gladiator' (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott
“Are you not entertained?” Claiming the top spot on this list isGladiator, one of the most impressive fusions of historical recreation and blockbuster entertainment. A peak-stardomRussell Croweleads the cast as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the corrupt emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Stripped of his rank and forced into slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator, rising through the ranks of the Colosseum in a quest for vengeance.It’s a pulpy premise but executed with abundant style and a lot of emotion.
Crowe plays his part with gravitas, making him into a near-mythic figure. Phoenix is also terrific but in the opposite way, making Commodus delightfully loathsome. With its sweeping cinematography, rousing score by Hans Zimmer, and unforgettable performances,Gladiatorimmediately earned a spot in the pantheon of all-time great historical epics. The movie redefined the sword-and-sandal genre for a new era, quickly spawning a legion of imitators (including its own sequel), but remains undefeated.
In ancient Rome, after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, loyal general Maximus is betrayed and sentenced to death by the new emperor, Commodus. Escaping execution, Maximus is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator, where his skills and honor lead him toward a path of vengeance and redemption.
