Let it sink in for a moment that films celebrating their twentieth anniversary came out in the year 2004. For some generations, that’s ancient times, while for others it seems like just the other year. The early 2000s certainly contributed a lot in the name of pop culture. Y2K fashion is coming back and everyday people are discovering or rediscovering beloved films from that time.
Sure, not all of these films aged well. Whether it’s due to dodgy special effects and CGI, or jokes that would not fly today, it can be hard to parse out the ones we need to keep circulating and the ones that are best to forget. But despite how far we as a society have come, and how much film has advanced in recent years, plenty of 2004 films are just as relevant today as the day they were released.
20 Crash
Crash is a crime drama about a group of individuals living in Los Angeles whose lives connect in unexpected ways. There are two police officers involved in an accident where racial insults are thrown. These same officers later investigate the murder of an undercover cop by a fellow cop. A district attorney worried about re-election is the victim of a carjacking. There’s even the death of a child.
An Emotional Rollercoaster
The events listed only scratch the surface of the events delved into. Its ensemble cast helped this small-budget film gain widespread attention, and the topics of race and crime continued the conversation. Twenty years later, many American films are still trying to dissect the country’s race relations through film. The intersection of race, policing, and politics is still on viewers’ minds today. While not all critics found Crash successful in doing so, it won multiple Academy Awards and BAFTAs.
19 Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda
- Release Date
- March 4, 2004
- Director
- Terry George
Since the horrific Rwandan genocide in the 1990s, multiple books and documentaries have gone out into the world to help others understand what took place. In 2004, filmmakers added the docudrama Hotel Rwanda to the conversation. It starred Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines who used his position to provide shelter for at-risk individuals.
A Heartbreaking True Story
The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994, and this film was released in 2004, and even in 2024, it remains relevant. Cinephiles who don’t necessarily use movies as an escape from real life but to better understand reality, can find Hotel Rwanda a captivating watch. With current crises occurring around the world currently and in recent years, this film is, unfortunately, all too relevant.
18 The Manchurian Candidate
The 2004 film The Manchurian Candidate is both an adaptation of a novel released in 1959 and a remake of the first book-to-screen adaptation from 1962. Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington) was the commander of a unit in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War. During his time, his unit was ambushed and though most escaped alive, he and his fellow soldiers are still affected. Now, Bennett begins to wonder if his memories have been altered or if he forgot key events from that traumatic time.
Can They Trust Anyone?
Several details were changed from the original work and first movie, such as switching it from the Korean War to the Gulf War. This was an attempt to make it more relevant to viewers at the time. Yet even in the 2020s, when most audiences have little to no recollection of these conflicts, the impacts of war, lack of aftercare for people who experienced traumatic events, and distrust in officials, still permeate topical discussions in countries across the globe.
17 Sideways
Sideways is a road trip dramedy about two men who are at a crossroads in their lives. Miles is an English teacher who has always wanted to publish his own books but has so far been unsuccessful, leading to his depression. His former college dormmate, Jack is an actor who now mostly does commercials. He is set to work at his soon-to-be father-in-law’s real estate business, essentially giving up his dream. The two decide on a road trip for one last hurrah before the wedding.
A Classic Road Trip
The premise is simple, which is what makes it relatable even after two decades. Moments when you have to contemplate giving up on your dream. Navigating changes in your longtime friendships. Pressures of not living up to expectations, both yours and others. Sure, the movie is quite silly at times, but these universal themes give it a bit more heft.
16 Turtles Can Fly
In a drastic tone shift from the previous entry, Turtles Can Fly is an independent Kurdish war film. It’s notable for being the first film that broached the American invasion of Iraq. The movie follows three children at a refugee camp at the border of Iraq and Turkey. Tensions are high the day before the U.S. invades and the children are anticipating what that can mean for them and their future if, and when, it happens.
Not for the Lighthearted
Turtles Can Fly didn’t receive as much attention as other 2004 releases, but it’s worth a watch if the viewer is prepared for a heavy narrative. This movie is raw and dark, touching on the worst of humanity. The centering of the children effectively drives home the message the filmmakers are intending to send. As humanitarian crises and wars are constants in our world, viewers can turn on this film and relate it back to current events.
15 Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle
- Release Date
- November 19, 2004
- Cast
- Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashûin , Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Mitsunori Isaki
Studio Ghibli is a well-respected Japanese animation studio and Howl’s Moving Castle is one of its most successful projects. It centers on Sophie, a young woman who comes face-to-face with a witch. The magical creature curses Sophie, turning her into a ninety-year-old woman. To transform back into herself, she needs to team up with a wizard called Howl. But he is called to join their kingdom’s war, a backdrop that makes this magical adventure more dire.
Much More Than War
The best films are both entertaining and impactful. Many people tout Howl’s Moving Castle as one of the best anti-war films. There’s certainly an argument for that, but the story holds its own in its varied subplots. Though aging is first seen as a curse, particularly for a woman, the film highlights the advantages age brings. Howl’s Moving Castle feminist messages and messages of self-acceptance will never go out of fashion.
14 The Incredibles
On the outside, the Parrs are your average family. There are the parents, Bob and Helen, and their three kids: Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. No one would know that Bob is the reason superheroes (which his family are) were banned and forced to hide their abilities. Bob hates the monotonous flow his life has fallen into and seeks adventure again. So when he’s offered a chance to solve a new mission, he jumps at the chance.
Not Tired of Superheroes Yet
With all the talk of superhero fatigue lately, you’d think people would be sick of franchises like The Incredibles. Yet even after fourteen years between the first and eventual sequel, fans showed up to support. The Incredibles 2 made over a billion dollars and the original continues to do well on streaming, as well as the short films. But it all can be traced back to the original, with its smooth animation, trademark Pixar fun and emotions, and awesome soundtrack.
13 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind beautifully blends sci-fi and romance. Joel and Clementine used to date, but their relationship eventually ran its course. Most people rely on time to get over their ex. However, Joel discovers that Clementine underwent a procedure that can erase people’s memories. Though he’s upset, Joel believes maybe it’s best he does the same.
Lovers to Strangers
The film was introduced to a new generation when Ariana Grande named her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine and nodded to the premise in her music video for We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love).
In 2004, the premise likely seemed too outlandish to be plausible. Yet with the advancement of technology today, a surgery like the one present in the movie may very well exist in our lifetime. Besides being hugely entertaining thanks to Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet’s performances, this is an excellent movie to spark discussion.
12 The Day After Tomorrow
The potential outcomes of climate change documented in the 1999 book The Coming Global Superstorm was turned into a movie. Filmmakers opted for a vaguer title: The Day After Tomorrow. All across the world, cities are experiencing the catastrophic effects of climate change. Icebergs are melting. Hailstorms are ripping cities apart. Temperatures are plummeting. And, where the film is set, New York is completely frozen over.
Why It’s Still Relevant
What is the world coming to? A huge subset of cinephiles head to the theaters to parse out that very question. It was true in 2004 and it’s true today. The Day After Tomorrow did receive some eye-rolls from those in the scientific community for exaggerating negative outcomes. Nevertheless, it got people talking about climate change, an issue still hotly debated today. Especially after experiencing a pandemic, audiences may not brush off the scenes in this film as mere fiction.
11 The Notebook
The best love stories are always timeless. Sure, Allie and Noah in The Notebook are far from a perfect couple. This 1940s set story shows the two halves of this pairing constantly at odds, even resulting in behaviors that recent discourse frowns on. Allie comes from a wealthy family that set many expectations for her. One of the said expectations is marrying a respectable young man with a promising future, a.k.a. the exact opposite of Noah.
Love Story for the Ages
Yet the two leads’ chemistry, the good and bad, is electric. That part is undeniable. This is a story about love at its most complicated and most beautiful. Whether viewers are experiencing the scenes where characters are coming back from World War II or living out their days at a nursing home in the 2000s, the human-to-human connection is the most important element.
10 Shark Tale
Shark Tale is a highly underrated film. Even though it came out over a year later, it got lost in the shadow of Finding Nemo, the other children’s “fish movie.” However, this tale about Oscar is silly and fun and doesn’t have to take itself so seriously coming from a smaller studio.
Oscar is a smooth-talking fish looking to make it big to prove to everyone, and himself, that he’s a somebody. He’s willing to do anything to gain notoriety, including pretending to have singlehandedly killed a great white shark.
Get Rich Quick
As mentioned, this movie is silly, and not just in the average way children’s movies can sometimes be. The sharks are pseudo mafia guys, equipped with Italian accents and names, and playing off of The Godfather. Oscar’s success-over-everything mentality is a little over-the-top, but there’s still a kernel of truth to it that allows viewers to root for him. Even in 2024, there’s pressure to not just be successful but to advertise that success for everyone to see.
9 C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America
C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America is a mockumentary that rewrites a key moment in American history. What would life in the U.S. and the Americas be like if the South won the Civil War? A British documentary shows exactly what that’s like. From Blacks being sold in ads on modern-day commercials to key historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., this film satirizes the United States’ recent and distant history.
A Controversial Film
The humor is so intentionally exaggerated at times, that it can be easy to forget the purpose was to highlight actual issues. This film ruffled feathers back in 2004 and with current tensions in the U.S., that’d likely be the case now. Some argue that the reimagined society is so absurd it weakens the message, while others respond with that being the point. No matter which side a viewer falls on, it’s worth at least one watch.
8 Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite revolves around our titular character, a teenager trying to get through high school. He lives with his well-meaning grandma and his older brother Kip who Napoleon is totally jealous of because he chats online with babes all day. At school, he befriends a new student named Pedro and a shy girl named Deb. Throughout the film, Napoleon tries to fend off his bullies, help Pedro run for (class) president, and win over Deb.
Gosh, It’s Good
Though we’d all like to think we’re a lot smoother than Napoleon, there’s probably a little bit of him we can relate to. Whether it’s Napoleon’s constant exclamations or “gosh!” or answering a simple, “How was school?” with “The worst day of my life, what do you think?” he never fails to say what we sometimes just think.
Coming-of-age stories typically don’t have wild premises, here we’re just watching a teenager being a teenager. But this simplicity allows many in this genre, and especially Napoleon Dynamite, to be comfort watches for the rest of our lives.
7 Saved!
Mary Cummings in Saved! is a reserved teen raised in a strict Christian environment. She’s taken aback when her boyfriend Dean tells her he’s gay. Mary believes God sent her a message to help Dean through this time. Her plan? Maybe if she loses her virginity to him it will set him straight. Literally. The plan doesn’t work as planned, especially considering the pregnancy that resulted from their rendezvous.
Why It’s Still Relevant
Fans of Juno which would come out three years later, should check out Saved! It tackles religion, purity culture, and bullying in a satirical form. Modern teen films regularly push the envelope with the issues they tackle, though it was less normalized back in 2004. Even so, while the idea of a teen dealing with an unexpected pregnancy may not be novel to modern audiences, the “us versus them” mentality in Saved! is one many teens, and adults, know all too well now.
6 Catwoman
catwoman
- Release Date
- July 22, 2004
- Director
- Pitof
Catwoman is another superhero film, this time focused on the titular character played by Halle Berry. Patience Phillips is a timid graphic designer at a cosmetics company who doesn’t want to rock the boat, leading many to walk all over her. One day, she hears higher-ups in the company discussing their knowledge of the dangerous side effects of their products. She’s caught and presumably drowned until she wakes up with mysterious catlike abilities.
So Bad It’s Good?
This film wasn’t met with a warm embrace in its initial release. Critics panned the movie and it earned several Golden Raspberry Awards, including for Worst Actress (which Berry good-naturedly accepted), Worst Picture, and Worst Screenplay.
Yet in recent years, viewers have taken to Catwoman, appreciating its campiness and melodrama. With so many superhero movies feeling like carbon copies of one another, it’s refreshing to see one that stands out (even if some of the scenes are downright laughable).
5 Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights is a sports film based on a book which itself talked about a real-life story. Odessa, Texas doesn’t have a lot of resources to give its residents, nor the students of Permian High School. Nevertheless, the town expects big things from the school’s football team. That pressure impacts each player differently, as they have to deal with obstacles both on and off the field.
The expectations the adults in this film put on these kids are enough to overwhelm anyone, no matter their age. How we treat student-athletes is constantly evolving, from discussions about it being free labor to favoritism and overlooking bad behavior. Yet, like most great sports films, the scenes off-the-field hold as much weight, if not more. At the heart of this story, though is about the resilience of teens, and every generation can be reminded of that.
4 Mean Girls
Cady Heron in Mean Girls is nervous to start at an actual high school after years of being homeschooled in Africa. Never did she imagine the intense social politics within North Shore’s walls, separating the haves and have-nots.
At the top of the social pyramid are The Plastics, spearheaded by Regina George. She feels lucky enough to be invited into their orbit, but when Regina betrays her, Cady decides to rip the crown off the queen’s head. And she has two iconic sidekicks by her side to do it.
20 Years and It’s Still Fetch
It’s no surprise that Mean Girls makes this list. Despite a few questionable jokes, the writing, delivery, and overall plot hold up very well. In the decades since it was released, it’s still not common to find a teen movie that subtly dissects popularity and speaks to teens rather than panders to them. And Mean Girls still works for adults; those who loved it back then and are all grown up can still tune in and enjoy it not as a guilty pleasure, but as a proud fan.
3 My Summer of Love
In My Summer of Love, Mona sees Tamsin riding on her horse and believes their lives couldn’t be more different. Tamsin comes from a wealthy family and went to a fancy boarding school before getting kicked out. Mona’s family is a few notches down on the tax bracket and the only family she has left is her ex-convict brother. But neither are content with their lives and it’s this dissatisfaction that begins their connection.
Still a Gap in the Market
My Summer of Love was actress Emily Blunt’s debut film, and some still regard it as one of her best works. While the entertainment industry has come leaps and bounds in including representation of gay couples, lesbian relationships are often still ignored. Plenty of people still seek reminders that coming-of-age and stories of first loves don’t all look the same, and My Summer of Love gives them just that.
2 A Good Woman
Based on an Oscar Wilde play, A Good Woman centers on a socialite named Mrs. Erlynne who has burned bridges of everyone in her exclusive circle. The men she drew in and their wives she betrayed want nothing to do with her. Thus, she heads to Amalfi, Italy where she becomes interested in a man named Robert Windermere. The fact that he’s newly married? No matter, she’s used to stepping on toes on one side of the Atlantic, maybe it’s time she spreads her reach.
A Beautiful Backdrop
If active on social media today, it won’t take long before coming across someone’s vacation photos of the Amalfi Coast’s scenic landscape with houses stacked atop each other on the many hills and wisteria blooms nearby lemon trees. But it’s more than just the setting that makes A Good Woman relevant today. Viewers have begged Hollywood to feature more messy, complex, and yes, sometimes even downright awful female characters and Mrs. Erlynne fits that request.
1 Dawn of the Dead
In Dawn of the Dead, Ana arrives home after a long day working as a nurse in Milwaukee. In the morning, she narrowly escapes an attack by a zombie, though Ana’s husband isn’t so lucky. She eventually teams up with other locals in shock at the zombies now roaming the streets, wreaking havoc on their town. They hide out in a mall and try to keep these creatures out while they figure out their next steps.
A Story of Survival
Zombie movies cycle in and out of style, but this subgenre of horror and dystopian films has a solid fanbase that never tires of it. The characters quarantining in a mall and hoarding supplies for survival have an entirely new feel to it after the 2020 pandemic. Zombie moves never fade entirely because of how they depict the fragility of our daily lives and the status quo.
