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28 Early '00s Movies on Netflix That Need to Be on Your Watchlist Immediately

Best 2000s Movies on Netflix in 2019

28 Early '00s Movies on Netflix That Need to Be on Your Watchlist Immediately

Best 2000s Movies on Netflix in 2019
Image Source: Everett Collection

The early 2000s weren't a great time for fashion, admittedly, but they were a fantastic time for movies. Whether you're into hilariously campy romps, seriously intense dramas, or super sexy flicks, the '00s offered films that any moviegoer could appreciate and — lucky for us — some of the best ones are available to stream right now on Netflix. Your blinged-out cell phone and terrycloth sweatsuit may be outdated by now, but we guarantee that these 28 classic 2000s movies will never go out of style. Side note: can we all agree not to bring back the dress over jeans trend? It's truly heinous.

1 Snatch (2000)

Snatch (2000)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Directed by Guy Ritchie, this crime comedy not only features Brad Pitt as a bare-knuckle boxer who gets in trouble with the mob — it also has so many plot twists that you'll have to watch the movie two or three times through before you catch them all.

Watch it now.

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2 Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Image Source: Everett Collection

This absurd, raunchy 2001 camp romp provides a comically loaded cast of beautiful people (including Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and Elizabeth Banks, among many others) and plenty of '80s short-shorts.

Watch it now.

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3 About a Boy (2002)

About a Boy (2002)
Image Source: Everett Collection

You'd be hard-pressed to find a cuter pairing than Marcus and Will, a 12-year-old outcast in need of a mentor (played by Skins star Nicholas Hoult) and a 30-year-old party boy in need of some direction (played by Hugh Grant). If you've ever wanted to watch Hugh Grant sing "Killing Me Softly With His Song" at a middle school talent show, here's your chance.

Watch it now.

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4 Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Image Source: Everett Collection

As you can probably gather from the title, this monster comedy revolves around the SUV-sized spiders — created as the result of a chemical spill — and the people forced to take them down (including David Arquette and Scarlett Johansson).

Watch it now.

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5 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Josh Harnett stars in this rom-com as a recently dumped bachelor who decides to take a vow of celibacy for the 40 days of Lent, never expecting (of course) that as soon as he swears off sex, the perfect woman will walk into his life.

Watch it now.

5 / 28

6 Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Everyone's favourite cryogenically-preserved (and super groovy) secret agent returns in this sequel to team up with his old lover, Foxxy Cleopatra (played by Beyoncé, obviously), and take down Dr. Evil, who is working with the mysterious Goldmember to travel into the past and kill Austin's father.

Watch it now.

6 / 28

7 Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Image Source: Everett Collection

When a lonely, orphaned Hawaiian girl with a love for photographing tourists is allowed by her big sister to adopt a dog, neither of them could have ever imagined that her new pet would actually be an escaped genetic experiment from outer space disguised as a mutt in need of a home. Alas, "ohana" means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Watch it now.

7 / 28

8 The Cinderella Story (2004)

The Cinderella Story (2004)
Image Source: Everett Collection

It might be cheesy as hell, but this teen romance between Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray — challenged by high school hierarchies, a lost cell phone, and an evil stepmom — is actual cinematic gold.

Watch it now.

8 / 28

9 Chasing Liberty (2004)

Chasing Liberty (2004)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Mandy Moore stars in this gem of a film as a teen whose overprotective father will never let her go on dates — but that's probably because he's the president of the United States. However, when she meets a cute British boy played by Matthew Goode, she finally gets her chance for romance and they take off on a wild romp around Europe. If only he wasn't actually an undercover Secret Service agent.

Watch it now.

9 / 28

10 Taking Lives (2004)

Taking Lives (2004)
Image Source: Everett Collection

You know that anything starring Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke is going to be steamy, but you'll be amazed how sexy a story about an FBI agent investigating a recent string of murders and the art dealer who claims to be an eyewitness can really be.

Watch it now.

10 / 28

11 Just Friends (2005)

Just Friends (2005)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Starring Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart, a geeky-teen-turned-successful-record-executive returns to his hometown 10 years later to tell his best friend that he is still in love with her (and his daffy pop star girlfriend, played by Anna Faris, tags along).

Watch it now.

11 / 28

12 Wedding Crashers (2005)

Wedding Crashers (2005)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson team up in this comedy as best buddies who — you guessed it — routinely crash wedding receptions in order to pick up women. When they hear that the Secretary of the Treasury (played by Christopher Walken) is marrying off his daughter soon, they know they have to find a way in and meet some high-profile ladies (such as a particularly cute bridesmaid played by Rachel McAdams).

Watch it now.

12 / 28

13 The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005)

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005)
Image Source: Everett Collection

In this adorable flick, four lifelong best friends (played by Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn) do the impossible: they find a single pair of jeans that somehow fits them all perfectly. When they separate for their own Summer adventures, they decide that each girl will get a turn with the magic pants, connecting them all and sharing in some pretty crazy experiences.

Watch it now.

13 / 28

14 Monster-in-Law (2005)

Monster-in-Law (2005)
Image Source: Everett Collection

You'd think that Jane Fonda would be the coolest soon-to-be mother-in-law ever, but that's definitely not the case for Jennifer Lopez in this comedy. As the wedding day grows closer, the competition between the two grows fiercer, and though this movie is admittedly not great, it's worth watching just for all the deliciously petty drama.

Watch it now.

14 / 28

15 The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Image Source: Everett Collection

When timid Andy Stitlzer's coworkers discover that he's never had sex, they push Andy toward developing confidence and stepping up his bachelor game — and despite his resistance, he meets someone with whom he thinks he stands a chance. Starring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogan, and Romany Malco, we dare anyone to watch this movie without cackling.

Watch it now.

15 / 28

16 The Departed (2006)

The Departed (2006)
Image Source: Everett Collection

A South Boston cop goes undercover to gain a Irish mobster's trust, while at the same time, a career criminal infiltrates the police department. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg, this cast is almost too attractive to bear (even if you can't keep track of who's a mole).

Watch it now.

16 / 28

17 Sydney White (2007)

Sydney White (2007)
Image Source: Everett Collection

In this modern-day Snow White retelling, Amanda Bynes plays a college freshman hoping to be accepted by the same sorority her late mother had membership in. However, when it is determined that Sydney is not Kappa material, she teams up with the seven rejects of the Vortex to make their own rules (and to take down the Kappa queen bee, played by Sara Paxton).

Watch it now.

17 / 28

18 Hairspray (2007)

Hairspray (2007)
Image Source: Everett Collection

In this remake of the 1988 classic, '60s Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad once again takes on oppression and representation through dance alongside her mom (fantastically played by John Travolta). With a cast that includes Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah, among many others, we can almost forgive them for cutting "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" from the soundtrack.

Watch it now.

18 / 28

19 Music and Lyrics (2007)

Music and Lyrics (2007)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore costar in this rom-com as a washed-up '80s pop star who gets a second chance when he's asked to write a song for a young artist, and the 'plant lady' whom he recruits to help him when he realises he has no idea how to write lyrics. Cue beautiful music (and major sparks).

Watch it now.

19 / 28

20 Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz (2007)
Image Source: Everett Collection

This buddy-cop spoof takes a former London constable and reluctantly pairs him with a bumbling new partner in quiet, unassuming Stamford. However, when the sleepy English town experiences a string of disquieting incidents, the mismatched police duo must work together to solve the case (and get into some crazy antics).

Watch it now.

20 / 28

21 Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

While Nick (played by Michael Cera) is struggling to get over his ex-girlfriend, a chance encounter introduces him to Norah (played by Kat Dennings), and a strange night ensues as the two attempt to track down an elusive band performing at an undisclosed location in New York City.

Watch it now.

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22 Burn After Reading (2008)

Burn After Reading (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

When a former CIA agent (John Malkovich) accidentally lets a confidential disc get into the hands of two scheming gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt), screwball comedy ensures. Though it has a zany premise, this Coen Brothers film is unexpectedly dark, and it also delivers what is probably our favourite Brad Pitt character ever.

Watch it now.

22 / 28

23 Mamma Mia! (2008)

Mamma Mia! (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried star as a mother-and-daughter duo who must face the mother's three past flames on the eve of the daughter's wedding (all to the tune of Abba's greatest hits, of course).

Watch it now.

23 / 28

24 Definitely, Maybe (2008)

Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Mamma Mia! meets How I Met Your Mother in this sweet rom-com, which stars Ryan Reynolds as Will, a 30-something dad going through a divorce, and Abigail Breslin as his daughter who wants to know how he and her mother first met. Through flashbacks, Will revisits his past and recounts his relationships with three women, though he leaves his daughter (and the audience) guessing which woman actually became his wife.

Watch it now.

24 / 28

25 In Bruges (2008)

In Bruges (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

When two hitmen end up in Belgium after a heist gone wrong, one finds himself anxious to leave while the other falls in love — first with the city, and then with a woman. The longer the men stay, the stranger things get, and we guarantee you'll want to book a trip to Bruges after watching this one.

Watch it now.

25 / 28

26 Pineapple Express (2008)

Pineapple Express (2008)
Image Source: Everett Collection

When a process server and his weed dealer (played by Seth Rogan and James Franco, respectively) accidentally witness a corrupt cop and a hitman commit a murder, they think they can simply flee from their troubles — but that's easier said than done, of course.

Watch it now.

26 / 28

27 Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland (2009)
Image Source: Everett Collection

In this post-apocalyptic zombie comedy (because yes, that's a thing) starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, only the craftiest people can survive the zombie apocalypse. Those few vow to never exchange names and to only look only for themselves — that is, until they accidentally start to care about one another.

Watch it now.

27 / 28

28 Julie & Julia (2009)

Julie & Julia (2009)
Image Source: Everett Collection

Based on a true story, this sweet movie tells the story of modern New Yorker Julie (played by Amy Adams), who decides to take on all 524 recipes in Julia Childs' notoriously daunting cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, because how hard could it be? Also, Meryl Streep was born to play just about every role she's ever played, but the larger-than-life Julia Child might be one of her best.

Watch it now.

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