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what to watch from the 2000’s

All movies and tv series that I recommend in this section are included with streaming subscriptions. I have also viewed and approved every recommendation personally. It’s my goal to make recommendations that will satisfy what you’re in the mood for so none of your precious downtime is wasted!

Action: Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003): Watch for a mainstream American martial arts film and also because, well, Quentin Tarantino. Kill Bill is easily one of my favorite movies of all time (both of them). I’m a huge Tarantino fan and this is one of his original screenplays that he also directs. I love his trademark style; I love his ruthlessness; I love the simplicity of his story concepts that actually feel so perfectly complex as you’re in it. Truly nobody better than him. If you don’t know what this movie is about… In short, Uma Thurman plays “The Bride” who wakes from a coma four years after her ex, Bill, attempted to murder her, resulting in the loss of her unborn child. She seeks out revenge on everyone who was involved. Warning: lots and lots of gore. On Prime Video.

Drama: Monster (2004): Watch for a thrilling crime drama and one of Charlize Theron’s best performances. I truly think Charlize is one of the most beautiful people in the world and she completely transforms in this movie. She put on a bunch of weight for the role and nailed her character, Aileen Wuornos, down to the tiniest mannerisms. It’s wild to watch. She won an Oscar for this role, as she should have. Aside from that, we all love a good serial killer situation and this is based on the true story of Aileen, a prostitute turned serial killer. On Prime Video.

Comedy: The Girl Next Door (2004): Watch for American Pie vibes and Y2K teen love in an unlikely way. This movie triggers a lot of happy nostalgia for me. I was 13 when it came out in theaters and I thought it was so scandalous that the main character fell in love with a porn star who moved next door to him. I think the leads are perfectly cast. This movie is predictable, the porn star storyline is secondary and not written as a true hurdle for the protagonist, and it was born during the height of silly teen sex comedies. Basically, it’s no masterpiece, but it offers entertainment, smiles, and easy watching. On Hulu and Disney+.

Thriller: American Psycho (2000): Watch for a psycho-thriller that takes you into the life and mind of a serial killer. Christian Bale plays a businessman who leads a double life as a serial killer. And this movie shows the intricacies, ticks, and habits that make up a monster. There are quite a few moments where I’ve asked myself “is this reality or is just in his mind” and I think these psychological tricks on the audience are intentional, yet not the point. Keep in mind: it’s the dynamic change this character goes through from beginning to end, rather than the actual events occurring, that’s important. This movie will be a classic if it’s not already and it has an all-star cast: Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon, and Chloe Sevigny. On Netflix and Peacock.

Horror: Drag Me To Hell (2009): Watch this with a group of people and for what I’d call, “funny horror”. When this movie was in theaters, I saw it at least three times. I want to say it was the gateway horror film that got me into watching horror movies more frequently because in between it’s numerous jump scares, it’s almost hilarious and funny at the same time. It feels a little satirical and it’s very outlandish. It’s honestly just a fun ride to be on and I loved the ending. It got a Certified Fresh 92% on Tates (that’s what we call Rotten Tomatoes in our household lol). On Hulu and Paramount+.

Rom/Com: 500 Days of Summer (2009): Watch for the relatable feeling of reflecting on an ended relationship and wondering what went wrong. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays a hopeless romantic, Tom, who gets blindsided by Zooey Deschanel’s character, Summer, when she dumps him. The movie takes us through Tom’s memories with Summer as he tries to figure out what went wrong. I love this movie because it focuses solely on the male perspective in the relationship, which we don’t often see. And Zooey Deschanel is painfully good at being subtly cold and nonchalant about how she destroyed Tom’s heart. Thor, my husband, has a hard time watching this movie because I can tell he empathizes on a deep level with Tom 😂. On Disney+ and Hulu.

Sci-Fi: District 9 (2009): Watch for an original take on an alien movie and unique cinematography you don’t typically see in sci-fi. This movie is about aliens who come to Earth seeking refuge from their dying planet. A government organization segregates them from humans in an area, or slum really, called District 9. I know… An alien movie sounds dumb, cliche, and like you’ve already seen it without watching it. I have to argue that this one, while it seems an obvious story, is actually pretty original. It’s also surprisingly emotional, which is hard to do in an alien movie. It moves quick, it’s exciting, even a little funny at times. Highly recommend. On AMC+, Roku Channel, and YouTubeTV. 

Documentary: Dear Zachary (2008): Watch to get rocked to your core. This documentary taps into so many emotions and they are hard to suppress while watching (and even for days after TBH). You’ll feel angry, frustrated, sad, devastated and at the highest levels. I love it when art brings out this depth of emotion in me, but Dear Zachary achieved this so well that I will never watch it again. That said, it is definitely a one-time must-see for everyone. Dear Zachary is about the murder of Andrew Bagby and the doc itself serves as a letter to Andrew’s son, Zachary, about the man his father was. This documentary is certainly one of the very best in this decade. On Prime Video.

Kids: Big Fat Liar (2002): Watch to watch your kids LOL at a lot of silly pranks. I remember belly laughing at this movie when I saw it in theaters and it was one I rewatched several times as a kid. It’s a lot of fun and it might even teach your kid a lesson or two about the consequences of lying. At the very least, you’ll be laughing out loud watching your kids laugh out loud. On Netflix.