From 2000 to 2010, Hollywood released a myriad of movies-- Disney diverged a bit from their usual crop of princess movies, there was a strange period where Hollywood was really in to 19th century magicians, independent movies were becoming more and more popular, and, for every successfulPunisher envisioned.
While Netflix offers thousands of movies, but only a handful of them come from this varied decade.
The purpose of this article is merely meant to showcase what Netflix offers-- because their new ranking and reviewing system isn't the greatest. Some of these movies might be among your all-time favorites, while others might be among your all-time worst viewing experiences. Either way, it's a refreshing experience to look back at the early 2000s and nostalgically the movies that came out during the period, many of which are now at your finger tips.
So, before you start binge-watching the next TV show in your queue, here are the 20 Underrated '00s Movies You Need To Watch On Netflix.
20. The Emperor's New Groove
Even though The Emperor’s New Groove isn’t the most popular Disney movie around, it still managed to please viewers with its unforgettable jokes. Emperor Kuzco (voiced by David Spade), a spoiled teenager, is turned into a llama by his former , voiced perfectly by Eartha Kitt.
On his journey to regain his original form and take his place back at the palace, Kuzco befriends a villager named Pacha (voice by John Goodman) who begrudgingly agrees to help Kuzco, based on an agreement that Kuzco will not destroy his village.
What takes place is a slapstick buddy comedy that differs from the usual animated Disney movie, but still has loads of lessons to learn from. Throughout his time as a llama, Kuzco learns what it means to be selfless and humble, and thus develops into a worthy emperor.
19. The Road
The Road, based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, follows a father and son as they traverse a post-apocalyptic landscape. Through their travels, they encounter a gang of cannibals, which they narrowly manage to escape.
While the post-apocalyptic atmosphere isn’t explained, it makes the survival of the father and son more distressing and heart wrenching, as the two must learn to completely place their trust in one another in order to survive the harsh environment.
Viggo Mortensen, who plays the father, role provides a harrowing performance. Kodi Smit-Mhee (years before his turn as Nightcrawler in X-Men: Apocalypse), as the son, gives an equally compelling portrayal. The Road also features outstanding ing roles from Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce.
18. Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Somehow Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno is about lifelong friends who decide to make a porno in order to make money, and is much more realistic than his more popular film Chasing Amy (how can a lesbian-identifying woman fall for Ben Affleck). Raunchy comedies were a trend in the early 2000s, and, while some were worse than others, Smith's action behind the camera of Zack and Miri actually provided the movie with some heart.
This "will they or won’t they" romantic comedy for Smith fans does, of course, involve a bit of raunchy imagery and talk. The fact that the movie, at some points, seemed like it was close to an NC-17 rating is understandable.
However, in spite of the subject matter, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is probably Smith’s most commercially accessible film. It also includes a few good laughs.
17. Coraline
Before Neil Gaiman’s American Gods was adapted for TV screens and aired on Stars, there was Coraline.
As a movie adaptation of Gaiman's 2002 novel by the same name, Coraline follows a precocious and adventurous young girl who finds herself in an idyllic parallel world.
At first it appears to be a dream come true, but Caroline soon discovers that the new world is actually dark and sinister, in the vein of "the grass isn’t always greener on the other side idea." Director Henry Selick, whose previous credit includes The Nightmare Before Christmas, among others, brings Gaiman’s terrifying tale to life with inspiring stop-motion animation.
For some reason, adults found Coraline scary, while young kids enjoyed the story and experience. We suppose it all comes down to how you view the concept of escapism versus reality.
16. Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz, the second movie in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, finds writer and actor Simon Pegg playing London cop Nicholas Angel, as he’s transferred from a city to a small English village and paired with a bumbling partner Danny Butterman, played by Nick Frost.
Angel soon finds out that the quiet English village’s residents aren’t exactly what they seem. Hot Fuzz, along with the other films in the trilogy, focuses on the underlying story of friendship and camaraderie, as Nicholas learns to appreciate his new partner and they begin to work together to solve the mystery surrounding the town.
Hot Fuzz, as well as the trilogy as a whole, is a treasure trove of hilariously clever one-liners and has an amusing mix of ridiculous violence, in a good way.
15. Across the Universe
Following in the recent wave of movie musicals in the early 2000s, Across the Universe was a little different from the rest. For example, Chicago and Rent were based on popular Broadway musicals and Moulin Rouge was a mash-up of original songs and popular favorites. However, all of the songs featured in Across the Universe were all from The Beatles.
Set among the tumultuous 1960s, Across the Universe follows Jude, played by Jim Sturgess, a teenage boy who he sets out to find his father. Along the way he meets Lucy, played by Evan Rachel Wood, and a slew of other eccentric characters who are all on their own journeys.
Unlike the movie musicals before it, Across the Universe has the advantage of having been directed by Broadway veteran, Julie Taymor, who it definitely brings a unique take on the movie musical format.
14. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Is The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Beginning so bad that it’s actually good or is it just bad? You can be the judge.
The film takes place several years prior to the 2003 remake of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and tells the origin of Leatherface and his first kills. Two brothers (one being Matt Bomer before the White Collar and Magic Mike fame) and their girlfriends are traveling across the country when they come across a biker who draws a gun on them.
A crash follows, and the injured brothers and women come across the creepy Sheriff Hoyt, played perfectly by R. Lee Ermey. The young couples quickly find out that the Sheriff isn’t quite as friendly as he seems, and neither is his family. Leatherface makes his appearance, and the torturing of the teens soon turns into a blood bath.
Maybe The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was trying to compete with the popularity of the Saw movies at the time, but it went from mild horror in the 2003 remake to slaughterhouse gruesomeness in the prequel.
13. The Prestige
In 2006 The Illusionist, Scoop, and The Prestige all had a focus on stage magicians, however the most impressive and deceptive of the three was the latter. Writer and director Christopher Nolan had jumped from short films, to independent films, to major motion pictures in less than 10 years.
The hallmark of his movies has been the smartly done twist endings, and The Prestige, based on the 1995 novel of the same name, is no exception.
Two rival magicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, spend most of the film trying to one up each other with elaborate displays of showmanship. By the end, you’re left scratching your head wondering how Jackman and Bale pulled off their respective tricks.
As with Nolan’s other films, there are still online discussions about the clues that were scattered throughout The Prestige that lead to and revealed the twist ending.
12. Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown may not be Cameron Crowe’s best work – the A.V. Club even coined the term “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” as a result of Kirsten Dunst’s character-- but at least it’s not Aloha.
Elizabethtown follows Orlando Bloom as Drew, a downtrodden designer for a shoe company who’s latest design has a costly flaw. Just as he’s about to commit suicide, he gets a phone call from his sister telling him his father has just died.
While Drew is flying out to his home state of Kentucky he meets Kirsten Dunst’s Claire, a helpful flight attendant, and an inevitable relationship ensues. Elizabethtown certainly has it’s charms: a picturesque setting, a somewhat dysfunctional family tone, and a contemporary soundtrack.
Drew isn’t exactly a Lloyd Dobler or a William Miller, but he still has his own appeal.
11. Friday After Next
The Friday series features Ice Cube as Craig, a man was recently fired from his job and decides to confront the neighborhood bully. In the sequel, Next Friday, Craig learns of the bully’s plans to break out of jail, so he goes in to hiding but somehow trouble still manages to find him.
In the third movie of the series, Friday After Next, Craig and his cousin are robbed of their Christmas presents and rent money by a man disguised as Santa Claus. Craig and his cousin try to come up with a plan to make up the rent money so that they won't get evicted.
Friday After Next turned out to be the least successful of the series, but that hasn’t stopped Ice Cube from announcing that he's making a fourth installment in the series, titled Last Friday.