Top 10 Movies From The 2000s On HBO Max, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes
Subscribers of HBO Max have mostly been happy with the streaming service since its debut. Along with a fantastic slate of original television shows and films, as well as a tremendous deal with Warner Bros. that lets new releases go to HBO Max, they offer up a pretty great back catalog.
Some of the most notable movies of the 2000s are available on HBO Max. Among them are Oscar winners, superhero blockbusters, fantasy epics, and animated delights. To find the best ones from the era to watch, the ratings these films have received on Rotten Tomatoes are a great place to look.
10 Million Dollar Baby (90%)
As noted, HBO Max offers up Oscar winners. One of the most impressive from that bunch is Million Dollar Baby. The 2004 sports drama took home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor while being nominated for three others.
The story follows an underdog female boxer who works with an underappreciated trainer in her quest to become a professional. Due to all of the praise and Oscar wins, this film helped launch the career of Hilary Swank and added another feather to the legendary cap of Clint Eastwood.
9 Ponyo (91%)
There's a reason that filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is held in such high esteem as one of the greatest in history. His animated movies are often lauded for the visuals, creativity, and themes. They have spanned decades and most of them still hold up today.
Released in 2008, Ponyo was another unique entry in his filmography. The plot focuses on a goldfish princess who yearns to be human and forms a friendship with a young boy. It was praised for having uplifting themes, being beautifully animated, and telling a sweet story.
8 Hot Fuzz (91%)
Speaking of filmmakers who are often critically-acclaimed, there's Edgar Wright. The vast majority of his works are beloved, including his more recent releases like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Baby Driver. He first rose to prominence with the Cornetto trilogy.
Each of these films was directed by Wright and written by him and star Simon Pegg. 2007's Hot Fuzz is the second installment, centering on police officers who investigate strange murders in a small town where nothing is as it seems. It nailed both the action and comedy aspects in brilliant fashion.
7 The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (91%)
Movies based on book series can be a mixed bag but even the most successful of them like Harry Potter fail to get the critical acclaim that The Lord of the Rings did. Peter Jackson's take on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels was arguably considered to be superior to the books, which is a rarity.
In 2001, The Fellowship of the Ring arrived to start the trilogy. Grossing $888.3 million and being nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, it is an all-time great. The film sees the beginning of Frodo's quest to destroy the powerful One Ring alongside eight companions. Everything from the stunning visuals to the glorious characters was praised.
6 Shaun Of The Dead (92%)
The aforementioned Cornetto trilogy got off to a tremendous start. Edgar Wright helmed 2004's Shaun of the Dead, which has gone down as both one of the best zombie movies ever and one of the greatest comedies of its era, shining across both genres.
Shaun of the Dead focuses on the titular Shaun (Simon Pegg), who guides his friends and family through a zombie apocalypse to take refuge in their favorite bar. The film works due to how well it balances the humor with the emotional moments and the strong horror elements.
5 No Country For Old Men (93%)
The second entry on this list to score a Best Picture victory at the Academy Awards is No Country for Old Men. Written and directed by the acclaimed Coen Brothers, this 2007 release is arguably the best work of their storied careers, which is saying something.
The film sees a hunter who takes money from a drug deal gone wrong that he comes across and he is then chased down by the vicious man hired to get the money back. This incredible picture made Javier Bardem a household name thanks to his portrayal of the haunting Anton Chigurh.
4 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (93%)
The success of The Lord of the Rings franchise only increased over time. The third final installment is pretty much the definition of epic. Clocking in at over three hours, 2003's The Return of the King delivered the finale that everyone wanted and wrapped up the story excellently.
It also went on to make history. The Return of the King tied the record for the most Academy Awards won by a single film, taking home eleven. It also marked the best clean sweep in Oscars history, not losing in any category. On top of all of that, it grossed $1.142 billion globally.
3 The Dark Knight (94%)
These days, superhero films are all the rage. They rake in the money and are often critically-acclaimed, even winning a few Oscars. However, back in 2008 that wasn't the case. Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight helped change the game and redefine the genre.
The middle entry in this Batman trilogy remains the best. It sees the caped crusader tackle crime in Gotham as he battles the maniacal Joker, leading to the tragic fall of D.A. Harvey Dent. Heralded as a legendary crime drama, The Dark Knight is still among the best superhero films ever made and Heath Ledger earned a posthumous Oscar win.
2 The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (95%)
Despite all of the records set by the final entry, it's actually the second leg of The Lord of the Rings franchise that has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score by two percentage points. Pulling off the middle film in a trilogy can be tricky though this series nailed it.
Released in 2002, The Two Towers saw the continuing of Frodo's adventure, though it split up the Fellowship from the prior film. The film was lauded for the outstanding CGI with Andy Serkis' Gollum, as well as for delivering the biggest battle ever put on the big screen.
1 Spirited Away (97%)
It's fitting to return to Hayao Miyazaki to top this list. For a filmmaker who has made so many classics, there's a good chance that Spirited Away is actually the best movie he ever made. Hitting theaters in 2001, Spirited Away is yet another creative and unique story.
The plot follows a young girl who moves to a new town and enters a world where humans are transformed into beasts, including her parents. That world features spirits, witches, and more. To this day, this film remains the only hand-drawn and non-English movie to win the coveted Best Animated Feature Academy Award.
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