The 2000s feels like a lifetime ago, and that's especially true when it comes to Hollywood, as the movie industry is constantly changing and in motion—for better and for worse. It's time to start looking at movies from that decade that could be considered classics before they're long forgotten.
2007 was one of the best years in movies in the 21st century, especially for envelope-pushing movies with hot button subject matters. Between shocking horror movies, western period dramas, and surprisingly thought-provoking teen comedies, these movies deserve to be called classics despite the fact that they're scarcely more than a decade old.
Superbad
The 2007 movie was a water cooler moment in the movie industry for so many reasons. For starters, it is Jonah Hill and Michael Cera's breakthrough roles, both of whom have gone on to do great things. The former has become a two-time Academy Award-nominated actor, and the latter has made his Superbad character his entire brand.
But, more than anything, Superbad is an accurate portrayal of teenage life, and, though it might be exaggerated in parts, there are a lot of life lessons to be learned in between the obscene jokes. There hadn't been a teen movie this telling and strangely genuine since the John Hughes movies of the 80s, and there hasn't been one since, making Superbad a modern classic.
I Am Legend
I Am Legend fascinatingly lives up to its title, as it has a fascinating legacy, and the reason for its classic status is seemingly renewed every few years. The movie is a terrific zombie apocalypse flick that's as thrilling as it is terrifying, and recurring sociopolitical circumstances touched upon in the film have prevented it from fading from the public consciousness.
Additionally, the movie had a resurgence in popularity in the 2010s when Warner Bros. announced the long-in-demand Batman and Superman team-up movie. It was I Am Legend that first hinted at such a thing, as there was a giant banner of the Batman/Superman logo hanging in the post-apocalyptic city.
The Mist
2007 was an incredible year for horror movies, and The Mist tops the lot. Being the Stephen King fan that he is—he also directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile—Frank Darabont returned with another King adaptation. This time, it was more along the wave-length of what King is known for, as it's a terrifying and isolated movie instead of a prison drama.
The Mist might not have the prestige as the two aforementioned movies, but it is continuously getting discovered by more and more cinephiles each year. On top of that, it features one of the most shocking and emotionally exhausting twists there have ever been in a horror movie.
Juno
Juno features a touchy subject that is rarely approached in Hollywood movies, and that's teenage pregnancy. It's possibly even more of a relatable teen movie than Superbad, especially given the fact that it could help a lot of young people in a similar situation to the titular character.
On top of that, it's almost as if 2007 was Michael Cera's year, a,s along with Superbad, he became such a bankable star for someone so young. As it features a narrative that has never been told before in a major film and the fact that it's deeply emotional despite being a comedy at its core, Juno is one-of-a-kind.
The King Of Kong
The King of Kong doesn't have the most stakes for a documentary, as it's about two people competing for a high score on the Donkey Kong arcade machine. But, that's what the documentary does so well, as it makes viewers feel like everything's at stake.
It doesn't just play out like a sports movie, building up the final match with suspense, but there's a surprising poignancy to The King of Kong, and is a fascinating look at human behavior and competition. The movie has a huge average rating of 8.1 on IMDb, which beats out other more weighty documentaries of the 2000s like Grizzly Man, Man On Wire, and Bowling For Columbine.
Zodiac
On the face of it, Zodiac seems like another typical David Fincher-directed thriller, but it's so much more than that. Everyone saw the Zodiac plot twist coming, but it wasn't about the ending—it was about the journey. Zodiac brilliantly focuses less on the actions of the real-life serial killer who was never caught and more on the police investigation and the investigative journalism from the San Francisco Chronicle.
What helped the movie become a classic was that it was one of the first-ever movies to be shot digitally in high definition. Fincher took advantage of that very fact, as the movie is visually stunning despite its dark and gritty subject matter, and that's what makes it one of the most unique thrillers ever made.
American Gangster
There aren't many great gangster movies from the 21st century that weren't directed by Martin Scorsese; outside of The Departed and The Irishman, well-told gangster movies have been a rarity over the past two decades. But, American Gangster is one of those movies and could even rival some of Scorsese's best work.
What makes American Gangster so great is that it follows Frank Lucas, a gangster who is so evil but also so fearless. The character openly shoots people on busy streets in daylight and is the head of a heroin empire. The period setting of 1960s New York is rich and detailed, too, and it's an all-around perfect movie.
There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood is a movie about Daniel Plainview, an opportunistic oil tycoon who locks horns with local preacher, Eli Sunday, who won't let Plainview drill on his land. The movie isn't so much about the plot as it is a character study and a commentary on greed, an ever-present issue that's seemingly as prevalent today as it was in the movie's historical setting.
There Will Be Blood is Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece, and that's saying a lot. The director made a name for himself with the 70s based comedy-drama Boogie Nights and the melodramatic three-hour epic Magnolia, both of which are considered classics.
Atonement
Atonement is a war drama unlike any other. Instead of following the act of war, it shows the turmoil of human relationships and how easily they can break down. The film brilliantly shows the hardships of war that haven't been chronicled as much as the physical terrors on the battlefield.
There's one tear-jerking scene after the next, and it's topped off with the French soldier's death, which is one of the saddest moments in a war movie. World War II has been depicted countless times on the big screen over the decades, but none have been as riveting and heartbreaking as Atonement.
No Country For Old Men
The Coen brothers are two elder statesmen of the movie industry at this point, and, over 20 years into their career, they were still at the height of their powers. No Country For Old Men is one of the most gripping westerns ever made, and Anton, the antagonist of the movie, has become one of the most iconic villains in cinema history. It was the movie that finally earned the directing duo the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, which were long overdue.
What's more is that, where a movie like No Country For Old Men would be five years worth of work for some directors, it wasn't even the only movie that the brothers released in 2007. The year also so the two put out Burn After Reading, a comedy that would be a perfect palate cleanser after watching the intense western-influenced thriller.