2004 was an interesting year for movies because it was in the middle of a transitional phase in cinema. The year was well past the wunderkind trend of the '90s where Hollywood entrusted newcomer directors, but it was also long before the outstanding popularity of comic book movies.

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But not really having any defined theme or trend worked out well, as there's such a variety and abundance of great movies that had audiences spilling out of multiplexes. The classic movies of 2004 are a mix of motion-capture experiments, the funniest improvised movies of the decade, and the definitive Spider-Man movie.

Spider-Man 2

Doc Ock Beckoning Spider-Man - Spider-Man 2

The first Spider-Man movie, which was released in 2002, was a fun flick that showed potential. But its goofy Green Lantern costume and rubbery CGI kept it from being the trailblazer that it could have been (even though it did break the record for highest box office weekend of all time.) However, the sequel fine-tuned all those unpolished aspects of the original, making Spider-Man 2 the definitive Spider-Man movie.

Spider-Man 2 had resonating dramatic scenes, some of the best set pieces of the 2000s, and even started the whole superhero-losing-their-powers trend. What's more is that director Sam Raimi used his background in horror to create one of the most remarkably terrifying moments in a superhero movie, which is the iconic surgery scene.

The Polar Express

Hero Boy holding his ticket on The Polar Express in The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express was originally criticized for some aspects of its live-action motion-capture, most notably that the character's model's eyes looked pretty soulless. That's part of the reason why fans want a live-action Polar Express movie.

But the movie was as much of an experiment as anything, as it was the first of its kind on this scale, and there are so many other overwhelmingly impressive technical aspects that stick with audiences. For starters, Tom Hanks plays six characters, all of which are distinctly different, and the musical score is hauntingly beautiful too. And though the movie might make kids question if Santa's real before parents are ready, the Christmas movie stands out for having one of the most unique narratives and depictions of the North Pole.

Anchorman

Brick throwing a trident in Anchorman

Anchorman is an absolute masterclass in improvisation. The movie features Will Ferrell and Steve Carell, who are both the kings of ad-lib. And then there's Paul Rudd and David Koechner, who aren't far behind them either.

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Thanks to them, the movie is endlessly quotable, and they turn the ridiculous premise of misogynistic news anchors in San Francisco into something much more. There was so much improvisation that there's a second version of the movie with the same scenes, but almost completely different dialogue. And though Anchorman is totally outrageous, the narrative of men fearing women in the workplace in the '70s elevates the film from a fun popcorn flick to a timeless classic.

Man On Fire

Creasy firing his gun in Man on Fire

The late, great Tony Scott was one of the best action directors Hollywood has ever seen, and in the final leg of his career, his style changed into something flashier with creative use of editing and music. Man on Fire is the best example of that, as it follows an Ex-CIA officer tracking down a kidnapped girl, and the way he interrogates his enemies is overly theatrical.

The movie sees Denzel Washington as a ruthless vigilante, a type of character that he wouldn't return to until 10 years later in The Equalizer. As the director and actor have so many collaborations together, Man On Fire is the best of them all, as it captured both of them at the top of their games. The movie only has a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, as critics thought it was too violent in the second half. But it's one of those cases where the critical consensus doesn't align with general audiences' feelings, as it has a 7.7 on IMDb.

Kill Bill Vol. 2

The Bride practices fighting in Kill Bill Vol. 2

If fans look at it the same way Quentin Tarantino does, Kill Bill Vol. 2 is the second part of one movie, but as it was independently theatrically released one year later, Vol. 2 is its own beast. The ultra-post-modern, ultra-violent revenge flick sees one of the most kick-ass female characters in cinema history trot across the globe getting herself into one martial arts fight after the next.

The movie is one of the most well-choreographed action movies made. And though John Wick started the trend of kung-fu that was so ever-present in the 2010s, it was Kill Bill that was one of the trailblazers and laid the groundwork for the popularity of the genre still seen in major Hollywood movies today.

Team America: World Police

Team America: World Police lined up walk away from an explosion

After the success of South Park: Longer, Bigger, Uncut, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker set their cinematic sights even higher, as Team America is such an ambitious animated movie, and exceeded viewers' expectations. It brought puppetry back to cinema in a jarring, off-putting, but hilarious way.

Team America: World Police is a commentary on blockbuster movies, war, patriotism, and foreign policy, and it's wrapped in a beautifully unique animated musical comedy. Not only that, but just like South Park, it's unapologetic in the way it makes of famous people, from Kim Jung-Il to Michael Moore. It also features one of the strangest and unforgettable sex scenes in cinema.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Joel and Clementine enjoying the beach before their relationship goes south

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind expertly uses surrealism to convey raw emotional heartbreak, and it's one of the most powerfully relatable movies of the 21st century. The film combines romance with sci-fi, as Joel visits a company that removes heartbroken people's memories of ex-girlfriends while they're sleeping.

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What follows is Joel trying to cling on to his memories before they get erased, and most of the movie takes place in his head. For a movie that is so surreal, there's a surprising emotional heft to it, and all of the creatively absurd imagery is cinema at its finest.

I, Robot

Will Smith walking through a batch of robots in I Robot.

Between Men In Black, Hancock, Independence Day, and I Am Legend, Will Smith has become one of the best leading actors in the sci-fi genre. But out of his whole filmography, I, Robot deserves way more credit than it gets. It's full of high-octane action, but it also tackles the tried and true philosophical debate of the moral implications of artificial intelligence, and it does so in such a unique way.

I, Robot wasn't loved by critics when it was first released, but as is the way with any Will Smith-led movie, general audiences loved it. Since it's been 17 years since it was first released, it's about time that critics retrospectively reviewed the movie. And there's enough of a fanbase that there's a huge demand for a sequel too, but that's unfortunately unlikely to ever happen.

Mean Girls

Cady and friend at emptying cream bottle in Mean Girls

On the face of it, the 2004 movie seems like just another early-2000s teen comedy. And though it had an all-pink poster and it wasn't remotely marketed towards males, it turned out to be one of the greatest comedies of the 2000s.

Mean Girls exceeded viewers' expectations and between the teenagers' social dynamics and the vulgar dinner hall scene, there's no other coming-of-age comedy like it. It puts into context just how ridiculous high school hierarchies really are. And with it being penned by Tina Fey, there's that classic 30 Rock-like humor, and no one can ever get too much of that.

Shaun Of The Dead

Shaun and Ed looking surprised in Shaun Of The Dead

Shaun of the Dead established Edgar Wright's unique filmmaking techniques. The style of the movie ripples throughout not just the director's other movies, like Baby Driver and Last Night In Soho, but other contemporary movies too. The director even managed to make something as humdrum and routine as a montage exciting.

Outside of the groundbreaking camera techniques and stylish editing, Shaun of the Dead is one the best horror comedies out there. The movie is up there with the likes of Evil Dead 2 and An American Werewolf in London. Though fans will never get a sequel, the two spiritual successors, Hot Fuzz and The World's End, are almost as good.

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