It's crazy to think that some of our favorite teenage rom-coms are more than a decade old. It seems like yesterday Hillary Duff, Amanda Bynes and Lindsey Lohan graced movie screens in tried and true adventures of misunderstanding and teenage romance. The stories were simple and cliched- perfect for their dreamy, tween audience.
Their work was a picturesque snapshot of the early 2000s, complete with flip phones, flare jeans, silk camisoles and butterfly clips. Some may be in your Netflix queue, other's in a stash of guilty pleasure DVDs you save for a rainy day. Some you may have forgotten about completely.
Here are 15 Chick Flicks From The 2000s We Still Love Today:
1. The Princess Diaries (2001)
The greatest makeover in all of movie history. Yes, I would argue even more so than "Clueless". This movie had everything: the transformation, the San Francisco skyline, Dr. Cristina Yang as the school principal and the amazing Julie Andrews as Mia's grandmother, AKA the Queen of Genovia (the small, fictional monarchy we all thought was real until fourth grade world geography).
2. What a Girl Wants (2003)
What was Colin Firth doing in this movie exactly? Playing every American's idea of a posh Englishman of course! Amanda Bynes as Daphne Reynolds was so relatable as the clutzy, American teenager just looking to know her Dad. Add in a cute British musician, played by the very British Oliver James, and you have a pound-jumping American teen classic.
3. Freaky Friday (2003)
Lindsey Lohan pre-meltdown: what a time that was. In this modern retelling of the 1976 mother-daughter classic, Lohan and her mom, played by the hilarious Jamie Lee Curtis, switch bodies after a fortune cookie-induced spell. Throw into the mix Chad Michael Murray on a motorcycle with long, flowing locks, and you have one of Lohan's most popular movies after the Parent Trap.
4. Chasing Liberty (2004)
I totally forgot about this movie until one day it was playing on cable. Mandy Moore, as Anna Foster, is just an average girl, daughter of the President and all. She just wants a normal life, so she runs away from her Secret Service guards while on a diplomatic visit to Europe so she can explore the cities of Europe like a "normal American teen." With the help of the dashing Ben Calder, a secret service agent tasked with protecting her (secretly) she experiences love and adventure, in a completely unrealistic manner. Oh well, still love it.
5. First Daughter (2004)
Katie Holmes, as Samantha Mackenzie, is just an average girl, daughter of the President and all. She just wants a normal life- wait, isn't this the same movie? Well yes and no. Rather than running off to Europe, Sam wants to go to college, where she falls in love with her RA, who is secretly an agent tasked with protecting her. Trade out Mark Harmon for Michael Keaton as President, and yes you have two different movies, with almost identical plots, released in the same year. Still love it.
6. Raise Your Voice (2004)
Hillary Duff, that British guy from What a Girl Wants, plus singing- what more could you ask for? "Raise Your Voice" tells the story of a Terri Fletcher, a small-town girl with big dreams of a music career in the big city of Los Angeles. But of course, her over-protective father is not about it. Drama ensues, but spoiler alert, a final musical number saves the day.
7. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
More Lindsey Lohan and more singing, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is probably the least rom-com of this list, but still enough of a guilty pleasure to earn its place. Megan Fox makes an appearance as the rich, spoiled mean girl, though I still don't understand why the popular girl was so involved with drama at this strange suburban school.
8. A Cinderella Story (2004)
This movie finally went on Netflix in September 2016 and people could not stop talking about it. This role defined Hillary Duff's career, and every girl dreamed of wearing a white, tulle ballgown to their school's Halloween dance because of it. Even though I've never heard of a school with a Halloween dance. A Cinderella Story has heart, humor and just enough spunk for you to ignore questions like, why would Sam's dad ever marry someone like that?
9. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
Princess power is the focus of this sequel to The Princess Diaries. Mia is now 21 and needs to find a husband to be able to carry the crown. She must give up on her dream of true love if she's supposed to lead Genovia like her grandmother dreamed she would. If only Chris Pine wasn't looking to sabotage her quest for a proper suitor.
10. The Prince & Me (2004)
Most people think of Julia Stiles for her romance with Heath Ledger in the 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You. However, in this royally themed romance, it's her unlikely relationship with Prince Eddie of Denmark that sweeps hopeless romantics off their feet. Another recent addition to Netflix, the final of our 2004 chick flick hits should be at the top of your queue.
11. The Perfect Man (2005)
Hillary Duff's third mention on this list- "The Perfect Man" is the original catfish. Instead in this case, Duff's character is catfishing her mom, played by Heather Locklear, all while hoping to boost her mom's self-esteem and avoid not-so-great relationships in the process. Catfishing, however is tricky business, and things get tough when her mom expects to meet this "perfect" admirer in person. One of the more family-focused movies of this breed, and as a result one of the best.
12. She's the Man (2006)
Before he was Magic Mike or even Tyler Gage, Channing Tatum was Duke, Amanda Bynes love interest and roommate in the classic gender bend known as "She's the Man". An adaptation of a Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night, this movie is equally hilarious and awkward as Amanda Bynes impersonates her brother at his boarding school in an attempt to make the boy's soccer team. This movie has so many memorable moments, but none so iconic as Bynes convincing Tatum that the tampons she carried with her were for nose bleeds, while demonstrating their usefulness in the process.
Are there any movies we missed? Share on social media or in the comments below your guilty pleasure movies from the 2000s!





















