The 2000s was a decade of sheer wonder - denim peaked, Backstreet left and didn't come back, and Mark Zuckerberg had a baby and named it Facebook. I think it's safe to say, however, that the greatest cultural contribution of this fine decade was its film. Here are 13 of the best movies made (ever):
1. Miss Congeniality (2000)
This movie may have been Sandra Bullock's best movie yet. Talk about girl power. You gotta love a woman who can take down a murderer as easily as she can rock a bikini. Badass.
2. Legally Blonde (2001)
A prime example of a fabulous sorority girl sticking it to the man. Elle works hard, gets into freaking Harvard, and wins a court case, proving to everyone that knowledge of hair and beauty products really can save lives.
3. What a Girl Wants (2003)
Amanda Bynes's first breakout role, and what a role it was. This made every girl in America wish her father was some British lord so that she could meet the Queen and date a hot guitar player.
4. Finding Nemo (2003)
I've yet to meet a human being who didn't like this movie, and I don't want to meet anyone who will break this streak. A coming-of-age fish movie, with Ellen Degeneres and a deranged eight-year-old named Darla. What more do you want?
5. Freaky Friday (2003)
Who doesn't miss Lindsay Lohan? This was the ultimate mom and daughter movie, and if you didn't cry at that rehearsal dinner scene, something is seriously wrong with you. My standards for boys rose as high as Chad Michael Murray with long hair singing Britney Spears outside my window.
6. Elf (2003)
Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color? Seriously, this became an instant classic, and not just for Christmas. Will Ferrel and Zooey Deschanel were life-changing, and everyone found a new way to ride the escalators.
7. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
BEST FAMILY MOVIE EVER. This movie had it all - Hillary Duff, football, and the beloved FedEx child. Also Ashton Kutcher as a model. This movie made everyone's eight-year-old self laugh and cry unlike any other.
8. Mean Girls (2004)
9. A Cinderella Story (2004)
More Hillary, more CMM, and the best kiss scene in the history of kiss scenes. The Notebook can suck it. Everyone wanted Sam's blue, starry flip phone, AIM was at its height, and Jennifer Coolidge played her best character ever. Salmon from Norwegia, anyone?
10. The Incredibles (2004)
Okay, even my dad loved this one. Family power, a plot-twist of a villain storyline, and the Obamas behind closed doors. Violet's gradual confidence growth was awesome, and I asked the boy I had a crush on if he wanted to go on the swings with me. Boom.
11. She's the Man (2006)
This one is also pretty self-explanatory. This one had girl-power all over it, and forever altered the year 2006. Cheese became everyone's favorite animal byproduct, people used tampons to stop nosebleeds, and girls across the world were swooning over Channing Tatum's abs.
12. High School Musical (2006)
All of these movies were iconic, but let's stick to the one that started it all. This was Zac Efron's big break, and Baby V stuck to her guns and didn't need no man to determine her life. If you don't sing along to every song, you are not living your life to its fullest potential.
13. The Proposal (2009)
LEGENDARY. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds were magical. I wanted Betty White to be my grandma. That little white fluffy dog was named Kevin. Kevin. And let's not forget Ramone, the jack of all trades. Sandra's second best movie of the decade, after Miss C, of course.
Honorable Mentions:
Juno (2007)
The Holiday (2006)
House Bunny (2008)
