A Glean movie guide
The Definitive 2000s Essentials
The best of 2000–2009
A decade of cinematic reinvention, from gritty epics to surreal masterpieces.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Dark Knight
A gritty, high-stakes crime epic that redefined the superhero genre forever.
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
- 02
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
A monumental fantasy achievement that brought Middle-earth to life with unprecedented scale.
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
- 03
There Will Be Blood
A powerhouse performance anchors this haunting exploration of greed and the American Dream.
Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.
- 04
Spirited Away
A visually breathtaking journey into a magical realm that remains a high-water mark for animation.
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
- 05
No Country for Old Men
A tense, philosophical cat-and-mouse thriller that captures the stark beauty of the American West.
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
- 06
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A deeply inventive and emotional look at love, memory, and the pain of moving on.
Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.
- 07
Mulholland Drive
A surreal, dreamlike puzzle that challenges viewers to lose themselves in its dark Hollywood mystery.
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman's identity, filmmaker Adam Kesher runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest project.
- 08
City of God
A kinetic and visceral portrait of life in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas that pulses with raw energy.
In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.
- 09
Children of Men
A masterclass in immersive filmmaking set in a strikingly believable and desperate near-future.
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
- 10
Pan's Labyrinth
A dark, beautiful fairy tale that masterfully blends historical tragedy with haunting fantasy.
In post–civil war Spain, 10-year-old Ofelia moves with her pregnant mother to live under the control of her cruel stepfather. Drawn into a mysterious labyrinth, she meets a faun who reveals that she may be a lost princess from an underground kingdom. To return to her true father, she must complete a series of surreal and perilous tasks that blur the line between reality and fantasy.