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Edition · 2001
The Year in Film · 2001

Best of 2001

The films that defined 2001 — ranked by IMDb score.


These films defined 2001 — the year's highest-rated releases, ranked by IMDb score. Some are awards bait, some are popcorn fare, some quietly snuck in under the radar. All earned their place on the list.

  1. 01.
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    2001·Dir. Peter Jackson·179 min·8.9

    Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

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  2. 02.
    Nuvvu Naaku Nachav

    Nuvvu Naaku Nachav

    2001·Dir. K. Vijaya Bhaskar·180 min·8.8

    Venky and Nandini's relationship changes from mere friendship to something that is more romantic. However, love only blossoms between the two after Nandini's marriage is fixed elsewhere.

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  3. 03.
    Spirited Away

    Spirited Away

    2001·Dir. Hayao Miyazaki·125 min·8.6

    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.

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  4. 04.
    Amélie

    Amélie

    2001·Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet·122 min·8.3

    At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a matchmaker, guardian angel, and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story?

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  5. 05.
    A Beautiful Mind

    A Beautiful Mind

    2001·Dir. Ron Howard·135 min·8.2

    From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash Jr. experiences it all. As a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician, he made a groundbreaking discovery early in his career and stands on the brink of international acclaim. But as the handsome and arrogant Nash accepts secret work in cryptography, he becomes entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. His life takes a nightmarish turn and he soon finds himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery.

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  6. 06.
    Devils on the Doorstep

    Devils on the Doorstep

    2001·Dir. Jiang Wen·139 min·8.2

    During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene to interrogate the prisoners. The townspeople then struggle to accommodate the prisoners. One is a bellicose Japanese nationalist, the other a nervous translator. Will the townspeople manage to keep the prisoners until the New Year?

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  7. 07.
    Monsters, Inc.

    Monsters, Inc.

    2001·Dir. Pete Docter·92 min·8.1

    Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's the monsters who are scared silly, and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.

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  8. 08.
    Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

    Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

    2001·Dir. Ashutosh Gowariker·233 min·8.1

    The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.

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  9. 09.
    Dil Chahta Hai

    Dil Chahta Hai

    2001·Dir. Farhan Akhtar·183 min·8.0

    Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.

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  10. 10.
    Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

    Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

    2001·Dir. Jan Harlan·141 min·8.0

    With commentary from Hollywood stars, outtakes from his movies and footage from his youth, this documentary looks at Stanley Kubrick's life and films. Director Jan Harlan, Kubrick's brother-in-law and sometime collaborator, interviews heavyweights like Jack Nicholson, Woody Allen and Sydney Pollack, who explain the influence of Kubrick classics like "Dr. Strangelove" and "2001: A Space Odyssey," and how he absorbed visual clues from disposable culture such as television commercials.

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  11. 11.
    Vizontele

    Vizontele

    2001·Dir. Yılmaz Erdoğan·110 min·8.0

    The story takes place in the small town of Hakkari in Turkey at the beginning of the '70s. The time has come to bring technology to that small town. The first Television (called Visiontele by the citizens) arrives and the chaos begins.

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  12. 12.
    Donnie Darko

    Donnie Darko

    2001·Dir. Richard Kelly·114 min·8.0

    After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.

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  13. 13.
    Dudes!

    Dudes!

    2001·Dir. Radivoje 'Raša' Andrić·90 min·7.9

    Urban comedy, happening during a night in Belgrade. Mare, Pop and Gojko are three friends who grew up together. Mare and Pop have always been musicians, while Gojko (who was harassed by them in school and nicknamed 'Sissy') became a 'guy in suit', boss of his own club and recording studio.

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  14. 14.
    My Sassy Girl

    My Sassy Girl

    2001·Dir. Kwak Jae-yong·137 min·7.9

    A dweeby, mild-mannered man comes to the aid of a drunk young woman on a subway platform. Little does he know how much trouble he’s in for.

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  15. 15.
    Shrek

    Shrek

    2001·Dir. Andrew Adamson·90 min·7.9

    It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.

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  16. 16.
    Friends

    Friends

    2001·Dir. Siddique·167 min·7.9

    A man values his best friend more than anything else in the world. One day he confesses a dark secret from their childhood to his wife, which is overheard by another. Once the secret gets out, the friendship is destroyed.

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  17. 17.
    Mulholland Drive

    Mulholland Drive

    2001·Dir. David Lynch·147 min·7.9

    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.

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  18. 18.
    Winged Migration

    Winged Migration

    2001·Dir. Jacques Perrin·89 min·7.9

    This documentary follows various migratory bird species on their long journeys from their summer homes to the equator and back, covering thousands of miles and navigating by the stars. These arduous treks are crucial for survival, seeking hospitable climates and food sources. Birds face numerous challenges, including crossing oceans and evading predators, illness, and injury. Although migrations are undertaken as a community, birds disperse into family units once they reach their destinations, and every continent is affected by these migrations, hosting migratory bird species at least part of the year.

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  19. 19.
    Wit

    Wit

    2001·Dir. Mike Nichols·99 min·7.9

    A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.

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  20. 20.
    Werckmeister Harmonies

    Werckmeister Harmonies

    2001·Dir. Béla Tarr·139 min·7.9

    A naive young man witnesses an escalation of violence in his small hometown following the arrival of a mysterious circus attraction.

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  21. 21.
    No Man's Land

    No Man's Land

    2001·Dir. Danis Tanović·98 min·7.9

    Two soldiers from opposite sides get stuck between the front lines in the same trench. The UN is asked to free them and both sides agree on a ceasefire, but will they stick to it?

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  22. 22.
    Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

    Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

    2001·Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe·115 min·7.8

    The year is 2071. Following a terrorist bombing, a deadly virus is released on the populace of Mars and the government has issued the largest bounty in history, for the capture of whoever is behind it. The bounty hunter crew of the spaceship Bebop; Spike, Faye, Jet and Ed, take the case with hopes of cashing in the bounty. However, the mystery surrounding the man responsible, Vincent, goes deeper than they ever imagined, and they aren't the only ones hunting him.

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  23. 23.
    Father and Daughter

    Father and Daughter

    2001·Dir. Michael Dudok de Wit·9 min·7.8

    A father says goodbye to his young daughter. In time the daughter grows old, but within her there is always a deep longing for her father.

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  24. 24.
    Nayak: The Real Hero

    Nayak: The Real Hero

    2001·Dir. Shankar·187 min·7.8

    Shivajirao, a TV reporter, gets a chance to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a day after being challenged by incumbent Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan. After his one-day stint turns out to be a huge success, his life spirals out of control and he is embroiled in political intrigue.

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  25. 25.
    Training Day

    Training Day

    2001·Dir. Antoine Fuqua·122 min·7.8

    On his first day on the job as a narcotics officer, a rookie cop works with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears.

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  26. 26.
    Forklift Driver Klaus: The First Day on the Job

    Forklift Driver Klaus: The First Day on the Job

    2001·Dir. Stefan Prehn·10 min·7.8

    Short film depicting a fictional educational film about fork lift truck operational safety. The dangers of unsafe operation are presented in gory details.

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  27. 27.
    Son of the Bride

    Son of the Bride

    2001·Dir. Juan José Campanella·123 min·7.8

    At age 42, Rafael Belvedere is having a crisis. He lives in the shadow of his father, he feels guilty about rarely visiting his aging mother, his ex-wife says he doesn't spend enough time with their daughter and he has yet to make a commitment to his girlfriend. At his lowest point, a minor heart attack reunites him with Juan Carlos, a childhood friend, who helps Rafael to reconstruct his past.

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  28. 28.
    61*

    61*

    2001·Dir. Billy Crystal·129 min·7.7

    In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

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  29. 29.
    Hedwig and the Angry Inch

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch

    2001·Dir. John Cameron Mitchell·95 min·7.7

    Raised a boy in East Berlin, Hedwig undergoes a personal transformation in order to emigrate to the U.S., where she reinvents herself as an 'internationally ignored' but divinely talented rock diva, inhabiting a 'beautiful gender of one'.

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  30. 30.
    Glass Tiger

    Glass Tiger

    2001·Dir. Iván Kapitány·105 min·7.7

    This film tells the story of a few uneventful days in the life of six pals. Lali, a great fan of America, owns a sandwich stand on the side of the road, called The Glass Tiger. Gaben pinches cars; Fox is a petty swindler; Sanyi a half-wit homeless; Coco can't shut up about getting some dough and going to America; Slimmy keeps playing the saxophone, despite the others' frayed nerves. Gaben talks Lali into buying an old Chevrolet Impala, the real American dream. After the long escapade of getting the car, Lali doesn't even get the chance to try the Chevvy out, because a truck completely demolishes it. Fox in the meantime is looking excitedly for the "Wreck", what he has been trying to sell for big money. But Lali has sold what he thought to be scrap, not good for anything. Fox is threatened by some tough guys to bring it back or pay up. He has to get money at all costs...

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  31. 31.
    The Experiment

    The Experiment

    2001·Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel·120 min·7.7

    20 volunteers agree to take part in a seemingly well-paid experiment advertised by the university. It is supposed to be about aggressive behavior in an artificial prison situation. A journalist senses a story behind the ad and smuggles himself in among the test subjects. They are randomly divided into prisoners and guards. What seems like a game at the beginning soon turns into bloody seriousness.

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  32. 32.
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    2001·Dir. Chris Columbus·152 min·7.7

    Harry Potter has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle's house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he's a powerful wizard—with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he learns to harness his newfound powers with the help of the school's kindly headmaster, Harry uncovers the truth about his parents' deaths—and about the villain who's to blame.

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  33. 33.
    Brainstorm

    Brainstorm

    2001·Dir. Laís Bodanzky·84 min·7.7

    Neto is a middle class teenager living a normal life. After his father finds a marijuana cigarette on his pocket, he is sent to a mental institution, where he gets to know a completely absurd and inhumane reality in which people are devoured by a corrupt and cruel system.

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  34. 34.
    Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

    Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

    2001·Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri·103 min·7.7

    D, a legendary dhampir competes with a motley family of bounty hunters to track down Charlotte Elbourne, a young woman who has seemingly been abducted by vampire nobleman Meier Link.

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  35. 35.
    Ocean's Eleven

    Ocean's Eleven

    2001·Dir. Steven Soderbergh·116 min·7.7

    Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.

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  36. 36.
    Black Hawk Down

    Black Hawk Down

    2001·Dir. Ridley Scott·145 min·7.7

    When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.

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  37. 37.
    Y Tu Mamá También

    Y Tu Mamá También

    2001·Dir. Alfonso Cuarón·106 min·7.7

    In Mexico, two teenage boys and an attractive older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life, friendship, sex, and each other.

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  38. 38.
    Baran

    Baran

    2001·Dir. Majid Majidi·90 min·7.7

    On a building site in present-day Tehran, Lateef, a 17-year-old Turkish worker is irresistibly drawn to Rahmat, a young Afghan worker. The revelation of Rahmat's secret changes both their lives.

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  39. 39.
    I Am Sam

    I Am Sam

    2001·Dir. Jessie Nelson·132 min·7.6

    Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

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  40. 40.
    The Royal Tenenbaums

    The Royal Tenenbaums

    2001·Dir. Wes Anderson·110 min·7.6

    Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the story of the family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.

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— End of Chapter —