2000s Movies Everyone Wants to Forget, but Can’t

The 2000s gave us box office giants and critical darlings, but it also delivered a very different kind of unforgettable. These are the films that stuck around for all the wrong reasons, from celebrity vanity projects to notorious studio gambles to adaptations that landed in unexpected ways. They left behind catchphrases, memes, and behind the scenes stories that people still bring up whenever the decade comes up.

Here is a look back at the titles that live rent free in pop culture memory. For each one you will find the basics on who made it and what it is about, followed by concrete context on how it performed and why it continues to be referenced. No hand waving and no armchair takes, just the facts that kept these movies in the conversation.

‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000)

Based on the novel by L Ron Hubbard and directed by Roger Christian, this sci fi story follows a future where humans are enslaved by an alien race called the Psychlos. John Travolta leads the cast alongside Barry Pepper and Forest Whitaker, with production built around large sets, heavy prosthetics, and blue tinted photography.

The film opened to widespread coverage of its production backstory and its connection to the source novel. It earned multiple Golden Raspberry Awards and grossed far less than its reported budget, which cemented its reputation as a case study in high risk development.

‘Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2’ (2000)

Directed by documentarian Joe Berlinger, this sequel moves away from found footage and tracks a group of fans who tour Burkittsville after the success of the first film. The story blends psychological breakdowns with hints of the supernatural and uses conventional cinematography rather than camcorder style visuals.

Studio reworking during post production added new scenes and a different music approach, which Berlinger has discussed in detail over the years. The movie took in a modest worldwide gross compared to the original and became a frequent example of a course correction that confused audiences.

‘Freddy Got Fingered’ (2001)

Tom Green wrote, directed, and starred in this shock comedy about an aspiring animator who returns home and spirals into a string of chaotic stunts. Rip Torn and Marisa Coughlan co star, and practical set pieces drive the film rather than visual effects.

It won several Golden Raspberry Awards including top categories and posted a theatrical run that roughly matched its production cost. The movie’s most quoted scenes continue to circulate online and at repertory screenings, which keeps it in the public eye.

‘Glitter’ (2001)

Vondie Curtis Hall directs this music drama headlined by Mariah Carey as a singer navigating industry pressures and a new romance. The soundtrack features Carey tracks that charted independently of the film, and the cast includes Max Beesley and Terrence Howard.

The release coincided with nationwide disruptions at theaters, and the film underperformed at the box office compared to its budget. It later became a reference point in discussions of music star vehicles and soundtrack success that outlives a movie’s run.

‘Crossroads’ (2002)

Directed by Tamra Davis and written by Shonda Rhimes, this road trip story follows three friends who reconnect and drive across the country while chasing personal goals. Britney Spears stars with Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning, and the film leans on needle drops and performance sequences.

Made on a relatively small budget, it earned back several times its cost in worldwide grosses. Home video sales and fan interest helped it stick around, and the title regularly reappears when people chart early roles for its ensemble.

‘The Master of Disguise’ (2002)

Dana Carvey plays a mild mannered hero who discovers family talent for elaborate disguises and must rescue his parents from a criminal mastermind. The movie relies on prosthetic makeups, quick change gags, and broad character bits that showcase Carvey’s impressions.

It received multiple Golden Raspberry nominations and performed better on home entertainment than in theaters. The turtle club scene became a long running reference that keeps the film in circulation.

‘Gigli’ (2003)

Martin Brest directs this crime romance about a low level enforcer assigned to guard a witness, only to be paired with another contractor who has her own agenda. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez star with supporting turns by Al Pacino and Christopher Walken.

The production recorded a high reported budget relative to its final grosses and collected numerous Golden Raspberry Awards. Media coverage of reshoots and release delays helped turn the title into shorthand for a troubled rollout.

‘The Cat in the Hat’ (2003)

Mike Myers headlines this live action adaptation of the Dr Seuss classic, directed by Bo Welch with production design that translates the book’s color palette into oversized sets. Dakota Fanning and Spencer Breslin co star, and the story expands the original text with new subplots.

The film earned more worldwide than its domestic take but fell short of expectations given its cost. Afterward, the Seuss estate signaled a preference for animated projects, which shaped how later Seuss titles were produced.

‘The Room’ (2003)

Written, directed by, and starring Tommy Wiseau, this independent melodrama centers on a banker whose relationships implode in a tangle of betrayals. The film was produced outside the studio system with unusual methods that included shooting on film and video at the same time.

An initial limited run grew into midnight screenings with audience callouts and props, creating one of the most durable cult circuits of the era. The book by Greg Sestero about the production further extended interest and kept the title in constant rotation.

‘From Justin to Kelly’ (2003)

This musical romance pairs Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini as spring breakers who keep missing each other despite an instant connection. Choreographed numbers and beach party settings drive the structure, and the production used Orlando locations to double for the story’s setting.

The film recouped only a fraction of its cost in theaters and drew several Golden Raspberry nominations. Network tie ins linked to a singing competition franchise could not offset the soft performance, though the soundtrack found a separate audience.

‘Catwoman’ (2004)

Halle Berry plays Patience Phillips, a designer who gains catlike abilities after uncovering a corporate crime, in a superhero entry directed by Pitof. The film uses a new character rather than the Selena Kyle version seen in earlier Batman stories and features Sharon Stone as the antagonist.

Despite a broad release and heavy effects work, the movie earned less worldwide than its budget and marketing suggested. It won multiple Golden Raspberry Awards, and Berry famously accepted one in person while thanking her earlier Oscar collaborators.

‘Alexander’ (2004)

Oliver Stone’s epic follows the Macedonian king from youth through major campaigns with Colin Farrell in the lead and Angelina Jolie and Jared Leto in key roles. The production mounted large scale battles and employed multiple dialect coaches to shape character voices.

Several alternate cuts appeared on home video, including a director preferred version with a revised structure. Theatrical grosses did not match the cost of the production in some regions, though international markets helped the final total.

‘White Chicks’ (2004)

Director Keenen Ivory Wayans casts Shawn and Marlon Wayans as FBI agents who go undercover as socialites to stop a kidnapping plot. The concept depends on extensive makeup effects and physical comedy built around fish out of water scenarios.

The film more than doubled its budget in worldwide grosses and found a long tail on cable and streaming. Key scenes became staples in meme culture, which keeps clips and quotes in constant circulation.

‘Alone in the Dark’ (2005)

Uwe Boll adapts the survival horror video game with Christian Slater as a paranormal investigator and Tara Reid as an archaeologist. Practical creatures and digital effects share the load in set pieces that mirror game locations.

The movie earned a small global total compared to its cost and drew multiple nominations at the Golden Raspberry Awards. It became a reference in discussions of game to film adaptations that diverge from the source tone.

‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

Jamie Kennedy stars as an animator who discovers the Norse mask and ends up in a rivalry with Loki, played by Alan Cumming. The sequel uses cartoon style visual effects and family themed set pieces rather than the crime angle of the original.

The production carried a large reported budget and made back less than that amount in worldwide grosses. It won Golden Raspberry Awards including worst prequel or sequel, and its effects work is often cited in retrospectives of early digital comedy.

‘The Wicker Man’ (2006)

Neil LaBute reimagines the cult folk thriller with Nicolas Cage as a cop who travels to a remote island to search for a missing child. The movie swaps the original setting for the Pacific Northwest and introduces a matriarchal community with unique rituals.

Theatrical earnings fell short of production cost, yet clips from confrontations and costume set pieces became viral staples. The title resurfaces whenever internet culture revisits its most quoted lines.

‘Lady in the Water’ (2006)

M Night Shyamalan crafts a modern fairy tale set in a Philadelphia apartment complex where a superintendent finds a water nymph in the pool. Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard lead the cast, and the story draws from a bedtime tale the director told his children.

The film moved from a long time studio partner to a different distributor during development and was released with significant marketing. It barely outpaced its production cost at the box office and received mixed responses that fueled years of think pieces about creative control.

‘Epic Movie’ (2007)

Written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, this parody strings together spoofs of fantasy and adventure hits with a sketch like structure. The cast includes Kal Penn, Adam Campbell, and Jennifer Coolidge, and the production recreates recognizable costumes and sets for quick gags.

Made for a relatively modest amount, it delivered a strong worldwide total and became part of a cycle of similar spoofs by the same team. Its release strategy targeted weekends with limited competition, which helped it overperform versus cost.

‘Norbit’ (2007)

Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles in this broad comedy about a timid man pressured into a marriage while reconnecting with a childhood friend. Makeup creator Rick Baker oversaw extensive prosthetic work that transforms Murphy for each character.

The movie drew several Golden Raspberry nominations while its makeup team earned an Academy Award nomination. Ticket sales were high relative to cost, which made it a frequent example of commercial success despite critical pushback.

‘Ghost Rider’ (2007)

Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider who becomes a fiery vigilante after a supernatural bargain, in a comic adaptation directed by Mark Steven Johnson. The film uses heavy digital effects to realize the skull and chain look, with Eva Mendes and Wes Bentley in supporting roles.

It opened at number one in many markets and earned over double its budget worldwide. The response was strong enough to generate a follow up titled ‘Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance’, which kept the character on screens for several more years.

‘Spider-Man 3’ (2007)

Sam Raimi completes his trilogy with a story that introduces the symbiote suit, Sandman, and a new Green Goblin while Peter Parker navigates fame and relationships. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, and Topher Grace anchor a large ensemble, and the production shot major action in New York and Cleveland.

The movie set franchise records on opening weekend and finished with a global haul just shy of the top earners of its year. Studio notes and the number of villains became a long running case study in sequel escalation, and the black suit remains a merchandising mainstay.

‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (2008)

Harrison Ford returns as the archaeologist who crosses paths with Soviet agents and a mystery tied to ancient artifacts, directed by Steven Spielberg. Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett join the cast, and the shoot combined location work with soundstage sets and extensive stunt coordination.

The film topped worldwide charts for its season and reignited interest in the series, along with a modern phrase that fans still repeat about a refrigerator escape. It remains a common reference point when franchises resume after a long gap.

‘The Happening’ (2008)

This thriller from M Night Shyamalan follows a science teacher and his wife who flee a wave of sudden deaths tied to environmental triggers. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel lead the cast, and the production emphasized practical effects to stage eerie aftermaths.

It marked the director’s first R rating and produced a strong worldwide total that far outpaced cost. The central concept and several line readings became fixtures in pop culture recaps of the decade.

‘The Love Guru’ (2008)

Mike Myers plays a self help star hired by a hockey team owner to fix a star player’s personal life, with Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake in key roles. The production blends on ice sequences with yoga satire and music numbers.

The movie won multiple Golden Raspberry Awards and did not recoup its reported cost in theaters. Its release prompted a noticeable pause in Myers led projects for several years, which adds to the title’s lingering profile.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

James Wong directs this live action take on the landmark manga and anime, with Justin Chatwin as Goku and Emmy Rossum and Chow Yun Fat in supporting roles. The story condenses early arcs into a compact quest narrative with new character dynamics.

The film earned back its budget in global grosses but faced strong backlash for departures from the source. The screenwriter later issued a public apology to fans, which is one reason the title continues to be discussed whenever adaptations come up.

Share the titles you still remember from this list in the comments and tell us which moment pops into your head first.