Arts & Entertainment
10 Oscar-Winning Movies From The 2000s To Watch This Weekend
This weekend, take a nostalgic trip down memory lane by watching Best Picture Oscar-winning films from the 2000s.
Can you name every Best Picture Oscar-winning film from the 2000s? If you can't, fear not — we've got you covered with this nostalgic list of award-winning movies you'll want to watch this weekend.
Do you remember the epic spectacle of the sword-and-sandal film “Gladiator”? Or how about the rousing verve of the musical “Chicago”? Then, there's the pulse-pounding sensation of the war thriller “The Hurt Locker” that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.
And let’s not forget the breathtaking splendor of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” (Fun fact: This action-adventure film holds the record for the largest sweep for a single film in Oscars history, having won all its 11 nominations.)
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Now that we have piqued your interest, check out the full list of these Oscar-winning films from the 2000s.
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“Gladiator” (2000) — Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix; directed by Ridley Scott
Adapted from Daniel P. Mannix’s best-seller “Those About to Die,” Ridley Scott’s epic sword-and-sandal drama centers on a man’s unwavering resolve to reclaim his life, dignity and freedom after being reduced to slavery. A box-office smash, the Best Picture winner is ferociously gripping and stylish, garnering a total of five Academy Awards, including a Best Actor win for Russell Crowe for his powerful performance as the titular gladiator.
“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) — Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly; directed by Ron Howard
The Best Picture winner at the 74th Academy Awards chronicles the life of American mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe), focusing on the Nobel Laureate’s illustrious academic career, his troubled marriage and his harrowing journey to overcome schizophrenia. Inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s Pulitzer-nominated 1998 best-seller, the well-acted and well-crafted biopic scored four Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and a Best Supporting Actress win for Jennifer Connelly for her career-defining performance as Nash’s beleaguered wife.
“Chicago” (2002) — Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere; directed by Rob Marshall
The 1975 Broadway musical comes alive in Rob Marshall’s feature directorial debut, a rousing and zestful spectacle of 1920s Chicago. At the center of the story are two death-row murderesses (Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones) fiercely competing for fame, publicity and the attention of a duplicitous lawyer (Richard Gere). The Oscar-winning film took home Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing and a Best Supporting Actress win for Zeta-Jones.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003) — Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen; directed by Peter Jackson
Exquisite, thrilling and emotionally charged, Peter Jackson’s epic cinematic opus is the third and final installment in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, based on the third volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy book of the same name. In the film, the saga continues with Frodo (Elijah Wood), Sam (Sean Astin) and Gollum (Andy Serkis) as the trio of close friends make their final way toward Mount Doom — the only place where one mystical Ring of Power can be destroyed. “The Return of the King” holds the record for the largest sweep for a single film in Oscars history, having won all its 11 nominations at the 76th Academy Awards.
“Million Dollar Baby” (2004) — Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman; directed by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning sports drama is a story about one’s sheer determination to achieve a lifelong dream of becoming a professional boxer. That person is Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), a waitress who musters the courage to ask a hardened boxing trainer, Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), to coach her. Initially, Dunn refuses; but with his best pal’s (Morgan Freeman) urging, the veteran trainer eventually relents. And so begins Maggie’s quest for her first million-dollar victory. The film is emotionally powerful, garnering four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Swank) and Best Supporting Actor (Freeman).
“Crash” (2005) — Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Thandie Newton; directed by Paul Haggis
The Best Picture winner at the 78th Academy Awards opens with a car accident that becomes the heart of the movie. What ensues is a chronicle of preceding events — a portrait of disparate lives ultimately converging to the early “crash.” Thought-provoking and compelling to the core, the film explores urban disconnect and conflicts in a culturally diverse society.
“The Departed” (2006) — Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson; directed by Martin Scorsese
The critically and commercially acclaimed crime drama centers on a mole (Matt Damon) planted by Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) within the Massachusetts State Police, and an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) assigned to infiltrate Costello’s gangster family. As the story unfolds, the mole and the undercover cop race against time to discover each other’s identity. “The Departed” nabbed four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing and a Best Director win for Martin Scorsese.
“No Country for Old Men” (2007) — Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin; directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's 2005 best-selling novel, Coen brothers’ film version follows the story of Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a Vietnam veteran who unwittingly discovers $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande when he stumbles upon a drug deal gone horribly wrong. He soon decides to take flight with the find of a lifetime. It will just be a matter of time before a killer (Javier Bardem) sets out to hunt down Moss, causing violence and mayhem in this sleepy Texan town. Can Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) solve the mystery behind the escalating number of murders? If you haven’t seen “No Country for Old Men,” waste no time — go watch it.
“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) — Dev Patel, Freida Pinto; directed by Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle’s 2008 sleeper hit stars Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old who is about to win the grand prize on India’s version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” However, much to his surprise, the cops suddenly arrest the young man on suspicion of cheating. Undeterred, he attempts to prove his innocence by telling his life story. Amazingly, each chapter reveals the key to the answer to each of the game show’s question. The crowd-pleasing and exhilarating film garnered 10 Oscar nominations and won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
“The Hurt Locker” (2009) — Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie; directed by Kathryn Bigelow
With “The Hurt Locker,” Kathryn Bigelow made history at the 82nd Academy Awards as the first woman— and only woman to date — to win the Academy Award for Best Director. The war thriller follows the harrowing experiences of an Army bomb squad, led by Sgt. 1st Class William James (Jeremy Renner) during the Iraq War, underscoring the crew’s psychological reactions to the stress of combat. Intense and gripping, the war thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
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