The 5 Most Popular Movie Series Of The 2000s

Everyone loves a good movie marathon — especially when it consists of a series of great movies. Looking for movies that have turned into full-fledged film franchises? The 2000s has plenty of them.

First up is “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” where a trio of close friends — Harry, Hermione and Ron — dazzle with wizardry. Meanwhile, dreamy vampire Edward and sweet schoolgirl Bella share their supernatural romance in “Twilight.”

And we can't forget the next-to-impossible love affair between grumpy Shrek and beautiful Princess Fiona in the animation “Shrek.”

If you're hoping for a few more popular 2000s picks, check out our full list below. P.S.: You might just want to watch their sequels, too.

Enjoy!

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“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint; directed by Chris Columbus

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the first installment in the “Harry Potter” film series, became an instant favorite among critics and audiences alike upon its theatrical release in 2001. Adapted from J.K. Rowling’s 1997 bestselling children’s novel, the enchanting caper film stars Daniel Radcliffe as the titular orphaned boy who, on his 11th birthday, discovers the hidden truth about his identity as a famous wizard. The phenomenally successful fantasy film spawned 10 sequels, culminating with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” in 2011.

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“Twilight” — Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson; directed by Catherine Hardwicke

Angst-ridden and passionately stylish, the 2008 coming-of-age film “Twilight” is the first film in the “The Twilight Saga” movie franchise. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the narrative centers on the tortured supernatural romance between a reclusive, hunky vampire (Robert Pattinson) and a 17-year-old mortal schoolgirl (Kristen Stewart). In the end, what emerges is a sweet-yet-labored love between a pair of unlikely soulmates suddenly thrust into a fiendish world of fangs. Four sequels (“New Moon,” “Eclipse,” “Breaking Dawn — Part 1” and “Breaking Dawn — Part 2”) followed from 2009 until 2012, exploring further the travails of the star-crossed lovers’ relationship.

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“Shrek” — Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz; directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

Loosely based on William Steig’s 1990 picture book, DreamWorks Animation’s 2001 animated comedy follows the story of the titular cranky ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) whose life is suddenly upended by the invasion of fairytale creatures exiled from their kingdom by a ruthless ruler named Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Soon, Shrek learns that the only way for him to get his peace and quiet back is to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the hands of a menacing dragon. But how exactly? Seemingly, a cantankerous donkey named Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) might hold the key to save the day. Winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the box office hit “Shrek” spawned three sequels: “Shrek 2” (2004), “Shrek the Third” (2007) and “Shrek Forever After” (2010).

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“Iron Man” — Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard; directed by Jon Favreau

Marvel’s 2008 “Iron Man,” the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is the origins story of the American superhero known for his weaponized suit of armor. In the film, Robert Downey Jr. plays billionaire Tony Stark, a world-famous industrialist who is kidnapped and forced to build a weapon of mass destruction. However, unbeknownst to his captors, Stark will proceed to create a technologically advanced suit of armor instead, outsmarting them in the process to plan out his daring escape. It will just be a matter of time before the genius inventor dons the powerful suit, pledging to protect the world as Iron Man. Well-crafted and well-acted, the captivating action adventure led to two sequels: “Iron Man 2” (2010) and “Iron Man 3” (2013).

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“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” — Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom; directed by Peter Jackson

Adapted from the first volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy, “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the first film in the “The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy. Directed by Peter Jackson, the rousing and well-crafted 2001 fantasy adventure chronicles the story behind one mystical Ring of Power that could bring forth the mass destruction of Middle-earth. Over centuries, the powerful Ring made its way to one young hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who must now take a trek to Mount Doom — the only place where it can be destroyed. Aided by eight companions, called “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Baggins embarks on a journey of a lifetime. The sequel was released in 2002, while the third film in the trilogy made its big screen debut a year later.

Watch the trailer: