10 Movies From The ‘00s You Forgot Were Box Office Hits

The 2000s were a hugely successful time for movies, with many films earning significant profits that often go unnoticed. Continuing the strong performance from the late 1990s, the decade saw numerous blockbuster hits, and several even earned over a billion dollars at the box office.

Big franchise movies, like the Harry Potter series and the growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, were hugely successful and made a lot of money. At the end of the 2000s, Avatar became the highest-grossing film ever. Even with these massive hits, there was still room for other films to find success.

We still enjoy many popular movies from the 2000s, but we often forget just how much money they made. With a recent wave of nostalgia for that decade, these films are experiencing a revival, and it’s worth remembering how incredibly successful they were at the box office. It’s often surprising to see just how big some of those hits actually were.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Disaster movies became popular again in the early 2000s, and The Perfect Storm was one of the films that started this trend. The movie tells the real story of the Andrea Gail, a fishing boat caught in a huge storm in 1991. While reviews weren’t great, the film did receive two Academy Award nominations.

The movie attracted large crowds and became the fourth highest-grossing film in the US that year, earning over $320 million. It outperformed other popular 2000 releases like X-Men. However, unlike some other box office hits from the early 2000s, The Perfect Storm hasn’t remained well-regarded over time and is often forgotten.

Hannibal (2001)

Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs became a hit, the Hannibal Lecter story continued with the 2001 film Hannibal. The movie follows Hannibal as a former victim seeks revenge on him. Anthony Hopkins reprised his role as the chilling cannibal, but Julianne Moore took over the role of Clarice, previously played by Jodie Foster.

Despite receiving negative reviews, the movie earned $350 million and became a top 10 hit this year. This success highlights how popular movie franchises are. However, the film Hannibal is best avoided. It drastically changes characters like Clarice and is considered one of the worst horror sequels ever made, falling far short of the original.

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

While movies like Sweet Home Alabama were hugely popular in the 2000s, it’s unlikely that romantic comedies will reach the same level of success again. The film stars Reese Witherspoon as a fashion designer from New York who goes back to her small Alabama hometown to finalize her divorce. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it made a lot of money.

Despite finishing 20th at the domestic box office in 2002, Sweet Home Alabama was a huge financial success, earning $180 million on a budget of just $30 million. The film remains a beloved and nostalgic favorite from the early 2000s, and is considered one of Reese Witherspoon’s most important roles. While still remembered, its impressive box office performance is often overlooked.

Anger Management (2003)

Adam Sandler continued his successful run, which began in the mid-90s, with the 2003 film Anger Management. He plays a man mistakenly ordered to attend anger management, and is matched with a very unusual therapist. However, Jack Nicholson truly shines as the eccentric Dr. Rydell, often overshadowing Sandler in the movie.

You know, Anger Management isn’t often mentioned as one of Adam Sandler or Jack Nicholson’s best movies, but it actually got pretty decent reviews when it came out. What really surprised me was how well it did in theaters – almost $200 million! It nearly cracked the top 10 highest-grossing films that year, which is amazing when you consider most of that money came from American audiences.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Documentaries haven’t traditionally been big money-makers in theaters, even with today’s high ticket prices. Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 was a rare success, connecting with audiences perfectly and earning a significant amount of money. Its critical look at the Bush administration was released at a particularly impactful time – during an election year.

As a film buff, I remember when Fahrenheit 9/11 came out – critics really loved Michael Moore’s direct, no-holds-barred style. But honestly, what really made it stand out was how much money it made! It cost only $6 million to make, but earned a staggering $222 million at the box office, making it a huge success that year. And even now, excluding concert films, it’s still the highest-grossing documentary of all time – a pretty incredible achievement, if you ask me.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Even though Mr. & Mrs. Smith starred two of the most popular actors of the 2000s, it’s surprisingly one of the least memorable action movies from that decade. The film follows Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt as a married couple who discover they’re both secret assassins, adding an unexpected twist to their everyday lives. Ultimately, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a light and simple movie that doesn’t really stick with you after you’ve watched it.

Despite costing $110 million to make, the film earned almost $500 million worldwide and ranked among the top 10 movies both in the US and internationally. Its success was largely due to strong ticket sales in other countries, and that might be why it’s often forgotten when people talk about popular movies from the 2000s.

The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)

Superhero movies are everywhere, so smaller, more realistic films like The Pursuit of Happyness often get overlooked. The movie stars Will Smith and his actual son, playing Christopher Gardner, a father struggling with homelessness in 1980s San Francisco while trying to provide for his child. It’s a powerful and honest film that shows a different side of Will Smith as an actor.

With worldwide earnings exceeding $300 million, The Pursuit of Happyness became a major box office success, ranking among the top 15 films globally. Made with a budget of $55 million, the film starring Will Smith was highly profitable, earning money from both American and international audiences. While many still cherish the film as a standout from the 2000s, its commercial achievement often goes unnoticed.

Juno (2007)

The 2007 film Juno perfectly captures the look and feel of indie movies from the 2000s. This funny and touching story follows a smart teenager navigating an unexpected pregnancy and connecting with a couple hoping to adopt. It was a breakout role for Elliot Page and remains one of the best films of the 21st century.

Despite receiving a lot of praise, it’s easy to overlook just how commercially successful Juno was. It earned $230 million at the box office, with most of that coming from American theaters, which was a significant achievement for Focus Features. Most independent films at the time relied on revenue from video rentals, but Juno actually drew large audiences to cinemas. The film’s quality is so strong that its financial success isn’t what people remember most.

Hancock (2008)

2008 was a fantastic year for superhero films, but Hancock stood out from the rest. The movie stars Will Smith as a down-on-his-luck superhero who’s trying to improve his reputation and become a true hero. Smith’s authentic performance was a highlight in a film that was inconsistent in both its mood and overall quality.

I remember when Hancock came out – everyone absolutely loved it! It was a massive hit, becoming one of the biggest movies of 2008, earning over $600 million worldwide. It’s still amazing to me that it actually made more money than the first Iron Man movie, even though it did most of that business overseas. It might not be talked about as much now, but back then, Hancock was a huge money-maker!

The Blind Side (2009)

Many critically acclaimed and award-winning dramas fade into obscurity quickly. The Blind Side is one of these films. It tells the story of a family who takes in a homeless teenager and helps him achieve his dream of becoming a professional football player. Designed to be emotionally moving, The Blind Side was both a critical and commercial success.

The film earned the majority of its revenue within the United States, totaling $309 million and ranking as the tenth highest-grossing movie of 2009. While it performed well against established franchises like Fast & Furious and X-Men, its popularity declined quickly. Despite its initial box office success, the movie didn’t remain popular for long.

2025-12-31 02:31