Last updated March 2024
Looking to watch the top 30 Best Movies 2001? We've selected the most popular ones based on ratings from IMDB and our users. Vote for your favorites to help others find great Best Movies 2001 to enjoy right now. We appreciate you contributing to the community!
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 178 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 20000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand, USA
Plot tags: sword fight, friendship, fantasy world, wizard, sword and sorcery, magic, good versus evil, monster, mythology, middle earth, magical, river, hobbit, medieval, lord of the rings, journey, magical ring, heroic mission, creature, imaginary kingdom, imaginary, sorcerer, save the world, castle, ancient
Amelie (2001)
Plot Summary:
At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie (Audrey Tautou) 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?
Duration: 122 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 784000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: France, Germany
Plot tags: loneliness, love, magic realism, life, fall in love, imagination, female protagonist, cafe, love and romance, optimism, lifestyle change, surrealism, existentialism, social relations, life philosophy, hopes, sex shop, changing lives, destiny, young woman, looking for love, friendship, heroine, daydreamer, love story
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Plot Summary:
At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He finally makes a revolutionary breakthrough that will eventually earn him the Nobel Prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, becoming romantically involved with his student Alicia. Meanwhile the government asks his help with breaking Soviet codes, which soon gets him involved in a terrifying conspiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his entire world upside down. Now it is only with Alicia's help that he will be able to recover his mental strength and regain his status as the great mathematician we know him as today
Duration: 135 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 972000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Plot tags: mathematics, mental illness, schizophrenia, genius, paranoia, insanity, scientist, mathematician, imaginary friend, nobel prize, obsession, prodigy, psychiatry, imagination, mental disorder, intelligence, psychiatrist, professor, existentialism, paranoid schizophrenia, biopic, mentally unstable, conspiracy, economics, talented
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Plot Summary:
James Sullivan and Mike Wazowski are monsters, they earn their living scaring children and are the best in the business... even though they're more afraid of the children than they are of them. When a child accidentally enters their world, James and Mike suddenly find that kids are not to be afraid of and they uncover a conspiracy that could threaten all children across the world
Duration: 92 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 960000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Plot tags: monster, friendship, imaginary, creature, imagination, children, fantasy world, parallel world, rivalry, little girl, friends, rivals, villain, chase, greed, redemption, misfit, creativity, panic, alternate universe, mad scientist, talking animal, kidnapping, portal, evil
Do Your Thing (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 183 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 75000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: male bonding, youth, friendship, painting, fall in love, dating, nostalgia, friendship between men, age difference, understanding, unlikely couple, best friend, old friend, buddies, couple relations, painter, unrequited love, memory, older woman younger man relationship, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, art gallery, end of friendship, alcohol abuse, marriage, adolescence vs adulthood
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
Plot Summary:
Lagaan tells the tale of the Indian village Champaner, beset by drought and British colonialism in the year 1893. Without a drop of rain in months, the worried villagers of Champaner decide to ask the local authorities for a temporary repeal of their taxes -- the hated lagaan. Led by the heroic Bhuvan (Indian superstar Aamir Khan) they bring their plight to the military governor, Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne). But the sadistic Russell threatens to raise the lagaan threefold, unless the villagers can beat his men at a game of cricket, in which case he'll lift taxes on the entire province for a period of three years. Bhuvan accepts the challenge, but there's a problem -- no one in Champaner knows how to play cricket. A band of misfits come to the rescue, coached by Russell's soft-hearted sister Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley), and the race is on to be ready in three months' time. An epic reworking of Victory with eye-popping song-and-dance routines
Duration: 224 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 119000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Sport
Country: India, USA
Plot tags: village, love triangle, patriotism, british raj, sikh, cricket, caste system, colonialism, friendship, jealousy, self esteem, poverty, unrequited love, patriot, ambition, underdog, hindu, resistance, indians, imperialism, racism, indian history, dancing, musician, music
Donnie Darko (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 113 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 837000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: mental illness, time travel, psychology, imaginary friend, insanity, schizophrenia, parallel universe, surrealism, suburbs, time loop, social misfits, youth, hallucination, dream, plot twist, supernatural ability, death, psychiatry, society, teenager, prophecy, schizophrenic, trippy, halloween, existentialism
My Sassy Girl (2001)
Plot Summary:
Based on a series of true stories posted by Ho-sik Kim on the Internet describing his relationship with his girlfriend. These were later transformed into a best-selling book and the movie follows the book closely. It describes the meeting of Kyun-woo and an unnamed girl. Kyun-woo is shamed into assisting the girl because the other passengers mistakenly think she is his girlfriend
Duration: 137 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 50000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: love, destiny, love story, unlikely couple, opposites attract, young love, teenage life, nothing goes right, disorder, boyfriend, comedy of errors, encounter, couple relations, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, asian, drinking problem, wooing, teenager, internet, time travel, passion, subway, parasite, in love, tragic love
Vizontele (2001)
Plot Summary:
The story takes place in a small town (called Hakkari) in Turkey at the beginning of the 70's. The time has come to bring technology into that small town. The first Television (or called Visiontele by the citizens) arrives and the chaos begins
Duration: 110 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 38000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Turkey
Plot tags: family relations, culture clash, television, traditional versus modern, society, lifestyle, social relations, life changing experience, mayor, turk, kurd, advice, radio, small town, religion, rural setting, small town life, media satire, village, wedding, politics, islam, chauffeur, father son relationship, bicycle
Wit (2001)
Plot Summary:
A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer
Duration: 99 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: cancer, medical, hospital, nurse, doctor, poetry, terminal illness, chemotherapy, dying, philosophy, hopes, regret, life is a bitch, fighting illness, introspection, doctors and patients, medicine, intelligence, research, society, patient, unfulfillment, illness, bittersweet, health
Mulholland Drive (2001)
Plot Summary:
After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesic, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality
Duration: 147 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 377000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Plot tags: surrealism, twists and turns, lesbian, amnesia, obsession, hollywood, nightmare, hallucination, doppelganger, alternate reality, filmmaking, dream, lesbian sex, plot twist, memory loss, lesbian love, psychology, suicide, violence, lesbianism, female protagonist, dangerous attraction, death, mental illness, mysterious character
Shrek (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 719000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, Canada, Sweden
Plot tags: princess, dragon, friendship, magic, stereotypes, talking animal, reluctant partners, love and romance, magical, anthropomorphism, imaginary kingdom, unlikely friendships, knight, ogre, villain, wedding, satire, opposites attract, good versus evil, castle, shrek, witchcraft, heroes, danger, peril
No Man's Land (2001)
Plot Summary:
Two soldiers from opposite sites 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?
Duration: 98 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, War
Country: France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Belgium, UK, Slovenia
Plot tags: anti war, politics, soldier, military, civil war, survival, war, intrigue, bosnian war, un, wartime, bomb, human nature, dishonesty, balkan war, danger, military life, farce, tragic hero, great ending, satire, dark humor, culture clash, conflict, great war
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
Plot Summary:
Mars. Days before Halloween 2071. Villains blow up a tanker truck on Highway One, releasing a deadly virus that kills hundreds. Fearing a bigger, even more devastating biochemical attack, an astronomical reward is offered for the arrest and capture of the person behind the destruction. On the space ship "Bebop," Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters (Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed and Ein) are bored and short of cash. But with the news of the reward, everything changes
Duration: 115 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Animation, Action, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan, USA
Plot tags: mars, terrorism, space opera, chase, outer space, bounty hunter, revenge, martial arts, danger, terrorist, gang, partner, heroic mission, escapades, rivalry, reward, fight, police, gunfight, city, jazz, dialogue, violence, mature, terror
Son of the Bride (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 123 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Argentina, Spain
Plot tags: midlife crisis, divorce, family relations, self discovery, heart attack, childhood, fall in love, introspection, parents and children, old friend, human nature, couple relations, family gatherings, melancholy, marriage, friendship between men, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, wedding, vice squad, amor, love, friendship, hospital, alzheimer's disease, health
Nayak: The Real Hero (2001)
Plot Summary:
TV reporter Shivajirao gets a chance to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a day, after being challenged by incumbent Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan. After his successful one-day stint, he attempts to get back to his normal life, but it is not as easy as he thought it to be, with the lives of his near and dear ones now in danger on account of his honesty
Duration: 187 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: India
Plot tags: political activism, politics, election, attempted murder, love and romance, rise to the top, fall in love, intrigue, ambition, rivalry, society, political conspiracy, political corruption, family disapproval, dishonesty, righting the wronged, proposal, legislation, indians, politician, assassination, power politics, political intrigue, chief, hopes
Millennium Actress (2001)
Plot Summary:
Documentary filmmaker Genya Tachibana has tracked down the legendary actress Chiyoko Fujiwara, who mysteriously vanished at the height of her career. When he presents her with a key she had lost and thought was gone forever, the filmmaker could not have imagined that it would not only unlock the long-held secrets of Chiyoko’s life... but also his own
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Plot tags: actor's life, female protagonist, lost love, love and romance, popularity, unfulfilled love, retired, haunted by the past, love story, mother daughter relationship, interview, movie star, unlikely friendships, filmmaking, earthquake, recluse, underground, moving, mature, beauty, girl power, japanese history, stoned, edo period, women power
Waking Life (2001)
Plot Summary:
Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life
Duration: 99 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Plot tags: philosophy, existentialism, dream, trippy, surrealism, alternate reality, consciousness, bohemian life, psychology, meaning of life, imagination, life philosophy, lifestyle, imaginary, human nature, paradox, daydreamer, existence paradox, lucid dream, spirituality, reincarnation, sleeping, spirit, lsd, mature
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 144 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 417000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: war, courage, combat, battles, shooting, gunfight, chaos, sniper, military, survival, army, american soldier, rescue mission, u.s. military, mission, warrior, helicopter, conflict, shootout, violent, team, special forces, marine, tough heroes, u.s. marine
Training Day (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 122 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 463000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: police corruption, corrupt cop, gang, ghetto, gunfight, drug dealer, police, african american, rookie, dirty cop, mafia, mentor, drug, corruption, violence, bad cop, investigation, latinos, war on drugs, one day, lone hero, police brutality, gang member, organized crime, tough guy
61* (2001)
Plot Summary:
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?
Duration: 129 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: USA
Plot tags: baseball, friendship, rivalry, fan, fame, contests and competitions, against the odds, success, society, ambition, lifestyle, underdog, buddies, obsessive quest, athlete's life, rising to stardom, uninhibited rivalry, new york yankees, mother son relationship, athlete, entrepreneur, catholic, danger, melancholy, nfl
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 116 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 607000
Genere: Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: heist, caper, casino, thief, cons and scams, perfect crime, outsmarting, con artists, twists and turns, deception, scheme, organized crime, group of criminals, planning, robbery, friends, con men, bank robbery, criminal heroes, sarcasm, buddies, conspiracy, partners in crime, friendship between men, dishonesty
And Your Mother Too! (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 106 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 128000
Genere: Drama
Country: Mexico
Plot tags: road trip, sex, sexuality, hot and sexy, older woman younger man relationship, age difference, on the road, coming of age, gay, sexual exploration, nudity, older woman younger man sex, threesome, teenager, self discovery, first sex, teenage sexuality, sexually liberated, teenage sex, relationships, friendship, friendship between men, sexual obsession, male nudity, erection
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Plot Summary:
Hansel Schmidt, is a young East German boy, born and raised during the Cold War in communist East Berlin. In his 20s, he meets Luther Robinson, an older American soldier, who falls in love with Hansel and the two decide to marry, which will allow Hansel to leave communist East Germany for the West. But, in order to marry, Hansel must undergo a sex-change. However, the procedure does not go perfectly and Hansel becomes not a trans woman, but a 'genderqueer', Hedwig. Back in the USA, on their first wedding anniversary, Luther leaves Hedwig for another man. On that same day the news headlines were of the fall of the Berlin Wall and freedom. Hedwig tours the US with her rock band and relates her life story while following her ex-boyfriend/band-mate Tommy Speck (to whom she gives the stage name "Tommy Gnosis"), who stole her songs and rose to fame
Duration: 95 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Music, Musical
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: transsexual, gender, gay, transvestism, transgender, berlin wall, drag queen, self discovery, singer, rock and roll, musician's life, musician, teenage boy, music, lgbtq, transvestite, gay interest, sexuality, lgbtqi, loneliness, homosexual, lifestyle, friendship, rock, couples
The Experiment (2001)
Plot Summary:
Das Experiment is a shocking psycho thriller about the potential for brutality that humans hide. Even more shocking is the fact that it’s based on an actual occurrence—a 1971 psychological experiment at Stanford University that was aborted prematurely when the experimenters lost control
Duration: 120 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 96000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany
Plot tags: experiment, prison, torture, prison escape, aggression, psychology, social experiment, isolation, degradation, abuse, sociology, violence, survival, prison life, warden, human experiment, twists and turns, brutality, rivalry, power relations, psychological torture, rape, character study, prisoner, jail
I Am Sam (2001)
Plot Summary:
Sam has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. He 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 start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam shames high-priced lawyer Rita into taking his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family
Duration: 132 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 154000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: lawyer, father daughter relationship, mentally challenged, disability, single father, social services, custody, custody battle, child custody, parents and children, parenthood, mental illness, adoption, courtroom, fighting the system, mental disorder, against the odds, human spirit, foster parent, love, depression, the beatles, courage, child, life philosophy
The Others (2001)
Plot Summary:
Grace is a religious woman who lives in an old house kept dark because her two children, Anne and Nicholas, have a rare sensitivity to light. When the family begins to suspect the house is haunted, Grace fights to protect her children at any cost in the face of strange events and disturbing visions
Duration: 101 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 387000
Genere: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Spain, USA, France, Italy
Plot tags: ghost, haunted house, supernatural, twists and turns, afterlife, nightmare, mansion, supernatural horror, haunting, mysterious character, macabre, spiritualism, psychic, isolation, uncover truth, plot twist, cemetery, able to see the dead, confined, children, old dark house, danger, parallel world, alternate reality, supernatural ability
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Plot Summary:
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
Duration: 110 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 309000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: dysfunctional family, eccentricity, eccentric family, writers, forbidden love, parents and children, deadpan, incest, uptight character, reconciliation, love, satire, hipster, divorce, genius, depression, father daughter relationship, dalmatian, brother brother relationship, suicide, bonding, siblings relations, relationships, mental disorder, family drama
Conspiracy (2001)
Plot Summary:
The historical recreation of the 1942 Wannsee Conference, in which Nazi and SS leaders gathered in a Berlin suburb to discuss the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Lead by SS-General Reinhard Heydrich, this group of high ranking German officials came to the historic and far reaching decision that the Jews of Europe were to be exterminated in what would come to be known as the Holocaust
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: holocaust, genocide, nazi, world war two, politics, nazism, third reich, ss officer, war crime, racism, anti semitism, ss, world war, brutality, military, human spirit, wartime life, state affairs, soldier, leadership, against humanity, war, wartime, german history, international relations
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Plot Summary:
A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star
Duration: 127 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 296000
Genere: Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: Australia, USA
Plot tags: cabaret, love story, showbiz, tragic love, nightclub, jealousy, music, performer's life, love and romance, seduction, tango, terminal illness, bohemian life, lifestyle, artists and showbiz, passion, storytelling, dance, tragedy, theater, gay, girl, music and dance, singing, bittersweet