Yes, another teen movie: Stream Y2K's best flicks
The 2000s era has been making a comeback recently, but for many in Generation Z and Millennials, this time period feels like just yesterday.
As a Generation Z-er myself, I absolutely loved the early 2000s and the time leading up to the 2010s. Even though I was only a child at the time, I personally have so many core memories attached to the time period.
When it comes to movie genres, one of my favorites is young adult and teen movies. Whether it’s a comedy, drama or thriller, teen movies always hit the nail on the head and create a hilariously relatable and memorable watching experience for the viewer.
Maybe it’s a small yearning for a return to my teen years, but for me personally, many classic 2000s teen movies will always be my first suggestion for a cozy night in.
They can make you laugh, cry or create a true feeling of nostalgia. What’s not to love?
Grab your favorite movie snacks, and read the list I’ve compiled below of some of the best 2000s films to watch during your next movie night.
"Bring It On" (2000)
Who doesn’t love a movie about competitive cheerleading? “Bring It On” centers around the Toro cheerleading squad and its new captain, Torrance, portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, who fall into a rivalry with the Clovers cheerleading squad and its captain Isis, portrayed by Gabrielle Union.
This movie is filled with comedy, drama, a love story and a whole lot of cheer stunts. What’s there not to love? I’ve found myself coming back to this film time and time again whenever I want to watch a reliable movie with a good plot and entertaining performances.
“Bring It On” is available to rent on Prime Video for $3.99.
"Mean Girls" (2004)
This list would not be complete without this true classic.
“Mean Girls” centers around Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan, a transfer student from Africa who’s never been to an American public school before. She eventually makes it in with the likes of Karen, Gretchen and Regina George, the school's ultimate popular girls, better known as “the Plastics,” but everything quickly goes downhill for Cady.
This movie is truly iconic, and for good reason. It’s ridiculously funny and dramatic, has phenomenal characters portrayed by an all-star cast and is just all-around a great movie. If you’ve never seen it, it’s an absolute must.
“Mean Girls” is available to stream on Paramount+.
"John Tucker Must Die" (2006)
A more recent discovery of mine, “John Tucker Must Die” has turned into one of my favorite movies of all time.
It centers around three girls who all go to the same high school but are completely different from each other. They eventually learn that they’re all dating the same guy, John Tucker, and to get revenge, they enlist the help of a new girl in town to take him down for good.
This movie is filled with a phenomenal cast and hilariously funny jokes and is overall such a great watch. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend.
“John Tucker Must Die” is available to stream on Hulu with the Starz add-on.
"Freaky Friday" (2003)
Another Lohan classic, this has been one of my favorite movies for years.
“Freaky Friday” revolves around edgy teen Anna, played by Lohan, and her mother Tess, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. After constantly arguing with one another, a spell gets placed on them from a mysterious fortune cookie, causing them to switch bodies so they can live in each other’s shoes.
Directed by Mark Waters, who also directed “Mean Girls,” this film is truly a Disney classic. It’s funny, heartwarming and has amazing music. If you’ve somehow never seen it, I highly recommend it for your next movie night.
“Freaky Friday” is available to stream on Disney+.
"13 Going On 30" (2004)
While this movie isn’t necessarily a movie about teenagers, it deals with the implications and stress of entering your teen years and overall is one of my favorite movies of all time.
“13 Going On 30” stars Hollywood icon Jennifer Garner who plays Jenna Rink, a young girl who is sick of being a teenager and wishes to become “30, flirty and thriving.” The next day, she wakes up as the 30-year-old version of herself and struggles to gain a footing in her newfound life as an adult.
This movie has heaps of comedy, drama, a love story and many heartwarming moments that are extremely emotional. Overall, this is truly an iconic movie for a reason and is a must if you’ve never watched.
“13 Going On 30” is available to stream on HBO Max.
"Legally Blonde" (2001)
Another 2000s classic, this movie truly never gets old.
“Legally Blonde” follows Elle Woods, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, on her journey to get into Harvard Law School to impress her ex-boyfriend Warner. The film takes you through Elle’s journey of self-discovery, meeting new and unlikely friends and her struggles in law school.
This film is truly amazing and is filled with a phenomenal cast, hilarious characters and a heartwarming story about finding your worth.
“Legally Blonde” is available to stream on YouTube for free with ads.
"The Devil Wears Prada" (2006)
This is another one of my all-time favorites that I could truly never get enough of.
Starring phenomenal talents such as Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt, “The Devil Wears Prada” is a hilariously dramatic movie for comedy and fashion lovers alike. It follows Andy, a recent college graduate who aspires to become a journalist, but ends up as the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly.
The film details Andy’s struggles to adapt to her new job in the fashion industry, one that she has no experience or passion for. It has an all-star cast and hilarious and heartwarming moments and is truly an unforgettable movie.
“The Devil Wears Prada” is available to stream on Disney+.
