The turn of a century is usually a big deal, but the turn of a millennium is monumental. There have only been two according to the current Gregorian calendar, and one was much more well-documented than the other. The world went wild for Y2K, with some people fearing the millennium bug, and others embracing what felt like science fiction. While there was a lot going on in the world, there seemed to be a feeling of hope and excitement about what this new time could bring, and that was reflected in the fashion, music, TV, and movies of the 2000s.

Mixing the past and the future, the 2000s aesthetics were truly special. When it came to clothing, the waist had never been lower, the hems had never been more confused, and scarves had never been skinnier. The music of the time was elite, with some of the best R&B, rock, and pop songs ever made, and reality TV began to take over. Tabloids were at their peak, and the internet was only starting to take off. Hollywood churned out many iconic movies in the 2000s, and some of them are a time capsule of this very interesting and unapologetic decade.

7

A Cinderella Story (2004)

Directed by Mark Rosman

A Cinderalla Story star Hilary Duff was one of the teen queens of the 2000s, and her music and acting career flourished. Not only was she Lizzie McGuire, but she created the iconic “Coming Clean,” which became the theme song to MTV hit, Laguna Beach. So much about Duff herself defines the aesthetic of the decade, but this film captured its unique take on modern technology so perfectly. Sam and Austin strike up an online romance, and only communicate via email and text.

That means multiple sH๏τs of flip phones, chunky desktops, and very confusing messaging templates. It’s basically the film version of the scene in Nelly’s “Dilemma” song, where Kelly Rowland sends a “text” on an Excel spreadsheet. A Cinderella Story also features the classic trope of a football player with a heart, and a conventionally attractive girl being completely invisible. Jennifer Coolidge has some of the most iconic lines of the decade, and a pre-Oscar Regina King is charming as the “fairy godmother” figure.

6

Lady Bird (2017)

Directed by Greta Gerwig

It’s not often that films that came out later than the time period they are depicting can capture their essence. But, perhaps because she experienced it as a young adult, Greta Gerwig gets so much of the feel of it spot on. She captures the need for something more, wanting to leave a small town for the big city, and the type of gentle rebellion that a lot of young people went through at the time. The financial struggle her family goes through was also a realistic depiction of middle-class life with no added gloss.

In fact, the whole film feels like a more realistic vision of the 2000s. A lot of the media of the time was loud and colorful, so this muted vision is much more what everyday life would have been like. The attention to detail was great, with dial-up internet, ʙuттerfly clips, and authentic ’00s music. It is also refreshing to see Lady Bird go through crushes and friend drama without posting it all online.

5

Crossroads (2002)

Directed by Tamra Davis

The early 2000s music scene belonged to the undisputed pop princess, Britney Spears. She dominated the charts, the radio, and TRL, and Crossroads was her attempt to conquer the world of acting. As per her autobiography, she immersed herself fully into the role of Lucy, who is a timid honor student with a hidden talent. The coming-of-age story captures so many tropes of the decade, like a road trip, impromptu sing-along sequence, and childhood friendships.

There is also a plot point that sees Lucy try and reconnect with her absentee mother, to fill a void that has been holding her back from her pᴀssions. With a soundtrack that features songs by Britney herself, and some of the most 2000s fashion committed to film, watching it now feels so nostalgic. Color-tinted sunglᴀsses, platform flip-flops, and handkerchief headscarves were all the rage, and the three girls wore them all.

4

Thirteen (2003)

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke

A darker take on growing up in the 2000s, Thirteen explores the pitfalls of adolescence and was co-written by Nikki Reed, who was close to that age, tapping into many things she herself experienced. She also co-stars in the film as the enigmatic but troubled Evie Zamora, who forms a close friendship with Evan Rachel Wood’s Tracy. The two experience the L.A. party scene, even though they are both criminally underage, but they experience a lot of the same things adults do. Sєx, drugs, alcohol, and smoking are all on the table.

The film’s aesthetic is much more gritty than many other teen films of the decade, but that edge was prevalent in society as well, and resonated with a more alternative crowd. Many young people saw themselves in the characters, and many parents saw their worst nightmare on screen, as Holly Hunter discovers that her daughter had shoplifted and often self-harmed. This was the dark reality of girlhood in the 2000s.

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3

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Directed by Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan

Based on a cartoon from the 1970s, and an even older series of comics, this fictional band was given a very 2000s makeover in this version of Josie and the Pussycats. The story is a clever satire of consumerism and product placement, which had been rampant for a few years already, and sadly, got even worse in the years after the film came out. The music scene was also being criticized for churning out manufactured acts as if they were products, which this film shines a light on too. And, this was all pre-American Idol and X-Factor-type shows.

The concept may have been slightly too much too soon, and the movie has since gained more popularity in the years after its release. As the “It-girl” of the early noughties, Tara Reid’s presence in the movie captures the very essence of the decade. The band’s style also plays a huge part in creating an authentic feel of the popular aesthetics of the time. Giving Josie that hair flick, all the shimmery makeup, and the impossibly low-slung, boot-cut trousers were all what real pop stars were wearing, so they got it exactly right.

2

Garden State (2004)

Directed by Zach Braff

Indie films were huge at the time, and captured the more soulful and introspective atтιтude of the 2000s. Garden State focused on a man dealing with disᴀssociation and over-medication, as he reᴀssesses his numbed existence when he returns home for a funeral. Zach Braff wrote and directed the movie, which was a sort of homage to his New Jersey upbringing and small-town roots. The hazy aesthetics evoke the dreamlike way people view their childhoods, as well as the desensitized way Andrew sees the world.

The movie also features one of the biggest tropes of the decade, which is that of a “manic pixie dream girl,” in this case portrayed by Natalie Portman. She exists only in his eyes, and only to serve his story. She is perfectly imperfect, and many young women in the 2000s tried to emulate this version of femininity in real life as well. The score and the soundtrack embody the music scene of the time, and show many viewers what those who were around at the time most certainly had on their MP3 players.

1

Mean Girls (2004)

Directed by Mark Waters

Lindsay Lohan’s grip on the 2000s was unmatched. Movies like Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Just My Luck encapsulated a lot of the cinematic experience of the time, and one of her biggest hits, Freaky Friday, even incited beef with fellow ’00s star, Hilary Duff. Mean Girls catapulted Lohan into the stratosphere, and is the perfect embodiment of youth culture of the decade. From the fashion to the endlessly quotable script by Tina Fey, it serves as a snapsH๏τ of the time, taken on a digital camera, of course.

Even the premise of “girl world” shows just how much compeтιтion existed between cliques. High school usually tends to serve as a microcosm of the real world, and North Shore is a good indicator of how it was at the time. The celebrity culture, the focus on status, and tonnes of Juicy Tubes lip gloss were all prevalent in society. The fact that there has been a musical and subsequent movie, and that people still celebrate October 3rd and wear pink on Wednesdays, is a testament to the film’s staying power, and how it captured the magic of the 2000s.