50 must-see comedies from the 2000s, according to critics

Meghan CookMay 8, 2020, 03:07 IST

There were a wide variety of comedies made in the 2000s.New Line Cinema; Fox Searchlight; DreamWorks

The 2000s saw the release of an eclectic mix of romantic-comedies, action parodies, and animated family films.
Memorable comedies like "I Love You, Man" (2009), "Superbad" (2007), and "Shrek" (2001) are still referenced years later.
Films like "Mean Girls" (2004), "Shaun of the Dead" (2004), and "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) became cult classics.
Critics also loved hidden gems like "Ghost World" (2001), "Sideways" (2004), and "Murder Party" (2007).
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

From animated adventures and satires to rom-coms and dramedies, the 2000s offered a wide variety of unique and memorable comedic films.

Here are 50 must-see comedies from the 2000s that have a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 85% or higher.

Read the original article on Insider

"Best in Show" (2000) parodies the elite world of dog shows.

Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy in "Best in Show." Warner Bros. Pictures

"Chicken Run" (2000) is a stop-motion animation set on a chicken farm.

Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson voiced two of the main characters in "Chicken Run." DreamWorks Pictures

A young journalist grows close to a rock band in "Almost Famous" (2000).

Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit in "Almost Famous." DreamWorks Studios

A spoiled emperor is transformed into a llama in "Emperor's New Groove" (2000).

David Spade voiced Kuzco in "Emperor's New Groove." Disney

In "Ghost World" (2001), two teens face their futures.

Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch in "Ghost World." United Artists

An ogre becomes a reluctant hero in "Shrek" (2001).

Mike Myers voiced Shrek and Cameron Diaz voiced Princess Fiona. DreamWork Animations

A womanizer forms an unlikely friendship with a mother and her son in "About a Boy" (2002).

Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult in "About a Boy." Universal Pictures

A mother and a daughter are both dealing with judgment surrounding their personal lives in "Saving Face" (2005).

Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in "Saving Face." Destination Films

A musician finds untapped talent in his newfound students in "School of Rock" (2003).

Miranda Cosgrove starred in "School of Rock." Paramount Pictures

Christopher Guest satirizes American folk music in "A Mighty Wind" (2003).

John Michael Higgins and Jane Lynch in "A Mighty Wind." Castle Rock Entertainment

Two strangers find comfort in each other in "Lost in Translation" (2003).

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson in "Lost in Translation." Focus Features

"Bend It Like Beckham" (2003) is a sports comedy with lots of heart.

Parminder Nagra, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Keira Knightley in "Bend It Like Beckham." Fox Searchlight Pictures

A daughter and mother switch bodies in "Freaky Friday" (2003).

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in "Freaky Friday." Buena Vista Pictures

A couple tries to erase their memories of each other in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004).

Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Focus Features

A struggling actor returns to his hometown in "Garden State" (2004).

Natalie Portman and Zach Braff in "Garden State." Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Shaun of the Dead" (2004) is a zombie-apocalypse film with a comedic edge.

Kate Ashfield, Simon Pegg, and Lucy Davis in "Shaun of the Dead." Universal Pictures

A new girl tries to find her place in high school in "Mean Girls" (2004).

Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and Rachel McAdams in "Mean Girls." Paramount Pictures

Shrek struggles to impress his in-laws in "Shrek 2" (2004).

Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers voiced the main characters in "Shrek 2." Dreamworks

A larger-than-life elf searches for his birth father in "Elf" (2003).

Will Ferrell in "Elf." Warner Bros

Two old friends visit vineyards in "Sideways" (2004).

Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in "Sideways." Fox Searchlight

A superhero family conceals their powers in "The Incredibles" (2004).

"The Incredibles" is Pixar's original superhero story. Disney/Pixar

A sweet nerd looks for love in "40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005).

Steve Carell in "40-Year-Old Virgin." Universal Pictures

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2005) is a comedic take on the hard-boiled detective genre.

Robert Downey Jr. in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." Warner Bros. Pictures

A dysfunctional family hits the road for a beauty pageant in "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006).

Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine." Fox Searchlight Pictures

A young student crosses class lines in "Starter for 10" (2006).

James McAvoy in "Starter for 10." Picturehouse

"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (2006) is a mockumentary about American culture.

Sasha Baron Cohen in "Borat." 20th Century Fox

Opposites attract in the romantic comedy "Knocked Up" (2007).

Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen in "Knocked Up."

"Hot Fuzz" (2007) is a parody of buddy-cop films.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in "Hot Fuzz." Universal

A teen deals with an unexpected pregnancy in "Juno" (2007).

Ellen Page and Michael Cera in "Juno." Fox Searchlight Pictures

"2 Days in Paris" (2007) is a snapshot look at modern love.

Adam Goldberg and Julie Delpy in "2 Days in Paris." Samuel Goldwyn Film/Red Envelope

A sweet princess is thrust into modern-day New York in "Enchanted" (2007).

Amy Adams in "Enchanted." Disney

"Murder Party" (2007) is a horror comedy set on Halloween.

Chris Sharp in "Murder Party." Lab of Madness

Unpopular teens lock down a party invite in "Superbad" (2007).

Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in "Superbad." Columbia Pictures

A baker looks for a way out of a strained marriage in "Waitress" (2007).

Keri Russell in "Waitress." Fox Searchlight Pictures

A rat with a passion for cooking helps a young chef in "Ratatouille" (2007).

Patton Oswalt and Lou Romano voiced two of the main characters in "Ratatouille." Disney / Pixar

"Hairspray" (2007) is a musical comedy set in 1960s Baltimore.

Queen Latifah in "Hairspray." New Line Cinema

Two hit men go stir crazy in "In Bruges" (2008).

Colin Ferrell in "In Bruges." Focus Features

The comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) is about moving on from an ex.

Jason Segel in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Universal Pictures

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" (2009) is a silly comedy about an invention gone awry.

Anna Faris and Bill Hader voiced the main characters in "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs." Sony / Columbia

"Zombieland" (2009) follows strangers brought together during a zombie apocalypse.

Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Woody Harrelson in "Zombieland." Columbia Pictures

"World's Greatest Dad" (2009) highlights what it means to be a father.

Robin Williams in "World's Greatest Dad." Magnolia Pictures via Netflix

"500 Days of Summer" (2009) looks back on a complicated relationship.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in "500 Days of Summer." Fox Searchlight

A teen falls in love with roller derby in "Whip It" (2009).

Ellen Page in "Whip It." Fox Searchlight Pictures

"The Princess and the Frog" (2009) is a magical, animated comedy.

Bruno Campos and Anika Noni Rose voiced the main characters in "The Princess and the Frog." Disney Studios

The dramatic comedy "Up in the Air" (2009) is about finding a work-life balance.

Anna Kendrick and George Clooney in "Up in the Air." Paramount Pictures

"Up" (2009) is an adventure comedy about holding onto your dreams.

Edward Asner voiced Carl in "Up." Disney/Pixar

"A Serious Man" (2009) centers on an unlucky professor.

Michael Stuhlbarg in "A Serious Man." Focus Features

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009) is a stop-motion animation about a family of foxes.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" was directed by Wes Anderson. 20th Century Fox

"Adventureland" (2009) captures life at an amusement park in 1987.

Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg in "Adventureland." Miramax

A groom-to-be searches for his best man in "I Love You, Man" (2009).

From left to right: J.K. Simmons, Lou Ferrigno, Joe Lo Truglio, Paul Rudd, Thomas Lennon, and Andy Samberg. DreamWorks Pictures

7 of the best sci-fi horror movies you can watch on Netflix

Cookies on the Business Insider India website