The 140 Essential 2000s Movies

Critics Consensus: National Treasure is no treasure, but it's a fun ride for those who can forgive its highly improbable plot.

Synopsis: Historian and code-breaker Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) has been searching his whole life for a rumored treasure dating back to the creation of the United... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean

Directed By: Jon Turteltaub

Critics Consensus: Saw ensnares audiences with a deceptively clever plot and a myriad of memorable, nasty set pieces, but its lofty ambitions are undercut by a nihilistic streak that feels more mean than profound.

Synopsis: Photographer Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and oncologist Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) regain consciousness while chained to pipes at either end of a filthy bathroom. As... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson

Directed By: James Wan

Critics Consensus: This teen romance flick feels like a predictable rehashing of other movies.

Synopsis: Sara moves from a small Midwestern town to the south side of Chicago when her mother dies in a car accident, and must live with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington, Fredro Starr

Directed By: Thomas Carter

Critics Consensus: Having lost much of its bite transitioning to the big screen, Twilight will please its devoted fans, but do little for the uninitiated.

Synopsis: High-school student Bella Swan, always a bit of a misfit, doesn't expect life to change much when she moves from sunny Arizona to rainy Washington... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Critics Consensus: It's hard not to admire its unabashed sentimentality, but The Notebook is too clumsily manipulative to rise above its melodramatic clichés.

Synopsis: In the 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands

Directed By: Nick Cassavetes

Critics Consensus: Sleek and shiny on the surface, The Fast and the Furious recalls those cheesy teenage exploitation flicks of the 1950s.

Synopsis: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) enjoys the adrenaline of street car racing and his fans treat him like a rock star. After a blazing encounter with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster

Directed By: Rob Cohen

Critics Consensus: This jukebox musical is full of fluffy fun but rough singing voices and a campy tone might not make you feel like "You Can Dance" the whole 90 minutes.

Synopsis: Donna (Meryl Streep), an independent hotelier in the Greek islands, is preparing for her daughter's wedding with the help of two old friends. Meanwhile Sophie,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård

Directed By: Phyllida Lloyd

Critics Consensus: Taken is undeniably fun with slick action, but is largely a brainless exercise.

Synopsis: A former government operative comes out of retirement and uses all his extensive training to rescue his estranged daughter from a slave trade operation.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser

Directed By: Pierre Morel

Critics Consensus: While believable characters are hard to come by in Transformers, the effects are staggering and the action is exhilarating.

Synopsis: An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson

Directed By: Michael Bay

Critics Consensus: Although this action-romance suffers from weak writing and one too many explosions, the chemistry generated by onscreen couple Pitt and Jolie is palpable enough to make this a thoroughly enjoyable summer action flick.

Synopsis: John and Jane Smith, a couple in a stagnating marriage, live a deceptively mundane existence. However, each has been hiding a secret from the other:... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody

Directed By: Doug Liman

Critics Consensus: A simple-minded but visually exciting experience, full of blood, violence, and ready-made movie quotes.

Synopsis: In 480 B.C. a state of war exists between Persia, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas (Gerard... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West

Directed By: Zack Snyder

Critics Consensus: A wacky satire on the fashion industry, Zoolander is one of those deliberately dumb comedies that can deliver genuine laughs.

Synopsis: Propelled to the top of the fashion world by a photogenic gaze he calls Blue Steel, dimwitted male model Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) thinks he's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor

Directed By: Ben Stiller

Critics Consensus: A kinetic and fun movie that's sure to thrill children of all ages.

Synopsis: Two young kids become spies in attempt to save their parents, who are ex-spies, from an evil mastermind. Armed with a bag of high tech... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez

Critics Consensus: A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.

Synopsis: Nine intertwined journeys examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects all individuals, love. Among these individuals is David, the handsome, newly elected British... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman

Directed By: Richard Curtis

Critics Consensus: Dancer in Dark can be grim, dull, and difficult to watch, but even so, it has a powerful and moving performance from Bjork and is something quite new and visionary.

Synopsis: Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour

Directed By: Lars von Trier

Critics Consensus: If it falls short of the deadly satire of Bret Easton Ellis's novel, American Psycho still finds its own blend of horror and humor, thanks in part to a fittingly creepy performance by Christian Bale.

Synopsis: In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon

Directed By: Mary Harron

Critics Consensus: Though the material is predictable and formulaic, Reese Witherspoon's funny, nuanced performance makes this movie better than it would have been otherwise.

Synopsis: Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) has it all. She wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But there is one thing stopping him... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis

Directed By: Robert Luketic

Critics Consensus: With a weaker ending, Unbreakable is not as a good as The Sixth Sense. However, it is a quietly suspenseful film that intrigues and engages, taking the audience through unpredictable twists and turns along the way.

Synopsis: David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is a mysterious stranger who offers a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright, Charlayne Woodard

Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan

Critics Consensus: Though it occasionally stumbles into sitcom territory, Something's Gotta Give is mostly a smart, funny romantic comedy, with sharp performances from Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, and Keanu Reeves.

Synopsis: When aging womanizer Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) and his young girlfriend, Marin (Amanda Peet), arrive at her family's beach house in the Hamptons, they find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand

Directed By: Nancy Meyers

Critics Consensus: Frustratingly uneven yet enjoyable overall, Idiocracy skewers society's devolution with an amiably goofy yet deceptively barbed wit.

Synopsis: In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, Terry Crews

Directed By: Mike Judge

Critics Consensus: With little gore and a lot of creepy visuals, The Ring gets under your skin, thanks to director Gore Verbinski's haunting sense of atmosphere and an impassioned performance from Naomi Watts.

Synopsis: It sounds like just another urban legend -- a videotape filled with nightmarish images leads to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox

Directed By: Gore Verbinski

Critics Consensus: The ending may be less than satisfying, but Denzel Washington reminds us why he's such a great actor in this taut and brutal police drama.

Synopsis: Police drama about a veteran officer who escorts a rookie on his first day with the LAPD's tough inner-city narcotics unit. "Training Day" is a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger

Directed By: Antoine Fuqua

Critics Consensus: An inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary, Remember the Titans may be predictable, but it's also well-crafted and features terrific performances.

Synopsis: In Virginia, high school football is a way of life, an institution revered, each game celebrated more lavishly than Christmas, each playoff distinguished more grandly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Wood Harris

Directed By: Boaz Yakin

Critics Consensus: The likable leads and subversion of racial stereotypes elevate Harold and Kumar above the typical stoner comedy.

Synopsis: Nerdy accountant Harold (John Cho) and his irrepressible friend, Kumar (Kal Penn), get stoned watching television and find themselves utterly bewitched by a commercial for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garcés, Neil Patrick Harris

Directed By: Danny Leiner

Critics Consensus: Though it sometimes feels like a television sitcom, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is good-hearted, lovable, and delightfully eccentric, with a sharp script and lead performance from Nia Vardalos.

Synopsis: Everyone in the Portokalos family worries about Toula (Nia Vardalos). Still unmarried at 30 years old, she works at Dancing Zorba's, the Greek restaurant owned... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan

Directed By: Joel Zwick

Critics Consensus: With surprisingly touching earnestness, The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants follows four best friends as they try on adulthood — and though it isn't an easy fit, their journey becomes bearable thanks to the threads they share.

Synopsis: Bridget (Blake Lively), Carmen (America Ferrera), Lena (Alexis Bledel) and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) are best friends living in Maryland. After many summers together, the four... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively

Directed By: Ken Kwapis

Critics Consensus: Visually stunning and thought-provoking, V For Vendetta's political pronouncements may rile some, but its story and impressive set pieces will nevertheless entertain.

Synopsis: Following world war, London is a police state occupied by a fascist government, and a vigilante known only as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt

Directed By: James McTeigue

Critics Consensus: Visually dazzling, with a thoughtful storyline and catchy musical numbers, Happy Feet marks a successful animated debut from the makers of Babe.

Synopsis: Mumble (Elijah Wood), a young emperor penguin, lives in Antarctica. Like others of his kind, he needs to be able to sing to attract a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman

Directed By: George Miller

Critics Consensus: Though it's light on character development and cultural empathy, Black Hawk Down is a visceral, pulse-pounding portrait of war, elevated by Ridley Scott's superb technical skill.

Synopsis: In 1993, the U.S. sends special forces into Somalia to destabilize the government and bring food and humanitarian aid to the starving population. Using Black... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Critics Consensus: Wedding Crashers is both raunchy and sweet, and features top-notch comic performances from Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Synopsis: Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John (Owen Wilson) are divorce mediators who spend their free time crashing wedding receptions. For the irrepressible duo, there are few... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams

Directed By: David Dobkin

Critics Consensus: A rare film that surpasses the quality of its source novel, this Devil is a witty expose of New York's fashion scene, with Meryl Streep in top form and Anne Hathaway more than holding her own.

Synopsis: Andy is a recent college graduate with big dreams. Upon landing a job at prestigious Runway magazine, she finds herself the assistant to diabolical editor... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier, Stanley Tucci

Directed By: David Frankel

Critics Consensus: Team America will either offend you or leave you in stitches. It'll probably do both.

Synopsis: When North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il (Trey Parker) orchestrates a global terrorist plot, it's up to the heavily armed marionettes of the highly specialized Team... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Masasa Moyo

Directed By: Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Critics Consensus: Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that never stops challenging the audience.

Synopsis: An illusion gone horribly wrong pits two 19th-century magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman), against each other in a bitter battle... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Critics Consensus: A promising work by Lin, the energetic Better Luck Tomorrow is disturbing and thought-provoking.

Synopsis: An accomplished high school student, Ben (Parry Shen) seems to excel at almost everything except winning over his dream girl, Stephanie (Karin Anna Cheung). When... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Parry Shen, Jason Tobin, Sung Kang, Roger Fan

Directed By: Justin Lin

Critics Consensus: While not everyone will be entertained by Gladiator's glum revenge story, Russell Crowe thunderously wins the crowd with a star-making turn that provides Ridley Scott's opulent resurrection of Rome its bruised heart.

Synopsis: Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Critics Consensus: A gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa isn't for everyone, but grinches will find it uproariously funny.

Synopsis: In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham

Directed By: Terry Zwigoff

Critics Consensus: Violent and definitely not for the squeamish, Park Chan-Wook's visceral Oldboy is a strange, powerful tale of revenge.

Synopsis: Dae-Su is an obnoxious drunk bailed from the police station yet again by a friend. However, he's abducted from the street and wakes up in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung, Ji Dae-han

Directed By: Park Chan-wook

Critics Consensus: A sort of Blair Witch Project crossed with Godzilla, Cloverfield is economically paced, stylistically clever, and filled with scares.

Synopsis: As a group of New Yorkers (Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman) enjoy a going-away party, little do they know that they will soon face... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Annable, Lizzy Caplan

Directed By: Matt Reeves

Critics Consensus: Step Brothers indulges in a cheerfully relentless immaturity that will quickly turn off viewers unamused by Ferrell and Reilly -- and delight those who find their antics hilarious.

Synopsis: Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) have one thing in common: they are both lazy, unemployed leeches who still live with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen

Directed By: Adam McKay

Critics Consensus: Waking Life's inventive animated aesthetic adds a distinctive visual component to a film that could easily have rested on its smart screenplay and talented ensemble cast.

Synopsis: Transcending the boundaries of technology and imagination, "Waking Life" is a revolutionary breakthrough in film animation. In "Waking Life," Wiley Wiggins ("Dazed and Confused") travels... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wiley Wiggins, Trevor Jack Brooks, Lorelei Linklater, Glover Gill

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Critics Consensus: Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

Synopsis: Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy, whose father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: May leave you exhausted like the theme park ride that inspired it; however, you'll have a good time when it's over.

Synopsis: Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

Directed By: Gore Verbinski

Critics Consensus: Zellweger's Bridget Jones is a sympathetic, likable, funny character, giving this romantic comedy a lot of charm.

Synopsis: At the start of the New Year, 32-year-old Bridget (Renée Zellweger) decides it's time to take control of her life -- and start keeping a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones

Directed By: Sharon Maguire

Critics Consensus: Besides bringing on the laughs, Barbershop displays a big heart and demonstrates the value of community.

Synopsis: A smart comedy about a day in the life of a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. Calvin (Ice Cube), who inherited the struggling... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas

Directed By: Tim Story

Critics Consensus: With a clever script and hilarious interplay among the cast, The Hangover nails just the right tone of raunchy humor, and the non-stop laughs overshadow any flaw.

Synopsis: Two days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha) and three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) drive to Las Vegas for a wild and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha

Directed By: Todd Phillips

Critics Consensus: Visually groundbreaking and terrifically violent, Sin City brings the dark world of Frank Miller's graphic novel to vivid life.

Synopsis: In this quartet of neo-noir tales, a mysterious salesman (Josh Hartnett) narrates a tragic story of co-dependency, while a musclebound vigilante (Mickey Rourke) tears his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller

Critics Consensus: As fast-paced, witty, and entertaining as it is star-studded and coolly stylish, Ocean's Eleven offers a well-seasoned serving of popcorn entertainment.

Synopsis: Dapper Danny Ocean is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Critics Consensus: Battle Royale is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.

Synopsis: 42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Masanobu Andô

Directed By: Kinji Fukasaku

Critics Consensus: A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers.

Synopsis: Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Critics Consensus: Filled with inspired silliness and quotable lines, Anchorman isn't the most consistent comedy in the world, but Will Ferrell's buffoonish central performance helps keep this portrait of a clueless newsman from going off the rails.

Synopsis: Hotshot television anchorman Ron Burgundy welcomes upstart reporter Veronica Corningstone into the male-dominated world of 1970s broadcast news -- that is, until the talented female... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell

Directed By: Adam McKay

Critics Consensus: Extremely one-sided in its indictment of the Bush administration, but worth watching for the humor and the debates it'll stir.

Synopsis: Michael Moore's political documentary uses humor and connect-the-dots investigative journalism to question the Bush administration's motives for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film argues... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Moore, Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder, George W. Bush

Directed By: Michael Moore

Critics Consensus: David Lynch's dreamlike and mysterious Mulholland Drive is a twisty neo-noir with an unconventional structure that features a mesmerizing performance from Naomi Watts as a woman on the dark fringes of Hollywood.

Synopsis: A dark-haired woman (Laura Elena Harring) is left amnesiac after a car crash. She wanders the streets of Los Angeles in a daze before taking... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Ann Miller

Directed By: David Lynch

Critics Consensus: Billy Elliot is a charming movie that can evoke both laughter and tears.

Synopsis: The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julie Walters, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis

Directed By: Stephen Daldry

Critics Consensus: Snappy dialogue and goofy characters make this Wild Wild West soap opera in space fun and adventurous.

Synopsis: In this continuation of the television series "Firefly," a group of rebels travels the outskirts of space aboard their ship, Serenity, outside the reach of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin

Directed By: Joss Whedon

Critics Consensus: Using its low-budget effects and mockumentary method to great result, Paranormal Activity turns a simple haunted house story into 90 minutes of relentless suspense.

Synopsis: Soon after moving into a suburban tract home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Amber Armstrong, Mark Fredrichs

Directed By: Oren Peli

Critics Consensus: Inspiring, compassionate, and with a sly undercurrent of social commentary, Bend It Like Beckham is a lively feel-good movie that genuinely charms.

Synopsis: Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), the daughter of a strict Indian couple (Anupam Kher, Shaheen Khan) in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi

Directed By: Gurinder Chadha

Critics Consensus: Taking full advantage of Julia Roberts's considerable talent and appeal, Erin Brockovich overcomes a few character and plot issues to deliver a smart, thoughtful, and funny legal drama.

Synopsis: Erin Brockovich is a woman in a tight spot. Following a car accident in which Erin is not at fault, Erin pleads with her attorney... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Marg Helgenberger

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Critics Consensus: Superior acting and authentic crooning capture the emotional subtleties of the legend of Johnny Cash with a freshness that is a pleasure to watch.

Synopsis: The rise of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) begins with his days as a boy growing up on the family farm, where he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick

Directed By: James Mangold

Critics Consensus: While simultaneously embracing and subverting fairy tales, the irreverent Shrek also manages to tweak Disney's nose, provide a moral message to children, and offer viewers a funny, fast-paced ride.

Synopsis: Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Directed By: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Critics Consensus: Featuring witty dialogue and deft performances, In Bruges is an effective mix of dark comedy and crime thriller elements.

Synopsis: After a particularly difficult job, hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) head to Belgium to hide out until things cool down. Ray... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ciarán Hinds

Directed By: Martin McDonagh

Critics Consensus: Richard Kelly's debut feature Donnie Darko is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character.

Synopsis: In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take Time's Arrow for a ride.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval

Directed By: Richard Kelly

Critics Consensus: Deft direction and strong performances from its all-female cast guide The Descent, a riveting, claustrophobic horror film.

Synopsis: A year after a severe emotional trauma, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes to North Carolina to spend some time exploring caves with her friends; after descending... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder

Directed By: Neil Marshall

Critics Consensus: With its vivid stop-motion animation combined with Neil Gaiman's imaginative story, Coraline is a film that's both visually stunning and wondrously entertaining.

Synopsis: While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French

Directed By: Henry Selick

Critics Consensus: Though the movie may be too intense for some to stomach, the wonderful performances and the bleak imagery are hard to forget.

Synopsis: Imaginatively evoking the inner landscape of human beings longing to connect, to love and feel loved, the film is a parable of happiness gloriously found... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Critics Consensus: Steve Carell's first star turn scores big with a tender treatment of its titular underdog, using raunchy but realistically funny comedy to connect with adult audiences.

Synopsis: Three dysfunctional co-workers embark on a mission to help their newfound friend lose his sexual innocence.

Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco

Directed By: Judd Apatow

Critics Consensus: Kill Bill is admittedly little more than a stylish revenge thriller -- albeit one that benefits from a wildly inventive surfeit of style.

Synopsis: A former assassin, known simply as The Bride (Uma Thurman), wakes from a coma four years after her jealous ex-lover Bill (David Carradine) attempts to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino

Critics Consensus: A clever, offbeat romantic comedy, 500 Days of Summer is refreshingly honest and utterly charming.

Synopsis: Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz

Directed By: Marc Webb

Critics Consensus: Well-acted and dramatically moving, The Pianist is Polanski's best work in years.

Synopsis: In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Polish... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman

Directed By: Roman Polanski

Critics Consensus: The plot is utterly ridiculous, and the soccer in the movie is unlike any ever played anywhere on Earth, but watching Shaolin Soccer, you will probably find it impossible to care.

Synopsis: All his life, an ordinary young man (Stephen Chow) has been treated like dirt. Still, he's never given up believing that all the world's problems... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yin Tse, Cecilia Cheung

Directed By: Stephen Chow, Lee Lik-Chi

Critics Consensus: Tightly scripted, solidly acted, and impressively ambitious, X2: X-Men United is bigger and better than its predecessor -- and a benchmark for comic sequels in general.

Synopsis: Stryker (Brian Cox), a villainous former Army commander, holds the key to Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) past and the future of the X-Men. This threat re-ignites... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry

Directed By: Bryan Singer

Critics Consensus: Driven by director Michael Mann's trademark visuals and a lean, villainous performance from Tom Cruise, Collateral is a stylish and compelling noir thriller.

Synopsis: A cab driver realizes his current fare is a hit man that has been having him drive around from mark to mark until the last... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo

Directed By: Michael Mann

Critics Consensus: With acerbic wit, Terry Zwigoff fashions Daniel Clowes' graphic novel into an intelligent, comedic trip through deadpan teen angst.

Synopsis: The story of neo-cool Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) who, faced with graduation from high school, take a hard look at the world... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro

Directed By: Terry Zwigoff

Critics Consensus: It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking.

Synopsis: James Cameron's Academy Award®-winning 2009 epic adventure "Avatar", returns to theaters September 23 in stunning 4K High Dynamic Range. On the lush alien world of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang

Directed By: James Cameron

Critics Consensus: Spike Lee's energetic and clever bank-heist thriller is a smart genre film that is not only rewarding on its own terms, but manages to subvert its pulpy trappings with wit and skill.

Synopsis: A tough detective matches wits with a bank robber, while an enigmatic woman has her own agenda.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Spike Lee

Critics Consensus: Star Trek reignites a classic franchise with action, humor, a strong story, and brilliant visuals, and will please traditional Trekkies and new fans alike.

Synopsis: Aboard the USS Enterprise, the most-sophisticated starship ever built, a novice crew embarks on its maiden voyage. Their path takes them on a collision course... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana

Directed By: J.J. Abrams

Critics Consensus: The Royal Tenenbaums is a delightful adult comedy with many quirks and a sense of poignancy. Many critics especially praised Hackman's performance.

Synopsis: Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Critics Consensus: Bill Murray's subtle and understated style complements director Jim Jarmusch's minimalist storytelling in this quirky, but deadpan comedy.

Synopsis: When his latest girlfriend (Julie Delpy) leaves him, retired computer magnate Don Johnston (Bill Murray) has no greater ambition than to sit around the house.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy

Directed By: Jim Jarmusch

Critics Consensus: Kinetically directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later is both a terrifying zombie movie and a sharp political allegory.

Synopsis: A group of misguided animal rights activists free a caged chimp infected with the "Rage" virus from a medical research lab. When London bike courier... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Noah Huntley, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson

Directed By: Danny Boyle

Critics Consensus: Deftly balancing vulgarity and sincerity while placing its protagonists in excessive situations, Superbad is an authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience.

Synopsis: High school seniors Seth and Evan have high hopes for a graduation party. The co-dependent teens plan to score booze and babes so they can... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader

Directed By: Greg Mottola

Critics Consensus: An exquisitely shot showcase for Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung that marks a somber evolution of Wong Kar-wai's chic style, In the Mood for Love is a tantric tease that's liable to break your heart.

Synopsis: In 1962, journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his wife move into a Hong Kong apartment, but Chow's spouse is often away on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Kelly Lai Chen, Rebecca Pan

Directed By: Kar-Wai Wong

Critics Consensus: Almost Famous, with its great ensemble performances and story, is a well-crafted, warm-hearted movie that successfully draws you into its era.

Synopsis: Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15-year-old William, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee

Directed By: Cameron Crowe

Critics Consensus: With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late summer comedy.

Synopsis: Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte

Directed By: Ben Stiller

Critics Consensus: Breathtakingly lovely and grounded by the stellar efforts of a well-chosen cast, Finding Nemo adds another beautifully crafted gem to Pixar's crown.

Synopsis: Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clown fish, is overly cautious with his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a foreshortened fin. When Nemo swims too close... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Andrew Stanton

Critics Consensus: An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes.

Synopsis: Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis

Directed By: Niki Caro

Critics Consensus: Another masterful, compassionate work from Pedro Almodovar.

Synopsis: Male nurse Benigno (Javier Cámara) becomes infatuated with a complete stranger when he watches dancer Alicia (Leonor Watling) practicing from the anonymity of his apartment.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Rosario Flores, Leonor Watling

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: The brutality of Amores Perros may be difficult to watch at times, but this intense, gritty film packs a hard wallop.

Synopsis: "Amores Perros" is a bold, intensely emotional, and ambitious story of lives that collide in a Mexico City car crash. Inventively structured as a triptych... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero

Directed By: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Critics Consensus: Led by a triumvirate of terrific performances, Alfonso Cuarón's free-spirited road trip through Mexico is a sexy and wistful hymn to the fleetingness of youth.

Synopsis: The lives of Julio and Tenoch, like those of 17-year old boys everywhere, are ruled by raging hormones, intense friendships, and a headlong rush into... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Diana Bracho

Directed By: Alfonso Cuarón

Critics Consensus: Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layered Adaptation is both funny and thought-provoking.

Synopsis: Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton

Directed By: Spike Jonze

Critics Consensus: Unlike more traditional spy films, The Lives of Others doesn't sacrifice character for cloak and dagger chases, and the performances (notably that by the late Ulrich Muhe) stay with you.

Synopsis: In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur

Directed By: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Critics Consensus: Clint Eastwood's assured direction - combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman - help Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving.

Synopsis: Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm's length, except his old friend and associate Eddie... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Critics Consensus: The brilliant minds behind Shaun of the Dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with Hot Fuzz. The result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody.

Synopsis: As a former London constable, Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine

Directed By: Edgar Wright

Critics Consensus: As populace pleasing as it is intellectually satisfying, The Host combines scares, laughs, and satire into a riveting, monster movie.

Synopsis: Careless American military personnel dump chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Several years later, a creature emerges from the tainted waters and sinks its ravenous... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doo-na

Directed By: Bong Joon Ho

Critics Consensus: A love-it-or-hate-it experience, Moulin Rouge is all style, all giddy, over-the-top spectacle. But it's also daring in its vision and wildly original.

Synopsis: 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... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

Critics Consensus: James Marsh's doc about artist Phililppe Petit's artful caper brings you every ounce of suspense that can be wrung from a man on a (suspended) wire.

Synopsis: Using actual footage from the event seamlessly mingled with new re-enactments, filmmaker James Marsh masterfully recreates high-wire daredevil Philippe Petit's 1974 stunt: performing acrobatics on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Annie Allix, Jean François Heckel

Directed By: James Marsh

Critics Consensus: A quiet, dialogue-driven thriller that delivers with scene after scene of gut-wrenching anxiety. David Fincher also spends more time illustrating nuances of his characters and recreating the mood of the '70s than he does on gory details of murder.

Synopsis: In the late 1960s and 1970s, fear grips the city of San Francisco as a serial killer called Zodiac stalks its residents. Investigators (Mark Ruffalo,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards

Directed By: David Fincher

Critics Consensus: A charming, quirky, and often funny comedy.

Synopsis: In small-town Preston, Idaho, awkward teen Napoleon Dynamite has trouble fitting in. After his grandmother is injured in an accident, his life is made even... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez

Directed By: Jared Hess

Critics Consensus: Little Miss Sunshine succeeds thanks to a strong ensemble cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, and Abigail Breslin, as well as a delightfully funny script.

Synopsis: The Hoover family -- a man (Greg Kinnear), his wife (Toni Collette), an uncle (Steve Carell), a brother (Paul Dano) and a grandfather (Alan Arkin)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin

Directed By: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

Critics Consensus: A classic Tarantino genre-blending thrill ride, Inglourious Basterds is violent, unrestrained, and thoroughly entertaining.

Synopsis: It is the first year of Germany's occupation of France. Allied officer Lt. Aldo Raine assembles a team of Jewish soldiers to commit violent acts... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino

Critics Consensus: Christopher Nolan skillfully guides the audience through Memento's fractured narrative, seeping his film in existential dread.

Synopsis: Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife's killer is compounded by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Critics Consensus: Part satire, part shockumentary, Borat gets high-fives almost all-around for being offensive in the funniest possible way. Jagshemash!

Synopsis: Outrageous situations occur when a popular reporter (Sacha Baron Cohen) from Kazakhstan comes to the United States to film a documentary.

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Pamela Anderson, Ken Davitian, Luenell

Directed By: Larry Charles

Critics Consensus: A fine example of writer-director-star Christopher Guest's gift for improv comedy, Best in Show boasts an appealingly quirky premise and a brilliantly talented cast.

Synopsis: The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara

Directed By: Christopher Guest

Critics Consensus: Widely touted as a masterpiece, this sparse and sprawling epic about the underhanded "heroes" of capitalism boasts incredible performances by leads Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano, and is director Paul Thomas Anderson's best work to date.

Synopsis: Silver miner Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) leads a hardscrabble life with his son, H.W. (Dillon Freasier). When he hears about oil oozing from the ground... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson

Critics Consensus: The feel-good Amelie is a lively, fanciful charmer, showcasing Audrey Tautou as its delightful heroine.

Synopsis: "Amélie" is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau

Directed By: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Critics Consensus: Technically brilliant and emotionally wrenching, District 9 has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic.

Synopsis: Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth -- not to conquer or give aid, but -- to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Vanessa Haywood

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Critics Consensus: A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War.

Synopsis: Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner), Sgt. J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are members of a bomb-disposal unit in Baghdad.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow

Critics Consensus: Thought-provoking and visceral, Steven Spielberg successfully combines high concept ideas and high octane action in this fast and febrile sci-fi thriller.

Synopsis: Based on a story by famed science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, "Minority Report" is an action-detective thriller set in Washington D.C. in 2054, where... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Critics Consensus: Featuring gut-wrenching performances from Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu, 4 Months is a gripping portrayal of life in Communist Romania.

Synopsis: The courage and friendship of two Romanian college students are tested when Gabita discovers that she is pregnant by her boyfriend, and seeks an illegal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean

Directed By: Cristian Mungiu

Critics Consensus: Featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast, The Departed is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality we come to expect from Martin Scorsese.

Synopsis: South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Critics Consensus: Boasting an entertaining villain and deeper emotional focus, Spider-Man 2 is a nimble sequel that improves upon the original.

Synopsis: When a failed nuclear fusion experiment results in an explosion that kills his wife, Dr. Otto Octavius is transformed into Dr. Octopus, a cyborg with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina

Directed By: Sam Raimi

Critics Consensus: One of the brightest, funniest comedies of the year, Juno's smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming-of-age story with a 21st century twist.

Synopsis: When precocious teen Juno MacGuff becomes pregnant, she chooses a failed rock star and his wife to adopt her unborn child. Complications occur when Mark,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Critics Consensus: The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent, finely tuned non-stop thrill ride. Another strong performance from Matt Damon and sharp camerawork from Paul Greengrass make this the finest installment of the Bourne trilogy.

Synopsis: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues his international quest to uncover his true identity. From Russia to Europe to northern Africa to the United States, he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn

Directed By: Paul Greengrass

Critics Consensus: Persepolis is an emotionally powerful, dramatically enthralling autobiographical gem, and the film's simple black-and-white images are effective and bold.

Synopsis: Based on Satrapi's graphic novel about her life in pre and post-revolutionary Iran and then in Europe. The film traces Satrapi's growth from child to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian

Directed By: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud

Critics Consensus: Featuring an impressive star turn by newcomer Tahar Rahim, A Prophet is a French gangster film filled with arresting, immediate details.

Synopsis: This acclaimed crime drama follows Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a delinquent young Muslim man, who is struggling to get by in a French prison.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb

Directed By: Jacques Audiard

Critics Consensus: A charming, captivating tale of love and music, Once sets the standard for the modern musical. And with Dublin as its backdrop, Once is fun and fresh.

Synopsis: A vacuum repairman (Glen Hansard) moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break. One day a Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova), who earns... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh, Gerry Hendrick

Directed By: John Carney

Critics Consensus: Catapulting Ang Lee into the upper echelon of Hollywood filmmakers, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon features a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles, beautiful scenery, and tasteful drama.

Synopsis: In 19th century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior (Chow Yun-Fat) gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover (Michelle Yeoh) to deliver to safe keeping,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen

Directed By: Ang Lee

Critics Consensus: Charming, thoughtful, and often funny, Sideways is a decidedly mature road trip comedy full of excellent performances.

Synopsis: Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Critics Consensus: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone adapts its source material faithfully while condensing the novel's overstuffed narrative into an involving -- and often downright exciting -- big-screen magical caper.

Synopsis: Adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, John Cleese

Directed By: Chris Columbus

Critics Consensus: Casino Royale disposes of the silliness and gadgetry that plagued recent James Bond outings, and Daniel Craig delivers what fans and critics have been waiting for: a caustic, haunted, intense reinvention of 007.

Synopsis: After receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench

Directed By: Martin Campbell

Critics Consensus: Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, Slumdog Millionaire is a film that's both entertaining and powerful.

Synopsis: As 18-year-old Jamal Malik answers questions on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," flashbacks show how he got there. Part of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor

Directed By: Danny Boyle

Critics Consensus: Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular.

Synopsis: This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks

Directed By: Peter Lord, Nick Park

Critics Consensus: Bringing loads of wit and tons of fun to the animated superhero genre, The Incredibles easily lives up to its name.

Synopsis: In this lauded Pixar animated film, married superheroes Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) are forced to assume mundane lives as Bob... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee

Directed By: Brad Bird

Critics Consensus: City of God offers a shocking and disturbing -- but always compelling -- look at life in the slums of Rio de Janiero.

Synopsis: In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Phellipe Haagensen) is a budding photographer who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva

Directed By: Fernando Meirelles

Critics Consensus: Let the Right One In reinvigorates the seemingly tired vampire genre by effectively mixing scares with intelligent storytelling.

Synopsis: When Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a sensitive, bullied 12-year-old boy living with his mother in suburban Sweden, meets his new neighbor, the mysterious and moody Eli... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl

Directed By: Tomas Alfredson

Critics Consensus: Filled with engaging dialogue, Before Sunset is a witty, poignant romance, with natural chemistry between Hawke and Delpy.

Synopsis: A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torres

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Critics Consensus: Wall-E's stellar visuals testify once again to Pixar's ingenuity, while its charming star will captivate younger viewers -- and its timely story offers thought-provoking subtext.

Synopsis: WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class, is the last robot left on Earth. He spends his days tidying up the planet, one piece... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard

Directed By: Andrew Stanton

Critics Consensus: A beautiful, epic Western, Brokeback Mountain's love story is imbued with heartbreaking universality thanks to moving performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Synopsis: In 1963, rodeo cowboy Jack Twist and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar are hired by rancher Joe Aguirre as sheep herders in Wyoming. One night... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris

Directed By: Ang Lee

Critics Consensus: Elevated by a brilliant screenplay and outstanding ensemble cast, Mean Girls finds fresh, female-fronted humor in the high school experience.

Synopsis: Teenage Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) was educated in Africa by her scientist parents. When her family moves to the suburbs of Illinois, Cady finally gets... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows

Directed By: Mark Waters

Critics Consensus: Mickey Rourke gives a performance for the ages in The Wrestler, a richly affecting, heart-wrenching yet ultimately rewarding drama.

Synopsis: Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Critics Consensus: An exciting, funny, and poignant adventure, Up offers an impeccably crafted story told with wit and arranged with depth, as well as yet another visual Pixar treat.

Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, he flies away to the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson

Directed By: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Critics Consensus: Powered by Robert Downey Jr.'s vibrant charm, Iron Man turbo-charges the superhero genre with a deft intelligence and infectious sense of fun.

Synopsis: A billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), is conducting weapons tests overseas, but terrorists kidnap him to force him to build... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Critics Consensus: Shaun of the Dead cleverly balances scares and witty satire, making for a bloody good zombie movie with loads of wit.

Synopsis: Shaun is a 30-something loser with a dull, easy existence. When he's not working at the electronics store, he lives with his slovenly best friend,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Nick Frost

Directed By: Edgar Wright

Critics Consensus: Bolstered by powerful lead performances from Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones, No Country for Old Men finds the Coen brothers spinning cinematic gold out of Cormac McCarthy's grim, darkly funny novel.

Synopsis: While out hunting, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds the grisly aftermath of a drug deal. Though he knows better, he cannot resist the cash left... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson

Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Critics Consensus: Children of Men works on every level: as a violent chase thriller, a fantastical cautionary tale, and a sophisticated human drama about societies struggling to live.

Synopsis: When infertility threatens mankind with extinction and the last child born has perished, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) becomes the unlikely champion in the fight... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Directed By: Alfonso Cuarón

Critics Consensus: Propelled by Charlie Kaufman's smart, imaginative script and Michel Gondry's equally daring directorial touch, Eternal Sunshine is a twisty yet heartfelt look at relationships and heartache.

Synopsis: After a painful breakup, Clementine (Kate Winslet) undergoes a procedure to erase memories of her former boyfriend Joel (Jim Carrey) from her mind. When Joel... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo

Directed By: Michel Gondry

Critics Consensus: Pan's Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbinding fable.

Synopsis: In 1944 in Spain, Ofelia and her ailing mother arrive at the post of her mother's new husband, a sadistic army officer who is trying... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Álex Angulo

Directed By: Guillermo del Toro

Critics Consensus: Spirited Away is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them.

Synopsis: 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. After taking a wrong turn down a wooded path,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Effectively balancing humor and subtle pathos, Sofia Coppola crafts a moving, melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

Synopsis: A lonely, aging movie star named Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and a conflicted newlywed, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), meet in Tokyo. Bob is there to film... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris

Directed By: Sofia Coppola

Critics Consensus: Full of eye-popping special effects, and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring brings J.R.R. Tolkien's classic to vivid life.

Synopsis: The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Critics Consensus: Dark, complex, and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.

Synopsis: With the help of allies, Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent, Batman is able to keep a tight lid on crime in Gotham City.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine

Directed By: Christopher Nolan