Top 84 Ranked

The Greatest Films of 2004

Modern Classics and Epic Cinematic Masterpieces

Explore the best films of the year including acclaimed dramas, groundbreaking animation, and iconic superhero sequels in our definitive top ranked list.

Draft Best 2004 Movies with friends and our judges will crown a winner!

About Movies in 2004

To many film historians, 2004 represents a strange, beautiful bridge between the old guard of Hollywood and the chaotic digital frontier that was just starting to take shape. It was a year defined by massive cultural provocations, the peak of the DVD era, and a refreshing willingness from major studios to take risks on weird, auteur driven projects. When we look back two decades later, 2004 stands out not because of a single dominant trend, but because of its sheer variety and the way it challenged the status quo.

The most undeniable phenomenon of the year was the way cinema became a battleground for cultural and political discourse. Mel Gibson released The Passion of the Christ, a brutal, religious epic spoken entirely in dead languages that became a massive box office juggernaut despite every industry prediction to the contrary. Only months later, Michael Moore upended the documentary world with Fahrenheit 9/11, which became a legitimate summer blockbuster and proved that non fiction could draw crowds just as large as any superhero movie. These films showed that the theater was still a primary place for the public to process their beliefs and frustrations.

In the realm of pure artistry, 2004 was a landmark year for the soulful and the imaginative. We saw the release of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a film that remains a touchstone for anyone who has ever survived a heartbreak. It proved that Jim Carrey was capable of profound stillness and that Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman could turn high concept science fiction into something deeply human. Meanwhile, Alexander Payne delivered Sideways, a mid budget comedy about wine and middle aged regret that became an unexpected cultural sensation. This was an era where a movie about two guys driving through Napa Valley could still be the center of the cinematic conversation.

Animation also underwent a seismic shift in 2004. Pixar released The Incredibles, which many still consider to be one of the finest superhero movies ever made, while DreamWorks hit a massive peak with Shrek 2. These films solidified the complete transition from hand drawn animation to CGI as the industry standard. Even Clint Eastwood, a titan of the classical era, reached a late career high with Million Dollar Baby, a stark and devastating drama that eventually swept the Academy Awards.

For many film fans, 2004 is remembered as the last great year of the mid budget movie. It was a time before the absolute dominance of cinematic universes, where a historical epic like Troy or a quirky cult classic like Napoleon Dynamite could exist in the same cultural space. It felt like the industry was firing on all cylinders, catering to adults, children, and intellectuals alike. From the neon soaked streets of Michael Mann's Collateral to the terrifying arrival of the modern zombie in the Dawn of the Dead remake, there was a sense of craft and purpose in almost every genre. Looking back, 2004 serves as a reminder of what the theatrical experience looks like when it is at its most daring and diverse.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
84
2004 in Van Helsing (2004)
Van Helsing
2004

Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula. Anna Valerious reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family.

Horror
Adventure
2h 12m
Stephen Sommers
Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham
83
2004 in Birth (2004)
Birth
2004

It took Anna 10 years to recover from the death of her husband, Sean, but now she's on the verge of marrying her boyfriend, Joseph, and finally moving on. However, on the night of her engagement party, a young boy named Sean turns up, saying he is her dead husband reincarnated. At first she ignores the child, but his knowledge of her former husband's life is uncanny, leading her to believe that he might be telling the truth.

Drama
Mystery
1h 40m
Jonathan Glazer
Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall
82
2004 in Wicker Park (2004)
Wicker Park
2004

Matthew, a young advertising executive in Chicago, puts his life and a business trip to China on hold when he thinks he sees Lisa, the love of his life who left him without a word two years earlier, walking out of a restaurant one day.

Drama
Mystery
1h 55m
Paul McGuigan

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81
2004 in The Alamo (2004)
The Alamo
2004

Based on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

History
War
2h 17m
John Lee Hancock
80
2004 in The Forgotten (2004)
The Forgotten
2004

Telly Paretta is a grieving mother struggling to cope with the loss of her 9-year-old son. She is stunned when her psychiatrist reveals that she has created nine years of memories about a son she never had. But when she remembers a man who had a similar experience, Telly embarks on a search to prove her son's existence, and her sanity.

Thriller
Mystery
1h 31m
Joseph Ruben
79
2004 in Saving Face (2004)
Saving Face
2004

A Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother are reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations.

Comedy
Romance
1h 37m
Alice Wu
Joan Chen, Michelle Krusiec, Lynn Chen, Jin Wang
78
2004 in A Cinderella Story (2004)
A Cinderella Story
2004

Routinely exploited by her wicked stepmother, the downtrodden Samantha Montgomery is excited about the prospect of meeting her Internet beau at the school's Halloween dance.

Comedy
Family
1h 35m
Mark Rosman
Hilary Duff, Chad Michael Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Dan Byrd
77
2004 in Without a Paddle (2004)
Without a Paddle
2004

Three friends, whose lives have been drifting apart, reunite for the funeral of a fourth childhood friend. When looking through their childhood belongings, they discover a trunk which contained details on a quest their friend was attempting. It revealed that he was hot on the trail of the $200,000 that went missing with airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper in 1971. They decide to continue his journey, but do not understand the dangers they will soon encounter.

Comedy
Action
1h 35m
Steven Brill
Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Ethan Suplee
76
2004 in 50 First Dates (2004)
50 First Dates
2004

Henry is a player skilled at seducing women. But when this veterinarian meets Lucy, a girl with a quirky problem when it comes to total recall, he realizes it's possible to fall in love all over again…and again, and again. That's because the delightful Lucy has no short-term memory, so Henry must woo her day after day until he finally sweeps her off her feet.

Comedy
Romance
1h 39m
Peter Segal
75
2004 in Shark Tale (2004)
Shark Tale
2004

Oscar is a small fish whose big aspirations often get him into trouble. Meanwhile, Lenny is a great white shark with a surprising secret that no sea creature would guess: He's a vegetarian. When a lie turns Oscar into an improbable hero and Lenny becomes an outcast, the two form an unlikely friendship.

Animation
Action
1h 30m
Bibo Bergeron
74

When a seemingly straight-forward drug deal goes awry, XXXX has to break his die-hard rules and turn up the heat, not only to outwit the old regime and come out on top, but to save his own skin...

Drama
Thriller
1h 45m
Matthew Vaughn
73
2004 in King Arthur (2004)
King Arthur
2004

The story of the Arthurian legend, based on the 'Sarmatian hypothesis' which contends that the legend has a historical nucleus in the Sarmatian heavy cavalry troops stationed in Britain, and that the Roman-British military commander, Lucius Artorius Castus is the historical person behind the legend.

Adventure
War
72

A young man receives an emergency phone call on his cell phone from an older woman. She claims to have been kidnapped – and the kidnappers have targeted her husband and child next.

Action
Thriller
1h 34m
David R. Ellis
71
2004 in De-Lovely (2004)
De-Lovely
2004

From Paris to Venice to Broadway to Hollywood, the lives of Cole Porter and his wife, Linda Lee Thomas were never less than glamorous and wildly unconventional. And though Cole's thirst for life strained their marriage, Linda never stopped being his muse, inspiring some of the greatest songs of the twentieth century.

Drama
Music
2h 5m
Irwin Winkler
Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McNally
70
2004 in EuroTrip (2004)
EuroTrip
2004

When Scott learns that his longtime cyber-buddy from Berlin is a gorgeous young woman, he and his friends embark on a trip across Europe.

Comedy
1h 32m
Jeff Schaffer
Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Michelle Trachtenberg, Travis Wester
69
2004 in The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Stepford Wives
2004

What does it take to become a Stepford wife, a woman perfect beyond belief? Ask the Stepford husbands, who've created this high-tech, terrifying little town.

Comedy
Science Fiction
1h 33m
Frank Oz
68
2004 in The Grudge (2004)
The Grudge
2004

An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

Horror
Mystery
1h 32m
Takashi Shimizu
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Takako Fuji, Yuya Ozeki
67
2004 in The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
The Manchurian Candidate
2004

Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mysterious implant embedded in his back, the memory of what really happened begins to return.

Drama
Thriller
2h 10m
Jonathan Demme
Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, Simon McBurney
66
2004 in Spanglish (2004)
Spanglish
2004

Mexican immigrant and single mother Flor Moreno finds housekeeping work with Deborah and John Clasky, a well-off couple with two children of their own. When Flor admits she can't handle the schedule because of her daughter, Cristina, Deborah decides they should move into the Clasky home. Cultures clash and tensions run high as Flor and the Claskys struggle to share space while raising their children on their own, and very different, terms.

Drama
Comedy
2h 10m
James L. Brooks
65
2004 in The Machinist (2004)
The Machinist
2004

Trevor, an insomniac lathe operator, experiences unusual occurrences at work and home. A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else seems to notice him.

Thriller
Drama
1h 42m
Brad Anderson
Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
64
2004 in Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Exorcist: The Beginning
2004

Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa.

Horror
1h 54m
Renny Harlin
Stellan Skarsgård, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Julian Wadham
63
2004 in Alexander (2004)
Alexander
2004

Alexander, the King of Macedonia, leads his legions against the giant Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, he leads his army across the then known world, venturing farther than any westerner had ever gone, all the way to India.

62
2004 in Along Came Polly (2004)
Along Came Polly
2004

Reuben Feffer is a guy who's spent his entire life playing it safe. Polly Prince is irresistible as a free-spirit who lives for the thrill of the moment. When these two comically mismatched souls collide, Reuben's world is turned upside down, as he makes an uproarious attempt to change his life from middle-of-the-road to totally-out-there.

Comedy
Romance
1h 30m
John Hamburg
61
2004 in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
2004

As the city is locked down under quarantine, Alice finds out that the people that died from the previous incident at the Umbrella Corporation have turned into zombies. She then joins a small band of elite soldiers, who are enlisted to rescue the missing daughter of the creator of the mutating T-virus. Once lack of luck and resources happen, they begin to wage an exhilarating battle to survive and escape before the Umbrella Corporation erases its experiment from the face of the earth.

Horror
Action
1h 34m
Alexander Witt
Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Thomas Kretschmann
60
2004 in Secret Window (2004)
Secret Window
2004

Mort Rainey, a writer just emerging from a painful divorce with his ex-wife, is stalked at his remote lake house by a psychotic stranger and would-be scribe who claims Rainey swiped his best story idea. But as Rainey endeavors to prove his innocence, he begins to question his own sanity.

Mystery
Thriller
1h 36m
David Koepp
Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton
59
2004 in The Sea Inside (2004)
The Sea Inside
2004

Ramón Sampedro is a ship mechanic and part-time poet left a quadriplegic following a diving accident. Ramón fought for 30 years for the legal right to end his own life. He develops close relationships with his long-term lawyer Julia and his friend Rosa, who tries to convince him that his life is worth living. Despite his situation, Ramón manages to inspire those around him to live life to the fullest.

Drama
2h 6m
Alejandro Amenábar
Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Lola Dueñas, Joan Dalmau
58
2004 in Beyond the Sea (2004)
Beyond the Sea
2004

Based on the life and career of legendary entertainer, Bobby Darin, the biopic moves back and forth between his childhood and adulthood, to tell the tale of his life.

Drama
Music
Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, Bob Hoskins
57
2004 in Mindhunters (2004)
Mindhunters
2004

Trainees in the FBI's psychological profiling program must put their training into practice when they discover a killer in their midst. Based very loosely on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

Mystery
Thriller
1h 46m
Renny Harlin
Kathryn Morris, Jonny Lee Miller, LL Cool J, Christian Slater
56
2004 in Alfie (2004)
Alfie
2004

A tale of a philosophical womanizer who is forced to question his seemingly carefree existence.

Comedy
Drama
1h 46m
Charles Shyer
Jude Law, Marisa Tomei, Omar Epps, Jane Krakowski
55
2004 in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
2004

There's trouble brewing in Bikini Bottom. Someone has stolen King Neptune's crown, and it looks like Mr. Krab, SpongeBob's boss, is the culprit. Though he's just been passed over for the promotion of his dreams, SpongeBob stands by his boss, and along with his best pal Patrick, sets out on a treacherous mission to Shell City to reclaim the crown and save Mr. Krab's life.

Family
Comedy
1h 27m
Stephen Hillenburg
Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke
54
2004 in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2004

Renowned oceanographer Steve Zissou has sworn vengeance upon the rare shark that devoured a member of his crew. In addition to his regular team, he is joined on his boat by Ned, a man who believes Zissou to be his father, and Jane, a journalist pregnant by a married man. They travel the sea, all too often running into pirates and, perhaps more traumatically, various figures from Zissou's past, including his estranged wife, Eleanor.

53
2004 in In Good Company (2004)
In Good Company
2004

Dan Foreman is a seasoned advertisement sales executive at a high-ranking publication when a corporate takeover results in him being placed under naive supervisor Carter Duryea, who is half his age. Matters are made worse when Dan's new supervisor becomes romantically involved with his daughter an 18 year-old college student Alex.

Comedy
Drama
1h 50m
Paul Weitz
52
2004 in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
2004

When gigantic robots attack New York City, "Sky Captain" uses his private air force to fight them off. His ex-girlfriend, reporter Polly Perkins, has been investigating the recent disappearance of prominent scientists. Suspecting a link between the global robot attacks and missing men, Sky Captain and Polly decide to work together. They fly to the Himalayas in pursuit of the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf, the mastermind behind the robots.

Mystery
Action
1h 47m
Kerry Conran
51
2004 in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
2004

Nerdy accountant Harold and his irrepressible friend, Kumar, get stoned watching television and find themselves utterly bewitched by a commercial for White Castle. Convinced there must be one nearby, the two set out on a late-night odyssey that takes them deep into New Jersey. Somehow, the boys manage to run afoul of rednecks, cops and even a car-stealing Neil Patrick Harris before getting anywhere near their beloved sliders.

Comedy
Adventure
1h 28m
Danny Leiner
John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garcés, Neil Patrick Harris
50

It's the 1970s and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy is the top dog in local TV, but that's all about to change when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone arrives as a new employee at his station.

49
2004 in Ladder 49 (2004)
Ladder 49
2004

Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures into a seasoned veteran at a Baltimore fire station. However, Jack has reached a crossroads as the sacrifices he's made have put him in harm's way innumerable times and significantly impacted his relationship with his wife and kids.

Drama
Action
1h 55m
Jay Russell
Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Jacinda Barrett, Robert Patrick
48
2004 in The Village (2004)
The Village
2004

When a willful young man tries to venture beyond his sequestered Pennsylvania hamlet, his actions set off a chain of chilling incidents that will alter the community forever.

Drama
Mystery
47
2004 in White Chicks (2004)
White Chicks
2004

Two FBI agent brothers, Marcus and Kevin Copeland, accidentally foil a drug bust. To avoid being fired they accept a mission escorting a pair of socialites to the Hamptons--but when the girls are disfigured in a car accident, they refuse to go. Left without options, Marcus and Kevin decide to pose as the sisters, transforming themselves from black men into rich white women.

Comedy
Crime
1h 49m
Keenen Ivory Wayans
Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Frankie Faison, Terry Crews
46
2004 in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
The Butterfly Effect
2004

A young man struggles to access sublimated childhood memories. He finds a technique that allows him to travel back into the past, to occupy his childhood body and change history. However, he soon finds that every change he makes has unexpected consequences.

Science Fiction
Thriller
1h 53m
Eric Bress
Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters, Elden Henson
45
2004 in Man on Fire (2004)
Man on Fire
2004

Jaded ex-CIA operative John Creasy reluctantly accepts a job as the bodyguard for a 10-year-old girl in Mexico City. They clash at first, but eventually bond, and when she's kidnapped he's consumed by fury and will stop at nothing to save her life.

44
2004 in Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Kung Fu Hustle
2004

It's the 1940s, and the notorious Axe Gang terrorizes Shanghai. Small-time criminals Sing and Bone hope to join, but they only manage to make lots of very dangerous enemies. Fortunately for them, kung fu masters and hidden strength can be found in unlikely places. Now they just have to take on the entire Axe Gang.

Action
Comedy
1h 39m
Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah, Lam Tze-Chung
43

When megalomaniacal White Goodman, the owner of a trendy, high-end fitness center, makes a move to take over the struggling local gym run by happy-go-lucky Pete La Fleur, there's only one way for La Fleur to fight back: dodgeball. Aided by a dodgeball guru and Goodman's attorney, La Fleur and his rag-tag team of underdogs launch a knock-down, drag-out battle in which the winner takes all.

Comedy
1h 33m
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Rip Torn
42
2004 in The Girl Next Door (2004)
The Girl Next Door
2004

Exceptionally ambitious high schooler Matthew has aspirations for a career in politics when he falls in love with his gorgeous 19-year-old neighbor, Danielle. But Matthew's bright future is jeopardized when he finds Danielle was once a porn star. As Danielle's past catches up with her, Matthew's love for her forces him to re-evaluate his goals.

Comedy
Romance
1h 50m
Luke Greenfield
Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Timothy Olyphant, Christopher Rodriguez Marquette
41
2004 in I, Robot (2004)
I, Robot
2004

In 2035, where robots are commonplace and abide by the three laws of robotics, a technophobic cop investigates an apparent suicide. Suspecting that a robot may be responsible for the death, his investigation leads him to believe that humanity may be in danger.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 55m
Alex Proyas
Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell
40
2004 in Blade: Trinity (2004)
Blade: Trinity
2004

For years, Blade has fought against the vampires in the cover of the night. But now, after falling into the crosshairs of the FBI, he is forced out into the daylight, where he is driven to join forces with a clan of human vampire hunters he never knew existed—The Nightstalkers. Together with Abigail and Hannibal, two deftly trained Nightstalkers, Blade follows a trail of blood to the ancient creature that is also hunting him—the original vampire, Dracula.

Action
Horror
1h 53m
David S. Goyer
39
2004 in House of Flying Daggers (2004)
House of Flying Daggers
2004

In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Adventure
Drama
1h 59m
Zhang Yimou
Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan
38
2004 in Primer (2004)
Primer
2004

A group of fledgling inventors discover a complex method to manipulate reality. At first, they successfully game the stock market with it, but the consequences of the invention start to catch up with them.

Science Fiction
Drama
1h 17m
Shane Carruth
Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, Casey Gooden, Anand Upadhyaya
37
2004 in A Very Long Engagement (2004)
A Very Long Engagement
2004

Young Frenchwoman Mathilde searches for the truth about her missing fiancé, lost during World War I, and learns many unexpected things along the way. The love of her life is gone. But she refuses to believe he's gone forever — and she needs to know for sure.

Drama
Romance
2h 13m
Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon, Chantal Neuwirth
36
2004 in Friday Night Lights (2004)
Friday Night Lights
2004

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.

Drama
1h 58m
Peter Berg
Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke
35
2004 in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Phantom of the Opera
2004

A young soprano becomes the obsession of a disfigured and murderous musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House.

Thriller
Drama
2h 21m
Joel Schumacher
Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson
34
2004 in Hellboy (2004)
Hellboy
2004

In the final days of World War II, the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where the ceremony is taking place, but not before they summon a baby demon who is rescued by Allied forces and dubbed "Hellboy". Sixty years later, Hellboy serves the cause of good rather than evil as an agent in the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Defense, along with Abe Sapien - a merman with psychic powers, and Liz Sherman - a woman with pyrokinesis, protecting America against dark forces.

Fantasy
Action
Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Hurt
33
2004 in Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Fahrenheit 9/11
2004

Michael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Documentary
2h 3m
Michael Moore
Michael Moore, John Conyers, Abdul Henderson, Craig Unger
32
2004 in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
2004

Three wealthy children's parents are killed in a fire. When they are sent to a distant relative, they find out that he is plotting to kill them and seize their fortune.

Adventure
Comedy
1h 48m
Brad Silberling
Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, Kara Hoffman, Shelby Hoffman
31
2004 in Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Dawn of the Dead
2004

A group of survivors take refuge in a shopping mall after the world is taken over by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies.

Horror
Action
Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer
30

When North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il orchestrates a global terrorist plot, it's up to the heavily armed, highly specialized Team America unit to stop his dastardly scheme. The group, which has recruited troubled Broadway actor Gary Johnston, not only has to face off against Jong-il, but they must also contend with the Film Actors Guild, a cadre of Hollywood liberals at odds with Team America's 'policing the world' tactics.

Adventure
Action
1h 38m
Trey Parker
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Chelsea Marguerite
29
2004 in The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
The Motorcycle Diaries
2004

Based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. In his memoirs, Guevara recounts adventures he and best friend Alberto Granado had while crossing South America by motorcycle in the early 1950s.

Drama
2h 6m
Walter Salles
Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mercedes Morán, Mía Maestro
28

Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.

Comedy
Drama
1h 42m
Zach Braff
Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard
27
2004 in Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls
2004

Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Drama
Comedy
1h 37m
Mark Waters
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert
26
2004 in Saw (2004)
Saw
2004

Two men wake up to find themselves shackled in a grimy, abandoned bathroom. As they struggle to comprehend their predicament, they discover a disturbing tape left behind by the sadistic mastermind known as Jigsaw. With a chilling voice and cryptic instructions, Jigsaw informs them that they must partake in a gruesome game in order to secure their freedom.

Horror
Mystery
1h 43m
Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
25
2004 in The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook
2004

An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer's. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.

Romance
Drama
2h 3m
Nick Cassavetes
24
2004 in The Polar Express (2004)
The Polar Express
2004

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Animation
Adventure
Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye
23

Despite pulling off one of the biggest heists in Las Vegas history and splitting the $160 million take, each of the infamous Ocean's crew have tried to go straight, lay low and live a legit life... but that's proven to be a challenge. Casino owner Terry Benedict demands that Danny Ocean return the money, plus millions more in interest. Unable to come up the cash, the crew is forced to come together to pull off another series of heists, this time in Rome, Paris, and Amsterdam – but a Europol agent is hot on their heels.

22
2004 in Vera Drake (2004)
Vera Drake
2004

Abortionist Vera Drake finds her beliefs and practices clash with the mores of 1950s Britain – a conflict that leads to tragedy for her family.

Drama
2h 5m
Mike Leigh
Imelda Staunton, Phil Davis, Sally Hawkins, Daniel Mays
21

A graphic portrayal of the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.

Drama
Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito
20
2004 in Troy (2004)
2004

In year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age, two emerging nations begin to clash. Paris, the Trojan prince, convinces Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus, and sail with him back to Troy. After Menelaus finds out that his wife was taken by the Trojans, he asks his brother Agamemnon to help him get her back. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. They set off with 1,000 ships holding 50,000 Greeks to Troy.

War
Action
2h 43m
Wolfgang Petersen
19
2004 in Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead
2004

Shaun lives a supremely uneventful life, which revolves around his girlfriend, his mother, and, above all, his local pub. This gentle routine is threatened when the dead return to life and make strenuous attempts to snack on ordinary Londoners.

Horror
Comedy
1h 39m
Edgar Wright
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis
18

A CIA operation to purchase classified Russian documents is blown by a rival agent, who then shows up in the sleepy seaside village where Bourne and Marie have been living. The pair run for their lives and Bourne, who promised retaliation should anyone from his former life attempt contact, is forced to once again take up his life as a trained assassin to survive.

Action
Drama
17

Happily ever after never seemed so far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into a hilariously twisted adventure for Shrek and Fiona. With the help of his faithful Donkey, Shrek takes on a potion-brewing Fairy Godmother, the pompous Prince Charming, and the ogre-killer, Puss In Boots.

Animation
Family
1h 32m
Conrad Vernon
16

During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan.

Drama
Fantasy
1h 46m
Marc Forster
Why it ranks

This whimsical exploration of the creative process manages to be deeply moving without succumbing to the saccharine traps of the biopic genre. It celebrates the transformative power of the imagination through a delicate, beautifully acted lens of Edwardian melancholy.

15

Peter Parker is going through a major identity crisis. Burned out from being Spider-Man, he decides to shelve his superhero alter ego, which leaves the city suffering in the wake of carnage left by the evil Doc Ock. In the meantime, Parker still can't act on his feelings for Mary Jane Watson, a girl he's loved since childhood. A certain anger begins to brew in his best friend Harry Osborn as well...

Action
Adventure
Why it ranks

Sam Raimi crafts the definitive modern blockbuster by centering on the grueling toll of heroism rather than the spectacle of the suit. This is a rare sequel that elevates its source material through operatic stakes and a vulnerable, deeply human core.

14

Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin.

13

Year three at Hogwarts means new fun and challenges as Harry learns the delicate art of approaching a Hippogriff, transforming shape-shifting Boggarts into hilarity and even turning back time. But the term also brings danger: soul-sucking Dementors hover over the school, an ally of the accursed He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named lurks within the castle walls, and fearsome wizard Sirius Black escapes Azkaban. And Harry will confront them all.

Adventure
Fantasy
2h 21m
Alfonso Cuarón
Why it ranks

Alfonso Cuarón rescues the franchise from its literalism, injecting a tactile sense of gothic dread and visual whimsy into the wizarding world. It remains the most stylistically adventurous entry in the series, trading mechanical plot for atmospheric splendor.

12

An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there.

Comedy
Drama
Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci, Chi McBride
11

Nine years later, Jesse travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine. After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

Drama
Romance
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès
Why it ranks

Richard Linklater achieves a rare cinematic alchemy, capturing the breathless urgency of lost time through a single afternoon of high-stakes conversation. This sequel defies the odds by being more intellectually rigorous and romantically profound than its predecessor.

10
2004 in Closer (2004)
2004

The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.

Why it ranks

Clive Owen weaponizes toxic bravado with a jagged, feral energy that remains the definitive peak of his cinematic output. He navigates the script’s cruelest dialogue with a bruising directness, stripping away the refined leading man persona to reveal a masterclass in calculated insecurity. This performance proved Owen could dominate a frame through sheer intensity, transforming a cynical doctor into an unforgettable engine of heartbreak.

9
2004 in Ray (2004)
2004

Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered coupling gospel and country together.

Drama
Music
2h 32m
Taylor Hackford
Why it ranks

Jamie Foxx disappears so completely into the physical tics and soulful growl of Ray Charles that he transcends mere mimicry to capture the musician’s raw. restless spirit. It is the definitive turning point where Foxx shed his comedic persona for dramatic heavyweight status, mastering the difficult balance between the legend’s smooth charisma and his jagged vulnerabilities. This performance remains the gold standard for the modern musical biopic.

8

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Comedy
1h 35m
Jared Hess
Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron Ruell
Why it ranks

Jon Heder transforms into a slack-jawed icon through a masterclass in aggressive mouth-breathing and brittle, hyper-specific physical comedy. This singular turn defined the mid-2000s indie landscape and remains the definitive heavy lifting of Heder's career. He manages to make Napoleon’s profound weirdness feel grounded in a very real, very awkward suburban purgatory.

7

Two middle-aged men embark on a spiritual journey through Californian wine country. One is an unpublished novelist suffering from depression, and the other is only days away from walking down the aisle.

Comedy
Drama
2h 7m
Alexander Payne
Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Why it ranks

Alexander Payne turns a scenic wine country tour into a sharp-witted autopsy of mid-life failure and masculine insecurity. Its brilliance lies in the vintage chemistry of the leads and a script that finds the perfect balance between acerbic comedy and genuine pathos.

6

The Bride unwaveringly continues on her roaring rampage of revenge against the band of assassins who had tried to kill her and her unborn child. She visits each of her former associates one-by-one, checking off the victims on her Death List Five until there's nothing left to do … but kill Bill.

Why it ranks

David Carradine weaponizes a gravelly, grandfatherly stillness to breathe life into an assassin whose deadliest tool is his silver tongue. He strips away the cartoonish veneer of the first film to deliver a portrait of paternal menace that redefined his legacy beyond martial arts B-movies. It is a masterclass in economy, proving that a whispered monologue can be far more chilling than a sword swing.

5

Despondent over a painful estrangement from his daughter, trainer Frankie Dunn isn't prepared for boxer Maggie Fitzgerald to enter his life. But Maggie's determined to go pro and to convince Dunn and his cohort to help her.

Why it ranks

Clint Eastwood delivers a devastating exercise in restraint, stripping away boxing movie clichés to reveal a haunting meditation on loyalty and mortality. It is a lean, shadows-drenched work that lingers long after its final, quiet frame.

4

Bob Parr has given up his superhero days to log in time as an insurance adjuster and raise his three children with his formerly heroic wife in suburbia. But when he receives a mysterious assignment, it's time to get back into costume.

Action
Adventure
1h 55m
Brad Bird
Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox
Why it ranks

Brad Bird revitalizes the superhero genre by prioritizing domestic friction over cosmic stakes, proving that Pixar’s real superpower is its sophisticated grasp of family dynamics. The film’s mid-century aesthetic and relentless kinetic energy redefine the ceiling for digital animation.

3

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt to save their lives.

Drama
History
2h 2m
Terry George
Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Fana Mokoena
Why it ranks

Anchored by a towering performance from Don Cheadle, this film confronts historical atrocity without flinching or descending into hollow sentimentality. It functions as a vital, urgent piece of moral storytelling that demands the viewer’s attention and conscience.

2

A biopic depicting the life of filmmaker and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes from 1927 to 1947, during which time he became a successful film producer and an aviation magnate, while simultaneously growing more unstable due to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Why it ranks

Martin Scorsese captures the dizzying heights of American ambition through a lens of manic obsession and technical grandiosity. The film serves as a shimmering, jittery love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood that simultaneously exposes the rot of mental isolation.

1

Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.

Science Fiction
Drama
1h 48m
Michel Gondry
Why it ranks

Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry transcend the typical indie romance by mapping the jagged architecture of memory with heart-wrenching precision. It stands alone as a surrealist masterpiece that feels more emotionally honest than any straightforward drama of the year.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The greatest films of 2004 showcased a diverse range of genres, including drama, romance, science fiction, animation, and thriller. Notable examples include emotionally charged dramas like "Million Dollar Baby," groundbreaking animation in "The Incredibles," and innovative science fiction blends such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

"The Incredibles," directed by Brad Bird, is a landmark animation released in 2004. It combined action, adventure, and family themes with cutting-edge animation technology, setting a new standard for superhero films in animated form.

2004 saw studios embrace imaginative and auteur-driven projects, exemplified by films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," directed by Michel Gondry, which experiments with nonlinear storytelling and surreal visuals. This year marked a willingness to push creative boundaries beyond traditional Hollywood formulas.

Films that explored historical or real-life events in 2004 include "Hotel Rwanda," which dramatized the Rwandan genocide, and "Ray," a biographical film about the life of musician Ray Charles. These movies offered powerful insights into significant moments in history and culture.

Yes, 2004 featured several influential sequels and franchise entries such as "Spider-Man 2," praised for its compelling storytelling and character development, and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which was commended for its darker tone and cinematic style under director Alfonso Cuarón.

Romantic films of 2004, including "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Closer," and "Before Sunset," delved deeply into the complexities of human relationships, memory, and emotional intimacy. These films often blended romance with drama to provide nuanced, thought-provoking narratives.

The films of 2004 strikingly balanced box office success with artistic innovation by combining mainstream appeal—as seen in superhero movies like "Spider-Man 2" and family-friendly animated films—with daring, auteur-driven projects like "Kill Bill: Vol. 2." This duality mirrored the evolving landscape of early 21st-century cinema.
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