Warner Bros.
- When you see a blockbuster film, you become part of a cultural phenomenon that translates to big box-office bucks for studios.
- But money isn’t the only thing that determines quality — and the top-grossing film may not have been the best one released that year.
- Here’s the best movie that grossed in the top 10 of the domestic box office for each year since 2000, from “Castaway” to “Black Panther.”
There are movies you see to escape, and then there are movies that allow you to become part of a larger conversation. Blockbuster films tend to be both, as they resonate with audiences to bring in huge box office earnings and spawn innumerable quotable lines and references.
To qualify as a “blockbuster” for this list, a film must have been one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies in the US during the year it was released.
But just because a movie performs well at the box office doesn’t mean it’s great, or even good. Other factors, like cinematography, music, emotional impact, quality of writing, acting, ambition, and rewatchability, play a huge role.
Here are the best hit movies of every year since 2000:
2000: “Castaway”
20th Century Fox
This movie has everything you want in a blockbuster: A remote island; Tom Hanks at his best; and, of course, a great shipwrecked companion, Wilson. “Castaway” is still a major cultural touchstone, and Hanks’ largely solo performance carries it off effortlessly.
2001: “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
New Line Cinema
The first “Lord of the Rings” film, directed by Peter Jackson, successfully balances worldbuilding with story and character development, all while paying an incredible amount of attention to aesthetic appeal. It is, quite simply, epic.
2002: “Chicago”
Miramax
“Chicago,” which comes in as the tenth highest domestically grossing film of 2002, barely qualifies for this list. But its cabaret-esque songs, talented cast, and eye-catching set designs push it over the top.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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