As we approach 2025 and the end of the 21st century’s first quarter, we wanted to look back to see which actors, actresses, directors, and movies have stood the test of time. With that in mind, for the rest of the year, the Bitesize Top Five will be giving a consensus view on what we think are the Bests of everything since 2000. We are only looking at work released since January 1, 2000, so don’t get mad because your favourites of the 90s didn’t make it.
Over the next four months we will do Top Five Dramas, Comedies, Horrors, and Action Films of this century. For our purposes, we worked with the idea that every movie falls under one of those broad umbrellas. It’s imperfect, but it felt like the best course of action.
As always, each writer ranks his or her top 15 in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. MEAN GIRLS
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic teen comedies of the past century is Mean Girls. This hilarious treasure, which was created from the comical minds of Tina Fey and Rosalind Wiseman, is still a pop culture phenomenon thanks to its quotable gags like "she doesn't even go here!" and “if you’re from Africa, why are you white?” And let’s not forget its notable ensemble, which includes Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. This lighthearted and whimsical flick addresses important topics including bullying, body image, and the negative effects of conformity. Mean Girls manages to do all of this without being cliché. All in all, this movie is so fetch! - Paige
4. TROPIC THUNDER
I don’t know what one could want from a comedy that isn’t provided by Tropic Thunder. Sharp and biting satire? Mmhmm. A delightful mix of irreverent humor and meta insightfulness? You betcha. A never-ending string of hilarious and infinitely quotable one-liners? Damn right. A tremendous ensemble that seems to be having a blast making fun of themselves, including unforgettable turns from an against-type Tom Cruise and an Oscar-nominated Robert Downey Jr.? In fucking spades. I mean, think about that for a second…this movie is so clever and well-respected amongst pretentious critics and general audiences alike that RDJ was nominated for an Oscar while doing literal blackface. That’s wild. Tropic Thunder is easily one of the funniest and most consequential comedies of the century, and if nothing else, it “m-m-m-mmm-m-makes me happy.” - Quentin
3. THE NICE GUYS
Before he was Kenough, Ryan Gosling was a private investigator with a shrill little girl's scream. He was perfect. The Nice Guys (a spiritual successor to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) is the best buddy-cop comedy of this century, bar none. A mixture of great dialogue by Shane Black and wonderful chemistry between Gosling and Russell Crowe provides snickers, that turn into chuckles, that turn into full-on belly laughs. Sadly, we never got a sequel, but I'm still holding out hope, and I know I'm not the only one. - Nick
2. STEP BROTHERS
Step Brothers is one of the most iconic and quotable comedies of the century so far; a gleefully immature celebration of absurdity and raunchy humour. I’ve loved this film since I watched it when I was definitely too young, and I’ve seen it countless times since, yet it never fails to make me cry with laughter. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are exceptionally funny as the infantilized man-children, and every single member of the cast is a scene stealer in their own right, bouncing off each other in hilarious harmony. Step Brothers is a comedy that isn't afraid to go over the top and test the limits, whilst there being something unironically heart-warming about the brother’s relationship and the film’s message to never grow up. - Katie
1. OCEAN'S ELEVEN
George Clooney and Brad Pitt is an undeniably titanic and charismatic one-two punch that just works, further evidenced by a recipe revisit in Apple’s upcoming Wolfs. Ocean’s 11 combines the dashing duo with an absolute bonkers all-star cast that seems to be having a blast and the directorial intelligence of Steven Soderbergh that is on full display in an endlessly clever script. This stylish 2001 feature proves how smart comedy films can be with the inclusion of elements beyond the scope of a “pure comedy” that bring tension, surprises, intrigue, fun, and a pure, leisurely smile to one’s face. - Preston
HONORABLE MENTIONS
SNATCH
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY
BRIDESMAIDS
TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY