Best Movies of 2001, Ranked

21 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-08-11.

A ranked snapshot of 2001 through pure rewatchability, vibe, emotional pull, and enjoyment as an adult viewer. Not a critic list, not a film-school list, just pure feel-good ranking based on how fun, exciting, immersive, or nostalgic each f

1. 1
   Pearl Harbor (2001)

   ★★★★★

   Big, emotional, and unapologetically cinematic.

2. 2
   Training Day (2001)

   ★★★★★

   What a day! I spent most of Training Day confused about what the hell was actually happening, which somehow made the experience even better because I felt exactly like…

3. 3
   Ocean's Eleven (2001)

   ★★★★½
4. 4
   Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

   ★★★★
5. 5
   Black Hawk Down (2001)

   ★★★★
6. 6
   Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

   ★★★★
7. 7
   Vanilla Sky (2001)

   ★★★★
8. 8
   Monsters, Inc. (2001)

   ★★★★
9. 9
   The Fast and the Furious (2001)

   ★★★★
10. 10
    Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

    ★★★★
11. 11
    Scary Movie 2 (2001)

    ★★★½
12. 12
    Thir13en Ghosts (2001)

    ★★★½
13. 13
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

    ★★★½
14. 14
    Spy Kids (2001)

    ★★★
15. 15
    The Mummy Returns (2001)

    ★★★
16. 16
    Shaolin Soccer (2001)

    ★★★
17. 17
    Mulholland Drive (2001)

    ★★½

    Even past the 1 hr mark, the plot still doesn’t thicken.

18. 18
    Ali (2001)
19. 19
    Grandma's House (2001)
20. 20
    Donnie Darko (2001)

    ★½
21. 21
    Spirited Away (2001)

    ½

    I honestly don’t know what to make of it.