Best Movies of 2004, Ranked

36 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-10-12.

A personal ranking based on pure enjoyment, comfort value, emotional resonance, and rewatchability. Not based on critics, not based on prestige. This list reflects which films I want to rewatch or emotionally return to. Personal bias, perso

1. 1
   Collateral (2004)

   ★★★★★

   Collateral is a thriller that slowly shifts from calm to menace without ever fully releasing its grip.

2. 2
   Ocean's Twelve (2004)

   ★★★★½
3. 3
   Before Sunset (2004)

   ★★★★½

   I can feel the push and pull between being comfortable and being awkward.

4. 4
   Shutter (2004)

   ★★★★½
5. 5
   Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

   ★★★★½
6. 6
   National Treasure (2004)

   ★★★★½
7. 7
   Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)

   ★★★★½
8. 8
   Pa-siyam (2004)

   ★★★★½
9. 9
   Saw (2004)

   ★★★★½
10. 10
    Man on Fire (2004)

    ★★★★½
11. 11
    Troy (2004)

    ★★★★½
12. 12
    King Arthur (2004)

    ★★★★½

    Epic in all proportions. The scale, script, grand heroic musical score, sets, stacked cast, painterly cinematography, and tense direction all work together incredibly…

13. 13
    The Incredibles (2004)

    ★★★★
14. 14
    Spider-Man 2 (2004)

    ★★★★
15. 15
    Feng Shui (2004)

    ★★★★
16. 16
    The Butterfly Effect (2004)

    ★★★★
17. 17
    Dawn of the Dead (2004)

    ★★★★
18. 18
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

    ★★★★
19. 19
    Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

    ★★★★
20. 20
    White Chicks (2004)

    ★★★½
21. 21
    The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

    ★★★½
22. 22
    Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

    ★★★½

    Kill Bill: Vol. 2 takes a very different approach from its predecessor, trading constant spectacle for restraint, dialogue, and character driven tension.

23. 23
    The Aviator (2004)

    ★★★½
24. 24
    Shark Tale (2004)

    ★★★½
25. 25
    Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

    ★★★
26. 26
    The Passion of the Christ (2004)

    ★★★
27. 27
    Enteng Kabisote: Okay ka, Fairy ko... The Legend (2004)

    ★★★
28. 28
    Blade: Trinity (2004)

    ★★★
29. 29
    Van Helsing (2004)

    ★★★
30. 30
    The Terminal (2004)

    ★★½

    I watched this while scrolling through HBO Max’s critically acclaimed section, so I had no idea what the movie was about.

31. 31
    Gagamboy (2004)
32. 32
    After the Sunset (2004)

    ★★

    Not quite a fast-paced heist movie. It is more of a character struggle about a thief caught between two lives: continuing to do the one thing he knows he is…

33. 33
    Taking Lives (2004)

    ★★

    Feels like a David Fincher detective thriller trying to solve a murder mystery.

34. 34
    Otso Otso Pamela-mela Wan (2004)
35. 35
    Mean Girls (2004)

    ★

    You either die a Mathlete, or you live long enough to see yourself become the mean girl.

36. 36
    Layer Cake (2004)

    ½

    Probably Matthew Vaughn’s most boring creation for me.