After proving that teenagers were a powerful demographic during the '80s and '90s, Hollywood set out to continue its lucky streak into the new millennium with even wilder, but equally iconic productions.
Filled with Y2K's signature fashion, gadgets, and campy humor, the teen movies of this era defined an entire generation of young adults and continue to be relevant over a decade since their debut.
10 Wild Child Is Celebrated For Its Campiness & Performances
Best known for his editing work in films like Notting Hill and Love Actually, Nick Moore made his directorial debut with the 2008 teen comedy Wild Child. Emma Roberts starred as Poppy Moore, a spoilt rich girl whose frenzied antics get her sent to a boarding school in England.
Wild Child was critically panned upon release, only gaining popularity more than ten years since its initial premiere, and barely managed to make back its budget at the box office. Nowadays, the film is celebrated for its campiness and is best remembered for Natasha Richardson's performance, her last before her untimely death.
9 17 Again Benefited From Zac Efron's Star Power
Freshly graduated from the High School Musical trilogy, Zac Efron continued his teen idol career in 17 Again, a story about a middle-aged man (played by Matthew Perry) regressing back into his seventeen-year-old self after an accident. The film also starred Leslie Mann and Michelle Trachtenberg as his wife and daughter, respectively.
Given Efron's star power, 17 Again was commercially successful, earning well over $100 million despite less than favorable critiques. His performance carried the entire film successfully through a fun, if quite formulaic, story. A year later, the film was adapted into a sixteen-episode Korean drama called 18 Again.
8 Juno Was A Favorite Of Critics & Audiences Alike
In 2007, Elliot Page played the titular character in Juno, a coming-of-age story about a teenager who finds out she's pregnant and decides to give up the baby for adoption. The cast also included Michael Cera as Paulie, the father of Juno's child, and Jennifer Gardner and Jason Bateman as the child's prospective adoptive parents.
Juno was a hit with both critics and general audiences, who praised the film for its messages on teen pregnancy, abortion rights, and adoption. It received four major nominations at the 2007 Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Picture, but only won Best Original Screenplay for Diablo Cody's work on the film.
7 A Walk To Remember Is A Trope-y Yet Satisfying Teen Romance
Based on the 1999 Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, A Walk To Remember follows Shane West as Landon Carter, a rebellious teen who falls in love with Mandy Moore's character, Jamie, the local minister's daughter who holds a deep and painful secret.
Despite being criticized for its predictable plot, A Walk To Remember was lauded for its leads' performances and received praise from the Christian community for its positive depiction of a Christian character. Its rock-and-pop-influenced soundtrack included hits by Mandy Moore and Switchfoot, launching the latter into mainstream recognition.
6 High School Musical Remains Disney Channel's Most Popular Original Movie
Arguably Disney Channel's most popular original film, High School Musical was an unprecedented phenomenon that brought musicals back in vogue and made its teen cast into stars overnight. Set in Alburquerque, the film tells the Romeo and Juliet-esque story of a basketball jock and a mathlete who bond over their mutual love for music.
After its premiere in 2006, High School Musical won multiple fan-voted awards and received six Primetime Emmy nominations, winning two of them for its choreography and production as a whole. Its outstanding success spawned a franchise comprised of three movies, several novels, foreign adaptations, and a Disney+ series starring Olivia Rodrigo.
5 Bring It On Spawned A Large Franchise Of Direct-To-Video Sequels
Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union are cheerleader rivals fighting for the top in Bring It On, a teen classic from the year 2000. Helmed by Ant-Man director Peyton Reed, the film also starred Buffy actress Eliza Dushku as Missy, a skilled gymnast who joins the cheerleading team, and Jesse Bradford as her twin brother, Cliff.
A few years after an initially lukewarm reception, Bring It On achieved cult status and spawned a large franchise of direct-to-video sequels with brand new cast members for each entry. In 2011, the movie was rewritten into a musical by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda with music by Next To Normal composer Tom Kitt.
4 Freaky Friday Earned Its Leads Multiple Accolades For Their Performances
During the height of her Disney heyday, Lindsay Lohan starred alongside Golden Globe-winner Jamie Lee Curtis in Mark Waters' Freaky Friday, an adaptation of the 1972 novel of the same name. The film centers around a mother and daughter who switch bodies after breaking open mysterious fortune cookies.
Both Lohan and Curtis were widely praised for their acting, which earned them various accolades during the 2003-2004 award season. Freaky Friday's relatable characters and humor made it a hit with the general public, leading the film to earn over $160 million and secure its place as one of the best Disney films of the 2000s.
3 She's The Man Has Gained A Substantial Cult-Following Over The Years
Very loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, She's The Man follows Amanda Bynes as Viola Hastings, a spirited soccer player who decides to dress up as her twin brother to join the team at his private school, Illyria. Once there, she finds herself in a love triangle with her roommate Duke (Channing Tatum), and her friend Olivia (Laura Ramsey).
Upon release, She's The Man was only considered a moderate critical and commercial success, earning back double its budget and gaining much praise for Bynes' performance. Over the years, the film has gained popularity and a substantial cult following for its comedy and characters.
2 The Princess Diaries Has Become A Staple Of Early 2000s Pop Culture
In 2001, Disney struck gold with its adaptation of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries, a story about Mia, an American teenager played by Anne Hathaway in her first film role, who finds out she's part of a European royal family. Academy Award-winner Julie Andrews starred as Queen Clarisse, Mia's grandmother and Genovia's sovereign.
A sleeper hit, The Princess Diaries initially failed to impress before eventually becoming a box office success. The film made Hathaway into a household name and served as a comeback for Andrews, with many critics calling it her best project in years. It spawned a similarly well-received sequel and has become a staple of 2000s pop culture.
1 Mean Girls Is The Quintessential 2000s Teen Movie
Written by famed comedian Tina Fey, Mean Girls is the quintessential 2000s teen movie. In the film, Lindsay Lohan steps into the role of Cady, a teen entering high school for the first time after being homeschooled for years. Trying to fit in, she befriends a clique known as the Plastics, a group of rich, snobby girls who reign over the school.
Mean Girls' ensemble cast, which also included Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lizzy Caplan, was lauded for its outstanding, comedic performances. Its overwhelmingly positive reception made the film into a pop culture wonder, becoming one of the most meme'd and quoted films of all time, almost two decades since its release. In 2011, ABC Family released a widely panned television sequel, with a stage musical adaptation premiering in early 2018.