It has become an ingrained part of film culture and the wider concept of time that, as more time passes, more and more films from the past become ingrained in wider culture and establish themselves as classics of their era. Each year has their own distinct selection of classics that help people harken back to the simpler days of when they were first released, with one of the most interesting and distinct years in terms of filmmaking variety being 2006.
While the year may not be as widely celebrated compared to individual years like 2007 and 2014 when it comes to filmmaking, 2006 still saw the release of several exceptionally memorable films that would go on to become modern classics. The year had an effective mixture of not only critically acclaimed and highly coveted dramatic experiences, but also a fair share of lighthearted, fun times that would grow more beloved after years of rewatching.
10
‘High School Musical’
Directed by Kenny Ortega
Easily growing to be the most recognizable and beloved of the made-for-TV Disney Channel original movies, High School Musical became a massive phenomenon thanks to its compelling characters, fun musical numbers, and undeniable sense of charm. The film made excellent use of its TV budget to give the film a true cinematic scope and feel, at points even holding up to the standard and weight of theatrical family films and musicals released during the same era.
After a complete trilogy’s worth of musical numbers and characterization, the original film still stands as a simple yet compelling coming-of-age musical for the era. It worked as an effective entry point to the very concept of cinematic musicals for young audiences, even if some of the actors didn’t really sing, but as such has massively achieved classic status for many who grew up in the 2000s. The very name brand of High School Musical is so effective that it has been built upon and rebooted various times, most notably with the Disney+ series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
9
‘Casino Royale’
Directed by Martin Campbell
A complete reinvention of the James Bond brand that would forever change the feel and appeal of the character in the 21st century, Casino Royale is still widely considered to be one of the best Bond films ever made. Daniel Craig‘s debut film as 007 had a massive impact, being a more cutthroat and grounded style for Bond that combined classic storylines with modern action to truly evolve the franchise into the stylings of modern action. Combined with an all-time great villain in Mads Mikkelsen‘s Le Chiffre and compelling action directed by Martin Campbell, it’s no surprise the film is considered a modern action classic.
Even as Craig would find himself starring in more beloved and acclaimed Bond films during his tenure, such as Skyfall and No Time to Die, Casino Royale is still a coveted spy film classic due to just how it changed Bond filmmaking from the ground up. Especially in a time when Bond as a pop culture icon was largely fading from relevancy, the film maintained the franchise’s status as the go-to espionage series, a mantle that it has continued to hold ever since.
8
‘The Prestige’
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Nearly every film released by Christopher Nolan has been so widely praised and examined that they have each become classics in their own right, yet The Prestige still stands out as one of his more underrated yet undeniably effective outings. The film sees Nolan delivering on a lot of the inherent strengths that make his films so memorable, including multi-layered characters and dynamic third-act twists that recontextualize the entire film beforehand.
The period piece setting of 1890s London also allows Nolan to focus much more on the emotional toils and psyches of the characters as opposed to strictly focusing on action or visual effects, a distinct change of pace among his films. With a larger focus placed upon narrative and the larger mystery at play, The Prestige quickly became one of Nolan’s tightest and most effective screenplays, helping it become one of his highest-rated films and a dramatic mystery classic.
The Prestige
Release Date
October 20, 2006
Runtime
130 minutes
7
‘The Holiday’
Directed by Nancy Meyers
A feel-good Christmas rom-com that has largely grown to be among the most rewatched and celebrated movies every year around the holiday season, The Holiday‘s classic status has only exploded in recent years. As more and more time has gone on since its release, more audiences have found themselves connecting with the two dynamic love stories at play in the film, how they intersect with one another and compell greatly without detracting from one another.
It certainly helps that rom-coms were in a sort of renaissance era during the 2000s, with The Holiday playing to the conventions and trends of the genre to an absolute tee to create perfect, feel-good romance greatness. The characters are likable, the emotional moments are compelling, and the film has a genuine sense of care and heart, with all of these things helping it become one of the most memorable and rewatchable Christmas movies of the 21st century.
6
‘Little Miss Sunshine’
Directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton
Little Miss Sunshine was already a wildly popular and critically acclaimed movie when it was first released in 2006, getting various Academy Awards nominations and over $100 million at the box office. However, the film has only managed to continue and sustain its highly acclaimed status in the years following its release, with its inherent charm and feel-good energy helping it to become a dramedy classic of the 2000s. The film is highly intelligent and approachable when it comes to a story about grief and sadness, showing the importance of connection and family during times of pain and depression.
It’s this brilliant balance between beautifully impactful emotional moments and the comedic chemistry and strength of the entire cast that has made it a highly approachable and rewatchable experience for so many years. Films that are able to make audiences laugh at one moment and cry in the next are always going to leave a discernible impact upon audiences, with Little Miss Sunshine being one of the absolute best at balancing these shifting tones.
5
‘Borat’
Directed by Larry Charles
As far as individual movies that went beyond simply being beloved and acclaimed films and became a widespread cultural phenomenon in global culture as a whole, few 2006 movies were quite as inescapable as Borat. The goofy, over-the-top mockumentary prank film that blended together a nonsensical, satirical story with real-life interactions with various people overwhelmed audiences with shock, confusion, but most importantly of all, laughter.
It’s difficult to understate just how widespread the very character of Borat was following the release of the film, with every other person doing a Borat impression or quoting the film in some way. It quickly transformed into one of the defining comedy experiences of the 2000s, combining goofy, overly-raunchy humor with a biting satire and unfiltered look at the inherent xenophobia of American culture. Even as certain aspects of the film have become the topic of reexamination and possibly even poorly aged in the modern era, the film itself is still an undeniable classic that quickly took the world by storm.
Borat
Release Date
November 3, 2006
Runtime
84 minutes
4
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Before Guillermo del Toro became one of the most consistent and widely celebrated fantasy directors of the modern day with films like The Shape of Water and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the visionary made massive waves with his dark fantasy epic, Pan’s Labyrinth. The film’s masterful practical effects, fairy-tale-like story and concepts, and outstanding sense of worldbuilding and mythos quickly gave it unanimous critical praise and the stature of being a must-watch fantasy film of the era.
A lot of what makes del Toro’s modern films so impactful and memorable are on full-display in this fantasy dreamscape of a film, as it still features some of the most effective and inspiring effects and creature designs ever put to film. It has a sense of creativity, imagination, and emotional maturity and depth that is largely missing from original fantasy films, as the film single-handedly showed that groundbreaking works of art could still be created in the rising digital era.
3
‘The Devil Wears Prada’
Directed by David Frankel
A highly memorable and endlessly quotable comedic force for the decade as a whole, The Devil Wears Prada has only grown to be even more of a pillar of female-centric comedy of the 2000s as the years have gone on. The distinct chemistry and comedic back and forth between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway helps make the film one that never loses its luster and charm, growing from a massive box office success to a defining comedy classic. The film’s relatable messaging about the difficulties and pains of an obnoxious work life, while relevant to 2000s era, is done in such a way as to feel effective and timely for any era.
It harkens to a style of fun, lighthearted yet impactful comedy that was widely present throughout the 2000s as a whole, feeling endlessly rewatchable in its approach, which has led it to becoming such a dominating classic. However, even among the other comedies of the 2000s, the film was always considered to be in a league above, with it earning two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Costume Design. The film has proven to be so beloved that, nearly 20 years after its release, the film is now recieving a long-awaited legacy sequel.
2
‘Children of Men’
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
A gripping and emotional dystopian sci-fi film that sports some of the most impressive filmmaking and camerawork of the 2000s as well as a powerful emotional core at its center, Children of Men has established a powerful legacy for itself in the years since its release. Aspects of the film that were already beloved when it was first released, such as the dynamic and captivating long-shots and the overall structure and weight of its story, have helped it become a defining classic of cinematic scale and impact for the era.
The film’s influence is still wildly felt in the modern day, with films like Logan and series like The Last of Us taking direct inspiration from its brilliant characterization and using a broken world as a jumping off point for a story of humanity and connection. While the film was initially considered to be a disappointment at the box office, it is now widely acclaimed as a monumental classic and one of the most influential sci-fi films of the 21st century.
1
‘The Departed’
Directed by Martin Scorsese
While it may seem easy to simply pick out the Best Picture winner from 2006 and single it out as the year’s most defining and memorable classic, this is largely downplaying the effectiveness and strengths of one of Martin Scorsese‘s greatest films in The Departed. The film builds upon Scorsese’s vast history of compelling crime thrillers, utilizes some of the most legendary actors across generations, and tells an impactful, instantly-engaging story that catapulted it into instant-classic status.
The film is largely considered to be one of the greatest Best Picture winners of the 21st century and a masterpiece of the crime thriller genre, holding a weight and power to its filmmaking that is unparalleled among Scorsese’s legendary filmography. The film cuts to the very core of what makes crime thrillers so impactful and memorable, telling a story of intricate, dynamic characters all intersecting as their own stories and goals weave and create chaos and tension with one another.
