10 Movies That Ooze Nostalgic Dark Vibes Of The 2000s

Art imitates life, so it's no wonder that movies released in the same decade often share a few similarities, borrowing traits from the popular culture of the time.

The 2000s are no exception, as many of the people who grew up during that time can't help but feel a bit nostalgic for typical movie clichés like dark visuals, leather jackets, brooding characters, and many others.

So, if you are among them and want to indulge in movies that ooze the 2000s vibe, we suggest you check these out for the first time or refresh your memory.

1. Queen of the Damned (2002)

It is hard to realize that this is actually a sequel to 1994's Interview with the Vampire, and the fact that the vampire Lestat is portrayed by Stuart Townsend instead of Tom Cruise is only one of the reasons.

Awakened from his slumber, Lestat becomes the leader of a hard rock band and gains international fame, which doesn't sit well with the rest of the vampire society, but also intrigues the titular Queen of the Damned, Akasha, portrayed by singer Aaliyah.

Drastically different in tone from the Interview and spiced up with the iconic soundtrack by Jonathan Davis, the film is a perfect example of a product of its time, even if it might be quite cringe-inducing today.

2. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Speaking of cringe, Peter Parker's infamous dance under the influence of an alien symbiote that turned him into an emo is pure gold of unintentional comedy.

Thanks to its nostalgia value, however, the third and final Spider-Man movie starring Tobey Maguire isn't as painful to watch as it once was, and on the contrary, it's very funny and enjoyable, even if not as much as the two previous films.

3. Daredevil ( 2003)

Another great example of a pre-MCU Marvel movie from the 2000s is this film starring Ben Affleck as the titular blind superhero.

Daredevil also tries to be darker than it should be, leading to a comedic effect, which also goes in stark contrast with Colin Farrell 's portrayal of one of the villains, Bullseye, as his overacting is just hilarious.

Nevertheless, many fans still love it to this day and soon we will see another character from the movie, Elektra, played by Jennifer Garner, return to the big screen in the upcoming Deadpool 3.

4. Blade (1998)

The last movie based on a Marvel superhero on this list, Blade, starring Wesley Snipes, differs from the previous entries because in this case the dark atmosphere and the protagonist wearing black leather were absolutely appropriate for a movie about a vampire hunter.

Yes, it was technically released in the late 90's, but the sequel, which came out in 2002 and was directed by Guillermo del Toro, kept the atmosphere of the original flawlessly and turned out to be just as great, now spiced up with a nightmarish breed of vampires.

Sadly, the third film was a total embarrassment and practically buried the series, with Blade still waiting to be fully introduced into the MCU.

5. Underworld (2003)

If you loved the Blade movies, there is a pretty good chance that you will love this franchise as well, although the first film, released in 2003, is probably the best of them all.

Starring Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman, it takes place in a delightfully 2000's setting that combines modern (well, at the time) days with a gothic atmosphere and tells the story of vampires and werewolves who have been at war with each other for centuries.

But all that is about to change when the vampire operative Selene discovers Michael Corvin, a seemingly ordinary man who may be the key to ending the conflict once and for all.

6. The Twilight Saga (2008-2012)

Considering all the vampire movies we mentioned, it would have been a crime to deprive this legendary series of a spot on our list, regardless of its rather controversial reputation.

Some people love the story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, some people hate it, but there is no denying how much of a splash each of the movies made upon their release, being practically everywhere on the Internet and performing well at the box office.

And even if you are not a fan of the original books, the movies can still be enjoyed today as a great example of 2000s youth drama, although some of the scenes and dialogue may turn it into an unintentional comedy for you.

7. The Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003)

The story of Neo needs no introduction, as the franchise's massive influence on popular culture can still be felt two decades later.

Although many fans still consider the first film to be the best, the second and third installments of the original trilogy are still quite entertaining and provide a nice overarching story with a decent conclusion.

Unfortunately, the fourth film, The Matrix Resurrections, released in 2021, completely undermined the finale due to how unnecessary it was, and while it had some great ideas (which were ultimately left undeveloped), it forever tainted the name of the franchise.

8. Resident Evil (2002) & Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Based on the video game series of the same name, the movie franchise starring Milla Jovovich had very little to do with the source material, with each new film becoming more bizarre than the last.

However, if you are willing to forget that they are supposed to be based on the iconic video games, you might enjoy the Resident Evil movies, especially the first two, if you are looking for the gothic vibes of the 2000s.

9. Donnie Darko (2001)

Starring a young Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular troubled teen, Donnie Darko has been described by some fans as "the ultimate edgy emo movie," and it is hard to disagree.

After Donnie is visited by a mysterious stranger in a creepy rabbit costume who tells him that the end of the world is coming, it marks the beginning of strange and trippy events that will change Darko's entire life.

10. Jennifer's Body (2009)

This 2009 film, starring Megan Fox in one of her most iconic roles as the titular Jennifer Check, combines the clichés of countless 2000s high school movies with comedic horror elements, making it a great time capsule of sorts.

Nerdy Anita Lesnicki, played by Amanda Seyfried, has been friends with the typical "most popular girl in school" Jennifer since childhood, even though the two are drastically different in almost every way.

But soon Anita begins to realize that her friend may be hiding a dark secret and has actually become a vessel for an evil entity.