Top 30 Best Teen Movies of the 2000s

You can’t go wrong with a good sports’ movie and the early-to-mid aughts covered all the bases - from gymnastics in “Stick It” to skating in “Ice Princess.” However, “Love & Basketball” went that extra mile. As its title suggests, this beloved cult movie combines the gender politics of a romance with all the drama of a basketball game. It’s a coming-of-age story, an exploration of women in sport and a rare teen film told from the perspective of a young, Black woman. The movie marked the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood. She set out to create “a Black When Harry Met Sally,” crafting a cultural moment all of its own in the process.

2004 gave us not one, but two coming of age rom-coms about a fictional President’s daughter. “First Daughter” is a lot of fun, but we think “Chasing Liberty” has the edge. Mandy Moore plays Anna Foster, a teen frustrated with the constant presence of the Secret Service, who monitors her every move. She finally makes a break for freedom, on the back of a motorbike ridden by Matthew Goode’s character Ben. Little does she know, he’s actually an agent in disguise. From “Roman Holiday” to “Monte Carlo,” European adventures have proved the perfect back-drop to some of our favorite romance movies. If that’s your vibe, then add “Chasing Liberty” to your list.

Amanda Bynes has starred in her share of teen movies, and “What a Girl Wants” is a proper guilty pleasure. The plot follows an American high-schooler named Daphne, who travels to the UK to seek out her long lost father. Of course, he’s no ordinary Englishman, but an Earl and aspiring Prime Minister - portrayed by Colin Firth. An ensemble of familiar British faces people the aristocratic setting and Bynes also gets a local love interest, who whisks her off to show her the sights. The movie wears its tropes on its sleeve but it also has a lot of heart. Everyone is having fun with their roles, and the relationship between Daphne and her father is genuinely sweet.

Starting life as a small, British independent film, “Bend It Like Beckham” was a surprise success, both at home and across the pond. It helped produce a future Hollywood star in Keira Knightley, grossed $76.6 million at the box office, and has even been turned into a musical. The protagonist is Jess, a British-Indian teen who wants to play football (or soccer) professionally. The film tackles racial and gender discrimination, LGBTQIA+ themes, and religion, all with a grounded humor and a lightness of touch. With a seamless blend of comedy, romance, sport and friendship, it’s a real uplifting film with something for everyone.

Teen movies often revolve around high school life, but “Sky High” doesn’t have your average setting. Instead of the standard jocks, nerds, and cheerleaders, our protagonist, Will Stronghold, must navigate a whole different clique system. After all, this is a school for the children of supers. Throughout, heroes and villains battle it out while sidekicks are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. It’s a fun twist on adolescent politics and we love seeing the range of different powers on display. The characters are engaging and likable, partly thanks to the charm of the cast. “Sky High” might fly under the radar, but for us it’s a firm favorite.

Stories set in British boarding schools will always find their market, and “Wild Child” is no exception. Emma Roberts plays Poppy, a spoiled Malibu teen who’s sent to her mom’s old school in order to straighten her out. After a good dose of culture shock she soon acquires a close-knit girl gang, makes a mortal enemy of the head girl, and discovers a natural gift for lacrosse. She also falls head over heels for the Headmistress's son. However, Poppy’s real journey lies in finally dealing with the death of her mother, learning to love herself, and embracing her natural hair color. It’s unashamedly girly fun - and you can never go wrong with a shopping montage.

When characters from a beloved TV series get their own film, the results can be hit or miss. However, for those of us growing up in the 2000s, “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” was iconic - whether or not we were fans of the show. When Hilary Duff’s Lizzie travels to Rome on a school trip, she discovers that she bears an uncanny resemblance to an Italian pop star. After a chance encounter with the handsome Paolo, Lizzie is persuaded to impersonate her doppelganger for a one off performance. Cue romantic vespa rides, dazzling romantic scenery, comedic hijinks, and a big plot twist, culminating in a show-stopping finale. Ah, the nostalgia is strong with this one.

Based on the books by Louise Rennison, this British teen classic introduced us to a whole new vocabulary, a young Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and four best friends. Georgia Nicolson, her ‘ace gang,’ and co. may use words like ‘snogging’, ‘knickers’ and ‘nunga-nungas’ but they’re still a relatable bunch. Flawed, eccentric and immature, the main group showcase the fun and silliness of early teen girlhood, as well as all the drama and the hormones. There are some great actors among the young cast and strong supporting performances from the grown-ups too. Throw in plenty of laughs and a great soundtrack and you’ve got a brilliant teen film.

A road-trip movie starring Britney Spears and written by Shonda Rhimes? What could be more perfect? Honestly, “Crossroads” is peak 2000s nostalgia. It’s fun, girly, and feel-good, but there’s also a lot more to it than meets the eye. The plot deals with some serious themes and one twist in particular is surprisingly dark. When the writing calls for it, the young stars, including Taryn Manning and Zoe Saldaña, really rise to the occasion. Spears also shows off her star quality in the musical performances - and who could forget that memorable karaoke scene? Plus, let’s not forget this is the film that brought us the classic Britney track “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.”

Zac Efron shows off his acting chops in this surprisingly emotional teen comedy from the late 2000s. Matthew Perry plays the thirty-seven year old Mike, a family man who feels he’s missed out in life. When he’s transformed into his seventeen-year-old self, Zac Efron — who initially wins us over in the opening flashback — takes over and chaos ensues. Mike goes back to high school to try and change his fate, with consequences that are not so surprising, but entertaining nonetheless. It’s a genuinely funny and thought-provoking movie, with echoes of “Freaky Friday,” “13 Going on 30” and other flicks of the sort. There’s also a fantastic ensemble cast.

Nothing says “great teen movie” like a party after graduation. In 2009’s “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” nerdy Denis Cooverman confesses he has a crush on cheerleader Beth Cooper during his valedictorian speech. What follows next is a night of drinking, sex and good old-fashioned debauchery. While the movie definitely follows pretty much all of your classic teen comedy tropes and isn’t the most original of films, the chemistry between Hayden Panettiere as Beth and Paul Rust as Dennis makes up for most of the movie’s sins. We love you, Beth Cooper!

Lindsay Lohan, a killer soundtrack, and Megan Fox’s theatrical film acting debut? What’s not to love about “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen?” When Lola is forced to move from NYC to New Jersey, she thinks her dreams of being on the Broadway stage are over. But – in typical dramatic teenage fashion - she takes her new school by storm. This movie came out the same year Lohan starred in “Mean Girls,” and was probably a bit overshadowed by that, but she plays the impassioned Lola with all the assuredness of the movie star she was. Add a super young Megan Fox honing her mean girl chops, and you’ve got yourself a perfect teen movie.

Several teen girls team together to ruin the life of the guy who cheated on them – sounds like the perfect, feminist romp, right? While feminism has definitely progressed since “John Tucker Must Die” came out, this 2006 teen comedy still has a lot of bright spots, including its cast, its soundtrack, and the chemistry between its four leading ladies. Ashanti, Sophia Bush, Arielle Kebbel and Brittany Snow take teenage scheming to a new level, forcing the titular John Tucker to scale buildings in a thong, using his photos in STD campaigns, and more.

The late 90s/early 2000s wouldn’t have been what they were without the musical dance stylings of Julia Stiles – see “10 Things I Hate About You” for proof – but in “Save the Last Dance,” she took it to the next level. Stiles plays the Caucasian Sara, who transfers to a high school where the majority of students are Black, after her mother dies and she has to move in with her father. At her new school, the aspiring ballet dancer meets Derek, who helps her incorporate hip hop into her dances. “Save the Last Dance” has a plethora of stars before they were stars – yes, that is a young Kerry Washington – and deals with important topics such as race and class. It’s a great teen movie all around.

It would be hard to explain to a teenager today the absolute excitement we all felt about Emma Roberts, Sara Paxton, and JoJo starring in a movie about mermaids – but the hype was real. “Aquamarine” is a little talked about, but severely underrated teen movie. Paxton plays a mermaid named Aquamarine who runs - or rather, swims? - away from home, determined to convince her family that true love exists so she doesn’t have to marry a stranger. She enlists the help of best friends Claire and Hailey, and the teens get to work. Using advice from teen magazines – and what a 2000s time capsule that is – the girls get to work. But along the way, they find out that friendship is the real true love.

During the “Transformers” years, Megan Fox was unfairly maligned by Hollywood as a sex symbol with no talent. But, fans of “Jennifer’s Body” know better. In this deliciously fun and gory horror film, Fox plays Jennifer – the victim of a virgin sacrifice gone wrong who ends up possessed by a demon who makes her kill all the boys in school. In addition to showing us just how capable Fox could be in a horror movie, this movie brought incredible commentary on sexual violence and female sexuality, giving teen girls a revenge fantasy horror they could love and latch onto. Despite initial poor reviews – so many of them from men who just didn’t get it – this one has since become a classic.

[“That ain't no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, Homeskillet.”] This is just one of the plethora of hilarious one-liners “Juno” gave us when it hit theaters in 2007. But this indie comedy-drama gave us so much more than an excess of weird sayings we could quote back and forth with our friends. “Juno” is the story of teen girl – named Juno – who finds out she’s pregnant, and decides to give the baby up for adoption. For how funny the movie is, it’s also got a ton of heart, and lovely performances from so many of our favorite actors – Elliot Page, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Jennifer Garner, and so many others are just excellent in the film.

In this dance flick, Tyler has to do community service at the Maryland School of the Arts. He meets aspiring ballerina Nora, who needs a dance partner for her big audition. The competition is fierce, so she’ll need to stand out. After some hesitation, she picks Tyler, incorporating his breakdancing into her routine. Even though the pair soon falls for each other, their personal and professional struggles put their act in jeopardy. When the street finally meets the stage, however,Tyler and Nora bring down the house. Multiple sequels and over a decade later, the original still makes all the right moves.

There was absolutely no way the film that gave us McLovin’ wouldn’t be on this list. “Superbad” took the 2000s by storm, following the exploits of two teenage boys who just want to party and lose their virginities before finishing high school. Starring the likes of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and even Emma Stone, the comedic chemistry between the entire cast and the hilariously stupid dialogue was perfect fodder for a beloved teen comedy. But while “Superbad” has plenty of vulgarity and plenty of crassness, what holds it together in the end is its heart, and its care for the enduring power of friendship … and McLovin’, of course.

In 2004, you couldn’t do much better than Hilary Duff or Chad Michael Murray – and “A Cinderella Story” just happened to get them both. Hilary Duff plays Sam – an unpopular tomboy who has been flirting with an anonymous internet pen pal. Unbeknownst to Sam, her pen pal is Austin – the most popular guy in school, played by none other than Chad Michael Murray. The movie presents the classic Cinderella narrative in a modern high school setting – complete, of course, with an evil stepmom, mean stepsisters, and a ball turned high school dance. The film didn’t exactly receive glowing reviews when it came out, but it’s since turned into a fave of early 2000s teens.

Bros … brothers … brethren! It’s time to talk about “She’s the Man.” In 2006, Amanda Bynes was a comedy queen – and this Shakespeare adaptation shows that off to great effect. In “She’s the Man,” Bynes plays Viola, a teenage girl who masquerades as her brother at a new school so she can play on the boys’ soccer team. This sports rom-com has everything you’re looking for from a perfect teen movie. Between confusion over who has a crush on who and Viola’s desperate attempts to keep her real identity a secret, the movie unfolds into a side-splitting romp. Add in a young Channing Tatum, and you’ve got the perfect film.

In this first installment of this Disney franchise, we meet basketball player Troy and smart kid Gabriella. They may be from two different cliques, but they bond over their love of singing – and the chance to star in the high school musical. It won’t be as simple as auditioning, though. Prima donna Sharpay will do anything to get the lead, and Troy and Gabriella have championships coming up. Torn between sports, school, and song, Troy and Gabriella break free from peer pressure and follow their true passion, motivating their classmates to do the same. In the end, they’re all in this together!

In 1987, the sweet and impressionable Jenna Rink just wants to be popular. After queen bee Lucy “Tom-Tom” Wyman humiliates Jenna at her thirteenth birthday party, she wishes to be thirty, flirty and thriving. To her surprise, Jenna wakes up in 2004 as a 30-year-old magazine editor. She slowly adjusts to her new life, but learns that all that glitters is not gold. She has distanced herself from her parents and Matty, her former best friend, and replaced them with Lucy, who’s as awful as ever. As grown-up Jenna’s life falls apart, her teen self takes responsibility for her future self’s actions, and finally realizes what truly matters the most.

Anna and her mom Tess don’t often see eye to eye. Anna isn’t ready for Tess to remarry, and Tess doesn’t approve of Anna’s band or her crush. All this changes when mom and daughter experience a reversal of fortune at a Chinese restaurant. After eating enchanted fortune cookies, Anna and Tess switch bodies. While under the spell, the two live in each other’s shoes, learning a lot about themselves and each other in the process. It’s that newfound appreciation and their mother-daughter bond that help to break the spell, and what make this teen flick both funny and heartwarming.

In the first movie of the supernatural romance saga, teen girl Bella Swan moves to the town of Forks, Washington. She meets the mysterious Edward Cullen, who ends up saving her life, but hesitates to be friends with her. The reason? He’s actually a 108-year-old vampire. Even though the Cullens don’t want to harm Bella, the cruel vampire James and his coven are on her trail. Now a couple, Edward will risk life and limb to protect his new love, while Bella’s life will change forever. Spawning four sequels, this movie is one to sink your teeth into.

Carmen, Bridget,Tibby and Lena are lifelong best friends. This summer is the first time they’ll be apart, so they decide to keep in touch in a unique way. While out shopping, the girls find a pair of jeans that fits them all perfectly despite their different body types. Each friend wears the jeans for a few weeks and then sends them on to the next one. Their time apart is full of challenges and heartbreak, and they’ll need each other’s support more than ever. Through the power of friendship and the magic of the traveling pants, these friends are as close as can be, even when they’re miles away.

In this romantic drama, Landon Carter falls head over heels for minister’s daughter Jamie Sullivan. He’s a rebellious teen, and she keeps to herself, but the two start dating. Jamie soon comes out of her shell, only to reveal a devastating secret – she has terminal leukemia. Knowing their time together is limited; Landon helps Jamie fulfill her bucket list. After an out-of-this-world proposal, the two get married, but she sadly passes away a few months later. While this flick is an undeniable tearjerker, it also shows us that love transcends our lives here on earth.

Geeky teen Mia Thermopolis is an ordinary girl in high school – except she’s a princess! As next in line to the fictional Genovian throne, the modest Mia gets a glamorous makeover, and suddenly finds herself in the tabloids. Her newfound popularity proves to be a royal pain, however, and a series of embarrassing events makes her want to give up the throne altogether. But with her family and friends by her side, Mia comes to accept herself for who she is. Whether she’s wearing a bucket hat or a tiara, this princess is noble in more ways than one.

Torrance Shipman is the Toros’ new head cheerleader. After her teammate gets hurt, she finds a replacement in Missy Pantone, the new girl in school who’s also a gifted gymnast. They learn that the Toros’ former leader, Big Red, stole their current routine from the Clovers, a talented rival squad. Torrance has to invent a brand new routine in time for the regional championships. At the same time, she becomes best friends with Missy while falling for her twin brother Cliff. With the Toros’ reputation on the line, Torrance motivates them to bring their A-game. Big Red puts the “itch” in “bitch,” but Torrance puts the “leader” in “cheerleader.”

New girl in school Cady Heron just moved from Africa, and finds her first friends in social outcasts Janis and Damian. With their help, she infiltrates the Plastics, and eventually ousts queen bee Regina George. Now a queen bee herself, Cady learns that it’s lonely at the top. She alienates Janis and Damian, and a rumor involving her and Regina ruins her reputation. Starting from scratch, Cady comes back down to earth, and atones for her past wrongs. While “Mean Girls” shows us the consequences of social hierarchies, it’s also full of laughs and is endlessly quotable. This movie isn’t just an iconic teen comedy… it is so fetch!

What do you think is the definitive teen movie of the aughts? Let us know in those comments!