Top 10 2000s Movie Scenes That We Will Never Forget

How can a line be so heartbreaking and so beautiful at the same time? The world may never know. “Brokeback Mountain” took the world by storm in 2005, and is regarded as a major achievement for queer cinema. As Jack and Ennis, Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger have tremendous chemistry, culminating in this beautiful scene toward the end of the film. On the pair’s last trip together, Ennis tries to end things with Jack. As the two argue about their relationship, Jack utters a devastating line about wishing he could leave Ennis behind, but not being able to. After everything they’ve been through, it’s a crushing thing to hear, delivered wonderfully by Gyllenhaal.

Yes, the hand-flex moment in this Jane Ausen adaptation is an awakening of sorts for many of us. But Mr. Darcy’s first proposal scene in “Pride & Prejudice” is an electrically charged chemistry-fest we’ll never forget. As rain pours down from above, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth – quite poorly in some spots, but most ardently in others. At this point in the movie, Elizabeth is aware of Darcy’s attempts to keep Mr. Bingley and her sister Jane apart. She refuses, and the scene erupts. Darcy and Elizabeth duke it out, their remarks growing more cutting by the second. But as they get meaner and meaner, their chemistry gets hotter and hotter. Even Darcy and Elizabeth’s fights are relationship goals.

From the moment Elle Woods walks into the courtroom sporting that bright pink suit, we know we're in for an iconic moment. But Elle’s time in the spotlight doesn't start off so bright. She struggles to question Chutney at first, unable to find any holes in her story as a witness to the murder of her father. But then, hair care knowledge saves the day. If you’re a child of the 2000s, we’re willing to bet that you have a lot of quotes from “Legally Blonde” down pat. But this one is the film’s peak. Elle’s speech about perm maintenance is eminently quotable, and Reese Witherspoon’s performance is unforgettable.

While there are many martial arts sequences that blow us away in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” this one stands above the rest. The scene involves a showdown between Yu Shu Lien and Jen Yu, with Jen wielding the fabled sword ‘Green Destiny’. This destroys any weapon Shu Lien wields against her. Actors Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi give stunning performances, and Yuen Woo-ping’s fight choreography is perfectly executed and captured. The gravity-defying stunts, epic swordplay, and skilled stunts round out one of the most unforgettable martial arts scenes of the decade.

After 2004, we would never hear “Jingle Bell Rock” the same way again. The classic Christmas tune sure got a lot less wholesome after Regina George and the rest of the Plastics performed it in “Mean Girls.” The costumes themselves are iconic – sexy Santa has never been so perfectly rendered – but what makes this performance so memorable are its flaws. When the CD starts skipping, Gretchen accidentally kicks the boombox into her boyfriend Jason’s face. The girls are frozen on stage until Cady starts a rousing rendition of the song a capella. The moment is not only memorable for its humor, but also for its oddly wholesome finish.

How many articles have been written trying to decipher what Bill Murray says to Scarlett Johansson at the end of “Lost in Translation?” How many YouTube videos are there where someone tries to enhance the audio, if only to catch a portion of Murray’s words? If that doesn’t bode well for a scene’s staying power, we don’t know what does. “Lost in Translation” is a beautiful film about connection and loneliness, centering on Bob and Charlotte’s brief time together in Tokyo. As the two part ways at the end, Bob whispers something unintelligible in Charlotte’s ear. While we may never know what he said, it clearly affects Charlotte greatly. And sometimes, not knowing is what makes a moment special.

Since the first “Harry Potter” novel came out in 1997, fans had been waiting for the fateful meeting between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. When the moment finally happened in the fifth book, fans started to wonder if the filmed version would live up to the enormity of the moment. And boy, did it. Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes give powerful performances on their own, but when they meet, the scene explodes – literally. The special effects team did a wonderful job creating the magical images of fire and water that rip from the two wands. And Gambon and Fiennes give their all to the fight, in a fitting display of the power of both wizards and the history between them.

Is there a more quotable moment from a franchise? Luke and his father can move over! The first film in “The Lord of the Rings” is equal parts thrilling, beautiful, and emotional, as director Peter Jackson strives to capture J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic story. But the moment where Gandalf the Grey faces off against the Balrog is a cinematic feat like no other. Buying time for the Fellowship to flee, Gandalf makes a desperate stand against the Balrog. The line was actually meant to be “You cannot pass” but actor Ian McKellen got it wrong. Well, it’s iconic anyway! Gandalf’s plunge into the depths of the mines is heartbreaking … at least, until he comes back in the next movie.

Superhero movies have gotten significantly less sexy since Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy in the early aughts. No moment captures that passion quite like this one from the very first film. After saving Mary Jane, Spider-Man – who we know is secretly her buddy Peter Parker – tries to make a quick getaway. But who could resist the promise of a kiss in the rain, especially an upside down one? This iconic kiss between Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire may be one of the most significant pop culture moments of the decade. While Dunst and Maguire say that this soaked stunt wasn't all that comfortable in real life, it’s perfect to us.

Ah, the eternal question. Why so serious? Early on in “The Dark Knight”, the Joker gruesomely takes over a crime boss’ organization. But before he returns the favor for a failed hit, he has to monologue a little – as any good villain does. The Joker explains that his abusive father was responsible for his infamous scars, terrifying his victim to the final cut. Heath Ledger absolutely nails it. The best part is that the Joker later tells Rachel Dawes a very different origin story. This makes his mania all the freakier. While we’ll never know where the madman really got those scars, this scene will haunt us for decades to come.

Did we miss any scenes from the 2000s that still live rent-free in your head? Let us know in the comments below.