Can you believe that it’s already been 20 years since The Devil Wears Prada?
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of some of the greatest movies of the 2000s.
Classics like The Departed, Pan’s Labyrinth and Borat might seem like they just came out yesterday, but time really flies when you’re watching great movies.
Watch With Us has rounded up a list of five of the best movies that turn 20 this year.
In addition to The Devil Wears Prada, we also highlight Christopher Nolan‘s The Prestige and David Lynch‘s final feature, Inland Empire.
‘The Devil Wears Prada’
Recent college grad Andy (Anne Hathaway) aspires to be a hard-hitting journalist, but instead she lands a job as a junior personal assistant to Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), the vicious editor-in-chief of Runway magazine in New York City. Despite Andy’s apparent lack of fashion knowledge (and Miranda’s abuse) Andy resolves to stay put in her position in order to leverage her experience and connections to get a job she really wants. But Andy questions whether she really has what it takes to stomach Miranda’s torture — and the misogynistic standards of the fashion industry.
The Devil Wears Prada’s 20th anniversary is soon to be met with a highly anticipated sequel movie later this year. In the meantime, there’s no better time to revisit this classic comedy-drama that helped to boost both Hathaway and costar Emily Blunt further into the mainstream. Many feel that The Devil Wears Prada manages the difficult feat of surpassing the novel it’s based on, becoming a far sharper, funnier and more insightful takedown of fashion culture that further elevates the material with Streep’s iconic performance.
‘Inland Empire’
Actress Nikki (Laura Dern) takes on a role in a new film called On High in Blue Tomorrows, which she later finds out is a remake of an unfinished German film titled 47 — unfinished because both leads turned up murdered. That film was itself based on a Polish folktale that is supposed to be cursed. In the film, Nikki plays a woman who is having an affair with the character played by Devon (Justin Theroux), and Nikki’s jealous husband (Peter J. Lucas) warns Devon not to try any funny business. But as production carries on, Nikki increasingly finds herself unable to distinguish between fiction and reality as her world fragments apart.
David Lynch‘s final feature defies convention — it’s experimental, it’s a neo-noir, it’s a drama, it’s a psychological thriller, it’s a mystery and ultimately, it’s a totally surrealist nightmare. Shot entirely on a handheld Sony camcorder, the fuzzy imperfections of the film quality add to the uncanny, dreamlike state of the chaotic narrative, in which Dern masterfully portrays an actress whose state of mind deteriorates alongside the very nature of the film itself. The movie might seem impenetrable to newcomers, but the best way to experience it is to let the fear and confusion wash over you.
‘The Prestige’
In Edwardian London, magicians Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), once partners, have become rivals following the tragic death of their assistant, Angier’s wife, during one of their shows. They are caught in an even more bitter feud when Borden seems to have successfully executed a trick that defies all sense of science and reason: he teleports across the stage. Angier quickly becomes consumed with uncovering the secret to Borden’s unbelievable routine, dedicating his life to one-upping him, experimenting with ambitious but dangerous new science and slowly driving himself to the brink of sanity in the process.
The Prestige is quietly one of Christopher Nolan‘s best movies, and also one of his most under-appreciated. The gruesome dual twist at the end will knock your socks off, but the journey to getting there is equally satisfying. The Prestige is thrilling, goofy, ridiculous and utterly enthralling; a movie that challenges the audience at every turn and demands repeat viewings. It manages to fuse popcorn entertainment with artistic filmmaking, and the performances from Bale and Jackman are some of the best of their careers. Fans of the Now You See Me movies would do well to check this one out.
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’
In Francoist Spain, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) travels with her pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) to meet her new stepfather, Carmen’s new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi López): a ruthless, sadistic Civil Guard officer of the Armed Police Corps. He and his troops have been assigned to hunt down revolutionaries hiding out near Ofelia’s new home, but there are more than just rebels concealed in the woods. While trying to escape her stepfather’s cruelty, Ofelia is led by a fairy to an ancient stone labyrinth, where she meets a faun (Doug Jones) who tells her he believes she is a reincarnated princess. However, Ofelia must complete three challenging tasks to gain immortality and return to her kingdom.
Pan’s Labyrinth might not have been the film to clinch Guillermo del Toro a Best Picture Oscar, but it’s still the best movie of the director’s filmography. The magical realism dark fantasy continues working with themes first presented in del Toro’s previous film, The Devil’s Backbone, such as the moral imperative of disobedience, patriarchal fascism and a loss of innocence. Pan’s Labyrinth blends spell-binding set design, lush special effects and a riveting narrative that intelligently pairs the backdrop of war-torn Spain with a descent into the fantastical underworld.
‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’
NASCAR hotshot Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) lives and dies by one credo: “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” Indeed, Ricky does live at the top of the heap, a juggernaut in the racing world, married to trophy wife Carley (Leslie Bibb), surrounded by riches and with his best friend Cal (John C. Reilly) at his side. But everything in Ricky’s life comes crashing down when French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) robs Ricky of confidence and, soon, his champion title, after Ricky crashes his car and subsequently loses everything. Ricky will need the help of his tough-as-nails father (Gary Cole) to get him back on track — literally.
The 2000s brought with it a relentless string of the best Will Ferrell comedies of all time, and Talladega Nights still endures as a true triumph of American comedy. Directed by Adam McKay, the film deftly weaves satire, absurdism, sight gags and slapstick, all of which are consistently funny through the performances of the terrific ensemble cast, which additionally includes Jane Lynch, Amy Adams and Molly Shannon. But what helps to further elevate the film is McKay’s command of direction and the impressive cinematography from Oliver Wood, which together truly immerses you in the feel of a NASCAR race.
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