Release date: March 17, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

Synopsis: "Alex Browning (Devon Sawa), is embarking on a trip to Paris. Alex experiences a premonition — he sees the plane explode moments after leaving the ground. Alex insists that everyone get off the plane, and seven people, including Alex, are forced to disembark. All watch as the plane actually explodes in a fireball. He and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. One by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper."

Release date: April 14, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

Synopsis: "In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiancé (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster."

Release date: May 5, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

Synopsis: "Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas."

Release date: May 24, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%

Synopsis: "Tom Cruise returns to his role as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of 'Mission: Impossible.' This time Ethan Hunt leads his IMF team on a mission to capture a deadly German virus before it is released by terrorists. His mission is made impossible due to the fact that he is not the only person after samples of the disease. He must also contest with a gang of international terrorists headed by a turned-bad former IMF agent who has already managed to steal the cure."

Release date: June 30, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Synopsis: "This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The couple decides to run away from the farm, but they must first contend with the evil farmer who is intent on keeping them under her control. The chickens decide to attempt an escape so they don't get turned into chicken pot pies."

Release date: July 7, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Synopsis: "Defying the very notion of good taste, 'Scary Movie' out-parodies the pop culture parodies with a no-holds-barred assault on the most popular images and talked-about moments from recent films, television, and commercials. The film boldly fires barbs at the classic scenes from 'Scream,' 'The Sixth Sense,' 'The Matrix,' 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'The Blair Witch Project,' then goes on to mock a whole myriad of teen movie clichés, no matter the genre."

Release date: July 14, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

Synopsis: "They are children of the atom, homo superior, the next link in the chain of evolution. Each was born with a unique genetic mutation, which at puberty manifested itself in extraordinary powers. In a world filled with hate and prejudice, they are feared by those who cannot accept their differences. Led by Xavier, the X-Men fight to protect a world that fears them. They are locked in a battle with former colleague and friend, Magneto who believes humans and mutants should never co-exist."

Release date: September 1, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

Synopsis: "Illegal boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) convinces gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford) to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) at his bookie business. When Mickey does not throw his first fight as agreed, an infuriated Brick Top demands another match. Meanwhile, gangster Frankie Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) comes to place a bet for a friend with Brick Top's bookies, as multiple criminals converge on a stolen diamond that Frankie has come to London to sell."

Release date: September 29, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

Synopsis: "The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class-exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential."

Release date: November 3, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

Synopsis: "A trio of elite private investigators armed with the latest in high-tech tools, high-performance vehicles, martial arts techniques, and an array of disguises unleash their state-of-the-art skills on land, sea, and air to track down a kidnapped billionaire-to-be and keep his top-secret voice-identification software out of lethal hands. They're beautiful, they're brilliant, and they work for Charlie."

Release date: November 22, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

Synopsis: "David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is a mysterious stranger who offers a bizarre explanation as to why David escaped without a single scratch — an explanation which threatens to change David's family and his life forever."

Release date: November 17, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

Synopsis: "In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen)."

Release date: December 22, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Synopsis: "Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson. Will Chuck ever return to civilization and reunite with his loved ones?"

Although camera phones are common today, the first phone for sale with a camera was released in 2000. The phone was called J-SH04, and it had just a 0.1-megapixel resolution.

A 2002 version of the J-Phone is pictured above.

The popular computer game, "The Sims," made its debut on February 4, 2000, and since then, the franchise has sold 200 million game copies, The Washington Post reported in 2020.

One of the most recent editions of the game, "The Sims 4: Life and Death," was released on October 31, 2024.

In 2000, Abercrombie & Fitch launched a new brand called Hollister, geared toward teenagers. The clothing store markets itself as laid-back attire, inspired by California's relaxed lifestyle.

Today, there are more than 500 Hollister stores worldwide.

Before there was Tinder or Bumble, clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren created eHarmony, a website designed to help you meet your perfect match.

The site initially had users answer more than 450 questions to help them better enter long-term relationships. Since then, the site has cut down its questions, but remained one of the top online dating services. In 2017, for example, eHarmony had 750,000 paid subscribers and 10 million active users.

In January 2000, boy band NSYNC released "Bye Bye Bye" as the lead single for their album "No Strings Attached."

The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and the music video became a cultural phenomenon, staying in first place on "Total Request Live" for 25 days. It was even nominated for video of the year at MTV Video Music Awards.

Twenty-five years ago, Ricky Martin released "She Bangs," and the single climbed the charts. It reached 12th place on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 18 weeks.

When Lee Ann Womack released her country single "I Hope You Dance" in 2000, it became a hit. It reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she earned a Country Music Association Award for single of the year.

When Baha Men first released "Who Let the Dogs Out," it flopped, barely reaching the top 40. But slowly, the single gained popularity in the early 2000s, as the catchy lyrics and tune caught on.

In the '80s and '90s, Bon Jovi released massive hits like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," but the band released another hit single in 2000: "It's My Life." The song eventually climbed to the top of the charts, carrying the band into another decade of success.

Bandmates Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland, and Guy Berryman released their debut studio album, "Parachutes," in July 2000 under the name Coldplay.

The album featured the song "Yellow," which remains a fan-favorite.

Following the success of her three other books in the "Harry Potter" series, JK Rowling published her fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," in the summer of 2000.

In 2020, Screen Rant reported that the book has sold about 65 million copies, making it the second-most popular book in the series.

Twenty-five years since the book's release, the franchise is still extremely successful, with a film series, amusement rides at Universal Studios, a show on Broadway, and an upcoming TV series.

However, Rowling herself has been the subject of controversy in recent years.

In the nearly 25 years since their release, Quinn's books have become the source material behind one of Netflix's most popular series to date: "Bridgerton."

The show, and its spinoff series, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," attracted 189 million views in the first half of 2024, with season three of "Bridgerton" accounting for 92 million in less than two months following its releases in May and June.

Season four is currently in the works.

"Erin Brockovich" is a biographical film about the real-life woman — played by Julia Roberts — who battled a California power company after it was accused of polluting a city's water. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture. Roberts took home the Oscar for best actress.

"Almost Famous" became a cultural juggernaut when it came out in 2000. The movie follows a high schooler who's writing an article for Rolling Stone about a new rock band.

It features an all-star cast, including Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, and Zooey Deschanel. The film went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards, but it only took home one for best original screenplay.

Twenty-five years ago, a then 26-year-old Christian Bale starred as Patrick Bateman, a banking exec who moonlights as a psychopathic killer, in "American Psycho." The movie quickly became a cult classic — in 2013, the film was even turned into a Broadway musical.

In the summer of 2000, "Scary Movie" was released to parody the most popular horror films of the time, including "Scream," "Sixth Sense," and "The Blair Witch Project." It went on to be a success, launching Anna Faris' acting career and sparking multiple sequels.

In October 2024, Marlon, Shawn, and Keenan Wayans announced they're returning to the franchise for "Scary Movie 6."

In 2000, Russell Crowe starred as Maximus, a vengeful Roman general, in "Gladiator." The following year, the film was nominated 12 times at the Academy Awards, winning best picture. Crowe also took home the trophy for best actor.

Its sequel, "Gladiator II," was released in 2024 and starred Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington.

In 2000, Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union starred as rival cheerleading captains Torrance and Isis in the hit teen movie "Bring It On."

The success of the film prompted several sequels in the following years.

"Survivor" premiered on CBS on May 31, 2000. In the reality TV competition, strangers are placed in a remote and isolated location, then they have to find food and shelter, while also competing in challenges.

Each contestant is voted off the island one by one until there's only one standing survivor. That person wins $1 million. Over the last 25 years, "Survivor" has had 47 seasons, all of which have been hosted by Jeff Probst.

After "Survivor," CBS premiered another hit reality competition show in July 2000: "Big Brother."

The series follows a group of strangers who are forced to live together in a house while under constant surveillance. They compete in challenges and, in the end, one person wins $500,000.

Through the years, the show became increasingly popular, prompting spin-offs like "Celebrity Big Brother." So far, there have been 26 seasons, all hosted by Julie Chen Moonves.

In a February 2024 "Life in Looks" interview with Vogue, Lopez said that her stylist at the time, Andrea Lieberman, asked her not to wear the dress.

"My stylist was like, 'Please don't wear it. Somebody else has worn it,''" Lopez said, adding, "I was like, 'Well, you bought it, and it looks the best, so I'm going to wear it.' And so I did. And it caused quite a stir."

Lopez isn't wrong — the world has her and that dress to thank for Google Image Search, according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

In the end, the Yankees became champions, winning its third consecutive World Series four games to one.

At just 20 years old, Venus Williams lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the first time in her career after defeating Lindsay Davenport.

Williams went on to win the Wimbledon singles' trophy four more times. She also has won six Wimbledon doubles titles.

Twenty-five years later, it's easy to forget how close the 2000 presidential election was.

Democratic nominee Al Gore and Republican nominee George W. Bush went head to head, but on election night, it was unclear who won.

With the votes so close in Florida, the state ordered a recount. After a slew of legal fights around the recount in Florida, the Supreme Court decided that the initial results would be counted, giving Bush the election. He won by a .009% margin, or 537 votes.

Although President Ronald Reagan ordered NASA to build the International Space Station in 1984, it wasn't until 2000 that people actually lived on it.

Bill Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko, and Sergei Krikalev became the first three to reside on the ISS and live there for several months. Since then, more than 270 people from over 20 countries have visited the ISS, according to NASA.

Maximus Decimus Meridius was the lead character in "Gladiator." At the movie's start, he's the general of a dominant army for the Roman empire and emperor Marcus Aurelius' successor to his throne. After Aurelius is murdered by his son, Commodus, Meridius is thrown into slavery, and his family is murdered. Meridius seeks out his revenge as a gladiator.

Crowe won the best actor Oscar for his performance as Maximus.

From there, the New Zealand-born actor would become one of the biggest movie stars of the 2000s, starring in acclaimed titles like "A Beautiful Mind," "Cinderella Man," and "American Gangster."

In June, Crowe appeared on the podcast Kyle Meredith With... and discussed his movie's sequel, "Gladiator II."

"I'm slightly uncomfortable with the fact they're making another one — because, of course, I'm dead, and I have no say in what gets done," Crowe said at the TK minute mark, referring to his Maximus character dying at the end of the first movie.

"But a couple of the things I've heard, I'm like — no, no, no, that's not in the moral journey of that particular character, but I can't say anything. It's not my place; I'm six foot under. So we'll see what that is like."

Commodus is the main villain in "Gladiator." He kills his father, Marcus Aurelius, after learning that he has decided to make Maximus Decimus Meridius his successor to the throne. He then takes full power of the Roman Empire.

Joaquin Phoenix received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for "Gladiator."

Since the movie, Phoenix has forged a career filled with acclaimed work that often showcases his attraction to daring and challenging roles.

After starring in M. Night Shyamalan's blockbusters "Signs" and "The Village" and receiving a best actor Oscar nomination for the 2006 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," Phoenix focused more on unique projects during the 2010s.

Phoenix was Oscar-nominated for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 drama "The Master." He also found acclaim for playing a lonely guy who falls in love with an operating system in 2013's "Her."

Phoenix would win an Oscar for the 2019 movie "Joker," in which he played the beloved DC Comics villain in a movie that gave the comic book genre a more dramatic feel. The movie would become one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time. It'd later be beaten by 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Since then, Phoenix's received praise for performances in indie films like "C'mon C'mon" and "Beau Is Afraid." However, he got mixed reactions for playing Napoleon Bonaparte in "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott's biopic on the French military commander, "Napoleon," and the "Joker" sequel, "Joker: Folie à Deux," which was a box office bust.

She is Marcus Aurelius' oldest child. Throughout the movie, she fights off the incestuous advances of her brother, Commodus. She is also the mother of Lucius.

At that point in her career, "Gladiator" was the biggest hit the Danish actor had starred in.

She went on to star in the 2002 thriller "One Hour Photo" opposite Robin Williams and the 2013 Lars von Trier erotic drama "Nymphomaniac."

In 2017, she landed a role in another box office hit by playing Queen Hippolyta in "Wonder Woman." Later that year, she would reprise the role in "Justice League" and 2020's "Wonder Woman 1984."

She returns as Lucilla in "Gladiator II."

The gruff gladiator trainer buys Meridius and turns him into a gladiator worthy of fighting in Rome.

Reed was one of the most acclaimed actors of his era. He was known for playing macho roles in movies from the 1960s and 1970s, such as "Oliver!" "The Three Musketeers," and "Tommy."

Reed died in 1999 while filming "Gladiator." Known for his heavy drinking, his hard-partying reputation led to his passing.

During a break from filming in Malta, Reed encountered officers from the Royal Navy on shore leave at a bar who challenged the actor to a drinking contest.

"He dropped down dead in the floor of a pub," Scott told Variety in 2020 for an oral history of the movie. "He probably had a couple of pints and said, 'I don't feel good,' laid on the carpet and died."

According to the Variety oral history, Reed had promised Scott he wouldn't drink while shooting, leading to the 61-year-old actor drinking on the weekends.

His official cause of death was a heart attack.

Jaba is the gladiator who befriends Meridius.

Three years before "Gladiator" opened in theaters, Hounsou landed his big break when Steven Spielberg cast him as the lead in his 1997 drama "Amistad."

Following the success of "Gladiator," Hounsou continued to land steady work, highlighted by costarring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2006 thriller "Blood Diamond," for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Since then, he's played Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was The Wizard in "Black Adam" and the "Shazam!' movies, and most recently starred in Netflix's "Rebel Moon" movies as General Titus.

The Roman emperor whose decision to make Meridius his successor leads to his power-hungry son killing him.

Like Reed, Richard Harris was a legend on the screen.

The Irish actor was a star from the late 1960s through the 1980s. He played various roles, from King Arthur in the 1967 musical "Camelot" to an English aristocrat in the 1970s Western "A Man Called Horse." Harris' talents made him not just a box office draw but a beloved actor of critics.

Along with receiving two Oscar nominations over his career (1963's "The Sporting Life" and 1990's "The Field"), Harris also won a Grammy in 1968 for his rendition of "MacArthur Park."

For many, he's best known for the role he took a year after "Gladiator." He played Professor Albus Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

The latter would mark his final role before his 2002 death. Michael Gambon would take over the role in the acclaimed series.

Proximo's chief gladiator who befriends Meridius and Jaba.

Moeller began bodybuilding at 17 and was the German national champion in 1984.

He turned to acting four years later and quickly found work in Jean-Claude Van Damme's action movies "Cyborg" and "Universal Soldier."

Moeller would follow "Gladiator" by starring opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2002's "The Scorpion King."

Since then he's starred in a bevy of B-level action movies.

The loyal servant of Meridius is killed while trying to help him.

This Scottish actor often gets cast in tough guy roles due to the scars on his face, the result of a knife fight he got into while working as a DJ before his acting career took off.

His first movie role was in Mel Gibson's 1995 epic "Braveheart." He also starred in "Face/Off" and "The Game" before landing the Cicero role in "Gladiator."

Since then, he's starred in "Sin City," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," but is most remembered for playing Filip "Chibs" Telford on the hit FX series "Sons of Anarchy."

A Roman army commander who betrays Meridius (though comes around to be back on his side at the movie's end).

Arana has made a career of playing the bad guy onscreen.

From "The Hunt for Red October" to "The Bodyguard," that dastardly stare has made him perfect for the villain role.

Since "Gladiator," he's starred in smaller roles in "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

The Roman senator opposes Commodus' rule and tries to free Meridius from slavery.

Jacobi has an esteemed career on the stage and screen, leading to him receiving two Emmys, a Tony, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 1994.

Since "Gladiator," he's been one of the go-to British actors whenever Hollywood produces period movies, starring in "Gosford Park" to "The King's Speech."

He reprises his role in "Gladiator II."

Lucius, the son of Lucilla, idolizes Meridius.

The year 2000 was a breakout one for Clark. The same year he played Lucius opposite Russell Crowe in "Gladiator," he was also seen alongside Bruce Willis as his onscreen son in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller "Unbreakable."

Since then, he's starred in TV shows such as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D," "Animal Kingdom," and "Manhunt." He also returned for the "Unbreakable" sequel, 2019's "Glass."

When word about a "Gladiator" sequel came out, which focused on the Lucius character now all grown up, some online questioned why Mescal was taking over the role and not Clark.

Scott addressed the recasting in a 2023 interview with Deadline on why Mescal, who became a hot commodity in Hollywood after starring in the 2020 series "Normal People," was right for the Lucius role.

"I'm always looking for someone, something new and fresh," he told the trade. "I mean, fresh is terribly important. So they're not carrying … baggage is a terrible word for what they've done before because it's great stuff, but you will remember he just did this character already."

Clark, who is now 37, is taking all this in stride. In an interview with People in October, he fully supported Mescal.

"The movie looks so good, and Paul's going to do such a great job," he said. "I've actually heard great things about the movie."