10 R-Rated Movies From The 2000s That Never Get Old

In addition to witnessing the release of the iPod, the arrival of Netflix, and the early stages of what would go on to become a social media frenzy, the first decade following the dawn of the new millennium played host to the debut of some of the best movies of all time. The 2000s saw the likes of behemoth franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter firmly establish themselves as cinematic titans, carving out an indelible niche in popular culture and attaining iconic status that persists to this day.

In addition to some of the decade’s more universally age-appropriate offerings, the best films of the 2000s are also notable for including a number of top-tier R-rated movies that simply never get old. Leveraging a blend of compelling subject matter, unforgettable performances, and glorious technical elements with a healthy sprinkling of adult themes to produce a timeless classic, the decade’s finest R-rated offerings account for some of the most beloved and enduring films that the entirety of wider cinema has to offer.

10

V For Vendetta (2005)

Directed By James McTeigue

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

V For Vendetta

R

Thriller

Drama

Action

Sci-Fi

7.3/10

Release Date

March 17, 2006

Runtime

132 minutes

Director

James McTeigue

Writers

Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of John Hurt In The UK premiere of Melancholia

    John Hurt

  • Headshot Of Hugo Weaving

    Hugo Weaving

Based on the comic series by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta is directed by James McTeigue with a screenplay by the Wachowskis. The film stars Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond, a young woman living in a dystopian future who becomes involved with the vigilante V, an anarchist working against the Fascist government and attempting to rally support from the general population. Hugo Weaving portrays V, with a further cast that includes Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, and John Hurt. 

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

One of cinema’s influential political offerings, the lasting cultural impact of 2005’s dystopian action-thriller V for Vendetta extends far beyond popularizing the use of the Guy Fawkes mask by real-life anti-establishment groups. Following an alternate reality sans democracy that sees Britain ruthlessly brought to heel under a fascist totalitarian regime, James McTeigue’s movie keeps getting better with age and has arguably never been more relevant than it is today.

V for Vendetta, film version of V (left); comic book version (right)

Related

“I Don’t Think He Expected Me to Go Along With It”: V for Vendetta’s Iconic Mask Started Out as a Joke

V for Vendetta artist David Lloyd thought Alan Moore would hesitate to model their central character off Guy Fawkes; Moore, of course, loved the idea.

Posts

Not withstanding the movie’s cutting political commentary, V for Vendetta is an expertly constructed piece of cinema, loaded with memorable action set pieces and jaw-dropping revelations to maintain the audience’s investment from start to finish. Hugo Weaving produces an iconic performance as the titular anarchist, breathing life into one of his finest characters despite never actually showing his face. To paraphrase V’s own memorable words, the film’s “ideas are bulletproof”; a status quo underlined by the fact that it retains revered status as of 2025.

9

Collateral (2004)

Directed By Michael Mann

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Collateral

R

Crime

Documentary

Drama

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

10/10

15

9/10

Release Date

August 6, 2004

Runtime

120 minutes

Director

Michael Mann

Writers

Stuart Beattie

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Tom Cruise In The UK premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning’ Part One

    Tom Cruise

  • Headshot Of Jamie Foxx In The European premiere of 'Creed III'

    Jamie Foxx

Directed by Michael Mann, the crime thriller Collateral features Tom Cruise as a hitman hired to take out witnesses before a big trial and Jamie Foxx as the cab driver who unwittingly becomes his accomplice. With Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem in its cast, the 2004 film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and suspenseful plot.

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Distribution

Distributor(s)

DreamWorks Distribution

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

The man behind 1995’s crime movie masterpiece Heat, Michael Mann knows how to produce a first-rate action thriller, a state of affairs exemplified perfectly by the neo-noir tour de force that is 2004’s Collateral. Starring Jamie Foxx as cab driver Max Durocher, the Academy Award-winner’s charge endures a nightmarish shift for the ages after picking up Tom Cruise’s Vincent, a ruthless hit man carrying out a slew of assassinations across Los Angeles.

A white-knuckle thriller that ups the stakes early and invariably leaves audiences hanging off the edge of their seats for its duration, Collateral more than justifies its R-rating through numerous instances of supremely graphic violence. Carried by a pair of knockout performances by the leading duo, Mann’s visually arresting thriller is a timeless classic that holds up seamlessly more than two decades after it was initially released.

8

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Directed By The Coen Brothers

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

No Country for Old Men

R

Thriller

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

13

8.2/10

Release Date

November 21, 2007

Runtime

122 minutes

Director

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Writers

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Kelly Macdonald

    Kelly Macdonald

  • Headshot Of Woody Harrelson IN The Oceana’s 5th annual Rock Under the Stars event

    Woody Harrelson

No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs. 

Studio(s)

MiraMax

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures, MiraMax

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Based on legendary author Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, 2007’s No Country for Old Men is one of the greatest Western movies of all time. Following the hunt for $2 million in cartel drug money from the perspective of three vastly disparate characters, the Coen brothers’ masterful outing has lost none of the luster that saw the movie win the Academy Award for Best Picture, in addition to a slew of other prestigious awards.

No Country for Old Men‘s Academy Award Nominations

Result

Best Picture

Won

Best Director

Won

Best Supporting Actor

Won

Best Adapted Screenplay

Won

Best Cinematography

Nominated

Best Film Editing

Nominated

Best Sound Editing

Nominated

Best Sound Mixing

Nominated

Breathing life into one of the greatest Western movie villains of all time, No Country for Old Men is also notable for featuring a generational bow from Javier Bardem as the psychotic hitman Anton Chigurh, a performance that saw him collect the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and one that only gets better with every subsequent rewatch. A gritty, visceral Western that sees the Coen brothers at their masterful best, this R-rated gem remains an indispensable classic.

7

City Of God (2002)

Directed By Fernando Meirelles And Kátia Lund

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

City of God

R

Crime

Drama

8.8/10

Release Date

February 13, 2004

Runtime

130 Minutes

Director

Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund

Writers

Paulo Lins, Bráulio Mantovani

Cast

See All

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Alexandre Rodrigues

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Leandro Firmino

City of God is a Brazilian crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. Set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the film chronicles the rise of organized crime through the eyes of a young boy named Rocket. As Rocket grapples with the harsh realities of his surroundings, the film explores themes of poverty, violence, and survival, offering a poignant and unflinching look at the impact of crime on a community.

Main Genre

Crime

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Also known by its Portuguese title of Cidade de Deus, 2002’s City of God chronicles the insidious rise of organized crime in the eponymous Rio de Janeiro favela. An intense deep dive into the world of Rio’s slums, Fernando Mereilles and Katiá Lund’s picture was critically acclaimed, earning four Oscar nominations and a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This revered status has persisted to this day; IMDb currently has City of God listed as the 25th-highest-scoring film of all time.

City of God served as the first major film role for I Am Legend and Predators star Alice Braga.

An unflinching examination of hugely relevant social themes and issues that never gets old, City of God produces an enthralling perspective on the rampant criminality and levels of poverty historically associated with favelas. Gloriously shot and masterfully edited, this forgotten gangster epic’s no-holds-barred window into Rio’s underworld retains all the evocative shock factor that helped launch it into the mainstream more than two decades later.

6

Gladiator (2000)

Directed By Ridley Scott

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Gladiator

R

Action

Adventure

Drama

ScreenRant logo

10/10

93

9.4/10

Release Date

May 5, 2000

Runtime

155 minutes

Director

Ridley Scott

Writers

David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson

Sequel(s)

Gladiator II

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Russell Crowe

    Russell Crowe

    Maximus Meridius

  • Headshot of Joaquin Phoenix

    Joaquin Phoenix

    Emperor Commodus

Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.

Main Genre

Adventure

Story By

David Franzoni

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Distribution, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment

Distributor(s)

DreamWorks Distribution, Universal Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Taking home five Academy Awards, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is a leading candidate for the greatest swords-and-sandals movie of all time. Following the vengeful tale of Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius, Scott’s blood-soaked epic chronicles the general-turned-slave-turned-gladiator’s quest for retribution following the murder of his family at the hands of Joaquin Phoenix’s tyrannical Emperor Commodus.

Featuring some of the most unforgettable action sequences in cinematic history, Gladiator’s jaw-dropping arena scenes have lost none of their considerable “wow” factor. Revenge is a cinematic concept that also never gets old, a status quo reflected by the fact that the movie still retains every bit of its considerable entertainment factor, more than 20 years after it burst onto the scene. A thrilling gladiatorial pièce de résistance from Scott, an iconic soundtrack from Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard serves as the cherry on the cake for Gladiator’s reputation as a timeless triumph.

5

The Departed (2006)

Directed By Martin Scorsese

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Departed

R

Thriller

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

10

9.5/10

Release Date

October 6, 2006

Runtime

151 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writers

William Monahan, Alan Mak, Felix Chong

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Martin Sheen In The PaleyFest LA

    Martin Sheen

  • Headshot Of Matt Damon In The 74th Berlin International Film

    Matt Damon

A remake of the 2002 film Infernal Affairs, Martin Scorcese’s The Departed is one of the definitive crime epics. It follows Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a Massachusetts State Police officer who serves as an informant for mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), and Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), an undercover cop placed within Costello’s organization. Both Sullivan and Costigan scramble to uncover the other’s identity in order to save their own lives from the wrath of Costello and his gang.

Main Genre

Crime

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

A remake of 2002’s Infernal Affairs that is loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill gang, 2006’s The Departed remains one of Martin Scorsese’s most critically acclaimed movies to this day. The Oscar-winning film is rarely mentioned alongside genre titans like The Godfather, but is still widely regarded as a movie that has helped define the modern gangster genre. A gripping tale of deception and betrayal, this star-studded gangster drama boasts a level of human authenticity unlike anything Scorsese has produced to date.

The Departed‘s Academy Award Nominations

Result

Best Picture

Won

Best Supporting Actor

Nominated

Best Director

Won

Best Adapted Screenplay

Won

Best Film Editing

Won

Leonardo DiCaprio utterly loses himself in bringing undercover trooper Billy Costigan to life, lending his charge an air of near-feral intensity. This sense of desperation permeates into the wider movie to imbue proceedings with an air of near-unbearable suspense, while Jack Nicholson’s delightfully wicked bow as mob boss Frank Costello is one of his most underrated performances. The quintessential example of a great movie remade into a classic, The Departed continues to age like a vintage cognac.

4

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Directed By Edgar Wright

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Shaun of the Dead

R

Horror

Comedy

ScreenRant logo

9/10

13

9.2/10

Release Date

September 24, 2004

Runtime

99 minutes

Director

Edgar Wright

Writers

Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Kate Ashfield

    Kate Ashfield

  • Headshot Of Nick Frost

    Nick Frost

From director Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, an ambitionless slacker who one day finds his world overrun by zombies. From a script by Wright and Pegg, Shaun of the Dead injects comedy into a typically horror-focused subgenre as Shaun and his lazy friend Ed (Nick Frost) attempt to rescue Shaun’s estranged girlfriend and make it through the apocalypse unscathed.

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Gleefully ripping up the genre’s established playbook, Edgar Wright’s zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead subverted just about every creative element required to make a zombie movie with knockout results onscreen. Launching the fan-favorite Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, the 2004 cult classic proved to be a critical and commercial success, serving as the international breakout vehicle for the beloved comedy pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Widely regarded as one of the best British dark comedies ever made, Wright’s unrestrained zombie parody invariably holds up in terms of unabashed entertainment, no matter how many times one might have seen it. Drawing consistent guffaws of laughter from audiences of all generations, this satirical masterpiece somehow manages to be one of the best zombie pictures of all time while simultaneously poking fun at everything about the wider genre in merciless fashion.

3

In Bruges (2008)

Directed By Martin McDonagh

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

In Bruges

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

In Bruges

t

Comedy

Crime

ScreenRant logo

7/10

Release Date

February 8, 2008

Runtime

107minutes

Director

Martin McDonagh

Writers

Martin McDonagh

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

  • Headshot Of Brendan Gleeson iN The 66th BFI London Film Festival

    Brendan Gleeson

Directed by Martin McDonagh, In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as Ray and Ken, two Irish hitmen sent to Belgium to carry out an assignment for their boss Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes. When a previous botched mission leads Harry to give Ken unexpected orders regarding Ray, the two find themselves at odds with each other and must decide how to proceed. 

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Focus Features, Universal Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Serving as Martin McDonagh’s first major movie, 2008’s In Bruges follows a pair of Irish hitmen lying low in the titular Belgian city after a botched assassination attempt. Featuring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in the leading roles with a masterful supporting bow from Conclave star Ralph Fiennes as their vengeful boss, In Bruges’ inimitable blend of humor and tragedy quickly established the director’s talent for exemplary film making, as well as his penchant for some of cinema’s darkest humor.

Martin McDonagh & Colin Farrell Movie Collaborations

Year of Release

In Bruges

2008

Seven Psychopaths

2012

The Banshees of Inisherin

2022

A nuanced commentary on the nature of guilt and redemption that also happens to feature scenes depicting Farrell’s character snorting cocaine with a racist dwarf, the timeless In Bruges consistently leaves viewers alternating between howls of laughter and tears of despair. Loaded with a magnificent array of modern cinema’s finest one-liners, McDonagh’s picture was the first indicator of a career resurgence for current critics’ darling Farrell, a surprise that remains just as delightful in 2025 as it did in 2008.

2

Snatch (2000)

Directed By Guy Ritchie

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Snatch

R

Comedy

Crime

9.8/10

Release Date

January 19, 2001

Runtime

102 minutes

Director

Guy Ritchie

Writers

Guy Ritchie

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Benicio Del Toro

    Benicio Del Toro

  • Headshot Of Jason Statham

    Jason Statham

Snatch is a comedic crime film by director Guy Ritchie that centers on several different groups of characters’ paths that begin to cross after a missing diamond becomes central to their stories. From a fight promoter trying to make pay his bookie to a group of inept bank robbers that fumble a bookkeeping heist, a stolen diamond ends up in the stomach of a dog, setting off a hectic chain of violent but darkly comedic events.

Studio(s)

Sony

Distributor(s)

Columbia Pictures, Sony

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Labeled by many fans and critics as Guy Ritchie’s best movie, Snatch serves as the consensus magnum opus for Britain’s finest gangster director. Chronicling an array of converging narratives unfolding throughout London’s underworld in the aftermath of a diamond heist, Ritchie improved on virtually every aspect of 1998’s spiritual predecessor, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to produce an iconic crime-comedy caper for the ages.

Snatch marked the second collaboration with Ritchie in a row for the likes of returning Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ cast members Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, and Alan Ford.

Deftly balancing sidesplitting humor with shockingly gratuitous violence, Snatch’s superb array of snappy one-liners have underlined the movie’s status as one of the most quotable films of all time. Featuring a veritable laundry list of Ritchie’s most colorful and memorable characters against the backdrop of a glorious soundtrack, Snatch is a riotously entertaining crime outing that stamps its foot on the gas early and doesn’t let up until the credits roll.

1

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Directed By Quentin Tarantino

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Inglourious Basterds

R

Drama

War

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

8/10

10

8.8/10

Release Date

August 21, 2009

Runtime

153 minutes

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Writers

Quentin Tarantino

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Brad Pitt In The Babylon Premiere

    Brad Pitt

  • Headshot Of Diane Kruger

    Diane Kruger

In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich. Simultaneously, a young Jewish cinema owner plots to kill Nazi leaders attending a premiere at her theater. Both plans converge in a high-stakes showdown filled with action and revenge​.

Main Genre

War

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

A gloriously subversive war outing, 2009’s Inglourious Basterds isn’t just an R-rated classic that never gets old, it’s one of the most beloved, ageless, and influential movies ever made. Featuring some of the most quotable war movie characters of all time to complement Quentin Tarantino’s usual smorgasbord of cultural references, supremely graphic violence, and interconnected narratives, the movie chronicles two converging assassination plots to dispose of German High Command at a movie premiere.

Inglourious Basterds Hans Landa aldo Raine Donny the Bear Jew

Related

Surprisingly, This Inglourious Basterds Character Only Kills 1 Person On Screen

Inglourious Basterds has a very high kill count, but surprisingly, one of its main characters, despite his job, only kills one person on screen.

Posts

Boasting one of modern cinema’s greatest breakout bows from Christoph Waltz as the “Jew Hunter” Hans Landa, Tarantino’s picture may be spearheaded by the Austrian’s Oscar-winning turn, but he’s far from the movie’s sole shining light. Boasting knockout performances from the wider cast to complement the movie’s thrilling action sequences and iconic soundbites, Tarantino’s meticulously constructed foray into the war genre has lost none of the chaotic entertainment factor that landed it classic status in the first place.