Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The year 2004 served us so many classic Hollywood films—from sequels to robots to tearjerkers. Moviegoers surely enjoyed the year-long list of certified blockbusters. Some chick flicks and comedies still managed to catch up to the hype of action and sci-fi. Thrillers also had a good run. So, let’s rediscover the blockbusters that will turn 20 years old this year. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Released June 2, 2004 Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasley) in Prisoner of Azkaban. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Studios. Basically, it’s the sequel with a flying Aunt Marge, the Knight Bus, the Monster Book and many more! Prisoner of Azkaban explored Harry Potter’s third year in Hogwarts. We got to see more of Hagrid, and less of Voldemort. Also, Hermione’s personal time-turner made its debut alongside Buckbeak. Prisoner of Azkaban Director Alfonso Cuaron assists Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid). Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Studios. Fun fact: Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuaron directed Prisoner of Azkaban. He significantly changed the film by using many “indie” techniques and long shots. Spider-Man 2 Released June 30, 2004 Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 2. Photo courtesy of Columbia/ Sony Pictures Tobey Maguire swung back again as Spider-Man, an important figure in Marvel’s list of superhero Hollywood films. This time, he faced Dr. Otto Octavious aka Doc Ock who is a renowned scientist with deadly robotic tentacles. On top of that, Spider-Man’s romance with MJ (Kirsten Dunst) and his friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) got even more complicated. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2. Photo courtesy of Columbia/Sony Pictures Fun fact: Sony Pictures re-released Spider-Man 2 in theaters last April this year. According to The Numbers, the film even ranked #2 in the North American box office in April 22. What a classic, indeed! The Incredibles Released November 5, 2004 The Incredibles. Photo courtesy of Pixar/Disney Yes, it’s been an entire two decades since Pixar gave us the iconic superhero family. Feel old yet? So, we have a mom who can stretch her body in any way she can, and a dad with an incredible strength. We also have a sister who can go invisible, and a brother who can move at high speed. Oh, and we have Jack-Jack who has many abilities and powers. Left: Edna Mode (photo courtesy of Pixar/Disney) Right: Director Brad Bird (photo courtesy of Getty Images) Fun Fact: The Incredibles’ director Brad Bird tried to do the voice of “E” (Edna Mode) during the film production. Then, Pixar animators and filmmakers chose to retain Bird’s voice “because he was the only one who can” capture the charm of Edna. Mean Girls Released April 30, 2004 Lindsay Lohan (Cady), Amanda Seyfried (Karen), Lacey Chabert (Gretchen), and Rachel McAdams (Regina) in Mean Girls. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Written by Saturday Night Live alumna Tina Fey, Mean Girls centers on the petty rivalries of teenage girls at North Shore High School. From the infamous “Burn Book” of Regina George and the sarcastic four-way phone calls, Mean Girls served iconic scene after another. “On Wednesdays, we wear pink” and “Get in loser. We’re going shopping” became catchphrases. Even popstar Ariana Grande featured the Jingle Bell Rock performance in her reference list of Hollywood films and chick flicks. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Fun fact: Yes, there’s a 2024 Mean Girls comedy musical film. The “remake” pretty much maintained the signature Tina Fey brand of humor. You can watch it here! White Chicks Released June 23, 2004 Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans as the Wilson sisters in White Chicks. Photo courtesy of Columbia/Sony Pictures. Yes, this was the film where Terry Crews served a hilarious rendition of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. White Chicks followed the story of an FBI duo who went undercover as millionaire socialites Britney and Tiffany Wilson. They shopped with the Wilson sisters’ trio of girl besties. They attended slumber parties and mocked their rivals. Although this comedy film received negative reviews from critics, the jokes really made a mark. Many late 90s to 2000s young adults can still recall a punchline or two. Production staff and crew apply prosthetics on Marlon Wayans for White Chicks. Photo courtesy of Columbia/Sony Pictures. Fun fact: The Wayans brothers endured long hours of makeup and prosthetics to become the White Chicks. Marlon Wayans once said in an interview that the movie “almost killed” them. “Seven hours of makeup. We’d work 14 hours after that. It takes an hour to get the makeup off,” Wayans added. The Notebook Released June 25, 2004 Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema. The Notebook is part of Nicholas Sparks’ roster of books-turned-Hollywood films. The story highlighted the romantic past of Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams). In the beginning, the couple had a good time together, until Allie’s parents banned her from seeing Noah. When they broke up, Noah enlisted himself in the soldiers for World War II. On one hand, Allie served as a nurse for wounded soldiers and met a new man. But they soon found their way to each other, as their true love endured the test of time. Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls and in The Notebook. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures and New Line Cinema. Fun fact: 2004 was a big year for Rachel McAdams, as she starred in two different Hollywood films on this list. Aside from The Notebook, she also played the iconic Regina George in Mean Girls. Talk about acting range! Other notable ‘04 Hollywood films include Shark Tale, Catwoman, 13 Going On 30, and 50 First Dates. Million Dollar Baby, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and Saw are also turning 20 this year. And there’s a whole lot more! 2004 was that year, indeed. Facebook Comments
