Sometimes, the little details—things not obvious at first glance—make movies from the 2000s even more entertaining. Spotting a hidden Easter egg or a behind‑the‑scenes snag can turn a routine viewing into a treasure hunt.
Things Not Everyone Notices in These 2000s Classics
10 Meet The Parents 2000
Starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, Meet the Parents strutted onto the silver screen in 2000 and raked in more than $300 million worldwide. Its success sparked NBC’s reality concept Meet My Folks, where a suitor faces lie‑detector tests and grilling from his girlfriend’s dad.
The iconic gay‑lord‑Focker role could have been played by Jim Carrey under Steven Spielberg’s direction, but both exited the project, leaving the name untouched.
In a bizarre post‑release incident, a 2005 American Airlines flight to Puerto Rico turned into a security scramble when a napkin read “bomb, bomb, bomb … meet the parents,” a nod to Ben Stiller’s on‑screen airport detention. The pilot turned the plane back, and bomb squads and the FBI swarmed the cabin.
9 Shrek 2001
DreamWorks unleashed Shrek in 2001, adapting a 1990 picture‑book fairy tale. After scrapping a claymation plan, five years of computer animation later, the $60 million production grossed nearly $500 million and snagged the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Mike Myers’ voice became inseparable from the ogre, yet the role was originally recorded by Chris Farley, who had laid down over 80 percent of his lines before his untimely death in December 1997 at age 33.
Legend has it that Nicolas Cage turned down the part, claiming he didn’t want to be an “ugly ogre.”
8 Ghost Ship 2002
The 2002 horror flick Ghost Ship struggled with critics, earning just $68 million worldwide. Yet it cultivated a cult following that cherishes its haunting soundtrack and unforgettable opening sequence.
Originally conceived as a psychological thriller, the script was overhauled into a full‑blown ghost story, which may explain its uneven reception.
MythBusters attempted to replicate the film’s infamous snapping‑cable gore, only to discover the physics simply didn’t work.
The doomed Antonia Graza was loosely based on the real SS Andrea Doria, which collided with the MS Stockholm in 1956. The Andrea Doria listed starboard, leaving half her lifeboats unreachable and resulting in 46 casualties after an 11‑hour sink.
7 Freddy vs. Jason 2003
When Freddy vs. Jason hit theaters in 2003, it pulled in $114 million, making it the top‑grossing entry in the Friday the 13th franchise and the second‑best in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film marked Robert Englund’s final appearance as Freddy Krueger and introduced singer‑turned‑actress Kelly Rowland.
Fans may be surprised to learn that the character Tommy Jarvis was originally slated to star, but his subplot was cut to keep the runtime manageable. Early drafts even toyed with the idea of Freddy being Jason’s father, a twist the writers later abandoned as nonsensical.
Brad Renfro was initially cast as Will, but he was dismissed a week before shooting for being “completely strung out.” Jason Ritter stepped in, and Renfro tragically passed away from a heroin overdose in 2008.
6 The Passion Of The Christ 2004
Mel Gibson’s 2004 biblical drama The Passion of the Christ ignited controversy over its graphic violence and accusations of anti‑Semitism, yet it still amassed over $600 million, becoming the most profitable non‑English‑language film ever.
Lead actor Jim Caviezel endured a series of on‑set mishaps: he was whipped twice by accident, struck by lightning twice, and even separated his shoulder while shouldering the cross.
In Malaysia, tickets could only be sold through Christian churches, and the film shattered records for pre‑sold tickets.
5 Brokeback Mountain 2005
Adapted from Annie Proulx’s short story and directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain earned three Oscars but lost Best Picture to Crash. The film lingered in theaters for 130 days and grossed $178 million worldwide.
Jake Gyllenhaal attended a “cowboy training camp” to master sheep‑wrangling, wood‑chopping, and horseback riding. Ang Lee faced numerous sheep‑related setbacks, eventually replacing many with CGI.
Heath Ledger’s peculiar speech—pursed lips and a nearly closed mouth—was not an artistic choice; he was actually trying to keep flies out of his mouth.
4 Pan’s Labyrinth 2006
Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy Pan’s Labyrinth premiered at Cannes in 2006 and, despite a modest $83 million box office, secured three Oscars and held the record for highest‑grossing Spanish‑language film in the U.S. for seven years.
Del Toro narrowly avoided disaster when he left a notebook packed with four years of notes in a cab; the driver tracked him down and returned the crucial manuscript.
Refusing to shoot in Hollywood after a bad experience on Mimic, del Toro filmed in drought‑stricken Spain, using artificial grass and greenery to mimic a forest.
The movie inspired Björk’s track “Pneumonia” and contains nods to Pink Floyd and Spanish painter Francisco Goya.
3 I Am Legend 2007
Will Smith was courted by Guillermo del Toro to direct I Am Legend, but del Toro chose to helm Hellboy II instead. The film, released in December 2007, pulled in $585 million and became the top‑grossing non‑Christmas holiday release in the U.S.
Director Francis Lawrence swapped out the original prosthetic infected for CGI after a week on set, inflating both budget and schedule. The Brooklyn Bridge collapse sequence alone cost $5 million and required six days to film.
Smith fell for his canine co‑star Abbey so much that he tried to adopt her, but the trainer refused. During a Japanese press tour, Smith inadvertently spoiled the ending.
Rumors suggest a reboot could finally materialize a decade after the original debut.
2 Twilight 2008
Love it or loathe it, Twilight stormed the box office in 2008, raking in $393 million and becoming the most purchased DVD the following year.
More than 3,000 actors auditioned for Edward Cullen; Stephenie Meyer initially favored Henry Cavill, but his age proved problematic.
Robert Pattinson’s audition at director Catherine Hardwicke’s home sealed his fate as the brooding vampire. He was even asked to wear braces to “fix his teeth” before filming began. Pattinson had planned to quit acting the day before landing the role.
Pattinson also contributed the song “Never Think” to the soundtrack, heard during the dinner scene with Bella.
Other trivia: Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Bella, Taylor Lautner didn’t know what Twilight was about when he auditioned for Jacob, and the wolf‑pack actors had to prove Native‑American heritage. Pattinson even cried over having to strip for his audition.
1 Up 2009
Pixar’s Up opened the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009, becoming the first 3‑D animated feature to do so. The film amassed over $730 million worldwide and earned five Oscar nominations.
While the tear‑jerking opening sequence steals the spotlight, the film also delivers plenty of laughs, striking a perfect balance between heart and humor. Originally, the opening was scripted to feature a brief dialogue where Carl and Ellie finish each other’s sentences.
Pixar even brought a flock of ostriches to the studio for reference and consulted an architect to make the balloon‑lifted house scene as believable as possible.
The characters’ shapes were intentional: Carl’s square silhouette reflects his stiff, introverted nature, while Russell’s round form signals youthful energy.