2001 was an iconic year for movies! Not only did we witness the rise of Harry Potter, Shrek, and the Fast & Furious franchises in 2001, we also saw some prolific Hollywood megastars kick off their careers during this year.
That said, it's been roughly twenty years since 2001, leaving us with many memories to cherish. From the tale of the cannibalistic serial killer in Hannibal to Harry Potter & co's journey of adulthood in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, here's what the highest-grossing movies of the year in the box office looked like, 20 years ago, according to Box Office Mojo.
10 'Hannibal' (Approx. $351 Million)
Another all-time classic horror, Hannibal scored an amazing $351 million in the box office. The Ridley Scott-directed movie picks up 10 years after where The Silence of the Lambs left off, with Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Despite its over-the-top violence and mixed reviews, Hannibal was still a massive commercial success.
9 'Planet Of The Apes' (Approx. $362 Million)
Loosely adapted from Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel of the same name, Planet of the Apes follows Leo Davidson, an astronaut, as he navigates on a new planet inhabited by overly-intelligent apes. Little does he know that a massive political reformation is about to start on the planet. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Carter, Kris Kristofferson, and many more.
8 'Jurassic Park III' (Approx. $368 Million)
In 2001, the Jurassic Park trilogy came to an end following Jurassic Park in 1993 and The Lost World in 1997. The movie itself centers on Isla Sorna, a fictional island located off Central America's Pacific coast with nothing but dangers lingering ahead. This movie was intended to be the last in the series, but the franchise picked it up again in 2015 with a new title, Jurassic World.
7 'The Mummy Returns' (Approx. $433 Million)
Nobody says no to a good fun of Middle Age-flavored adventure, especially when Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is in it. The Mummy Returns was a critical flop, but it was a big commercial success that landed big bucks for Universal Pictures. It was so massive that the studio signed one more sequel later in 2008, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
6 'Pearl Harbor' (Approx. $449 Million)
As the title of the movie suggests, Pearl Harbor takes you on a journey of the infamous ill-fated day of the Japanese surprise attack on the naval base in December 1941 amidst the height of World War II. The movie itself is a romanticization and dramatization version of the historical event where two longtime best friends, Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker, find themselves in a catastrophic situation.
5 'Ocean's Eleven' (Approx. $450 Million)
Not every screenwriter could pull a fantastic execution of a fast-paced heist fused with hilarious comedy, but Steven Soderbergh and Ted Griffin did deliver with Ocean's Eleven. The movie was so good that it has amassed several sequels since: Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007. Another spin-off with an all-female cast, Ocean's 8, was released in 2018.
4 'Shrek' (Approx. $487 Million)
Despite being released roughly twenty years ago, the fact that Shrek is still talked about is a testament to its quality. The movie, which was adapted from the fairy tale book for children of the same name, follows the titular ogre and his journey to save Princess Fiona from the corrupt and villainous Lord Farquaad.
Last year, the Library of Congress hailed the movie for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," which is a massive honor for everyone who worked on it.
3 'Monsters, Inc.' (Approx. $582 Million)
Two monsters, Sulley and Mike, always believed children were toxic. But in Monsters, Inc., the two embark on a thoughtful journey that changes their perspective forever. The movie was a classic hit with approximately $582 million amassed in the box office, and it is now gearing up for an upcoming Disney+ spin-off, Monsters at Work.
2 'The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring' (Approx. $883 Million)
2001 marked the start of The Lord of the Rings' epic tale of endless adventures. The Dark Lord Sauron is eager to seek the One Ring, but little does he know that the earth's fate relies on him. Constantly hailed as one of the greatest and influential movies of all time, The Lord of the Rings elevated to a new level when its two sequel films were released respectively in 2002 and 2003.
1 'Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone' (Approx. $1 Billion)
Remember the old days when everyone wanted to be a Potterhead and imitate the accents of their favorite wizards? Any product of art from the Harry Potter franchise always did commercially well, but Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) was something else. In fact, the Chris Columbus-directed flick has joined the exclusive list of movies that scored over $1 billion gross in a year in the box office.