Memeing Classic Movies: Top Films From The 2000s For Memes

Movies are a constant source of content, bringing us both older formats and new ones we’re still discovering. In fact, there’s no way to have memes without movies these days, as the two of them thrive off one another to gain the interest of millions following popular culture. So, if you’ve already gone through every TV show on Netflix and Hulu and need something else to watch before the void of boredom sets in again, here are three recommendations of the best movies for memes released at the turn of the century.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Starting our list is one of the most mainstream movies of the 2000s, the first installment of the fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Contrary to what many people believe, this movie is for everyone, not just Dwight Schrute and that weird quiet kid in your English class, and enjoying it will not be a serious threat to your social life. In fact, if you don’t give this trilogy a shot, you’re missing out, especially when it comes to the vast world of LotR memes.

The Lord of the Rings overall is fantastic for memes, but The Fellowship of the Ring has some of the most well-known ones. After all, who could forget "One Does Not Simply Walk Into Mordor," "All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets," or "You Have My Sword, and My Bow, and My Axe?" There are far more scenes and lines of dialogue that have made their rounds on the internet in memes, such as "For Frodo", and these movies are infamously long, so the trilogy gives you nearly 12 hours of content to steal formats from … even more if you've got the extended cuts.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

This cult classic is probably the only movie in existence where the director told the actors, "Don’t try at all, just pick a spot on the wall and stare aimlessly at it while speaking in a monotone." There is essentially no plot to Napoleon Dynamite. Instead, we get a deadpan glimpse into the life of an awkward teenager in moon boots who dances his way to class election victory and really doesn’t want to feed Tina, the family llama. Every shot is a few seconds too long, every character a little too off to be allowed within 300 feet of a high school.

Produced with a very small budget and a fever dream’s grasp of reality, this movie knows exactly what it is, and the awkwardness makes it a stellar viewing experience for people with the right sense of humor. Famous memes include the Napoleon Dynamite Dance (which is vastly superior to Fortnite or TikTok dances), Kip Dynamite’s line "Things are getting pretty serious," and dramatic Napoleon fan art. If that’s not enough, basically any screenshot or line of dialogue from this movie can instantly be made into a meme based on sheer randomness alone.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

This first installment in the Pirates of the Carribean franchise sees Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner take on the undead crew of The Black Pearl as they attempt to save a kidnapped governer’s daughter. However, you can’t recognize it in its true meme potential until you’ve seen Depp in action and recall the meme "Why Is the Rum Gone?" or a reaction image coined by Captain Barbossa, "You Best Start Believing in Ghost Stories, You’re In One."

This particular movie is a rather timely recommendation, as one of the internet’s current favorite people, Johnny Depp, takes a starring role. Right now, millions of people are siding with Depp after he was dropped from his role in a Disney film due to an unproven abuse scandal with Amber Heard. Whether you want to comment on the alleged situation or if you simply want your memes to become trendy, the truth is, Johnny Depp memes are popular everywhere right now, and thousands of them are coming right from The Curse of the Black Pearl.

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