2004 IS UP!
10. The Bourne Supremacy
Studio: Universal Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $176 Million
With this exciting sequel, director Paul Greengrass injected more political subtext (and plenty of shaky cam work) into the saga of Jason Bourne, who comes out of hiding to hunt down those responsible for his girlfriend's murder. His mission also brings him that much closer to uncovering his forgotten past. More
9. Team America: World Police
Studio: Paramount Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $33 Million
Not many films are just as funny in concept as they are in execution, but Team America is definitely one of them. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of South Park fame), this political parody centers around a Broadway actor trained to stop terrorists and the Film Actors Guild (led by Kim Jong-il) as the newest member of Team America -- the world's police. If that doesn't hook you, how about the fact that the cast is composed entirely of marionettes? More
8. Dawn of the Dead
Studio: Universal Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $59 Million
Clearly taking his cue from 28 Days Later, Zack Snyder's arguably superior version of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead employed the newly crowned fast-moving zombie to tremendous effect. But not only was the film fast, violent and scary as hell, it boasted a strong script with solid performances and actual character. In a horror movie! Think of that! More
7. Shaun of the Dead
Studio: Focus Features
US Box Office to Date: $14 Million
Shaun made Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg brands in both the U.K. and the U.S. by turning the zombie movie into something equal parts horror and comedy -- with a good measure of dramatic stakes thrown in. Shaun is one of the genre's Top Five, and one of the best reasons why it's good to be a fanboy. More
6. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $85 Million
Arguably the first in Will Ferrell's long, long list of almost solely improvised movies, Anchorman came as a breath of fresh air against the old Hollywood standard of rehashing lines from a script. It's basically, "Give me a plot and five of my friends, and we'll do the rest." Since then, Ferrell's been trying to recreate Anchorman's magic to no avail. Keep trying sir, Step Brothers wasn't half bad. More
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $250 Million
Let's forget for a moment the fact that this is a popular set of children's books that you end up borrowing from your 12-year-old sister after she's done with them. This movie has everything you want: serial killing, magic, and Gary Oldman. Where Chris Columbus previously took the series more towards a children's slant, newly acquisitioned director Alfonso Cuarón made it darker and more character driven. More
4. The Incredibles
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $261 Million
Pixar continued its reign as the king of computer animation in 2004 with its stylish take on the superhero genre. While clearly influenced by established comic book archetypes, The Incredibles still feels fresh thanks to the heartwarming love story between Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, and their family of "supers" coming together to fight the bad guy. More
3. Kill Bill Vol. 2
Studio: Miramax
US Box Office to Date: $66 Million
The Bride's vendetta comes to an end with some of the best dialogue Quentin Tarantino has ever written. The Bride takes on a more tragic edge as she closes in on Bill, and Bill becomes that rare villain we truly hate to love. Vol. 1 gets most of the action out of the way, so Vol. 2 can give us a dramatic conclusion to the whole bloody affair. More
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Studio: Focus Features
US Box Office to Date: $34 Million
What if science could erase your broken heart, but then you realize that actually losing that love was better than not having it at all? Sunshine asks that question, and Charlie Kaufman's script uses the eclectic romance between Joel and Clementine to answer it. Michel Gondry's trippy direction provides the most unique take on love's labor lost. More
1. Spider-Man 2
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
US Box Office to Date: $374 Million
Sorry, The Dark Knight fans, but for some of us on the IGN staff this film stands as the greatest superhero movie ever. Following Peter Parker's increasingly troubled dual existence as Spider-Man, the picture shines not just for its Spidey action scenes but also for the little touches: the citizens carrying the unconscious wallcrawler on the train; MJ's ditched wedding run through the park; the "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" interlude. Just perfect. More
