10. Spider-Man
Studio: Sony Pictures Imageworks
US Box Office to Date: $404 Million
Year: 2002
It's easy to forget now, but back before this film was released in 2002 there was some question as to whether or not modern visual effects were quite up to snuff in terms of depicting a man who can crawl and swing like a spider. Then Spider-Man opened and a whole new world was unveiled to moviegoers, one where any superhero could be depicted realistically, fantastically on film. And the funny thing is, not many have topped this picture in the almost eight years since it was release. More
9. 300
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $211 Million
Year: 2007
Zack Snyder's Watchmen is notably absent from this list -- much to the chagrin of certain IGN staffers -- but majority rules here. The director's contribution to the film scene of the 2000s is nonetheless being duly rewarded with the inclusion of 300, an exciting, handsome film that remains riveting with each successive viewing. Tonight we dine in hell, indeed. More
8. Almost Famous
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $33 Million
Year: 2000
The fact that Cameron Crowe nabbed a job as a journalist for Rolling Stone when he was still a teen is the kind of "remember when" tale that the filmmaker could hardly top. So he made a movie about it instead -- a witty and engaging look back at a certain time and place that is forever gone now… and yet remains, like Penny Lane, in our ears and in our eyes. More
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Studio: New Line Cinema
US Box Office to Date: $315 Million
Year: 2001
You've got to love an origin story, and that's what this first chapter in the Rings saga basically is. It set the stage for the spectacle to come and let fans know that they could trust Peter Jackson to faithfully interpret one of the most seminal fantasy works of all time. More
6. Batman Begins
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $205 Million
Year: 2005
Inspired by epics like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Blade Runner, Christopher Nolan's first Batman movie is a character study wearing summer blockbuster clothing. The Dark Knight's origin is serviced best here, embracing the brooding nature of the character while keeping a man who wears a mask firmly grounded in a reality previous Batman movies failed to achieve. More
5. Avatar
Studio: 20th Century Fox
US Box Office to Date: $368 Million
Year: 2009
James Cameron's allegorical sci-fi epic may really just be an old-fashioned Western gussied up by state of the art special effects, but it marked another giant step forward in audiences' suspension of disbelief in what is "real" onscreen and validated all the hype and investment in 3-D and motion-capture animation. More
4. Spider-Man 2
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
US Box Office to Date: $374 Million
Year: 2004
This being an IGN list, it's no surprise that five of our top films of the decade are comic book movies. But perhaps the filmmakers in Hollywood, should they happen to be reading our humble little countdown, will note that those five were made by three filmmakers with quite distinctive visions and voices. Sam Raimi has always marched to the beat of a different cinematic drum, and with this franchise -- and this film in particular -- he was finally able to fully merge his style with mainstream tastes. To spiderific result, we might add. More
3. James Bond 007: Casino Royale
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
US Box Office to Date: $167 Million
Year: 2006
Sure, the film's action style owed more to Bourne than Bond, but this character-driven reboot made 007 cool and relevant again after years of excess and self-parody. Daniel Craig overcame the animosity of many fans angered by his casting thanks to his steely, brutal but also vulnerable portrayal of Bond. More
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Studio: New Line Cinema
US Box Office to Date: $377 Million
Year: 2003
We don't always agree with the Academy, but in this case they got it right. Nominated for 11 Oscars, the final film of the Rings trilogy won in every category, including Best Picture, and is currently tied with Ben-Hur and Titanic for the most Oscars won by a single film. Now that's undeniably epic. More
1. The Dark Knight
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
US Box Office to Date: $533 Million
Year: 2008
Christopher Nolan's Bat-masterpiece did for superhero movies what The Godfather did for gangster films: It legitimized what had been considered a pulpy, B-movie genre and raised it to the level of Oscar-winning art. Plus, Heath Ledger's Joker is already considered one of the greatest screen villains of all time. More
