Diez películas que celebrarán su 25 aniversario en 2026

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Mirando hacia atrás, ¡2001 fue un año increíble para el cine! Me sorprende la cantidad de películas de ese año de las que todavía se habla hoy en día y, lo que es aún más sorprendente, tres franquicias importantes comenzaron entonces, aunque, sinceramente, sólo una parecía destinada a la grandeza en ese momento. Más allá de los éxitos de taquilla, también tenemos algunas películas verdaderamente fantásticas y premiadas, una película que marcó un cambio en el mundo de la animación lejos del dominio de Disney y un thriller independiente realmente inteligente que se ha convertido en un querido favorito de culto. Realmente se sintió como un punto de inflexión para el cine.

El comienzo del siglo XXI fue un gran momento para las franquicias cinematográficas. Tres nuevas series se convirtieron rápidamente en sensación en todo el mundo: la adaptación de Peter Jackson de J.R.R. El Señor de los Anillos: La Comunidad del Anillo de Tolkien, la versión de Chris Columbus del popular libro Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal y la emocionante acción de Rápido y Furioso.

¡Vaya, 2001 fue un año realmente increíble para las películas! Recuerdo que me quedé impresionado por lo divertido que era Shrek, e hizo historia como la primera película de DreamWorks en ganar un Oscar a la Mejor Película de Animación. Luego estaba Moulin Rouge! revitalizando realmente el musical de la máquina de discos, y Denzel Washington ofreciendo una actuación poderosa… ¡y ganando un Oscar! – como villano en Día de entrenamiento. Y no olvidemos Donnie Darko, una pequeña película independiente de ciencia ficción que rápidamente ganó un gran culto de seguidores. Todas estas películas cumplirán 25 años en 2026 y, sinceramente, me recuerda el año dorado que fue para Hollywood.

Shrek (18 de mayo de 2001)

Hace veinticinco años, las películas animadas enfrentaron un nuevo nivel de competencia. Los Premios de la Academia crearon la categoría de Mejor Película de Animación, dándole a Disney y Pixar un premio exclusivo para perseguir en lugar de competir en la ya concurrida carrera por Mejor Película. Sorprendentemente, DreamWorks surgió rápidamente y ganó el primer premio.

Shrek es una película sobre un ogro gruñón que se embarca en una búsqueda para devolver criaturas de cuento de hadas a sus hogares, lo que implica rescatar a una princesa de un dragón. Fue un punto de inflexión para la animación, alejándose de los estilos tradicionales dibujados a mano y siendo pionero en una apariencia más realista generada por computadora que influyó en las películas animadas en los años venideros.

¡Moulin Rojo! (18 de mayo de 2001)

Hace veinticinco años, Baz Luhrmann dirigió la que se considera su mejor película musical, Moulin Rouge! Ambientada en el París de 1899, la película cuenta la historia de amor entre un poeta (Ewan McGregor) y una bailarina (Nicole Kidman) que se conocen en la famosa discoteca Moulin Rouge.

Ewan McGregor y Nicole Kidman cantaron sus propias canciones en la película, que recibió ocho nominaciones al Premio de la Academia, incluidas Mejor Película y Mejor Actriz. Fue el primer musical en más de una década, desde La Bella y la Bestia en 1991, en ser nominado a Mejor Película, y allanó el camino para una nueva ola de películas musicales aclamadas en la década de 2000.

El Rápido y el Furioso (22 de junio de 2001)

Out of the three movie series that started 25 years ago, The Fast and the Furious was the least expected to become a major success. The film took inspiration from the 1990s movie Point Break, swapping out surfing and other extreme sports for street racing, but it kept the same basic story of a group of criminals and the undercover cop who starts to sympathize with them.

The Fast & Furious series faced early setbacks when Vin Diesel departed after the first film and Paul Walker after the second. Despite this, the franchise proved resilient, with both actors returning for the fourth installment. Now, after more than two decades, the series will conclude with its eleventh film, Fast Forever, planned for release in 2028. The original movie was a huge hit, earning $207 million despite costing only $38 million to make, but even bigger successes followed.

Training Day (October 5, 2001)

The film Training Day is a thrilling crime story starring Denzel Washington as Detective Alonzo Harris, a dishonest police officer, and Ethan Hawke as his new partner, Jake Hoyt. The movie takes place over a single day in Los Angeles and follows Hoyt as he discovers his partner’s corruption and struggles to survive.

Denzel Washington won an Academy Award for his role in the film, a departure for him as he typically plays heroes. Ethan Hawke also received an Oscar nomination, and the movie earned over $104 million at the box office. The film essentially created the now-familiar trope of the corrupt police officer, and Washington’s performance remains one of the best in the genre.

Donnie Darko (October 26, 2001)

Twenty-five years ago, the sci-fi film Donnie Darko, directed by Richard Kelly, quietly entered theaters. While it wasn’t a success at first, earning only $517,375, it later gained a huge following on home video. The film is known for its complex and puzzling story, and features a standout performance from Jake Gyllenhaal.

Donnie Darko is a sci-fi film about a teenager who sleepwalks the night a mysterious object crashes into his room. He should have died, but survives and must uncover how to save a world that’s falling apart. With its unique elements – like the character of Frank the Rabbit and a mind-bending time-loop – and impressive direction, it’s considered one of the best independent sci-fi films of the 21st century.

Monsters, Inc. (November 2, 2001)

As a huge animation fan, I always think about how close the Oscar race was in 2001. Everyone remembers Shrek winning, but Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. was a serious contender! Directed by Pete Docter, with a fantastic script from Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson, the movie is just brilliant. It’s about these two monsters who have the job of scaring kids – and that’s how they power their whole world! It’s such a clever concept and a really fun film.

Monsters, Inc. was a massive hit, earning $577 million around the world and becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 2001. Critics loved it too, giving it a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it was nominated for the very first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The film will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, and while it already has one sequel, a third one is currently being developed.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (November 16, 2001)

Chris Columbus brought a popular new fantasy book series to the big screen with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Known for his work with young actors, Columbus directed the film about a boy who discovers he’s a wizard and attends Hogwarts, a school where he learns to control his magical abilities. The movie was a huge success, largely thanks to the talented young cast he assembled.

When it first came out, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone earned $975 million, and later surpassed $1 billion worldwide with a re-release in 2020. It was the top-grossing film of 2001 and guaranteed that the remaining books in J.K. Rowling’s series would be adapted into movies, allowing audiences to follow the young characters as they came of age.

Ocean’s Eleven (December 7, 2001)

Released 25 years ago, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven is widely considered one of the greatest heist films ever made. While based on an older movie featuring the Rat Pack, the 2001 version was a significant improvement. It boasted an exceptionally talented cast, led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, and featured brilliantly executed casino heist sequences thanks to Soderbergh’s skillful direction.

The movie centers on Danny Ocean (played by George Clooney) and his team as they plan a complex casino robbery. It cleverly tricks the audience right along with the characters, culminating in a surprising and memorable twist. The film was a huge commercial success, earning $450 million globally, and spawned two sequels and a spin-off focused on Danny’s sister.

The Royal Tenenbaums (December 14, 2001)

Wes Anderson is a highly distinctive and celebrated director, and many consider his 1999 film, The Royal Tenenbaums, to be his best work. The movie centers on Royal Tenenbaum, played by Gene Hackman, and his estranged family, whom he pushed relentlessly to achieve great things.

The film boasts a fantastic cast, including Luke Wilson, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, and Ben Stiller, and is known for its dry wit and strong storytelling – many consider it one of Wes Anderson’s best. Anderson and Owen Wilson received an Academy Award nomination for their writing, and it features a particularly memorable performance from Gene Hackman later in his career.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (December 19, 2001)

Twenty-five years ago, Peter Jackson released the first film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, titled The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Although it didn’t earn quite as much as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it was still a huge financial success, bringing in $871.5 million globally on a $93 million budget and becoming the second highest-grossing movie of 2001.

The film received high praise from critics and was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning four: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score by Howard Shore, and Best Visual Effects. It spawned two sequels that grew in scale, with the third film winning all 11 of its Oscar nominations.

2026-05-18 00:41