Best movies of 2003?

Catch me if you can
2. Back to the Future DVD box sets

The rest isn't even worth mentioning...

I think I need to shake up my original picks a little bit...

Since it’s the end of the year, I have this total mental block where I completely forget everything I watched back in January—it honestly feels like I saw those movies two years ago, not months... plus, a few titles on my old list were just festival circuit stuff that won't even hit theaters here in the States until next year...

1. Far from Heaven
2. Mystic River
3. The Pianist
4. Crimson Gold
5. Spider, Adaptation, Etre et Avoir, The Belvaux Trilogy, All the Real Girls...

1). The Pianist
2). Sati
3). Irreversible
4). The Navigator
5). The Ring

Just a heads up, I haven't actually seen most of this year's releases, so... 🙂

I think I'm going to try watching Kill Bill in the next few days.

1. Chicago
2. Mystic River
3. The Pianist
4. About Schmidt (just caught this one at the local video rental shop)
5. Far From Heaven

I. Adaptation
II. Mystic River
III. Finding Nemo
IV. The Pianist
V. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
VI. You

Oops, I completely blanked on two of the biggest movies of the year...

Here’s how the list looks now:

1. Chicago
2. Mystic River
3. Talk To Her
4. Lost In Translation
5. Far From Heaven

1. Gangs of New York
2. Lost in Translation
3. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1
5. The Pianist

storytelj said:1. The Pianist (Polanski)

2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Tarantino)

3. Rules of Attraction (Avary)

Since the year is basically over at this point, here are my final top five picks for 2003.

1. THE PIANIST (Polanski)

2. KILL BILL Vol. 1 (Tarantino)

3. IRREVERSIBLE (Noé)

4. RULES OF ATTRACTION (Avary)

5. TALK TO HER (Almodóvar)

Well, I suppose I have only watched five films from 2003 in total. Consequently, my "top" list might not be particularly definitive. Nevertheless, I shall provide them all along with my ratings and observations:

1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 – An easy number one here. It is an excellent piece of cinema, though perhaps not quite reaching the heights of 'Pulp Fiction.' One can only wonder how far it will go once Volume 2 arrives.
2. Mystic River – Looking at this from a purely objective standpoint, the acting performances are phenomenal and the direction is beautiful. However, the script feels a bit too "Hollywood" for this genre; it carries that sense where you expect a gritty depiction of true events, yet the ending feels somewhat manufactured. While it falls far short of 'Unforgiven'—which remains one of the greatest films ever made—I will unhesitatingly give this a Very Good rating.
3. Terminator 3 – In my estimation, this film is incredibly underrated. From a screenwriting perspective, it isn't anything to write home about, but as a fun, high-octane action spectacle, it works exceptionally well for me. Personally, I would choose to watch this over Terminator 2 any day (the dynamic between Arnold and young Edward Furlong tends to grate on my nerves, among other things). Rating: Good+.
4. The Matrix Revolutions – Compared to the original Matrix, there is simply no point in looking for quality here. It is a significantly inferior film, plain and simple. That said, if the first Matrix hadn't existed, this film wouldn't deserve such relentless criticism. It sits well above your average big-budget action flick, and the direction is often spectacular regarding the action sequences. It is much better than number five. Rating: Good+.
5. The Matrix Reloaded – Purely entertaining for a few viewings, much like how Revolutions sits above the average blockbuster. However, if one expects anything more than mindless entertainment and decent acting from nearly the entire cast (with Monica Bellucci being the only one who holds their own), it becomes unbearably poor. Rating: Good-.

On a legitimate list of the best of 2003, numbers three through five likely wouldn't belong, but since these were the only ones I saw, there you have it.
Oh, and if we were to take 'The Two Towers' into account (which I saw in theaters this year), it would either tie for first place with Kill Bill or displace it entirely, even if it doesn't quite measure up to 'The Fellowship of the Ring.'

I honestly don't get why everyone keeps shoving that Identity movie to the top of the charts. For me, it was easily one of the worst things I’ve sat through all year, if not the absolute bottom of the barrel.

I haven't gone out of my way to see a ton of new stuff lately, but based on what I actually managed to watch, my personal rankings look more like this:
1 Kill Bill
2 Adaptation
3 Lost in Translation
4 Superbad

Adaptation - definitely worth a watch

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind—Clooney really nailed this one... quite impressive

City of Ghosts—Matt Dillon's directorial debut. A few hiccups here and there, but honestly? Solid work all around...

1. Talk to Her
2. The Pianist
3. Burning Patience
4. Little World
5. Finding Nemo😉
5. Cream and Jam

Man, my movie lineup this year has been incredibly thin... but I did manage to find a few films from the old American indie circuit that actually landed for me. I guess it’s just a matter of mindset...

Mark Nelson17 said:Look, I’ve only watched five movies from 2003 total, so calling these "top tier" is a stretch. Here’s my breakdown with ratings and all:

1. Kill Bill Vol 1.– Easy number one. It’s great. Not quite on the level of 'Pulp Fiction,' but who knows how far it goes once Vol 2 drops.
2. Mystic River – Trying to be objective here. The acting is phenomenal and the directing is beautiful, but the script feels too much like a Hollywood movie for this genre. You expect a gritty true story, then the ending hits you with that certain vibe. It’s nowhere near 'Unforgiven,' and since 'Unforgiven' is one of the greatest films ever made, I'll just settle on a Very Good rating.
3. Terminator 3 – This is criminally underrated. The writing isn't anything special, but as a fun action spectacle, it works incredibly well for me. Honestly, I’d rather watch this than Terminator 2—the mother and son dynamic with Conor really gets on my nerves. Rating: Good+.
4. Matrix Revolutions – Compared to the first Matrix, there's no contest. It’s much worse, period. But if the first one didn't exist, this wouldn't deserve the absolute hate it gets. It’s way better than your average big-budget action flick, and the directing during the action scenes is spectacular. Much better than number 5. Rating: Good+.
5. Matrix Reloaded – It's decent entertainment if you watch it a few times. Like Revolutions, it beats most big-budget trash, but if you expect anything more than mindless fun and decent acting from basically everyone (except Monica, who stays cool), it becomes unbearable. Rating: Good-.

On a real list for 2003, maybe three or four of these don't belong, but it's all I've seen, so take it or leave it.
Oh, and if we include 'The Two Towers' (saw it in theaters this year), it would either tie with Kill Bill for first place or kick it out entirely, even if it doesn't hold up to 'The Fellowship of the Ring.'

You're right about T3 and the Matrix sequels. They get underrated because fans and critics set the bar way too high. T3 isn't actually worse than T2; it might even be more fun. And Reloaded has its strengths, too. Specifically, it has one of the best-shot sequences ever filmed.

Man, I’ve missed out on way too many good flicks this year, honestly—my watchlist is basically a graveyard at this point. So, I’m not even gonna try to give you a huge list; I’ll just nominate one single movie, but fair warning, this one easily cracks my top ten from the last few years: 'Spellbound'.

1. The Pianist
2. Lord of the Rings
everything else didn't even catch my eye...

1. City of God (an absolute masterpiece)
2. All The Real Girls (and that incredible soundtrack 😍 featuring Sparklehorse, Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Bonnie Prince Billy, Mark Olson...)
3. American Splendor (honestly the most inventive film of the year, blending live action, documentary elements, and comics so seamlessly)
4. Oasis (easily the most gut-wrenching cinematic experience I had all last year)
5. 28 Days Later (a massive, triumphant return for Danny Boyle)

Honorable mentions:

The Magdalene Sisters
Mystic River
Talk To Her
Lilya 4Ever
Good bye, Lenin!
Rodger Dodger
Far From Heaven
Noi Albinoi
Pirates of the Caribbean
Owning Mahowny
Demonlover
The Sea
24 Hour Party People
Sex and Lucia
Last Life In Universe

Kill Bill, Vol. 1 is absolute madness. Tarantino really went all out on this one, leaning hard into that hyper-stylized, grindhouse aesthetic that feels like a fever dream. It’s loud, it’s bloody, and it’s unapologetically over-the-top. I mean, the way he plays with those spaghetti western vibes mixed with samurai flicks? Pure genius, even if it makes you want to scrub your eyes out after all that stylized carnage. It's visceral, it's stylish, and honestly, it's kind of exhausting in the best way possible. Total chaos on screen.
Look, I just sat through *Finding Nemo*, and honestly? It’s a total trip. Everyone talks about it like it's this heartwarming little tale about family, but if you actually look at it, it's basically a high-stakes survival thriller wrapped in bright colors. You've got this neurotic dad fish who is one bad day away from a complete meltdown, and then his kid gets snatched by a diver—which, let's be real, happens way too often in coastal towns around here. The whole vibe is pretty heavy when you think about it. It's about trauma, overprotective parenting, and trying to find your footing in an ocean that's basically a giant, unpredictable mess. It's dark, it's chaotic, and yeah, it's beautiful, but don't let the animation fool you into thinking it's all sunshine and rainbows. It's gritty. It's real. Even if they are just fish, the anxiety is 100% relatable.
I honestly don't know what happened there. LOTR 3? You’re really gonna hit me with that? That's it? Just three words? Talk about a low-effort post. I've seen more substance in a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal. If you're trying to start a debate about the trilogy or how the ending held up, at least give me something to work with here. Don't just drop a title and expect me to do all the heavy lifting for you. Come on, man. Give me some actual thoughts.
Adaptation. That’s the word of the day, I guess. Everything changes, everything shifts, and we’re all just expected to roll with the punches like it’s nothing. It’s exhausting, honestly. You spend your whole life building something—a career, a routine, a sense of self—and then some external force comes along and flips the script on you. Now you're stuck playing catch-up, trying to figure out how to survive in a world that doesn't look anything like the one you woke up in this morning. It's constant. Constant movement, constant pivoting. Just keep swimming, right? Yeah, right. Pull the other one.
Lost in translation.
Man, I just sat through *Punch-Drunk Love*. What a trip. It’s one of those movies that feels like a panic attack wrapped in a neon sign, you know? Adam Sandler playing someone actually... well, not "Adam Sandler," but a guy who's genuinely unhinged and vulnerable? It’s wild. Most people think he's just the comedy guy from those goofy slapstick flicks, but here he’s this jittery, isolated mess living in some lonely corner of New York City, just vibrating with anxiety. It’s not your typical rom-com. There’s no sunshine, no cheesy meet-cutes at a coffee shop—just pure, raw, awkward tension. He’s being bullied by these local thugs, his life is basically a series of frantic breaths, and then suddenly, there's this woman who enters the frame and everything shifts. But even the "love" part feels heavy, almost claustrophobic. The pacing is what gets me. It’s all these sudden bursts of energy—like those rhythmic, percussive musical cues that hit you right in the chest—and then it drops back into this hollow, quiet loneliness. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s beautiful in a really weird, jagged way. If you're expecting a laugh-a-minute comedy, stay far away. But if you want to see a guy try to find a shred of humanity while his heart is hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird? Yeah, this is it. Truly a masterpiece of discomfort.
Look, let’s be real for a second. Life isn't some polished Hollywood script where everything wraps up with a neat little bow and a sunset. It’s more like that gritty indie flick you see at a local cinema in Chicago—raw, messy, and usually pretty depressing if you think about it too long. People love to romanticize the "good old days," but honestly? Most of those stories are just myths we tell ourselves to sleep better at night. Reality is much uglier, and frankly, I'm too tired to pretend otherwise.
Look, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m staring at the clock and feeling like the hours are just dragging through sludge. It’s that mid-week grind where the caffeine stops working and the existential dread starts kicking in. Just one of those days where time feels broken.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King—hands down the absolute best
2. Finding Nemo
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Mystic River
5. Talk to Her

You can also find titles like Good Bye Lenin!, Master and Commander, The Matrix Revolutions, Terminator 3, and Sati in the mix.
Honestly, there were just so many great films back then.

Bad Boys II
the president
2 Fast 2 Furious
Terminator 3
8 Mile
Pirates of the Caribbean

1. City of God
2. Adaptation
3. Lost in Translation
4. Mystic River
5. Dark Water, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Raising Victor Vargas, Secretary, American Splendor