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53 Movies That I Genuinely Can't Believe Came Out Almost 20 Years Ago

I vividly remember seeing SO many of these in theaters...

Jen Abidor
by Jen Abidor

BuzzFeed Staff

So, somehow 2024 is truly upon us, which leads us to the mind-boggling fact that 2004 was 20 years ago! To put that into perspective, here's a list of all the movies (including many classic teen rom-coms) that hit theaters nearly TWO DECADES ago:

1. The Notebook

Screenshot from "The Notebook"
New Line Cinema/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 25, 2004

2. A Cinderella Story

Screenshot from "A Cinderella Story"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 16, 2004

3. 13 Going on 30

Screenshot from "13 Going on 30"
Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 23, 2004

4. Mean Girls

Screenshot from "Mean Girls"
Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 30, 2004

5. National Treasure

Screenshot from "National Treasure"
Touchstone Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: November 19, 2004

6. Ella Enchanted

Screenshot from "Ella Enchanted"
Miramax / ©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 9, 2004

7. The Incredibles

Screenshot from "The Incredibles"
Walt Disney Co. /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: November 5, 2004

8. The Polar Express

Screenshot from "The Polar Express"
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: November 10, 2004

9. Barbershop 2: Back in Business

Screenshot from "Barbershop 2: Back in Business"
Mgm /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: February 6, 2004

10. Raise Your Voice

Screenshot from "Raise Your Voice"
New Line Cinema /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: October 8, 2004

11. Christmas with the Kranks

Screenshot from "Christmas with the Kranks"
Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: November 15, 2004

12. Johnson Family Vacation

Screenshot from "Johnson Family Vacation"
Fox Searchlight / ©Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: March 31, 2004

13. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Screenshot from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 4, 2004

14. Napoleon Dynamite

Screenshot from "Napoleon Dynamite"
Fox Searchlight /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: August 27, 2004

15. Chasing Liberty

Screenshot from "Chasing Liberty"
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: January 7, 2004

16. First Daughter

Screenshot from "First Daughter"
20thcentfox /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: September 24, 2004

17. White Chicks

Screenshot from "White Chicks"
Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 23, 2004

18. The Phantom of the Opera

Screenshot from "The Phantom of the Opera"
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: December 10, 2004

19. The Day After Tomorrow

Screenshot from "The Day After Tomorrow"
20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: May 17, 2004

20. Spider-Man 2

Screenshot from "Spider-Man 2"
Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 25, 2004

21. Shrek 2

Screenshot from "Shrek 2"
Dreamworks /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: May 15, 2004

22. 50 First Dates

Screenshot from "50 First Dates"
Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: February 13, 2004

23. You Got Served

Screenshot from "You Got Served"
Screen Gems / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: January 30, 2004

24. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Screenshot from "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"
20thcentfox /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 18, 2004

25. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Screenshot from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"
Dreamworks /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 9, 2004

26. Million Dollar Baby

Screenshot from "Million Dollar Baby"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: December 15, 2004

27. Hotel Rwanda

Screenshot from "Hotel Rwanda"
United Artists /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: December 22, 2004

28. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Screenshot from "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
Buena Vista Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: August 11, 2004

29. New York Minute

Screenshot from "New York Minute"
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: May 7, 2004

30. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Screenshot from "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen"
Buena Vista Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: February 17, 2004

31. Raising Helen

Screenshot from "Raising Helen"
Buena Vista Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: May 28, 2004

32. The Perfect Score

Screenshot from "The Perfect Score"
Paramount /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: January 27, 2004

33. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton

Screenshot from "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton"
Dreamworks /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: January 23, 2004

34. The Stepford Wives

Screenshot from "The Stepford Wives"
Paramount /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: June 11, 2004

35. Catwoman

Screenshot from "Catwoman"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 23, 2004

36. Ray

Screenshot from "Ray"
Universal /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: October 29, 2004

37. The Prince and Me

Screenshot from "The Prince and Me"
Paramount / ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 2, 2004

38. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Screenshot from "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason"
Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: November 13, 2004

39. Speak

Screenshot from "Speak"
Showtime Networks Inc. /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: January 20, 2004

40. Ocean's Twelve

Screenshot from "Ocean's Twelve"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: December 10, 2004

41. A Series of Unfortunate Events

Screenshot from "A Series of Unfortunate Events"
Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: December 17, 2004

42. Garden State

Screenshot from "Garden State"
Fox Searchlight /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 28, 2004

43. Shark Tale

Screenshot from "Shark Tale"
Dreamworks / ©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: October 1, 2004

44. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Screenshot from "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle"
New Line Cinema /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 30, 2004

45. Troy

Screenshot from "Troy"
Warner Bros /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: May 14, 2004

46. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Screenshot from "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Focus Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: March 19, 2004

47. Wimbledon

Screenshot from "Wimbledon"
Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: September 17, 2004

48. Saw

Screenshot from "Saw"
Lions Gate /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: October 29, 2004

49. The Village

Screenshot from "The Village"
Buena Vista Pictures / ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: July 30, 2004

50. The Girl Next Door

Screenshot from "The Girl Next Door"
20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 9, 2004

51. The Passion of the Christ

Screenshot from "The Passion of the Christ"
Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: February 25, 2004

52. Kill Bill: Vol. 2

Screenshot from "Kill Bill: Vol. 2"
Miramax /Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: April 16, 2004

53. Eurotrip

Screenshot from "Eurotrip"
Dreamworks / Courtesy Everett Collection

Release date: February 20, 2004

Of course I couldn't list every movie that came out in 2004, so are there any of your faves you think I missed? Let me know in the comments!