The Devil Wears Prada 2 added some glamor to the theater screens on May 1, 2026. It brought back the iconic fashion industry characters who became fan-favorites in the 2000s movie. From the reviews, it appears that the sequel did a great job. It gives us hope for more such 2000s classics to return for a sequel or a reboot. Some of you might be skeptical, especially with Hollywood’s obsession with reboots.
However, what we want from these reboots and sequels isn’t just old wine repackaged in a new bottle. We want them to address themes relevant to the 2020s, just like how the original tackled themes relevant to the 2000s. Here are a few iconic movies of that period that deserve a sequel or a reboot.
10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Jason Segel not only starred in this late-2000s comedy, but he also wrote the movie’s script. He played a heartbroken TV composer, Peter Bretter, who escapes to Hawaii after being dumped by his actress girlfriend, played by Kristen Bell. However, his woes follow him to the resort when she shows up there with her current boyfriend. The outrageous humor, combined with Peter’s emotional vulnerability, made the movie stand out among Judd Apatow’s 2000s comedy movies.
The movie also nailed its casting. Kristen Bell’s titular Sarah Marshall was not portrayed as an outright villain, but rather a sympathetic character. Russell Brand’s Aldous Snow became an iconic movie character. Mila Kunis provided the emotional warmth as Peter’s love interest. A potential sequel could explore the messy reality of modern breakups in an age where forgetting someone is nearly impossible, as your ex lives permanently on your phone. Moreover, we need the original’s honest exploration of heartbreak and self-reinvention.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is now available for streaming on Starz.
9. Step Brothers (2008)
Step Brothers stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in the main roles. In the movie, their single parents get married and push them into a weird living situation. That’s about as much you get for a plot in this movie. Even without a proper plot, the movie managed to make the audience laugh with its silly situational jokes. At the time, critics bashed the movie for this approach, but in retrospect, many of them think that Step Brothers is one of the great comedies of the 2000s.
Fans have long been anticipating a sequel to this movie. Kathryn Hahn, who played Alice in the original, told ET, “There’s zero plot really in that movie anyway, you could do anything and call it a sequel.” And she is really rooting for a sequel. However, the rift between Ferrell and director Adam McKay could be a major obstacle for this sequel to happen (via PEOPLE). Nevertheless, we hope that the sequel happens very soon.
Step Brothers is now available for streaming on Starz.
8. Love Actually (2003)
Andrew Lincoln in a still from Love Actually | Credits: Universal Pictures
Love Actually explored love in all its messy dimensions. From new romances to marital betrayal and selfless sacrifice, the movie had multiple interconnected love stories set against the warmth of the holiday season. The film also had a star cast, featuring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Keira Knightley, and others. While the initial reception was mixed, the film went on to gain a cult following and became many people’s favorite Christmas movie.
Now, the movie has already received a short TV sequel, which was made as part of the fundraising event Red Nose Day 2017. However, what fans want is a full-blown movie sequel, exploring new age romances (especially since Richard Curtis previously regretted cutting the only gay love story from the first movie). A sequel or reboot could examine what ‘love, actually’ looks like in an era of digital intimacy and political polarization.
Love Actually is now available for streaming on Peacock.
7. Donnie Darko (2001)
Jake Gyllenhaal in a still from Donnie Darko | Credits: Newmarket Films
Donnie Darko is one of those rare sci-fi psychological thrillers that leave the viewers with more questions than answers. Fans and critics weren’t happy with it when it was first released, earning a measly sum in theaters. The studio felt that the darker material of the film involving teens and promotional material featuring a plane crash was inappropriate after the 9/11 attacks and the Columbine school shootings.
However, it has since gone on to achieve a cult status. Jake Gyllenhaal, who played the titular character, described it as “a movie about the power of the unconscious and the power of growing up and what that means” (via Vanity Fair). In the movie, Donnie Darko narrowly survives a freak accident and begins receiving apocalyptic visions from a sinister figure in a rabbit costume named Frank.
Its multi-layered themes of science fiction, coming-of-age drama, and existential philosophy struck a nerve with young audiences. Gyllenhaal’s breakout performance and the haunting soundtrack were also standout elements. After a forgettable sequel in 2009, Richard Kelly announced a new sequel for the movie in 2021 (via Rolling Stone). New age cinema badly needs such movies that kickstart online debates.
Donnie Darko is now available for streaming on Prime Video and Hulu.
6. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Jon Heder in & as Napoleon Dynamite | Credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures
A gloriously awkward teenager navigating the absurdities of life in small-town Preston, Idaho, became a cult hit 2000s movie that resonated with a lot of teenagers. Jon Heder played the titular teenager in this movie, which found an astonishing return on investment thanks to its deadpan sincerity. The movie isn’t busy mocking its eccentric characters for jokes, but shows a genuine affection for their oddness. Its success was a classic case of word-of-mouth publicity.
A Napoleon Dynamite reboot is very necessary today, where awkward teens continue to face new problems. It could place a spiritual successor to the central character in today’s hyper-connected world. The original’s deadpan format can be used to offer sharp commentary on several issues, mostly social media-related, for these kids.
Napoleon Dynamite is now available for streaming on Hulu.
5. Superbad (2007)
Michael Cera and Jonah Hill in Superbad | Credits: Columbia Pictures
This coming-of-age comedy still rules as one of the best comedy films of the 2000s. In Superbad, three teenagers, played by Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, make plans to party and lose their virginity before their high school graduation. Writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg based the characters of Hill and Cera on themselves during their senior year. The film received positive reviews, with particular praise for the performances and Rogen and Goldberg’s writing.
Judd Apatow shared in 2015 during an interview with CinemaBlend that he would like to revisit the film, with Seth, Evan, and Fogell in college. However, he shared that others didn’t share the same enthusiasm as he did. He shared, “I wanted to do Superbad in college desperately, but no one would listen to me.” Rogen explained to LADbible in 2020 that he didn’t want to ruin the great film with a bad sequel. With divided opinion on a Superbad sequel among the cast & crew, it all comes down to whether fans really want it. And the answer is, ‘Yes, we do!’
Superbad is now available for streaming on Starz.
4. Ratatouille (2007)
A still from Ratatouille | Credits: Pixar Animation Studios
The Iron Giant and The Incredibles director Brad Bird helmed another brilliant animated movie in the 2000s, Ratatouille. In the Pixar film, Remy, a young rat, dreams of becoming a chef at Auguste Gusteau’s restaurant and seeks help from the garbage boy Alfredo Linguini. The film is weirdly delicious and won over our hearts. It portrayed the premise so beautifully that a rat cooking dinner doesn’t seem disgusting at all.
We would love to see a sequel to this movie, and we have an exciting premise for this potential sequel as well. Ratatouille 2 can be about a cooking competition between rat cooks. Maybe, we can get Gordon ‘Rat’say to judge the competition. The original already consulted chefs to create the animated food sequences. The new sequel can double down and bring more international cuisines in such a format.
Ratatouille is now available for streaming on Disney+.
3. Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon‘s Legally Blonde brilliantly subverted the “dumb blonde” stereotype. The two movies in the series portrayed Elle Woods as a feminist icon who succeeded on her own terms without ever abandoning her identity. It was a sensational franchise of the 2000s, which also led to a TV film, a direct-to-video movie, several YA novels, a stage musical, and a reality show. Now, we badly need a legacy sequel that would show how Elle has been navigating a world that still underestimates women.
Interestingly, a new movie was announced back in 2020, with Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor confirmed to write the script. Sadly, there have been no significant updates from that movie. Witherspoon is taking the audience back to the world of Elle Woods, but it is not for Legally Blonde 3. She is helming a prequel series based on Elle’s high school years in the ’90s, titled Elle and starring Lexi Minetree in the lead role.
Legally Blonde is now available for streaming on Fubo & MGM+.
2. School of Rock (2003)
Jack Black stars as Dewey Finn, a slacker guitarist who impersonates a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Dewey secretly transforms his class of overachieving kids into a rock band. Black’s infectious energy made School of Rock a phenomenon of the early 2000s. His manic physicality and genuine love of rock music were reflected in this role, which felt tailor-made for the actor. Richard Linklater’s direction and Mike White’s script were able to convey a genuinely subversive message about creativity over conformity.
The movie cast kids who could actually play their instruments, adding a surprising authenticity to the movie. A reboot of the movie could portray Dewey Finn taking charge of modern-day school kids. It could rediscover the raw spirit of rock and roll in an era where algorithms dictate taste and social media defines success. We need the central character back for his most important lesson alone, that self-expression matters more than perfection.
School of Rock is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
1. Tropic Thunder (2008)
Tropic Thunder was a star-studded spoof comedy that roasted the entire film industry with its over-the-top filmmaking premise. Ben Stiller brought together a pack of Hollywood A-listers, most notably Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. The former earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the movie. Fans loved everything about this satire, from the funny characters to all the faux promotional materials of the movie.
Interestingly, this satirical action comedy deserves a sequel or a spinoff. After the success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, it was reported that Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie were keen on making a Tropic Thunder spinoff (via Deadline). This spinoff would focus on Cruise’s character, Les Grossman, the hilarious studio executive Cruise played in the 2008 film. We would also like a sequel that would bring together Stiller, Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, and Jack Black for another hilarious Hollywood ride.
Tropic Thunder is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
NoMoviesBox Office (As of May 3rd, 2026)RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of May 3rd, 2026)IMDb Score (As of May 3rd, 2026)1Tropic Thunder (2008)$195,703,70882% | 71%7.1/102School of Rock (2003)$131,098,96792% | 64%7.2/103Legally Blonde (2001)$141,782,27972% | 72%6.5/104Ratatouille (2007)$623,745,10596% | 87%8.1/105Superbad (2007)$170,065,05588% | 87%7.6/106Napoleon Dynamite (2004)$46,141,10672% | 74%7/107Donnie Darko (2001)$7,506,39788% | 80%8/108Love Actually (2003)$252,591,70865% | 72%7.5/109Step Brothers (2008)$128,110,66754% | 69%6.9/1010Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)$105,833,26184% | 76%7.1/10
Still have questions? Here are a few questions you might want the answers to about these movies.
Is Legally Blonde getting a Prime Video reboot?
Prime Video’s Elle is a prequel series to Legally Blonde, which will premiere on July 1, 2026.
Why was a Superbad sequel never announced?
Seth Rogen and Adam Goldberg have expressed their disinterest in a Superbad sequel, sharing that they don’t want to ruin something perfect.
Is Tom Cruise returning to a Tropic Thunder spin-off?
A Tom Cruise-led spinoff of Tropic Thunder was teased many times, but nothing has been made official yet.
Is a Step Brothers sequel still in the works?
A Step Brothers sequel isn’t in the works. It is believed that an issue between Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay is the primary obstacle to a sequel.
Which of these movies will you pick up for a rewatch? Do you have any picks from here that you are excited to watch for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!
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