Some kids’ movies are just ingrained into the memories of everyone, for better or for worse. Movies like Spy Kids, The Incredibles, and Shrek, became a part of championed childhood films in the 2000s. Regardless of whether they held up years later or not, these movies helped create childhoods and had a massive input on things, including the type of sense of humor that a generation would grow up to have or the types of stories they may gravitate toward.
Other movies, such as Ice Age or the rise of the first Harry Potter movies also, are very strongly remembered as holding a significant role in people’s childhoods. Even the not-so-beloved The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl may still be looked back at with a strong sense of nostalgia, as many people had seen this film as kids.
But, not every 2000s kids’ movie made the list of films that were ultimately strongly recalled or quoted. Some, while they may have been successful at the time, got lost in the shuffle or forgotten as the years went on. Some movies starred actors and actresses who were exciting teen stars at the time or have since grown up into well-known adult performers. When it comes to the decade of the 2000s, though, maybe these were not everyone’s most-remembered movies.
10 Firehouse Dog (2007)
Firehouse Dog
- Release Date
- April 4, 2007
- Director
- Todd Holland
- Runtime
- 111
Shane, a troubled kid roughly in his early teens, is struggling after the deaths of his uncle and Blue, the former “firehouse dog.” But everything changes for him when he meets superstar dog, Rexxx, who is accidentally separated from his owner because of a skydiving movie stunt gone wrong. The heartwarming movie is about how Shane grows to rely on Rexxx, whom he renames “Dewey.”
2007 Was a Competitive Year for Movies
Firehouse Dog was released in April 2007 and made slightly over 17 million dollars at the box office. The movie received mostly negative reviews from critics, earning a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. For the most part, Firehouse Dog did not have a lot going for it other than Josh Hutcherson’s performance as the grief-and guilt-ridden Shane opening his heart up to his new beloved dog.
Firehouse Dog was not even Josh Hutcherson’s best movie to be premiered that year, as Bridge To Terabithia had been released only a few months prior. Otherwise, 2007 was a host of other films, such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Spider-Man 3, Juno, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Simpsons Movie, The Bee Movie, Hairspray, and Superbad.
9 How to Eat Fried Worms (2006)
How to Eat Fried Worms is a movie based on the novel of the same name. The story follows Billy Forrester, a young kid with a weak stomach, in his attempt to prove himself by eating various worms made in different ways. Ultimately, neither Billy nor his bully, Joe, wins the bet, and as a result, they both walk into school with worms in their pants.
People May Have Chosen to Forget This One
Considering the nature of the movie is about forcing a child to eat ten worms, viewers may have blocked this film out of their minds on purpose after having seen it. How to Eat Fried Worms was actually given mostly positive reviews, has a 61% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and was complimented for offering a realistic approach to children’s behavior.
The cast included people such as Luke Benward in the leading role, who would go on to have an avid role in Disney Channel projects such as Minute Men, Cloud 9, and Girl Vs. Monster. Meanwhile, Tom Cavanagh, who played Luke Benward’s father, also became known for playing the many Harrison Wells doppelgängers and Eobard Thawne/Reverse Flash on CW’s The Flash.
8 Max Keeble’s Big Move (2001)
When Max Keeble finds out that he is moving, it means the end of everything. No more hanging out with his two best friends or hoping that his older crush will notice him. But, it also offers Max an unexpected opportunity. Now, with the belief that Max can do whatever he wants with no repercussions, he messes with all of his bullies and causes chaos in school, all under the belief that it will be one last hurrah before he leaves forever. But, when Max finds out that he is no longer moving, he needs to put back the puzzle pieces of his life that have scattered apart, or risk having a horrible next few years.
Max Keeble Was a Disney Box Office Bomb
Max Keeble’s Big Move could not figure out the Disney magic for this one, and the movie only grossed 18 million dollars. Max Keeble’s Big Move was amusing for kids, but not quite creative, humorous, or innovative enough for the adults who would have had to sit through the movie with their children. Besides, it likely did not help that only a month later, the film was surpassed by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the highly anticipated beginning of the film franchise that would last a decade.
Otherwise, 2001 also held many movies that, to this day, have remained a pop culture phenomenon. Sadly, Max Keeble’s Big Move did not live up to cult classics or pop culture hits like Legally Blonde, Shrek, The Princess Diaries, The Fast and the Furious, and Jurassic Park.
7 Big Fat Liar (2002)
Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes starred in Big Fat Liar as two of its leads, Jason and Kaylee. Jason is a compulsive liar, who relies on his lies to get him through the day. But, when he finally gets caught and is forced to truly write his English assignment, it leads to a series of unfortunate events. Jason meets his match with the arrogant Marty Wolf, a Hollywood Producer, who steals Jason’s story with plans to turn it into his next big motion picture and steal all the credit in the process. Now, Jason and Kaylee must journey to Hollywood to prove to everyone that Marty Wolf’s creation was stolen from Jason.
It Has its Moments, but Lacks Jokes for Adults
Over the years, many kids’ movies have perfected the art of crafting the family story, which offers jokes and storylines acceptable for children and adults. But, Big Fat Liar relies mostly on exaggerated Hollywood clichés and the trope that most adults are either useless or oblivious as the main plot relies on two teenagers to hoodwink nearly every adult they come across.
The mindset that adults are idiots and kids are geniuses ultimately does not age well and prevents it from feeling like a film both age groups could enjoy. However, this film also suffered from being released early in 2002, when the year would go on to release many other projects that would be remembered better throughout the year, including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, A Walk To Remember, Spider-Man, The Santa Claus 2, and Ice Age.
6 Agent Cody Banks (2003)
Cody Banks is not the average guy his family thinks he is. Instead, Cody Banks is secretly an agent, and his latest mission sends him to a boarding school to get close to Natalie Connors, so that he can infiltrate the mysteries surrounding her father, scientist Dr. Albert Connors.
Agent Cody Banks Is James Bond for Kids
Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff star as the movie’s two leads, but unless viewers were already familiar with them from projects such as Malcolm in the Middle and Lizzie McGuire, then the story itself would likely have been a main box office draw. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, Agent Cody Banks did not become the cult classic kid spy movie that had made Spy Kids so successful two years previously. However, Agent Cody Banks had competition in many young teen and family films, such as Cheaper By The Dozen, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, What a Girl Wants, Daddy Day Care, Air Bud, and Freaky Friday.
5 Home Alone 4 (2004)
Home Alone 4
- Release Date
- May 18, 2004
- Director
- Rod Daniel
- Cast
- French Stewart , Erick Avari , Barbara Babcock , Jason Beghe , Clare Carey , Joanna Going
- Runtime
- 89
Returning to the McCallister family with a brand-new batch of actors in the roles, Home Alone 4 continues Kevin’s story, as he is once again left home alone. But, in this case, the circumstances have drastically changed. Gone are the days of massive extended family vacations that run amok. In its place, Kevin’s family is facing the divorce his parents had, and Kevin is joining his father and his father’s girlfriend at their house for the holidays, only to come face to face once again with Marv and Marv’s wife, Vera.
Most Home Alone Movies After Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Are Ignored
While Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York are considered cult classics, the rest of the franchise fell apart. But, while some people may have vaguely recalled Home Alone 3, which was also written by the franchise’s original screenwriter John Hughes, Home Alone 4 was entirely its own entity. Home Alone 4 received negative feedback from critics and viewers, and the new story could not hold up to what the original two Home Alone movies had proved they were capable of.
Recasting the entire main ensemble only hurt the movie further, and while the story itself was just bad in general, maybe the movie would have received less heat had it not tried to replicate the original McCallister family, and had instead tried to be something else entirely.
4 Meet the Robinsons
Louis is a science enthusiast who still hopes to find his forever family. In the present, he lives with his roommate, Goob, whom Louis has a bad habit of keeping awake in the middle of the night with all of his tinkering with inventions. But, when Louis is taken by Wilbur, he discovers he has the future he always wanted. However, his friend Goob only suffered through life, eventually transforming into a villain.
Good Reviews Did Not Save This Movie
While many Disney and Pixar movies earn acclaim for their stories, characters, artwork, and music, which usually resulted in being heavily remembered and well-loved, Meet The Robinsons was not one of them and tended to fall behind. In the grand scheme of most remembered Disney films, Meet The Robinsons likely does not make the list, even with its emotional plot line, amusing villain, and solid story arc. It was declared a box office bomb even though it was complimented and given many positive reviews surrounding the depth of the story and characters, artistic presentation, and pacing of the story.
3 Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
When Jack Bruno finds his cab being taken by two alien siblings, Sara and Seth, it does not take long for Jack to realize his life is about to go on a big adventure. Looking after these kids and trying to help bring them home, Jack’s life takes on a dangerous new approach as he is also joined by scientist Dr. Alex Friedman.
A Non-Memorable Box Office Success
Race to Witch Mountain earned over 106 million dollars at the box office in comparison to its budget, which deemed it a success. It starred Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, and Carla Gugino in main roles, all of whom were already well-known or breaking out into success at the point of the film’s release in 2009. But, when people think of movies that came out in 2009, their minds may have gone more toward Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Twilight: New Moon, 17 Again, Sherlock Holmes, 2012, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, Avatar, and The Blind Side.
2 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen follows Mary, or, as she names herself, “Lola,” on the very dramatic move from New York City to New Jersey. She stars in a movie of her own design, where she is the main character, and everyone else in her life is simply supporting characters or extras. She over-exaggerates everything and lies to make herself appear more interesting than she is. Such decisions tend to cause issues with her growing friendship with Ella.
Lindsay Lohan Was More Successful in Mean Girls
For a few years, Lindsay Lohan starred in many back-to-back films, including, Get A Clue, Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mean Girls, and Herbie: Fully Loaded, all of which came out between 2002 and 2005. Still, Mean Girls was the teen movie of 2004. So, if anyone was trying to recall Lindsay Lohan’s biggest film of that time period, their minds would probably jump right to Mean Girls and forget the others.
However, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen was also outdone by the releases of 13 Going on 30, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Ella Enchanted, A Cinderella Story, and Spider-Man 2.
1 The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It (2007)
The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It is based on R.L. Stine’s novel. The film follows goth girl Cassie Keller, who has just moved to town. But, when Halloween gets a little too dark and dangerous, it is up to Cassie, her brother Max, and her popular crush Sean, to help save the neighborhood.
This Film Prepares Kids for Real Horror Movies
Given its nature as a family-friendly film, The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It can not tell a tale scarier than what is acceptable for kids. But, that does not mean it can not give kids a taste of what a horror movie feels like. The movie has a straightforward plot and was given mostly positive reviews for its simple storyline and scares. The movie stars Hannah Montana series regular Emily Osment and recurring actor Cody Linley in the main roles.
