Movies Turning 25 in 2026 Shrek, Harry Potter, Spy Kids & More

25 Movies That Turn 25 in 2026 and Will Instantly Make You Feel Old

Well, for starters I was born in 2001 so the fact that these movies came out when I was born make me feel old. Although I think I am convinced I was born on a crazy year when it comes to movies.

If you're like me, and you hear that a movie came out in 2001 that only seems like 10 years ago right? The fact that 2001 was actually 25 years ago and that these movies are 25 years old, feels impossible. Yet here we are. A quarter-century ago, moviegoers were lining up for fantasy adventures, animated classics, comedies, and some of the biggest franchises of the early 2000s.

Whether you saw these in theaters, rented them from Blockbuster, or watched them on DVD until the disc wore out, these movies are officially celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2026.

Harry Potter Arrived on the Big Screen

One of the biggest movie events of 2001 was the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Having this film hit the theatres after reading the books, then knowing this is the start to an 8 film series had to make you giddy in 2001. The film introduced audiences to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and launched one of the most successful movie franchises of all time.

Monsters, Inc. Introduced Us to Mike and Sulley

I didn't realize this movie came out in 2001 but it makes sense because I remember it being on repeat when I was little. Pixar scored another hit with Monsters, Inc., giving us the lovable duo of Mike Wazowski and Sulley. The movie remains a favorite for both kids and adults.

Shrek Changed Animated Movies Forever

It must have been an iconic year for animated movies because Shrek hitting the big screen was HUGE. Before there were endless memes and sequels, there was the original Shrek. The fairy-tale parody became a cultural phenomenon and is still quoted, loved, and even being made sequels of today.

Legally Blonde Made Us All Root for Elle Woods

Reese Witherspoon's breakout comedy Legally Blonde proved you can be fashionable, smart, and successful all at the same time. Twenty five years later and I'm still saying, "What like it's hard?"

The Fast and the Furious Started a Franchise

It's hard to believe the original The Fast and the Furious is now 25 years old. A lot has happened in those 25 years. A huge fandom was based off this one movie and several movies were created after that. What started as a movie about street racing became a billion-dollar franchise.

My Personal Favorite

We always talk about The Fast and the Furious becoming a massive franchise or Harry Potter taking over the world, but what about the hobbits who set out from the Shire on an unforgettable journey to Mordor? That's right, The Lord of the Rings kicked off its legendary trilogy in 2001 with The Fellowship of the Ring. This three-and-a-half-hour masterpiece was only the beginning, with two more blockbuster films following behind it. Honestly, the fact that movies like The Lord of the Rings were hitting theaters the year I was born is all the proof I need that 2001 was the greatest birth year ever. I turned out this cool because Sir Peter Jackson chose the perfect year to release a masterpiece. Sorry, Mom and Dad, but I think he deserves at least some of the credit.

Other Movies Turning 25 in 2026

Here are a few more films celebrating the milestone anniversary:

Ocean's Eleven
The Princess Diaries
A Knight's Tale
Zoolander
Training Day
Donnie Darko
Bridget Jones's Diary
Moulin Rouge!
Black Hawk Down
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Spy Kids
The Royal Tenenbaums
Vanilla Sky
Rat Race

Feel Old Yet?

The fact that these movies are now 25 years old is a reminder of just how quickly time flies. For many of us, these don't feel like "classic movies" at all. They feel like movies that came out a few years ago.

Then again, if you remember seeing Shrek in theaters and now find yourself explaining what a DVD player was to younger generations, welcome to the club. We meet on Wednesdays and complain about how fast the years are going. 😉