11 Things That Happened In Every 2000s Movie That Should Make A Comeback, And 11 That Should Never See The Light Of Day Again

If it's not broken, don't fix it. Throughout time, films have been known to hop on trends and tropes that work. The 2000s were no exception. From spiked hair with frosted tips to low-rise jeans, the 2000s had a very particular vibe, and that includes the clichés that kept appearing on the big screen.

Napoleon dancing in "Napoleon Dynamite"
Napoleon dancing in "Napoleon Dynamite"

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Here are 11 things from 2000s movies we should bring back and 11 we should trash forever:

NOTE: Dated tropes like sexual harassment as a comedic gag, gay men used as jesters, the awful portrayal of Native Americans, and other things of such nature stretch beyond the 2000s and are obviously problematic. So, I chose to exclude them from this list.

1.BRING IT BACK! When a film delivers a big musical number despite it not being a full-blown musical.

People dancing in the film "Enchanted"
People dancing in the film "Enchanted"

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

From Enchanted to Slumdog Millionaire to 13 Going on 30, a sudden (out of place) dance number or song sprinkled into a non-musical was a 2000s film signature. To me, it's the ultimate sign of a movie not taking itself too seriously while progressing the story.

2.TRASH IT! Body swaps give us the same lesson over and over and over and over (you get the picture).

Scene in "Freaky Friday" where they switch bodies
Scene in "Freaky Friday" where they switch bodies

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

So many movies in the 2000s tried to capture that Freaky Friday magic. There's only so far this trope can take audiences, so I say let it die. Even more recent movies like Freaky just don't do it for me.

3.BRING IT BACK! Movies that have non-teachers try to teach kids.

Jack Black in "School of Rock"
Jack Black in "School of Rock"

Paramount Pictures

Something is outstanding about non-teachers stepping into the role of teachers that works really well on film. Put a misfit character in a room of students, and that character realizes they want to help kids learn. Films like this can have a lot of heart, the film School of Rock being the best example.

4.TRASH IT! Cops or whoever go deep undercover into seemingly weird professions or personas.

The Wayans brothers in "White Chicks"

5.BRING IT BACK! Who doesn't love a changing room montage of a character trying on terrible 'fits only to find the perfect outfit?

The Grinch poses in new outfit
The Grinch poses in new outfit

Universal Pictures

Maybe I don't watch enough current movies, but I feel like this trend was a movie staple and fizzled out in the 2010s. Yes, it's campy... but, you know, you're allowed to have fun while creating a film.

6.TRASH IT! A vengeful warrior needs someone to die to give them motivation.

Russell Crowe says "and I will have my vengeance"
Russell Crowe says "and I will have my vengeance"

DreamWorks Distribution

Every action movie in the 2000s leaned heavily on someone killing someone else's family and that person seeking revenge. It's kind of dark to see how many of these movies happened and never really dealt with characters finding inner peace without going out and taking a life out of hate.

That said, I still love a ton of movies like that, Gladiator included, but I feel like there are deeper elements to tackle for characters wanting revenge.

7.BRING IT BACK! Horror icons duke it out in films reminiscent of old-school Universal monster movies.

Freddy fights Jason in fiery room

8.TRASH IT! Rob Schneider cameos in every Adam Sandler film.

Rob Schneider says "you can do it"
Rob Schneider says "you can do it"

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

An Adam Sandler signature in the '90s and into the 2000s. If there was ever a running gag that I did not get, it was this gag that guys growing up would quote constantly.

If you find it funny, I'm jealous. I feel like it's an inside joke I'm not part of.

9.BRING IT BACK! Celeb cameos and bringing the laughs.

Ben Stiller says "you could trouble me for a warm glass of shut the hell up"
Ben Stiller says "you could trouble me for a warm glass of shut the hell up"

Universal Pictures

Rolling in from the '90s, Ben Stiller cameos died down after his appearance in Anchorman. I like it when celebrities show up in random comedic roles, especially when there is nuance to it, like Stiller would always bring.

10.TRASH IT! The main character falls during a serious/trying-to-be-cool moment.

Lindsay Lohan trips into a trash can in "Mean Girls"
Lindsay Lohan trips into a trash can in "Mean Girls"

Paramount Pictures

You can't sit with us. From Mean Girls to... well, every teen comedy, we always got that one moment of the main character falling at the worst possible moment. As far as cheap gags, this is up there.

11.BRING IT BACK! Our two leads sucking faces in the rain.

Mary Jane kisses Spider-Man

If you've never made out with someone in the rain, you won't get it.

The overall ridiculousness of it is great, so you'll either think it's romantic or hilarious. Both are a win, in my opinion.

Sony Pictures Releasing, New Line Cinema

12.TRASH IT! A character tells another character to "GET OUT OF MY LIFE," only to apologize later.

Walter Hobbs yells "get out of my life now"
Walter Hobbs yells "get out of my life now"

New Line Cinema

I'm not saying they shouldn't apologize, lol. The whole "get out of my life" trope only has one road: realizing you don't want said person out of your life.

I feel like there are much better ways to give our main character difficult trials than such a ham-fisted line.

13.BRING IT BACK! A story around a character gaining superpowers or discovering hidden powers (non-comic book films).

Harry Potter holds a wand
Harry Potter holds a wand

Warner Bros.

I think we're nearing the end of the superhero age, and we are in need of some new heroes. Their power doesn't have to make them a superhero, but it can take them on a wild adventure.

14.TRASH IT! The geek is really a babe, thanks to a makeover.

Anne Hathaway is made over in "The Princess Diaries"
Anne Hathaway is made over in "The Princess Diaries"

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The "wait, you're hot under those glasses!?" trope (used mostly always for female protagonists) was always a classic tool, even before the 2000s. For some reason, it really felt like this "ugly duckling" trope was heavily used in the early 2000s. Examples: The Princess Diaries, Hairspray, The Devil Wears Prada, Catwoman.

15.BRING IT BACK! Dramatic love-at-first-sight moments that are extra x100.

a man looks on lovingly

Bring back super zoom-ins and cheesy music. Every movie in the 2000s had that scene where a character falls in love in the most ridiculous fashion, and I say bring it back!

We've all felt this way at least once in our lives.

20th Century Fox

16.TRASH IT! Superheroes wore black costumes despite how their costumes looked in comic books.

Wolverine in a black suit

Black is the new... black?

For some reason, whether it was Batman or the X-Men, comic book characters ditched their colorful roots and traded in their original duds for boring black costumes. At least add some colorful details in there or something.

20th Century Fox

17.BRING IT BACK! Portals take us to a magical world.

a girl looks up at a street lamp

18.TRASH IT! "Screensaver-looking" CGI is proof that pushing the boundaries of technology can ruin films that could have been ageless.

Jar Jar Binks and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Don't get me wrong, there have been some amazing CGI feats throughout the new century, but we can admit the early-2000s had some trash CGI effects that have aged so poorly they look like PC games.

20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures

19.BRING IT BACK! Practical set pieces that feel like another world and not another studio stage.

Gandalf at a hobbit door

Tighten up those shots and make magic happen. So many 2000s fantasy and adventure movies like The Lord of the Rings deliver on practicality.

There are so many talented set designers out there. Give them the cash to make magic happen.

New Line Cinema

20.TRASH IT! Sloooooow mooooootioooon.

Slow motion scene in "The Matrix: Reloaded"
Slow motion scene in "The Matrix: Reloaded"

Warner Bros.

A classic movie trick, but the 2000s really slooooowed things down thanks to the famous Matrix bullet time scene.

I feel like scenes can slow down and take their time without literally slowing the speed of the film down with effects.

21.BRING IT BACK! Campy fight scenes that don't take themselves seriously, but at the same time, don't do it in a meta way.

three women pose in a fighting stance

22.TRASH IT! Farts equal comedy gold.

Shrek farts
Shrek farts

DreamWorks Animation

Seriously, someone should do a flatulence counter for movies in the 2000s. It felt like it was the biggest decade for letting it rip. This was bread and butter for children's comedies, and even as a kid, I sat there and rolled my eyes.

Are there any 2000s movie tropes that deserve a comeback? How about ones you'd banish forever? Comment below!

If you didn't like my list, yell at me in the comments and tell me to "GET OUT OF YOUR LIFE" (and then apologize days later).