8 Best Movies of 2004

By Vlad Zakh · June 30, 2026

2004 was great for romance and rewarding sequels. Before Sunset has two former lovers reuniting in Paris nine years later, Downfall depicts Hitler’s final days in the Berlin bunker, and The Notebook follows a summer romance tested by years. Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Million Dollar Baby, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Howl’s Moving Castle round out the eight.

Before Sunset (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 95% Metacritic 91

Two strangers who spent one night together in Vienna meet again by chance nine years later in Paris.

Directed by Richard Linklater · 1h 20m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar10 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Downfall (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 90% Metacritic 82

The final days of Adolf Hitler's regime unfold from inside his besieged Berlin bunker.

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel · 2h 35m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar22 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 84% Metacritic 83

The quieter, more patient half of the same revenge story.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino · 2h 16m · Rated R

23 wins & 84 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Notebook (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 55% Metacritic 53

The gold standard for a proper cry, still working two decades later.

Directed by Nick Cassavetes · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

12 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 90% Metacritic 86

A gruff boxing trainer reluctantly takes on a determined female fighter with nothing left to lose.

Directed by Clint Eastwood · 2h 12m · Rated PG-13

Won 4 Oscars68 wins & 86 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 90% Metacritic 82

A time-turner, a dementor-infested train and the franchise's most atmospheric instalment.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón · 2h 21m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 Oscars17 wins & 56 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium, HBO Max, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 93% Metacritic 89

A heartbroken man undergoes a procedure to erase all memory of his former relationship.

Directed by Michel Gondry · 1h 48m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar73 wins & 111 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 88% Metacritic 82

A young woman cursed with old age seeks refuge in the walking castle of a mysterious wizard.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 59m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar14 wins & 20 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Movies of 2004

Before Sunset (2004)

Downfall (2004)

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

The Notebook (2004)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

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