The 2000s were an era categorized by haphazard fashion and heartfelt nihilism. The period provided some of the most surprisingly romanticized takes on the human condition through books, music, and, of course, film and TV.

RELATED: 8 Teen Films That Defined the Early 2000sFrom indie-sleaze hipster to ukulele-playing twee, the aughts pulled from several subcultures, both past, and present. Providing unmatched soundtracks, perfectly witty scripts, and relatable stories, the 2000s indie film genre remains unforgettable.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie, Gretchen, and Frank in the movie cinema from Donnie Darko

Directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is arguably the essential 2000s indie movie. Set in the depths of late 80s suburbia, the story follows the bizarre chain of events surrounding high schooler Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) after surviving an unexplainable brush with death. Donnie is troubled, brooding, and struggling. He sees a man in an eerie rabbit suit, who begins manipulating him into committing a series of questionable acts. Even though it bombed at the box office at the time of release, it has cemented itself as a beloved cult classic.

Donnie Darko is disorientating, poetic, and deeply philosophical. Exploring themes of mental illness, love, suffering, time, determinism, free will, and the overall contradictions of the human condition, it implores you to contemplate the trajectory of life. The film also explores the hypocrisy of white middle-class suburban America and epitomizes the late 90s/early 2000s. Complete with an 80s alt-indie dream of a soundtrack, an inspiring cast of the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal (who plays the sister to her real-life brother), Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, and Jena Malone, and top-notch cinematography; Donnie Darko is a timeless cult classic that you can't help but revisit.

Skins UK (2007)

The cast of Skins season 1 walking down the street

Created by father-and-son television writers Jamie Brittain and Bryan Elsley, Skins follows a group of British teenagers in their final high school years. It was one of the few depictions at the time of real-world issues teens could relate to. Mental illness, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexuality, toxic relationships, death; Skins offered a non-glamorous, realistic, yet entrancing podium for such serious issues to be processed.

The series was full of trashy costumes and raving party scenes featuring an indie rock/bloghouse soundtrack, including tracks from Bloc Party, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Florence + The Machine. Heavily focussed on character, the show explored the minute details of teenage relationships with the world around them, from tumultuous home lives, the dramas of romance, and most importantly, the strength of friendship. Skins is precisely cemented in its time; it's a nostalgia trip with themes that still influence audiences today.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

Summer, played by Zooey Deschanel, and Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, looking at each other in a record store from 500 Days of Summer
Image via Searchlight Pictures

Whether you love it or hate it, it would be amiss not to mention Marc Webb's 500 Days of Summer as one of the defining films of the 2000s indie scene. Starring two beloved American actors, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this is a wholesome tale of finding life after love.

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This offbeat comedy romance explores one of the most relatable yet abysmal human experiences; heartbreak. Although criticized for its manic pixie dream girl energy, the film's style of storytelling, production design, and of course, the soundtrack was all defining and influential features of a 2000s indie film.

Misfits (2009)

The cast of Misfits in orange jumpsuits

Criminally underrated, Misfits is a teen drama that epitomizes the pessimistic philosophy of the mid-2000s. Created by Howard Overman, the series follows five juvenile offenders who become unlikely pals. They are each affected by a storm that hits while undertaking court-ordered community service. The five delinquents develop superpowers, but the series is no ordinary teen superhero show.

Packed with attitude, angst, and a healthy dose of nihilism, Misfits is a comedic but heartwarming feat that cleverly explores themes such as personality, identity, and belonging. Each character's superpower is a reflection and amplification of certain insecurity or fault they think they possess - Simon (Iwan Rheon) is an outcast loner who develops invisibility, Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) was an Olympic level athlete, making one mistake that cost him his future, which then creates an ability to travel back in time. It's relatable and hilarious and has the indie soundtrack to boot like any iconic 2000s teen British series.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

It would be amiss not to mention Wes Anderson when discussing iconic indie movies of the 2000s. The man had a profound influence over trending aesthetics, music, and attitude, The Royal Tenenbaums in particular. Like all of Anderson's feats, the film is heavily stylized and story-centric. Following the reunion of three distanced siblings, after their father announces he is on his deathbed, the film explores familial relationships with Anderson's enigmatic quirk.

RELATED: 10 Non-Wes Anderson Films for Wes Anderson FansThe production design in The Royal Tenenbaums, specifically the costume, helped define the 2000s indie scene. In particular, Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow) has stood out as a significant character who influenced the style and attitude of many It Girls - the all-consuming apathy, the dark eye make-up, her long coat, the cigarettes.

Juno (2007)

Juno presses Paulie's hand against her stomach in Juno.
Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures

Jason Reitman's Juno is a well-loved indie classic. Eliot Page and Michael Cera play awkward teenage lovers who find themselves expecting. Juno is a clever young woman who uses her cutting wit as a protective shield. Still, as she delves down the pregnancy journey, forging unchartered relationships with her baby's adoptive parents, her child's father, and her parents, she learns more and more about herself.

Juno is the type of film that you'll never forget watching for the first time. Maintaining a 94% rotten tomatoes rating and a place in the hearts of indie kids universally, it has cemented itself as one of the most watchable movies of its decade. It even won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. From Paulie Bleeker's iconic gold short shorts and orange Tic Tac's to Rainn Wilson spurting, "this is one doodle that can't be undid, home-skillet," to the soundtrack steeped in hearty indie-folk, Juno is a genuinely unforgettable conquest.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Joel and Clementine lying on the ice from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Michel Gondry's 2004 romantic science fiction, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, follows the tumultuous dynamic between Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) and the aftermath of their relationship when they decide to erase the memory of each other. Like many other films from the era, it explores heartbreak and life after love through a unique concept.

It's an exciting film that uses unexpected genre clashes to create a tragic romantic comedy while relying heavily on science fiction themes. The film explores a highly relatable trajectory of relationships, traversing ideas of love and soulmates, and ultimately poses philosophical questions of whether it's worth feeling hurt to feel love.

Into the Wild (2007)

Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandles in Into the Wild.

Another film exploring a disconnectedness from modern society, isolation, belonging, and the allusive sense of self, Sean Penn's Into the Wild is a beautiful contribution from the 2000s indie era. Following promising athlete Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) on his journey to Alaska to live in the wilderness, the film is a glorious and tragic expose of adventure and the search for meaning.

Utterly unprepared for the harsh realities of the wilderness and the isolation it imposes, Christopher comes to realize that the true beauty of this life is that it is shared with those around us. Connection, intimacy, and shared experiences are where the actual value of life lies.

Garden State (2004)

Mark, Sam, and Andrew standing in the rain from Garden State

2000s indie film was the apex of the manic pixie dream girl, and Zach Braff's Garden State is one of the defining moments of this phenomenon. Andrew (played by Braff himself) returns to his hometown following the death of his mother. He commences on a journey of self-realization, guided by the quirky, breath-of-fresh-air Sam (Natalie Portman).

RELATED: The Best Soundtracks of the 21st Century, So FarThe film explores themes evocative of the era - mental illness, familial relationships, love, death, and suffering - in the same kind of sad, dreary, yet romantic tone you see in most indie films. It explores the meaning of life through a not-quite-nihilistic lens. It also carries through that kind of apathetic yearning for something more, something deeper, something bigger than oneself.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Bob and Charlotte in bed from Lost in Translation

Sofia Coppola's magnum opus, Lost in Translation, is a beautiful, sad story of losing and finding yourself. Young newlywed Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) and aging actor Bob (Bill Murray) are entangled in an unlikely bond as they traverse the strange city of Tokyo. Neither speak the language nor have other friends in the city. Being placed in an isolating environment, both characters struggle to put themselves in a world that wasn't built for them - the physical city represents their internal toiling.

Tokyo is a gorgeous backdrop for these two characters' journey of self-discovery and is the perfect metaphor for their lost souls. The film's witty dialogue, aesthetic beauty, and emotional through-line allow for something moving. It has rightfully remained an indie favorite from the 2000s throughout the years, and we will forever be guessing what is whispered between Bob and Charlotte in that final scene.

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