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Best of 2002

Best Movies of 2002, Ranked

2,674 films on the site were released in 2002, and 460 have enough critic or audience ratings to be ranked. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner tops the list, ahead of Amadeus and Beauty and the Beast. The biggest hit was Spider-Man with $825.8M worldwide, and Amadeus won Best Picture at the 1985 Oscars.

films released in 2002
2,674
ranked by rating
460
worldwide, top 10 hits
$4.5B
award wins
71
  1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2002) movie poster #1 Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 91 Metascore
  2. Amadeus (2002) movie poster #2 Amadeus 87 Metascore
  3. Beauty and the Beast (2002) movie poster #3 Beauty and the Beast 92 Metascore
#1 of 2002

What Is the Best Movie of 2002?

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner is the best-rated film of 2002, with a rank value of 88/100 from critics and audiences, ahead of Amadeus (87/100). Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

Ranked

Top 25 Movies of 2002, Ranked

Amadeus and Beauty and the Beast follow Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. Drama is the most common genre in the top 25 (19 films). Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

Best of the 2000s
  1. Amadeus (2002) movie poster
    2. Amadeus 87 Metascore (Metascore 87 out of 100 (28 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Music · 2h 40m

    Dir. Milos Forman No Echo Score: ranked 87/100 on critics & audiences

  2. Beauty and the Beast (2002) movie poster
    3. Beauty and the Beast 92 Metascore (Metascore 92 out of 100 (7 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Fantasy · 1h 36m

    Dir. Jean Cocteau No Echo Score: ranked 86/100 on critics & audiences

  3. Y Tu Mamá También (2002) movie poster
    4. Y Tu Mamá También 89 Metascore (Metascore 89 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama, Comedy · 1h 46m

    Dir. Alfonso Cuarón No Echo Score: ranked 86/100 on critics & audiences

  4. The Pianist (2002) movie poster
    5. The Pianist 85 Metascore (Metascore 85 out of 100)

    2002 · Biography, Drama · 2h 30m

    Dir. Roman Polanski No Echo Score: ranked 85/100 on critics & audiences

  5. I'm Going Home (2002) movie poster
    6. I'm Going Home 88 Metascore (Metascore 88 out of 100 (21 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Comedy · 1h 30m

    Dir. Manoel de Oliveira No Echo Score: ranked 85/100 on critics & audiences

  6. The Pinochet Case (2002) movie poster
    7. The Pinochet Case 84 Metascore (Metascore 84 out of 100)

    2002 · Documentary · 1h 50m

    Dir. Patricio Guzmán No Echo Score: ranked 84/100 on critics & audiences

  7. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2002) movie poster
    8. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India 84 Metascore (Metascore 84 out of 100 (21 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Sport · 3h 44m

    Dir. Ashutosh Gowariker No Echo Score: ranked 83/100 on critics & audiences

  8. Talk to Her (2002) movie poster
    9. Talk to Her 86 Metascore (Metascore 86 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama · 1h 52m

    Dir. Pedro Almodóvar No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  9. Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time (2002) movie poster
    9. Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time 82 Metascore (Metascore 82 out of 100)

    2002 · Documentary · 1h 30m

    Dir. Thomas Riedelsheimer No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  10. 3 Women (2002) movie poster
    9. 3 Women 82 Metascore (Metascore 82 out of 100 (5 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama

    Dir. Robert Altman No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  11. Domestic Violence (2002) movie poster
    9. Domestic Violence 85 Metascore (Metascore 85 out of 100 (13 critic reviews))

    2002 · Documentary · 3h 16m

    Dir. Frederick Wiseman No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  12. Russian Ark (2002) movie poster
    13. Russian Ark 87 Metascore (Metascore 87 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama, History · 1h 39m

    Dir. Aleksandr Sokurov No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  13. Bloody Sunday (2002) movie poster
    14. Bloody Sunday 90 Metascore (Metascore 90 out of 100 (31 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, History · 1h 47m

    Dir. Paul Greengrass No Echo Score: ranked 82/100 on critics & audiences

  14. The Quiet American (2002) movie poster
    15. The Quiet American 84 Metascore (Metascore 84 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama, Thriller · 1h 41m

    Dir. Phillip Noyce No Echo Score: ranked 81/100 on critics & audiences

  15. Grin Without a Cat (2002) movie poster
    16. Grin Without a Cat 81 Metascore (Metascore 81 out of 100 (9 critic reviews))

    2002 · Documentary · 4h

    Dir. Chris Marker No Echo Score: ranked 81/100 on critics & audiences

  16. The Piano Teacher (2002) movie poster
    17. The Piano Teacher 79 Metascore (Metascore 79 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama, Music · 2h 11m

    Dir. Michael Haneke No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  17. Adaptation. (2002) movie poster
    18. Adaptation. 83 Metascore (Metascore 83 out of 100 (40 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Comedy · 1h 54m

    Dir. Spike Jonze No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  18. Promises (2002) movie poster
    19. Promises 80 Metascore (Metascore 80 out of 100)

    2002 · Documentary · 1h 46m

    Dir. B.Z. Goldberg No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  19. Nine Queens (2002) movie poster
    20. Nine Queens 80 Metascore (Metascore 80 out of 100 (30 critic reviews))

    2002 · Thriller, Crime · 1h 54m

    Dir. Fabián Bielinsky No Echo Score: ranked 80/100 on critics & audiences

  20. The Hours (2002) movie poster
    21. The Hours 80 Metascore (Metascore 80 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama · 1h 54m

    Dir. Stephen Daldry No Echo Score: ranked 79/100 on critics & audiences

  21. Catch Me If You Can (2002) movie poster
    22. Catch Me If You Can 75 Metascore (Metascore 75 out of 100 (39 critic reviews))

    2002 · Biography, Drama · 2h 21m

    Dir. Steven Spielberg No Echo Score: ranked 79/100 on critics & audiences

  22. Time Out (2002) movie poster
    22. Time Out 88 Metascore (Metascore 88 out of 100)

    2002 · Drama · 2h 14m

    Dir. Laurent Cantet No Echo Score: ranked 79/100 on critics & audiences

  23. Far From Heaven (2002) movie poster
    24. Far From Heaven 84 Metascore (Metascore 84 out of 100 (37 critic reviews))

    2002 · Drama, Romance · 1h 47m

    Dir. Todd Haynes No Echo Score: ranked 78/100 on critics & audiences

  24. 24 Hour Party People (2002) movie poster
    24. 24 Hour Party People 85 Metascore (Metascore 85 out of 100 (29 critic reviews))

    2002 · Biography, Drama · 1h 57m

    Dir. Michael Winterbottom No Echo Score: ranked 78/100 on critics & audiences

Box office

What Were the Highest-Grossing Movies of 2002?

Spider-Man earned $825.8M worldwide, ahead of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones ($653.8M). The top 10 took $4.5B together; 724 films released in 2002 have a box office record here. Grosses that look like data errors are left out.

Full 2002 box office
  1. Spider-Man (2002) movie poster #1 $825.8M worldwide Spider-Man $407.8M domestic · Action
  2. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) movie poster #2 $653.8M worldwide Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones $310.7M domestic · Action
  3. Men in Black II (2002) movie poster #3 $445.1M worldwide Men in Black II $193.7M domestic · Action
  4. Die Another Day (2002) movie poster #4 $432M worldwide Die Another Day $160.9M domestic · Action
  5. Signs (2002) movie poster #5 $408.2M worldwide Signs $228M domestic · Sci-Fi
  6. Ice Age (2002) movie poster #6 $383.3M worldwide Ice Age $176.4M domestic · Adventure
  7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) movie poster #7 $368.7M worldwide My Big Fat Greek Wedding $241.4M domestic · Comedy
  8. Minority Report (2002) movie poster #8 $358.4M worldwide Minority Report $132.1M domestic · Action
  9. Catch Me If You Can (2002) movie poster #9 $352.1M worldwide Catch Me If You Can $164.6M domestic · Biography
  10. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) movie poster #10 $296.9M worldwide Austin Powers in Goldmember $213.3M domestic · Action
Awards

Which 2002 Movies Won the Most Awards?

Amadeus leads with 9 wins from 12 nominations, then Far From Heaven with 6 wins. Amadeus won Best Picture at the 1985 Oscars. In all, 83 films released in 2002 have award nominations on the site, with 71 wins between them.

2003 awards season
  1. Amadeus (2002) movie poster
    Amadeus 9 / 12
    2002 · Drama, Music · 9 wins from 12 nominations
  2. Far From Heaven (2002) movie poster
    Far From Heaven 6 / 17
    2002 · Drama, Romance · 6 wins from 17 nominations
  3. Gangs of New York (2002) movie poster
    Gangs of New York 5 / 32
    2002 · Drama, History · 5 wins from 32 nominations
  4. The Pianist (2002) movie poster
    The Pianist 5 / 20
    2002 · Biography, Drama · 5 wins from 20 nominations
  5. Adaptation. (2002) movie poster
    Adaptation. 5 / 20
    2002 · Drama, Comedy · 5 wins from 20 nominations
  6. The Hours (2002) movie poster
    The Hours 4 / 27
    2002 · Drama · 4 wins from 27 nominations
  7. Frida (2002) movie poster
    Frida 4 / 16
    2002 · Biography, Drama · 4 wins from 16 nominations
  8. About Schmidt (2002) movie poster
    About Schmidt 3 / 14
    2002 · Drama, Comedy · 3 wins from 14 nominations
By genre

What Is the Best 2002 Movie in Each Genre?

The highest-ranked 2002 film of 12 genres, from Drama (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) to Romance (Far From Heaven). Each film appears once, under its first genre that is still free.

Release months

When Were 2002's Movies Released?

October was the busiest month of 2002 with 308 releases; its best-rated film is Bloody Sunday.

  • January Best: Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time
    305
  • February Best: Monsoon Wedding
    203
  • March Best: Y Tu Mamá También
    206
  • April Best: Amadeus
    207
  • May Best: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
    203
  • June Best: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
    186
  • July Best: Read My Lips
    144
  • August Best: Beauty and the Beast
    202
  • September Best: The Pinochet Case
    257
  • October Best: Bloody Sunday
    308
  • November Best: Talk to Her
    232
  • December Best: The Pianist
    221
Languages

Which Languages Were 2002's Movies In?

55% of 2002's films with a known language are in English (1,436). French comes next with 149 films, out of 56 languages in all.

Every year

Best Movies by Year

A best-of page for each of 55 years, from 1900 to 2026 (so far). Before 1980 there is one page per decade, for its first year (1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970); from 1980 every year has its own.

2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1900–1970
FAQ

Best Movies of 2002: Questions & Answers

Quick answers about 2002's best-rated films, biggest hits and awards, from the lists above.

What is the best movie of 2002?

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner is the best-rated film of 2002 on What's After the Movie, with a rank value of 88/100 from critics and audiences. Amadeus is second and Beauty and the Beast third. Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).

About Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

What was the highest-grossing movie of 2002?

Spider-Man earned $825.8M worldwide, the most of any 2002 release on the site. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones follows with $653.8M.

2002 box office

Which 2002 movie won the Oscar for Best Picture?

Amadeus (2002) won Best Picture at the 1985 Academy Awards.

Amadeus

Which 2002 film won the most awards?

Amadeus has the best award record of the 2002 releases on the site: 9 wins from 12 nominations.

2003 awards season

How many movies were released in 2002?

The site lists 2,674 films released in 2002. 460 of them are ranked, and October had the most releases with a known day (308).

How are the best movies of 2002 ranked?

Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases). Only feature films count (60 minutes or longer, no concert recordings), and a film needs enough ratings, box office or award attention to be ranked.