20 Most Rewatchable Movies Of The 2000s

7. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Before Iron Man made him a star again, and – at least for a while – the best-paid actor in the world, Robert Downey Jr. was quietly making his comeback in indie sleeper hits like Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

The film sees Downey’s small-time crook Harry Lockhart drawn into the decidedly unglamorous underworld of Hollywood when he accidentally becomes an actor. And while this sounds like the setup for a screwball comedy, what unfolds instead is a neo-noir story as Harry teams up with detective “Gay” Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer) to solve the murder of Harry’s childhood crush Harmony Lane’s (Michelle Monaghan) sister. Phew.

The movie goes non-stop from the get-go and sports the kind of sharp humour Black’s directorial efforts have become known for (Iron Man 3, The Nice Guys). It was a bold take on the noir genre at a time when this was definitely not in vogue, and feels as fresh and timeless today as it did then (flip-phones notwithstanding). It features Downey at his best, not as the snarky big boss but as a downtrodden loser; Kilmer at his best as the kind of camp and acidic Personality the real Tinseltown is full of; and although it’s technically a Christmas film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang packs enough action, laughs, and rewatchable small details to make compelling viewing year-round.