There’s nothing like a good chick flick to help you escape from reality when you need a break from it all. Often hilarious and sentimental at the same time, chick flicks seem to have the power to cheer us up and to let us unwind from the stress of daily life. The best ones also convey meaningful messages to us between the lines that teach us about life and help us understand ourselves better.

Although there have been iconic chick flicks in every decade, the early 2000s were famous for providing us with a flood of unforgettable female-centric films that still warm our hearts today. The characters that came out of the era, including Elle Woods and Bridget Jones, are among the most memorable and the most lovable. Check out these amazing chick flicks from the early 2000s.

15 Every Girl Should Watch Legally Blonde At Least Once

Legally Blonde Insider

Legally Blonde is the type of chick flick that every girl needs to watch once. Not only is this iconic tale a barrel of laughs, but it also portrays a strong message about women rising to more than they always thought they could, and finding the value in intelligence and hard work over looks.

14 We Can’t Skip Bring It On

Bring It On Seventeen Magazine

When it comes to guilty pleasures from the 2000s, we can’t go past Bring it On. This movie tells the story of a cheerleading captain who learns that her squad has stolen choreography from another school’s cheer squad and must rise to the challenge of being a true cheerleading captain.

13 Crossroads Is Perfect For Britney Fans

Crossroads PopSugar

Crossroads might not have pleased the critics, but this movie is a must-watch for any fan of Britney Spears. The popstar stars as Lucy, a girl who embarks on a trip across the country in search of her mom who abandoned her, with two old frenemies and a cute guy in tow.

12 Mean Girls Is A Classic

Mean Girls Elle

It’s easy to see why Mean Girls has become a classic. The tale of a clique of high school girls who are horrible to each other is incredibly hilarious and entertaining, but it also teaches a valuable lesson to teenage girls about how to treat people and how to avoid becoming a Regina George-like figure.

RELATED: 15 Reasons 'Clueless' Was The Greatest Chick Flick Of All Time

11 A Cinderella Story Is The Ultimate Fairy Tale

A Cinderella Story Insider

Who needs Disney when you’ve got A Cinderella Story? Just kidding, we’ll always need Disney. But A Cinderella Story, starring Hilary Duff, is one of our favorite modern fairy tales. Duff stars as Sam, a girl who’s treated like a slave by her stepmother while she develops a virtual relationship with the popular guy at school.

10 We’re Still Obsessed With Sweet Home Alabama

Sweet Home Alabama People

As far as we’re concerned, Sweet Home Alabama will never get old. This film tells the story of Melanie Smooter, an Alabama girl who makes it big in New York but returns to her hometown to tie up a few loose ends from her past before marrying the mayor’s son.

9 Bridget Jones Will Always Be So Relatable

Bridget Jones's diary Glamour

The character of Bridget Jones has to be one of the most relatable in history. The problems that she faces, like trying to find the motivation to exercise and lay off the wine, are issues that most of us have faced at one point or another. All the installments of the Bridget Jones’s Diary franchise are worth watching again!

RELATED: Here Are The Best Girly Movies From The 2000s

8 We Love The Strong Female Protagonist In Miss Congeniality

Miss Congeniality E! News

We always have time for a chick flick that features a strong and charismatic female protagonist that doesn’t need to be rescued like a damsel in distress. In Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock stars as detective Gracie Hart, the ultimate independent female protagonist who is a capable and impressive role model.

7 Honey Still Makes Us Want To Dance

Honey Amazon

It doesn’t matter how many times we watch Honey. This Jessica Alba film can always give us the energy to get up and start dancing (although we never look quite as good as Honey Daniels herself). Easily one of the best dance films of the noughties, Honey has definitely reached icon status.

6 It’s Impossible To Watch The Notebook With Dry Eyes

The Notebook USA Today

We’ve put ourselves to the test and the results are in: it’s officially impossible to watch The Notebook without crying. There are plenty of sentimental moments throughout this epic Southern love story, but the most emotional scenes take place at the end when the old Noah and Allie Calhoun finally finish their story.

RELATED: Here Are The 15 Best Girly Movies From The 90s