Some of 2001's best movies are also some of the most overlooked ones. Without the deep pockets of the large studios, the smaller studios, operating on shoestring budgets, just don't have the marketing muscles or distribution channels to get their movies into the multiplexes. Movies like Memento, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, No Man's Land, or Eureka are some of the best-reviewed movies, and yet, with a few exceptions, languished at the box office. You haven't seen what 2001 has to offer until you've seen some of these gems.

In the previous two RT Awards, Pixar sat alone at the top as the premier animation studio, releasing quality titles embraced by critics and audiences alike. They are, however, alone no longer. This year, Pixar has a competitor in PDI, the creator of Shrek. Barely edging out Shrek, Monsters, Inc. would have been the winner of this year's RT Award if not for one movie.

The best-reviewed movie of 2001 and the winner of the Third Annual RT Awards is Peter Jackson's phenomenal adaptation of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. From its impeccable casting to its breath-taking cinematography, The Fellowship of the Ring is a far cry from the 1978 animated version. It's a minor miracle that after sitting nearly three hours with the movie, patrons are left wanting more. Really, this is a triumph for director Peter Jackson and his crew for proving wrong the pundits who said the trilogy was too ambitious of a project. Congrats go out to everyone involved with The Fellowship of the Ring. We'll be eagerly awaiting The Two Towers.

Please note that since the time of the RT Awards, the scores may have fluctuated due to new reviews being posted.

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