Jumper (2008)
Hayden Christensen was at his peak in the early 2000s, and Jumper is one of the most underrated blockbusters of that era. Underappreciated in its day, Hayden Christensen’s performance is more layered than most people give him credit for. His character, David, is a ‘jumper’ who can teleport anywhere just by thinking of a place or looking at a photo. Even with that power, he isn’t a superhero; instead, he uses his ability to escape a lonely, troubled life. He can have anything money can buy, but the one thing he can’t teleport his way into is love. David’s attempt to reconnect with his childhood sweetheart (Rachel Bilson) gives the film a genuine emotional core. Samuel L. Jackson plays the relentless hunter pursuing jumpers across the globe. His mission raises a fascinating question: Should someone be punished over the possibility that they could use their powers for evil, even when they haven’t? If David steals from a bank without anyone even realizing they’ve been robbed, does that make it any less wrong? On top of that, Jumper is a globe-spanning blockbuster, leaping from New York to Rome, Tokyo, Egypt and the Grand Canyon. It’s a great sci-fi action movie that balances spectacle with a story about a lonely guy who just wants to belong. You can’t help but root for him.