People's Choice Awards
Jan 7 27th People's Choice Awards: Mel Gibson & Julia Roberts win (Dramatic Motion Picture) and Drew Carey & Jennifer Aniston win (TV)
American Music Awards
Jan 8 28th American Music Awards: Faith Hill & Kid Rock win
- Jan 9 American version of Belgian reality game show "The Mole" premieres on ABC-TV
- Jan 9 Apple announced iTunes at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, for organizing and playing digital music and videos
Television Premiere
Jan 12 Disney Channel TV series "Lizzie McGuire" premieres starring Hilary Duff
- Jan 12 Downtown Disney opens to the public in Anaheim
Music History
Jan 14 Jennifer Lopez scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Love Don't Cost A Thing'
Film Premiere
Jan 19 Cult film "Donnie Darko" written and directed by Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal premieres at the Sundance Film Festival
Golden Globes
Jan 21 58th Golden Globes: "Gladiator", Tom Hanks, & Julia Roberts win
BAFTA Awards
Feb 25 54th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs): "Gladiator" Best Film, Ang Lee Best Director
Academy Awards
Mar 25 73rd Academy Awards: "Gladiator", Russell Crowe & Julia Roberts win
WrestleMania
Apr 1 WrestleMania XVII, Astrodome, Houston, Texas: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin beats The Rock in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship
Music Single
Apr 23 Fatboy Slim releases single "Weapon of Choice", music video directed by Spike Jonze starring Christopher Walken dancing
- May 8 36th Academy of Country Music Awards: Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill & Toby Keith win
Music Concert
May 12 Ringo Starr's seventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera
- May 13 47th British Academy Television Awards: "Da Ali G Show" Best Comedy, "Clocking Off" Best Drama
Film Premiere
May 16 "Mulholland Drive", directed by David Lynch, starring Justin Theroux and Naomi Watts, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival
Film & TV History
May 18 DreamWorks Pictures "Shrek", starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz in voice-over roles, debuts
- May 25 54th Cannes Film Festival: "The Son's Room" directed by Nanni Moretti wins the Palme d'Or
Tony Awards
Jun 3 55th Tony Awards: "The Producers" and "Proof" win
Television Premiere
Jun 3 TV drama "Six Feet Under" created by Alan Ball, starring Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall and Frances Conroy premieres on HBO
Film Premiere
Jun 15 Indian epic "Laagan" directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starring Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh premieres
Film Premiere
Jun 18 "The Fast and the Furious" film directed by Rob Cohen starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez premieres
Film Release
Jun 29 "A.I. Artificial Intelligence", directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law and Frances O'Connor, is released
Film Premiere
Jul 9 "The Office" mockumentary created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, starring Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman premieres on BBC Two in the UK
- Jul 19 34th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center
Film & TV History
Jul 20 "Spirited Away " written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki is released in Japan (Academy Award Best Animated Feature 2003)
Film Premiere
Jul 29 "The Princess Diaries", starring Anne Hathaway (in her film debut), featuring Julie Andrews, and directed by Garry Marshall, premieres at El Capitan theater in Hollywood
- Aug 3 "The Princess Diaries", starring Anne Hathaway in her film debut, is released nationwide
Film & TV History
Aug 27 Angelina Jolie is named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva
- Aug 29 58th Venice Film Festival: "Monsoon Wedding" directed by Mira Nair wins Golden Lion
Television Premiere
Sep 9 "Band of Brothers" based on book by Stephen E. Ambrose, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks premieres, then most expensive miniseries ever made
Film & TV History
Sep 10 Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan is awarded Actor of the Century at the Alexandria Film Festival
- Sep 15 26th Toronto International Film Festival: "Amelie" directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet wins the People's Choice Award
Television Premiere
Oct 2 "Scrubs", starring Zach Braff as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian, premieres on NBC
- Oct 28 The indie cult hit "Donnie Darko", starring Jake Gyllenhaal, is released
Film Premiere
Nov 4 "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" 1st film adaptation of the book series by J. K. Rowling starring Daniel Radcliffe, premieres in London (Titled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in some markets)
Emmy Awards
Nov 4 53rd Emmy Awards: The West Wing, Sex and the City, James Gandolfini & Edie Falco win
- Nov 6 TV drama series "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland premieres on Fox
Country Music Association Awards
Nov 7 35th Country Music Association Award: Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack & Toby Keith win
- Nov 15 Microsoft releases the first Xbox game console in the US
Film Premiere
Nov 16 "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", 1st film adaptation of the book series by J. K. Rowling starring Daniel Radcliffe, premieres in US (Titled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's's Stone" in some markets)
Film Premiere
Dec 5 "Ocean's Eleven" directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts premieres in Westwood, California
Film Premiere
Dec 10 "The Fellowship of the Ring" Lord of the Rings film directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen premieres in London
Film & TV History
Dec 12 Winona Ryder is arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills, California
- Dec 13 "A Beautiful Mind" based on the bio by Sylvia Nasar, directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe premieres in Los Angeles (Best Picture 2002)
- Dec 13 Biopic "A Beautiful Mind" starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, directed by Ron Howard premieres (wins four Academy Awards including Best Picture)
Film Release
Dec 19 "The Fellowship of the Ring", 1st Lord of the Rings film is released. Makes US$47 million US opening weekend, $871 million total worldwide.