Editing Michelle Pfeiffer (section)

===2000s===
Pfeiffer began to dissolve her film production company, Via Rosa Productions, in 1999, and moved into semi-retirement to spend more quality time with her children and family. Pfeiffer handed her producing partner Guinzburg one final film to produce under the Via Rosa Productions header. The film was called ''[[Original Sin (2001 film)|Original Sin]]'' (2001). It was originally intended to star Pfeiffer, who later changed her mind as she was looking to work less for a while. The film was produced by her company, but instead starred [[Angelina Jolie]] and [[Antonio Banderas]].

In ''[[What Lies Beneath]]'' (2000), a [[Hitchcockian]] thriller directed by [[Robert Zemeckis]], Pfeiffer and [[Harrison Ford]] starred as a well-to-do couple who experience a strange haunting that uncovers secrets about their past. While critical response towards the film was mixed, it opened atop at the box office,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2000/WLIES.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911172310/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2000/WLIES.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=What Lies Beneath |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC |website=The Numbers.com |access-date=October 24, 2008 }}</ref> and went on to gross US$291 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=whatliesbeneath.htm |title=What Lies Beneath (2000) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> She then accepted the role of Rita Harrison, a highly strung lawyer helping a father with a [[developmental disability]], in the drama ''[[I Am Sam]]'' (2001), with [[Sean Penn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/i-am-sam-257356 |title=I Am Sam |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> Despite grossing $97.8 million worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=iamsam.htm |title=I Am Sam (2001) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> the film was unfavourably reviewed by critics;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/i-am-sam/critic-reviews |title=I Am Sam |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' wrote: "Pfeiffer, apparently stymied by the bland clichés that prop up her screechy role, delivers her flattest, phoniest performance ever."<ref>{{cite news |last=Axmaker |first=Sean |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/I-am-Sam-wallows-in-melodramatic-mush-1078320.php |title='I am Sam' wallows in melodramatic mush |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |publisher=Hearst Communications Inc. |date=January 24, 2002 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''[[SF Gate]]'' observed: "In one scene, she breaks down in tears as she unburdens herself to him about her miserable life. It's hard not to cringe, watching this emotionally ready actress fling herself headlong into false material."<ref>{{cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Penn-plays-sad-Sam-He-s-full-of-integrity-as-2880088.php |title=Penn plays sad 'Sam' / He's full of integrity as retarded father |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=January 25, 2002}}</ref>

Pfeiffer took on the role of a murderous artist, named Ingrid Magnussen, in the drama ''[[White Oleander (film)|White Oleander]]'' (2002), with [[Alison Lohman]] (in her film debut), [[Renée Zellweger]] and [[Robin Wright]]. The film was a critical and commercial success in its arthouse release. [[Stephen Holden]] of ''The New York Times'' wrote that "Ms. Pfeiffer, giving the most complex screen performance of her career, makes her Olympian seductress at once irresistible and diabolical."<ref>{{cite news | first=Stephen | last=Holden | title=Slowly, A Princess Turns Into An Urchin | date=October 11, 2002 |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C03EFDD173AF932A25753C1A9649C8B63 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date =October 23, 2008}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described her as "incandescent", bringing "power and unshakable will to her role as mother-master manipulator" in a "riveting, impeccable performance".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-11-et-white11-story.html |date=October 11, 2002 |title=Artful 'Oleander' needs more compelling voice |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |access-date=June 29, 2008}}</ref> She earned Best Supporting Actress Awards from the [[San Diego Film Critics Society]] and the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, as well as a [[Screen Actors Guild]] Award nomination.

In 2003, Pfeiffer lent her voice for the character of goddess of chaos [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]] in ''[[Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas]]'', an animated film featuring [[Brad Pitt]] as the voice of [[Sinbad the Sailor]]. She had struggles with finding the character's villainies. Initially the character was "too sexual", then she lacked fun. After the third rewrite, Pfeiffer called producer [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] and told him "You know, you really can fire me," but he assured her that this was just part of the process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Preview |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/25/sinbad-legend-seven-seas/ |access-date=January 18, 2014 |newspaper=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 25, 2003 |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927152532/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444346,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the release of the film, she took a four-year hiatus from acting, during which she remained largely out of the public eye to devote time to her husband and children.<ref name="CBS News-2007" /> During this time, she turned down the role of the White Witch in the fantasy film ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe]]'' (2005), which went to [[Tilda Swinton]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/white-witch-shares-her-love-potion-with-two-men-bdnf0wcn0rr |title=White Witch shares her love potion with two men |publisher=Times Newspapers Ltd |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=February 17, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|Pfeiffer at the premiere of ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'' in 2007]]

Pfeiffer returned to cinemas in 2007 with villainous roles in two summer blockbusters, ''[[Hairspray (2007 film)|Hairspray]]'' and ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'',  which was hailed as a successful comeback by the media.<ref name="Irish Independent-2007">{{Cite web|date=July 16, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer: The former beauty queen is back after a five-year break|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/michelle-pfeiffer-the-former-beauty-queen-is-back-after-a-five-year-break-26438605.html|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 15, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer Returns to Big Screen after 3-Year Hiatus|url=https://extratv.com/2007/03/15/michelle-pfeiffer-returns-to-big-screen-after-3-year-hiatus/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Extra (American TV program)|Extra]]}}</ref><ref name="Netburn-2008">{{Cite web|last1=Netburn|first1=Deborah|last2=Victorio|first2=Lora|date=January 1, 2008|title=Hits and misses along the comeback trail|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-01-et-comebacks1-story.html|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="CBS News-2007">{{Cite web|date=October 4, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer's Eternal Beauty|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michelle-pfeiffers-eternal-beauty/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=[[CBS News]]|quote="Stardust" and her role this summer in the movie "Hairspray" mark a comeback for Pfeiffer after five years away from the big screen. She has proved she is still striking on camera and popular with audiences, putting her in a stronger position than ever as an actress.}}</ref> In the former, a film adaptation of the [[Hairspray (musical)|Broadway musical of the same name]], she starred alongside [[John Travolta]], [[Christopher Walken]] and [[Queen Latifah]] as Velma Von Tussle,<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 19, 2007|title=Hairspray|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hairspray-159308|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> the [[Racism|racist]] manager of a television station.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=A. O.|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=July 19, 2007|title=Review: In 'Hairspray,' a celebration of youth and a guileless era|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/arts/19iht-fmreview27.1.6728332.html|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although a fan of Pfeiffer's work in the musicals ''Grease 2'' and ''The Fabulous Baker Boys'', director [[Adam Shankman]] cast Pfeiffer largely based on her performance in ''Batman Returns'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sims|first=James|date=June 28, 2007|title=Dishing with 'Hairspray' Film Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dishing-with-Hairspray-Film-Cast-Michelle-Pfeiffer-20070628|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[BroadwayWorld]]}}</ref> claiming she was his first and only choice for Velma.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Roger|date=August 19, 2007|title=Pfeiffer back on screen with vengeance|url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/8/19/20035921/pfeiffer-back-on-screen-with-vengeance|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[Deseret News]]}}</ref> Although she had fun with the part, Pfeiffer described Velma as the most difficult role she had played at the time, because of her character's racism; but she was drawn to the film's important message of anti-bigotry, accepting that "in order to do a movie about racism, somebody has got to be the racist".<ref name="Irish Independent-2007" /> Released to widely positive reviews, ''Hairspray'' grossed $202.5 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hairspray07.htm |title=Hairspray (2007) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Pfeiffer's performance was also critically acclaimed,<ref name="Moore-2007">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=August 9, 2007 |title=Pfeiffer wins acclaim in return to films |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/features/pfeiffer-wins-acclaim-in-return-to-films/article_b0586bd8-fa77-5e2b-998b-dd69e50c9b32.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=[[The Post and Courier]] |quote=one of the most beautiful women in the movies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Liz|date=June 5, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer — What She Did for Love|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/inspirational-stories/interviews/a17389/michelle-pfeiffer-0707/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Good Housekeeping]]}}</ref> with film critic [[David Edelstein]] of [[NPR]] calling her "sublime".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edelstein|first=David|author-link=David Edelstein|date=July 20, 2007|title=Hollywood's Musical 'Hairspray,' a Little Too Bouffant|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12122633|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> The cast of ''Hairspray'' was nominated for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture]], and won the [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast]], the [[Hollywood Film Festival]] Award for Ensemble of the Year, and the [[Palm Springs International Film Festival]] Award for Ensemble Cast. In the fantasy adventure ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'', Pfeiffer plays [[Lamia (Stardust)|Lamia]], an ancient witch who hunts a fallen star ([[Claire Danes]]) in search of eternal youth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/stardust-345070/cast |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707074412/http://allmovie.com/work/stardust-345070/cast |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |title=Stardust |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011 }}</ref> The film received mostly positive reviews but performed moderately at the box office,<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 13, 2007|title="Rush Hour 3" Wins At Box Office|work=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rush-hour-3-wins-at-box-office/|access-date=November 11, 2021|quote=The other movie premiering this weekend was "Stardust," a well-reviewed adult fairy tale with Michelle Pfeiffer.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2007|title='Rush Hour 3' roars to top of film box office|work=[[CTV News]]|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/rush-hour-3-roars-to-top-of-film-box-office-1.251648|access-date=November 11, 2021}}</ref> earning $135.5 million globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=stardust.htm |title=Stardust Box Office Mojo |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | quote=Production Budget: $70 million |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic [[Stephen Holden]] described Pfeiffer as "as deliciously evil a witch as the movies have ever invented", writing that she "goes for broke with the relish of a star who figures she has nothing to lose."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Holden|date=August 10, 2007|title=When Stars (Celestial) Fall, and Stars (Hollywood) Fly|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/movies/10star.html|access-date=August 24, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Pfeiffer starred in [[Amy Heckerling]]'s romantic comedy ''[[I Could Never Be Your Woman]]'' (2007), with [[Paul Rudd]] and [[Saoirse Ronan]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schwartz |first=Missy |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/01/amy-heckerlings-production-conflicts/ |title=Would You Dump This Woman? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=#977 |date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923101639/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20175469,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> portraying Rosie, a 40-year-old divorced mother working as a scriptwriter and producer for a television show who falls in love with a much younger man (Rudd). Her reported salary was US$1 million, with an advance on 15 percent of the gross. However, the film was only distributed on [[home video]] markets domestically.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/01/amy-heckerlings-production-conflicts/ |title=Would You Dump This Woman? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Reviews for ''I Could Never Be Your Woman'' were moderately positive,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_could_never_be_your_woman/ |title=I Could Never Be Your Woman |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> with critic [[James Berardinelli]] finding Pfeiffer and Rudd to "have adequate chemistry to pull off the romance," in what he described as an "enjoyable romantic comedy that has enough going for it to make it worth a recommendation."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/i/i_could.html |title=Review: I Could Never Be Your Woman |website=Reel Views.net |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Pfeiffer starred in ''[[Personal Effects (2008 film)|Personal Effects]]'', with [[Ashton Kutcher]], playing two grieving people coping with the pain and frustration of their loss whose bond spawns an unlikely romance. The drama premiered at [[Iowa City]]'s Englert Theatre in December 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/iowa/2008-12-12-1781140457_x.htm |title=2011 Movie preview: 'No strings attached' |first=Luke |last=Meredith |publisher=Gannett Company, Inc. |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

Her next film, an adaptation of [[Colette]]'s ''[[Chéri (2009 film)|Chéri]]'', reunited her with the director ([[Stephen Frears]]) and screenwriter ([[Christopher Hampton]]) of ''Dangerous Liaisons'' (1988). Pfeiffer played the role of aging retired [[courtesan]] Léa de Lonval, with [[Rupert Friend]] in the title role, with Kathy Bates as his mother. ''Chéri'' premiered at the 2009 [[Berlin International Film Festival]], where it received a nomination for the [[Golden Bear]] award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michelle Pfeiffer beweist in Chéri Mut zur Falte |url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/article3181917/Michelle-Pfeiffer-beweist-in-Cheri-Mut-zur-Falte.html |newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=July 3, 2011|language=de}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' of London reviewed the film favorably, describing Hampton's screenplay as a "steady flow of dry quips and acerbic one-liners" and Pfeiffer's performance as "magnetic and subtle, her worldly nonchalance a mask for vulnerability and heartache".<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Dalton |title=''Chéri'' review |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5703857.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616194823/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5703857.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=March 1, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] in the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote that it was "fascinating to observe how Pfeiffer controls her face and voice during times of painful hurt".<ref>{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=''Chéri'' review |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090624/REVIEWS/906249987/1023 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135408/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cheri-2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] in the ''Los Angeles Times'' praised the "wordless scenes that catch Léa unawares, with the camera alone seeing the despair and regret that she hides from the world. It's the kind of refined, delicate acting Pfeiffer does so well, and it's a further reminder of how much we've missed her since she's been away."<ref>{{cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |title=Chéri review |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-cheri26-2009jun26,0,4760003.story |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628184010/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-cheri26-2009jun26%2C0%2C4760003.story |archive-date=June 28, 2009 }}</ref>