2014 in Film
by luke-a-mcgowan | created - 20 Sep 2014 | updated - 02 Nov 2015 | PublicAll of 2014's films in order, best to worst
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1. Snowpiercer (2013)
R | 126 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
In a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Votes: 388,613 | Gross: $4.56M
Bong Joon-Ho has executed a spectacular, audacious masterpiece, a fascinating look at the human condition by means of well developed characters acted to perfection and a sensational screenplay worthy of its place in history.
2. Pride (I) (2014)
R | 119 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.
Director: Matthew Warchus | Stars: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine
Votes: 61,556
A perfect balancing act between delightful humour and earnest sincerity, and featuring stellar performances to accompany a very worthy script, Pride is one of those rare films that really inspires you and makes you want to be a better person.
3. Boyhood (I) (2014)
R | 165 min | Drama
The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.
Director: Richard Linklater | Stars: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Elijah Smith
Votes: 366,978 | Gross: $25.38M
Boyhood's flaws pale in comparison to the remarkable accomplishment that Richard Linklater has achieved. Feeling less like a movie than an insight into the life of someone I know, at several points in the movie I could see references to my own childhood, which takes place almost simultaneously with Mason's. The cast is excellent - Arquette and Hawke are brilliant, and so are newcomers Ellar Coltrane and especially Lorelei Linklater. Boyhood is like nothing else I have ever seen, and I doubt I will again.
4. The Lego Movie (2014)
PG | 100 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.
Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller | Stars: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett
Votes: 388,008 | Gross: $257.76M
A truly sensational film that appeals to young children and grown-ups alike, The Lego Movie is full of energy, comedy and a story so deep and intelligent that its likes haven't been seen since Toy Story.
5. Gone Girl (2014)
R | 149 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
Director: David Fincher | Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry
Votes: 1,065,976 | Gross: $167.77M
The direction is sublime, the score hauntingly beautiful, the screenplay doesn't waste a single word and the acting by Affleck, Coon and especially Rosamund Pike is second to none.
6. Foxcatcher (2014)
R | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
U.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but John's self-destructive behavior threatens to consume them all.
Director: Bennett Miller | Stars: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave
Votes: 149,149 | Gross: $12.10M
A chilling masterpiece that delves into rich character studies, Bennett Miller's masterful Foxcatcher succeeds off its superb script and amazing acting performances by Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum.
7. Nightcrawler (2014)
R | 117 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
When Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
Director: Dan Gilroy | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed
Votes: 603,817 | Gross: $32.38M
Nightmarish and creepy, Nightcrawler combines a fine directorial performance from Dan Gilroy with one of the finest and most disturbing male performances of the year from Jake Gyllenhaal.
8. A Most Wanted Man (2014)
R | 122 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror.
Director: Anton Corbijn | Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Daniel Brühl, Robin Wright
Votes: 80,093 | Gross: $17.24M
The weariness of an endless war is present in every inch of Hoffmans face, giving one of his most remarkable performances to cap off a magnificent career. A Most Wanted Man is superbly edited, exceptionally written and expertly directed, making for an authentic, tense and engrossing experience that is easily one of the best of 2014 so far.
9. Whiplash (2014)
R | 106 min | Drama, Music
A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.
Director: Damien Chazelle | Stars: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser
Votes: 987,034 | Gross: $13.09M
Stunningly authentic, beautifully written and superbly edited, Whiplash is a riveting vehicle for JK Simmons and Miles Teller as well as writer/director Damien Chazelle.
10. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
R | 119 min | Comedy, Drama
A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu | Stars: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough
Votes: 666,157 | Gross: $42.34M
A manic, exhilarating and hilarious thriller, Birdman is an audacious and stunning work of art from Alejandro G Inarritu, and features such a strong cast that a case could be made for up to a half dozen acting Oscar nominations. But it is the work of Michael Keaton and Emma Stone that really make viewers take notice, and make Birdman worth every second of your time.
11. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
PG-13 | 113 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.
Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson
Votes: 735,836 | Gross: $100.21M
A gripping story seamlessly told and superbly edited, Edge of Tomorrow's biggest strength is the surprising emergence of Emily Blunt as an awesome action hero. The final act is a needless turd, but doesn't even come close to ruining the exciting experience that is the rest of the film.
12. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
PG-13 | 126 min | Drama, Romance
Hazel and Gus are teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. They both share the same acerbic wit and a love of books, especially "An Imperial Affliction", so they embark on a journey to visit an author in Amsterdam.
Director: Josh Boone | Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern
Votes: 400,826 | Gross: $124.87M
Shailene Woodley reminds us why she is one of the best actresses of her generation in her charming and heartbreaking performance. With wonderful supporting work from Ansel Elgort and a beautiful direction, The Fault in Our Stars is touching and authentic.
13. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy
Votes: 744,530 | Gross: $233.92M
Thanks to a perfect cast, exceptional balance and a masterful direction by Brian Singer, X-Men Days of Future Past is a complete, entertaining and satisfying film. McAvoy, Hoult, Jackman and Lawrence are all excellent in their performances. The film manages to seamlessly draw together all the conflicting X-Men films, referencing X2 and First Class but ignoring the worst parts of each film.
A thoughtful, tense, funny and visually stunning film. You will be on the edge of your seat.
14. Selma (2014)
PG-13 | 128 min | Biography, Drama, History
A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson
Votes: 95,429 | Gross: $52.08M
A devastatingly powerful film, Selma is a superb piece of art that is a credit to Ana DuVernay and David Oyelowo. Humble in scope but spectacular in effect, and deserves to be revisited for many years to come.
15. Fury (2014)
R | 134 min | Action, Drama, War
A grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.
Director: David Ayer | Stars: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña
Votes: 546,410 | Gross: $85.82M
Much of Fury's goodwill is undone by a hideously cliched, Bay-esque action film ending that flew in the face of the realism Fury attempted to put up. However, save for the poorly scripted finale, Fury is gritty, well directed, unbelievably tense and features some scene stealing performances from John Bernthal and Shia LaBeouf. Fury is one of the most admirable films of 2014 and one of the best war films to date.
16. The Imitation Game (2014)
PG-13 | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller
During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
Director: Morten Tyldum | Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech
Votes: 824,178 | Gross: $91.13M
With a sublime performance by Benedict Cumberbatch buffering up the witty and brilliant screenplay, The Imitation Game is a surprisingly funny and extremely moving true story. The dialogue crackles all the way through, especially between Cumberbatch and a flawlessly cast Charles Dance. Whilst one wishes they had been a bit more daring with Turing's sexuality, it is hard to find anything real to complain about here.
17. Big Hero 6 (2014)
PG | 102 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams | Stars: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, T.J. Miller
Votes: 500,795 | Gross: $222.53M
Beautifully animated and delightfully charming, Big Hero 6 is also one of those delightful Disney classics that doesn't tiptoe around death and loss, and is so much the strongest for it.
18. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
R | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.
Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody
Votes: 885,580 | Gross: $59.10M
Beautiful to listen to and to look at, The Grand Budapest Hotel makes for delightful viewing, especially thanks to Ralph Fiennes' superb performance. A few minor blemishes include its delicious story coming apart with its overcomplicated setup and its nonsensically convenient ending, and the fact that with almost 20 Oscar nominations scattered amongst its huge cast, one has to wonder whether all that talent has been fully utilised.
19. Jersey Boys (2014)
R | 134 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza
Votes: 36,540 | Gross: $47.03M
Its by no means perfect, and the opening act is indeed sloppy, but Jersey Boys is a delightfully powerful, well-paced drama, featuring top-notch acting from Piazza, Young and Lomenda, and enough beautiful music moments to keep you hungry for more.
20. Locke (2013)
R | 85 min | Drama
Ivan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.
Director: Steven Knight | Stars: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott
Votes: 159,468 | Gross: $1.36M
A one-man show in a set no bigger than the front seat of a car, Locke is one of the most compelling dramas of 2014. Well-directed, with beautifully written dialogue and an absolutely sublime performance by Tom Hardy, Locke is absolutely fascinating viewing.
21. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
PG-13 | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
Director: James Gunn | Stars: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana
Votes: 1,272,091 | Gross: $333.18M
Guardians of the Galaxy is charming, funny, full of heart, and full of dazzling visual effects. The screenplay is weak in places, but the film overall is so charming that all flaws can be easily forgiven. Pratt and Saldana take the lead in a star-studded cast and rise to the task with fantastic performances and flawless chemistry. Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel pull off some of the best voice acting performances in recent memory, and Michael Rooker steals every scene he is in. but with a cast list that looks more like a list of presenters at the Academy Awards, one has to wonder if all the talent assembled in Guardians has been fully utilised.
22. St. Vincent (2014)
PG-13 | 102 min | Comedy, Drama
A young boy whose parents have just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic war veteran who lives next door.
Director: Theodore Melfi | Stars: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Jaeden Martell
Votes: 108,469 | Gross: $44.13M
Powered by four impressive performances (with Murray, Watts and McCarthy all demonstrating impressive range) and some beautifully handled dramatic scenes, St. Vincent is a very competently handled film with key artistic choices preventing the film's drift into excessive sentiment.
23. Calvary (2014)
R | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.
Director: John Michael McDonagh | Stars: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen
Votes: 64,295 | Gross: $3.59M
It is uncanny that a man so well known for playing gruff, menacing figures like Mad-Eye Moody and King Menelaus could demonstrate such tenderness. Thanks to beautiful direction from McDonagh and Brendan Gleeson's superb performance, Calvary succeeds in its most important goal - to make us know and love Father James and so treasure his final hours.
24. Kill the Messenger (2014)
R | 112 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Journalist Gary Webb, California 1996, started investigating CIA's role in the 1980s in getting crack cocaine to the black part of LA to get money and weapons to the Contra insurgents in Nicaragua.
Director: Michael Cuesta | Stars: Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims, Robert Pralgo
Votes: 48,736 | Gross: $2.45M
With powerful direction and a committed performance from Jeremy Renner, Kill the Messenger's bringing to life of a terrible tale of journalistic betrayal is one I am glad to have witnessed.
25. Non-Stop (2014)
PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
An air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages demanding $150 million into an off-shore account, or someone will die every 20 minutes.
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra | Stars: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery
Votes: 276,437 | Gross: $92.17M
A clever script, nifty camerawork and strong performances by its talented cast, Non-Stop is a thrilling action/mystery film. The climax of the film is somewhat weaker than the premise, but the excellent set-up makes up for it in the larger picture.
26. Maps to the Stars (2014)
R | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
A tour into the heart of a Hollywood family chasing celebrity, one another and the relentless ghosts of their pasts.
Director: David Cronenberg | Stars: Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, John Cusack
Votes: 42,842 | Gross: $0.35M
A dark, disturbing, narratively clunky orgy of superb characters and fascinating plot points, Maps to the Stars is a seriously enjoyable ride, even if a number of plot points are left unresolved. Julianne Moore gives one of the finest performances of the year, baring her very soul in a no-holds-barred display, whilst Mia Wasikowska also provides a disturbing yet tender performance, proving herself one of the hottest up and coming talents of today.
27. The Expendables 3 (2014)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
Barney augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates.
Director: Patrick Hughes | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas
Votes: 195,984 | Gross: $39.32M
The Expendables continues to be a bucketload of mindless, action-packed, self-referential fun.
28. American Sniper (2014)
R | 133 min | Action, Biography, Drama
Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis
Votes: 528,698 | Gross: $350.13M
Whilst in places one gets the feeling that American Sniper has nothing new to bring to the table, it is still a gripping and entertaining film with well executed scenes in pivotal moments and features career best embodiment by Bradley Cooper.
29. Two Days, One Night (2014)
PG-13 | 95 min | Drama
Liège, Belgium. Sandra is a factory worker who discovers that her workmates have opted for a EUR1,000 bonus in exchange for her dismissal. She has only a weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses in order to keep her job.
Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne | Stars: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée, Baptiste Sornin
Votes: 50,517 | Gross: $1.44M
A beautifully constructed and fascinating character study with superb acting from Cotillard and a simple but very effective plot.
30. Wild (I) (2014)
R | 115 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
A chronicle of one woman's 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann, Michiel Huisman
Votes: 138,723 | Gross: $37.88M
Jean-Marc Vallee once again knocks it out of the park with a simple but mesmerising character study, combined with a sensational leading performance from a transformed Reese Witherspoon and a heartbreaking supporting turn by Laura Dern.
31. Mr. Turner (2014)
R | 150 min | Biography, Drama, History
An exploration of the last quarter century of the great, if eccentric, British painter J.M.W. Turner's life.
Director: Mike Leigh | Stars: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey
Votes: 27,150 | Gross: $3.96M
Timothy Spall's masterful performance taps into abilities that common actors rarely take advantage of in his brutish but sensitive portrayal of JMW Turner. Though not a story with widespread appeal, Dick Pope's glorious cinematography and the beautiful acting and writing makes Mr. Turner a film worth admiring if nothing else.
32. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
R | 102 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Some of Sin City's most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with a few of its more reviled inhabitants.
Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez | Stars: Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Votes: 170,350 | Gross: $13.76M
Eva Green leads a series of fantastic new additions to the cast, the striking visuals and cinematography remain very much alive, and its always fun to see Mickey Rourke and Rosario Dawson in these sensational roles. Unfortunately, the film tries to regurgitate the predecessor's formula, and this leads to a confusing narrative (is this a sequel or a prequel or both?) which lacks the heart and soul of Sin City. Overall, more of a guilty pleasure than an arthouse classic.
33. Chef (2014)
R | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A head chef quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman
Votes: 231,472 | Gross: $31.42M
Who'd have thought that such an astute and poignant message about social media would be cloaked in a feel-good comedy about food? Favreau the actor gives the performance of his career - emotional and funny and completely at home in the kitchen - and is well supported by Favreau the director if not Favreau the writer. Oliver Platt and Scarlett Johansson give great supporting work, and a delightful cameo by Robert Downey Jr. is the film's clear highlight. However, some of Favreau's best work is undercut by an uneventful script and an undeveloped, typecast Sofia Vergara, who injects absolutely no drama as Casper's ex-wife and shares absolutely no chemistry with her co-stars. However, a heart-warming and beautifully shot film will still leaves viewers satisfied and hungry.
34. Felony (2013)
TV-MA | 105 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
An accident involving a young child sets off a chain of events that brings an Australian police officer's world crashing down.
Director: Matthew Saville | Stars: Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Simpson
Votes: 5,836
Felony is authentic in its simplicity and thanks to the talented performances from Edgerton and Wilkinson, Australians can proudly identify it as a product of our local film industry.
35. Still Alice (2014)
PG-13 | 101 min | Drama
A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.
Directors: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland | Stars: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth
Votes: 143,390 | Gross: $18.75M
A tragic and moving performance by Julianne Moore is the cornerstone of the delicate and moving film that is Still Alice. A film constructed purely around Moore's performance (to its detriment) and would collapse without her, Moore's subtle work with the delicate script is sensitive and impressive enough to justify the film as an artwork.
36. John Wick (2014)
R | 101 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.
Director: Chad Stahelski | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe
Votes: 738,247 | Gross: $43.04M
Unevenly paced, with a deprivation of action in its long opening act and then glut of violence in the end, John Wick fumbles its promising premise. However, it is without a doubt entertaining to watch Keanu Reeves blast through the film's antagonists in a promising film universe that audiences deserve to revisit.
37. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.
Director: Matt Reeves | Stars: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Votes: 467,999 | Gross: $208.55M
Intelligent and tense to match the stunning set design and visual effects, though the character development varies in depth, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a thinking man's blockbuster.
38. This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
R | 103 min | Comedy, Drama
After their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes, and might-have-beens.
Director: Shawn Levy | Stars: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver
Votes: 89,177 | Gross: $34.29M
Though it follows a predictable narrative arc, has some questionable moments and even more plot holes, This Is Where I Leave You succeeds off the strength of its direction, dialogue and acting - particularly by Bateman, Byrne and Driver.
39. The Interview (II) (2014)
R | 112 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapaport run the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight". When they land an interview with a surprise fan, North Korean dictator Jong-Un Kim, they are recruited by the CIA to assassinate him.
Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen | Stars: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park, Lizzy Caplan
Votes: 354,327 | Gross: $6.11M
Surprisingly astute and laugh out loud funny, The Interview is a directorial success for the Rogen/Goldberg team and a great acting vehicle for Franco and Rogen.
40. 22 Jump Street (2014)
R | 112 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college.
Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller | Stars: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Nick Offerman
Votes: 405,619 | Gross: $191.72M
Well-written, self-aware and gut-bustingly funny in places, 22 Jump Street is a satisfying sequel. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to the first because of its character arcs, giving into stereotypical formula for each of its leads, and doing away with much of its bromantic chemistry, but when that chemistry does flourish, its a delight to watch.
41. Interstellar (2014)
PG-13 | 169 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
When Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy
Votes: 2,095,164 | Gross: $188.02M
Interstellar represents Christopher Nolan exceeding his reach in his obsession with difficult, game-changing films. What he achieved with Inception he has bungled here with a overlong narrative that alternates between nonsensical, confusing and lazy. Indulging in execessive unnecessary subplots, a sappy and unrealistic ending, underwhelming visuals and an obliterating score are some of Interstellar's numerous weaknesses. However, some solid acting from the film's female cast - Hathaway, Chastain and Foy - as well as an unshakeable beauty in its construction keep Interstellar from being a completely negative experience.
42. Big Eyes (I) (2014)
PG-13 | 106 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A drama about the awakening of painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston, Krysten Ritter
Votes: 99,032 | Gross: $14.48M
Tim Burton's inspired and outrageous film is a story worth telling and features some delightful moments and a vulnerable turn by Amy Adams, but is both made and broken by a flawlessly cast Christoph Waltz, who far too often gives in to overacting temptation.
43. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
PG-13 | 136 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford
Votes: 898,288 | Gross: $259.77M
Captain America 2 aims for Dark Knight territory, but it settles somewhere around Iron Man 3. Beautiful camerawork and some fantastically choreographed action scenes are undone by needless shaky-cam, and a suspenseful and modern plot is undone by action thriller cliches. A superior MCU entry, but definitely below the hype.
44. The Theory of Everything (2014)
PG-13 | 123 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Stephen Hawking gets unprecedented success in the field of physics despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 21. He defeats awful odds as his first wife Jane aids him loyally.
Director: James Marsh | Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, Sophie Perry
Votes: 481,679 | Gross: $35.89M
Blatantly obvious Oscar-porn, The Theory of Everything is a thoroughly unremarkable film about a remarkable man, though the performances of Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne save the film and push it just above "waste of time" status. However, one wonders how good it could have been with more experienced writers and directors on hand.
45. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Katniss Everdeen is in District 13 after she shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.
Director: Francis Lawrence | Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson
Votes: 502,244 | Gross: $337.14M
Probably the textbook example of an "all right" adaptation, Mockingjay Part 1 fails to justify the split over two films, but the overall product is tense, smart and enjoyable. Although some acting performances (Lawrence, Banks, Sutherland) are far more impressive than others (disappointingly shallow turns from Moore and Ali), and the production, costumes and visuals are top-notch, Mockingjay Part 1 still can't shake the feeling that it is a watered down half-product of something much more special.
46. The Homesman (2014)
R | 122 min | Drama, Western
Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy, who in turn employs low-life drifter George Briggs to assist her.
Director: Tommy Lee Jones | Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Grace Gummer, Miranda Otto
Votes: 35,681 | Gross: $2.43M
There is some powerful movie magic alive in certain scenes of The Homesman, mostly due to beautiful cinematography, score and Hilary Swank continuing to deliver in roles that other women couldn't hope to succeed in. However, Tommy Lee Jones' film only succeeds in highlighting the difficulty of directing and starring simultaneously, as his acting performance suffers dreadfully here. George Briggs has no depth, and only seeks to tear further holes in the film's already weak plot. For every beautiful scene in The Homesman, there are two that are barely adequate.
47. If I Stay (2014)
PG-13 | 107 min | Drama, Fantasy, Music
Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined. The choice is hers if she can go on.
Director: R.J. Cutler | Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, Joshua Leonard
Votes: 128,190 | Gross: $50.47M
There's some great stuff in if I stay - the musical talents of Adam Blackley, the direction of RJ Cutler and the loveable, relatable and bravoes performance of Chloe Grace Moretz - and some awful stuff - the cliche, the cringeworthy lines (especially from Aisha Hinds) and the formulaic story arc. Though it pales next to the far superior The Fault in Our Stars, If I Stay lands on the positive side of the spectrum.
48. Joe (I) (2013)
R | 117 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin.
Director: David Gordon Green | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter, Ronnie Gene Blevins
Votes: 51,167 | Gross: $0.37M
The screenplay has its fair share of clutter, but when the writing is nonetheless quality, and the performances are as strong as the ones given by Tye Sheridan and Nicolas Cage, its hard to complain.
49. Magic in the Moonlight (2014)
PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.
Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater
Votes: 70,839 | Gross: $10.51M
Though it possesses a nice premise and is far from unenjoyable, Magic in the Moonlight ignores the rest of its talented cast to spend all of its time zeroing in on Colin Firth playing John Cleese and Emma Stone playing Emma Stone. The screenplay boasts a few sharp morsels (its big reveal is especially satisfying), but struggles just as often - such as the painfully nonsensical ending. But its still a pleasant ride.
50. Pompeii (I) (2014)
PG-13 | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A slave-turned-gladiator finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Votes: 116,550 | Gross: $23.22M
Featuring some excellent fight scenes, stunning visuals and a solid Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje performance, Pompeii is undoubtedly a watchable movie. However, the story of probably the most infamous natural disaster film of all time has the potential to be as heart-wrenching as Titanic. Does Pompeii live up to this potential? Courtesy of a weak script, unnecessary subplots, and poor casting choices of Sutherland and Harrington, no it does not.
51. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
R | 102 min | Action, Drama
Greek general Themistocles of Athens leads the naval charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
Director: Noam Murro | Stars: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson
Votes: 315,697 | Gross: $106.58M
It is a shame to see talented actors like Lena Headey, Callan Mulvey and especially Eva Green, aching for their chance to break out, wasting their efforts on this bland script. The new 300 is nothing more than an appeal to fans of the first, filled with references to 300, duplicated characters, boring filler and cliches. Stapleton tries but fails dramatically to fill Butler's shoes, and the action scenes are awesome but too few and far between.
52. A Most Violent Year (2014)
R | 125 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.
Director: J.C. Chandor | Stars: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola
Votes: 77,497 | Gross: $5.74M
Well acted, well constructed and well scripted, if A Most Violent Year was even slightly fun to watch, it might've been one of the greatest films of all time.
53. Godzilla (2014)
PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The world is beset by the appearance of monstrous creatures, but one of them may be the only one who can save humanity.
Director: Gareth Edwards | Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe
Votes: 440,245 | Gross: $200.68M
Gareth Edwards' Gozilla succeeds as a drama, thanks to great direction and a superb Bryan Cranston performance, but it fails completely as a monster movie. The titular character, just like the most talented actors in the film (Watanabe, Hawkins and Cranston), is secondary to the generic, boring and utterly superfluous military main character, and the film slips into cliche without a single satisfying monster fight. After two infuriating teases, the climactic fight is shot in almost total darkness without any way of telling what is happening. Four stars for the first half, barely two for the rest.
54. Neighbors (I) (2014)
R | 97 min | Comedy
After they are forced to live next to a fraternity house, a couple with a newborn baby do whatever they can to take them down.
Director: Nicholas Stoller | Stars: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Lisa Kudrow
Votes: 329,152 | Gross: $150.16M
A delightful premise that unfolds into an implausible plot full of low-brow stoner humour, vain pop culture reference and a half dozen scenes shoehorned into the film in an attempt to create a more meaningful story.
55. A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
R | 114 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.
Director: Scott Frank | Stars: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, Boyd Holbrook
Votes: 127,251 | Gross: $26.31M
A Walk Among the Tombstones has its moments, including a powerful final act, but its blatantly imitative direction style, genre cliches and formulaic story arc mean that its ultimately just another forgettable action thriller to add to Neeson's resume.
56. Cake (II) (2014)
R | 102 min | Drama
The acerbic, hilarious Claire Bennett becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group. As she uncovers the details of Nina's suicide and develops a poignant relationship with Nina's husband, she also grapples with her own, very raw personal tragedy.
Director: Daniel Barnz | Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington
Votes: 38,857 | Gross: $1.87M
Despite a standout performance from Jennifer Aniston and scene-stealing work from Anna Kendrick, Cake can be as tedious and endless as the chronic pain depicted on screen.
57. The Judge (2014)
R | 141 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Big-city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth; along the way he reconnects with his estranged family.
Director: David Dobkin | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton
Votes: 201,295 | Gross: $47.12M
The Judge is an insultingly, blatantly expository screenplay, wrapped around every drama cliché imaginable. The acting is average - Downey Jr. for the most part plays a less interesting Tony Stark, Duvall does nothing particularly special, Farmiga and Thornton feel like they are merely filling space. The true and only standout is Vincent D'Onofrio, who gives an Oscar-worthy performance. The court scenes have no life compared to far superior films. The film is far too long, with at least half an hour of superfluous content. As a film it is poor, but as a law drama it is insulting.
58. White Bird in a Blizzard (2014)
R | 91 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
In 1988, a teenage girl's life is thrown into chaos when her mother disappears.
Director: Gregg Araki | Stars: Shailene Woodley, Eva Green, Christopher Meloni, Angela Bassett
Votes: 29,981 | Gross: $0.03M
A colossal disappointment, White Bird in a Blizzard tries to combine the awakenings of American Beauty, the thrills of Gone Girl and the teenage drama of Juno, and the result is a directionless mess that not even the talents of Eva Green, Christopher Meloni and Shailene Woodley can salvage.
59. The Two Faces of January (2014)
PG-13 | 96 min | Crime, Mystery, Romance
A thriller centered on a con artist, his wife, and a stranger who flee Athens after one of them is caught up in the death of a private detective.
Director: Hossein Amini | Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Bevan
Votes: 33,632 | Gross: $0.51M
Though it unites some beautiful cinematography with the superb acting talents of Viggo Mortensen, The Two Faces of January falls apart on its paper-thin and ever-changing script
60. Enemy (2013)
R | 91 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
Votes: 214,841 | Gross: $1.01M
Enemy feels like Denis Villeneuve on an acid trip screaming directions to his team, and the resulting weirdness gets in the way of it being any good. The film's cinematography and Gyllenhaal's performance were the only saving grace in what was the most glacially paced 90 minute film I've ever watched. The whole film feels lazy and unsubstantiated because Gyllenhaal's two characters are indistinguishable. The ending was a nice touch but didn't salvage 85 minutes of crap preceding it. You could literally cut three scenes out of this movie, put them on Jake Gyllenhaal's highlights reel, and bin the rest. A huge disappointment.
61. The Monuments Men (2014)
PG-13 | 118 min | Comedy, Drama, War
An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked to rescue art masterpieces from German thieves and return them to their owners.
Director: George Clooney | Stars: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett
Votes: 141,021 | Gross: $78.03M
George Clooney's well intentioned film has a great premise and solid cast, but it fails to hook the viewer in to keep you through the dull parts.
62. Into the Woods (2014)
PG | 125 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.
Director: Rob Marshall | Stars: Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt
Votes: 147,952 | Gross: $128.00M
Into the Woods feels like a fairy tale being told by someone's drunken and immature uncle, with a stressed out mother doing damage control and censoring the most blatant parts as he goes. Director Rob Marshall should have chosen between darkness and child-friendly, because the film is a terrible balancing act. The music, screenplay and performances (save Johnny Depp and perhaps Anna Kendrick) are shallow and unmemorable.
63. Lucy (I) (2014)
R | 89 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
Director: Luc Besson | Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked
Votes: 533,651 | Gross: $126.66M
Featuring two of the most likable actors in the profession, stunning visuals and one of the stupidest myths about humanity, Lucy is nothing more than a money-printer aimed at idiots.
64. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
PG-13 | 144 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Bilbo and company are forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett
Votes: 571,156 | Gross: $255.12M
Poorly constructed and drenched in CGI, the final Hobbit is filled with cringeworthy dialogue, actors going through the motions, unresolved character arcs and painfully stupid characters. Shamelessly imitating the Lord of the Rings in look, sound and feel, this final film is to be avoided at all costs.
65. God's Pocket (2014)
R | 88 min | Crime, Drama
A blue collar worker tries to cover things up when his stepson is killed in a suspicious accident, but a local reporter senses that something's amiss.
Director: John Slattery | Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christina Hendricks, Richard Jenkins, John Turturro
Votes: 12,380 | Gross: $0.10M
What could and should have been a thrilling conspiracy/class-race war unfolds into a meandering 88 minutes of horse dung, featuring Richard Jenkins humping a grieving mother and the shamefully wasted Phillip Seymour Hoffman trying to buy a coffin. Unfunny, underwhelming and with flat characters and an uneventful script, God's Pocket is a film about community in the vein of Ben Affleck's earlier films, but a community with no appeal at all.
66. Palo Alto (2013)
R | 100 min | Drama
An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and self-destruction that centers around a shy young girl on the cusp of an illicit relationship with her soccer coach.
Director: Gia Coppola | Stars: Emma Roberts, James Franco, Jack Kilmer, Zoe Levin
Votes: 31,111 | Gross: $0.75M
A contender for worst film ever made that genuinely tried to be a film, Palo Alto follows four of the most bland and boring teenagers I've ever seen. I neither sympathised with their plights nor cared for their successes. April is supposedly the class virgin (a fact mentioned an hour and twenty minutes into the film), torn between her teacher and the sweet stoner Teddy (they have all of 2 scenes together). Emily offers sexual favours to every boy who crosses her path....and that's literally it. Its not even a story. The narrative is one of the dullest and worst paced I've ever seen, with plot points weaving in and out without any clear relevance. James Franco cracks a joke about an hour in and its literally one of two highlights in the film. The acting is flat and the editing horrendous. I would rather subject myself to a Transformers marathon than subject myself to this film again, which I'd sooner believe this film was made by Tommy Wiseau (The Room) than anyone from the Coppola clan.
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