50 Most Anticipated 2014
by PoisonKeyblade | created - 27 Dec 2013 | updated - 27 Dec 2013 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
PG | 107 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.
Director: James Bobin | Stars: Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Steve Whitmire
Votes: 37,037 | Gross: $51.18M
The 2011 Muppets reignited my interest in the brand as a whole, proving that there was plenty of life left in the long-running series. While it’s rather unfortunate that part 2 won’t see the return of Jason Segel or Amy Adams, the same creative team is still in place and so is my confidence that there are plenty of great Muppets stories left to tell.
2. 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: 502,806 | Gross: $337.14M
The Hunger Games series is probably my favorite book series right next to Harry Potter, so the first part of the final installment is definitely going to be good. I’m not sure at what point they will split the two films, but if anything required two parts to tell, it’s Mockingjay.
3. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
PG-13 | 142 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones.
Director: Marc Webb | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti
Votes: 537,799 | Gross: $202.85M
This reboot series of Spider-Man originally seemed like an odd idea, especially when not much time had passed between Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man. The first movie proved to be a huge success and was one of my favorite action films to come out of the Marvel brand. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are a dream team. The new additions to the cast will hopefully add to the story, although it’s kind of unfortunate that Shailene Woodley’s Mary Jane Watson was completely excised.
4. 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: 329,358 | Gross: $150.16M
Seth Rogen + Zac Efron = an equation I never would have thought of but somehow is totally brilliant. The red band trailer teases just enough to be memorable around every bend. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for my most anticipated comedy of 2014.
5. 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: 401,072 | Gross: $124.87M
Here’s another YA book I’ve never touched, but the presence of Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley makes it a must-see. From what I’ve heard, the book is exceptionally well-written, so hopefully it works as a film. Director Josh Boone’s only other credit is the 2012 film Stuck In Love, but he might just be an up-and-comer to keep on your radar.
6. 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: 406,011 | Gross: $191.72M
21 Jump Street is probably Channing Tatum’s best film, and this sequel will settle the score once and for all in determining whether the concept works as a franchise. The original team is all back in place, and while I doubt there will be anything as epic as the Johnny Depp cameo in the first flick, I’m holding out hope for something memorable.
7. The Green Inferno (2013)
R | 100 min | Adventure, Horror
A group of student activists travels to the Amazon to save the rain forest and soon discover that they are not alone, and that no good deed goes unpunished.
Director: Eli Roth | Stars: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Aaron Burns, Kirby Bliss Blanton
Votes: 49,410 | Gross: $7.19M
A new Eli Roth movie is reason enough to get excited. Hostel, Cabin Fever, and Hostel Part 2 are instant classics as far as I’m concerned. I’m also kind of loving the fact that Green Inferno draws major inspiration from Cannibal Holocaust.
8. 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: 745,023 | Gross: $233.92M
The best cast of any X-Men movie means it will be pretty much impossible to mess this one up. The trailer is one of the best I’ve seen anytime, ever, so as long as this follows First Class in terms of quality, then I’ll be content.
9. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013)
Not Rated | 117 min | Drama
A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.
Director: Lars von Trier | Stars: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf
Votes: 131,510 | Gross: $0.79M
Lars von Trier is a special kind of crazy director that does things his way, no matter what. Nymphomaniac looks to be no different – it’s a film completely centered around one woman’s sexual experiences throughout her life. Also the movie has been described as a “sex epic.” If that’s not intriguing, then I don’t know what is.
10. Tusk (I) (2014)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Horror
A brash and arrogant podcaster gets more than he bargained for when he travels to Canada to interview a mysterious recluse... who has a rather disturbing fondness for walruses.
Director: Kevin Smith | Stars: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez
Votes: 63,140 | Gross: $1.82M
Kevin Smith’s other horror film, Red State, managed to completely divert expectations around every bend, so I expect no different from Tusk. Justin Long does horror better than any other genre (see: Jeepers Creepers) but on the other hand Haley Joel Osment hasn’t had any major film roles recently as of late. This could easily be terrible, but using Human Centipede as an inspiration can’t be a bad thing, right?
11. Cooties (2014)
R | 88 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
A mysterious virus hits an isolated elementary school, transforming the kids into a feral swarm of mass savages. An unlikely hero must lead a motley band of teachers in the fight of their lives.
Directors: Jonathan Milott, Cary Murnion | Stars: Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, Jack McBrayer
Votes: 28,546 | Gross: $0.06M
Ian Brennan and Leigh Whannell are two of the best writers working in Hollywood, so knowing Cooties is hatched from the mind of these two geniuses doesn’t make it hard to get excited for this. Throw in Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson and Cooties is immediately one of the must-see horror films coming out in 2014.
12. Divergent (2014)
PG-13 | 139 min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.
Director: Neil Burger | Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney
Votes: 488,904 | Gross: $150.95M
I haven’t read the YA book the film is based on (that’s next on my list after Warm Bodies), but Divergent looks like a solid film. The cast was what immediately caught my eye, and the production quality from the trailer indicates we might be in for a real treat.
13. 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: 148,024 | Gross: $128.00M
A musical about fairy tale characters? Count me in.
14. Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)
R | 108 min | Comedy, Crime
Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.
Director: Sean Anders | Stars: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Jennifer Aniston
Votes: 184,794 | Gross: $54.45M
The sequel to one of the best comedies of the decade has a lot riding on it, and a new director can often spell trouble. Thankfully, the cast is all back but that doesn’t necessarily indicate the type of quality we can expect. As long as we don’t get a complete rehash of the same plot, I don’t see this not being a great film.
15. 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: 1,273,082 | Gross: $333.18M
Chris Pratt leads an all-star cast in one of Marvel’s most peculiar films to date. James Gunn is a fun and smart director, so hopefully he can provide another worthy entry into the Marvel cannon and not follow the footsteps of Iron Man 2 (the worst Marvel film in my opinion).
16. The Maze Runner (2014)
PG-13 | 113 min | Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.
Director: Wes Ball | Stars: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Votes: 509,519 | Gross: $102.43M
The release was pushed back, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of this young adult adaption. What I’m most interested in seeing is how well Dylan O’Brien will carry a film as the lead and if it will see similar success to The Hunger Games.
17. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
R | 125 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey.
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson | Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, Eloise Mumford
Votes: 335,703 | Gross: $166.17M
Like pretty much everyone else, I read (and loved) the book. Sure, they weren’t about to cast Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart even though the book was originally a Twilight fan fiction, but I was really digging the choice of Charlie Hunnam. Jamie Dornan is very in line with what I imagined for Christian Grey, though Dakota Johnson is another story. Hopefully director Sam Taylor-Johnson can deliver something more substantially interesting than the mostly eventless book.
18. 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: 170,459 | Gross: $13.76M
It feels like I’ve been waiting a millennium to see a proper follow-up to Sin City. If this sequel is more Sin City and less The Spirit, I think everyone will love it. Plus, more Lady Gaga? After Machete Kills, I’m anxious to see her doing more film projects.
19. 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: 898,919 | Gross: $259.77M
Another Marvel movie! The follow-up to 2011′s Chris Evans vehicle has pretty much everything going for it. Check out the trailer and see all you need to know about The Winter Soldier.
20. Maleficent (2014)
PG | 97 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child could be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.
Director: Robert Stromberg | Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville
Votes: 400,171 | Gross: $241.41M
The concept of Maleficent definitely interested me, but it wasn’t until I saw the stunning teaser trailer that it really solidified its spot on here. Angelina Jolie is looking quite flawless as the evil Maleficent, and the look of the movie is just in line with the animated Sleeping Beauty. The summer release is odd, but Disney must have a lot of confidence in this one.
21. Noah (2014)
PG-13 | 138 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Noah is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.
Director: Darren Aronofsky | Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson
Votes: 267,015 | Gross: $101.20M
I’m far from being a hugely religious person, but it’s hard not to get excited for Noah. Aronofsky is one of the best directors working in film today. Plus, a Perks reunion via Emma Watson and Logan Lerman sounds kind of perfect.
22. Flight 7500 (2014)
PG-13 | 80 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Flight 7500 departs Los Angeles International Airport bound for Tokyo. As the overnight flight makes its way over the Pacific Ocean during its ten-hour course, the passengers encounter what appears to be a supernatural force in the cabin.
Director: Takashi Shimizu | Stars: Leslie Bibb, Ryan Kwanten, Amy Smart, Jamie Chung
Votes: 17,154
Another year, another unknown release date for Shimizu’s 7500. Will this ever see the light of day? The trailer is still available to watch, and it’s a fantastic moody one at that. Give this an October release date and call it a day.
23. Horns (2013)
R | 120 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his forehead.
Director: Alexandre Aja | Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson
Votes: 88,002 | Gross: $0.16M
Danielle Radclife has already proven that horror is a great look for him (see: The Woman in Black), and Alexandre Aja is one of the best horror directors around. I’ve never read the Horns novel, but I’m pretty confident that this is going to be a great one.
24. 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: 116,633 | Gross: $23.22M
The director of the Resident Evil series + Kit Harington + Emily Browing = a recipe for success.
25. 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: 886,382 | Gross: $59.10M
A new Wes Anderson movie sounds good on basically every level, especially with a cast like this. If the trailer is an indication of the style, this one feels more Royal Tenenbaums than Moonrise Kingdom.
26. Jupiter Ascending (2015)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A young woman discovers her destiny as an heiress of intergalactic nobility and must fight to protect the inhabitants of Earth from an ancient and destructive industry.
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski | Stars: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean
Votes: 194,520 | Gross: $47.39M
The Wachowskis have been making daring and different films for decades now and yet they go mostly under the radar with the general public. With the diverse casting, Jupiter Ascending just might be the breakout hit that Cloud Atlas should have been.
27. 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: 468,788 | Gross: $208.55M
If James Franco and director of Rise (Rupert Wyatt) were both returning, my anticipation for this sequel would be much much higher. Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of the best films of 2011 and ended with an unclear indication of where the series might go from there. Hopefully Dawn is even halfway as good as Rise.
28. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)
R | 107 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Alice returns to where the nightmare began: The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts
Votes: 100,943 | Gross: $26.83M
The conclusion to the long-running Resident Evil series is one I’ve been looking forward to for years now. The last film, Retribution, brought back many of the original characters from the first movie and also integrated new characters and more video game characters that had yet to feature in any films. If RE6 follows the trend, it will hopefully deliver on the conclusion fans want to see and close out the series with a big bang.
29. Dark Places (2015)
R | 113 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Libby Day was only eight years old when her family was brutally murdered in their rural Kansas farmhouse. Almost thirty years later, she reluctantly agrees to revisit the crime and uncovers the wrenching truths that led up to that tragic night.
Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner | Stars: Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Chloë Grace Moretz
Votes: 47,789
Nicholas Hoult and Chloe Grace Moretz are quickly establishing themselves as niche actors that can do just about anything. The fact that they are both starring here, in material from a Gillian Flynn novel, speaks volumes about just how diverse they are willing to pick their projects.
30. The Giver (2014)
PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
In a seemingly perfect community without war, pain, suffering, differences or choices, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man, the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.
Director: Phillip Noyce | Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift
Votes: 125,604 | Gross: $45.09M
The sci-fi storyline immediately peaked my interest, and the inclusion of two of my favorite actors (Alexander Skarsgard and Meryl Streep) really ups the ante.
31. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
R | 84 min | Horror, Mystery
When a young man becomes the target of a malevolent entity, he must uncover its true intentions before it takes complete control of him.
Director: Christopher Landon | Stars: Andrew Jacobs, Jorge Diaz, Gabrielle Walsh, Gloria Sandoval
Votes: 45,450 | Gross: $32.46M
2014 will give us two new Paranormal Activity films, and while I’m excited for #5 as well, The Marked Ones is undoubtedly more intriguing. This marks the first time the series has strayed from the main storyline, but as the trailer reveals it will still link up to the whole Katie plot in some way. Luckily we get this flick sooner rather than later as it marks one of the first releases of the new year.
32. Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2013)
PG | 88 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Shortly after a tornado rips through her Kansas home, Dorothy returns to Oz to save her friends from a villainous jester.
Directors: Will Finn, Daniel St. Pierre | Stars: Lea Michele, Kelsey Grammer, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi
Votes: 6,263 | Gross: $8.46M
Oz has a soft spot in my heart, as I’ve made it a mission to see basically every iteration of the world in existence. Dorothy’s Return, hopefully, will be a solid addition to the franchise. I’ve always felt that the world of animation needed to delve more into the worlds of Baum. Lea Michele’s vocals promise that at least the soundtrack will deliver the goods. If the trailer is any indication, the animation is simply stunning.
33. The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2014)
PG-13 | 98 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
40 years after the first haunting at Eel Marsh House, a group of children evacuated from WWII London arrives, awakening the house's darkest inhabitant.
Director: Tom Harper | Stars: Helen McCrory, Jeremy Irvine, Phoebe Fox, Leanne Best
Votes: 29,573 | Gross: $26.50M
The Woman in Black delivered a memorable villain and a haunting ending coupled with some of the most atmospheric scare scenes in recent memory. Those are some big shoes to fill for Angel of Death, but I feel pretty confident that director Tom Harper (who has done some really great episodes of the vastly underrated Misfits) will deliver on the goods. Jeremy Irvine is also fascinating to watch onscreen; it will be interesting to see a turn different from War Horse.
34. See No Evil 2 (2014)
R | 90 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
An undertaker's birthday party is interrupted when Jacob Goodnight rises from the dead and proceeds to terrorize her and her friends.
Directors: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska | Stars: Glenn Jacobs, Danielle Harris, Katharine Isabelle, Chelan Simmons
Votes: 7,630
See No Evil, surprisingly, was one of my favorite horror films back in the heyday of 2006. Glenn Jacobs (Kane) was menacing and delivered some wickedly evil kills. I’m hoping for more of the same from See No Evil 2, if not a bit more in large part to the new additions of scream queens Danielle Harris and Katharine Isabelle.
35. 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: 501,891 | Gross: $222.53M
It’s Marvel. It’s Disney. It’s animated. I’m anticipating perfection, and anything less would be an utter disappointment.
36. The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence) (2015)
Not Rated | 102 min | Comedy, Horror
Taking inspiration from The Human Centipede films, the warden of a notorious and troubled prison looks to create a 500-person human centipede as a solution to his problems.
Director: Tom Six | Stars: Dieter Laser, Laurence R. Harvey, Eric Roberts, Robert LaSardo
Votes: 19,739
The first two films are repulsive, horrific, and truly entertaining. I expect nothing less from the third (and final) installment in Six’s trilogy of terror.
37. Veronica Mars (2014)
PG-13 | 107 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Years after walking away from her past as a young private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown, just in time for her high school reunion, in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who's embroiled in a murder mystery.
Director: Rob Thomas | Stars: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Christopher Lowell
Votes: 54,659 | Gross: $3.32M
Confession: I’ve never watched Veronica Mars before. However, I fully plan on catching up on the series well before the feature length version hits theaters. If it’s even half as interesting and quirky as I’ve heard, I’m sure I’ll love it. Regardless, I think this project sounds too amazing for words and the cast alone is just mind-boggling.
38. Minions (2015)
PG | 91 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a supervillain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
Directors: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin | Stars: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Pierre Coffin
Votes: 259,608 | Gross: $336.05M
It’s a Despicable Me spin-off with some really great actors involved, so did you NOT expect Minions to be on here?
39. 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: 571,658 | Gross: $255.12M
The final part in Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings franchise has got to go out with a bang, especially with all the returning cast. The ending of The Hobbit novel is particularly epic, but this extended film will supposedly add lots to the finale.
40. The Boxtrolls (2014)
PG | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator.
Directors: Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi | Stars: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade
Votes: 61,495 | Gross: $50.84M
The animators behind Coraline and Paranorman come back for another fantasy/horror/children’s epic. If the premise doesn’t catch your eye, maybe the well-done trailer actually will. Yet again Laika shows no boundaries in commenting on what is considered to be an “ordinary family”… I personally loved the inclusion of a gay character as one of the major points in Paranorman. Here’s hoping we get more original and exciting animation like this in the years to come that take the genre and flip it on its head entirely.
41. Leprechaun: Origins (2014)
R | 90 min | Fantasy, Horror
Not related to the previous Leprechaun films. Two young couples backpacking through Ireland discover that one of Ireland's most famous legends is a terrifying reality.
Director: Zach Lipovsky | Stars: Dylan Postl, Stephanie Bennett, Andrew Dunbar, Melissa Roxburgh
Votes: 6,514
The Leprechaun horror franchise is one of my all-time favorites, mostly thanks to the delightful performances from Warwick Davis. With Davis gone, though, I’m not sure what to expect from this new Leprechaun flick. It’s done by WWE pictures, who made the stellar See No Evil, so it at least has a few things going for it. It remains to be seen whether or not this will get a theatrical release, but I wouldn’t bet on it considering the Leprechaun franchise hasn’t gone to theaters in basically two decades.
42. 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: 547,008 | Gross: $85.82M
The stellar cast and great director really solidify this as one to look out for. The thought of Logan and Shia being in the same film gives me goosebumps.
43. 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: 388,270 | Gross: $257.76M
It’s a LEGO movie. The trailer is fantastic and the lead is voiced by Chris Pratt. What more could you want?
44. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
PG | 98 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Larry spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it's gone forever.
Director: Shawn Levy | Stars: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke
Votes: 135,475 | Gross: $113.75M
While Night at the Museum 2 wasn’t fully what it could have been, it was still a worthy sequel to the first installment. Hopefully director Shawn Levy can close out his Night trilogy rather strongly, although at this point it remains unclear what exactly the movie will even be about. I’m still holding out hope for all three Jonas Brothers to return as the cherubs, just because.
45. That Awkward Moment (2014)
R | 94 min | Comedy, Romance
Three best friends find themselves where we've all been - at that confusing moment in every dating relationship when you have to decide "So...where is this going?"
Director: Tom Gormican | Stars: Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Imogen Poots
Votes: 107,423 | Gross: $26.05M
Zac Efron’s first raunchy R-comedy… I’m in! If the red band trailer is any indication, this should be fun with some heart. I’m thinking in the vein of 21 & Over, a totally underrated comedy from last year that I loved.
46. Careful What You Wish For (2015)
R | 91 min | Drama, Thriller
A guy gets more than he bargained for after entering into an affair with the wife of an investment banker. Soon, a suspicious death and substantial life insurance policy embroil him in a scandal.
Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum | Stars: Nick Jonas, Kiki Harris, David Sherrill, Graham Rogers
Votes: 8,666
It’s Nick Jonas, in his feature film acting debut. Not Camp Rock, like REAL film. The plot, director, and everything else is totally irrelevant because… Nick Jonas. Although speaking of the director, I totally dug Aquamarine back in the day.
47. Freaks of Nature (2015)
R | 92 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
In the town of Dillford, humans, vampires and zombies were all living in peace - until the alien apocalypse arrived. Now three teenagers - one human, one vampire, and one zombie - have to team up to figure out how to get rid of the visitors.
Director: Robbie Pickering | Stars: Nicholas Braun, Mackenzie Davis, Josh Fadem, Denis Leary
Votes: 13,370
How can you read that plotline and not be the slightest bit intrigued? Sure, it could easily be a hot mess. It’s hard to get comedy and horror together and perfectly in sync; few movies have done so successfully. The ones that have been great, however, prove that making a picture within the genre that blends horror and comedy so well isn’t impossible: it’s just hard. Plus, Ed Westwick, Joan Cusack, and Vanessa Hudgens? That alone is a recipe for intrigue.
48. The Book of Life (2014)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Director: Jorge R. Gutiérrez | Stars: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman
Votes: 77,995 | Gross: $50.15M
An animated movie set during Day of the Dead sounds zany and off-the-wall and totally reminds me of a kooky level from Little Big Planet. With Gulliermo del Toro and Channing Tatum, my interest is officially off the charts, especially considering the hole left in my heart for animated flicks now that there’s no Disney/Pixar film for all of 2014.
49. 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: 354,598 | Gross: $6.11M
It’s Seth Rogen. It’s Evan Goldberg. James Franco is starring. ‘Nuff said.
50. Wolf Creek 2 (2013)
Not Rated | 106 min | Horror, Thriller
The outback once more becomes a place of horror as another unwitting tourist becomes the prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-hunter Mick Taylor.
Director: Greg McLean | Stars: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn, Philippe Klaus
Votes: 22,690
I’ve been waiting 9 years for this horror sequel, but the trailer feels right at home and perfectly suits the tone of the first movie. I’m hoping for something a bit better than just a cheap cash-in. John Jarratt is back for more, so I can only hope with him comes some quality entertainment.
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