The 30 Best Films of 2014 capture a year where cinema thrived on bold visions, daring experimentation, and stories that stretched the limits of imagination. It was a year when filmmakers balanced intimate character studies with grand artistic ambition, crafting works that resonated both emotionally and intellectually.
From the relentless tension of Whiplash, a bruising meditation on art, obsession, and sacrifice, to the dreamlike wonder of Boyhood, which distilled twelve years of growing up into a single film, 2014 was a showcase of cinematic ambition. Birdman soared with its audacious one-shot illusion and razor-sharp satire of fame, while The Grand Budapest Hotel charmed with Wes Anderson’s signature blend of whimsy and melancholy. On the other end of the spectrum, Song of the Sea enchanted with its luminous hand-drawn magic, and Winter Sleep offered a patient, deeply philosophical meditation on human relationships.
These rankings reflect a careful balance of critical acclaim, audience impact, and cultural significance. They highlight films that not only defined the year but also shaped conversations, challenged perspectives, and reaffirmed cinema’s power to move us in unexpected ways. Taken together, these 30 films prove that 2014 was a year when movies dared to be strange, soulful, inventive, and unforgettable. So, where will your favorite film of 2014 land?
Click below to delve deeper into our rating system and learn all about the inner workings of our algorithm.
Top10nerScore71.214 / 100
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DIRECTOR: John Michael McDonagh
WRITERS: John Michael McDonagh
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Larry Smith
STARRING: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran
GENRE: Drama, Black Comedy
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama
Father James joined the Catholic Church late in life and is a good man, quietly trying to make the world a better place. When his life is threatened during confession, his attempts to reach out to those in the community become increasingly difficult, as dark, foreboding forces close in around him.
Calvary blends mordant wit with spiritual gravity, following a priest given one week to prepare for his own murder. With its windswept Irish landscapes, biting dialogue, and a cast of wounded souls, McDonagh crafts a modern morality play where grace and despair walk side by side toward an inevitable reckoning.
Top10nerScore71.736 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
WRITERS: Masashi Ando, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Keiko Niwa
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Atsushi Okui
STARRING: Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura, Nanako Matsushima, Susumu Terajima, Toshie Negishi, Ryoko Moriyama, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
STARRING (ENGLICH): Hailee Steinfeld, Kiernan Shipka, Geena Davis, John C. Reilly, Grey Griffin, Catherine O’Hara, Ellen Burstyn
GENRE: Animation, Fantasy, Drama
SUB-GENRE: Anime, Low Fantasy, Melodrama
THEME: Coming-of-Age
Anna, a shy 12-year-old girl, is sent to spend time with her aunt and uncle who live in the countryside, where she meets Marnie. The two become best friends. But Anna gradually discovers that Marnie is not quite who she appears to be.
In When Marnie Was There, Studio Ghibli crafts a haunting yet gentle tale of isolation, kinship, and self-discovery, wrapped in the soft glow of watercolor skies. Lush animation and an air of wistful mystery frame Anna’s journey, where the truth about Marnie transforms sorrow into solace and leaves a lingering emotional resonance.
Top10nerScore71.894 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Morten Tyldum
WRITERS: Graham Moore
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Óscar Faura
STARRING: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Period Drama, Biopic
With the help of a team of mathematicians, Alan Turing, an English cryptanalyst, attempts to break the Nazi party’s Enigma machine code in the hopes of ending World War II. Based on the bestselling book “Alan Turing: The Enigma” by Andrew Hodges.
In The Imitation Game, Alan Turing’s intellect collides with the secrecy and prejudice of his era, turning code-breaking into both a national triumph and a deeply personal battle. Cumberbatch delivers a performance of brittle wit and aching vulnerability, making this historical drama as emotionally precise as it is intellectually gripping.
Top10nerScore71.961 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Daniel Ribeiro
WRITERS: Daniel Ribeiro
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pierre de Kerchove
STARRING: Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, Tess Amorim, Lúcia Romano
GENRE: Romance, Drama
THEME: Coming-of-Age, LGBTQ+
Leo is a blind teenager who’s fed up with his overprotective mother and the bullies at school. Looking to assert his independence, he decides to study abroad. However, when Gabriel, the new kid in town, teams with Leo on a school project, new feelings blossom that make him reconsider his plans.
The Way He Looks is a gentle Brazilian coming-of-age tale following Leonardo, a blind teenager discovering love and self-reliance. Bathed in warmth, subtle humor, and a tender sense of place, it celebrates queer identity without cliché, finding beauty in unspoken moments and the small freedoms that quietly transform a life.
Top10nerScore71.961 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Chad Stahelski
WRITERS: Derek Kolstad
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jonathan Sela
STARRING: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Ian McShane, Alfie Allen, Lance Reddick, Willem Dafoe
GENRE: Action, Crime, Thriller
THEME: Vigilante
When sadistic young thugs senselessly attack a lethal ex-assassin, they unknowingly awaken the boogeyman. John Wick soon embarks on a merciless rampage, hunting down his adversaries with the skill and ruthlessness that made him an underworld legend.
John Wick reloads the action genre with balletic gunplay, sleek underworld mythology, and Keanu Reeves’ icy precision. With kinetic choreography, neon-soaked visuals, and a revenge plot that’s as lean as it is lethal, it builds a criminal cosmos where every bullet carries brutal poetry and every scene pulses with dangerous elegance.
Top10nerScore71.987 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Chris Williams, Don Hall
WRITERS: Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson, Jordan Roberts
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Rob Dressel
STARRING: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Maya Rudolph
GENRE: Animation, Science Fiction, Comedy, Action
SUB-GENRE: Computer Animation
THEME: Family, Superhero, Artificial Intelligence
A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Big Hero 6 is a dazzling blend of futuristic action and tender emotion, pairing dazzling robotics with the simple comfort of a hug. Baymax’s gentle wisdom grounds the film’s high-tech thrills, while themes of loss, resilience, and unlikely friendship transform this animated romp into something enduringly uplifting.
Top10nerScore72.507 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
WRITERS: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Trent Opaloch
STARRING: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Thriller
SUB-GENRE: Political Thriller
THEME: Superhero
Captain America joins forces with Black Widow and Falcon to uncover a conspiracy within the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. while facing a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier trades spandex spectacle for a taut political thriller, weaving paranoia, espionage, and razor-sharp action into Marvel’s most grounded entry. With Steve Rogers questioning authority and facing a ghostly foe, it redefined superhero cinema as both thrilling entertainment and timely commentary.
Top10nerScore72.874 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Paul King
WRITERS: Paul King
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Erik Wilson
STARRING: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Nicole Kidman, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Imelda Staunton, Peter Capaldi, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent
GENRE: Comedy, Adventure
SUB-GENRE: Live-Action Animation
THEME: Family
A young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined—until he meets the kindly Brown family…
Paddington is a charming, heartwarming delight that brings Michael Bond’s beloved bear to life with gentle humor and vibrant London streets. Its witty script, impeccable physical comedy, and boundless optimism make it a sweet, clever adventure that celebrates kindness, curiosity, and marmalade while charming audiences of all ages.
Top10nerScore73.403 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Christian Petzold
WRITERS: Harun Farocki, Christian Petzold
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Hans Fromm
STARRING: Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Trystan Pütter
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Period Drama, Psychological Drama
German-Jewish cabaret singer Nelly survived Auschwitz but had to undergo reconstructive surgery as her face was disfigured. Without recognizing Nelly, her former husband Johnny asks her to help him claim his wife’s inheritance. To see if he betrayed her, she agrees, becoming her own doppelganger.
Phoenix is a haunting meditation on identity, survival, and the human cost of betrayal, following Nelly as she navigates loss, deception, and the lingering scars of history. With Hoss’s subtle yet devastating performance and Petzold’s precise, restrained direction, it lingers in the mind like a ghost refusing to fade, quietly demanding reflection.
Top10nerScore73.832 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
WRITERS: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Alain Marcoen
STARRING: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée, Pili Groyne
GENRE: Drama
Sandra returns to work after a bout of depression to find that her co-workers have voted her out of a job in favor of a bonus. Her boss gives her a weekend to convince them all to change their minds, prompting a series of confrontations that test both her ingenuity and her colleagues’ scruples.
Two Days, One Night captures the fragile tension of everyday survival as Sandra navigates coworkers and conscience. The Dardenne brothers’ subtle realism and Cotillard’s magnetic presence transform a simple labor struggle into an intimate, affecting meditation on solidarity, courage, and the moral weight of small acts.
Top10nerScore73.983 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Ava DuVernay
WRITERS: Paul Webb, Ava DuVernay
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Bradford Young
STARRING: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, André Holland, Colman Domingo, Common, Stephan James, Giovanni Ribisi, Omar J. Dorsey, LaKeith Stanfield, Oprah Winfrey, Tessa Thompson, Cuba Gooding Jr.
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Biopic, Political Drama, Period Drama
1965. Civil rights activists James Bevel, Hosea Williams and Martin Luther King Jr campaign for their right to vote. As Luther King Jr leads hundreds of like-minded people along the 54-mile highway from Selma to Alabama’s capital, Montgomery, they are met with violent conflict and brutal opposition.
Selma captures the tension, courage, and determination of the civil rights movement with remarkable clarity. Anchored by David Oyelowo’s commanding presence and Ava DuVernay’s meticulous vision, the film melds historical fidelity with emotional resonance, making every step toward justice feel urgent and profound.
Top10nerScore74.306 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Doug Liman
WRITERS: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dion Beebe
STARRING: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton
GENRE: Action, Science Fiction
THEME: Alien Invasion, Extraterrestrial, Time Loop
Major Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and dropped into combat. Cage is killed within minutes, managing to take an alpha alien down with him. He awakens back at the beginning of the same day and is forced to fight and die again… and again – as physical contact with the alien has thrown him into a time loop.
Edge of Tomorrow merges blockbuster action with clever narrative mechanics, making repetition feel fresh and tense. Its inventive battle sequences, layered character growth, and dark humor transform a high-concept premise into an entertaining and thoughtful sci-fi adventure that keeps audiences invested until the very last loop.
Top10nerScore74.447 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Ruben Östlund
WRITERS: Ruben Östlund
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Fredrik Wenzel
STARRING: Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren
GENRE: Drama, Black Comedy
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama, Family Drama
A picture-perfect Swedish family is on vacation in the French alps. The slopes are spectacular but, during lunch at a mountainside restaurant, an avalanche turns everything upside down. Tomas and Ebba’s marriage now hangs in the balance as Tomas struggles to reclaim his role as family patriarch.
Force Majeure examines masculinity and marital tension with surgical precision, transforming a near-avalanche into a reflection on instinct, ego, and everyday cowardice. Its meticulous composition, understated humor, and quietly devastating insights make it an unnerving yet darkly comic portrait of modern life.
Top10nerScore75.532 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
WRITERS: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Barry Peterson, Pablo Plaisted
STARRING: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Liam Neeson, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day
GENRE: Animation, Comedy, Adventure
SUB-GENRE: Computer Animation
THEME: Family
An ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from gluing the universe together.
The Lego Movie stacks imagination, humor, and meta-commentary into a kinetic adventure that never loses its heart. With inventive visuals, sharp jokes, and a story about creativity triumphing over conformity, it constructs a world that is as emotionally satisfying, thematically rich, and visually spectacular as it is endlessly entertaining.
Top10nerScore75.635 / 100
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DIRECTOR: James Gunn
WRITERS: Nicole Perlman, James Gunn
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ben Davis
STARRING: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan
GENRE: Science Fiction, Adventure, Action, Comedy
SUB-GENRE: Space Opera
THEME: Superhero
Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
Guardians of the Galaxy combines offbeat humor, thrilling action, and genuine heart, centering on a lovable band of outlaws who find family in the stars. Its witty dialogue, vibrant visuals, and playful soundtrack craft a cosmic adventure that entertains, surprises, and charms at every turn while exploring loyalty, friendship, and heroism.
Top10nerScore75.858 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Matthew Warchus
WRITERS: Stephen Beresford
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Tat Radcliffe
STARRING: George MacKay, Ben Schnetzer, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine, Andrew Scott
GENRE: Drama, Comedy
SUB-GENRE: Political Drama, Period Drama
THEME: LGBTQ+
In 1984, a group of LGBT activists decide to raise money to support the National Union of Mineworkers during their lengthy strike. There is only one problem: the Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.
Pride celebrates the unlikely alliance between striking Welsh miners and London’s LGBTQ+ activists, turning solidarity into cinema that is joyous, funny, and deeply moving. With a powerhouse ensemble and political bite softened by warmth, it proves that unity can be as radical, resilient, and transformative as it is human.
Top10nerScore77.545/ 100
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DIRECTOR: Gareth Evans
WRITERS: Gareth Evans
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matt Flannery, Dimas Imam Subhono
STARRING: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusadewo, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Alex Abbad, Oka Antara, Cecep Arif Rahman
GENRE: Action, Crime
SUB-GENRE: Martial Arts, Gangster Film
After fighting his way through an apartment building populated by an army of dangerous criminals and escaping with his life, SWAT team member Rama goes undercover, joining a powerful Indonesian crime syndicate to protect his family and uncover corrupt members of his own force.
The Raid 2 explodes beyond its predecessor’s claustrophobic carnage, unfolding an operatic crime saga steeped in betrayal, loyalty, and blood. Gareth Evans pairs bone-crunching martial arts with sweeping cinematic ambition, crafting a gangster epic where every fight is both brutal spectacle and narrative poetry.
Top10nerScore77.680 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev
WRITERS: Andrey Zvyagintsev, Oleg Negin
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Mikhail Krichman
STARRING: Aleksei Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Roman Madyanov
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Family Drama
In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man’s arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.
Leviathan delivers a devastating portrait of corruption and human fragility, blending stark Russian realism with a narrative that bites like the sea itself. Zvyagintsev captures both the crushing weight of bureaucracy and the intimate suffering of its characters, making this a bleak, beautiful meditation on power, loss, and human resilience.
Top10nerScore78.741 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Dan Gilroy
WRITERS: Dan Gilroy
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robert Elswit
STARRING: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
GENRE: Thriller, Crime, Satire
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Thriller, Neo-Noir
A disturbed loner, living on the fringe of society, muscles his way into the lucrative underworld of tabloid crime journalism. Scouring the city for crimes of a shocking nature, he is aided by a veteran news director looking to raise station ratings.
Nightcrawler exposes the hunger for sensationalism through Lou Bloom’s cold ambition, blending noir-inspired visuals with razor-sharp social commentary. Gyllenhaal’s performance anchors a story that is tense, morally complex, and darkly captivating, leaving viewers questioning the cost of ambition in a world obsessed with spectacle.
Top10nerScore79.343 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
WRITERS: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Richard Bluck, DJ Stipsen
STARRING: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonny Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, Ben Fransham
GENRE: Mockumentary, Black Comedy
SUB-GENRE: Horror Comedy
THEME: Vampire
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
What We Do in the Shadows is a brilliantly absurd mockumentary that stakes its claim in comedy immortality. Waititi and Clement turn the mundane routines of vampire life into a relentless parade of awkwardness, wit, and biting satire, proving that even the undead can be hilariously relatable, absurdly chaotic, and endlessly entertaining.
Top10nerScore79.421 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Damián Szifron
WRITERS: Damián Szifron
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Javier Julia
STARRING: Ricardo Darín, Érica Rivas, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Darío Grandinetti, Oscar Martínez, Rita Cortese, Julieta Zylberberg, César Bordón, Walter Donado, Nancy Dupláa, Luis Mazzeo, María Marull, Osmar Núñez
GENRE: Anthology Film, Black Comedy, Drama
Injustice and the demands of the world can cause stress for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This includes a waitress serving a grouchy loan shark, an altercation between two motorists, an ill-fated wedding reception, and a wealthy businessman who tries to buy his family out of trouble.
Wild Tales detonates with dark humor and vengeful energy, a collection of six impeccably crafted stories that explore human fury at its most outrageous. With razor-sharp wit, chaotic twists, and social critique woven into every frame, it’s an exhilarating cinematic rollercoaster that leaves both teeth and conscience gleaming.
Top10nerScore80.048 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Tomm Moore
WRITERS: Tomm Moore, Will Collins
STARRING: David Rawle, Lucy O’Connell, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Lisa Hannigan
GENRE: Animation, Fantasy
SUB-GENRE: Fairy Tale
THEME: Family
After their mother’s disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales.
Song of the Sea is a breathtaking dive into Irish folklore, where hand-drawn magic and hauntingly tender storytelling illuminate the bond between brother and sister. Its lyrical animation and melancholic melodies carry viewers through waves of wonder, grief, and joy, creating a timeless, heart-stirring adventure.
Top10nerScore80.414 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Alejandro González Iñárritu
WRITERS: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Armando Bo, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Emmanuel Lubezki
STARRING: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan
GENRE: Drama, Black Comedy, Satire
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama
A fading actor best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected.
Birdman juggles absurdity and artistry with cinematic bravado. Keaton shines in a hall-of-mirrors performance, while Iñárritu’s seamless vision, inventive staging, and rhythmic drum score transform backstage chaos into a witty, dizzying, and surprisingly tender exploration of ambition, reinvention, ego, and the human desire to matter.
Top10nerScore80.861 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
WRITERS: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gökhan Tiryaki
STARRING: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen, Demet Akbağ, Ayberk Pekcan, Serhat Kılıç
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama
Aydin is a former actor who runs a small hotel with his wife Nihal, with whom he has a stormy relationship, and his sister Necla who is suffering from her recent divorce. In winter as the snow begins to fall, the hotel turns into a shelter but also an inescapable place that fuels their animosities.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep unfolds like a novel, layering eloquent dialogue, moral tension, and wintry landscapes into a sweeping meditation on ego and empathy. With its hypnotic pace and Chekhov-inspired intimacy, the film transforms everyday conflicts into profound reflections on conscience, class, and human solitude.
Top10nerScore81.905 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Xavier Dolan
WRITERS: Xavier Dolan
CINEMATOGRAPHY: André Turpin
STARRING: Anne Dorval, Antoine-Olivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément, Patrick Huard, Alexandre Goyette
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Family Drama
THEME: Coming-of-Age
A feisty widowed single mom finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her unpredictable 15-year-old ADHD son. As they struggle to make ends meet, Kyla, the peculiar new neighbor across the street, offers her help.
Mommy is a raw, electrifying dive into maternal love and teenage turmoil, with Xavier Dolan crafting a visually daring world through his 1:1 aspect ratio. The chemistry between Diane and Steve, coupled with Dolan’s fearless direction, makes this a heartbreaking, exhilarating portrait of family pushed to its absolute limits.
Top10nerScore81.998 / 100
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DIRECTOR: David Fincher
WRITERS: Gillian Flynn
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jeff Cronenweth
STARRING: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, Neil Patrick Harris, Kim Dickens, Tyler Perry, Patrick Fugit
GENRE: Mystery, Drama, Crime, Thriller
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama, Psychological Thriller
Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has disappeared. Under scrutiny from the police and media circus around him, the spotlight is turned on him. Soon his lies and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?
Gone Girl is a masterclass in tension and manipulation, unraveling a marriage with surgical precision. Fincher’s cold, meticulous style combined with Pike’s magnetic presence creates a suspenseful, unsettling ride through media frenzy, lies, and obsession, making every revelation land with sharp, unnerving impact.
Top10nerScore82.185 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Richard Linklater
WRITERS: Richard Linklater
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lee Daniel, Shane F. Kelly
STARRING: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Family Drama
THEME: Coming-of-Age, Slice of Life
After his parents’ marriage falls apart, Mason moves to Houston, Texas with his mom, Olivia, and sister, Samantha. Over twelve years, snapshots of Mason’s life capture him changing from a child into a young man, as he deals with his parents’ divorce and experiences the highs and lows of growing up.
Richard Linklater’s Boyhood redefines cinematic ambition by following Mason from childhood to adolescence in real time. Filmed over twelve years, it discovers beauty in everyday struggles, shifting relationships, and fleeting joys. The result is a moving portrait of growth, resilience, and the extraordinary texture of ordinary life.
Top10nerScore86.351 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan
WRITERS: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Hoyte van Hoytema
STARRING: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck
GENRE: Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Epic
THEME: Space Exploration
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
Interstellar soars across time and space, delivering a visually stunning odyssey of love, sacrifice, and human curiosity. Nolan’s intricate plotting, Hans Zimmer’s pulsating score, and breathtaking visuals combine to create a cosmic journey that is as intellectually thrilling as it is emotionally resonant, leaving viewers utterly in awe.
Top10nerScore88.121 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson
WRITERS: Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robert D. Yeoman
STARRING: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman
GENRE: Comedy, Adventure
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.
The Grand Budapest Hotel sparkles with Wes Anderson’s playful precision, a confection of pastel colors, eccentric characters, and farcical intrigue. From Zero’s earnest loyalty to Gustave’s theatrical panache, the film composes a whimsical symphony of mischief, melancholy, and miniature worlds that delight in every frame.
Top10nerScore90.335 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle
WRITERS: Damien Chazelle
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sharone Meir
STARRING: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist
GENRE: Drama
SUB-GENRE: Psychological Drama
THEME: Music
Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.
Whiplash hammers the pursuit of greatness into every frame, exploring the dark collision of talent, ego, and relentless expectation. With blistering jazz, precise cinematography, and performances that cut deep, it delivers a searing, unforgettable story of drive, sacrifice, and obsession that ultimately stands as…
The Best Film of 2014
| A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night | 2014 |
| Clouds of Sils Maria | 2014 |
| Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | 2014 |
| Frank | 2014 |
| From What Is Before | 2014 |
| Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem | 2014 |
| Girlhood | 2014 |
| Güeros | 2014 |
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 2014 |
| Inherent Vice | 2014 |
| It Follows | 2014 |
| Kingsman: The Secret Service | 2014 |
| Love & Mercy | 2014 |
| PK | 2014 |
| Still Alice | 2014 |
| The Babadook | 2014 |
| The Fool | 2014 |
| The Normal Heart | 2014 |
| Timbuktu | 2014 |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past | 2014 |
We hope you enjoyed the list and discovered some inspiration for your next movie night.
Happy watching! And make sure to check out our other lists.
But, before you go, don’t forget to…
Agree with our list? Disagree? We want to hear from you!
Share your favorite films, suggest additions to the list, or let us know which films you think should be ranked differently.
The year my son was born. So manygreat movies that year.