It’s no secret that some of the most iconic movies to come out of the 2010s were released in the year 2014. From thriller/mysteries to dramas and big superhero franchise films, it’s impressive to see how wide of a range in movies were released that year and how they were each successful in their own right. Whether that be in terms of special effects, screenplays, directing, or cinematography, the impact these films released in 2014 had on cinema was undoubtedly immense.

In 2014, beloved director David Fincher, the mastermind behind the films Fight Club, The Social Network, Mank, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, released perhaps his most iconic movie to date, Gone Girl. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike shine in the movie as Nick and Amy Dunne. Another one of 2014’s most outstanding achievements in cinema is Whiplash, a drama/music directed by Damien Chazelle, who also directed La La Land. The movie centers around the lengths an artist is willing to go to in order to be the best and achieve their dreams. Miles Teller and the great J.K. Simmons give the best performances of their careers playing the roles of Andrew and Terence Fletcher. Here are eight of the best movies released in 2014 that prove what a great year it was for cinema.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 The Grand Budapest Hotel

     Searchlight Pictures

There is nothing quite like a Wes Anderson film and The Grand Budapest Hotel is arguably the director’s best work to date. The screenplay, cinematography, and set design are all so captivating, they’ll leave you still thinking about the film for days after seeing it. Anderson’s films are so stylized and, in particular, his use of symmetry and colors is another key aspect that separates this film from all others. Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray Abraham, Tony Revolori, Owen Wilson, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, and Saoirse Ronan are just a handful of the actors that make up this film’s all-star cast.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Interstellar

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Nolan is one of the most beloved and most interesting directors working today, constantly creating films that push the boundaries in terms of cinematography and technology. He is the genius behind The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Tenet, Dunkirk, and of course the sci-fi/adventure film Interstellar. Academy Award-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star as Cooper and Brand, two of the individuals chosen to search outer space for a planet that could be mankind’s new home. Interstellar was nominated for five Oscars taking home the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Per Looper, Nolan and his crew grew their own corn fields for the film.

6 Captain America: The Winter Soldier

     Marvel Studios

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has dominated film and pop culture for years now and the hype surrounding the Avengers in particular hasn’t seemed to die down. One of the most beloved members of the Avengers is undoubtedly Captain America, also known as Steve Rogers, who is played by the one and only Chris Evans. There is a certain stigma that sometimes comes with superhero movies in that they aren’t looked at as equals in comparison to other genres, but this movie rejects that idea and received great critical acclaim. With a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office revenue of over $700 million dollars, there is no question that Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of the best MCU films to exist.

5 Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

     Regency Enterprises 

As Leonardo DiCaprio once said, over the past decade, Alejandro González Iñárritu has forged his way into the history of cinema with the creation of such incredible films, including Birdman and The Revenant. His film Birdman in particular, though, truly is one of a kind. The acting, cinematography, screenplay, and overall feeling you get while watching this film is unlike anything else. Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, and Emma Stone play such dynamic and interesting characters, allowing them to give some of the best performances of their careers. Birdman stole the show at the Academy Awards in 2015, winning in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Screenplay.

4 The Amazing Spider-Man 2

     Sony

For the past year, it seems as though Spider-Man is all anyone can talk about. The release of Marvel Spider-Man: No Way Home, which brought all three Spider-Man’s, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, together has launched the character to become more popular than ever. The Amazing Spider-Man franchise, which was originally released in 2012, stars Andrew Garfield and his portrayal of Peter Parker. Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx starred in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 alongside Garfield and played two of the most memorable characters seen throughout the entire franchise. This movie was a huge part of pop culture in 2014 and is a staple film to be released during the year.

3 American Sniper

     Village Roadshow Pictures

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the war/action film American Sniper is that it involves two Hollywood legends, Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper. The film follows Cooper’s character Chris Kyle, one of the most accurate and driven snipers in American history, who risks his life to defend his comrades. Kyle is the best at his job, but struggles greatly at being a good husband and father, finding it more challenging than he thought to leave behind his life centered on war. Cooper, who started out as an actor, has evolved into a very successful director with the release of his 2018 version of A Star is Born starring himself and the iconic Lady Gaga. Per EW, Cooper has stated that one of his greatest role models and inspirations while directing was Eastwood, saying that he learned so much from him about what it means to be a good director.

2 Whiplash

     Stage 6 Films

At its core, the film Whiplash is all about how far an artist will go to perfect their craft. Miles Teller’s character Andrew is a student at one of the best conservatories in the country trying to become the greatest jazz drummer he can be. After being chosen for the school’s top jazz ensemble, the terrifying instructor Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons, sends Andrew straight into a downward spiral and turns his love for drumming into an unhealthy obsession that is destined to end in destruction. Damien Chazelle, who also directed La La Land, is the beating heart behind the project. He not only directed but also wrote the screenplay for the film. Whiplash is an incredible film that speaks to a wide variety of audiences, especially young artists.

1 Gone Girl

     TSG Entertainment

Lastly on our list is arguably the most memorable and iconic film to best released in the year 2014, David Fincher’s Gone Girl. Rosamund Pike stars as Amy Dunne, one of the most compelling and cold-hearted movie villains of the decade. When Amy becomes frustrated with her disloyal husband and refuses to settle for mediocrity, she decides to go missing and stage her own murder, making the primary suspect her husband, Nick Dunne played by Ben Affleck. As the audience, we get to watch Amy’s thought process as she fulfills her calculated and elaborate plan, destroying the lives of everyone around her in the process. Her obvious disregard for everyone around her and lack of remorse makes the character even more terrifying. This film is such a wild journey and a must-watch for everyone.