I went through about four versions of this intro trying to figure out how I wanted to kick off this year’s list. At first, I wanted to reflect on how my worldview has evolved in recent years — how that’s affected the kinds of movies I connect with — and maybe even muse on why I think the overall quality of film has dipped lately. But each attempt spiraled wildly off course, into “edge-of-the-known-universe” tangents I couldn’t reel back in. It was bad, even for me. So, while I failed to land a profound opening statement, at least those failed attempts gave me a decent anecdote to fill this space. It’s cheap, but I’ve made peace with it.
Initially, I thought 2014 was a weak year for movies. But once the dust settled — as it so often does — I realized that the top of this list is as strong as any I’ve ever put together. The upper tier is absolutely stacked: my top eight could each make a legitimate claim to “film of the year.” And even beyond that, the remaining picks are full of personality and staying power.
I also think this might be the most complete year I’ve ever had in terms of coverage. By the time I sat down to rank everything, I’d seen almost everything that mattered, so any omissions here are due to preference, not blind spots. With that said, here are the fifteen films that defined 2014 for me.
15. What We Do in the Shadows
I wrestled with which film would take this final slot, but ultimately, I went with the one that felt the most unique. This absurd New Zealand horror-comedy grabbed my attention in a way few movies do. It’s a fresh, hilarious spin on the vampire genre, packed with energy, charm, and memorable characters. It was just starting its big U.S. theatrical run when I first saw it, but it had already been making waves elsewhere — and I wouldn’t be surprised if, over time, this quirky gem climbs even higher on future lists.
14. Coherence
One of the year’s biggest surprises for me. Despite some rough production values, the story hooked me instantly, and the characters felt right at home in its tense, mind-bending setup. This is one of those movies that works best if you go in knowing nothing — the less you read, the better. Its twists and genre shifts were what made it such a memorable, rewarding watch.
13. The Judge
I put off watching this one for ages because it looked like boilerplate courtroom drama. I was wrong. Robert Downey Jr. is terrific here, but what really sticks with me is the film’s heart. The story — a hot-shot lawyer returning to the small town he thought he’d outgrown — hit close to home for me, having left my own small town years ago. It’s about realizing that maybe you don’t need to leave to become who you’re meant to be, and maybe the place you started is where you were supposed to end up all along.
12. Edge of Tomorrow
Action movies don’t usually leave a deep impression on me, but this one did thanks to its clever premise: essentially Groundhog Day meets alien invasion. Tom Cruise is reliably strong, and Emily Blunt absolutely owns every scene. The film’s “live-die-repeat” structure is fascinating — it makes you constantly wonder how many times the characters have already lived through these scenarios. The final act is a bit more conventional, but overall, it’s inventive, fun, and deeply rewatchable.
11. A Most Violent Year
This one crept up on me. While watching, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it — its muted palette and understated tone didn’t grab me right away. But the more I sat with it, the more it grew on me. The story of a self-made businessman trying to stay honest in a corrupt industry is timeless and compelling. It’s a character study about integrity under pressure, and it left me questioning whether it’s even possible to remain good when everything around you pushes you toward compromise.
10. The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne delivers a phenomenal performance here — one that completely sells the difficulty and complexity of portraying Stephen Hawking. While I would have liked more emphasis on the science itself, the film’s focus on Hawking’s relationship with Jane adds a powerful emotional core. Even if you’re familiar with Hawking’s story, the film’s depiction of perseverance, love, and the human spirit is deeply affecting.
9. Inherent Vice
No one sets a scene quite like Paul Thomas Anderson. From the moment this film begins, you’re immersed in its paranoid, sun-drenched, 1970s haze. Joaquin Phoenix is hilarious and magnetic as a spacey detective stumbling through a chaotic mystery. The humor comes from the characters’ self-important idiocy, and the dialogue is razor-sharp. It’s a film meant to be felt more than dissected — a strange, meandering trip that rewards you if you just go along for the ride.
8. Snowpiercer
I’d heard about Snowpiercer for ages but avoided it, assuming it was some slow, artsy sci-fi film. My brother finally convinced me to watch it — and I was hooked within minutes. The story of humanity’s last survivors on a perpetually moving train is compelling enough, but what really makes the film shine is its structure: each train car is its own world, presenting new challenges, new imagery, and new stakes. The class warfare themes are potent, the characters memorable, and the pacing relentless.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy
This is exactly what I want from a superhero movie: action, humor, and heart in equal measure. The ensemble cast is fantastic, and Chris Pratt proves he was more than ready to headline a blockbuster. It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s endlessly rewatchable — one of the best “popcorn movies” of the last decade. Whether or not it ultimately has the staying power of X-Men: First Class, it’s already earned its place as one of Marvel’s most entertaining entries.
6. Fury
War movies rarely land in my top ten, but Fury is a big exception. The small-scale, character-focused story within the larger scope of WWII really worked for me. Experiencing the conflict through the eyes of a rookie soldier gives the film an emotional immediacy — you feel his fear, confusion, and transformation. The climactic showdown is brutal and heroic, and it captures the courage and sacrifice that a whole generation of individuals actually experienced.
5. Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing here — slimy, disturbing, and yet somehow inspiring. His character is a product of the 24-hour news cycle, exploiting tragedy for profit, and the film pulls no punches in showing how deeply broken that system is. His relationship with Rene Russo’s news producer is a fascinating reflection of our media culture: both characters are doing what they have to do to survive in a world that rewards sensationalism over substance. It’s a disturbing film, but also a strangely motivating one — and one of the most biting commentaries on modern media I’ve seen.
4. Gone Girl
No movie this year sustained a darker, more unsettling tone. David Fincher’s direction is razor-sharp, and the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is chilling. What makes Gone Girl so fascinating is its pair of protagonists — two sociopaths locked in a battle of manipulation, hate, and toxic intimacy. Their twisted dynamic is enthralling, especially as the power shifts between them. I never read the book, so every twist hit me hard, and by the end, I found myself simultaneously horrified and fascinated — and wishing there was even more to watch.
3. Boyhood
It almost feels wrong for this to be “only” #3. The ambition of Boyhood is staggering, and the fact that it works so naturally is even more impressive. I love character dramas, and this is one of the most intimate, authentic ones I’ve ever seen. Patricia Arquette’s relentless determination is inspiring, and Ethan Hawke’s evolution from aimless dad to thoughtful father is deeply moving. More than anything, I love that this film is about ordinary people living messy lives and trying their best — a sentiment that resonates more deeply with me as I get older.
2. Whiplash
I don't think there was a more emotionally-charged movie in 2014 than this. Whiplash is intense, relentless, and unforgettable. The push-and-pull dynamic between J.K. Simmons’ tyrannical conductor and Miles Teller’s driven student is electric, and the film explores the cost of greatness with brutal honesty. The final scene is a masterclass in filmmaking and character payoff. As harsh as Fletcher’s methods are, I can’t help but admire them — no one forced Andrew to stay, and in the end, he chose greatness over comfort. Their toxic, symbiotic relationship is one of the most compelling I’ve seen on screen.
1. Interstellar
I briefly doubted whether this deserved the top spot — until I rewatched it. Then I was reminded why Interstellar isn’t just my favorite film of 2014, but one of my favorite sci-fi films of all time. Its themes — space exploration, human survival, the vastness of time — are things I’m deeply passionate about. Michael Caine’s line, “I’m not afraid of death, I’m afraid of time,” sums up exactly how I feel about life. It’s not death that scares me; it’s the thought of running out of time before seeing what the future holds.
Critics quibbled with the science, but that misses the point. This isn’t a documentary — it’s speculative fiction built on ideas that, while unproven, are plausible. And more importantly, it’s entertainment, designed to spark imagination and wonder. Visually, the film is breathtaking — if I were ranking the best shots of the year, this movie would take all five spots. The characters work, the robots are more charming than expected, and the emotional core hits every note it aims for. Nearly three hours fly by, and I’m in awe from start to finish. Interstellar isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience — one that reminds me why I love cinema.
Final Thoughts
This list represents where my head and heart were at the end of 2014 — and that’s always the point of these posts. Rankings shift over time, and opinions evolve, but these fifteen films capture a snapshot of how I experienced that year in film. Looking back, 2014 was defined by stories about ambition, resilience, connection, and discovery — whether in the relentless pursuit of greatness (Whiplash), the fight to hold onto integrity (A Most Violent Year), or humanity’s drive to explore the unknown (Interstellar).
More than anything, these movies remind me why I love doing this: they’re not just entertainment; they’re reflections of who we are, what we fear, and what we hope for. And if you haven’t seen some of them yet, there’s no better time — each one has something profound to offer.