The top-grossing films of this year are a mixed bag of themes; from Marvel to Minions, and 007 to Furious 7, these are movies that cater for fans of practically any genre. Some are completely reliant on digital computing technology, others rely on real actors flinging themselves around while all hell breaks loose – presumably they needed artist insurance from Howden Group or other experts!
One note – this list includes films that were released towards the ends of 2014, simply because they continued to bring in money into the new year. What will be interesting is whether this list is changed by the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It may only be released on the 17th of December, but it’s highly possible it’ll be in the top ten before the year is out.
1) Jurassic World – $1.6bn
Steven Spielberg was the executive producer for the return trip to Isla Nubar, which has somehow managed to overlook the carnage of 22 years ago to open a theme park housing a genetically modified stealth killing machine – surely nothing can go wrong?
2) Furious 7 – $1.5bn
The seventh instalment of the Fast and the Furious franchise became a poignant one when leading star Paul Walker was killed in an unrelated accident midway through shooting. Petrolheads haven’t got their fill yet – the next in the series arrives in 2017.
3) The Avengers: Age of Ultron – $1.4bn
Fans of US crime drama The Blacklist will have been happy that James Spader’s solemn tones provided the voice of robotic nemesis Ultron, to accompany RDJ, Chris Hemsworth and the rest of the team. No-one ever seems to talk about the mass destruction that numerous towns suffer during this franchise, only that a worse disaster has been escaped by the end.
4) Minions – $1.15bn
A single-celled evolutionary tale of how a spin-off from another set of films can work brilliantly, the Minions are perhaps everyone’s favourite yellow organisms since The Simpsons.
5) Inside Out – $842m
Perhaps the highest-ranked film on the list to receive universal acclaim from critics; indeed, there is even talk of it picking up the Oscar for best film, which would be a first for an animated movie. The five ‘personified’ emotions made this film the third highest-grossing Pixar film.
6) Mission Impossible Rogue Nation – $682m
Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg yet again took on an impossible mission – thereby surely continuing to devalue the term – as they tackled international rogue organization The Syndicate.
7) Fifty Shades of Grey – $569m
Despite being hammered by critics for its acting, script and total lack of chemistry, this ‘erotic’ romance made it into the top ten proving that the buying public takes little heed of reviews.
8) Spectre – $548.5m
James Bond’s latest incarnation, and Daniel Craig’s fourth outing, has received mixed reviews from those hoping for another Skyfall. Scott Mendelson at Forbes magazine said it was the worst Bond in 30 years. However, it still managed to take £52m in its first week, and will surely increase this figure over the coming months.
9) Cinderella – $542m
This Disney romance borrowed many influences and elements from the original 1950 film with a stellar cast including Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham-Carter.
10) Ant-Man – $513m
Another Marvel entrant, starring Paul Rudd as the superhero with an ability to shrink in scale while increasing in strength.