List Rules If you're a real film buff and you saw these gems, vote for the best and teach the rest of us a thing or two about what we missed.
Let's face it, nowadays there are so many movies in theaters that it's almost impossible to see them all. Add to that the films that come out in limited release and Video On Demand and some great films just get lost in the shuffle. What are the best movies no one saw in 2014? We've put together a list of the greatest "unknown" movies that came out in 2014 that you probably haven't seen, but should definitely make time to watch. You might even see some films here that you've already watched and we'd love for you to vote on them.
From critics' favorites like Chef and Boyhood, to action films like The Raid 2: Berandal and Snowpiercer, and stirring documentaries like the Roger Ebert retrospective Life Itself, there's something for almost everyone, no matter what your specific movie taste.While we think these are some of the best movies of 2014, we need your votes to find out if we're on the right track. Do you see a great movie no one saw missing from this list? If so, add it so other movie fans can check it out and vote on it. Want more great movie lists? Check out our collection of Best Movies lists.
list ordered by
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367 118
NightcrawlerJake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton Nightcrawler is a 2014 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy in his directorial debut. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a thief who starts shooting footage of ...more
2
357 125
The Imitation GameKeira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong The Imitation Game is a 2014 historical thriller film directed by Morten Tyldum, with a screenplay by Graham Moore loosely based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. It ...more
3
384 155
ChefJon Favreau, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo Chef is a 2014 American comedy-drama film directed by Jon Favreau. After a public altercation with a food critic, a professional chef (Jon Favreau) quits his job at a popular Los Angeles ...more
4
277 99
eilish added The Theory of EverythingEddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Harry Lloyd The Theory of Everything is a 2014 British biographical coming of age romantic drama film directed by James Marsh and adapted by Anthony McCarten from the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life ...more
5
427 192
SnowpiercerChris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton Snowpiercer is a 2013 science fiction, drama, action film written by Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterson and directed by Bong Joon-ho.
6
218 68
WhiplashJ.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Miles Teller Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle based on his experiences in the Princeton High School Studio Band. Starring Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons, the ...more
7
265 102
St. VincentNaomi Watts, Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy St. Vincent is a 2014 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Theodore Melfi, making his "theatrical feature film debut". The film stars Bill Murray as the title character ...more
8
225 110
John WickKeanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki John Wick is a 2014 American action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. Starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean ...more
9
276 164
BoyhoodEthan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane Boyhood is a 2014 American independent coming-of-age drama film, written and directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, and Ethan Hawke. ...more
10
274 177
BirdmanEmma Stone, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton Birdman or, commonly referred to as Birdman, is a 2014 American black comedy-drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. It stars Michael ...more
11
144 74
WildReese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann Wild is a 2014 American biographical drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, written by Nick Hornby, and based on Cheryl Strayed's 2012 memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific ...more
12
155 123
Into the WoodsJohnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep Into the Woods is a 2014 American fantasy musical drama film directed by Rob Marshall, and adapted to the screen by James Lapine from his and Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning Broadway ...more
argento added IdaJoanna Kulig, Jerzy Trela, Agata Kulesza Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial Ida is a 2013 Polish drama film directed by Paweł Pawlikowski and written by Pawlikowski and Rebecca Lenkiewicz. Set in Poland in 1962, it is about a young woman on the verge of taking vows as a ...more
14
132 108
Million Dollar ArmJon Hamm, Lake Bell, Bill Paxton Million Dollar Arm is a 2014 American biographical sports drama film directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay written by Tom McCarthy. The film is based on the true story of baseball ...more
15
101 84
Owen_Paul_Sloane added A Walk Among the TombstonesLiam Neeson, Ruth Wilson, Dan Stevens A Walk Among the Tombstones is a 2014 American crime drama-thriller film based on a novel by Lawrence Block of the same name, written and directed by Scott Frank. It stars Liam Neeson, Dan ...more
16
93 77
The Raid 2: BerandalJulie Estelle, Iko Uwais, Marsha Timothy The Raid 2 is a 2014 Indonesian martial arts crime film written and directed by Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans; it is the sequel to the 2011 film The Raid: Redemption. The film was released on 28 ...more
17
60 42
argento added A Most Violent YearJessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial A Most Violent Year is a 2014 crime drama film written and directed by J. C. Chandor. The film stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain with Alessandro Nivola, David Oyelowo, Albert Brooks, and ...more
ingrajm016 added PredestinationEthan Hawke, Noah Taylor, Sarah Snook Predestination is a 2014 Australian science fiction film, written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. The film is based on the Robert A. Heinlein short story "—All You ...more
19
94 87
A Most Wanted ManRachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial A Most Wanted Man is a 2013 thriller film based on a novel by John le Carré, written by Andrew Bovell and directed by Anton Corbijn.
20
83 76
PrideJohn C. Reilly Bears is a 2014 nature documentary film about a family of brown bears living in the coastal mountain ranges of Alaska. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey and narrated by John C. ...more
21
106 107
Under the SkinScarlett Johansson, Kryštof Hádek, Paul Brannigan Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial Under the Skin is a 2013 science fiction film directed by Jonathan Glazer, loosely based on Michel Faber's 2000 novel. A mysterious young woman (Scarlett Johansson) seduces lonely men in the ...more
22
50 44
SarahGreene added LockeTom Hardy, Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial Locke is a 2013 British drama film written and directed by Steven Knight. The film stars Tom Hardy, with Tom Holland, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson, Ben Daniels, and Alice Lowe ...more
Inherent ViceJoaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson Inherent Vice is a 2014 American neo-noir comedy-drama film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon. In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry ...more
24
42 45
harrychessman added The GuestDan Stevens, Lance Reddick, Maika Monroe The Guest is a 2014 American thriller film directed and edited by Adam Wingard and written by Simon Barrett. The film stars Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, and Lance Reddick. The film ...more
25
53 61
BelleTom Wilkinson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sarah Gadon Belle is a 2013 British period drama film directed by Amma Asante, written by Misan Sagay and produced by Damian Jones. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Penelope ...more
26
27 26
EmanuelDimitriVolakis added Only Lovers Left AliveTom Hiddleston, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton Only Lovers Left Alive is a 2013 vampire film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, and starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright, Slimane Dazi, and ...more
27
33 38
WarrenMitchell added FrankMichael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Domhnall Gleeson Frank is a 2014 comedy-drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy and Michael Fassbender as the title character. The film premiered ...more
CalvaryBrendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly Calvary is a 2014 Irish drama film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. The film stars Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran and Isaach de ...more
29
69 99
crakedhead added Need for SpeedMichael Keaton, Dakota Johnson, Imogen Poots Need for Speed is a 2014 action film written by George Nolfi and to be directed by Scott Waugh.
30
43 61
CitizenfourEdward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, William Binney Citizenfour is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Poitras. A documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden to discuss the NSA spying ...more
31
54 79
The Skeleton TwinsKristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial The Skeleton Twins is a 2013 drama and comedy film directed by Craig Johnson.
32
35 52
Kill the MessengerMary Elizabeth Winstead, Jeremy Renner, Paz Vega Kill the Messenger is a 2014 American crime thriller film directed by Michael Cuesta and written by Peter Landesman. It is based on the book of the same name by Nick Schou and the book Dark ...more
Rosewater Rosewater is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Jon Stewart, based on the memoir Then They Came for Me by Maziar Bahari and Aimee Molloy. It recounts Bahari's 2009 imprisonment ...more
34
31 49
argento added Mr TurnerTimothy Spall, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville Mr. Turner is a 2014 British, French and German biographical drama film, written and directed by Mike Leigh, and starring Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, Paul Jesson, Marion Bailey, Lesley ...more
35
44 73
The HomesmanMeryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Tommy Lee Jones The Homesman is a 2014 American period drama film set in the 1850s midwest produced and directed by Tommy Lee Jones and co-written with Kieran Fitzgerald and Wesley Oliver, based on the 1988 ...more
36
58 97
Dear White PeopleDennis Haysbert, Tessa Thompson, Tyler James Williams Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial Dear White People is a 2014 American satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Justin Simien. The film focuses on black students attending a college in America and stars Tyler James ...more
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19 35
argento added Deux Jours, Une NuitMarion Cotillard, Christelle Cornil, Fabrizio Rongione Two Days, One Night is a 2014 Belgian-French-Italian drama film written and directed by the Dardenne brothers, starring Marion Cotillard and Fabrizio Rongione. It competed for the Palme d'Or in ...more
harrychessman added The RoverGuy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial The Rover is a 2014 Australian dystopian drama film directed by David Michôd. Ten years after a global economic collapse, a hardened loner (Guy Pearce) pursues the men who stole his only ...more
39
19 42
LaggiesKeira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell Laggies is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Lynn Shelton and written by Andrea Seigel. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell, Kaitlyn Dever, Jeff ...more
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32 66
Top FiveChris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union Top Five is a 2014 American comedy film written and directed by Chris Rock. The film, which stars Rock, Rosario Dawson, and Gabrielle Union, was screened in the Special Presentations section of ...more
41
32 67
Get on UpDan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer Get on Up is a 2014 American biographical drama film about the life of singer James Brown directed by Tate Taylor and written by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. The film stars an ensemble cast ...more
42
22 50
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: ThemJessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is the collective title of three films written and directed by Ned Benson. The films star Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy, and is Benson's first feature film ...more
argento added Wild TalesRicardo Darín, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Érica Rivas Wild Tales is a 2014 Argentine-Spanish black comedy film written and directed by Damián Szifron and starring an ensemble cast consisting of Ricardo Darín, Oscar Martínez, ...more
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27 60
Life Itself Life Itself is a 2014 American biographical documentary film about film critic Roger Ebert, directed by Steve James and produced by Zak Piper, Steve James and Garrett Basch. The film is based on ...more
45
27 62
The Town That Dreaded SundownAnthony Anderson, Denis O'Hare, Addison Timlin Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a 2014 American horror film meta-sequel to the 1976 film of the same name. The film is produced by Ryan Murphy of Ryan Murphy Productions and Jason Blum of ...more
46
29 69
Obvious ChildJenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann Obvious Child is a 2014 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Gillian Robespierre. After a drunken one-night stand, stand-up comedian Donna (Jenny Slate) finds out she is pregnant and ...more
47
22 60
serrudoandreina added I OriginsArchie Panjabi, Michael Pitt, Steven Yeun I Origins is a 2014 American science fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Mike Cahill. The independent production premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, ...more
ingrajm016 added These Final HoursJessica De Gouw, Sarah Snook, David Field These Final Hours is a 2013 Australian apocalypse thriller film directed by Zak Hilditch. It was selected to be screened as part of the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2014 Cannes Film
50
17 60
Venus in FurEmmanuelle Seigner, Mathieu Amalric Venus in Fur is a 2013 French drama film directed by Roman Polanski. It is based on the play of the same name by American playwright David Ives, which itself was inspired by Leopold von ...more
