10 most anticipated films of 2014

With awards season winding down, it's time to start looking forward. Though 2013 brought us hits like American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street, it also brought us films that made us question what exactly it takes to make a "hit" film (see: Spring Breakers). Already, 2014 seems promising, even if the slew of films set for release are more often sequels than original concepts.

With films like Maleficent, Noah, and Interstellar on the roster, 2014 is already shaping up to be a year of epic movies and classic retellings. Directors and actors alike seem to be stepping up their game. Whether it's taking on a role unlike one they've done before or Jumping right back into a fan favorite, we're counting down the top ten most anticipated films of 2014.

Honorable mentions go to Robocop, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. Have a film you're excited about that didn't make the cut? Post in the comments below.

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10. Veronica Mars

The film that brought on the Kickstarter frenzy. Seven years after the cancellation of the television show, Veronica Mars fans (and Kristen Bell) are seeing their favorite heroine come back for one final case on the big screen. For years, fans and Bell herself fought with WB execs to see the show come to life in the film medium producers teased them with right before the show's demise.

Nine years after she left Neptune, Veronica (Kristen Bell) is brought back to her hometown after her ex-boyfriend, the charming Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), is once again accused of murder. She leaves behind her job as an attorney and her life with boyfriend Piz (Chris Lowell) to join her friends and family back in Neptune for one last hurrah.

The best part of the film? Not only is it almost entirely funded by donations from fans themselves, executive producer Rob Thomas managed to wrangle in almost every actor who was once on the show for a cameo, including New Girl's Max Greenfield, Don't Trust The B's Krysten Ritter, and Martin Starr.

The film is set to debut on March 14, 2014 in select AMC Theatres.

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09. Godzilla

In this reboot of the infamous Godzilla franchise, the story tells the origin of Godzilla in modern times. While most details of the plot have been kept secret, the film is going to be a reboot of the original films and be based on an origin story.

The film will feature Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston in the lead roles. Godzilla is set to release on May 16, 2014.

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08. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I

While the first installment of the franchise seemed a bit rocky, the Hunger Games series quickly found its footing with the release of Catching Fire. The last film ended with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) being attacked by Johanna (Jena Malone) right before she passed out and a claw drew her up into the sky. Just as she came to, she realized she was no longer in the arena. Scared, she gets up abruptly and starts searching for Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), her anger flaring as she notices Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) standing there instead. She tries to attack Haymitch to make him pay for leaving Peeta behind but is quickly sedated as they tell her, "Katniss, there is no district twelve."

The first installment of the final book picks up with Katniss learning about the rebellion that has sprung up in the districts due to her show of resistance to President Snow and the Capitol in the 74th Hunger Games. Reluctantly, Katniss decides to lead the rebellion, deciding it will be the best course to take for her fallen district.

Meanwhile, Peeta has been taken hostage by the Capitol and is being forced to defame Katniss and the rebels across Panem. When he resists, they take matters into their own hands while they "hijack" him, causing his feeling for Katniss to warp into a twisted reminder of what they once were.

As Katniss tries to decide what she must do, the lives of those around her lie in a precarious balance and she must make the difficult decision to fight the war against Snow or to fall behind.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I is set to release November 21, 2014.

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07. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Though the original Spiderman franchise ended on a dismal note, critics and fans alike have praised the reboot of the superhero's story with The Amazing Spider-Man, even announcing a third and possible fourth sequel already in the works.

The second film picks up after the death of Captain Stacy and the defeat of Dr. Connors. Peter (Andrew Garfield) is struggling with balancing his life as a normal high school student, his relationship with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and his secret identity as Spiderman. After a run-in with old friend Norman Osborn (Dane DeHaan), he discovers that he is being kept under watch by OsCorp. Confused, Peter begins looking into the disappearance of his parents again, trying to put the pieces together.

Slowly, certain details begin coming together. Everything comes to a head when Peter discovers his father's secrets and realizes that all his new threats have one thing in common: OsCorp.

The film features Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reprising their original roles as well as new additions Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti, and Dane DeHaan. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is set to release May 02, 2014.

[ new page = Noah]

06. Noah

Based on the biblical story of Noah's Ark, Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic is stocked with an astounding cast. The film follows Noah (Russell Crowe) as he suffers from visions of a great disaster set to strike the human race. As he confides in an elder, he says that the Creator must be speaking to Noah and that Noah should heed his warnings.

Of course, when news spreads of Noah building an ark to survive a natural disaster meant to wipe out the human race, he faces backlash from his community. Noah simply continues on, doing anything he can to allow his family to survive.

The epic stars Russell Crowe as the titular character, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Anthony Hopkins. It is set to release in March 28, 2014.

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05. 22 Jump Street

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill are at it again in the comedic sequel. Though the duo was originally met with skepticism when it was announced they were in charge of the television show's reboot, the film quickly became a favorite, debuting at number one in during it's opening weekend.

The sequel finds the team moving across the street to 22 Jump Street and graduating from high school as Tatum and Hill's characters must infiltrate a crime ring inside a fraternity. As they get deeper into their covers, however, their friendship and partnership are tested. Not without hijinks, though.

The sequel is set to premiere on June 13, 2014 and features cameos from the first film's cast, including Dave Franco and Rob Riggle.

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04. X-Men: Days of Future Past

In this sequel to the prequel, Days of Future Past presents an ambitious idea to be a followup to both 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand and 2011's X-Men: First Class. The film picks up in the aftermath of both films: Charles in his younger days is older, bearded, jaded, and finally in his signature wheelchair, upset with the way the world has treated him. Charles in our present time is back after being destroyed by the Pheonix and begging Logan (Hugh Jackman) to travel back to save him. The ever-present idea of a human versus mutant war is present and knocking at the door in both timelines; can it be stopped?

The film features a bevy of stars, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen reprising their original roles as Professor X and Magneto respectively. Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Shawn Ashmore (Iceman), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), and Halle Berry (Storm) are among the stars from the original X-Men franchise that are reprising their roles for the reboot.

The film is set to debut on May 23, 2014.

[ new page = Maleficent]

03. Maleficent

Angelina Jolie stars as the titular character, Maleficent, in the telling of the fabled story of Sleeping Beauty through the eyes of the antagonist. Arguably one of Disney's best villains, Maleficent covers the events that caused the villain and "Mistress of All Evil" to become the cruel woman she is today.

However, though the film has been paraded around as a dark and thrilling take on the classic tale from the point of view from the antagonist, the film's second teaser trailer suggests a new plot almost entirely. There is a dialogue between Maleficent and Aurora where she claims, "Aurora, there is an evil in this world and I cannot keep you from it." Is Maleficent's tale suggesting that she was misunderstood the entire time?

The dark fairy tale is set for release on May 30, 2014.

[ new page = Interstellar]

02. Interstellar

While concrete details about the film's plot are being kept under wraps, Interstellar follows a group of space travelers after they discover a wormhole. The group quickly decides to travel through it to push the boundaries of human space travel in a way that has never been done before. The Hollywood Reporter also claimed that the film could "focus on time travel and alternate dimensions," but that most details of the plot were being kept under wraps.

The film is being directed by Christopher Nolan and features Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine. Interstellar is set for a November 07, 2014 release date.

[ new page = Gone Girl]

01. Gone Girl

Amy and Nick Dunne seem happy enough in their marriage. However, when Nick is laid off from his job, he relocates to his hometown in Mississippi and puts an even further strain on their relationship. With the last of her trust fund, he opens up a bar with his sister that provides a decent enough living for the Dunnes. Things take a dark turn, though, when Amy goes missing right before their fifth anniversary. Though Nick quickly becomes a top suspect due to certain incidents leading up to Amy's disappearance, the audience is never really clear on whether he did it or not.

The success of the story comes in the form of it's unreliable narrators: are we to believe Nick or Amy's journal entires? The he-said, she-said marriage comes under fire when things continually get worse for the Dunnes.

The mega-successful novel is hitting the big screen this year - but it may not be the novel you remember reading. Flynn announced that the film will deviate from the book and exact events may not be depicted.

The adaptation stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne and is set for an October 03, 2014 release. The only available photos of the cast are available at Entertainment Weekly.