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The 15 Highest-Grossing Movies Of 2014

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guardians of the galaxyThis year's box office was one of the worst in recent years.

A lack of really huge summer blockbusters resulted in the lowest domestic box-office since 2007. According to BoxOffice.com, this year's movies made an approximate total gross of $9.9 billion to date.

Superhero movies, family-friendly flicks, and high-profile book adaptations were big hits this year. Marvel did particularly well with several major releases. 

We know "Guardians of The Galaxy" was an unexpected summer blockbuster and that "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" performed well, but which movie reigned supreme at the box office?

We've compiled the highest-grossing movies of 2014.*

*Grosses as of 12/24/14. We will continue to update this post accordingly.

15. "Lucy": $458.9 million

Studio: Universal
Release date:
Jul. 25, 2014
Estimated budget:
$40 million
Domestic gross:  
$126.7 million

The critically divisive sci-fi indie starring Scarlett Johansson as a young woman who could unlock the full potential of the human brain exploded at the box office. It helped that the film made this out to be a female superhero movie starring a popular "Avengers" character. There’s been a lot of anticipation for Johansson to get her own spin-off Black Widow film. "Lucy" proved that even without the rest of the Avengers at her side, Johansson can bring in a large audience. After the film's success, both Warner Bros. and Marvel announced future female standalone movies.

(Source: Box Office Mojo)



14. "The LEGO Movie": $468.1 million

Studio: Warner Bros.
Release date:
Feb. 7, 2014
Estimated budget:
$60 million
Domestic gross: 
$257.8 million

"The LEGO Movie" debuted at number one on the box-office charts with a $69.1 million opening weekend, making for one of the biggest February openings ever.

The universal praise for the movie and a catchy theme song from the talented writer-director team of Christopher Miller and Phil Lord ("Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs,""21 Jump Street") helped prove everything about a LEGO movie is awesome. The film's combination of smart, subversive commentary about conformity, pop culture references and Easter eggs, along with top-notch voice talent (Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, and Elizabeth Banks) all made for an appealing movie for both kids and adults. Warner Bros. already has three sequels in the works including a Batman spin-off. 

With no Pixar film this year, "The LEGO Movie" has a good chance at taking home the Oscar for best-animated film. 

(Source: Box Office Mojo)



13. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles": $477.2 million

Studio: Paramount
Release date:
Aug. 8, 2014
Estimated budget:
$125 million
Domestic gross:  
$191.2 million

Even though the movie was critically panned, it still managed to be a box-office success, showing nostalgia and sheer curiosity are powerful tools for bringing in audience members. The movie also starred Megan Fox.

"Ninja Turtles" debuted at number one opening weekend, knocking "Guardians Of The Galaxy"off its box-office throne with $65.6 million opening weekend. The film went on to be one of the highest-grossing movies of the summer. Paramount has no plans on retiring this franchise; it already has a sequel planned for June 2016.

(Source: Box Office Mojo)



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Mark Wahlberg Lost A Lot Of Money Preparing For His Role In 'The Gambler'

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Screen Shot 2014 12 24 at 11.44.04 AMAs it turns out, Mark Wahlberg did two rather crazy things while preparing to play the lead role in Rupert Wyatt's The Gambler.

As we've known about for the last couple weeks, the actor dropped a surprising and dangerous 60 pounds to play the part - but what you may not know is that he also took part in some very high stakes gambling and wound up losing a whole lot of money. We're talking $45,000. 

Wahlberg was a guest on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon last night promoting the upcoming release of The Gambler, and during his interview the actor revealed that part of getting ready for his performance involved not only a bunch of his own cash, but also the money of some of his friends.

As the story goes, Wahlberg decided to bypass the standard Las Vegas and Atlantic City trip, and instead he flew out for a stay at the Wynn Macau in China - which the star describes as more of a serious gambling establishment instead of a place where the casino will try and liquor you up and squeeze money out of you. At the time, he was traveling with a group of friends who are businessmen in Hong Kong, and he convinced them to give him all of their cash so that he could sit down at the blackjack table. 

While this may sound like a recipe for disaster, the story actually started on a high note. After splitting three aces that he received from the dealer, Wahlberg was then dealt a king, a queen and a jack - meaning that he had gotten blackjack three times and won the aforementioned $45,000.

Most people would choose this as a time to walk away - especially because Wahlberg was playing with his friends' money - but you mustn't forget that this trip was meant to be preparation for The Gambler. After getting his winnings, the actor took his chips, went over to the roulette wheel and - emulating his character - put it all on black. Unfortunately, he wound up having the same kind of luck as his counterpart in the movie too, and lost every cent. Wahlberg's reaction, though, was pretty priceless. The actor said on the show, 

"I was thrilled. I was like, 'Oh my god, it plays out just like the movie!' And these guys were like, 'What did you just do?!' $45,000 in cash!"

The Gambler comes out on Christmas Day. 

SEE ALSO: The Intense, 4-Month Training Eddie Redmayne Went Through To Play Stephen Hawking

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Here's Why A Texas Movie Chain Decided To Show 'The Interview' On Christmas

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The Interview was put back into theaters Tuesday, December 23 when Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a limited Christmas Day theatrical release for the comedy that provoked an international incident with North Korea and outrage over its cancelled release. 

The unusual release will give indie theaters a chance to debut the most talked-about movie in the country. 

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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Hollywood Is Celebrating The Release Of 'The Interview'

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the interview movie poster

On Tuesday, Sony executives decided that they would release "The Interview," in theaters. The movie will be playing as many as 300 select theaters nationwide starting Christmas Day. Wednesday, Sony announced the film was made available online for streaming.

When the controversial movie was originally pulled from theaters, celebrities demonstrated their outrage on Twitter. Now, celebrities are celebrating its release.

"The Interview" stars James Franco and Seth Rogen were among the first to celebrate thanking Sony and recommending people see it in theaters.

Franco Instagrammed the following pictures:

 on

 on

Here's what others are saying:

 Some are having mixed reactions, but still have something to say:

John Stamos is insistent on seeing the movie, even if it's only in select theaters:

 Unsurprisingly, the team behind the movie is celebrating this as a victory.

You can watch "The Interview "right now and join in on the celebrations.

SEE ALSO: Obama Applauds Sony's Decision To Release 'The Interview'

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Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains The End Of 'Interstellar'

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Astrophysicist and StarTalk Radio host Neil deGrasse Tyson saw 'Interstellar' and then came by Business Insider to explain what the ending means – and if it's scientifically sound.

Produced by Will Wei. Additional camera by Devan Joseph.


StarTalk Radio is a podcast and radio program hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, where comic co-hosts, guest celebrities, and scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Follow StarTalk Radio on Twitter, and watch StarTalk Radio "Behind the Scenes" on YouTube.

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The Intense, 4-Month Training Eddie Redmayne Went Through To Play Stephen Hawking

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The theory of everything eddie redmayne stephen hawking

"The Theory of Everything" had a $15 million production budget, but has gone on to earn over $23 million worldwide since its November release.

The film — about the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife — is also already getting Oscar buzz.

Much of the film's success is due to its lead actor, Eddie Redmayne, who landed the coveted role of Hawking in the love story biopic.

But getting into character wasn't exactly easy for the 32-year-old "Les Misérables" and "My Week With Marilyn" actor.

Redmayne spent four months studying Hawking’s life, which he recently explained to Variety was "a process that required so much research, it was like writing a doctoral dissertation."

Since the role called for Redmayne to portray the now 72-year-old Hawking at different ages of his life and stages of his motor neurone disease, the actor watched every single documentary and YouTube video he could find on the man.

“I tried to read literally everything I could get my hands on,” Redmayne told Variety. “It became hilarious, because I would get 40 pages in, and I was like — ‘Eddie, none of these words make any sense to you.’ ” So the actor began to work with a physics teacher at Imperial College London who was able to explain things more simply.

Redmayne also worked with a choreographer, Alexandra Reynolds, for four hours a day. “We put what we knew into picking up a pen, drinking, walking, existing,” Reynolds told Variety, adding that she would film the young actor on an iPad and they would then study the footage.

Stephen Hawking

To better understand Hawking's paralyzing motor neuron disease, Redmayne visited a neurology clinic in London every two weeks, where he spoke with over 30 patients. 

Redmayne compiled his findings on a sheet of paper he carried with him everywhere during shooting. “It was like the Magna Carta,” the film’s director, James Marsh, told Variety. “It became the most important document beyond the script.

Redmayne's physical transformation became more intense when he played Hawking during the later years of his life.

The theory of everything eddie redmayne stephen hawkingMarsh said that Redmayne was "really suffering, but he never complained" when he was forced to sit in a wheelchair for hours with his legs crossed and his head tipped over, in a position that made it harder for him to breathe. 

Large prosthetic ears were used to make Redmayne appear smaller and older.

"When we wanted to get him thinner and smaller, do you know what we did?" revealed screenwriter Anthony McCarten. “You make the ears bigger and the whole body seems smaller.”

Redmayne took every detail seriously, down to his fingernails.

"I learned when he [Hawking] was 21 he decided to grow his nails as an act of defiance," Redmayne told E! Online, adding that he kept his nails long throughout filming despite "only one shot in the film where you see the nails."

Ultimately, the intense mental and physical preparations paid off for Redmayne.

After Hawking first screened the movie, he was moved to tears.

Watch "The Theory of Everything" trailer below:

Read Variety's full interview with Eddie Redmayne here >

SEE ALSO: Stephen Hawking Gave Filmmakers A Priceless Gift After Watching The New Movie About His Life

MORE: Here's How Jake Gyllenhaal Lost 20 Pounds For His New Movie 'Nightcrawler'

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'The Interview' Tops Charts On Streaming Services

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the interview seth rogen james franco

“The Interview” is not only selling out at the independent theaters that were brave enough to release it on Christmas Day, it’s the top downloaded movie on YouTube Movies, Xbox Video and Google Play.

Currently, the R-rated comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Francoas two dimwitted entertainment journalists tasked with assassinating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is the top-selling selection on bothYouTube Movies and Xbox Video, while it has fallen behind “Guardians of the Galaxy” on Google Play, where it was no. 1 as of Christmas night.

The three á la carte streaming services joined designated Sony site (www.seetheinterview.com)  in offering the Sony Pictures Entertainment release on Wednesday for $5.99.

Sales figures are not available.

In theaters, “The Interview” is expected to rake in between $3 million and $4 million by Sunday, while it has already grossed almost $1 million on Christmas Day alone. 

Sony’s PlayStation Video store announced on Wednesday that it would make the comedy, co-directed by Rogen with Evan Goldberg, available in the U.S. “at a date to be determined shortly.” The Playstation Network, however, was down for most of the day on Christmas, along with Xbox Live, and hackers took credit for the disruption.

SEE ALSO: Theaters Were Packed To Capacity For The Christmas Day Opening Of 'The Interview'

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The 15 Best Movies You Probably Didn't See This Year

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The best movies aren't always the ones that are highly publicized.

Our friends over at crowdsourced rankings website Ranker came out with a list of the best movies you may not have seen this year. Check out these 15 movies and you'll be a film buff in no time.

the imitation game benedict cumberbatch

15. The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as British logician and cryptologist Alan Turing, who helped crack the Nazi's "enigma code" and brought the Allies to victory in World War II. Still in theaters, the movie has already received five Golden Globe nominations.

14. Whiplash

A talented jazz drummer is accepted into a prestigious music conservatory where he's willing to do anything to win the approval of the abusive yet respected professor who takes him under his wing while becoming the next drumming great.

13. Into the Woods

When a baker and his wife can't conceive, a witch promises them a child if they bring her three magic ingredients. Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim, and adapted from the original book and film by James Lapine, this tale of witches, girls in red cloaks, and magic beans has become an enchanting classic.

12. A Most Wanted Man

In what became one of his final performances, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a German spy who plots out a trap to catch a well-known Muslim scholar accused of helping finance terrorist operations.

11. A Walk Among the Tombstones

An ex-cop-turned-PI (Liam Neeson) agrees to help a heroin trafficker track down his wife's murderers. In the process he discovers that this is not the first time the perps have committed a crime like this, but it will be the last. Lawrence Block's bestselling novel comes to life on screen in this vengeful thriller.

10. The Raid 2: Berandal

The sequel to "The Raid: Redemption," rookie Indonesian cop Rama goes undercover to overthrow a criminal gang in Jakarta from the inside.

birdman keaton norton

9. Birdman

"Birdman" stars Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton. A washed-up film actor who once played the superhero Birdman tries to reinvent himself as a serious actor by taking a role in a Broadway play. Dealing also with his deadbeat daughter and method-acting co-star makes for a witty and entertaining view.

8. Million Dollar Arm

A failing sports agent heads to India to find a couple of all-star pitchers who can save his career. It's there that he finds two cricket players who, though they know nothing about baseball, can throw a mean fastball, and the agent, played by John Hamm, must help them adapt to the American game.

7. The Theory of Everything

Based on the work of Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" follows Hawking from Cambridge, where he met his wife Jane, to his devastating diagnosis, to his field-altering work in astrophysics. The real Hawking loved Redmayne's performance and even lent his own electronic voice to the film. 

6. John Wick

Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick, a former hitman who comes out of retirement to track down the men who wrecked his life after the death of his wife. Wick's quest for revenge is an adrenaline rush from start to finish.

5. Boyhood

The movie, which took 12 years to make, follows a six-year-old from childhood to puberty to adulthood as he lives through birthdays, vacations, school, and young love. Richard Linklater's beautiful story, nominated for five Golden Globes, is a heartwarming look into a typical American family as viewers watch him literally grow up on screen.

bill murray st. vincent

4. St. Vincent

"St. Vincent" is the movie whose success took everyone by surprise. Vincent (Bill Murray) is the retired grump who cares for the son of his next door neighbor, a single mother, while she works. Despite Vincent's love of drinking and gambling, he forms an unlikely bond with the boy.

3. Nightcrawler

A journalist desperate for work ventures into the world of chasing dangerous crimes, or "nightcrawling," in order to get stories. Jake Gyllenhaal was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in this crime thriller.

2. Chef

Starring Jon Favreau and Sofía Vergara, "Chef" is the funny and heartwarming story of a promising chef who, along with his ex-wife, best friend, and son, tries to make a name for himself in the food truck business among the cutthroat culinary industry in LA.

snowpiercer chris evans axe battle

1. Snowpiercer

After an ice age kills most of the global population, the only survivors, divided by class, are stuck on a train powered by a perpetual motion engine. Set in a dystopian future, "Snowpiercer" is a film about leveling the playing field and taking down the top. Starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Octavia Spencer, this is a film that opens viewers' eyes to what might happen if global warming isn't stopped.

SEE ALSO: The 15 Highest-Grossing Movies Of 2014

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The 15 Best-Reviewed Movies Of 2014

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Boyhood Sundance

"Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Interstellar" may have been among the highest-grossing movies of the year, but what were the best movies of the year?

We've pulled together the best-critiqued movies of the year, according to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 

15. "Snowpiercer" (Radius-TWC): 95%

Stars: Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans, and Jamie Bell
Box Office: $86.8 million worldwide
165 reviews

Did you know Captain America (Chris Evans) was in another popular movie this year?

This year's sci-fi cult favorite can be easily described as "The Hunger Games" on a train, minus the kid killing and archery. Instead, it follows Curtis (Evans) leading a passenger revolt between social classes upon a train to nowhere carrying the last survivors on Earth after a failed global-warming initiative kills off most life on the planet.



14. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (Fox): 92%

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen
Box Office: $746 million worldwide
237 reviews

Director Bryan Singer ("The Usual Suspects") returned to unite his original X-Men trilogy stars (Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and Hugh Jackman) with the new younger crop (Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender), and it made for the year's best-rated superhero film. 

Sure, the film may have had one of the most confusing titles of the year, but it was one of the best X-Men movies yet. It even wiped away the existence of 2006's critically-panned "X-Men: The Last Stand" to the pleasure of many fanboys. Don't forget the addition of fan-favorite mutant Quicksilver (Evan Peters).



13. "The Missing Picture" (Strand): 99%

Narration by Randal Douc, Jean-Baptiste Phou
Box Office: $52,164 worldwide
74 reviews

The documentary follows a man as he looks for a picture taken between 1975 and 1979 by the Khmer Rouge when they ruled over Cambodia. He believes the picture will prove mass murder and searches vainly in archives, old papers, and country villages for the lost object. 

The film won the top prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at this past year's Oscars.



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Stephen Hawking Gave Filmmakers A Priceless Gift After Watching The New Movie About His Life

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The Theory of Everything stephen hawking

Actor Eddie Redmayne, 32, was lucky to get the role of famed physicist Stephen Hawking in the new movie "The Theory of Everything" but it came with a lot of pressure.

Hawking himself , now 72, would be judging the young actor's performance. 

Hawking trekked to London to screen the film ahead of its November 7th release. Before watching the movie, Redmayne told Variety the cosmologist warned: "I’ll let you know what I think — good or otherwise.' I said, ‘Stephen, if it’s otherwise, you don’t need to go into details.'"

When the film screening was complete, Hawking was overcome with emotion (via Variety):

Stephen Hawking

After the lights came up, a nurse wiped a tear from Hawking’s eye. He called the film 'broadly true,' and even celebrated with the film’s director James Marsh and screenwriter Anthony McCarten at a bar where he sipped champagne from a teaspoon. 'He emailed us,' Marsh says, 'and said there were certain points when he thought he was watching himself.'

Hawking was so happy with the movie that he told filmmakers he would allow them to swap the synthetic voice they had been forced to create and replace it with his own, trademarked computerized version. "We spent a lot of time and money trying to reproduce the voice, but we never got it," McCarten told Variety.

stephen hawking the theory of everything

Redmayne was thrilled after he heard about Hawking’s offer, believing it was a stamp of approval on a performance he still questioned.

"You’re just hoping to get there," Redmayne said. "Yet there’s this constant frustration — it’s always underwhelming, because you never quite make it. But with his specific voice, it’s an actor’s dream. You’re one step closer to the truth."

Hawking's "voice," as he explains on his website, is a computer-based communication system that has been provided by Intel since 1997. To learn more about how it works, click here.

"The Theory of Everything" has raked in over $23 million at the box office since its release last month and is already getting Oscar buzz.

Watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: The Intense, 4-Month Training Eddie Redmayne Went Through To Play Stephen Hawking

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Here's The Crafty Way Angelina Jolie Convinced Universal Execs To Let Her Direct 'Unbroken'

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angelina jolie

Angelina Jolie sat down with Tom Brokaw on the "Today" show in February to discuss "Unbroken," the Christmas Day movie she directed about the incredible life of former Olympic runner and legendary World War II hero, Louis Zamperini.

Angelina Jolie tech room tom brokaw"This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done," Jolie revealed.

But how did the actress, with just one director credit under her belt, land the directing gig of the film adaptation of the best-selling book of the same name? 

"I had all the hours of phone calls and things and made all these boards, I took my glue and tape and pictures off the internet — and I put all my boards in a garbage bag and I carried them to Universal myself and put them out and I pitched my butt off."

"I felt such a huge responsibility to get it right," Jolie said. "I love him [Zamperini] so much and he’s helped me so much in my life."

Ironically, the 39-year-old Hollywood starlet and the late Zamperini were closer to each other before filming than they even realized. Zamperini’s home overlooked Jolie’s in the Hollywood Hills.

"I imagine that for the last 10-something years, he’s been sitting there having a coffee in the morning and wondering who’s going to make this movie," says Jolie. "And I’ve been sitting in my room laying there thinking, 'What am I supposed to be doing with my life? I wanna do something important. I need some help. I need some guidance. Where is it?' And it was right outside my window."

"Unbroken" has raked in nearly $28 million since its Christmas Day release.

Watch Tom Brokaw interview Angelina Jolie and Louis Zamperini below.

SEE ALSO: Sony Hack: Producer Called Angelina Jolie A 'Minimally Talented Spoiled Brat'

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Here's How Jake Gyllenhaal Lost 30 Pounds For His Latest Movie 'Nightcrawler'

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Jake Gyllenhaal's creepy latest movie "Nightcrawler" opened in theaters last month, and has already raked in over $38 million at the box office on just a $8.5 million production budget.

In the film, Gyllenhaal appears gaunt and as a much slimmer version of his usually more buff self.

jake gyllenhaal clappingJake Gyllenhaal NightcrawlerFor the majority of this year, Gyllenhaal was sporting a much leaner look while he shot "Nightcrawler."jake gyllenhaal"Nightcrawler," in which Gyllenhaal both stars and is a producer, is the story of a career-hungry young man who stumbles upon the underground world of L.A. freelance crime photojournalism.

Gyllenhaal spent three months in pre-production brainstorming with screenwriter and first-time director Dan Gilroy on the appearance of his character, Lou.

“I knew that [Lou] was literally and figuratively hungry,” Gyllenhaal told Us Weeklyadding that he got into character by transitioning into a "mode where I was always a bit hungry." 

In order to drop 30 pounds from his 180-pound frame, Gyllenhaal told Variety: “I would try to eat as few calories as possible. I knew if I was hungry that I was in the right spot. Physically, it showed itself, but chemically and mentally, I think it was even a more fascinating journey. It became a struggle for me.”Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler"He'd have a bowl of luxury chewing (gum) and they were, like, really elaborately flavored, to trick his brain into thinking he was having a meal,"Gyllenhaal's co-star Riz Ahmed told The Canadian Press at the Toronto Film Festival this week. "So he was on his exercise bike having chewing gum and, like, almond tea with one calorie."

He also said Gyllenhaal was aware and apologetic about his sometimes-sour demeanor, "So he was like: 'Sorry I'm grumpy, I haven't eaten."'

On some nights during shooting, Gyllenhaal told Variety he wouldn’t eat at all, or he’d only take small bites of meat, crackers, or kale salad. To stay lean and fit, he would run 15 miles from his house to the film's set.

“There was a general sense that he was a coyote,” Gyllenhaal says. “I just wanted to live that way.”

Gilroy adds: “When you watch the film and see the angularity of his face, the hollow cheeks, the way that his eyes become prominent  it’s such a haunting look for a night shoot.”Nightcrawler Jake Gyllenhaal lighterGyllenhaal's co-star and Gilroy's wife, Rene Russo, told E! Online"It's incredible what he put his body through. I actually was worried."

But this isn't Gyllenhaal's first physical transformation for a film.

In 2010, the Oscar nominee added major muscle to his physique for "Prince of Persia." The actor told UsWeekly at the time that he would eat six small meals loaded with protein, carbs, and fats.

Prince of Persia Jake Gyllenhaal
Gyllenhaal, however, says there was no special diet to shed pounds for "Nightcrawler.

"I just love this movie," he said. "That’s how I did it. There really was no technique."

Watch the "Nightcrawler" trailer below. Gyllenhaal's performance is being called "stunning":

SEE ALSO: Jake Gyllenhaal Goes Psycho In His Dark New Movie 'Nightcrawler'

MORE: Here's How Chris Pratt Got Ripped For Marvel's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'

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The 10 Most Pirated Movies Of The Year

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the wolf of wall street leonardo dicaprio

The most pirated movies of the year were some of 2013's biggest movies.

Variety rounded up the 20 most pirated movies from Jan. 1 to Dec. 23 via the piracy-tracking firm Excipio.

While the list includes some of this year's hits, including "Captain America: The Winter Solider" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past," last year's "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Frozen" were the two largest illegal downloads of the year.

Here's the top 10 via Variety. You can view the full list here.

1. "The Wolf of Wall Street": 30.035 million (Paramount, Dec. 25, 2013)
2. "Frozen": 29.919 million (Disney, Nov. 27, 2013)
3. "RoboCop"*: 29.879 million (MGM, Feb. 12, 2014; and Orion, July 17, 1987)
4. "Gravity": 29.357 million (Warner Bros., Oct. 4, 2013)
5. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug": 27.627 million (Warner Bros., Dec. 13, 2013)
6. "Thor: The Dark World": 25.749 million (Disney/Marvel, Nov. 8, 2013)
7. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier": 25.628 million (Disney/Marvel, April 4, 2014)
8. "The Legend of Hercules": 25.137 million (Summit, Jan. 10, 2014)
9. "X-Men: Days of Future Past": 24.380 million (20th Century Fox, May 23, 2014)
10. "12 Years a Slave": 23.653 million (Fox Searchlight, Oct. 18, 2013)

SEE ALSO: The Best-Reviewed Movies Of 2014

AND: The most pirated TV shows of the year

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The 20 Best TV Moments of 2014

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daenarys game of thrones emilia clarke

Here's to an absurdly bountiful year for TV.

2014 had it all — bloody dramas, wasted comedies, bad detectives, stoner broads, sex doctors, purple weddings, transgender dads, clone wars, spies and politicians and jailbirds. Plus the occasional demented aerobics dancer.

20. "Orphan Black": The Finale

The clones band together to fight the power and dance. Tatiana Maslany dazzled all season, one actress playing an army of rebel clone girls on the run from the sinister Dyad Institute that created them.

There's never any breathing room in Orphan Black — the camera is always screaming "Don't open that door" or "Watch out for traffic" or "For the love of God, stay away from the garbage disposal."But Orphan Black thrives on that frantic pace, as the clone-club sisters turn that post-adolescent "What the hell am I doing here?" paranoia into one long ridiculous punk sci-fi caper.

Watch the making of the video here.



19. "Key & Peele": "Aerobics Meltdown"

A lost VHS tape from the 1987 Jazz Fit Championships, starring a couple of spandex-rocking aerobic dancers named Flash and Lightning.

There's also a director holding up cue cards. ("Just got some bad news. Keep dancing.") Oh, it's not pretty inside the cut-throat world of competitive jazzercising. 

Key & Peele had so many killer moments this season, mostly playing on their favorite theme, the grim side of masculinity — the massage, the "slap ass!" relapse, that unspeakably depressing visit to the mattress store. ("Who got that good D?" Sweet mother of Christ.) But there's something particularly creepy about that "Aerobics Meltdown" sketch. Maybe it's the spandex.

Watch the clip here.



18. "Girls": Go With the Flo

The highlight of a mixed season — Marnie and Jessa might as well be named Fast and Forward by now. But the "Flo" episode is one of Girls' best, as Hannah tries to give her dying Grandma Flo (June Squibb) the sort of sentimental deathbed scene only a twit as maudlin as Hannah could imagine.

No, Flo isn't buying it, and neither is Hannah's ever-delightful salt lick of a mom. (But Adam is, because he's an even bigger twit than Hannah.) It's a pleasure watching these tough old bags argue in the hospital and recoil from the collegiate simp they spawned.

See also: 
Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Songs of 2014



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Seth Rogen And James Franco Live-Tweeted 'The Interview' And Gave Great Behind-The-Scenes Insights

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The controversial Sony comedy "The Interview" has pulled in $15 million in online sales and another $2.8 million in theaters since its Christmas Day release.

To help promote the North Korea-centered movie even further, stars Seth Rogen and James Franco, along with Rogen's cowriter and codirector Evan Goldberg, live-tweeted the film Sunday night, and they were not shy.

The trio even offered some insight into how they portrayed Kim Jong Un and North Korean culture.

Read some of the best tweets from the tweet-a-long below (warning: minor spoilers):

interview


NOW WATCH: Adam Savage From 'MythBusters' Has An Incredible Connection To The 'Star Wars' Franchise

SEE ALSO: 'The Interview' Raked In $18 Million On Its Opening Weekend

MORE: I Watched 'The Interview' And It's Easy To See Why The Hackers Hate Sony So Much

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Aaron Paul May Be In A 'Star Wars' Spin-Off Movie

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While there is no evidence that he will be playing a younger version of Han Solo, it is rumored that Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul is set to headline the Untitled Gareth Edwards Directed Star Wars Spin-Off. This will be the first franchise movie made after Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and is believed to revolve around the space pirate and his co-pilot Chewbacca. Though, there is no confirmation on any of this from Disney or LucasFilm, and is only being considered a rumor for the time being.

Making Star Wars delivered the news, which they claim comes from a source that has already given them legitimate Star Wars: The Force Awakens set photos and other information. As often been rumored, It is believed that the first spinoff will revolve around Han Solo, though its doubtful that Aaron Paul will be playing that specific character. Making Star Wars has learned that the Untitled Gareth Edwards Directed Star Wars Spin-Off will begin shooting just as the 24th Bond movie, Spectre, begins to wind down production at Pinewood Studios outside London in the UK sometime in 2015.

Star Wars: Episode VIII, to be directed by Rian Johnson, will overlap with the Han Solo spinoff. Though, its not clear if Harrison Ford will be reprising the role of Han Solo in both or either movie. Some rumors claim that Han dies at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, while other rumors claim he is the main star of the next sequel. Its also believed that if he is not starring in the Han Solo spinoff, his older version of the character may bookend the film.

The Untitled Gareth Edwards Directed Star Wars Spin-Off is going to reportedly shoot under the code name Luminac Industrial Goods, though at this time there doesn't seem to be any specific Star Wars reference in that fake title. It should be noted that Aaron Paul recently portrayed Luke Skywalker in the Jason Reitman Live Read of the Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back script, which had Ellen Page as Han Solo. Its not clear who Aaron Paul will play, or how he might fit into the overall Star Wars universe.

Untitled Gareth Edwards Directed Star Wars Spin-Off comes to theaters December 16th, 2016. The film is directed by Gareth Edwards.

SEE ALSO: Adam Savage From 'MythBusters' Has An Incredible Connection To The Star Wars Franchise

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'Exodus: Gods And Kings' Was Banned From Movie Theaters In Egypt

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christian bale moses exodusMove over, The Interview. You aren’t the only movie in theaters capable of whipping antagonists up into a frenzy because of your seemingly controversial content. Sir Ridley Scott’s sweeping Biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings continues to meet resistance as it marches through theaters, and this current turn has the Old Testament blockbuster fleeing from Egyptian multiplexes for one obvious reason. 

BBC News has the story, reporting that Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings has been banned from movie theaters in Egypt because it is riddled with "historical inaccuracies." Among the problems raised by the head of the censorship board in Egypt? They dispute the claim that the enslaved Jews built the Egyptian pyramids, and also state that an earthquake caused the infamous parting of the Red Sea, and not an act of God, as Exodus -- and the Bible – claim. 

spoke with the cast of Exodus: Gods and Kings during a recent press event in Paris, and we spoke at length about the creation of the Red Sea sequence in Ridley Scott’s movie. They never once mention an earthquake. 

The BBC goes on to report that the state-run Moroccan Cinema Centre initially approved of the film, which opened in the U.S. on December 12. Since that decision, though, officials have backtracked and now have banned the movie from being screened. This decision reportedly came down one day before the official premiere in Egypt. 

This isn’t the first conflict facing Exodus as it worked its way to theaters. The movie was the target of a vicious, lengthy campaign against its casting decisions, with the term "whitewashed" tagged to the production because of its lack of Egyptian actors. Roles like Moses and Ramses went to British and Australian actors such as Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton. It’s possible that this perceived slight played a part in Egypt banning the movie, because I would imagine that multiple films with historical inaccuracies make it to theaters in Egypt. Exodus isn’t advertising itself as a documentary. Will the Egyptians shut down Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, as well? 

So far, Exodus: Gods and Kings has earned an estimated $107 million worldwide. It will continue to roll out to foreign territories, though you can scratch Egypt off its world-tour schedule.

SEE ALSO: Christian Bale: 'I'm Jealous Of Someone Else Playing Batman'

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The Beatles Wanted To Make A 'Lord Of The Rings' Movie In The '60s With Stanley Kubrick

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The final installment of "The Hobbit" is in theaters now and has made over $573 million worldwide.

The films serve as a prequel series to Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) trilogy Peter Jackson directed over a decade ago. However, we could have had a very different LOTR series if the Beatles had their way.

The singers reportedly wanted to make a LOTR film in the 1960s with legendary director Stanley Kubrick, according to an interview Jackson did with Deadline this past summer.

"I actually spoke about this with Paul McCartney. He confirmed it," said Jackson. "I’d heard rumors that it was going to be their next film after Help."

Jackson detailed which roles each of the Beatles wanted to play.

John Lennon would have been Gollum. Motion capture guru Andy Serkis took on that role in both series.

gollum the hobbit

Paul McCartney wanted to play Frodo Baggins while Ringo Starr wanted to be his sidekick Sam. Those roles were played by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, respectively.

sam frodo the lord of the ringsGeorge Harrison wanted to be the wizard Gandalf, who was eventually played by Sir Ian McKellen.

gandalf the hobbitWhy didn't it ever happen?

For one thing, Jackson told Deadline Kubrick turned the Beatles down.

However, the final nail in the coffin came from LOTR author J.R.R. Tolkien himself who wasn't a fan of the collaboration.

In 2002, People reported Jackson previously discussed the long-rumored Beatles LOTR movie with Wellington's Evening Post newspaper.

"It was something John was driving and J.R.R. Tolkien still had the film rights at that stage, but he didn't like the idea of the Beatles doing it. So he killed it," said Jackson.

While we can imagine how much different that movie would have been, Jackson told Deadline this summer McCartney rather enjoys his adaptations of the series.

"Paul was very gracious; he said, ‘It was a good job we never made ours because then you wouldn’t have made yours and it was great to see yours,'" Jackson recalled.

Still, Jackson thinks we probably missed out on a few good Beatles' tunes.

SEE ALSO: Our review of the latest "Hobbit" movie

AND: How "The Hobbit" dragon looks without visual effects

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The Bizarre Way Actors Have To Read The 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Script

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Star Wars X-Wing pilotStar Wars: The Force Awakens is one of the most hotly anticipated movies in the history of cinema. Of course, this means that the sci-fi behemoth is shrouded in secrecy, and those involved are open to a good deal of trouble if they reveal even the slightest bit of information that was supposed to be kept hidden. Oscar Isaac has now admitted that this secrecy is so intense it even affected how he had to read the film’s script. 

During an interview with Yahoo Movies to promote his upcoming turn in JC Chandor’s A Most Violent Year, Oscar Isaac explained the bizarre scenario in which he read through the script. Said the actor, 

"You go to the place, and they have a room with cameras and you sit there and read the script. They’re incredibly protective, because nowadays, with however many hundreds of blogs and this and that, people are just ravenous for content. So because of that, there has to be such tight security around it."

Oscar Isaac also admitted that, in the end, this was a tad disheartening as an actor. In fact, he even revealed that it ever so slightly affected the personal way he prepares to play a character - but never the less he completely comprehended the need for for secrecy. "It gets in the way of the process a bit, but it’s understandable," he said. Oscar Isaac - who has said that pretty much all of the current theories regarding the plot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are completely wrong - will be playing the new character Poe Dameron in the blockbuster. We even got a first glimpse of Oscar Isaacs in full Star Wars mode in the first trailer for The Force Awakens, as he flew his X-Wing into battle.

Some Star Wars aficionados have already started to predict that Oscar Isaac’s pilot might be a bit of a miscreant in the seventh installment to the absurdly popular franchise. That is because of his intense staring and glaring inside his X-Wing. However, not too much should be read in to that, since, you know, it was such an obscenely short shot. 

This has been a rather wonderful year for Oscar Isaac. He started it off by being nominated for a cavalcade of awards thanks to his stunning performance as the titular musician in the Coen Brothers’ magnificent, Inside Llewyn Davis. He then followed that up with the less critically acclaimed In Secret and The Two Faces Of January - both of which lacked the delightful complexity and intrigue of Inside Llewyn Davis, but were still elevated thanks to Oscar Isaac’s presence. He is now rounding off his year with A Most Violent Year, which has received rave reviews. In addition to all of that, Isaac also scored his roles in both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and X-Men: Apocalypse in 2014 too. This means that his current cinematic hot-streak is very likely to continue for many more years to come. And since he’s one of the most alluring yet mystical acting talents currently working, that is very much a good thing. 

SEE ALSO: Adam Savage From 'MythBusters' Has An Incredible Connection To The 'Star Wars' Franchise

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The 17 Best Bro Movies Of 2014

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Bro, do you even watch movies?

Bro movies are usually full of action, aliens, war, and crude humor, which is what makes them so great. The crowdsourced rankings website Ranker came up with the best bro movies of the year. Here are the films that made the list.

denzel the equalizer

17. The Equalizer

Retired black-ops agent Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is back on the scene when a teen Russian prostitute he befriends lands herself in trouble, putting McCall face to face with the Russian mob.

16. John Wick

Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick, a former hit man who comes out of retirement to track down the men who wrecked his life after the death of his wife. Wick's quest for revenge is an adrenaline rush from start to finish.

15. The Judge

Robert Downey Jr. plays attorney Hank Palmer, who returns to his small hometown, where his father, the town judge, is accused of murder. Hank must defend his father in the face of the alleged crime and family secrets.

14. Need for Speed

Adapted from the popular video game series, "Need for Speed" follows a street racer, recently released from prison after his ex-business partner framed him for murder, who is back behind the wheel with revenge in mind. The film stars Aaron Paul, of "Breaking Bad" fame.

13. Godzilla

This remake, which features some stunning visual effects, reprises earth's most famous monster, who, though he wreaks his own havoc on the world, ends up being the key to saving humanity.

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12. Interstellar

Still in theaters, "Interstellar" takes us years into the future, when Earth is veering toward uninhabitability and a team of astronauts is tasked with finding a new home for the global population.

11. The Maze Runner

Thomas has had his memory erased and is dropped in a community of teenage guys in the middle of an intricate maze. The guys take turns as runners, trying to solve the maze and find an escape, only the maze often changes. Based on a book of the same name, "The Maze Runner" is an eerie, "Lord of the Flies"-esque dystopian thriller.

10. 300: Rise of an Empire

The Persian army, after defeating Leonidas' army of ripped soldiers, follows Xerxes to the Greek city-states where they face off against admiral Themistocles and the forces of Athens and Sparta.

9. The Expendables 3

The mercenary group called the Expendables have taken down many a bad guy. But in the third movie in the series, the bad guy is the Expendables' own cofounder. The film features an A-list cast, guns, and explosions.

8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

After a pandemic kills most of the human population, a group of evolved apes living in San Francisco, having conflicting opinions of humans, struggles to stay united and avoid an all-out war between species. The special effects received high praise from critics.

7. The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

The second "Hobbit" movie left our heroes in the dragon Smaug's den as Smaug flew off to destroy Laketown as revenge. The third and final installment, which just came to theaters, is an epic finale to one of the best fantasy stories of all time.

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6. Fury

After playing a Nazi-hunter in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds," Brad Pitt is killing Nazis again as Sergeant Wardaddy in this "ultimate tank movie."

5. Edge of Tomorrow

When Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is killed during a battle against some enemy aliens, he is thrown into a time loop in which he relives the same battle over and over, "Groundhog Day"-style. But going in each time knowing what will happen next ends up giving Cage a huge advantage to defeating this alien adversary.

4. Lone Survivor

Mark Wahlberg stars in this black-ops thriller, based on a true story, about a team of Navy SEALs sent to Afghanistan on a mission to neutralize a Taliban threat. A difficult judgment call endangers the team, whose members must then fight for their lives.

3. 22 Jump Street

The two bumbling cops Schmidt and Jenko are back in the sequel to "21 Jump Street," this time going undercover at a local college at which hilarity ensues. "22" did so well at the box office that Sony Pictures decided to make a third movie.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy

Peter Quill is a human on the run from an alien villain, but to stop his adversary Quill must team up with some other intergalactic outlaws. "Guardians" is a smart and funny movie full of Easter eggs that appeals to lovers of sci-fi, action, and Chris Pratt alike.

x men days of future past beast wolverine

1. X-Men: Days of Future Past

With the help of some mutant friends, Wolverine goes back in time to stop an event that could doom all of mutant- and humankind. The latest in this popular comic book movie series is marked with murder, moral decisions, and questions about what's right and wrong, proving that no one is wholly hero or wholly villain.

SEE ALSO: The 15 Best Movies You Probably Didn't See This Year

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