Annapurna Pictures is one of the pioneers of prestige cinema, having paved way for award-winning films and highly acclaimed independent films. They had been favorites for the Oscars, with films like Zero Dark Thirty, American Hustle, Her and Vice being nominated for Best Picture.
And with their recent move for distributing films on their own (that lead to a fallout), Megan Ellison and company take a bold risk to bring quality films to the mainstream. In honor of that, here are the top ten highest-grossing films from Annapurna as a producer and as a distributor. Rest assured, all are great.
Her (2013)
A romantic tale about a lonely man falling for a sweet operating system may sound peculiar as it sounds. Yet, Spike Jonze crafted such a timely tale wherein the current generation had unstoppable access to virtual relationships and the concept of relationships had adapted to the technological landscape.
Yet, Her is a completely human story. Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly is a sympathetic figure, who longs for more. And Scarlett Johansson voicing Samantha, Theodore’s augmented AI, is a captivating one that it takes great vocal skill to project her character. Even with a $48.3 million gross, Her continues to enthrall.
Lawless (2012)
Based on a novel The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, which is loosely based on grandfather’s account, Lawless is the crime tale of three bootlegging brothers who came in conflict with a rival over their moonshine business. Like any John Hillcoat-directorial effort, expect gritty action and harsh conflict over the proceedings.
Even if some parts do not pay off, the bravery from the performances really paid off. Though, this film could be infamously associated with the disagreements between Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf. However, the $54.5 million suggested that it resonated with the audiences at that time.
Bombshell (2019)
Around 2019, Annapurna had been suffering from budget losses, and the studio had to drop its distribution deals on the films Hustlers and Bombshell. Hustlers went to STX Entertainment and Bombshell went to Lionsgate. However, Annapurna will receive studio credits for the two films.
And looking at this film about the Fox News scandal that centered on Roger Ailes’ sexual harassment allegations, it had touches of an Annapurna film. This film centers on Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie as a composite character. While it is well-intentioned, it is pretty basic and on-the-nose.
The Grandmaster (2013)
Ip Man is a legendary martial artist who trained many well-known martial artists, including the legendary artist. Currently, Donnie Yen plays the Wing Chun master for the Ip Man film series. But for this international effort, The Grandmaster straightly tells the story of Ip Man from his humble beginnings to his peaceful life as a teacher.
Hong Kong star Tony Leung plays Ye Men in an effortless manner. And though his narrative seems standard that it veers on bland, the set pieces and the flawless camerawork makes the hard-knuckle action visceral. That could be why the result was a $64 million gross.
Vice (2018)
After the business satire The Big Short, Adam McKay hoped to capture the same magic (with some of the same cast and crew) for his take on Dick Cheney’s tenure as the “most powerful Vice President of American history”. As Cheney himself, Christian Bale dons a fat suit and a bald cap that made him disappear from the makeup and his near resemblance of the powerful figure.
The unorthodox approach to his saga, especially with the fourth-wall-breaking and the framing device from Jesse Plemons, could be a mixed bag. And Vice reflected on its moderate yet dismal $76.1 million.
Joy (2015)
Jennifer Lawrence stars in another comedy-drama from director David O. Russell with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper. Because of course she did. Well, this time, she stars as Joy Mangano, the pioneer of the Miracle Mop that got off from a rocky start and triggered a legal battle that Joy ultimately won.
As a David O. Russell picture, it did not rank from his last three efforts. But it was a fine showcase for Jennifer Lawrence to show her acting range. Like the rest of his films, Joy accumulated decently in the box office with a $101.1 million gross.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow followed up her victory from The Hurt Locker with another war film from the Middle East conflict, this time highlighting the worldwide manhunt for Osama bin Laden. The film stars Jessica Chastain as CIA intelligence analyst Maya, who strives to track down the notorious al-Qaeda leader.
While it kept creative freedom in depicting the manhunt, even down to the tense operation, Bigelow dealt with the grittiness of the US’ amoral ethics, including the torturing interrogation methods. But she firmly assured that this film does not embrace it. A solid effort, Zero Dark Thirty is rousing.
Sausage Party (2016)
Seth Rogen and the gang lend their voices as grocery items who had to deal with the harsh truth of their misleading ideology. For such a raunchy R-rated CGI-animated film, it brought a lot of themes to the table. But it was delivered with consistent humor and intense storylines.
Aside from Rogen, the all-star voice cast includes Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera, Edward Norton, Salma Hayek, Jonah Hill, David Krumholtz, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Anders Holm, Craig Robinson, and Nick Kroll. Also, this is a musical, with songs written by Alan Menken. The marquee explains its $140.7 million gross.
Hustlers (2019)
Hustlers may look like a strippers’ movie. But it is a female-led crime film that centers on a group of strippers hustling their way from the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis. Director Lorene Scafaria delved deep into the intricate world of strippers without glamorizing it gratuitously. And it felt authentic, especially with the performances of the cast.
Constance Wu and her cavalcade of talents work well with Scafaria’s script. But it is Jennifer Lopez that mesmerized in every scene she is in. Having prepared her role physically, she inhabits the character of Ramona flawlessly. It deserves its S157.6 million reception.
American Hustle (2013)
American Hustle is perhaps David O. Russell’s best effort, so far. Loosely based on the late 1970s Abscam sting operation, this film centers on con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner-in-crime Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) being recruited by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to tack down corrupt politicians, including Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Meanwhile, Irving’s Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) gets in the fun.
The all-star talent and the fine crew from this movie assure that this will be a great crime film. The script is sharp, and the rapport captivates. And its 10 Oscar nominations and its $251.2 million assured Annapurna’s role as a powerhouse for award-winners.
