Annie (2014 film)

Annie (2014 film)

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2014
Founder	Will Gluck (director)
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Musical comedy-drama film

Annie is a 2014 American musical comedy-drama film helmed by director Will Gluck, who collaborated with Aline Brosh McKenna on the screenplay. The production was a joint effort between Columbia Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Marcy Media Films, and Olive Bridge Entertainment, with distribution handled by Sony Pictures Releasing. This movie serves as a modern retelling of the 1977 Broadway musical originally created by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan. Unlike its predecessors set during the Great Depression, this adaptation is situated in contemporary times, marking the third cinematic version following adaptations released in 1982 and 1999.

The leading role of Annie is portrayed by Quvenzhané Wallis, supported by performances from Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and Cameron Diaz. Filming commenced in August 2013, culminating in a premiere held at New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre on December 7, 2014, followed by its U.S. theatrical debut on December 19, 2014.

Although it received predominantly unfavorable reviews upon release, the film managed to generate $136 million globally against a production budget estimated between $65 and $78 million. It garnered two Golden Globe nominations—Best Actress for Wallis and Best Original Song—while also attracting two Golden Raspberry nominations. The film won Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel, with Diaz nominated for Worst Supporting Actress. Subsequently, the franchise continued with a fourth rendition titled Annie Live!, a live broadcast produced by NBC.

Plot

Set in Harlem, within Manhattan of New York City, the story follows 10-year-old Annie Bennett, who resides in a foster home alongside four other girls under the care of Colleen Hannigan. Hannigan, once a singer herself, now spends her time drinking and assigning harsh chores to the children. Each Friday, Annie waits outside Domani's, an Italian restaurant, hopeful that her parents will return for her as indicated by a receipt she holds. When an inspector from the city visits Miss Hannigan’s residence, Annie secretly copies his social security number from his clipboard but uncovers no new information about her origins.

After defending a stray Shiba Inu puppy from bullies, Annie narrowly avoids being struck by a vehicle but is saved by Will Stacks—a germophobic tech entrepreneur campaigning for mayor. The incident gains viral attention online, significantly boosting Stacks' public image. Following advice from his campaign manager Guy Danlily, Stacks invites Annie to live with him; he enjoys the increased media spotlight. Annie quickly forms a bond with his assistant Grace Farrell and names the rescued dog Sandy. Through her influence, Stacks reflects on his modest upbringing in Queens and his estranged relationship with his father, while simultaneously helping Grace and himself acknowledge their mutual affection.

Stacks takes Annie and her friends to attend the premiere of Moon Quake Lake, where he becomes an enthusiastic admirer of the film. Afterwards, Annie shares with Grace her weekly ritual of waiting at Domani's; Grace keeps this detail hidden from Stacks. Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan expresses bitterness over her unfulfilled ambitions and harshly criticizes wealthy individuals.

At a fundraising event, Annie performs a song expressing thankfulness but reveals she is illiterate when asked to deliver a speech. In response, Guy collaborates with Miss Hannigan to fabricate impostors posing as Annie’s parents to enhance Stacks’ campaign prospects. Their plan involves splitting any resulting reward money while abandoning Annie afterward.

Miss Hannigan experiences a change of heart after hearing Stacks’ kind words but soon discovers that Annie has been abducted by the fraudulent parents. She alerts Stacks, who promptly dismisses Guy and initiates a police pursuit to recover Annie. Misunderstanding the situation and believing Stacks orchestrated the kidnapping, Annie becomes upset until he publicly withdraws from the mayoral race to prove his innocence. This act paves the way for Grace and Stacks to openly declare their love.

The narrative concludes with the inauguration of the "Stacks Literacy Centre," designed to assist children like Annie who struggle with reading. The group performs "Tomorrow" as Stacks formally adopts Isabella, Pepper, Tessie, Mia, and Sandy. In a humorous moment after the song ends, Miss Hannigan attempts to continue singing but is quickly silenced.

Cast

• Quvenzhané Wallis portrays Annie Bennett-Stacks, a hopeful ten-year-old girl in foster care on a quest to find her biological parents. By the conclusion, both she and Sandy, her dog, are adopted by Stacks.
• Jamie Foxx plays Mr. William "Will" Stacks, a former mobile phone industry tech entrepreneur who transitions into politics as a candidate for Mayor of New York City. This role reimagines Oliver Warbucks within a contemporary business environment.
• Rose Byrne appears as Grace Farrell, the devoted personal assistant to Stacks and a maternal figure for Annie.
• Bobby Cannavale acts as Guy Danlily, Stacks' assertive political strategist who initially exploits Annie for media coverage but shows little true concern for her well-being.
• Cameron Diaz takes on the role of Miss Colleen Hannigan, a former 1990s pop singer turned foster home director. This version of the character is more compassionate than previous incarnations, expressing remorse and ultimately aiding in Annie's rescue.
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays Nash, Stacks' formidable yet loyal bodyguard and driver who also befriends Annie.
• David Zayas is Lou, the owner of a neighborhood bodega and an acquaintance of Annie's who develops an affection for Miss Hannigan.
• Stephanie Kurtzuba portrays Mrs. Kovacevic, the New York Family Services caseworker assigned to Annie.
• Amanda Troya appears as Pepper Ulster, the bossy second eldest foster child at age 12.
• Eden Duncan-Smith plays Isabella Sullivan, the eldest foster sibling.
• Zoe Margaret Colletti acts as Tessie Marcus, a 10-year-old foster sister attending the same grade as Annie.
• Nicolette Pierini is Mia Putnam, the youngest foster sister at seven years old.
• Peter Van Wagner portrays Harold Gray, the current Mayor of New York City and Stacks' political rival.
• Marti plays Sandy, Annie’s dog—female in this adaptation, differing from earlier male depictions.

Cameos

• Patricia Clarkson appears as a woman participating in a Focus Group
• Michael J. Fox makes an appearance as himself
• Mila Kunis plays Andrea Alvin, the lead actress in MoonQuake Lake
• Ashton Kutcher features as Simon Goodspeed, the lead actor in MoonQuake Lake
• Bobby Moynihan appears as a bar customer criticizing Will’s singing and dancing following his withdrawal from the mayoral race
• Rihanna portrays the Moon Goddess, a supporting character in MoonQuake Lake
• Scarlett Benchley appears as Sakana, another supporting role in MoonQuake Lake
• Sia acts as a volunteer for Animal Care & Control
• Rachel Crowther features as a Street Dancer

The end credits of MoonQuake Lake, the fictional movie within this film, list Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, continuing an ongoing inside joke with director Will Gluck. Taylor Richardson, known for starring in the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie, is seen early on playing one of Annie’s classmates. Dorian Missick and Tracie Thoms portray Annie’s pretend parents hired by Guy; their characters draw inspiration from original figures Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis. Pat Kiernan makes a cameo appearance as an NY1 news reporter.

Musical numbers

This adaptation incorporates reworked songs from the original Broadway score by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Martin Charnin, with arrangements tailored by Sia and Greg Kurstin to reflect a modern context. Executive music supervisor Matt Sullivan sought to blend timeless tracks such as "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life" with contemporary percussive and pop influences infused with hip hop elements. The lyrics were adjusted to fit changes in plot and setting.

Sia and Kurstin contributed three original compositions: "Opportunity," "Who Am I," and "MoonQuake Lake." Additionally, Sia co-wrote "The City's Yours" alongside Norwegian production team Stargate.

1. "Maybe" – performed by Annie, Mia, Isabella, Tessie, and Pepper
2. "It's the Hard Knock Life" – performed by Annie, Mia, Isabella, Tessie, and Pepper
3. "Tomorrow" – performed by Annie
4. "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" – performed by Annie, Grace, and Mrs. Kovacevic
5. "Little Girls" – performed by Miss Hannigan
6. "The City's Yours" – performed by Stacks and Annie
7. "Opportunity" – performed by Annie
8. "Easy Street" – performed by Guy and Miss Hannigan
9. "Who Am I?" – performed by Miss Hannigan, Stacks, and Annie
10. "I Don't Need Anything But You" – performed by Stacks, Annie, and Grace
11. "Tomorrow (Finale)" – performed by Cast (Annie, Stacks, Grace, Miss Hannigan, Lou, Nash, Mrs. Kovacevic, Pepper, Mia, Tessie, Isabella)
12. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (end credits) – performed by Sia

Development

In January 2011, Sony Pictures revealed plans for the film, with producers Jay-Z and Will Smith attached, and Smith's daughter, Willow Smith, initially set to star. By February 2011, Ryan Murphy, co-creator of Glee, was approached to direct but declined by March due to scheduling conflicts.

The project was in search of a screenwriter, with Emma Thompson considered for the position. In May 2012, Will Smith confirmed during an appearance on Good Morning America that the story would take place in present-day New York City, featuring a script penned by Thompson and new music contributions from Jay-Z. By July 2012, a second draft was completed by We Bought a Zoo writer Aline Brosh McKenna. Filming was planned to commence in Spring 2013.

In January 2013, Easy A director Will Gluck was brought on board, while Willow Smith was no longer involved as she had outgrown the role.

Casting

By February 2013, the lead role originally linked to Smith was recast with Oscar nominee and Beasts of the Southern Wild star Quvenzhané Wallis, and the film was scheduled for a Christmas 2014 release.

In March 2013, rumors circulated about Justin Timberlake portraying Daddy Warbucks; however, Jamie Foxx ultimately secured the part, renamed William "Will" Stacks. By June, after Sandra Bullock declined the role, Cameron Diaz was cast as Miss Hannigan.

July 2013 saw Rose Byrne joining the cast as Grace Farrell, assistant to Stacks. The following month, Bobby Cannavale, known from Boardwalk Empire and Byrne's partner, was cast as a political advisor to Will Stacks. In September, Amanda Troya, Nicolette Pierini, Eden Duncan-Smith, and Zoe Colletti were introduced as Annie's foster sisters.

Principal photography started on August 19, 2013, with filming taking place at locations including Grumman Studios and the newly constructed Four World Trade Center.

Writing

Although this version remains "rooted in the same story," as stated by Gluck, it presents a modern interpretation of the 1977 Broadway musical with significant alterations: The narrative setting transitions from the 1930s era—marked by Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration and the Great Depression—to contemporary New York City. The film’s introductory school scene includes presentations delivered by both the updated Annie and a student embodying her classic version, highlighting comparisons between historical economic challenges like the New Deal and current issues affecting the lower socioeconomic class.

Diverging from the original plot, Hannigan does not impersonate Annie's biological parents alongside her brother Rooster and his partner Lily. Instead, Guy Danlily, who manages Stacks’ campaign, orchestrates the kidnapping of Annie through hired individuals. The story leaves the status of Annie’s birth parents uncertain, in contrast to earlier adaptations where Hannigan discloses their demise.

Release

The movie had its debut at New York City's Ziegfeld Theater on December 7, 2014.

Piracy

On November 27, 2014, Annie was one of several films leaked online by the "Guardians of Peace," a group that the FBI has connected to North Korea, following a cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. Within three days after the leak, approximately 206,000 unique IP addresses had downloaded Annie. By December 9, the number of downloads had risen beyond 316,000. Industry experts indicated that piracy was unlikely to have a major effect on Annie’s box office performance since its primary audience is generally less inclined to engage in piracy.

Home media

Annie became available on DVD and as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on March 17, 2015, distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Box office

The film debuted on December 19, 2014, generating $5.3 million on its first day. It amassed $15.9 million over its opening weekend, securing the third spot at the North American box office behind The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Overall, it earned $85.9 million domestically and $47.9 million internationally, culminating in a global total of $133.8 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Annie holds an approval rating of 28% from 163 critics, with an average score of 4.48/10. The critical consensus suggests the film overwhelms its cast with clichés and materialistic themes. On Metacritic, it received a score of 33 out of 100 based on 38 reviews, signifying "generally unfavorable" opinions. Despite this, audience feedback collected by CinemaScore awarded it an "A−" grade.

PopMatters assigned a rating of three out of ten, highlighting the film’s lack of originality and its commercialized storyline. Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune labeled it as "unstable" and "unsatisfying," whereas Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader gave it three out of four stars, commending its populist themes and director Will Gluck’s tone reminiscent of traditional Hollywood musicals.

The soundtrack, reimagined by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin, received mixed reactions, with criticism targeting the extensive use of auto-tune. Entertainment Weekly described it as an auto-tuned "disaster," while The Hollywood Reporter noted that most original tracks were heavily modified with hip-hop arrangements and new lyrics. Conversely, Matt Zoller Seitz praised the inclusion of new songs.

Performances attracted a more favorable response from some reviewers. IGN.com applauded Wallis and Foxx for their compelling portrayals and identified Rose Byrne as an unexpected highlight. Seitz also commended Wallis for bringing a fresh cultural dimension to her role and praised the supporting cast overall. Cameron Diaz’s performance divided critics—some acknowledged her effort but criticized it as excessively "vampy," "strident," and "overbearing." Peter Travers from Rolling Stone faulted her for exaggerated hysteria in her acting.

Accolades

Award	Category	Recipient	Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists / EDA Special Mention Award	Actress Most in Need of a New Agent	Cameron Diaz (Annie, The Other Woman, Sex Tape)	Template:Won
BET Awards	Best Movie			Template:Nom
Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Actress	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
Critics' Choice Awards	Best Young Actor/Actress	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
Dorian Awards	Campy Flick of the Year			Template:Nom
Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
Golden Globe Awards	Best Original Song – Motion Picture ("Opportunity")	Music by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin; Lyrics by Will Gluck	Template:Nom
Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel			Template:Won
Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Supporting Actress	Cameron Diaz	Template:Nom
Golden Reel Awards	Best Sound Editing – Music in a Musical Feature Film	Jon Wakeham, Lisa Jaime, Sherry Whitfield	Template:Nom
Golden Trailer Awards	Best Animation/Family			Template:Nom
Golden Trailer Awards	Best Viral Campaign			Template:Nom
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards	Best Music Supervision for Films Budgeted Over $25 Million	Matt Sullivan and Wende Crowley	Template:Nom
NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
National Film Awards UK	Best Actress	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
National Film Awards UK	Best Breakthrough Performance	Jamie Foxx	Template:Nom
National Film Awards UK	Best Newcomer	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Movie Actress	Cameron Diaz	Template:Nom
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Villain	Cameron Diaz	Template:Nom
Women Film Critics Circle	Best Young Actress	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Nom
Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress	Quvenzhané Wallis	Template:Won