While there have been plenty of movies this year that have made huge money at the box office, Nicholas Stoller's comedy was by far the most profitable high-profile studio effort to hit theaters in 2014. Sold on the back of a strong advertizing campaign and two popular and likeable lead actors, the project was marketed as the first must-see comedy of the year. Made for just $18m, Neighbors opened to almost $50m at the domestic box office on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing original R-rated comedies in history. The movie finished its theatrical run with an incredible $268.2m, almost fifteen times the production budget.
Runner Up - Lucy
Each year, the summer movie season provides at least one sleeper hit that goes on to surprise many by showing strong legs at the box office on its way to an impressive haul, and this year the honor fell to Luc Besson's Lucy. The marketing showcased the movie's action sequences and interesting narrative hook, along with an ass-kicking Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman delivering exposition like only he can. While audiences may have been confused as they sat in the theater watching the movie's batsh*t insane third act unfold, Besson's stylish sci-fi actioner would go on to earn $458.9m against a $40m budget.
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