Annie
Performance & Direction: Annie Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Annie (2014) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.2/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Annie features a noteworthy lineup led by Quvenzhané Wallis . Supported by the likes of Jamie Foxx and Rose Byrne , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Annie
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2014, Annie is a Comedy, Drama, Family film directed by Will Gluck. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Quvenzhané Wallis.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Annie is a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan. But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks—advised by his brilliant VP and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor—makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Quvenzhané Wallis's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Annie
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Will Gluck, Annie concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Quvenzhané Wallis, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Annie reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Annie?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Quvenzhané Wallis or the director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Annie
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $65.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $136.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Annie Budget
The estimated production budget for Annie is $65.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Annie
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Where to Watch Annie Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
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YouTubeAnnie Parents Guide & Age Rating
2014 AdvisoryWondering about Annie age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Annie is 118 minutes (1h 58m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.2/10, and global performance metrics, Annie is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2014 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annie worth watching?
Annie is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.2/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Annie parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Annie identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Annie?
The total duration of Annie is 118 minutes, which is approximately 1h 58m long.
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Critic Reviews for Annie
Not for the lack of effort, but 'Annie' isn't good. I've admittedly never seen the original musical, not that I think that's necessary anyway. I like the cast, while the songs are alright - if cringey. Everything else is either slow, predictable or straight up boring. It might've, perhaps, worked better as a flat out drama - though then they'd get hate for changing things, I guess. As noted, the onscreen talent stopped this from falling far down my ratings. Jamie Foxx and Rose Byrne are two actors I enjoy, I found them satisfactory in this - could've been better, could've been worse. Quvenzhané Wallis is more than decent in the lead, while David Zayas is solid. Cameron Diaz is, however, truly awful - and that's coming from someone who likes Diaz; she's very good in films like 'Shrek', 'Knight and Day' and 'Bad Teacher' but this is certainly the worst I've seen from her - it's a shame that she went out with this as well as the dreadful and overall inferior 'Sex Tape'. Despite me rating (most of) the cast themselves, I don't think the casting itself is anything praisable. Foxx, Byrne and Diaz are not three actors I'd immediately think of if I was making a musical - a few of their songs are a tad ropey. Poor, all in all.
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
