Oscars 2005: Diverse Films from Art House to Blockbusters

The Children of Leningradsky

2005 • 35 min

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, an estimated four million children now live on the streets of its former nations. In Moscow alone, over 30,000 survive this way. This documentary focuses on a group of homeless children living in…

7.4

7.8

I, Robot

2004 • 115 min • Budget $120M • Box office $347M

Action, Science Fiction

In 2035, robots are everyday tools, programmed with strict rules. A police officer who distrusts technology investigates a possible suicide. He begins to suspect a robot was involved and comes to believe that humanity itself might be at risk.

7.0

7.1

13+

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+12

Collateral

2004 • 120 min • Budget $65M • Box office $220M

Drama, Crime, Thriller

Taxi driver Max agrees to a fare for $600, but the deal turns sour when he discovers his passenger is an assassin.

7.2

7.5

17+

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+11

The Aviator

2004 • 170 min • Budget $110M • Box office $213M

Drama

This film chronicles the life of Howard Hughes from 1927 to 1947. It follows his rise to prominence as a successful film producer and aviation innovator, alongside the increasing effects of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder on his mental state.

7.2

7.5

13+

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+11

The Polar Express

2004 • 100 min • Budget $165M • Box office $318M

Animation, Adventure, Family

A young boy struggling with doubt takes an incredible train journey to the North Pole. The trip becomes a path of self-discovery, revealing that the magic of life remains alive for those who hold onto their belief.

6.7

6.6

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Gopher Broke

2004 • 5 min

A gopher living near a busy road discovers trucks transporting goods to market. He tries to collect spilled produce for himself, but other animals are always faster. His luck changes when a truck carrying a cow appears.

5.8

6.5

Lorenzo

2004 • 5 min

Animation, Comedy, Family

Lorenzo, a cat, is troubled by a strange development: his tail has seemingly gained a mind of its own.

6.4

6.5

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Troy

2004 • 163 min • Budget $175M • Box office $497M

War, Action, History

In 1250 B.C., during the late Bronze Age, tensions rise between two developing nations. Paris, a Trojan prince, persuades Helen, the Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus and travel with him to Troy. When Menelaus discovers his wife's…

7.2

7.3

17+

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Ray

2004 • 152 min • Budget $40M • Box office $124M

Drama, Music

Ray Charles was born on a Florida sharecropping farm and lost his sight at age seven. Encouraged by his strong-willed mother to be self-reliant, he discovered his talent playing the piano. Performing throughout the South, the soulful singer built a…

7.4

7.7

13+

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Being Julia

2004 • 104 min • Budget $18M • Box office $14M

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Julia Lambert is a beautiful, talented, wealthy, and famous diva. She has everything – including a supportive husband who built her successful career – but after years of fame, she grows bored and desires something new. She finds this in…

6.4

7.0

17+

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Autism Is a World

2004 • 40 min

This documentary explores the inner life of an autistic woman, focusing on her writing and the friendships she forged during her time at college.

10.0

6.6

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Hardwood

2005 • 29 min

This film explores a director's complex relationship with his father, a former Harlem Globetrotter.

6.2

6.3

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Mighty Times: The Children's March

2004 • 40 min

In May 1963, children in Birmingham, Alabama, marched in protest against segregation.

7.9

7.7

Sister Rose's Passion

2004 • 39 min

This film celebrates Sister Rose Thering, a Dominican nun who dedicated 67 years to fighting anti-Semitism. Archival footage traces her childhood in Wisconsin and her decision to become a nun. Interviews with scholars and everyday people reveal how the term…

6.3

6.8

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Everything in This Country Must

2004 • 20 min

In Northern Ireland, a tragic accident occurs when soldiers accidentally strike a woman and her young son with their vehicle. Two years later, the same soldiers encounter a horse stranded in a river. The horse's owner fiercely resists their attempts…

6.3

7.1

Little Terrorist

2004 • 15 min

Ten-year-old Pakistani Muslim Jamal accidentally crosses the border into India and finds an unlikely friend in Bhola, a Hindu Brahmin. When Indian soldiers arrive in Bhola’s village searching for the person who crossed over, Bhola’s niece Rani objects to sheltering…

5.1

7.0

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Tupac: Resurrection

2003 • 112 min • Budget $300K • Box office $7M

Music, Documentary

The film uses home movies, photographs, and poetry readings to explore the life of Tupac Shakur, a highly admired, influential, and often turbulent figure in hip-hop music.

7.9

17+

Twist of Faith

2004 • 87 min

A man grapples with the lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest. His decision to speak out deeply divides his family, his community, and his faith.

6.7

7.2

17+

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Yesterday

2004 • 96 min

Following a sudden illness, Yesterday receives the diagnosis that she is HIV positive. As her husband struggles to accept the news and she focuses on caring for her young daughter, Yesterday's only wish is to live long enough to see…

7.4

7.5

17+

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The Chorus

2004 • 97 min • Budget $5M • Box office $83M

Drama, History, Comedy

Set in 1940s France, a new teacher arrives at a school for troubled boys, offering them hope and inspiring them to find a better path.

7.7

7.9

13+

A Very Long Engagement

2004 • 133 min • Budget $47M

Drama, Romance, War

In the aftermath of World War I, Mathilde, a young woman from France, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her fiancé who disappeared during the conflict. Her search reveals surprising revelations. Though heartbroken by the loss of…

7.3

7.6

17+

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Super Size Me

2004 • 100 min • Budget $65K • Box office $28M

Documentary

For 30 days, Morgan Spurlock eats nothing but McDonald's – three meals a day, no exercise – to investigate the link between fast food and America's rising rates of obesity. He undergoes regular medical check-ups with three doctors, documenting his…

6.7

7.2

13+

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+13

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004 • 141 min • Budget $130M • Box office $789M

Adventure, Fantasy

In his third year at Hogwarts, Harry faces new experiences and obstacles. He learns how to interact with a Hippogriff, turns frightening Boggarts into comical figures, and even briefly reverses time. However, the year is fraught with peril: menacing Dementors…

8.0

7.9

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The Village

2004 • 108 min • Budget $60M • Box office $256M

Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A headstrong young man's desire to explore beyond his isolated Pennsylvania town triggers a series of unsettling events that profoundly change everyone in the community.

6.5

6.6

13+

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7:35 in the Morning

2003 • 8 min

Music, Romance

One morning, a woman walks into a restaurant and finds it eerily empty. Instead of the usual sounds of conversation, there is only silence.

6.8

7.3

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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2004 • 108 min • Budget $20M • Box office $72M

Science Fiction, Drama, Romance

Devastated when his girlfriend chooses a procedure to erase him from her memory, Joel makes the same decision. As his memories of her begin to disappear, he realizes he still loves her, and it might be too late to reverse…

8.1

8.3

17+

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Shrek 2

2004 • 92 min • Budget $150M • Box office $935M

Animation, Family, Comedy

Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey travel to Far, Far Away to meet Fiona's parents, the Queen and King. However, Shrek and the King don't get along. When the Fairy Godmother learns Fiona married Shrek instead of Prince Charming, as King Harold…

7.3

7.4

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Spider-Man 2

2004 • 127 min • Budget $200M • Box office $788M

Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Peter Parker is struggling with who he is. Tired of being Spider-Man, he decides to stop, and the city is left vulnerable to the destruction caused by the villainous Doc Ock. At the same time, Peter finds it difficult to…

7.3

7.5

13+

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+11

Kinsey

2004 • 118 min • Budget $11M • Box office $17M

Drama

Kinsey is a look at Alfred Kinsey, a researcher determined to explore the most private aspects of American life. What starts as a scientific project becomes deeply personal for Kinsey, evolving into an unforeseen exploration of human nature.

6.6

7.0

17+

Maria Full of Grace

2004 • 101 min • Budget $3M • Box office $12M

Drama, Thriller, Crime

In Colombia, a teenage girl who is pregnant makes the difficult decision to become a drug mule, hoping to earn money for her family's essential needs.

7.2

7.4

17+

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Two Cars, One Night

2004 • 12 min

Drama, Comedy

First love can blossom unexpectedly, even in ordinary settings like the carpark of the Te Kaha pub.

6.6

7.2

Wasp

2003 • 26 min

Drama

Zoë, a single mother living in Dartford with her four children, struggles with poverty and can barely afford food. When an old flame happens to drive by and asks her out, she's hesitant, fearing he's not genuinely interested. She impulsively…

7.2

7.5

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Shark Tale

2004 • 90 min • Budget $75M • Box office $367M

Animation, Action, Comedy

Oscar, a small fish with ambitious dreams, frequently finds himself in difficult situations. Meanwhile, Lenny is a great white shark hiding a surprising secret: he's a vegetarian. When a lie unexpectedly makes Oscar a hero and Lenny becomes ostracized, the…

6.0

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This Hour Has 22 Minutes

2004 • 132 min • Budget $30M • Box office $216M

Drama

Trainer Frankie Dunn is struggling with a difficult relationship with his daughter when boxer Maggie Fitzgerald arrives, determined to turn professional. She seeks out Dunn and his team for their help.

8.0

8.1

13+

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Ryan

2004 • 13 min

Documentary, Animation, Drama

The film follows Canadian animator Ryan Larkin, who later experienced homelessness in Montreal after struggling with substance abuse.

6.6

7.5

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Sideways

2004 • 127 min • Budget $16M • Box office $109M

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Two men in their middle years take a spiritual trip through California's wine country. One is an unpublished novelist battling depression, while the other is about to get married.

7.1

7.5

17+

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Guard Dog

2004 • 5 min

Why do dogs bark at seemingly harmless animals like pigeons and squirrels? This film explores that age-old mystery. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

6.2

7.3

17+

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Hotel Rwanda

2004 • 122 min • Budget $17M • Box office $38M

Drama, History, War

Based on true events, the film is set in Rwanda during the 1990s, a time when over a million Tutsis were murdered in a genocide largely ignored internationally. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina uses his hotel to shelter over a thousand…

7.7

8.1

13+

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+11

The Incredibles

2004 • 115 min • Budget $92M • Box office $631M

Action, Adventure, Animation

Bob Parr has left his life as a superhero to work as an insurance adjuster and raise his three children with his wife, a former hero, in the suburbs. However, a strange assignment arrives, and he must once again don…

7.7

8.0

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House of Flying Daggers

2004 • 119 min • Budget $15M • Box office $92M

Adventure, Drama, Action

In 9th century China, a dishonest government fights a rebellion led by the Flying Daggers. A skilled warrior rescues a captivating rebel from jail to aid her in reuniting with her forces, but the situation is more complicated than it…

7.3

7.5

13+

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As It Is in Heaven

2004 • 132 min

Romance, Drama, Comedy

A musical romantic tragedy follows a renowned composer who returns to his quiet hometown following a heart scare. Seeking a simpler life, he takes on teaching the local church choir, facing initial resistance from the community. However, the choir develops…

7.1

7.5

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Before Sunset

2004 • 80 min • Budget $2M • Box office $15M

Drama, Romance

Nine years after a single night in Vienna, Jesse tours Europe, reading from a book inspired by his encounter with Celine. In Paris, Celine unexpectedly finds him, and they reconnect for the day before Jesse departs for another flight. Both…

7.8

8.1

17+

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The Story of the Weeping Camel

2004 • 91 min

Documentary, Drama

A Mongolian family faces hardship when their new camel colt is rejected by its mother. To resolve this, they seek the help of a musician who performs a ritual intended to persuade the mother to accept her offspring.

7.0

7.4

Birthday Boy

2004 • 10 min

1951, Korean War. A young boy named Little Manuk plays in his village, imagining himself fighting alongside his father, who is a soldier. He returns home one day to find a package on his doorstep and, believing it's a gift,…

6.6

6.5

Finding Neverland

2004 • 106 min • Budget $25M • Box office $116M

Drama, Fantasy

Struggling with writer's block, playwright J.M. Barrie forms a close bond with a widow and her four young sons. The boys deeply impact Barrie's life, ultimately becoming the inspiration for his most famous work: Peter Pan.

7.3

7.6

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Vera Drake

2004 • 125 min • Budget $11M • Box office $13M

Drama

In 1950s Britain, abortionist Vera Drake struggles as her work clashes with societal expectations. This conflict has devastating consequences for Vera and her family.

7.2

7.6

17+

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Downfall

2004 • 155 min • Budget $16M • Box office $92M

Drama, History, War

April 1945. With the Soviet Army advancing from the east and the Allied forces attacking from the west, Germany faces imminent defeat. In Berlin, Adolf Hitler declares Germany will still win and orders his generals to fight to the death.…

7.9

8.2

17+

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+14

Aloha Mars!

2004 • 127 min • Budget $30M • Box office $610M

Drama

This film depicts the final twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.

7.5

7.3

17+

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The Phantom of the Opera

2004 • 141 min • Budget $70M • Box office $154M

Thriller, Drama, Romance

A young soprano captures the attention of a musically gifted man deeply scarred by disfigurement. He lives in the hidden spaces beneath the Paris Opera House, and becomes fixated on her. His obsession takes a dark turn, revealing a murderous…

7.3

7.2

13+

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Prison Break

2004 • 104 min • Budget $27M • Box office $115M

Drama, Romance

The lives of two couples become entangled in a web of lies and betrayal when a man from one relationship develops feelings for a woman from the other.

6.8

7.1

17+

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Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids

2004 • 85 min • Budget $350K • Box office $3M

Documentary

This documentary follows the lives of child prostitutes in Kolkata's Songachi red-light district. Filmmaker Zana Briski initially intended to photograph the prostitutes, but she befriended their children. Briski started teaching the children photography, believing it could offer them a path…

6.8

7.2

17+

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The Motorcycle Diaries

2004 • 126 min • Box office $57M

Drama

This film is based on the journals of Che Guevara, the leader of the Cuban Revolution. In his writings, Guevara details his experiences with his close friend Alberto Granado during a motorcycle journey across South America in the early 1950s.

7.4

7.7

17+

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The Sea Inside

2004 • 126 min • Budget $12M • Box office $43M

Drama

Ramón Sampedro, a former ship mechanic and poet, became paralyzed after a diving accident. For thirty years, he tirelessly campaigned for the legal right to end his life. He forms strong bonds with his lawyer Julia and his friend Rosa,…

7.6

7.9

13+

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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

2004 • 108 min • Budget $140M • Box office $209M

Adventure, Comedy, Family

When a fire kills all of their parents, three wealthy children are sent to live with a distant relative. They soon discover that their guardian is secretly planning to murder them and take their inheritance.

6.8

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