Is Annie Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, Annie is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies.
It features a runtime of 118 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Annie Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2014, Annie emerges as a significant entry in the Comedy, Drama, Family domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Annie is a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Unlike standard genre fare, Annie attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
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?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Annie (2014) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.2/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Annie Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: Annie is a Comedy, Drama, Family film that brings laughter through clever writing and comedic timing, offering both entertainment and social commentary. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
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 film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags 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. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together running gags and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Annie Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: 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, 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 the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Annie Box Office Collection
| 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.
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Full Cast & Crew of Annie
- Quvenzhané Wallis – Annie Bennett
- Jamie Foxx – William "Will" Stacks
- Rose Byrne – Grace Farell
- Cameron Diaz – Miss Colleen Hannigan
- Bobby Cannavale – Guy
Top Highlights
Quvenzhané WallisAnnie Bennett
Jamie FoxxWilliam "Will" Stacks
Rose ByrneGrace Farell
Cameron DiazMiss Colleen Hannigan
Bobby CannavaleGuy
Adewale Akinnuoye-AgbajeNash
David ZayasLou
Amanda TroyaPepper
Zoe CollettiTessie
Nicolette PieriniMia
Where to Watch Annie Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Netflix🎟️ Rent on
Apple TV
Amazon Video🏷️ Buy on
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTubeParents Guide & Age Rating
Annie is rated PG. It is generally suitable for all ages.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.2/10, and global collection metrics, Annie stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2014 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annie movie hit or flop?
Annie has received mixed reviews with a 6.2/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is Annie worth watching?
Annie is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Comedy, Drama, Family movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch Annie online?
Annie is currently available for streaming on Netflix. You can also check for it on platforms like Netflix depending on your region.
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How Annie Compares & Where it Ranks
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.
