top five movie review

Ragged around the edges and haphazardly hilarious though it may be, “ Top Five” ultimately satisfies as an often raunchy ramble about celebrity, sobriety, selling out and sex, courtesy of the immensely talented but too-often subpar movie star Chris Rock .

As befits this comedian who rarely feels the need to censor himself while riffing onstage or sounding off in an interview, there is both a frankness and a personal investment in this, his third directorial feature-film effort, that was sorely missing in 2003’s “ Head of State ” and 2007’s “I Think Love My Wife.” The need for “rigorous honesty”—a tenet insisted upon by Alcoholics Anonymous—is mentioned at some point and it often applies to what shows up on screen, too. 

Being on the brink of 50 can push an artist to take a good hard look at their career. And Rock probably doesn’t want to have his film legacy be ultimately summed up by a handful of lowbrow Adam Sandler comedies and three stints as a chatty cartoon zebra in the “ Madagascar ” franchise, as profitable as those outings might have been. 

So he reaches for “ Stardust Memories ” self-reflection along with some “ Before Sunrise ”-style walkabouts around Manhattan as a day-in the-life version of himself: a brilliant stand-up comic turned hack Hollywood movie clown named Andre Allen (like Rock, once declared “The Funniest Man in America” by “Time” magazine), who is exhibiting all the signs of a midlife crisis. 

“I don’t feel funny,” Andre tells an assistant. And who would after satisfying a hungry bottom-feeding public in a trio of monster-hit cop-buddy romps in an animal getup as Hammy the Bear? His catchphrase during arrests? 1“It’s Hammy time!” It’s akin to Tom Hanks playing Hooch instead of Turner while donning a mangy dog costume.

However, his choice to go legit with “Uprize!,” a wrongheaded historic epic about a slave revolt that results in a sea of dead white people, doesn’t look as if it’s going to turn his frown upside-down despite his hopes that it will become the Haitian answer to “Django Unchained.” Making matters worse is his having to engage in satellite radio interviews and a full-on press junket while answering the same inane questions repeatedly, especially about whether there will be a “Hammy the Bear 4.”

As someone who has experienced this medieval media ritual numerous times, what Rock presents cuts pretty close to the truth—especially when some of the more notorious journo junketeers show up unbilled (hey, it’s Stephen Schaefer!). Adding to Andre’s misery is a pending tabloid wedding to a demanding and desperate Bravo reality star ( Gabrielle Union , stunning in her shallowness) that clearly is more of a publicity stunt than a fairy-tale relationship.

What is likely to get the biggest rise out of audiences—including some who may bolt for the exit—are the outlandish bouts of randy antics. They include a flashback depiction of Andre’s self-declared rock-bottom moment fueled by a booze binge. It involves Cedric the Entertainer as a sleazy Houston concert promoter cavorting with two hookers amid a storm of pillow feathers in the comic’s hotel room, and, afterwards, the sight of Rock uncomfortably curled up in a fetal position as to avoid the massive stains left on his bed sheets. The only sequence that can  top that is an act of revenge that involves the insertion of a hot-sauce-soaked tampon where the sun doesn’t shine.

But for all that down-and-dirty business, what I most appreciated about “ Top Five” was the very human and adult connection between Rock and Rosario Dawson as a “New York Times” reporter named Chelsea Brown , who is doing a profile on Andre by trailing him for the day.

Most filmmakers barely know how to capitalize on Dawson’s talents other than to fill up the screen with her goddess-like beauty. But Rock treats her single mom who boasts a checkered romantic past along with strong opinions as an equal sparring partner, and even starts the film with a cold opening of the pair strolling the city streets while debating the state of the world.

Yes, some of the ethical questions involved in this relationship that go beyond the attraction they eventually share end up being quite troubling if not ridiculous. But the palpable natural rapport between the two actors goes a long way to mask such flaws, including Chelsea’s reaction to Andre’s conspiracy theory that the original 1968 “Planet of the Apes” was linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

“ Top Five” also benefits from a parade of cameos, with Rock capitalizing on his considerable showbiz connections to recruit an amazing lineup of name talent in small roles. That includes Kevin Hart as an agent (who provides a short yet pungent phone rant), JB Smoove as a bodyguard/chauffeur, Ben Vereen as Andre’s dad, Sherri Shepherd as his ex-girlfriend and a pre-accident Tracy Morgan as an old acquaintance. 

There is a tender undercurrent to the raucous goings-on, which includes the jokester trifecta of Whoopi Goldberg , Jerry Seinfeld and Adam Sandler as themselves while attending Andre’s bachelor party at a seedy neon-lit strip club. Eavesdropping on these comics as they discuss the virtues of pre-nups and offer marital tips to the man of honor is pure gold.

As for the film’s title, it is derived from a party pastime where players rank their all-time favorite rappers along with a sixth alternate. If you were to list “ Top Five”’s best surprises, No. 1 might be an appearance by a notorious gangsta rapper with a long history of arrests who croaks Charlie Chaplin ’s heartbreaking anthem “ Smile ” while behind bars.

Earlier, Andre describes Chaplin as one of his influences: “He started this shit—he’s the KRS-One of comedy.” Slapstick and sweetness. Raunch and romance. As a filmmaker, Rock has finally found the yin to go with his yang.

Susan Wloszczyna

Susan Wloszczyna spent much of her nearly thirty years at USA TODAY as a senior entertainment reporter. Now unchained from the grind of daily journalism, she is ready to view the world of movies with fresh eyes.

• Tom Papa as Drunk businessman
• Ben Vereen as Carl Allen
• Cedric The Entertainer as
• Kevin Hart as
• Romany Malco as Benny
• Tracy Morgan as
• Rosario Dawson as
• Whoopi Goldberg as
• J. B. Smoove as
• Hayley Marie Norman as Tammy
• Leslie Jones as
• Sherri Shepherd as
• Gabrielle Union as
• Adam Sandler as Adam Sandler
• Chris Rock as Andre
• Jerry Seinfeld as

Cinematography

• Manuel Alberto Claro

Leave a comment

Now playing.

I, The Executioner

The Apprentice

Daddy’s Head

Little Bites

House of Spoils

Memoir of a Snail

V/H/S/Beyond

Apartment 7A

Latest articles.

Justice for Alex Forrest

Fantastic Fest 2024: Table of Contents

A Communication With Light: Azazel Jacobs on “His Three Daughters”

The State of the 2024 Oscar Race

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review

One Man’s Crisis of the Soul (It’s a Comedy)

• Share full article

Movie Review: ‘Top Five’

The times critic manohla dargis reviews “top five.”.

By Manohla Dargis

• Dec. 11, 2014

In Chris Rock’s fast and blisteringly funny “ Top Five ” — a romantic comedy that’s also an extended riff on art, identity, authenticity and what it means to be a black entertainer — Mr. Rock plays Andre Allen, a comic in crisis. A stand-up star turned movie-franchise brand, Andre has climbed to the top of the box office playing Hammy, a kind of “Lethal Weapon” enforcer in a bear suit with a gun and a Schwarzenegger-style tag line: “It’s Hammy time!” (The words “600 million worldwide” are stamped on a movie trailer in blood-red letters.) Now, though, Andre is trying to get serious with “Uprize!,” a painfully misbegotten historical drama in which he plays a Haitian slave revolutionary.

The movie opens with Andre trying to publicize “Uprize!,” which is about to hit (and flop). Shooting in New York, Mr. Rock, who wrote and directed “Top Five,” sets the scene at warp speed with a compressed career retrospective that fills in Andre’s history, his greatest hits and current aspirations. Charlie Rose, playing himself, pops by briefly and early to solidify Andre’s place in the rarified celebrity firmament. Time magazine, Mr. Rose explains, anointed Andre the funniest man in America, an honor that’s soon slyly undercut when a fan asks Andre when the next Hammy movie hits. “I don’t feel like doing funny movies anymore,” Andre says later, “I don’t feel funny.” Given how funny the movie and Andre both are, Mr. Rock makes it tough to take this lament seriously.

Comics — they (still) don’t get no respect! In some ways, “Top Five” revisits the question of art and its uses that merrily hums through Preston Sturges’s “ Sullivan’s Travels ” (1941), about a director who wants his next picture to be “a true canvas of the suffering of humanity.” In “Stardust Memories” (1980), Woody Allen’s woebegone pastiche of “8 ½,” Mr. Allen plays Sandy Bates, a director troubled by a similar crisis in comedic faith. “I don’t feel funny,” Bates says. “I look around the world, and all I see is human suffering.” When Bates shows some executives his latest film, one asks, “Doesn’t the man know that he has the greatest gift that anyone can have — the gift of laughter?”

Chris Rock: The Times Interview

The filmmaker, actor and comedian chris rock discusses his career and his latest film, “top five.”.

One of the ideas that Mr. Rock teases throughout “Top Five” is whether the stakes are different when the funnyman with that gift is black. That becomes prime fodder for the interview that Andre does with Chelsea Brown (a wonderful Rosario Dawson), a reporter for The New York Times assigned to write a profile of him. Wearing a brimmed hat that she might have borrowed from Annie Hall, Chelsea is rapidly transformed from Andre’s interrogator — he berates her for asking hack questions — into his inevitable romantic foil. Initially accompanied by Andre’s entourage, including his friend and body man, Silk (JB Smoove, superb), the two break free and begin walking and talking through a New York that’s seductively romantic, partly because it’s grounded in real ideas about how we live now.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

• Cast & crew

User reviews

• grnhair2001
• Dec 9, 2015
• The_late_Buddy_Ryan
• Apr 17, 2015
• akash_sebastian
• Feb 7, 2015
• bbickley13-921-58664
• Dec 10, 2014
• Apr 17, 2020
• brentedwards89
• Feb 9, 2015
• Mar 23, 2015
• ThomasDrufke
• Jun 10, 2015
• Dec 13, 2014
• Dec 28, 2014
• nogodnomasters
• Jun 22, 2019
• SnoopyStyle
• Oct 15, 2015
• steelersman012
• Jan 1, 2015
• Feb 5, 2015
• Dec 14, 2014
• blakiepeterson
• May 1, 2015
• freshclean-66-318608
• Jun 8, 2015
• Dec 20, 2014
• Jan 5, 2015
• stevendbeard
• Dec 11, 2014
• Dan1863Sickles
• Dec 29, 2014
• dmytrobugayev
• Nov 17, 2018
• universalbizness22
• Jan 8, 2015
• Dec 18, 2015

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Movie Reviews

EW review: Chris Rock's Top Five

As brilliantly funny as Chris Rock is, he’s never been able to replicate the high-voltage danger and electricity of his stand-up act on the big screen. But in his latest film, the sharply satirical Top Five , he not only makes a case for why he should be a bona fide movie star, he also proves he’s a writer-director to be reckoned with. Rock plays Andre Allen, the former box office powerhouse behind a series of lowbrow Hammy the Bear movies in which he humiliated himself as an undercover cop in a grizzly suit. Newly clean and sober, he’s desperate to be taken seriously by the critics who’ve savaged his comedies, so he’s made a historical epic about a Haitian slave revolt. Promoting the earnest dud on the eve of his wedding to a gold-digging, Kardashian-esque reality star (Gabrielle Union), Andre reluctantly agrees to a lengthy interview with a New York Times reporter (a charmingly vulnerable Rosario Dawson ). The two walk around Manhattan, swapping flirty banter and dropping in on some of his old pals (Tracy Morgan, SNL’ s Leslie Jones, and a few A-list cameos too fun to spoil). Between punchlines, they both let their guards down. While Top Five isn’t exactly Rock’s Annie Hall , it is him riffing in the key of Woody Allen, deftly juggling introspection, romance, and slapstick. You come away from it with the thrilling sensation that you’re seeing an artist you thought you knew reinvent himself. Grade: A-

Related Articles

Top Five Review

Rigorous honesty..

Chris Rock's best work to date has been in his stand-up, where he - like the best of his colleagues - is razor sharp and uproarious with an uncanny ability to hone in on uncomfortable truths long enough for us to really feel them, but not so long that we're forced to look away. Top Five is the film that bridges the gap between the creator's on-screen and stage personas. Skillfully dancing the line between harsh and hopeful, Rock delivers his medicine with a delicious spoonful of honey. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Roth Cornet is an Entertainment Editor for IGN. You can chat with her on Twitter: @RothCornet , or follow Roth-IGN  on IGN.

In This Article

Where to Watch

More Reviews by Roth Cornet

Ign recommends.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Directed by Chris Rock

A comedian tries to make it as a serious actor when his reality-TV star fiancé talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her TV show.

Chris Rock Rosario Dawson JB Smoove Gabrielle Union Romany Malco Anders Holm Cedric the Entertainer Kevin Hart Tracy Morgan Sherri Shepherd Leslie Jones Hayley Marie Norman Adam Sandler Whoopi Goldberg Jerry Seinfeld Karlie Redd Ben Vereen Tom Papa Brian Regan DMX Jay Pharoah Michael Che Taraji P. Henson Gabourey Sidibe Annaleigh Ashford Greta Lee Hassan Johnson Tichina Arnold Phillip Boykin Show All… Kevin Barnett Luis Guzmán Charlie Rose Anthony Cumia Sam Roberts Jim Norton Paugh Shadow Ben Cole Corey Brown Genevieve Angelson Maia Wilson Teddy Coluca

Director Director

Producers producers.

Scott Rudin Jay-Z Kanye West Eli Bush Nelson George Jason Shrier Jeff Joseph Jason Sack Catherine Farrell

Writer Writer

Casting casting.

Victoria Thomas Matthew Maisto

Editor Editor

Anne McCabe

Cinematography Cinematography

Manuel Alberto Claro

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Adam Escott Nick Vanderpool

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Tony Hernandez Lila Yacoub

Lighting Lighting

Jason Velez

Camera Operators Camera Operators

George Bianchini Chris Reynolds

Production Design Production Design

Richard Hoover

Art Direction Art Direction

Victoria Ruskin

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Stephanie Q. Bowen

Special Effects Special Effects

Drew Jiritano

Composers Composers

Questlove Ludwig Göransson

Sound Sound

George A. Lara Bill Sweeney Jacob Ribicoff Justin Gray Deborah Wallach Marko Costanzo

Costume Design Costume Design

Makeup makeup.

Anita Gibson

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Paramount Pictures IAC Film Jax Media

Releases by Date

06 sep 2014, 12 dec 2014, 29 jan 2015, 20 mar 2015, 16 apr 2015, 12 may 2015, 04 may 2015, 08 may 2015, 20 may 2015, 27 may 2015, releases by country.

• Theatrical MA15+
• Premiere Toronto International Film Festival
• Theatrical 12
• Physical DVD

South Africa

• Theatrical R

102 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by SilentDawn ★★★★ 13

A gorgeous, vulgar, painful, and subversive urban fable; Top Five is both a wonderful satire on the nature of celebrities as well as a charming ode to magic still present in a changing society. Chris Rock absolutely kills it as Andre Allen, a comedic actor trying to make his mark in a more serious role. Discussing sobriety, fairy-tales, mistakes from the past, and the inability to change in the entertainment world; Chris Rock weaves a screenplay filled with as many hysterical moments as potent lines of whimsy and pathos. Rosario Dawson is fantastic as usual, and I'm slowly becoming a fan of hers.

The chemistry between Chris and Rosario is organic and constantly flowing, resulting in conversations that wouldn't feel…

Review by SilentDawn ★★★★ 19

Watched this again at a perfect moment, mainly because I'm head over heels in love with Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly . It's a goddamn masterwork of an album.

In regards to Top Five , It's still beautifully sweet, honest, and absolutely sincere. I feel that it's been swept under the rug by the bigger films of 2014, but I highly recommend a viewing.

Top 5: 1. Kendrick Lamar 2. Kanye West 3. 2Pac 4. Lil Wayne (early stuff) 5. Public Enemy

Review by Jason ★★★★ 3

Annie Hall + Before Trilogy + Chris Rock's stand-up comedy + absolutely beautiful Cinematography that encompasses the great city of New York by the dude who shot Melancholia + some of the most hysterical cameos I've ever seen (particularly two of the many) + quite possibly the funniest sex scene of all time = Top Five

Welcome home Chris Rock. I cannot wait to see what you direct next.

Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★ 3

The rare comedy that manages to get progressively funnier as it goes on. Also, I never would have thought that one of the best scenes of 2014 would feature a barking DMX.

Review by Mario 🟠🟢🔵 ★★★½

Not enough Sandler. Still pretty hilarious. Great soundtrack too. One Movie Every Day 2021 Adam Sandler Ranked

Review by Helen_S ★★★½ 6

Surprisingly a lot more thoughtful and poignant than I woulda expected a Chris Rock romcom to be. That DMX performance of Smile in the jail was something else LOL

Review by davidehrlich ★½ 1

DMX kills, and some of the stuff with Chris Rock's family works pretty well, but this movie is bad, despite some mildly enjoyable editorial jazz. it's also COMPLETELY out of touch with reality. more like BOTTOM Five, am i right??

Review by John ★★★★

Underneath the unrestrained raunch and vulgarity is a surprisingly thoughtful, measured, and authentic drama about a stand-up comedian turned Hollywood star who has arrived at a crossroads in his professional and personal life. Chris Rock, who by his own admission has had a middling movie career, has made a film that displays a heretofore unseen level of maturity while showcasing the talent of some of the best comics working today.

Review by Esteban Gonzalez ★★★ 3

"No everything does not mean something. Okay, sometimes a movie is just a movie. Sometimes a song is just a song. Sometimes a joke is just a joke.”

Top Five is the third time that Chris Rock sits on the director’s chair, and like in his previous movies he wrote the screenplay and starred in it, but this is by far his most critically acclaimed film. It works best when it focuses on the relationship developing during the course of one day between the character he plays, Andre Allen, a Hollywood celebrity comedian who is trying to become a serious actor, and Chelsea Brown, a NY Times reporter played by Rosario Dawson who is trying to write a piece on…

Review by Matt Singer ★★★★ 1

The first great Chris Rock movie. Full review: screencrush.com/top-five-review-chris-rock/

Review by russman ★★★½ 7

Chris Rock has a lot in common with Lars von Trier

Review by Josh Larsen ★★★½ 3

In which DMX performs a one-man version of Sullivan’s Travels. (Full review here .)

Similar Films

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster, upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Share Screen Time Rules with Relatives, Babysitters, and Other Caregivers

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 4 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Extremely vulgar and sexy, but also funny and sweet.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Top Five -- Chris Rock's showbiz comedy with romantic undertones -- is very, very funny but also very mature. Expect tons of sex talk, nudity, and innuendo, plus constant strong language ("f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "bitch,"…

Why Age 18+?

Andre has sex with two prostitutes; another man joins in. Naked female breasts a

Nearly constant use of words including "f--k," "motherf----r,&quo

The two main characters are recovering alcoholics. They go into a liquor store j

Tantrum-throwing, smashing up bottles of beer in a store. Brief fighting.

Pepsi can shown.

Any Positive Content?

Amid the racy/crude stuff, characters learn to trust in themselves, be honest, a

Andre has made a success of himself from the ground up and is mainly a good pers

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Andre has sex with two prostitutes; another man joins in. Naked female breasts and butts (both male and female) are shown. A couple has sex. A tampon is stuck in a naked man's behind. An engaged man kisses another woman. Scenes take place in strip clubs. Very, very strong innuendo, sex jokes, and sex talk throughout.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Nearly constant use of words including "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," the "N" word, "dick," "ass," and "bitch."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The two main characters are recovering alcoholics. They go into a liquor store just to look. One finds an old hidden bottle, opens it, and smells it. A character drinks a beer in a store and tries to buy more. In a flashback, characters smoke pot.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive messages.

Amid the racy/crude stuff, characters learn to trust in themselves, be honest, and follow their heart.

Positive Role Models

Andre has made a success of himself from the ground up and is mainly a good person who tries to do right, but he's often waylaid in his attempts. As a recovering alcoholic, his struggles are ongoing. Rosario Dawson's character is also a recovering alcoholic who's basically a good person but sometimes lies.

Parents need to know that Top Five -- Chris Rock 's showbiz comedy with romantic undertones -- is very, very funny but also very mature. Expect tons of sex talk, nudity, and innuendo, plus constant strong language ("f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "bitch," the "N" word, and more). Characters have sex with prostitutes and more than one partner, and certain fetishes are shown -- as are topless women and naked male and female bottoms. The two main characters are recovering alcoholics; both are tempted several times, and one falls off the wagon and drinks a beer, then throws a violent tantrum in a store and smashes several beer bottles. There are also flashbacks that show fighting and pot smoking. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (4)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Funny but I had to close my kids eyes in one scene

A porn movie with naked hookers and deviant disgusting themes., what's the story.

Comedian-turned-actor Andre Allen ( Chris Rock ) has made a series of idiotic but successful comedies and now wants to do something serious -- i.e. his new movie, the Haitian slave revolt movie UPRIZE! Meanwhile, his fiancee ( Gabrielle Union ) is a reality TV star, so every detail of their upcoming wedding is being prepared for the cameras. And now a journalist ( Rosario Dawson ) is spending the day with him, trying to get him to talk about something other than the usual sound bytes. But as he begins revealing the truth about himself, it turns out that she has some dark secrets, too. Over the course of the long day, could they be beginning to develop feelings for each other?

Is It Any Good?

Top Five is both a showbiz comedy and a Hollywood love triangle, but everything it does is rooted in something genuine. It wrestles with the passions, fears, and frustrations of the high-risk business that is show business, not to mention everyday human anxiety around having to explain yourself -- or having to avoid unwanted attention based on celebrity. But despite all the glitz and glamour, everything comes down to a universal choice: How do you believe in yourself, and how do you follow your own heart? That, plus it's very, very funny.

Certainly one of the greatest living comedians, Rock has directed two pretty good movies -- Head of State (2003) and I Think I Love My Wife (2007) -- and has a successful, if not particularly distinguished, movie career. Now, like his character, who wishes to do something more and to tell the truth, he has directed and starred in the finest movie of his career to date. (The title refers to personal lists of favorite hip-hop artists.)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Top Five 's sex scenes. How are they used to help the character on his journey? Are there any scenes based on love and respect? What makes them different? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

How is alcoholism portrayed in the movie? How do the characters maintain? How do they fall off the wagon, and what happens?

How does the movie portray drinking ? Do you think the characters' struggle with alcoholism is portrayed realistically? Are the consequences of their addiction realistic?

How does Chris Rock represent himself here? How close do you think the character is to his real self? Is he a role model ?

Why does the main character's fiancee want to be famous? What price has she paid for it?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 12, 2014
• On DVD or streaming : March 17, 2015
• Cast : Chris Rock , Rosario Dawson , Gabrielle Union
• Director : Chris Rock
• Inclusion Information : Black directors, Black actors, Female actors, Indigenous actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Comedy
• Run time : 101 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : strong sexual content, nudity, crude humor, language throughout and some drug use
• Last updated : June 2, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Funny People

Notting Hill

Best classic comedy films.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Den of Geek

Top Five review

Chris Rock's latest outing is a semi-autobiographical take on the rise and fall (and rise?) of a comedy star...

• Share on Facebook (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Linkedin (opens in a new tab)
• Share on email (opens in a new tab)

Your mileage may vary on inside-track Hollywood comedies. Among the greats, there are biting satires like The Player or Swimming With Sharks and broader, sillier works like Tropic Thunder or Bowfinger , but the kind of rarefied air in which they largely unfold can sometimes be suffocating.

Thankfully, that’s not the case with Top Five , Chris Rock’s first project as a writer-director since 2007’s I Think I Love My Wife , and inarguably his best so far. With a semi-autobiographical approach, the film clearly has a lot of influences from other films but thrives on a brand of charm that is entirely its own.

Andre Allen (Rock) is a stand-up comedian turned movie star who is best known for a trilogy of cringe-making comedy movies in which he stars as a crime-fighting bear called Hammy. He’s also a recovering alcoholic, struggling to get his fans to take him seriously in the run-up to his heavily publicised wedding to Kardashian-like Erica Long, (Gabrielle Union.)

To promote his latest film Uprize , a widely maligned film in which Allen plays Haitian revolutionary Dutty Boukman, Andre agrees to be interviewed by New York Times reporter Chelsea Brown, (Rosario Dawson) despite having endured the slings and arrows of her newspaper’s film critic for years. As Chelsea gently probes for something she can build into a more substantial profile, Andre has to come to terms with himself and his public image.

Ad – content continues below

The film takes place over the course of the opening day for Uprize , with Andre and Chelsea wandering around the streets of New York as she conducts her interview and he gradually opens up about himself. In this regard, it’s most reminiscent of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, albeit in the rapid and tangential register of Rock’s own stand-up routines.

The result is more Kevin Smith than Woody Allen, but that’s no bad thing. If you enjoy Smith’s brand of filthy monologuing, you should enjoy passages such as Andre’s screed about the original Planet Of The Apes opening the day before a significant historical event and Chelsea’s anecdote about her increasingly discomfited sex life.

Sullivan’s Travels , High Fidelity and Funny People all loom in the background too, but it never comes off as derivative and that’s partly down to how personal this is for Rock. Looking at the awful comedy sequels in which his character has starred, it can’t be a coincidence that he wrote the film in his trailer while shooting Grown Ups 2 .

In between cute dialogues with Chelsea, the press junket circuit is also up for parody, as Andre tries to reconcile the historical importance of Uprize with his own comedic USP, with many interviewers wanting to know about Hammy sequels or simply asking him why he isn’t funny any more.

Having been on the majority side of a roundtable interview, I found that stuff funny and well observed, but it might not necessarily go over as well with a general audience. Likewise, I winced and laughed out loud at once at the sight of a billboard for Andre’s passion project where he mugs and wields a machete, with a pull quote that merely calls the film “Interesting”.

We’ve seen films like this before, with artists martyring themselves to their public perception, most recently in Oscar hopefuls Birdman and Whiplash . This isn’t as heavy as either of those, but the air is a little thinner as a result and in lesser hands, it probably would have ran out of breath much faster.

Where Top Five really shines is in the Before -esque tracking shots, with Rock on likeable, fast-talking but vulnerable form as a wounded ego and Dawson at her radiant best as she cuts through his bullshit (think of her similar role in Smith’s Clerks II , except she shares top billing this time.)

Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

There’s the inevitable bevy of independently-spirited cameos from Rock’s Hollywood friends (including one performer whose late, unpredictable musical number may well represent 2015’s finest cameo work) but as a director, Rock is great at generating the same level of chemistry he enjoys with Dawson between everyone else too, even in very short bursts.

As a stylised self-portrait, Top Five is the furthest thing from a vanity project imaginable. It’s never cynical, but it still drops some well-observed truth bombs about the nature of celebrity, within the bounds of a sweet romantic comedy. It’s a grand leap forward for Rock as a filmmaker and even if it’s not one of the top five best films of the year, we think he’d be perfectly OK with that.

Follow our  Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here . And be our  Facebook chum here .

Mark Harrison | @MHarrison90

Mark is a writer from Middlesbrough, who once drunkenly tried (and failed) to pitch a film about his hometown to a director from Pixar. Fortunately, he…

Top Five (2014)

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, “TOP FIVE” tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he's left behind.

Chris Rock Will Direct Kevin Hart in the Comedy Co-Parenting

Universal is in negotiations for Chris Rock direct Kevin Hart in a new comedy Co-Parenting, based on an original idea the two stars cooked up.

Boo! A Madea Halloween Trailer Will Leave You Speechless

Tyler Perry is back with a new Madea adventure that just might rival Ernest Scared Stupid in sheer bizarre Halloween weirdness.

Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween Starts Production

Tyler Perry returns to write, direct, and star as Madea in the new horror-comedy Boo! A Madea Halloween, with Bella Thorne co-starring.

Tracy Morgan Is Redd Foxx in the Richard Pryor Biopic

Tracy Morgan will star opposite Mike Epps and Kate Hudson in The Weinstein Company's upcoming expose on comedian Richard Pryor.

Chris Rock Will Host the 2016 Oscars

Actor/filmmaker Chris Rock will return to host the Academy Awards ceremony for the second time, after hosting the 2005 telecast.

Tracy Morgan Returns to Movies in Ice Cube's Fist Fight

Tracy Morgan is in talks to star in Fist Fight, which would mark his first role since being severely injured in a 2014 car crash.

Henchmen Voice Cast Announced, Animated Short Released

James Marsden, Thomas Middleditch, Rosario Dawson and Alfred Molina lead a stellar voice cast for Bron Studios' Henchmen.

Gabrielle Union Joins Sleepless Night and Keanu

Gabrielle Union has signed on for the action-thriller Sleepless Night and she is also in talks for the comedy Keanu.

Amy Schumer HBO Comedy Special Gets Director Chris Rock

Amy Schumer will have her first comedy special on HBO, directed by Chris Rock, which will be filmed at the Apollo Theater on May 29.

2015 MTV Movie Awards Nominations

Guardians of the Galaxy, Fault In Our Stars and Neighbors tie for the most 2015 MTV Movie Awards nominations with seven apiece.

Julian Roman's 10 Best Movies of 2014

Our East Coast correspondent has Whiplash, marches to Selma, embraces Boyhood, but won't go Interstellar!

Pauly Shore Wants to Make Encino Man 2

Pauly Shore reveals that Encino Man writer Shawn Schepps has an idea for the sequel, but it hasn't been written yet.

Top Five Red Band Trailer Starring Chris Rock

Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in the critically-acclaimed Top Five, with a red band trailer showcasing the comedy's R-rated humor.

First Top Five Clip Features Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan

Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan list their favorite rappers in a scene from the Paramount Pictures comedy Top 5, in theaters December 12th.

Top Five Poster Featuring Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson

Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in the new romantic comedy Top Five, which has delivered a poster featuring a who's who from the world of stand-up.

Top Five Trailer Starring Chris Rock

Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in Top Five, which follows a New York comedian who reflects on his life.

Chris Rock Comedy Top Five Heads to Paramount

Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in Top Five as a New York comedian who re-evaluates his life after meeting a journalist.

Rosario Dawnson Joins Chris Rock Comedy

Chris Rock will write, direct, and star in this romantic comedy that takes place within the world of show business.

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

Things went splat for Chris Rock in his first two tries as a director ( Head of State, I Think I Love My Wife) . In Top Five, Rock finds himself at last. He plays Andre Allen, a former stand-up comic who hit it big as a gun-toting bear in the Hammy series. Now Andre doesn’t want to be funny anymore. His dead-serious new movie, Uprize!, about the 1791 Haitian revolution, is DOA.

Screenwriter Rock sets the film in Manhattan on a day when Andre is being interviewed by Chelsea Brown (the glorious Rosario Dawson, in her best screen role to date), a reporter for the New York Times. They’re wary of each other at first. She’s a working single mom, appalled by his privilege. He’s engaged to Erica (Gabrielle Union), who has turned their lives into reality TV.

Sean Combs and Employee Bound and Raped Woman, Sold Assault Film 'as Pornography,' Lawsuit Says

Sean combs and sam bankman-fried are sleeping in the same brooklyn jail cell, kim porter's 'memoir' is number one on amazon. its 'author' can't say it's real, children of diddy and kim porter say their mother 'did not' write a book.

It’s a shitload of plot. What lifts it is the odd sense of trust that develops between Andre and Chelsea – they’re both recovering alcoholics. Rock and Dawson strike sexy-silly vital sparks. A scene in which they visit a liquor store just to stare and let their fingers brush the bottles treats temptation with raw honesty.

Don’t get me wrong. Rock delivers the laughs, big ones, laced with razor-sharp observations on everything from pop culture to racial politics. A flashback to Andre’s past involving an orgy, hookers and Cedric the Entertainer is fall-on-the-floor funny. A trip to the housing projects that shaped Andre deepens the humor and lets Chelsea meet his homeys, including Sherri Shepherd, Michael Che and Tracy Morgan. Top Five refers to their game of picking favorite hip-hop artists. But the search here is for authenticity. There are star cameos galore, from rappers to comedians, all too good to give away. The sweetest surprise in this raunchy comic ride is how artfully Rock lets down his guard. His confident, prowling wit as a stand-up has finally found its way to the screen, enhanced by a bracing vulnerability. Top Five is Rock’s best movie by a mile. It’s authentically hilarious.

E. Jean Carroll's Powerful Testimony Against Donald Trump Is Becoming a Movie

• Carroll v. Trump
• By Jon Blistein

'Still Bringing Joy': Samm Levine Celebrates 'Freaks and Geeks' 25th Anniversary

• Quarter Century
• By Kalia Richardson

Kristen Bell and Adam Brody Will Do This Till Their Faces Fall Off

• head to head
• By Alan Sepinwall

Jimmy Kimmel Responds to Donald Trump Reviewing His Oscars Performance (Again)

• By Emily Zemler

Selena Gomez, David Henrie Reprise Roles in Disney Spinoff 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place' Trailer

• Cast a Spell

Most Popular

'monsters: the lyle and erik menendez story' cast guide: meet the actors portraying the menendez family, hollywood can’t ditch its teslas fast enough: “they're destroying their leases and walking away” , diddy’s frantic text to cassie after hotel assault read aloud during bail appeal, archaeologists solve mystery behind black tombstone found in jamestown carrying an english knight, you might also like, naughty dog chief neil druckmann on birthing ‘the last of us’ for tv, adding character backstory that video game fans ‘will eat up’ in season 2, lady gaga channels harley quinn in celine gown with dramatic shoulders at ‘joker: folie à deux’ london premiere, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, the disney+ ‘paid sharing’ deal is way worse than netflix’s, nfl owners want in on own rings of honor.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Top Five Review

08 May 2015

102 minutes

Shot on the streets of New York in loose, long takes, there’s a candid documentary charge to Top Five that suggests Rock’s found a hustling style to match his voice. Liberated by the film’s baggy, day-in-the-life structure, riffing on everything from Planet Of The Apes to wheelchair Presidents, he’s revived his free-range form. Rock directs himself here — or at least, a version of himself. The booze backstory is fiction, as is the reality-star marriage, but it’s hard not to see Andre Allen as his sold-out alter-ego, jaded by compromise when, tears-of-a-clown style, all he really wants is to be Taken Seriously.

It takes a masochistic comedian to laugh at his own career, but that’s Rock for you. Movies about fame really shouldn’t be accessible — how can you relate when so few people have experienced it? Rock’s tactic, just like his stand-up, is exaggerated confessional — you’re in on the joke from the get-go, with a front-row view of the celebrity circus in all its identity-stripping, integrity-destroying, privacy-nuking horror.

Still, as Andre squiggles round the city on his talk-and-walkabout, Top Five’s romance treads a well-worn path. Strip out the F-bombs and bad-taste explosions, and underneath is actually a sweet-natured, old-school screwballer. In fact, the plot’s not far off a 21st century gender-reversal of It Happened One Night, with Rock in the Claudette Colbert role (wealthy, spoilt, about to get hitched) and Rosario Dawson as Clarke Gable’s grasping reporter. Trust us: Top Five’s idea of journalism is from a 1950s fantasy — stars going through a meltdown don’t generally invite The New York Times to film them, or meet the family, or make out in the restroom. It’s a symphony of false notes, but Rock and Dawson keep things grounded with a believable chemistry and deep, open character work.

Joining Rock’s parallel fame dimension are a raft of cameos, with Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart and DMX all sarcastically credited as Themselves. Priceless spot: Jerry Seinfeld, in a strip club, trying to be bling, ending up blong.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 88% Transformers One Link to Transformers One
• 100% Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Link to Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
• 98% His Three Daughters Link to His Three Daughters

New TV Tonight

• 100% Colin from Accounts: Season 2
• 100% Matlock: Season 1
• 100% Brilliant Minds: Season 1
• 67% Murder in a Small Town: Season 1
• 43% Rescue: HI-Surf: Season 1
• -- Grotesquerie: Season 1
• -- Nobody Wants This: Season 1
• -- Everybody Still Hates Chris: Season 1
• -- Doctor Odyssey: Season 1
• -- Social Studies: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 94% The Penguin: Season 1
• 78% Agatha All Along: Season 1
• 63% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 86% High Potential: Season 1
• 44% Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
• 64% Twilight of the Gods: Season 1
• 100% From: Season 3
• 74% Kaos: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 78% Agatha All Along: Season 1 Link to Agatha All Along: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

100 Best Movies on Disney Plus (September 2024)

The 100% Club: Movies With a 100% Tomatometer Score on Rotten Tomatoes

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Lupita Nyong’o Explains How Variety Has Guided Her Career Decisions on The Awards Tour Podcast

TV Premiere Dates 2024

• Trending on RT
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Best 2024 Action Movies
• TV Premiere Dates
• Best ’90s TV Shows

Best Movies in Theaters (2024)

The 10 Best Movies Of The 1950s, Ranked

Often considered the beginning of the end for the Golden Age of Hollywood (which had some wild stories of its own ), the 1950s were home to a plethora of fantastic films that post-war audiences cherished. Though perhaps far removed from our modern standards of filmmaking, the '50s was a vital decade in moviemaking, one that gave us theatrical classics that we still relish today. Everything from your grandparent's favorite John Wayne flick to some of Alfred Hitchcock's finest hours first hit theaters in this decade. While the Hays Code was still in effect, certain filmmakers challenged the moral restraints that were put on them at the time, leading into the New Hollywood Era the following decade.

Though it would be impossible to fit every cinematic triumph of the 1950s on this list, we've managed to cram some of the best the decade has to offer here — and not every entry is an American picture! If you feel more at home watching Jimmy Stewart, Marlon Brando, John Wayne, and James Dean than some of the modern stars out there, then these are the movies for you.

Godzilla (1954)

The first non-American feature to make it on our list is "Godzilla." Known sometimes as "Gojira" in its native Japan, this is a monster movie of epic proportions. Meant as a kaiju stand-in for Japan's postwar nuclear fears, director Ishirō Honda and Toho launched the Godzilla brand with this black-and-white classic that wowed audiences. But between the impressive miniatures, the groundbreaking special effects, and the eerie warning about the potential dangers of nuclear weapons, "Godzilla" is arguably one of the most important films in Japanese cinema.

"A far cry from its B-movie successors," Tim Martin of The Daily Telegraph  wrote of the film, "It was a sober allegory of a film with ambitions as large as its thrice-normal budget, designed to shock and horrify an adult audience." Even if the sequels were a bit uneven, the original "Godzilla's" ability to launch what's considered the longest running feature film franchise makes it stand out. In fact, Japan's "Gojira" was so popular that a re-edited Americanized version — "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" — was released only two years later, getting the monster across the Pacific, since becoming a global phenomenon.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Already a notable star because of his previous 1955 film, "East of Eden," James Dean blew audiences away once again with his second feature, "Rebel Without a Cause." One of the first major Hollywood pictures to tackle the real-life struggles of the American teenager, this flick was released not long after Dean's death in a fatal car accident. It remains a powerful film that plays as a social commentary on not just teen violence and emotional instability, but also the role that one's home life has in them. Jim Stark (Dean) counters the typical '50s suburban teenager, painting juvenile delinquency as a social disease that can be contracted from any socio-economic status.

Dean is on fire here as a powerful star who commands your attention every moment he's on screen. It's no wonder that his bust is on display at the Griffith Observatory to this day, a location that has become synonymous with the film (sorry, "La La Land"). The chemistry between Dean and Natalie Wood is off the charts, and it's easy to see why Wood went on to be a notable star herself. One of the most important "coming-of-age" films out there, "Rebel Without a Cause" went on to make quite the mark on Hollywood — and the rest of America, too.

The Bridge on River Kwai (1957)

Based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle, "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a British motion picture directed by David Lean that came to be known as one of the greatest war films ever made. Set in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, the film follows a British regiment of soldiers, led by Alec Guinness' Colonel Nicholson, who have been sent to a POW camp in Thailand after being captured by the Japanese. Tasked with building a bridge (yes, over the River Kwai), the British troops struggle through their captivity, giving audiences not grand battle sequences like most WWII features, but a complex character drama set during one of the harshest times in recent history.

But the real reason "The Bridge on the River Kwai" stands out is because of Alec Guinness' powerful performance as the determined Colonel Nicholson, predating his more famous role in the original "Star Wars" by two decades. In many respects, the film is about a man who loses clear sight of the bigger picture while working to maintain his honor, challenging every notion of what honor truly means in wartime. Over the years, it has earned a vaunted position in the history of World War II films.

Vertigo (1958)

It's hard to look back on the '50s and not note Hitchcock's genius. Having been considered "the greatest film of all time" by the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound Magazine in 2012 (usurping even "Citizen Kane"), "Vertigo" is a true masterclass in the thriller genre. Following retired cop John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart) as he battles a bout of acrophobia (complete with, you guessed it, vertigo), he's tasked with following Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) on behalf of her husband, an old collegue of Scottie's. Incidentally, he begins to fall for her, only to uncover a mystery so mind-bending you'd almost think you were watching a Hitchcock picture ...

Of course, "Vertigo"  is a Hitchcock film, and one of his absolute best. We won't give away the big twist here, but you have to see it to believe it. Aside from a rock-solid plot, "Vertigo" was also a revolutionary piece of filmmaking in its use of distorted perspective via the dolly zoom, which conveys Scottie's vertigo while on the job. As usual, Jimmy Stewart is exceptional here, playing the part the only way that he can — with pure conviction — and though "Vertigo" failed to claim any Academy Awards, it was one of the first 25 films to ever be added to the United States' National Film Registry in 1989.

Shane (1953)

Westerns were quite the rage in the post-war era as audiences reflected on so-called simpler times. Not that the Old West was actually simpler, mind you, but the romanticization of it certainly felt that way. Considered the quintessential Western, "Shane" is a classic horse opera in every sense. As the titular wandering gunfighter, played by Alan Ladd, makes his way into a small ranching community, he finds himself caught between the ranchers and an encroaching cattle baron who threatens their livelihood. It may sound like just your average Western, but this flick made a massive impact on the genre going forward.

Between the breathtaking cinematography (which captures the full scope of Wyoming's magnificent Grand Tetons) and the excellent performances by Ladd and Van Heflin in particular, "Shane" is one of the finest motion pictures of the 1950s. So much so that it's still revisited in Hollywood today — it  influenced the James Mangold film "Logan," which includes scenes from the film as well as key lines of dialogue. No wonder Woody Allen once called it "a great movie [that] can hold its own with any film, whether it's a Western or not" (via The New York Times ). It really is that good.

Rear Window (1954)

The second Alfred Hitchcock film on this list, and another starring the uber-talented James Stewart, "Rear Window" is a masterpiece of its own. Earning itself four Academy Awards, this 1954 thriller pushed audiences into an uncomfortable position as wheelchair-bound Jeff Jefferies (Stewart) begins to spy on his neighbors. It's all innocent fun at first, something to pass the time, until Jefferies believes he's witnessed a murder. As he begins to uncover this apparent homocide plot, Jefferies is thrown into a whirlwind of obsession, one that threatens his life and the lives of those closest to him.

While Hitchcock and Stewart are at their absolute best here, Grace Kelly is just as wonderful on the screen. As Jefferies' girlfriend Lisa, she puts herself in harm's way to help uncover the mystery behind the neighboring apartment (and the woman believed to have been murdered there), with Hitchcock creating riveting suspense that'll quicken your heartbeat. If you've missed "Rear Window" before now, let this be the sign that convinces you to watch this four-time Oscar nominated thriller — it's an exceptional piece of work.

The Searchers (1956)

Could we really have a Top 10 of the 1950s without John Wayne? The Duke made plenty of great films in this decade (such as "Rio Bravo"), but his best is by far "The Searchers." Directed by John Ford and co-starring Jeffrey Hunter, "The Searchers" follows Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards (Wayne) as he tracks down his missing niece Debbie (Natalie Wood), who has been abducted by a group of Comanche Indians. Filmed in Ford's most beloved shooting location, Monument Valley, the picture makes us feel the vast hopelessness of Edwards' quest. But Wayne's character perseveres, even if his attitude toward the Comanche is rigid and unabashedly tinged with racism. 

As far as John Wayne and John Ford collaborations are concerned, there isn't one better. "The Searchers" is generally considered the greatest Western ever made (indeed, one of the greatest of all time), and for good reason. The film's striking scenery, impeccable direction, and Wayne's outstanding performance make it unbeatable. It's messy, violent, and morally complicated, but it's a motion picture that has stuck with us for the better part of a century. And, like a few others on this list, it was one of the first films ever added to the U.S. National Film Registry as a result.

Rashomon (1950)

While "Godzilla" might be the most recognizable of the two Japanese productions on this list, "Rashomon" is by far among the most influential. Directed by celebrated filmmaker Akira Kurosawa — who would go on to make "Seven Samurai" a few years later — "Rashomon" is a compelling tale of diverging perspectives. The same events, a shocking assault of a woman (Machiko Kyō) and the murder of a samurai (Masayuki Mori) involving a bandit named Tajōmaru (Toshiro Mifune), are told from different points of view, each of which make the testifiers look better or worse than before. It's wonderful to watch as some of these actors, especially Mifune, play starkly different versions of their characters throughout the film.

This storytelling technique would influence a surprising host of productions (later dubbed the "Rashomon Effect"), but it was done to perfection here. Unsurprisingly, the 1950 Japanese picture garnered international acclaim, receiving an honorary Oscar for its significance before the Academy Awards had an official international film category. Kurosawa's impeccable direction mixed with the inspired use of dappled light, experimental cinematography, and a tight script make "Rashomon" a delight to watch, whether it's your first time or 10th.

Ben-Hur (1959)

A remake of a silent 1925 film titled "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" (which itself was based on a Lew Wallace novel), the 1959 version of "Ben-Hur" is an incredible biblical epic that puts all others to shame. Starring Charlton Heston as the titular Judah Ben-Hur, the film tells the story of a Jewish prince living in first-century Judea under the rule of the Roman Empire. During this time, he comes into contact with Jesus Christ (Claude Heater) while pursuing his own course of revenge on the occupying Romans. Of course, the film is best known for its spellbinding (and nearly 10-minute-long) chariot race sequence that'll captivate you instantly.

Aside from the spectacular plot, the grand scale of "Ben-Hur" alone makes it worth the watch. With an incredible attention to detail regarding costuming and set pieces, it feels as if one has traveled back in time to a different era. "Ben-Hur" received its fair share of Academy Awards during its time (winning 11 of them), and has since been celebrated as a cinematic triumph. Clocking in at three and a half hours long, "Ben-Hur" might seem daunting, but it's a beautiful motion picture that highlights the very best of studio filmmaking and makes us yearn for the age of biblical cinematic epics.

On the Waterfront (1954)

Nominated for 12 different Oscars and walking away with eight of them, "On the Waterfront" is arguably the greatest motion picture of the 1950s. A fantastic crime drama that highlights the struggles of working-class Americans, the film was directed by filmmaker Elia Kazan, who maintains his clear and crisp style here. Marlon Brando plays prize fighter and dockworker Terry Malloy as he finds himself mixed up with the wrong crowd, struggling to get out from under the thumb of Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), a mob boss who is anything but friendly. The film minces no words regarding New Jersey-based organized crime, and heavily promotes the unionization of the dockworkers similarly caught under Friendly's control.

Brando is firecracker here, and it's no wonder that he won an Academy Award for his work on the picture. "On the Waterfront" solidified Brando as one of Hollywood's most notable stars long before "The Godfather," pushing his talents to their on-screen limit. Sure, he had already done "A Streetcar Named Desire" (also with Kazan) and "Julius Caesar," but his work as the conflicted and persistent Terry Malloy is something equally impressive. As another one of the first 25 films to be added to the United States' National Film Registry, "On the Waterfront" is a classic you cannot miss.

'May December' Review: Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore Face Off in Todd Haynes' Drama

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

The Big Picture

• May December explores the bizarre and confusing world of Gracie, a housewife with a dark secret, through the eyes of an outsider.
• Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore deliver excellent performances as frenemies, while Charles Melton holds his own against them.
• The film combines comedy and tragedy, but struggles to strike the right balance, resulting in a lack of true synergy.

This review was originally part of our coverage for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

True crime , while no longer on the hype train that it was a few years back, is still an insanely popular genre . People love listening to podcasts about serial killers, watching documentaries about cons gone wrong, and enjoying fictionalized versions of these criminals in their movies and television shows. This craze is perhaps what leads actress Elizabeth Berry ( Natalie Portman ) to pick up the role, playing the fictionalized version of Gracie Atherton-Yoo ( Julianne Moore ) in May December . As far as criminals go, Gracie might seem completely non-threatening on the surface. She's a housewife who loves to bake and is affectionate with her husband and their two kids. Then you find out her crime. At 36 years old, she seduced and raped Joe Yoo ( Charles Melton ), who was 13 years old at the time. Convincing Joe that they were in love, Gracie went on to have their children in jail and the two eventually got married.

May December

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.

After twenty years, this tabloid "romance" is resurfacing again when Elizabeth is cast in the role of Gracie, and she comes to spend some time with Gracie in order to better get her bearings playing the character. As an outsider, we are put into Elizabeth's shoes as she navigates the confusing and bizarre world of Gracie. We watch her interact with her young husband, who obviously has never known any real relationship besides this one, and watch as she treats him more like a son than a husband. We meet her estranged children from her first marriage, some of which are older or the same age as Joe. We peel back the layers of Gracie's friendly demeanor to reveal the frail and insecure woman beneath .

Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Are Dynamic, But Charles Melton Is the Surprise in 'May December'

When you have two powerhouses like Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore playing off each other, it's hard to find any faults in the performances . Moore is so delectably dramatic as Gracie, who is both naive and cunning. Her immediate dislike of Elizabeth is fair, she's had her experiences with people trying to take her down over the years, but it's hard to sympathize with her knowing her crimes. On the flip side, Portman plays Elizabeth with all the literal drama required of this character who is trying to embody her subject. As much as she is trying to be honest to who Gracie is, she's also quietly pushing for Joe to realize that he is not in the loving marriage he thinks he is.

Speaking of Joe, Melton holds his own against Moore and Portman . He is the surprising success of the film and is able to effortlessly embody both the natural youthfulness of Joe while adopting that suburban dad persona he puts on when he's trying to appear like a member of the neighborhood. Although Joe does his best to blend in to the community, he sticks out like a sore thumb. He not only piques the curiosity of Elizabeth, but also of the audience. One standout scene sees Joe sitting on a rooftop with his son Charlie ( Gabriel Chung ) as he is about to graduate from high school. The two smoke weed and his son is surprised to learn that his Joe has never smoked before. But the implication there that Joe himself realizes is that his relationship and marriage to Gracie has robbed him of many typical life experiences.

Melton, who is primarily known for teen dramas like Riverdale , is able to balance the simplicity of Joe's character with his burgeoning curiosity into a life he never got to lead. Has he always been in love with Gracie, or was he simply told he was in love with her? (Obviously, the answer is obvious to us but not to him.)

Todd Haynes Doles Out Comedy While the Script Plays on Tragedy in 'May December'

It's clear director Todd Haynes enjoyed himself with this film. The way he uses suspenseful music and close-camera zooms adds a bit of drama into mundane moments . But if he's trying to impart some dark comedy, then the script is trying to lean into the tragedy. Written by Samy Burch , there's a lot that is hinted at not-too-subtly throughout the film about Joe and Gracie's relationship. It's one that is clearly uneven when it comes to power dynamics and is even emotionally manipulative at times.

Though it isn't said explicitly, May December is obviously inspired by the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau . In that story, Letourneau was a school teacher and not a pet shop worker like Gracie. But she did meet a 12-year-old named Vili Fualaau, who she seduced and raped. Like Gracie, Letourneau also gave birth to his children, though it was during sentencing and between prison sentences, unlike Gracie who seemingly gave birth in jail.

It seems odd at times to make light of something that is a very real crime, and Burch's script is determined to remind us that, although Joe and Gracie appear happy now, she is a predator . When Elizabeth watches the tapes of boys auditioning for Joe's part, it's repulsive to imagine these kids as anything other than kids. So when the film tries to shift tonally to a more comedic edge, it's not fully successful. The balance isn't struck properly so there isn't true synergy.

At the end, May December is only a glimpse into a moment in time . As we watch Elizabeth play Gracie, we see the culmination of her work visiting Gracie and her family. Whether or not her impression is accurate or exaggerated is for you to decide. While Haynes isn't at his best with May December, a talented cast and an intriguing story make the film an entertaining exercise all the same.

May December is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

• Movie Reviews
• Natalie Portman
• Julianne Moore