Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

2004 in film

none


none

2004 in film is an overview of events, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies, festivals, a list of country-specific lists of films released, notable deaths and film debuts. Shrek 2 was the year's top-grossing film, and Million Dollar Baby won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Evaluation of the year

American film critic and professor Emanuel Levy described 2004 as "a banner year for actors, particularly men." He went on to emphasize, "I can't think of another year in which there were so many good performances, in every genre. It was a year in which we saw the entire spectrum of demographics displayed on the big screen, from vet actors such as Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman, to seniors such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Dustin Hoffman, to newcomers such as Topher Grace. As always, though, the centre of the male acting pyramid is occupied by actors in their forties and fifties, such as Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson, Kevin Kline, Don Cheadle, Jim Carrey. In terms of film genres, Levy stated, "The year's most prominent genre was the biopicture, a genre that in the past has suffered from lack of prestige and abundance of clichés. There were a dozen worthy biopictures, including Alexander, The Aviator, Beyond the Sea, Finding Neverland, Hotel Rwanda, Kinsey, Motorcycle Diaries, and Ray. Celebrating entrepreneurs, playwrights, singers, sex researchers, composers, and politicians, they continued to show one alarming bias: They were all about men. You don't have to be a feminist critic or a sociologist to deduct that, as far as real or reel heroes are concerned, women matter less in Hollywood and American society at large. Can't anyone come up with a strong part for a femme-driven bio a la British film Vera Drake, without relegating women to showbiz personae." Levy also stated, "Classic Hollywood cinema, which reached its height during the golden age of studio system and has been in decline, is kept alive by one major force: Clint Eastwood. The "Man With No Name" has become the "Man With the Best Name", a director who's experiencing an unparallel artistic height with “Million Dollar Baby,” a follow-up to the equally sublime Mystic River."

Highest-grossing films

The top 10 films released in 2004 by worldwide gross are as follows:

RankTitleDistributorWorldwide gross12345678910
*Shrek 2*DreamWorks$935,454,538
*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*Warner Bros.$798,076,924
*Spider-Man 2*Sony$783,766,341
*The Incredibles*Buena Vista$631,442,092
*The Passion of the Christ*Icon / Newmarket$611,486,736
*The Day After Tomorrow*[20th Century Fox](20th-century-fox)$552,639,571
*Meet the Fockers*Universal / DreamWorks$522,657,936
*Troy*Warner Bros.$497,409,852
*Shark Tale*DreamWorks$374,583,879
*Ocean's Twelve*Warner Bros.$362,744,280

Shrek 2 set a new record for total gross by an animated film making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The record was later surpassed by Toy Story 3 in 2010. It also remained the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film until it was surpassed by Despicable Me 2 in 2013 and the highest-grossing non Disney or Universal animated film until it was surpassed by Ne Zha 2 in 2025. On July 7, Spider-Man 2 reached a $200 million domestic gross in a record time of eight days. On July 18, after 19 days in release, Spider-Man 2 reached $300 million domestically in another record time. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has the highest international revenue of $546 million compared to Shrek 2s $487.5 million.

The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, became the first blockbuster motion picture of 2004 and also the highest grossing R-rated film domestically. Meet the Fockers beat 2003's Bruce Almighty record for the highest-grossing comedy film; both were released by Universal.

Events

28The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces that 267 films released in 2004 are eligible for consideration of the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Awards

Category/Organization[10th Critics' Choice Awards](10th-critics-choice-awards)
January 10, 2005[62nd Golden Globe Awards](62nd-golden-globe-awards)
January 16, 2005Producers, [Directors](57th-directors-guild-of-america-awards), [Screen Actors](11th-screen-actors-guild-awards), and Writers Guild Awards[58th BAFTA Awards](58th-british-academy-film-awards)
February 12, 2005[77th Academy Awards](77th-academy-awards)
February 27, 2005DramaMusical or Comedy
Best Film*Sideways**The Aviator**Sideways**The Aviator**Million Dollar Baby*
Best DirectorMartin Scorsese
*The Aviator*Clint Eastwood
*Million Dollar Baby*Mike Leigh
*Vera Drake*Clint Eastwood
*Million Dollar Baby*
Best ActorJamie Foxx
*Ray*Leonardo DiCaprio
*The Aviator*Jamie Foxx
*Ray*
Best ActressHilary Swank
*Million Dollar Baby*Annette Bening
*Being Julia*Hilary Swank
*Million Dollar Baby*Imelda Staunton
*Vera Drake*Hilary Swank
*Million Dollar Baby*
Best Supporting ActorThomas Haden Church
*Sideways*Clive Owen
*Closer*Morgan Freeman
*Million Dollar Baby*Clive Owen
*Closer*Morgan Freeman
*Million Dollar Baby*
Best Supporting ActressVirginia Madsen
*Sideways*Natalie Portman
*Closer*Cate Blanchett
*The Aviator*
Best Screenplay, Adapted*Sideways*
Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor*Sideways*
Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Best Screenplay, Original*Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*
Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, and Pierre Bismuth
Best Animated Film*The Incredibles**The Incredibles*
Best Original ScoreHoward Shore
*The Aviator*Gustavo Santaolalla
*The Motorcycle Diaries*Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
*Finding Neverland*
Best Original Song"Old Habits Die Hard"
*Alfie*"Al otro lado del río"
*The Motorcycle Diaries*
Best Foreign Language Film*The Sea Inside**The Motorcycle Diaries**The Sea Inside*

Palme d'Or (57th Cannes Film Festival): :Fahrenheit 9/11, directed by Michael Moore, United States

Golden Lion (61st Venice International Film Festival): :Vera Drake, directed by Mike Leigh, United Kingdom

Golden Bear (54th Berlin International Film Festival): :Head-On (Gegen die Wand), directed by Fatih Akın, Germany

2004 films

By country/region

  • List of American films of 2004
  • List of Argentine films of 2004
  • List of Australian films of 2004
  • List of Bangladeshi films of 2004
  • List of Brazilian films of 2004
  • List of British films of 2004
  • List of Canadian films of 2004
  • List of Chinese films of 2004
    • List of Hong Kong films of 2004
  • List of French films of 2004
  • List of Indian films of 2004
    • List of Bengali films of 2004
    • List of Bollywood films of 2004
    • List of Kannada films of 2004
    • List of Tamil films of 2004
    • List of Telugu films of 2004
    • List of Malayalam films of 2004
  • List of Italian films of 2004
  • List of Japanese films of 2004
  • List of Mexican films of 2004
  • List of Pakistani films of 2004
  • List of Russian films of 2004
  • List of South Korean films of 2004
  • List of Spanish films of 2004

By genre/medium

  • List of action films of 2004
  • List of animated feature films of 2004
  • List of avant-garde films of 2004
  • List of crime films of 2004
  • List of comedy films of 2004
  • List of drama films of 2004
  • List of horror films of 2004
  • List of science fiction films of 2004
  • List of thriller films of 2004
  • List of western films of 2004

Births

  • January 10 – Kaitlyn Maher, American singer and actress
  • January 16 – Harry Collett, English actor
  • January 25 – Rohan Chand, American actor
  • February 19 – Millie Bobby Brown, English actress and producer
  • March 5 – Kit Connor, English actor
  • April 21 – Emma Tremblay, Canadian actress
  • April 23 – Teagan Croft, Australian actress
  • May 3 – Mel Maia, Brazilian actress
  • May 13 – Ava Acres, American actress
  • May 22 – Peyton Elizabeth Lee, American actress
  • June 8 - Francesca Capaldi, American actress
  • June 19
    • Louis Ashbourne Serkis, English actor
    • Millie Gibson, British actress
  • July 2 – Caitlin Carmichael, American actress
  • July 4 – Alex R. Hibbert, American actor
  • July 6 – Dylan Kingwell, Canadian actor
  • July 16
    • Ruby Barnhill, English actress
    • Amiah Miller, American actress
  • July 17
    • Logan Allen, American actor
    • Shamon Brown Jr., American actor
  • August 5 – Albert Tsai, American actor
  • August 14 – Marsai Martin, American actress
  • August 19 – Siena Agudong, American actress
  • September 10 – Gabriel Bateman, American actor
  • September 23 – Anthony Gonzalez, American actor
  • October 3 – Noah Schnapp, American actor
  • October 10 – Zain Al Rafeea, Syrian-born Norwegian actor
  • November 1
    • Jayden Bartels, American YouTuber, singer and actress
  • November 11 – Oakes Fegley, American actor
  • November 16
    • Marlon Kazadi, Canadian actor
    • Jack Champion, American actor
  • November 27 – Jet Jurgensmeyer, American actor
  • December 5 – Jules LeBlanc, American YouTuber, singer and actress
  • December 9 – Nico Parker, English actress
  • December 22 – Bryce Gheisar, American actor
  • December 30 – Lyliana Wray, American actress

Deaths

MonthDateNameAgeCountryProfessionNotable films
**January***2*Etta Moten Barnett102USActress
*2*Lynn Cartwright76USActress
*4*Brian Gibson59UKDirector
*4*Jeff Nuttall70UKActor
*6*Philip Gilbert72CanadaActor
*7*Ingrid Thulin77SwedenActress
*8*Reginald H. Morris85UKCinematographer
*9*Lyndon Brook77UKActor
*10*Spalding Gray62USActor
*10*Sidney Miller87USActor, Director
*13*Phillip Crosby69USActor
*14*Catherine Craig88USActress
*14*Uta Hagen84GermanyActress
*14*Ron O'Neal66USActor, Director
*17*Ray Stark89USProducer
*17*Noble Willingham72USActor
*22*Ann Miller83USActress, Dancer
*27*H.B. Haggerty78USActor
*27*Jack Paar85USActor
*28*Elroy Hirsch80USActor
*28*Joe Viterelli66USActor
*29*Andrew J. Kuehn66USDirector
**February***2*Bernard McEveety79USDirector
*4*Michael P. Moran59USActor
*8*Robert F. Colesberry57USProducer
*10*J. C. Quinn63USActor
*11*Tony Pope56USVoice Actor
*12*Martin Jurow92USProducer
*13*Carole Eastman69USScreenwriter
*13*John Trumper80UKFilm Editor
*14*Elois Jenssen81USCostume Designer
*15*Jan Miner86USActress
*23*Carl Anderson58USSinger, Actor
*23*John Randolph88USActor
*26*Russell Hunter79UKActor
*26*Ralph E. Winters94CanadaFilm Editor
*29*Mark Cavell64USActor
**March***2*Mercedes McCambridge87USActress
*3*Arthur Kempel59USComposer
*5*Walt Gorney91AustriaActor
*6*Frances Dee94USActress
*7*Michael Stringer79UKProduction Designer, Art Director
*7*Paul Winfield64USActor
*8*Robert Pastorelli50USActor
*10*Wilhelm von Homburg63GermanyActor
*15*René Laloux74FranceAnimator, Director
*15*John Vallone50USProduction Designer
*18*Richard Marner82RussiaActor
*21*Ludmilla Tchérina79FranceActress, Choreographer
*24*Richard Leech81IrelandActor
*25*Robert Arden81UKActor
*26*Fred Karlin67USComposer
*26*Jan Sterling82USActress
*27*Peter Diamond74UKStuntman, Actor
*28*Peter Ustinov82UKActor, Director
*29*Charles Grenzbach80USSound Engineer
*29*Simone Renant93FranceActress
**April***1*Carrie Snodgress58USActress
*4*Ralph Kemplen91UKFilm Editor
*4*Austin Willis87CanadaActor
*7*Victor Argo69USActor
*17*Bruce Boa73CanadaActor
*18*Frances Rafferty81USActress
*19*Tim Burstall77UKDirector, Screenwriter
*19*Philip Locke76UKActor
*21*Mary Selway68UKCasting Director
*25*Albert Paulsen78USActor
**May***1*Nelson Gidding84USScreenwriter
*3*Anthony Ainley71UKActor
*4*Hugh Gillin78USActor
*5*Vern Taylor71USActor
*6*Virginia Capers78USActress
*9*Tommy Farrell82USActress
*9*Alan King76USActor, Producer
*14*Anna Lee91UKActress
*17*Tony Randall84USActor
*18*Lincoln Kilpatrick73USActor
*23*Trudy Marshall84USActress
*27*Patience Cleveland73USActress
*28*Irene Manning91USActress
*31*Robert A. Burns60USArt Director
**June***3*Harold Goodwin86UKActor
*4*Charles Correll60USCinematographer
*4*Nino Manfredi83ItalyActor, Director
*4*Anthony Steffen73ItalyActor
*5*Virginia North58UKActress
*5*Mark Northover54UKActor
*5*Ronald Reagan93USActor, 40th President of the United States
*6*Judy Campbell88UKActress
*7*Donald Trumbull95USVisual Effects Artist
*9*Barbara Whiting73USActress
*10*Ray Charles73USSinger, Actor
*13*Robert Lees91USScreenwriter
*14*Max Rosenberg89USProducer
*18*Doris Dowling81USActress
*18*George Buck Flower66USActor
*19*Colin McCormack62UKActor
*26*Muriel Angelus92UKActress
*30*Chris Alcaide80USActor
**July***1*Marlon Brando80USActor
*6*Eric Douglas46USActor
*6*Jimmie F. Skaggs59USActor
*9*Carlo Di Palma79ItalyCinematographer
*9*Isabel Sanford86USActress
*11*Dorothy Hart82USActress
*12*Jeff Morris69USActor
*13*George Mallaby64UKActor
*17*Pat Roach67UKActor
*18*Richard Ney87USActor
*19*Irvin Yeaworth78GermanyDirector
*21*Jerry Goldsmith75USComposer
*22*Muriel Angelus92UKActress
*23*Serge Reggiani82ItalyActor, Singer
*27*Sam Edwards89USActor
*28*Eugene Roche75USActor
*31*Laura Betti77ItalyActress
*31*Virginia Grey87USActress
**August***1*Vivian Austin84USActress
*3*Geraldine Peroni51USFilm Editor
*8*Paul Garner95USActor
*8*Fay Wray96CanadaActress
*9*David Raksin92USComposer
*12*Peter Woodthorpe72UKActor
*16*Mildred "Acquanetta" Davenport83USActress
*18*Elmer Bernstein82USComposer
*18*Hugh Manning83UKActor
*22*Daniel Petrie83CanadaDirector
*25*Donald M. Ashton85UKProduction Designer
*26*David Myers90USCinematographer
*27*William Pierson78USActor
*30*Bob Sherman63USActor
**September***8*Frank Thomas92USAnimator
*9*Caitlin Clarke52USActress
*10*O. L. Duke51USActor
*11*Michael A. Carter77UKSound Engineer
*11*Fred Ebb76USLyricist
*15*Bernard Gribble77UKFilm Editor
*17*Evi Rauer88EstoniaActress
*18*Russ Meyer82USDirector
*19*Annabella Incontrera61ItalyActress
*19*Robert Lawrence90CanadaFilm Editor
*24*Tim Choate49USActor
*30*Michael Relph89UKProducer
*30*Ignatius Wolfington83USActor
**October***3*Janet Leigh77USActress
*5*Rodney Dangerfield82USActor, Comedian
*8*Irina Demick67FranceActress
*10*Christopher Reeve52USActor
*17*Julius Harris81USActor
*26*Patricia Knight89USActress
*28*Gil Mellé72USComposer
*28*Charles F. Wheeler88USCinematographer
*30*Peggy Ryan80USActress, Dancer
*31*Mari Aldon78LithuaniaActress
**November***6*Robert Lang70UKActor
*6*Elizabeth Rogers70USActress
*6*Edward Warschilka76HungaryFilm Editor
*7*Howard Keel85USActor
*9*Ed Kemmer83USActor
*12*Norman Rose87USActor
*13*Carlo Rustichelli87ItalyComposer
*13*Don Sharpe75UKSound Engineer
*14*Michel Colombier65FranceComposer
*19*Helmut Griem72GermanyActor
*20*Anna Keaveney55UKActress
*22*Jerry Bick81USProducer
*25*David Bailey71USActor
*26*Philippe de Broca71FranceDirector, Screenwriter
*27*John Drew Barrymore72USActor
*28*Molly Weir94UKActress
**December***1*William Sackheim85USScreenwriter, Producer
*4*Carl Esmond102AustriaActor
*9*Jean Tournier78FranceCinematographer
*10*John Monks Jr.94USScreenwriter
*15*Maria Perschy66AustriaActress
*16*Stefano Madia49ItalyActor
*20*Howard Feuer56USCasting Director
*21*Richard Hamilton83USActor
*28*Jerry Orbach69USActor
*29*William Boyett77USActor
*29*Liddy Holloway57New ZealandActress

Film debuts

  • Ivana Baquero – Romasanta
  • Emily Blunt – My Summer of Love
  • Yvette Nicole Brown – Little Black Book
  • Eddie Cahill – Miracle
  • Josh Duhamel – The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • Brian F. Durkin – Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
  • Alice Eve – Stage Beauty
  • Will Forte – Around the World in 80 Days
  • Rupert Friend – The Libertine
  • Nick Frost – Shaun of the Dead
  • David Harbour – Kinsey
  • Amber Heard – Friday Night Lights
  • Jon Heder – Napoleon Dynamite
  • Ed Helms – Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story
  • Jonah Hill – I Heart Huckabees
  • Cheryl Hines – Along Came Polly
  • Arielle Kebbel – Soul Plane
  • Toby Kebbell – Dead Man's Shoes
  • Rebekah Kochan – Eating Out
  • Riki Lindhome – Seeing Other People
  • Jason Mantzoukas – Terrorists
  • Joel McHale – Spider-Man 2
  • Denis Ménochet – Automne
  • Jason Momoa – Johnson Family Vacation
  • Mircea Monroe – Cellular
  • Chris Pine – The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
  • Alba Rohrwacher – An Italian Romance
  • Belén Rueda – The Sea Inside
  • Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace
  • Amanda Seyfried – Mean Girls
  • Cobie Smulders – Walking Tall
  • Olivia Wilde – The Girl Next Door
  • Patrick Wilson – The Alamo

References

References

  1. [https://emanuellevy.com/oscar/oscar-2004-film-year-in-review-5/ Oscar 2004 : Film Year in Review]
  2. "2004 Worldwide Box Office". [[IMDb]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 2004 in film — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report