We have been treated to some fantastic ensemble casts so far this year, and another is hitting the big screen this week.
The Expendables 3 has one of the best line-ups of the summer, as they mix familiar faces with brand new names.
To celebrate the release of the movie, we take a look at some of the best ensemble casts of 2014 so far... there really are plenty to choose from.
- The Expendables 3
The Expendables 3 seems like the perfect place to start as Sylvester Stallone and co are back.
Stallone reprises the role of Barney Ross, while Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jet Li are some of the other actors reprising their role.
But The Expendables 3 is the biggest and most exciting line-up of the franchise to date, as Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Kelsey Grammer, Antonio Banderas, and Kellan Lutz are just a handful of the new names on board.
If you are looking for a dose of action this summer then The Expendables 3 is set to be the film for you - these movies really are a lot of fun.
And if you are an action film fan, this movie really is a who's who of this genre!!!
- The Monuments Men
The Monuments Men was one of the early 2014 films that I was looking forward... however, it was one of the early disappointments.
The movie saw George Clooney return to the director's chair for the adaptation of the World War II memoir.
The Monuments Men follows a group of unlikely soldiers as they were tasked with rescuing some of the greatest art masterpieces from the Nazis.
Clooney also lead an impressive cast list, as Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville & Bob Balaban also starred.
While The Monuments Men was a solid film from Clooney, I really did love it as much as I had expected to.
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel marked the return of Wes Anderson to the director's chair, in what was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2014 so far.
Anderson is famed for making off the wall and yet brilliant movies and The Grand Budapest Hotel was no different.
The movie saw him reunite with some actors he had worked with before, while casting some new faces.
Ralph Fiennes took on the central role of Gustave H, and he is joined by Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, and Saorise Ronan - to name but a few.
The movie follows Gustave H, a legendary concierge, who must prove his innocence when he is framed for murder.
The Grand Budapest Hotel was a critical smash, and could well find itself in the Oscar mix at the beginning of next year.
- American Hustle
Another movie that had everyone in a frenzy at the beginning of the year was American Hustle, as David O'Russell was back in the director's chair.
Set in the late seventies, the movie following a conning couple who are forced to work with the FBI.
O'Russell is famed for bringing together great casts for his films, but American Hustle really was the most impressive yet.
The film saw him reunite with Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence: all of whom were Oscar nominated for their work in the film.
Jeremy Renner, Robert de Niro, Jack Huston, Michael Pena, and Louis C.K. were just some of the other names on board.
American Hustle may have been a critical hit and nominated for a stack of Oscars, but it was a movie that really did leave me cold. Not even this fantastic cast could save this movie for me.
- August: Osage County
August: Osage County is another great ensemble film of the year, as there was acting talent at every turn.
The movie was a big screen adaptation of the Tracy Letts play, and saw John Wells back in the director's chair.
August: Osage County explores a family and the relationships within that family when they all come together after a death.
Meryl Streep takes on the role of matriarch Violent Weston, and was joined on the cast list by Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper, Ewan McGregor, Sam Shepard, Juliette Lewis, Abigail Breslin, & Benedict Cumberbatch.
August: Osage County is a movie that is packed with drama, laughs, and heartache from start to finish and boasts a cast that is on top form.
- Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy has been one of the most anticipated films of the summer as we were introduced to a new Marvel franchise.
Guardians of the Galaxy is perhaps Marvel's most adventurous film to date, as James Gunn took on the director's chair for his first Marvel film.
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, & Dave Bautista are the Guardians of the Galaxy: Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax.
They are joined by Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio Del Toro.
Guardians of the Galaxy has topped the box office in the UK and the U.S. and James Gunn has revealed that he is already working on ideas for the sequel.
Other ensemble movies to watch out for this year include The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, and Fury.
The Expendables 3 is out now.
Tagged in The Expendables