‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is top movie of 2014 | CNN

It wasn't the greatest summer for Hollywood, but it could have been worse. <strong>"22 Jump Street"</strong> proved that sequels didn't have to be the same old-same old -- mainly by making fun of the fact that it was, indeed, the same old-same old. The Jonah Hill-Channing Tatum vehicle earned $190 million (on a $50 million budget).

Summer box office winners and losers —

It wasn't the greatest summer for Hollywood, but it could have been worse. "22 Jump Street" proved that sequels didn't have to be the same old-same old -- mainly by making fun of the fact that it was, indeed, the same old-same old. The Jonah Hill-Channing Tatum vehicle earned $190 million (on a $50 million budget).

Columbia Pictures

<strong>"Guardians of the Galaxy"</strong> was the summer's top hit. It has made north of $250 million and has been beloved by critics as well, with a RottenTomatoes.com approval rating of 92%. With winter's "Lego Movie" also to his credit, star Chris Pratt, pictured, has emerged as 2014's top new star.

Summer box office winners and losers —

"Guardians of the Galaxy" was the summer's top hit. It has made north of $250 million and has been beloved by critics as well, with a RottenTomatoes.com approval rating of 92%. With winter's "Lego Movie" also to his credit, star Chris Pratt, pictured, has emerged as 2014's top new star.

Marvel Studios

<strong>"Transformers: Age of Extinction"</strong> was scorched by critics -- 18% on the Tomatometer -- and had the poorest domestic showing ($244 million) of any "Transformers" film. But director Michael Bay is still laughing all the way to the bank: The film has made $821 million overseas and <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/08/showbiz/movies/transformers-china-box-office-ew/">set a record in China</a>.

Summer box office winners and losers —

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" was scorched by critics -- 18% on the Tomatometer -- and had the poorest domestic showing ($244 million) of any "Transformers" film. But director Michael Bay is still laughing all the way to the bank: The film has made $821 million overseas and set a record in China.

Paramount Pictures

Star vehicles were a tough sell this summer, but Angelina Jolie's <strong>"Maleficent,"</strong> despite middling reviews, emerged as a solid hit, with $238 million domestically.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Star vehicles were a tough sell this summer, but Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," despite middling reviews, emerged as a solid hit, with $238 million domestically.

Walt Disney Pictures

Young adult adaptations continued their hot streak, with<strong> "The Fault in Our Stars,"</strong> based on the popular novel, making $124 million. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort were praised for their performances; the film rates 80% on the Tomatometer.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Young adult adaptations continued their hot streak, with "The Fault in Our Stars," based on the popular novel, making $124 million. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort were praised for their performances; the film rates 80% on the Tomatometer.

Perhaps the year's most talked-about film is <strong>"Boyhood,"</strong> Richard Linklater's story of a boy (Ellar Coltrane, right, with Lorelai Linklater and Ethan Hawke) growing up. It was filmed over the course of 12 years, so Coltrane really did grow up during production. The film has 99% critical approval and has made $16 million at the box office on a tiny budget. It has been touted as an Oscar hopeful.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Perhaps the year's most talked-about film is "Boyhood," Richard Linklater's story of a boy (Ellar Coltrane, right, with Lorelai Linklater and Ethan Hawke) growing up. It was filmed over the course of 12 years, so Coltrane really did grow up during production. The film has 99% critical approval and has made $16 million at the box office on a tiny budget. It has been touted as an Oscar hopeful.

IFC Films

Despite solid reviews -- 90% approval at Rotten Tomatoes -- Tom Cruise's<strong> "Edge of Tomorrow" </strong>flopped domestically, with barely a $100 million gross on a $178 million budget. Overseas, Cruise fared better; the film has made $264 million outside the United States.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Despite solid reviews -- 90% approval at Rotten Tomatoes -- Tom Cruise's "Edge of Tomorrow" flopped domestically, with barely a $100 million gross on a $178 million budget. Overseas, Cruise fared better; the film has made $264 million outside the United States.

Warner Bros.

Moviegoers gave thumbs down to <strong>"Hercules,"</strong> a sword-and-sandals film based on the Greek myth (and a Steve Moore comic). It made $70 million, despite the presence of star Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and director Brett Ratner.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Moviegoers gave thumbs down to "Hercules," a sword-and-sandals film based on the Greek myth (and a Steve Moore comic). It made $70 million, despite the presence of star Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and director Brett Ratner.

Kerry Brown/MGM/Paramount

Director Clint Eastwood's <strong>"Jersey Boys" </strong>must have seemed like a sure-fire project, with its roots in both a hit Broadway musical and the songs of the Four Seasons. But the film, starring, from left, Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, John Lloyd Young and Michael Lomenda, got mediocre reviews and made just $47 million.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Director Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys" must have seemed like a sure-fire project, with its roots in both a hit Broadway musical and the songs of the Four Seasons. But the film, starring, from left, Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, John Lloyd Young and Michael Lomenda, got mediocre reviews and made just $47 million.

Keith Bernstein/Warner Bros. Pictures

Two years ago, Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" was a huge hit, making $218 million domestically and more than double that overall. But <strong>"A Million Ways to Die in the West,"</strong> directed, written by and starring MacFarlane, right, flopped, making just $43 million and scoring a dismal 33% on the Tomatometer.

Summer box office winners and losers —

Two years ago, Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" was a huge hit, making $218 million domestically and more than double that overall. But "A Million Ways to Die in the West," directed, written by and starring MacFarlane, right, flopped, making just $43 million and scoring a dismal 33% on the Tomatometer.

Universal Pictures

The sizzling performance of Chadwick Boseman, center, as James Brown wasn't enough to make <strong>"Get on Up" </strong>into a hit. It's grossed $29 million on a $30 million budget.

Summer box office winners and losers —

The sizzling performance of Chadwick Boseman, center, as James Brown wasn't enough to make "Get on Up" into a hit. It's grossed $29 million on a $30 million budget.

Universal Pictures

The third time wasn't even close to the charm for <strong>"The Expendables 3," </strong>which rounded up its all-star action cast and grossed less than $30 million. (It has done even worse overseas.)

Summer box office winners and losers —

The third time wasn't even close to the charm for "The Expendables 3," which rounded up its all-star action cast and grossed less than $30 million. (It has done even worse overseas.)

Phil Bray/Lionsgate

The <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/adam_sandler/" target="_blank" target="_blank">critics usually hate</a> Adam Sandler movies. Audiences, however, love them. Not so with <strong>"Blended,"</strong> which made $46 million on a $40 million budget. However, overseas it has made $77 million, so if there's a "Blended 2," you'll know who it's for.

Summer box office winners and losers —

The critics usually hate Adam Sandler movies. Audiences, however, love them. Not so with "Blended," which made $46 million on a $40 million budget. However, overseas it has made $77 million, so if there's a "Blended 2," you'll know who it's for.

Warner Bros.

Summer box office winners and losers

Story highlights

"Guardians of the Galaxy" is top grosser of 2014

It beat out "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"

Summer ticket sales down 15% from last year

CNN —

The Star-Lord is officially the star of the box office.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” is now the top-grossing domestic movie of the year, Entertainment Weekly reports. According to data collected by Rentrak, the film has seen its domestic total rise to more than $274 million and is expected to rake in more than $16 million this holiday weekend.

Not that this has been the best summer for cinema.

Summer movies 2014: 5 things we learned

Forbes says that as of the last week of August, summer ticket sales were down by 15% in comparison with 2013. Forbes reports that “Nine films have topped $200 million on domestic charts so far this year, only seven of which were summer releases.

“With four months left in the year, if 2014 plays out about even with the last two years, then we should see a final domestic tally that’s down by between $200-300 million, or around perhaps a 2-3% decline from last year’s box office,” Mark Hughes writes for Forbes. “Notice, that number looks much less severe than the 25% figure for the summer, but then again that would also assume the next several months compare positively to the same period in 2013 and 2012.”

“Guardians,” which stars Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, takes the top of the box office title from “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” which was released in April.