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Every year French Toast Sunday takes a look at the best of the past film year with a series of top 5 lists. By using a ranked score from our collective lists, we determine the overall highest rated choices. We’re rounding out our top fives with our favorite movie scenes of the past year. WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!


Honorable Mentions

The Final Battle in Guardians of the Galaxy / Riggan in Times Square in Birdman / The Seduction in Under the Skin / The Chinese Restaurant/Car Chase in Nightcrawler / Groot Saves the Day in Guardians of the Galaxy / Car Chase in The Raid 2 / Ski Chase in The Grand Budapest Hotel / Tripping in 22 Jump Street / Opening in 22 Jump Street / Killing the Russians in 16 seconds in The Equalizer / The Wave Planet in Interstellar / Dr. Mann’s Aftermath in Interstellar / Beach Battle in Edge of Tomorrow / Mom Before College in Boyhood / The Tank Sequence in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes / Everything is Awesome in The Lego Movie / The Beach in Under the Skin / First Band Practice in Whiplash / In the Darkness in Snowpiercer / The Classroom in Snowpiercer / The Motel Scene(s) in Birdman / Dwight and Wade Showdown in Blue Ruin / Bros Before Hoes Sabatoge in Neighbors / The Diner Scene in The Guest / The Ending in Boyhood / Cap, Falcon, & Black Widow Fight The Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier / Karaoke in The Skeleton Twins / Prison Mud Fight – The Raid 2 / The Double Ear Plug Walk in Begin Again / Lou confronts Nina in Nightcrawler / The Ending in Enemy / The Club in John Wick


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#05 / The Kitchen Fight – The Raid 2

(Watch a shaky version of the scene here.)
The all-out awesomeness that was The Raid: Redemption had us wondering how director Gareth Edwards could ever top himself. The answer was his surprisingly beautiful and predictably bad ass follow up The Raid 2. The movie is filled with bone crushing action scenes but one scene in particular earns a spot on the list. The climax of the film featuring, you guessed it – a one on one fight sequence is an exercise in physical endurance for the actors and the audience as you contemplate how long you can possibly go before having a heart attack. I’m just gonna say it: it’s one of the greatest action scenes of all time. – Lindsay


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#04 / Prison Break – Guardians of the Galaxy

(Watch the scene here.)
This scene is when the group comes together and we see them working as a unit for the first time. Even though they have some work to do until they become a cohesive team, this is the first glimpse of what abilities they bring to the table. The Guardians go into action against the security and other prisoners as they demonstrate their ingenuity. There’s also the fun of Rocket’s dark humor when he formulates a plan. – Rob


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#03 / Quicksilver’s Time in a Bottle – X-Men: Days of Future Past

(Watch the scene here.)
This scene involves mutant Professor X (James McAvoy), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and newcomer Quicksilver (Evan Peters) breaking mutant terrorist Magneto (Michael Fassbender) out of government captivity. It’s when Quicksilver has to use his speed powers to save his fellow mutants that the scene truly thrills. The special effects, music, and action coalesced to produce one of our favorite 2014 scenes. – Robert


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#02 / In Desi’s Bed – Gone Girl

(Watch a shitty Youtube version of the scene here.)
David Fincher’s Gone Girl is the type of movie you should know as little as possible going into it. Every twist and turn is a shocker to the full degree but one of the biggest jaw-droppers in the movie is the truly disturbing bedroom scene between Amy and her latest victim of manipulation/supreme creep ex-boyfriend Desi Collings (Neil Patrick Harris). It’s a pivotal moment in the movie for a few reasons but it will cement itself in your brain thanks to the striking visuals and chilling score. Every time I watch this scene, my heart races and my muscles tighten like my body is geared to go in fight or flight mode. It’s a chilling scene that’s not easy to shake. – Lindsay


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#01 / Amy’s “Cool Girl” Speech – Gone Girl

(There’s no great clip of this so just go watch the movie!)
The first hour or so of Gone Girl is a riveting, mysterious set up for the moment that will completely knock you on your ass – the reveal that the missing Amy has staged her own disappearance and set up her husband for cheating and generally failing to be the man she married. Watching her meticulous plan go into action via a delightfully evil montage evolves into Amy’s thoughts about the concept of “Cool Girls” who put aside their actual selves to be a desirable version for their man. Amy has no sympathy for these women despite being one herself, and here you see her shedding away her disguise to reveal her true self. – Jess


What are your favorite movie scenes from 2014?