The films of 2013 covered everything from the apocalypse and aliens to Wall Street. Matthew McConaughey had a career renaissance, Jonah Hill once again proved that he can do drama as well as comedy and countless new faces appeared in Hollywood hoping to make it big. In the spirit of optimism and excitement for 2014 in cinema, here are the breakout stars to watch this year:
1. Miles Teller — In the past few years, Miles Teller has gone from unknown to budding star, recognizable in films like “Project X” and “21 And Over.” This year, Teller will move into the ranks of household names. He’s already starred in the romantic comedy “That Awkward Moment” and will star opposite Shailene Woodley in the upcoming post-apocalyptic film “Divergent.” Teller has proven himself not only as a witty sidekick, but also as a leading man with heartthrob potential. He is definitely here to stay.
2. Michael B. Jordan — Michael B. Jordan won over critics and audiences alike last year with his performance in “Fruitvale Station,” which told the story of the last day of Oscar Grant’s life. Like Teller, Jordan proved his versatility and comedic chops by appearing in “That Awkward Moment.” Next year, Jordan will be in the “Fantastic Four” reboot along with Teller, which will ensure his status as a chameleon if he’s successful.
3. Lupita Nyong’o — After graduating from the Yale School of Drama, Lupita Nyong’o landed her first feature film role in “12 Years a Slave,” where she portrayed a sexually abused slave named Patsy. Nyong’o is a fashion icon as well as an Oscar nominee, making her one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. On Feb. 28, Nyong’o will appear alongside Liam Neeson in the action film “Non-Stop.”
4. Jamie Dornan — After Charlie Hunnam’s very public dropout from “Fifty Shades of Grey,” fans awaited anxiously for a new man to fill the role of Christian Grey. After several weeks, it was announced that Irish model, musician and actor Jamie Dornan would take his place. Fans have received the news much more enthusiastically than when Hunnman took the role. If Dornan can carry his audience past his “Fifty Shades” career, he’ll be big.
5. Dakota Johnson — In addition to Dornan, another star to watch this year is his “Fifty Shades” co-star, Dakota Johnson. As the daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, Johnson is already tabloid-famous by default. However, she’s made quite a career for herself already through her own merits. The 24-year-old star has made appearances in films including “21 Jump Street,” “The Social Network” and “The Five-Year Engagement.” This year, Johnson will take to the silver screen a total of three times in a drama, a rom-com and an action film. Even before “Fifty Shades” comes out, Johnson will already be well-known by moviegoers.
6. Dane DeHaan — This May, Dane DeHaan will star opposite Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” Playing Harry Osborn, DeHaan will have the chance to rehash the psychotic yet three-dimensional persona that gained him recognition in the 2012 film “Chronicle.” In addition to “Spider-Man,” DeHaan also stars alongside Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza in the zombie-comedy film “Life After Beth,” which premiered at Sundance in January.
7. Shailene Woodley — Shailene Woodley has been acting for years, starting from the age of 16 in the television show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” Her big break came in 2011, with her Golden Globe-nominated performance in “The Descendants.” This year, Woodley might become the next Jennifer Lawrence. As the “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” series have shown, adaptations of young adult novels shoot their leads into superstardom if they do well at box office. This year, Woodley will star in two of those — “Divergent” and “The Fault in Our Stars.”
While it’s hard to beat the level of filmmaking that took place in 2013, these up-and-coming stars will ensure that we can look forward to some great performances.