14 Movies Directed, Written By, Or Starring Women In 2014

Women are responsible for 50% of box office, but only had 15% of starring roles in major films in 2013. Behind the camera there are 5 men for every female crew member. Here are some films that help redress that balance.

1. Oculus - Out Now

Relativity Media

Plot: Siblings Kaylie and Tim (Karen Gillen, Brandan Thwaites) believe a supernatural mirror in their home caused the violent deaths of their parents when they were kids, and set out to try and prove it, with spooky results.

Cast: Karen Gillen, Katee Sackhoff, Rory Cochrane, Brandan Thwaites

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: June 13.

2. Belle - May 2

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Plot: Inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle. The mixed–race daughter of a British Naval officer and an African woman, Dido is taken to England by her father, where her presence forces society to confront its views on race.

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson.

Director: Amma Assante / Music by: Rachel Portman

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: June 13.

3. Palo Alto - May 9

Tribeca Films

Tribeca Films

Plot: Based on the short story collection by James Franco, the film follows a group of college age teens as they experiment with alcohol, drugs, sex, and violence.

Cast: Emma Roberts, James Franco, Val Kilmer

Director: Gia Copolla / Written by: Gia Copolla

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: TBC.

4. Maleficent - May 30

Walt Disney Pictures

Walt Disney Pictures

Plot: The untold story of Disney's most iconic villain. Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) places a curse upon the human king's newborn infant Aurora (Elle Fanning), only to realise she may hold the key to peace in the kingdom.

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple.

Written by: Linda Woolverton.

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: May 28.

5. Tammy - July 2

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Plot: After discovering her husband's infidelity, Tammy (Melissa McCarthy) hits the road with her foul-mouthed Grandma (Susan Sarandon) for company.

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Toni Collette, Sandra Oh, Kathy Bates, Dan Ackroyd.

Written by: Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone.

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: July 4.

6. Step Up: All In - July 25

Summit Entertainment

Summit Entertainment

Plot: With a competition in Las Vegas offering a shot at fame and fortune, characters from previous Step Up films join forces to try and take first place.

Cast: Briana Evigan, Ryan Guzman, Alyson Stoner, Adam Sevani.

Director: Trish Sie.

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: August 1.

7. Lucy - August 8

EuropaCorp

Plot: A woman kidnapped and forced to transport drugs accidentally ingests some, giving her superhuman abilities. Included here for being proper summer action film, focusing on a female hero with superpowers - something neither Marvel nor DC have managed thus far. Bravo, Luc Besson.

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman.

Trailer: Yes

UK Release date: August 22.

8. If I Stay - August 22

MGM

Plot: Based on the best selling novel. After a car accident kills her family and leaves 17-year old Mia in a coma, she must decide whether to wake up, or to let go.

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mirelle Enos, Lauren Lee Smith, Liana Liberato.

Written by: Shauna Cross.

Trailer: Not yet.

UK Release date: TBC.

9. Dark Places - September 5

Mandalay Pictures

Plot: Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn. A woman who survived a masscare is forced to confront the event by a group obsessed with solving notorious crimes.

Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Hendricks, Chloë Grace Moretz.

Trailer: Not yet.

UK Release date: TBC.

10. Laggies - September 26

A24

Plot: A woman stuck in perma-adolescence falls in with a group of teenagers after her 10-year high school reunion, and takes a week off work to hang with her new friends.

Cast: Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell.

Director: Lynn Shelton / Written by: Andrea Seigel.

Trailer: Not yet.

UK Release date: TBC.

11. Blackbird - November 14

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

Plot: After winning a Grammy, emerging artist Noni Jean is struggling with pressures of fame until she meets a young police officer.

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver, Nate Parker, Danny Glover.

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood / Written by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Trailer: Not yet.

UK Release date: TBC.

12. Annie - December 19

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Plot: The classic Broadway musical gets a 21st Century update, with Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) in the lead role, and featuring Jay-Z's music.

Cast: Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne.

Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna, Emma Thompson, Will Gluck.

Trailer: Yes.

UK Release date: February 6, 2015.

13. Unbroken - December 25

Universal Pictures

Plot: Based on the true story of US Olympic distance-runner Louis Zamperini. During World War II, Zamperini's search and rescue plane crashed into the Pacific. After 45-days adrift, he made it to shore only to be taken prisoner by the Japanese.

Cast: Jack O'Connell, Garrett Hedlund.

Director: Angelina Jolie.

Trailer: Yes.

UK Release date: December 26.

14. Jane Got A Gun - TBC

Photo by Isaac Brekken / Getty Images

Plot: A woman takes up arms in order to save her husband from a gang of outlaws, with only her ex-lover for help. After a troubled production, the film was supposed to release in August, but has been pushed back.

Cast: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Joel Edgerton.

Cinematography: Mandy Walker.

Trailer: Not yet.

UK Release date: TBC.