Annie (2014 film)

Annie (2014 film) is a 2014 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Will Gluck and produced by Jay Brown, Will Smith, and James Lassiter. It is a contemporary adaptation of the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.

The film stars Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie Bennett, a young foster child living in Harlem, New York, who dreams of finding her parents. Jamie Foxx stars as William "Will" Stacks, a wealthy and germaphobic cellphone mogul who becomes Annie's temporary guardian as part of a publicity stunt during his mayoral campaign. The film also features Rose Byrne as Grace Farrell, Stacks' efficient and caring executive; Bobby Cannavale as Guy Danley, Stacks' unscrupulous political advisor; and Cameron Diaz as Miss Colleen Hannigan, Annie's cruel foster mother.

The 2014 Annie differs from previous adaptations in several ways, including its setting (contemporary New York City instead of the Great Depression era), character names, updated musical arrangements with pop and R&B influences, and a greater focus on technology and social media. The film follows Annie's journey as she navigates foster care, develops a relationship with Stacks, and searches for her biological parents. Stacks, initially motivated by political gain, grows genuinely attached to Annie and becomes determined to help her find a loving family. Miss Hannigan, however, plots to exploit Annie's popularity for her own benefit.

The film was released in theaters on December 19, 2014, and received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Wallis's performance but criticism for its script and musical arrangements.