Top Five

{{Short description|2014 film by Chris Rock}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}} {{Infobox film | name = Top Five | image = Top Five poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Chris Rock | producer = {{Plain list | * Scott Rudin * Eli Bush }} | writer = Chris Rock | starring = {{Plain list | * Chris Rock * Rosario Dawson * Gabrielle Union * Cedric the Entertainer * J. B. Smoove * Tracy Morgan * Kevin Hart * Anders Holm * Jay Pharoah * Michael Che * Sherri Shepherd * Leslie Jones }} | music = {{Plain list | * Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson * Ludwig Göransson }} | cinematography = Manuel Alberto Claro | editing = Anne McCabe | studio = {{Plain list | * IAC Films * Scott Rudin Productions * Jax Media }} | distributor = Paramount Pictures | released = {{film date|2014|09|06|TIFF|2014|12|12|United States}} | runtime = 102 minutes<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/top-five-film | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141211040440/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/top-five-film | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 11, 2014 | title=''TOP FIVE'' (15) | work=British Board of Film Classification | date=December 10, 2014 | access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $12 million<ref name=budget>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Top-Five#tab=summary|title=Top Five - The Numbers|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref> | gross = $26.1 million<ref name=gross>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=topfive.htm |title=Top Five (2014) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> }} '''''Top Five''''' is a 2014 American romantic comedy-drama film<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Five (2014) - Chris Rock {{!}} Synopsis, Movie Info, Moods, Themes and Related |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/top-five-am26704 |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=AllMovie}}</ref> written and directed by Chris Rock. Produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush, the film stars Rock, Rosario Dawson, and Gabrielle Union, and follows New York City comedian and film star Andre Allen (Rock), who has to confront his past and comedic career while doing an interview with journalist Chelsea Brown (Dawson).

The ensemble cast features comedians J. B. Smoove, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Che, Tracy Morgan, Jay Pharoah, Leslie Jones, and Cedric the Entertainer. Comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Whoopi Goldberg appear as fictionalized versions of themselves.

It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States on December 12, 2014, by Paramount Pictures.<ref name="Indiewire">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/tiff-toronto-intl-film-festival-gala-special-presentations-1201266480/ |title=Toronto Film Festival Lineup |access-date=July 22, 2014 |work=Variety|date=July 22, 2014 }}</ref> It received critical acclaim, with praise directed at the performances of the cast, and Rock's screenplay and direction, as well as comparisons to Woody Allen's ''Stardust Memories'' (1980).

==Plot==  ''New York Times'' reporter Chelsea Brown is spending a day interviewing comedian and recovering alcoholic Andre Allen, star of the hit film franchise ''Hammy The Bear,'' about a cop in a bear suit. Chelsea has forgotten her audio recorder, so they first go to her apartment. While there they discuss a magazine article about the Cinderella complex. Chelsea explains that Cinderella left something behind to let the prince know that she wanted to see him again.

Andre is attempting a foray into serious films with ''Uprize'', in which he portrays Haitian Revolution figure Dutty Boukman, and is sensitive to criticism, particularly by ''Times'' critic James Nielson, whose previous reviews of his work have been negative and insulting.

As the interview begins in his limousine, Andre recalls his lowest point, when he was in Houston in 2003 and met Jazzy Dee, who supplied him with drugs, alcohol and women. When Jazzy refused to pay them, they contended they were raped, leading to Andre's arrest and subsequent sobriety.

The limo gets hit by a cab, so Andre and Chelsea wander the city. He stops to pick up the rings for his wedding to reality-TV star Erica Long. Following a subtle, tense interaction with Andre assisting an acquaintance who is actually his father, they visit the apartment of his old friends and ex-girlfriend.

Chelsea interviews each, learning that Andre was not particularly funny when he started doing stand-up. They nominate their five favorite rappers, including a sixth as well. Andre goes to radio shows such as ''Opie and Anthony'' to promote ''Uprize'' and attends a press conference with fellow stars Taraji P. Henson and Gabourey Sidibe. To his chagrin, Andre is asked about the next Hammy movie.

At a hotel, Andre and Chelsea unexpectedly encounter her boyfriend, Brad, along with his friend Ryan, who is wearing Brad's shirt. She deduces Brad is cheating on her with Ryan. She and Andre, both recovering alcoholics, stop in a liquor store but resist making a purchase. Chelsea explains in graphic detail how the signs were there that Brad was gay. Andre laughs, calling Chelsea naive. She becomes angry and insults his movie, but they end up kissing.

Andre asks to borrow Chelsea's phone, as his own died. While using it, he sees an email from her editor, revealing she is James Nielson. The truth devastates Andre, who angrily tells Chelsea he felt he was never funny unless he was drunk or high, and now is fearful for his career. Despondent and acting out at a supermarket, he is arrested.

In jail, Andre calls Erica, who fumes over the arrest, mainly because of how it will look for her image. She tells him this piece of fame is all she has since she thinks she has no other talent. Erica's manager Benny takes the phone and tells Andre to go to his bachelor party for good press and fly out for the wedding.

Andre's bodyguard Silk bails out Andre, and they go to a strip club for a bachelor party with a Hammy The Bear theme. There, Andre hangs out with Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Whoopi Goldberg, who give him different views on marriage and sex. Chelsea finds him there, wanting to make it up to him.

Andre, Chelsea, and Silk go to the Comedy Cellar, where Andre gets up onstage and performs standup for the first time in years. He is still funny, and the crowd loves him. Afterwards, he tells Chelsea he got inspired after being in jail and talking to DMX, who told Andre he does not want to keep rapping and wants to sing instead. DMX then sang "Smile", terribly.

They drop Chelsea off at home, where she and Andre share one last kiss. He asks for her top five rappers, which she lists. While driving away, Silk tells Andre he should have gone after Chelsea. Andre goes through the gift bag from the party and finds items including a scented candle and a bottle of vodka. Then he pulls out a slipper, and Silk smiles.

After the credits begin rolling, the movie returns to the party, where Jerry Seinfeld shares his "top five" as Sugarhill Gang, Eminem, Wale, Ice Cube, and Sir Mix-a-Lot.

==Cast== {{div col}} * Chris Rock as Andre Allen * Rosario Dawson as Chelsea Brown, a journalist assigned to interview Andre<ref name="Hart">{{cite web |first= Smriti |last= Mundhra |work= BET.com |date= June 26, 2013 |title=Kevin Hart to Play Chris Rock's Agent in Finally Famous|url=http://blogs.bet.com/celebrities/what-the-flick/kevin-hart-to-play-chris-rocks-agent-in-finally-famous/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104032154/http://blogs.bet.com/celebrities/what-the-flick/kevin-hart-to-play-chris-rocks-agent-in-finally-famous/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 3, 2014}}</ref> * Gabrielle Union as Erica Long, Andre's fiancée<ref>{{cite web |author= Star, Lucas |date= May 17, 2013 |work=TheWrap |title=Gabrielle Union to Play Chris Rock's Fiancée in His 'Finally Famous' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/gabrielle-union-play-chris-rock-s-fiancee-his-finally-famous-exclusive-92236|access-date=January 3, 2014}}</ref> * Kevin Hart as Charles, Andre's Ivy League-educated agent <ref name="Hart"/> * Sherri Shepherd as Vanessa, Andre's ex-girlfriend who still lives in the neighborhood<ref name="Hart"/> * J. B. Smoove as Silk, Andre's "security guard/assistant" who is never far from his boss's side<ref name="Hart"/> * Romany Malco as Benny Barnes * Hayley Marie Norman as Tammy * Karlie Redd as Rhonda * Rachel Feinstein as Publicist * Dan Naturman as Young Comic * Rick Shapiro as Biker AA Guy * Greer Barnes as Uprize Actor * Leslie Jones as Lisa * Annaleigh Ashford as Michele * Whoopi Goldberg as Herself * Jerry Seinfeld as Himself<ref name="collider.com">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/theory-of-everything-images-eddie-redmayne/|title=The Theory of Everything Images Featuring Eddie Redmayne|work=Collider|date=July 23, 2014 |access-date=September 18, 2014}}</ref> * Adam Sandler as Himself<ref name="collider.com"/> * Tracy Morgan as Fred<ref name="collider.com"/> * Anders Holm as Brad<ref name="collider.com"/> * Matthew Wilkas as Ryan * Cedric the Entertainer as Jazzy Dee<ref name="collider.com"/> * Opie and Anthony as Themselves * Michael Che as Paul * Ben Vereen as Carl Allen, Andre's Father<ref>{{cite web|title=Chris Rock: 'Nobody wants to be known for one thing'|first=Gregory E.|last=Miller|date=December 6, 2014|work=New York Post|url=https://nypost.com/2014/12/06/chris-rock-nobody-wants-to-be-known-for-one-thing/}}</ref> * Brian Regan as Engineer * Jay Pharoah as Mike * Hassan Johnson as Craig * Doug Stanhope as Police Officer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/blogs/caliente-tuned-in/doug-stanhope-hosts-free-comedy-show/article_2244a7d7-5e0b-5774-ac4f-2e37c9f48118.html|title=National comedian Stanhope sneaks into Tucson|date=August 15, 2013 |access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref> * Tichina Arnold as Theatre Manager * Luis Guzmán as Himself * Julie Halston as Cell Phone Lady * Míriam Colón as Chelsea's Grandmother * Olga Merediz as Chelsea's Mom * Taraji P. Henson as Herself * Gabourey Sidibe as Herself * DMX as Himself * Charlie Rose as Himself * Bruce Bruce as Himself {{div col end}}

==Production== Principal photography began on June 24, 2013, in New York City.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Untitled Chris Rock Project begins filming in NYC on Monday, June 24, 2013|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2013/06/23/the-untitled-chris-rock-project-begins-filming-in-nyc-on-monday-june-24-2013/|access-date=June 24, 2013|work=onlocationvacations.com|first=Christine|last=Bond|date=June 23, 2013}}</ref> In July 2014, the film's title was changed from ''Finally Famous'' to ''Top Five''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/tiff-14-preview-first-look-images-from-chris-rocks-top-five-rosario-dawson-gabrielle-union-co-star-20140722|title=TIFF 14 Preview: First-Look Images From Chris Rock's 'Top - Shadow and Act|first=Tambay A. |last= Obenson|date=July 22, 2014|work=Shadow and Act|publisher=Indiewire.com|access-date=September 18, 2014}}</ref>

==Release== The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-toronto-film-festival-chris-rock-rates-big-laughs-in-top-five-20140907-story.html|title=TIFF 2014: Chris Rock rates big laughs in 'Top Five'|date=September 7, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 18, 2014}}</ref> Shortly after, a bidding war for distribution rights ensued between multiple studios including Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Open Road Films, A24, Relativity Media and Lionsgate, with bids reaching as high as over $10 million and Paramount emerging as the frontrunner the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toronto: Paramount In Pole Position For Chris Rock's 'Top Five' As Bidding Hits $12.5 Million For WW Rights|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr|last=Fleming|date=7 September 2014|access-date=28 September 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/toronto-top-five-chris-rock-six-million-830889/}}</ref> On September 10, 2014, Paramount Pictures confirmed their acquisition of the film's worldwide distribution rights for $12.5 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/toronto-paramount-confirms-deadlines-deal-scoop-on-chris-rocks-top-five-832340/|title=Paramount Confirms Deal For Chris Rock's 'Top Five' - Deadline|date=September 10, 2014|work=Deadline|access-date=September 18, 2014}}</ref> and agreed to pay at least $20 million in promotion and marketing.<ref name="varietybudget">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-exodus-to-hold-off-top-five-hunger-games-1201376313/|title=Box Office: 'Exodus' to Hold Off 'Top Five,' 'Hunger Games'|author=Brent Lang|work=Variety|date=December 10, 2014 |access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> In November 2014, Paramount announced ''Top Five'' would receive a wide release on December 12, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=topfive.htm|title=Top Five (2014) - Box Office Mojo|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

===Home media=== ''Top Five'' was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 17, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Five (2014)|work=Dvdsreleasedates.com|url=http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7208/top-five}}</ref>

==Reception== Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 85%, based on 186 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock's best standup work, ''Top Five'' is a career highlight for its creator—and one of the comedy standouts of 2014."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/top_five/|title=Top Five|date=December 5, 2014|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> Metacritic gives the film a score of 81 out of 100, based on 37 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/top-five|title=Top Five Reviews - Metacritic|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=December 16, 2014}}</ref>

Some critics found similarities between the Andre Allen character and Woody Allen's Sandy Bates in ''Stardust Memories'' (1980).<ref name="Slate-20141212">{{cite web |last1=Haglund |first1=David |title=Chris Rock's Top Five Is Jammed With Great Comedians and Is Still Funnier Than I Expected |url=https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/chris-rocks-top-five-reviewed.html |publisher=Slate |access-date=March 15, 2019 |date=December 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Variety-20140907">{{cite web |last1=Foundas |first1=Scott |title=Toronto Film Review: 'Top Five' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-top-five-1201300219 |publisher=Variety |access-date=March 15, 2019 |date=September 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="TNY-20141204">{{cite magazine |last1=Brody |first1=Richard |title=Top Five |url=https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/top-five-2 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=March 15, 2019 |date=December 4, 2014}}</ref>

==Accolades== {| class="wikitable" |- valign="bottom" ! Award !! Category !! Person !! |- valign="top" | rowspan="3" | 20th Critics' Choice Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1932360/2015-critics-choice-awards-nominations/|title=2015 Critics Choice Awards Nominations|website=Rotten Tomatoes }}</ref> | colspan="2" | Best Comedy | {{Nom}} |- valign="top" | Best Actor in a Comedy | Chris Rock | {{Nom}} |- valign="top" | Best Actress in a Comedy | Rosario Dawson | {{Nom}} |}

==Future== In an interview with ''Complex'', Rock said he meets with producer Scott Rudin "every week now going over this next movie", and that Rudin wants him "to work at a faster pace". He also suggested that "a lot of the same cast" would be involved, mentioning that "you might want to see see a little more of Leslie Jones or Tracy [Morgan], once he gets better. I think Jerry Seinfeld showed us things we haven't seen."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/20/chris-rock-is-writing-sequel-to-top-five|title=Chris Rock is writing sequel to Top Five|date=March 20, 2014|work=theguardian.com|access-date=March 26, 2014}}</ref>

The 2016 Tyler Perry comedy film, ''Boo! A Madea Halloween'', is based on a fictional film featured in ''Top Five''.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Boo! A Madea Halloween': From 'Top Five' Idea To 2016 Release |url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/boo-a-madea-halloween-from-top-five-idea-to-2016-release-1201686117/ |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=Deadline|date=January 19, 2016 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/top-five#top%20five}} * {{IMDb title|2784678|Top Five}} * {{mojo title|topfive|Top Five}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|top_five|Top Five}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Top Five}} * {{cite web |url= http://www.soundtrack.net/movie/top-five/ |title= Top Five |website= Soundtrack }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Five}} Category:2014 films Category:2014 comedy films Category:2014 independent films Category:American comedy films Category:American independent films Category:2014 English-language films Category:Films scored by Ludwig Göransson Category:Films about actors Category:Films directed by Chris Rock Category:Films produced by Scott Rudin Category:Films set in New York City Category:Films shot in New York City Category:2010s hip-hop films Category:Paramount Pictures films Category:Films with screenplays by Chris Rock Category:Haitian Revolution films Category:Films about comedians Category:Films about weddings in the United States Category:Films about alcoholism Category:Films about journalism Category:2014 American films Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language musical films Category:2014 musical films Category:English-language comedy films