We’re already halfway through 2014, so we asked some Shout! Factory employees to talk about what they loved in pop culture in the first six months of the year (and what they were excited for in the second half).

Here are some Top 5 lists (and a couple Top 4 lists) that cover everything from movies you might have missed to TV shows that help you through those long summer months, curated by our very own in-house experts/geeks. Read a more in-depth look at some of these lists here, and be sure to tell us what your Half-Year Top 5 Lists are!


Elliot R. (Digital Department)

Top 5 Favorite Films of 2014 (so far)

  1. The Raid 2
  2. Edge Of Tomorrow
  3. Godzilla
  4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
  5. 22 Jump Street

Top 5 Favorite Albums of 2014 (so far)

  1. Liars: Mess
  2. Swans: To Be Kind
  3. Silver Mt. Zion: F*** Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything
  4. Wild Beasts: Present Tense
  5. Gruff Rhys: American Interior

Top 5 Favorite TV Shows of 2014 (so far)

  1. True Detective: Season 1
  2. Louie: Season 4
  3. Fargo
  4. Sherlock: Series 3
  5. Archer: Season 5

Top 5 Favorite Shout Releases of 2014

  1. Halloween: The Complete Collection
  2. Herzog: The Collection
  3. Evilspeak
  4. Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXX
  5. The Vincent Price Collection II

Lady Hooligan Kat (Royalties Department)

Favorite Albums of 2014 So Far

  1. First Aid Kit: Stay Gold
  2. Sam Smith: In The Lonely Hour
  3. Lily Allen: Sheezus
  4. Royskopp & Robyn: Do It Again EP

Upcoming 2014 Releases I’m Really Looking Forward To

  1. Sia: 1000 Forms of Fear
  2. Banks: Goddess
  3. Karen O: Crush Songs
  4. Jenny Lewis: The Voyager

Antonio L. (Production Department)
Read Antonio’s Notes HERE

Top 5 Favorite Home Video Releases of 2014 (So Far)

  1. Fargo (Remastered)
  2. Power Rangers Legacy: The First 20 Seasons
  3. Gravity
  4. The Visitor
  5. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Top 5 Home Video Release I’m Looking Forward To For The Rest Of 2014

  1. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  2. Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery
  3. Batman: The Complete Series
  4. Halloween: The Complete Collection
  5. The Wonder Years: The Complete Series

Elisa L. (Royalties Department)
Read Elisa’s Notes HERE

Top 5 Shows to Help You Survive the Dreaded Summer Hiatus

  1. Salem
  2. Girl Meets World
  3. Undateable
  4. Hollywood Game Night
  5. Playing House

Sarah D. (Publicity Department)
Read Sarah’s Notes HERE

Top Five Films (So Far) You May Have Missed in 2014

  1. Jodorowsky’s Dune
  2. Someone You Love
  3. The Raid 2
  4. Under The Skin
  5. The Final Member

Brandie C. (Marketing Department)

Best Movies/TV Out This Year That You Probably Missed

  1. GBF – Like a modern, more-awesome Mean Girls.
  1. Knights Of Badassdom – A movie about LARPing with Peter Dinklage, I’m sold!
  1. Mr Hublot – Oscar-winning animated short, very endearing.
  1. All Cheerleaders Die – All the horror and comedy of undead cheerleaders.
  1. Super Fun Night – Super fun and super canceled-too-soon.
Maurice Molyneaux