Star Trek: Into Darkness: The entire film is just a visual marvel with heart and soul. A movie to watch from start to finish on multiple viewings.
Gravity: Captain Phillips should be in the top five. It would have been the my favorite film of the year if Gravity didn't exist.
Monsters University: This prequel was superb! It really builds up the background for Monsters Inc. So many questions that I had from the first movie were answered in this.
12 Years a Slave: A most profound depiction of the American history; bold performances and script, gorgeous photography and elegant art direction aside.