Every year in Hollywood the same questions are asked — what is happening to the film industry? Are the major studios dominating the market? How are independent films affecting the business?

2004 was no different. Aside from a few big surprises, the answers looked similar to years past. Studio films dominated the box office nearly year-round, and a handful of smaller films coveted the praise from critics.

Listed below are some of the biggest events that happened this year. The choices do not necessarily reflect the best films of the year, but movies that had an impact.

‘Rings’ sweeps Oscars

The year started out slowly, but quickly sped up in February. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” the third and final installment in the Rings trilogy, won 10 Academy Awards, including best director and best picture. This was not only the first fantasy film to win best picture, but also the first time since “The Godfather: Part II” that a sequel won the award.

This event not only legitimized the genre for serious discussion, but fanboys everywhere have now gone mainstream.

‘Passion’ grabs audiences

Weeks later, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” dominated movieplexes and accumulated more than $80 million in its first weekend. It went on to gross nearly $400 million, the most ever for a religious film.

Like few movies before it, Gibson’s very personal film got people talking. People argued about Gibson’s presentation of facts, such as his depiction of key Jewish figures, but it is hard to deny Mel’s passion in making this film.

‘Fahrenheit’ and Moore

Whether or not “Fahrenheit 9/11” had an effect on the election, it certainly had an impact on the movie business. “Fahrenheit” — filmmaker Michael Moore’s attack on the Bush presidency — grossed more than $100 million, an unbelievable amount for a documentary. The previous highest grossing documentary — Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” — made only $21 million in its theatrical run.

The effect of the film was felt almost immediately. Moore’s success spawned an entire cottage industry of political pundits and filmmakers devoted to exposing Moore’s tactics. Films like “Fahrenhype 9/11” and “Michael Moore Hates America” were used to counterpoint many of Moore’s assertions in his previous works.

‘Hero’ tops box office

Nearly two years after it was initially released, “Hero” was released in America and dominated the box office during a slow movie season. The film grossed more than $50 million in its domestic run, though the film grossed more than $100 million outside of America before it was released here.

The success of “Hero” may allow studios to import more foreign films. The long-term effect of this process is hard to predict, but it may mean required reading will become more prevalent in theaters.

Smaller films come out late

As winter was moving in, so were films seeking Oscar contention.

“Sideways,” a drama-comedy about two buddies in California wine country, was released in limited theaters and nabbed praise from the Independent Spirit Awards. “Finding Neverland,” telling the story of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, has already been chosen as the best film of the year by the National Board of Review.

There is another month before Oscar nominations, but early prediction by many critics focus on films like these.

— Keith DuCharme is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Iowa City. He is the arts and entertainment senior reporter for the Daily.