We’re All In This Together
A cast makes or breaks a movie. Occasionally, one standout star can hold together a sinking ship. However, the best movies are the ones in which every single character on screen is perfect. Let’s check out some films with the best ensemble casts.
The Lord Of The Rings
It doesn’t matter which installment you are watching. The Lord of the Rings features an epic ensemble cast. From acting legends like Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Cate Blanchett to young stars who built their careers around that film such as Elijah Wood, every character in this film series is perfectly cast.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Usual Suspects
No matter where you look, The Usual Suspects has a lineup that hits the mark. From Kevin Spacey to Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, and Benecio Del Toro, you know that each member of this cast is going to deliver.
PolyGram, The Usual Suspects (1995)
Ocean’s Eleven
The Ocean’s franchise wouldn’t be what it was without the cast. True, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts stand out in their leadership roles, but they would be nothing without Matt Damon, Elliot Gould, or the late great Bernie Mac.
Warner Bros., Ocean's Eleven (2001)
St Elmo’s Fire
There is a reason that the so-called “Brat Pack” became so popular. They were the people that you wanted to be in the 80s. That’s why St Elmo’s Fire brings the heat—that film is filled with anyone who was anyone of the 80s.
Columbia, St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare might not be on the top of most people’s list. However, this 1993 adaptation understood what his writing was all about. Much Ado About Nothing has the ultimate ensemble cast, and this adaptation understood the assignment filling the film with talent.
BBC Film, Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is often marked for Heath Ledger’s final performance. However, the rest of the cast should not be slept on. Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart play their parts perfectly. It is the combination of the cast that lets them all shine.
Warner Bros., The Dark Knight (2008)
The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson—need I say more? The Departed uses these talented actors to the best of their abilities and makes a movie that punches.
Warner Bros., The Departed (2006)
Saving Private Ryan
Any army is made up of the people that are a part of it. No one man stands out among the pack. That’s what makes Saving Private Ryan so great. It is a group of talented actors who work together to carry the story.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Inception
Inception is a mind-twisting film that defined 2010. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn’t watched it at the time. It also only works because of its cast. Boasting a large group of characters, each one is perfectly played and essential to the story.
Warner Bros., Inception (2010)
The Godfather
Sure, Marlon Brando will always be “The Godfather”, both literally and metaphorically. However, to have the power that he had over his family, he needed to have a cast of actors that responded to him. The Godfather is what it is because of each member of its cast.
Paramount, The Godfather (1972)
The Fast And The Furious
The Fast and Furious franchise is another iconic ensemble franchise. Vin Diesel may be front and center in most of the films, but they’re films about family. You can’t be about family if each member of your ensemble isn’t perfectly on point.
Universal, The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Tropic Thunder
Questionable costuming choices aside, Tropic Thunder is the perfect example of an ensemble comedy. Not only does it host a wide cast of early 2000s comedic superstars (Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr), but they blend perfectly.
DreamWorks, Tropic Thunder (2008)
Black Hawk Down
Based on a real incident, Black Hawk Down is an iconic example of the historical conflict genre. Filled with stars like Josh Harnett, Ewan McGregor and Tom Sizemore, it packs the powerful punch one would expect from this film.
Columbia, Black Hawk Down (2001)
RED
It doesn’t matter that society might have said that Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman were past their prime when RED came out in 2010. That was, in fact, the entire point of the movie. You also can’t age out of talent, and this cast of actors has it.
Summit Entertainment, Red (2010)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Based on the novel, this 2011 adaptation understood the assignment. Filled with action legends, such as Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy, it perfectly captures the tension and drama of the time.
StudioCanal, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Contagion
While this film may hit a little too close to home in a post-pandemic world, it doesn’t take away from the power and emotion that the cast brings to the screen. Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law are pitch perfect in this emotional and tense drama.
Warner Bros., Contagion (2011)
Training Day
Everyone has heard of Training Day, even if they haven’t watched it. It is one of the many films that colored Denzel Washington’s long career. However, Washington is just one of many in this standout cast that also includes Ethan Hawke and Scott Glenn.
Warner Bros., Training Day (2001)
Drive
Not to be confused with the similarly named Baby Driver, Drive features Ryan Gosling as a mysterious Hollywood stuntman who finds himself in trouble. Filling out the cast with the likes of Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston gives a powerful and unforgettable film.
Zodiac
Zodiac is a creepy, thrilling film that is based on the real-life mysterious Zodiac Killer. What could have been a hokey horror film turns into a powerful thriller with its talented cast.
Unforgiven
Westerns are often large productions filled with a plethora of characters. Sometimes, one actor stands out among the rest. However, that’s not the case in 1992’s Unforgiven. Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Morgan Freeman are powerful in this gunslinging flick.
Warner Bros., Unforgiven (1992)
A Fish Called Wanda
Although it is now over 30 years old, most people are still familiar with A Fish Called Wanda, at least in the title. Featuring John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Kline, this film perfectly blends comedy and heist drama.
MGM, A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call? Well, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and the late Harold Ramis, of course. This doesn’t even include Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts. This film only works because of the talent of its cast.
Beetlejuice
Sure, Michael Keaton is the title character, who will remain nameless so we don’t accidentally summon him, but you can’t act on your own. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin fill out this cast for the perfect balance.
Warner Bros., Beetlejuice (1988)
Sleepy Hollow
Johnny Depp is a superstar who carried many movies on his own throughout the 90s and early 2000s. However, Sleepy Hollow is a twisty, creepy, romantic drama that has the perfect roles for its entire cast.
Paramount, Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
The “smoke ‘em up” genre of movies may not have been for everyone. However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the power of the good cast Fast Times at Ridgemont High brings. They take a quirky movie and turn it into something memorable.
Universal, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
JFK
Historical dramas are a popular genre—who can blame people for being interested in the things that made us who we are today? However, a good historical drama needs a cast to carry it from ‘meh’ to memorable. That’s what JFK’s cast did.
Magnolia
Films that have a large cast that seem to be unrelated, except for a few things that tie them together, is a difficult thing to pull off. It’s been tried—and failed—many times. Magnolia is among the few films that did it right.
New Line Cinema, Magnolia (1999)
Once Upon A Time In The West
It can be difficult for a film as old as Once Upon a Time in the West to continue to have a following. However, when it boasts the cast that this film does, it’s unsurprising.
Paramount, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
The Addams Family
The Addams Family is iconic in the media. It can be difficult to pull something off so well, when the characters are so well known. However, the cast of this film plays each member of the family perfectly. Thus, they deserve a spot on this list.
Paramount, The Addams Family (1991)
X-Men
There have been some X-Men movies that are great, and there have been some that have been less so. However, the weaker movies have nothing to do with the cast. X-Men movies always boast an iconic cast that do their best to carry the film, regardless of writing.
Twentieth Century, X-Men (2000)
Goodfellas
It’s difficult to find a film as intense as Goodfellas engaging, yet people do. This is because the cast portray the underside of the city with such engaging conviction that you can’t look away.
Warner Bros., Goodfellas (1990)
The Magnificent Seven
This remake of a classic from the 60s features big names such as Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke playing part of the titular seven. They, along with the lesser known but no less talented cast members, come together for a beautiful yet tragic story.
MGM, The Magnificent Seven (2016)
The Outsiders
If you aren’t a fan of SE Hinton’s classic novel, this film can come across as a little hokey. It was certainly a product of its time. However, the cast of boys (big-name actors like Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dylan, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze were just starting their careers) tell the story with charm and love.
Warner Bros., The Outsiders (1983)
Almost Famous
Almost Famous only works because it is an ensemble cast movie. You need all of the actors who appear in it to properly pull together the chaotic and intoxicating world of 70s rock.
DreamWorks, Almost Famous (2000)
Scream
Horror movies feature ensemble casts for a reason: you need a lot of actors so that you have enough characters to remove one by one. However, few horror movies truly make it to that “classic” standard. Scream is an exception due to its high-quality cast.
Parenthood
Steven Martin is a legend in his own right. Most movies that he’s been in are gold simply because he is there. Parenthood, however, excels because of its entire cast. It focuses on four siblings raising their families, and each sibling is essential.
Clue
The 1985 film Clue is a classic ridiculous camp. It is a chaotic ride that leaves you never quite sure where it’s going next—and it also only works because of its talented cast of actors.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is nothing without Ron and Hermoine. However, this film series is more than just its iconic main trio. It has a whole world of loveable (and hateable) characters that truly breathe life into the story.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Anchorman
Often, Will Ferrell is running around on screen with no one who can keep up with him. 2004’s Anchorman is the exception. In this film, Ferrell is surrounded by a cast that is as ridiculous as him, and that’s all part of the fun.
DreamWorks, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Knocked Up
Seth Rogan’s films usually work best with a full cast of interesting characters, and Knocked Up is no exception. Rogan’s character is played beautifully alongside Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, and other talented actors.
Interview With The Vampire
Obviously, when you think of Interview with the Vampire, you recall Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. How can you not? However, this lush film is filled with a talented cast that brings it to life, such as Christian Slater, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas and Stephen Rea.
Warner Bros., Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Spotlight
Spotlight is the powerful retelling of how The Boston Globe uncovered a massive scandal within the local Catholic Archdiocese. To carry this impactful story, you need the right actors, and Spotlight does, featuring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams.
Open Road Films, Spotlight (2015)
Mean Girls
Speaking of Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls took 2004 by storm, and for good reason. It featured a knockout cast of Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows and Amanda Seyfried. Its talented cast spoke to a generation of women who were tired of mean girls.
Mamma Mia
Speaking of Amanda Seyfried, she holds her own against Meryl Streep in the musical classic Mamma Mia. Casting Streep in this film guaranteed that it would be a hit regardless. However, Streep was just one of many in a standout cast that worked together to carry the whole show—right into a sequel.
The Breakfast Club
You cannot have The Breakfast Club without any one of its five leads. They are the Breakfast Club, quite literally. The entire movie hinges on each of them being there at that moment, and the most iconic scene was improvised. However, despite the acclaim and perfect cast, fans were shocked when, years later, star Molly Ringwald revealed her feelings about the movie. In essay for The New Yorker, Ringwald critiqued the film's darker themes, and after watching it with her daughter, was particularly troubled by Bender's sexual harassment of Claire throughout the film.
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