Many of Hollywood's biggest names start off as struggling artists. It can take years, decades even, to land that big break. But with enough talent, time, and luck (because yes, that is a factor), they nab that one movie that launches their career to the next level.
It's fun to go back and watch the films that gave our favorite stars their big break, long before they were ever household names. Seeing them as fresh-faced youths trying to leave their mark, oblivious to the illustrious careers ahead of them, adds another layer of entertainment. Most times, a film catapults the career of a single person. But every now and then, multiple stars are forged by the same movie--not only actors and actresses but writers and directors as well. At the time of their release, these films featured mostly up-and-coming names, but as we look back on these movies today, we see only an ensemble of all-stars. Here are ten films that launched multiple careers at once.
10 The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Upon its release in 2001, The Fast and the Furious became a box office smash and a pop culture sensation. It was so popular that it spawned a franchise of nine films with a tenth one that's set to release in May 2023. Aside from its engine-roaring action, the movies are known for their star-studded casts, which now feature the likes of Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, and Brie Larson. But nine films ago, it was just a simple race car movie with a cast of unknowns. The Fast and the Furious birthed multiple careers, most notably those of Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker, and Michelle Rodriguez. Diesel went on to become a leading action star, while Rodriguez snagged roles in Avatar and TV show Lost.
9 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Being a child star in Hollywood isn't easy. Many of them struggle to find work in adulthood, pigeonholed by the famous roles that began their career. This, however, did not happen to the three leading stars of the Harry Potter film franchise. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone saw three unknown children play the highly anticipated roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson respectively. The franchise established them as icons and movie stars. And since Harry Potter ended, all three have had successful careers in Hollywood. Radcliffe has starred in a number of films, including the 2022 release Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Grint recently appeared in the new M. Night Shyamalan film, Knock at the Cabin. It's Emma Watson, though, who's seen the most success. An activist and common celebrity crush, she's starred in many films, including the 2017 live adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
8 Superbad (2007)
Superbad was one of those movies that everyone was talking about, everyone was seeing, and everyone was quoting. Since then, it's become a defining film for Millennials and one of the best comedies ever made. But one of the movie's biggest accomplishments was launching multiple careers. While Jonah Hill had appeared in previous films, Superbad was his first leading role. It made him an A-list star and established him as the wise-cracking funny guy that audiences now love. It gave TV star Michael Cera a film career, who has since starred in a number of movies, including the Oscar nominated Juno. Superbad was also the film debut for Christopher Mintz-Plasse and, most notably, Emma Stone. Stone's career has exploded since Superbad. She's starred in a number of films, and in 2017, she earned the Best Actress Academy Award for the musical masterpiece, La La Land.
7 Black Hawk Down (2001)
War movies usually come with great ensembles, and Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down is no exception. Some of the cast were established actors, such as Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, and the late Tom Sizemore. But the movie also featured several up-and-coming names and is considered the film that launched their careers. Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Jeremy Piven all got their start on Black Hawk Down. It was also the film debut for Tom Hardy, who's since been nominated for an Oscar and has appeared in many critically acclaimed movies.
6 The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
The early 2000s produced a number of memorable comedies, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin is one of them. Packed with quotable lines and iconic hilarious moments, the film was a pop culture sensation. It established Steve Carell as a leading actor (he only had supporting roles before this) and launched the careers of Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, and Jane Lynch. It was also the directorial debut for Judd Apatow, Hollywood's legendary funny man. The 40-Year-Old Virgin put Apatow's name on the map and paved the way for his future hits, like Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, and the aforementioned Superbad. By the end of the 2000s, Apatow ran comedy in Hollywood -- and it all started with The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which is still considered his best comedy.
5 Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls was the teen comedy of the early 2000s. It was your typical high school story of queen bees, crushes, and popularity contests. The film also catapulted multiple careers into super stardom. Mean Girls turned Lindsay Lohan into the "It Girl" of the 2000s and made Rachel McAdams a Hollywood star. It was also the film debut for Amanda Seyfried, who has since earned Oscar nominations for her performances. Mean Girls was written by Tina Fey, who also co-starred in the movie. And although Fey was already a regular on SNL, it was Mean Girls's success that launched her career to the next level.
4 The Outsiders (1983)
Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders is a coming-of-age story that's based on the novel of the same name. It captures a rivalry between two gangs from two different social classes: the poor Greasers and the wealthy Socs. It was a cultural milestone that's now known for its impressive collection of A-listers: Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, and Ralph Macchio. But the biggest star to come out of this movie was none other than Tom Cruise. By the end of 1983, Tom Cruise would be one of Hollywood's leading men, thanks toThe Outsiders and another coming-of-age classic which came out later that year, Risky Business.
3 Do the Right Thing (1989)
Before 1989, Spike Lee was a New York City auteur, trying to make his name in cinema. Do the Right Thing put the director on the map and is now widely considered to be his best film. Since then, he's directed other critically acclaimed films, like Malcolm X, Inside Man, and BlacKkKlansman. But Do the Right Thing didn't just launch Spike's career. It also kick-started the careers of several actors. It was the film debut for comedic actor Martin Lawrence and helped to establish future A-listers like Samuel L. Jackson and John Turturro.
2 Platoon (1986)
Since its release in 1986, Platoon has become a classic war film. It was well received by audiences and critics and won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Oliver Stone. Its all-star ensemble is one of the most impressive in Hollywood, although at the time, none of its actors were famous just yet. Charlie Sheen had supporting roles in previous movies (remember him in Ferris Bueller's day Off?), but Platoon marked his first major role and established him as a leading man. The war classic is also known for launching the careers of other actors, such as Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, and Forest Whitaker.
1 The Godfather (1972)
Since its release in 1972, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather has been regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Based on Mario Puzo's novel, it tells the story of the prominent Corleone crime family. The Godfather is known for many things: famous scenes, quotable lines, and of course, its all-star cast. At the time, only Marlon Brando, who played the iconic Vito Corleone, was famous. Everyone else was just starting out. Studio heads wanted someone well-known to play the role of Michael Corleone and were annoyed when Coppola cast Al Pacino -- although they didn't stay annoyed for long. Pacino's performance received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination and paved the way for him to become one of Hollywood's greatest actors.
The Godfather was also Diane Keaton's first major film role and made her a leading lady. Although they had mid-sized roles in previous films, James Caan and Robert Duvall both saw their first critical success with The Godfather. It was also the film debut for John Cazale, whose next four films would all be Oscar nominees. If not for Cazale's untimely death, he may very well have joined co-stars Pacino and Robert De Niro as one of Hollywood's greatest actors.