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Todays actors that put butts in the seats

posted 7 years ago by actionkamen (23176)
30 replies | jump to latest

In the 80s and 90s there are many actors that singlehandedly bring people into a movie simply by starring in it, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Tom Cruise (which still is even today), Harrison Ford, Eddie Murphy, Clint Eastwood, and others.

Todays movie landscape is almost totally different. There are so few actors that can pull off this feat. I wonder why.

RDJ might be ridiculously popular in Marvel movies as Tony Stark, but his Sherlock Holmes inevitably crumbled. J Law could not even help Red Sparrow. Vince Diesel dindu nuthin' to his Bond version of Dominic Toretto in xXx. Chris Hemsworth doesn't worth a thing outside being Thor.

However, there are still some that could, I think...

Chris Pratt (probably the most convincing box office draw today)
Dwayne Johnson
Tom Cruise
Leo DiCaprio (somewhat, maybe?)
Scarlett Johansson (she sure was a few years back, but I'm not so sure today)
And maybe Tom Hardy (but let's see how Venom turns out)
Nic Cage is probably worth mentioning (his silly movies would have nobody to see if not only because the fact that he is in them)

Any additions are welcome...

[–] croft_alice (12180) 7 years ago

Alicia Vikander

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Ah! How could I forget the biggest of them all... The Rock!

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Never heard of him before now. After Googling, I see why 😆

[–] TalkinPikchorBox (2250) 7 years ago

The rock was mentioned in op Dwayne Johnson

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

I edited the OP. Initially I forgot to mention Dwayne Johnson.

[–] samoanjoes (58634) 7 years ago

Denzel
Matt Damon
The Rock (unfortunately)
Sandra Bullock
Brad Pitt
Will Smith
Tom Hanks
Samuel L. Jackson (somehow has been in so many hits)
Mark Wahlberg (again, unfortunately)
Hugh Jackman (if given a big budget)
Cameron Diaz

[–] twinA (4921) 7 years ago

Haha, nice title! TV and streaming is where it's at right now. Looks like it could be going into another golden age with all the stellar shows as of now.

Charlize Theron seems to be getting very good spotlight and fanfare too; Atomic Blonde, the Snow White/Huntsmen movies, Kubo and the Two Strings, Mad Max: Fury Road. And she can weather the storm in lesser received films like Prometheus and Hancock.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Not Jason Statham anymore

I would add Dwayne Johnson

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

I agree. I'll change my OP.

[–] TandyMan (11357) 7 years ago

I think Statham is still on the rise. With the Meg opening soon and then his Fast n Furious spinoff, he'll finally get Rock level blockbuster scripts coming his way. He's definitely going to fill that "older action hero" slot for a while.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Maybe, but he has been DTV for awhile now on his own except for the occasional film like the Mechanic sequel. If Meg is a hit than perhaps, The FF spin off I don't think will be a good judge because the Rock is a big draw there. You never know, but for the purposes of the OP's list as of right now I wouldn't include Statham.

[–] twinA (4921) 7 years ago

Gal Gadot's career is looking promising too, reaching new heights.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

I think she would have to have success beyond Wonder Woman before I would add her to a list.

[–] TandyMan (11357) 7 years ago

Nobody's lining up to see Gal Gadot play some boring drama like a lawyer with a heart of gold battling for some lost cause. But they would for Sandra Bullock. She's never gonna have that kind of star power.

[–] TandyMan (11357) 7 years ago

Well, i'm not sure what constitutes "today's actors". I view Rock and Cruise as being of the old generation. Matt Damon's right on the line, i'd say he's the dividing point. I'm not sure there's a single young talent working today that puts asses in seats no matter what. You take Chris Pratt out of hit franchises like MCU and Jurassic World and you get a flop like that space movie, and he was teamed up with J.Law. All them Hemsworth movies crash and burn. Christian Bale is pretty popular no matter what. To much lesser extent, Tom Hardy. I mean those guys, you're gonna get your money back. The iconic screenplays just aren't there anymore. Great actors are made, not born.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

What I meant with today's actors are actors that are still active today. For example, Van Damme was a box office draw back in the '90s. Not today.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

ITs a shame to because one could argue he is a better actor now than he ever was. He still puts out a dud here and there but some of his stuff over the last few years havn't been bad.

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Great actors are made, not born.

I am going to disagree a little here. Most big name actors have a little something, charisma, a good look, they way the carry themselves on screen, something that is unique to them that catches on with audiences. That is something they are born with and is nurtured over time. Certainly good directors can shape these people, but there has to be something to work with first.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 7 years ago

I will see any movie with Leonardo or Tom Hanks in it

Both of those guys seem to pick good projects and i dont know anyone who doesn't love them

Actresses...Streep maybe?

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Actresses are tougher, Scarlett Johansson is about the only one I would bet big money on of the younger generation (its a big reason she was cast in GITS, other than looking similar to the character and already established as a solid action star)

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 7 years ago

Yeah...for some reason i have a hard time thinking of an awesome actress that i need to run out and see on the big screen
I dont know why this is but its just the truth

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Theron is pretty solid overall, but I only thought AB was an ok film and quite frankly the best thing about it was McAvoy. Tomb Raider didn't really light the world on fire, while there may be a sequel there is no reason to believe it will do anything but result in poor box office, Vikander isn't much of a draw. Gal Gadot had an 800 mil dollar film, but again its because that film is WW and no reason to believe anyone will rush out to an original flick just because the girl that played WW is in it. Taraji P. Henson proved with Proud Mary that she is not a draw. Emily Blunt is another one that seemed like a possibility but she isn't Sicario was a big pic for her but her costars were simply better and they have made a sequel with them. Jlaw success begins and ends with Hunger Games, its not to say she hasn't been in other films that had some success, but to say her presence in a film is a draw in and out itself would be incorrect.

Its hard to think of any female in a largly original film that makes people rush out for it outside of Scarlett and..unfortunately Melissa McCarthy.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 7 years ago

A well composed post
Thank you for the thoughtful reply

Upon some reflection maybe following an actress in films is harder for guys because we like to identify with the main character and thats tough when im a guy and the hero is a lady..?
Im just offering a possible reason for why i dont really 'follow' actresses but i run right out to see certain male stars-

Cruise
Smith
Hanks
Jackson
Leo
Russell

....i guess Streep and Lane are the only gals that top the list for me

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

Years ago I would watch Goldie Hawn, Sigorney Weaver,Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, etc.

I watched Sharon Stone too, but I am not sure it was for her acting. ;)

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 7 years ago

LOL! Stone in 'Instinct
Copy that!!

And Hawn in Wildcats
The bathtub boobs scene
Sorry, pervy of me...:(
But ive seen the movie at least ten times and it wasnt for the football😁