Who are the current A-List actresses?

Several times during the WTHH series often emerge complaints about the difficult for actresses to emerge as box-office draws. Hollywood tends to be a place with little space for pardon and second chances for women as many WTHH subject, like Demi Moore, Meg Ryan and Winona Ryder experienced. It is much harder for women to become A-List and is much harder for women to stay on top or forget scandals and bad career moves.

But who are current female A-List in Hollywood? Weeks ago Forbes revealed its yearly list of highest paid actresses. Here is the top 10 of Hollywood’s highest grossing actresses:

1-Angelina Jolie

2-Jennifer Lawrence

3-Kristen Stewart

4-Jennifer Aniston

5-Emma Stone

6-Charlize Theron

7-Sandra Bullock

8-Natalie Portman

9-Mila Kunis

10-Julia Roberts

But do the high paychecks really make an A-List? I don’t think so. P.S. Kristen Stewart sits at number 3, but really I can’t see any future for her now that “Twilight” is over. Yes she made money with “Snow White and the Huntsmen” but without the “Twilight” coattalis will that movie be so successful? No way.  Julia Roberts is still in the top 10 despite the fact that her last efforts, “Mirror Mirror” and “Larry Crowne” both disappointed at the box-office. Same for Natalie Portman who, after her Oscar victory for “Black Swan” made an impressive series of missteps in 2011, and was only rescued by “Thor”. And what about Mila Kunis? She was sucessful with “Ted” and “Oz” but probabily both movies would have been successful even if they cast my grandma instead of her. So, who are currently female A-List in Hollywood if paychecks don’t matter that much? Who are actresses for whom people really pay to see?

Here I’ll try to write about actresses who I think are currently A-List, but I’m also curious to see your opinion on it

MERYL STREEP

Meryl Streep

Three Oscars won out of seventeen nominations; eight Golden Globes won out of 27 nominations, 35 years in the industry and she’s still on top. She played every role possible, she starred alongside all top male actors, she played for every leading director and she seems not yet tired. In 2012 she lead to success the rom-com “Hope Springs”, and received her 27th Golden Globe nomination, a record. Will movies like “Hope Springs”;”It’s Complicated”; “Doubt”; “The Devil Wears Prada”; “Julie & Julia” or “Mamma Mia!” had the same success without her? Probabily not. Expectations for her next movie, “August: Osage County” are extremely high, and high are the buzz for an eighteenth Oscar nomination.

ANGELINA JOLIE

Angelina Jolie

Well, I’m not a fond of Angelina Jolie, but I have to admit, she’s probabily the lone woman able to open a big budget action movie. Without her, no way movies like “Salt” or “Wanted” would have been successful. However it’s been three years since her last starring movie, the critical failure but commercially successful (at least overseas)”The Tourist”. So the Hollywood highest paid actress with the upcoming “Maleficent” will have to show if she still deserves her onerous cachet.

JENNIFER ANISTON

Jennifer Aniston

When both “Friends” and her marriage with Brad Pitt ended many doubt Jennifer Aniston would have been able to survive, but she surprised almost anyone. I’m not a fond of her, and as “America’s Sweethearts” I prefered much more Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts,  but yes Jen has those “cute look” that make her a perfect suit for rom-com. Her string of hits is pretty impressive “Along Came Polly”; “The Break-Up”; “The Bounty Hunter”; “Horrible Bosses”; “Just Go With It”; “Marley & Me”; Bruce Almighty”. She also used her star power to turn profitable low budget indipendent comedies like “The Good Girl” and “Friends with Money”. There’s a big question mark on her future since she has not been able to go beyond comedy. She’s in theatres right now with the comedy “We’re the Millers” where she plays a stripper, seems the R-rated comedy had a promising start.

JESSICA CHASTAIN 

"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" Premiere - 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival

She came out from nowhere in 2011 and then suddenly she became a critical darling and a box-office draw. She scored a hit and an Oscar nomination for “The Help”, then she scored another hit and a second Oscar nomination (and, in my opinion, she should have won) for “Zero Dark Thirty”.  She scored another hit, though this time not well-reviwed, with the horror “Mama”. Both “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Mama” clearly rely on Chastain performance, she was the lone “big name” in both movies, no doubt that without her bot movies would have not been so successful.  Her next movie, “The Disapperence of Eleanor Rigby: Her” is rumored to give her the third Oscar nomination in a row.

CATE BLANCHETT

Cate Blanchett

She break into mainastream Hollywood in 1998 winning a Golden Globe and earning an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I, and since then she has never stopped. Cate Blanchett has become the most critical acclaimed actress of her generation, and has worked with almost all the most successful directors in Hollyowood. She often alternates big budget mainstream movies (“The Lord of the Rings”; “The Aviator”; “Benjamin Button”…) and critical acclaimed indie (“Notes on a Scandal”; “Veronica Guerin”; “I’m not There”…). Her latest effort, Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” has attracted universal critical praise and has generated high Oscar rumors. She will also star in the next George Clooney’s work, “Monuments Men”, set to release in December. Cate Blanchett is an actress who gives a movie an air of prestige, personally anytime I see a trailer of a movie starring Cate Blanchett my comment is “There’s Cate Blanchett, probabily is good”.

MELISSA MCCARTHY

Melissa McCarthy

If you’re an actress and you’re not an astonishing beauty, it’s hard to be successful. But if you’re also an overweight actress your rise to the top would be extremely hard. And while many comic actor  enjoy success in spit of  their overweight, sadly the same has not be truth for women. But, hey, Melissa McCarthy has been able to make it! She rose to fame with “Bridesmaids” for whom she score an Oscar nomination. But then she surprises everyone scoring two big hits this year with “Identity Thief” and “The Heat”. This girl is the surprise of the year, and she has shown that even overweight women can make it in Hollywood.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

Jennifer Lawrence

She rose to promince in 2010, thanks to the indie drama “Winter’s Bone” for wich she scored her first Oscar nomination. Than last year she was arguably the big revelation. “Hunger Games” was a huge hit, both critically and commercially, “H.A.T.E.S.” was panned by critics but performed well at the box-office, and then the rom-com “Silver Linings Playbook” that earned critical praise, commercial success and gave her an Oscar. This year appears to be busy too. She will star in the second episode of “Hunger Games” and she will reteam with “Silver Lings” director David O. Russell and co-star Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”. She will team once again with Bradley Cooper in Susanne Bier’s “Serena”. Both movies are considered potential Oscar contenders. Lawrence is certainly a rising star, but she gotta be careful. The danger of an overexposion are very high.

EMMA STONE

Emma Stone

Emma Stone is surely one of the most interesting new talent in Hollywood. She paid her dues with supporting roles and finally break into mainstream with her leading performances in surprising hits like “Easy A” and “The Help”. She then was cast as Gwen Stacy for the Spider-Man reboot. This year she made a half-misstep with the disappointing “Gangster Squad”, however the failure of “Gangster Squad” seemed not enough to damage her reputation as a rising star. In 2014 she will reprise her role as Gwen Stacy for the second episode of the Spider-Man franchise and she will star in Inarritu’s comedy “Birdman”.

MARION COTILLARD

Marion Cotillard

Many will probabily don’t understand why I put french star Marion Cotillard alongside Hollywood leading ladies, but I’ll try to give an explanation on why I consider her an A-List member. Cotillard rose to fame in her home country in late 90’s, but ’til 2007 she was almost unknown outside France. Then her performance as the legendary singer Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose” led her to Oscar victory and worldwide recognition. After her Oscar victory she starred in high profile Hollywood projects like: “Inception”; “Midnight in Paris”;  “The Dark Knight Rises”; “Contagion” and “Public Enemies”. But she also kept working in her home country with the dramamedy “Little White Lies” and with  the critical acclaimed “Rust and Bone” that gave her numerous awards recognition, including nominations for Golden Globe and BAFTA. Maybe in the USA her “star power” is not extremely high, but overseas Cotillard is extremely marketable. “Rust and Bone”, per example, almost totally rely on her shoulder and on her name recognition and performed respectably well in Europe and even in anglo-saxon markets like UK and Australia. Probabily without Cotillard the result would have not been the same. Both Cotillard latest Hollywood releases, “Blood Ties” and “The Immigrant” have premiered on the last Cannes film festival and will be released in the next months.

ANNE HATHAWAY

Anne Hathaway holds her Oscar for winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Les Miserables" in Hollywood

For her performance as Fantine in “Les Miserables” Anne Hathaway took all the most prestigious prizes, including Oscar. She also won critical acclaim for her performance as Catwoman in “The Dark Knight Rises”. Both movies have been huge hit at the box-office. Throughout the last decade Anne Hathaway has been able to grow up and get rid of her “Disney” label.  Both her roles as Fantine and Catwoman were supporting performances, but Hathaway did a good job both times. Both roles were extremely tough challenges. With Catwoman she had the tough comparison with Michelle Pfeiffer, while in “Les Miserables” she was probabily the real star, ’cause of Susan Boyle. Despite Fantine dies soon in the book, many were probabily only waiting for her singin’ “I Dreamed a Dream”.  She won both challenges, and can now be considered a legitimate A-List member, but attention, as LeBeau often says, probabily now there’s nowhere to go but down.

SANDRA BULLOCK

Sandra Bullock

Some years ago I wouldn’t esitate to put Bullock on the list, but after her Oscar victory for “The Blind Side” she walked away for some time so I was undecided if putting her on the list or not. It was probabily a wise choice to avoid over-exposion after the Oscar, but now Bullock seems ready to be back in business. Bullock and McCarthy star powers combined made “The Heat” a massive success, and her upcoming movie “Gravity” seems a potential Oscar contender.

JULIA ROBERTS

Julia Roberts

I started this post contesting the real “star power” of the 10 highest paid actresses in Hollywood. One of my arguments is been that Julia Roberts, who sits exactly at number 10, has had many flops in last years. In the 90’s she was by far the biggest female draw on the planet, but in the last ten years her star power has cooled off. And while “Mona Lisa Smile” and  “Mirror Mirror” were saved by overseas markets, “Duplicity” and “Larry Crowne” disappointed also at the global box-office. In the last ten years her lone true hits has been “Closer” and “Eat Pray Love”, though in “Closer” she’s been overhadowed by Natalie Portman. However her name is still extremely big, and her upcoming collaboration with Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County” has generated high expectations and even Oscar rumors. So, while her carreer has certainly cooled off and the heights of the late 90s are only a pale memory, is not yet time to rule Roberts out as a marketable name.

CAMERON DIAZ

Cameron Diaz

Her last movie, “Gambit” has not yet been released in the USA, but has yet flopped abruptly in Europe, and last year the comedy “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” disappointed both in the USA and overseas.  But she has many upcoming movies who are potentially hits. Especially her performance in George Clooney’s upcoming movie “The Counselor” has generated Oscar buzz. So it’s not yet time to rule out Cameron Diaz, though certainly her latest moves have damaged her reputation as a highly marketable leading lady. But she has still the chance to recover.

BORDERLINE

To prevent criticism I decided to put a “Borderline” list. Actress who I ponder to put in the list, but in the end I decided to put her on a “grey zone”. I think they still lack something to be alongside the actress I put on top, and they are:

Natalie Portman: Three years ago I would have no doubt about her status as an A-List, but her string of brutal flops after “Black Swan” is really impressive. She’s young and she can recover.

Charlize Theron: She long paid her dues in supporting roles. She break through in 2003 with “The Italian Job” and the Oscar-winning “Monster” and then she came back to oscurity. “North Country” and “In The Valley of Elah” were prestige indie movies who won critical acclaim, but unfortunately were little seen. After almost ten years of anonimity she suddenly came back to mainstream last year with “Prometheus” and “Snow White”. But I doubt both movies were successful because of Charlize Theron. She needs confirmations

Keira Knightley: She’s probabily the lone actress who can sell period dramas based on her name alone. She was certainly the big draw in both “Atonement” and “Pride and Prejudice”, and also “The Duchess” performed moderately well, but in the last 5 years she made a series of missteps. “Never let me Go” and “A Dangerous Method” were acclaimed by critics, but failed at the box-office. While last year “Seeking a Friend…” failed at the box-office. “Anna Karenina” performed moderately well, and was well received by critics, but box-office receipts were disappointing if compared to her previous collaborations with Joe Wright. Is her carreer cooling?

Kate Winslet: She often skip mainstream roles and prefers indie-movies who hardly becomes hits, but “The Reader” shows that Kate Winslet is able to open a movie on her own. She need more mainstream success to be judged as A-List

Emma Watson: Among the “Harry Potter” three leads she’s probabily the lone who can survive without the franchise coattails. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, who earn critical praise and moderate commercial success, was a good start, but needs confirmations.

Rachel McAdams: Her track record is very solid, but she still needs a hit on her own. When she tried to open a movie on her own with “Morning Glory” the result was a commercial failure.  She need a breakthrough based solely on her shoulder.

Amanda Seyfried: Her track record is good, and she has even scored a hit on her own with “Letters to Juliet”, but in “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Miserables” she was cast as the lead and she was overshadowed by other members of cast both times (Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway). Maybe the upcoming movie “Lovelace” will be the confirmation she needs.

Scarlett Johansson: Ten years ago, after the surprising success of “Lost in Translation”, she seemed unstoppable, but her track record since then has been contradictory, and she’s not yet been able to have a hit on her own. She’s still considered a big promise, ten years after her breakthrough. Maybe it’s time for her to grow up and try to bring a movie on her own shoulders.

Penelope Cruz: In 2001, after having been successful in spanish industry, Cruz started her Hollywood carreer. The beginnning was tragic, with the terrible trifecta “Blow-Vanilla Sky-Captain’s Corelli Mandolin” that gave her a triple Razzie nomination. Since then she have alternated works in Hollywood and Europe, with alternate success. Surely “Volver” success, who became Almodovar’s biggest hit to date, has been possible thanks to her Oscar-nominated performance, but her Hollywood record is still too mixed. Cotillard’s Hollywood record per example, has been much more solid. So she’s a step behind the french star, whose Hollyowood record has been impressive.

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rbtheuncritic
10 years ago

Reese Witherspoon is totally A list. So is Kate Hudson ?

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  johnny88

For a while, Reese Witherspoon looked like she was the next Julia Roberts. She was huge. But it didn’t last long.

Kate Hudson was never very big at all. Even Almost Famous was a disappointment at the box office. I’m actually surprised how few hits she has had. You’re right about her waste of talent. She lights up the screen in the right movie. But she keeps making crap.

mr. ngoc
mr. ngoc
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I’m sad about Hudson, really. I still can’t forget seeing “Almost Famous” the first time with that scene when she turns her head – no doubt “a star is born” moment. She & Kat Heigl have the same problem that they can only open romcom movies, and at this moment nobody cares about them. Versality is important in a movie career, but it’s very hard for actresses as they are mostly offered leading roles in romcom or dramas – this is why despite so young JLaw is already at the top of A-List in Hollywood. I fear Rachel McAdams is… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  mr. ngoc

I remember discovering Hudson in 200 Cigarettes. The movie got terrible reviews, but I enjoyed it quite a bit largely based on the revelation of Hudson. I was convinced she would go on to be a bigger star than her mom. Almost Famous just reinforced that assessment. Then she achieved success with rom coms, got pigeonholed and stalled out. Very depressing. When I’m thinking about the A-list, I try to get into the heads of casting directors, etc. But since I’m not one, I’m sure I fall short. It’s an interesting proposition. Who do you think casting directors would put… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I was excited to see you taking on this topic. It’s complex. It is really hard to pin down exactly what an A-list actress is these days. Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock have long track records. People recognize their names but are they box office draws today? I’m not sure they are. I’m currently researching Reese Witherspoon. I don’t think I’d qualify her as A-list today. Her last hit was Four Christmases in 2008. That’s five years ago! She had critical acclaim in Mud last year but most people have never heard of it. It’s been a long… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Well, whole things started when I read the news of the Forbes list reported on italian newspapers. It made me think about how many times the question of A-List, of the difficult for women to be box-office draws, on how women are sometimes mistreated in Hollywood, and then the post came out. Bullock is a question mark since she walked away for some time after her Oscar victory, so she’s not yet to rule out. However I have to say, her appeal overseas is not very high. Not that she’s unknwon like Witherspoon, but she never had the same success… Read more »

Isa
Isa
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

Well, I think the box office performance of Maleficent has confirmed Angelina Jolie’s status as a A-list actress, at least for a while. I don’t think it would have made close to the same amount of money with any other actress in that role, even though as a Disney film with a “name” character, it probably would not have done badly in any case. It’s not a perfect comparison, but her Maleficent did outdraw Charlize Theron and Julia Roberts in similar roles (the evil queens in Snow White). I think Theron and Roberts had more recognizable co-stars too, in Kristen… Read more »

Jake
Jake
10 years ago

Anne was super-hot as Catwoman, but “The Dark Knight Rises” just wasn’t as tightly put together as “The Dark Knight.” I have nothing against Tom Hardy but Bane has never been an interesting character to me. Like “Batman Returns,” “Rises” would have been more effective if it had simply focused on Catwoman & Batman rather than giving another villain the chance to ham it up.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Jake

Well, what disturbed me of “the Dark Knight Rises” is the fact that when Bane attacked the “Stock Exchange” you’re tempted to cheer. Really how can someone who attacks stock exchange; traders and banksters be the villain? 😀

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I liked Dark Knight Rises more than most people. But I will agree it had its flaws. The frustrating part is that a lot of them could have been fixed with a few dialogue changes. I think part of the reason I liked it more than most people is that it drew a lot of inspiration from Batman comics in the 90s. I read just about all of them. Bane was a favorite of mine. But the best take on Bane was when Gail Simone started writing him as a noble villain in Secret Six. Fantastic book. Everyone should track… Read more »

denise
denise
10 years ago

Wow you opened a can of worms here, a topic I’ve long wanted to see discussed, the women. The double standard that is unspoken and understood, simply because George Clooney may star against an actress but you can bet his costarr won’t be his age, nope she’ll be what we used to call starlets. Firstly, Charlize Theron in the borderline list, and putting her way after Angelina Jolie? Theron is an academy award winner that hasn’t ridden on roles based on her looks. She gets major kudos for that. She is in my mind on a par with Meryl Streep.… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  denise

Hey Denise, I gotta give Johnny 88 credit for the article. This is a topic that comes up a lot. But he decided to take it on head-on. I’m glad he started the discussion because I think it’s one worth having. There is undeniably a double standard. In writing the WTHH articles, I have made several observations. I generally alternate between male and female subjects. The articles about actors almost always take longer to write. Why? They have longer careers. Actors continue to have vital careers well into their senior years. But very few actresses continue to be relevant once… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  denise

Dear Denise, you write “…And putting her even on a list with Stewart? Stewart can’t act” Well, I think Kirsten Stewart is a one-hit wonder who will disappear at the speed of light now that she can’t rely on Twilight coattails. I wrote it in the article. I didn’t put her even in the “Borderline” list. I think you should read the article again, I only mention Kirsten Stewart at the beginning, because, according to Forbes, she’s the third highest paid actress in Hollywood and I wrote “Kristen Stewart sits at number 3, but really I can’t see any future… Read more »

Denise
Denise
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

To Johnny 88, yes was definitely talking about black actresses. But is only recently that black males have reached this level. Yes, I too saw the Forbes list with Stewart on it. But the bottom line is actresses face a double standard for age. Is it Hollywood’s fault? I think so but also Vogue and Madison ave. are to blame. Would Jolie be on the list were she not married to Pitt? She is beautiful but so is Theron. I am surprised Theron is not more famous but you would know more than I. And you do seem to agree… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Part of the difficulty of having this conversation is that it is hard for people to separate their own judgements about who is really GOOD from who is in fact marketable. My impression of this article is that it is about the latter. I have long found the popularity of many performers curious, but in the end, my dollars can only vote a little, while millions of others go towards inexplicable entertainments. And as Lebeau was saying, the influence of so-called “A-listers” is steadily on the wane. Compare the lists of top male and female stars of the 80s and… Read more »

rbtheuncritic
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Charlize Theron seems amazingly talented to me. And I put Sarandon on par with Streep

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  rbtheuncritic

Halle berry still opens movies. Typing remotely forgive my writing style!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Halle Berry has never opened movies. There are some who claim she’s never been A-list. It’s hard to argue when you look at her numbers. The Call did better than expected this year. It grossed $50 million. This was seen as a major victory for Berry and frankly it’s the only reason she didn’t get a WTHH article this year – yet. Discounting voice work, the only movies she has appeared in which grossed over $100 million are: The Flintsones (1994) – very small role in a franchise film X-Men – supporting role in a franchise film Die Another Day… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Cloud Atlas! It took me a while to think of it, and have not seen it, but wasn’t Halle Berry one of the leads? So you could say she was a big box office opener?

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Cloud Atlas bombed. “Opening a picture” doesn’t mean being cast as the lead. It means that you had a big opening weekend as the lead. It also means the actor can be credited with the opening weekend success. For example, Chris Hemsworth was the lead in Thor. It had a big opening weekend. But Hemsworth was an unkown. His star power wasn’t why Thor was a success. So he didn’t really “open” Thor. There are a lot of well-known actors or actresses (actresses in particular) who have never really “opened a movie”. Michelle Pfeiffer had a long career, but the… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  rbtheuncritic

I like Sarandon a lot. As an actress, I could see putting her on the same level as Streep. As a movie star, not a chance. She hasn’t appeared in a hit since 2007 and that was Enchanted which starred Amy Adams. That is the ONLY movie she has ever made that grossed over $100 million unless you count Rocky Horror which flopped initially. Charlize Theron was in Hancock in 2008 which grossed over $200 million. In 2012 she appeared in Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman which both grossed over $100 million. Everything she has done in between… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Very well said. My strict definition of an A-list actor is someone who can do the following: 1. Open a picture. When they star in a movie that fits their screen personae, the opening weekend should be big. The movie can flop after that. That’s not their fault. But the opening weekend should reflect an A-list status. 2. Get a project made. When an A-list actor signs on to a project, it gets greenlit. The bigger the star, the more weight they can throw around on projects studios don’t want to make. I don’t think there is a single actress… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

What is the difference between an A list celebrity and a B list celebrity? Are there any other ratings? A-list is a list of actors that are extremely well known. They are almost always a sure thing to be a box office hit. Sometimes roles in movies are expressly written for a particular A-list actor and they usually never have to audition for a role. The list is long but a few examples are: Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, etc.B-list actors are well known but haven’t had either a hit movie role or had done a… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

People seem to not understand what is involved in someone being on the “A-list” in Hollywood. If you are an A-lister:

  1. Your recent films have been financially successful.
  2. Many or most of your past efforts have been financially successful
  3. Studio and production companies know or strongly believe that casting you will put “butts in seats” (e.g. Make money)
  4. Projects are developed with you in mind as helming them.
  5. You don’t have to audition for your role and you have some input on who else is cast in your project.
admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Well, today it’s extremely hard for an actor to be a box-office draw on his own. But I don’t rule it out completely. In global markets the name of leading performers stil matters a lot, and global market is increasingly important. Many actors still have a carreer thanks to overseas markets, despite being box-office poison in North America (Nicolas Cage; Nicole Kidman, though Kidman’s appeal is waning also in Europe). You’re right, I tried to put my personal tastes apart, (maybe I exagerated with Blanchett and Cotillard) and list names who are still bankable. Among those I listed the three… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

International fans tend be more loyal than US fans. We’re a fickle bunch over here. But the rest of the world keeps Nicolas Cage working. Okay, so now I need to defend Jolie, Anniston and Diaz even though I’m not sure I want to. Jolie’s appeal is that she is a ridiculously beautiful woman who can act. But more importantly, she is a believable action heroine. Very few actresses have a rack record like Jolie in action movies. That seems to be winding down of late. But for a while, it was what put her at the top of the… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  johnny88

I have to admit I did not hate Charlies Angels or Bad Teacher. I haven’t seen The Sweetest Thing, but if it is embarassing, I don’t mind. One of the things I like about Diaz is she’s not afraid to take risks. Sometimes it pays off like Something About Mary. Sometimes she falls on her face like The Sweetest Thing. I appreciate that she tries. She’s got a long filmography with some surprisingly strong movies in varied genres. I don’t feel like it’s fair to judge her based on her weakest films. I feel like I am arguing the counter… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I really wasn’t taking you to task for including your personal tastes in the article. You present them as such and that’s fair. Maybe my own preferences lead me to defend Aniston too much. My impression has always been that, especially early in her film career, she was getting the Rom Com leftovers and had to make do. It had to be frustrating to wait in line behind Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock and then compete with Reese Witherspoon for the crumbs. Now she’s middle-aged and will soon be past her prime for Rom Coms, and that’s a good thing.… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I look back to her Picture Perfect days when she was just one of the six Friends trying to break into movies. And really, she’s the only one who pulled it off. Anniston made the A-list with Bruce Almighty. Carrey’s career was floundering a little and he returned to his old style of comedy. Pairing him with Anniston gave him his biggest hit to date. And that’s what she’s been doing ever since. She can’t exactly open a picture herself. But pairing her with any actor seems to increase the opening weekend take. And that’s the next best thing. She’s… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

Great article, great discussion. Can I just say that it is SO good to have a real keyboard again instead of trying to type on an Ipod touch in the damn wilderness with spotty internet!! Couple more random thoughts; Marion Cotillard, amazing in the delicious “Midnight in Gorgeous and classy at the same time, granted the movie itself was totally mesmerizing but you can totally see the A list quality she brought to the project. Jennifer Aniston, one of my favorite go-to actresses as she does not seem to ever pick boring movies and yes, there does seem to be… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

oops, and above, that should be “Midnight in Paris.”

Angelina Jolie, never one of my favorite actresses but I applaud her intellect and her work for humanitarian causes. At the box office it’s what you guys were saying, beautiful and can carry an action film. But I see her roles as an extension of herself rather than acting in any sense of the word. just my opinion.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Women in particular seem divided by the great Anniston/Jolie debate. It’s like they all took sides over Brad Pitt’s love life. As a man, I’m greatly confused by this phenomenon. What can I say, I like them both? If I am casting a role that requires exotic beauty or a kick ass action heroine, I call Jolie first. If I have an action movie written for a man but the male action stars have dropped out (like Salt), I’ll do a rewrite and call Jolie. If I want a little Oscar cache mixed with earthy sexiness, I call Jolie. Aniston,… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Lebeau, please! Women don’t care who Brad Pitt is sleeping with. Well, let me rephrase that. I don’t care. My opinion of Jolie was formed after her ridiculously overrated performance in Girl, Interrupted. This opinion was cemented after her role in Pushing Tin with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. She played the skanky wife of the latter. Again, seriously, how much acting is that? Speaking of Pitt, he *IS* the male Jolie. Attractive in an earthy way, burst onto the Hollywood scene by virtue of this earthy/sexy quality…. and not much else. Get the right action flick (Mr and… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I am prone to over-generalization. Didn’t mean to imply that the feud was the basis for your opinion. Just that a lot of women I have talked to seem to care about it an awful lot. And it seems to be a divisive issue among many. But most guys I know like both actresses just fine. I do think you may be selling Jolie and especially Pitt short. Pitt’s done some great work and is definitely more than a pretty face. Check out 12 Monkeys some time. He gives an incredible performance. That was when I decided he was the… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

By the bye…a name curiously missing from all these discussions is Faye Dunaway. She may not represent box office cash right now, after all she is 70 but she has a movie coming out this year and has worked steadily for decades. Dunaway has the same name recognition factor, acting chops and body of work, as Streep, Sarandon, Hawn and Keaton do.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I respect Dunaway’s overall filmography and her consistent work, but the last time she had a decent-sized role in a major release was in The Thomas Crown Affair in 1999. Compare that to Streep, Sarandon, and Keaton and she doesn’t measure up. Of course it’s not really fair to compare any actress to them.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Following a chance encounter with Faye Dunaway a couple years ago, I read a couple interviews with her online and was quite impressed with her remarks. She’s clearly intelligent and insightful in addition to being a great actress. In the interview Dunaway stated how her major successful movies would be independent films today! That comment has been echoed here by Lebeau and a couple others and is interesting to think about. And by the way she is totally charming in person, to someone she had no reason to be nice to. I’ll just leave it at that.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Always good to hear a positive story about a celeb. I hear so many negative ones.

RB
RB
10 years ago

For your consideration, Lebloggers, how about the following:
Shirley MacLaine A++++++ and permanent. Would have been so even if she stopped working after Terms of Endearment. Continues to work even though she doesn’t have to, and is almost 80! Paved the way for Streep and company.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I think I have established my position on the concept of a permanent A-list. MacLaine has permanent Hollywood legend status. But she’ll never be A-list again, IMHO.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Sure, although, counterpoint, i would bet MacLaine isn’t unhappy with her career. She never had the traditional sexy romantic lead role features, so she wasn’t going to get those roles anyway. “Success” can be somewhat of a personal definition.. yes, she played many older women type roles, sometimes quirky characters, which by doing that, opened up the sheer scope of roles available to pretty much all of the older actresses we have mentioned so far. Including Streep, who also has excelled in these roles. Unlike Goldie, Kim and Fonda, Maclaine didn’t have to market herself as a sex symbol, in… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Maclaine was the romantic lead in “Being There” which came out just the year before “A Change of Seasons” so I’m surprised you left that one out. I cannot think of another actress living or dead who could have played the role of Eve Rand to such elegant perfection. And that includes Meryl. “Being There” did not get the awards attention that it should have, maybe because of “Kramer vs. Kramer” which cleaned up at Oscars night that year. Even at the time I thought Kramer was overrated and Being There was underrated. Kramer was hailed at being groundbreaking and… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Agreed totally on her movie roles for all those years, they were indeed, all older women, and sometimes she played older than her age, also agreed that, many actresses play someone younger than who they are. Where I have a lot of respect for Maclaine is that i give her credit for being someone who not only took on those roles and hit them out of the park but also by doing so, opened up the range of roles for others. No one can be a 20 year old ingenue forever.. and I’m too old myself to identify with Little… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Most every actress over 40 wishes they had Streep’s career. Certainly every actress over 50.

RB
RB
10 years ago

I do agree how according to the Lebeau definition of A list, she doesn’t fit. You have consistently made the case for your definition with clear criteria. I know she can’t open a movie at her age, heck I don’t even think a man her age could. While the subject of actress aging in Hollywood has made for many an interesting discussion here, I do think MacLaine has outlasted many men for both quality and length of time on the A list – over 50 years of award wins and nominations for a tremendous range of roles. So you’re right,… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Roberts and Jolie have clout. But in Hollywood, it’s what have you done for me lately.

Theron had hits with Prometheus and Snow White. Granted, she wasn’t the lead in either film. But appearing in hits makes Hollywood sit up and take notice. Roberts and Jolie haven’t done much of that lately. Being Hollywood royalty will get your face on the magazine covers, but it doesn’t always translate to big box office.

stef
stef
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

“Jolie’s appeal is that she is a ridiculously beautiful woman who can act.” Now that’s she’s had a double mastectomy for no defensible reason?! If it’s even true she did or perhaps some twisted ploy to boost her notorious weirder-by-the-minute persona. (Holly-wood is a monument to BS as is Big Pharma) Plus, she has very prominent features and those rarely age well. Plus, how can anyone sincerely call these people “actors”?! Have you ever been on a set? Have you ever seen these so-called actors call acting? They do snippets. Snippet here. Snippet there. Snippets of gestures, of lines, of… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  stef

Having never been on a set.. well, actually I have, but not when anything was taking place on the set… anyway, I can’t comment on your insider knowledge, AND I’m no big fan of AJ, but I have to say, there has to be talent on these sets, in some degree. Maybe sometimes it’s lacking. But it has to require some talent. It has to

stef
stef
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Talent resides today with CGI alchemists et al. Many A-list “actors” are CGI ‘d in and need not deign make a royal appearance on set at all. The ability to insert replicants is a veritable godsend since the egos of the live numbnuts, like their paychecks, are risibly disproportionate to any true useful service they provide to the world. In these times of planned & orchestrated severe unemployment, de-industrialization and economic collapse, police state brutality etc. all aimed at the destruction of Western civilization one is gobsmacked by the persistent, insane idolatry of these rich, spoiled, capricious and useless chimeras.… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  stef

Stef, your rants are quite entertaining. I’ll give you that. But you’re spraying random fire, I can’t tell what your target is. One minute you are taking on all of Western civilization, then you’re singling out Robocop? I look forward to your response. I’m sure it will be filled with wit. But maybe pick a topic.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  stef

I actually do “get” at least some of what you are saying. It is just a very difficult fabric to weave together, and it ignores the pockets of humanity that are out there in civilization, just like it ignores pockets of talent among the CGI. But it is definitely something to think about. Agreement is not a requirement for the advancement of civilization… thinking, and questioning, is.

stef
stef
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

“Agreement is not a requirement for the advancement of civilization… thinking, and questioning, is.”

Good for you, RB.

Be well, all!

Be well, all!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  stef

Jolie’s double mastectomy doesn’t concern me. It’s her personal choice. I don’t see any need for her to mount a defense. You seem to be suggesting that film actors don’t act. That’s silly. Yes, film acting is different from stage acting. Obviously, there are multiple takes, editing, special effects, etc. And yeah, movies are artifice. But you are painting with an exceptionally broad brush. Your statements seem to suggest that no film actor has ever had any talent whatsoever. You’re making a lot of noise but I’m not sure what you are railing against. Actors are fake? They are actors.… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

I’m watching “Holiday” with Cam Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black. (That last one really threw me… WTF? ) I must say it’s pretty good so far. yes, I like a lot of dreck but try to maintain some minimal standards. 🙂 Anyway I fell asleep halfway through the film last night, but that not necessarily an indicator of quality, so going to watch the rest after re-reading the WTHH on Jude Law. Diaz and Winslet are, without question, fun to watch, and both on top of their game.

RB
RB
10 years ago

update; have watched “The Holiday” twice now. Formula, yes, but so excellent.

frug
frug
10 years ago

For what it’s worth according to Vulture the 10 most valuable actresses are

1. Lawrence (3)
2. Bullock (4)
3. Jolie (12)
4. Streep (13)
5. Aniston (16)
6. Kunis (20)
7. Hathaway (24)
8. McCarthy (27)
9. Blanchett (30)
10. Stone (32)

(Number in parentheses is overall rank)

The only other actresses in the top 50 are Portman (35), Stewart (36), Fey (44), Witherspoon (45), Saldana (48) and Roberts (50).

http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/most-valuable-movie-stars.html#/all/vulture-rankings

frug
frug
10 years ago
Reply to  frug

I’ll add that I don’t really like their methodology (specifically I don’t understand why they include the likability, critic scores, Oscars, Twitter mentions and tabloid value as individual categories since those things should already be reflected in box and studio value rankings) but they seem to pass the eyeball test.

frug
frug
10 years ago
Reply to  frug

Just for fun, I was playing around with the values adjuster and set everything but the box office and studio scores values to zero (BO and studio scores I left alone). The new order was this 1. Bullock (5) 2. Jolie (8) 3. Blanchett (11) 4. Lawrence (16) 5. Streep (18) 6. McCartney (19) 7. Aniston (20) 8. Stewart (29) 9. Stone (34) 10. Hathaway (36) Other actresses in the revised Top 50 are Kunis (44), Fey (47), and Portman (49). I personally think that Lawrence is probably a bigger draw than Cate Blanchett, but I have the benefit of… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  frug

For a half second, I thought Stone was Sharon Stone and I nearly spit out my coffee. Then I realized my mistake and went…. ohhhhh that makes more sense.

frug
frug
9 years ago
Reply to  frug

And this year’s update

  1. Lawrence (1)
  2. Bullock (4)
  3. Jolie (6)
  4. Adams (20)
  5. Woodley (24)
  6. Streep (26)
  7. Stone (27)
  8. Hathaway (28)
  9. McCarthy (30)
  10. Johansson (31)

Other actresses in the top 50; Aniston (33), Roberts (36), Kunis (37), Portman (41), Witherspoon (48), Saldana (49), and Theron (50).

https://lebeauleblog.com/2013/08/08/who-are-the-current-a-list-actresses/

RB
RB
10 years ago

Watched 3 movies this weekend; and one of them was NOT Mr. Banks, but I’m getting to that gem. No, I watched one oldie (The Big Kahuna) and 2 recent hits from Redbox: We’re the Millers and The Heat. Have to say, enjoyed both new films, and in regards to the latter, I can finally see why Bullock and McCarthy are A list. Paired in a hit cop movie, they both picked a winner in The Heat. Cop movies are not really my thing but this one was so good it reminded me of the last cop movie I really… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

A To D List – The Hierarchy: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2014/03/a-to-d-list-hierarchy.html This is part one of a continuing series this weekend that will set to define A-D list and the people in the public eye and how they should be defined. Before getting to specific individuals this is a general overview on lists. Trying to define A to D list is hard, but not impossible. The big problem is that careers are always in flux and things that hold true when a blind is written or a description of an actor might not be the case when it is read years later. Back… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Showing posts with label A-D list: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/search/label/A-D%20list Sharon Stone – Former A+ list mostly movie actress who is trying her hand at television now. Sylvester Stallone- Former A+ list mostly movie actor who will always be an A lister and is also an Academy Award winner/nominee. Just when you think his best days are behind him he finds another franchise. Reese Witherspoon – A+ list mostly movie actress who is difficult work for and with unless you treat her like she is a Queen. Renee Zellweger- Former A+ list mostly movie actress who has never quite been the same since… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

A To D List – The Rankings – Part Infinity:
http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2014/03/a-to-d-list-rankings-part-infinity.html

Uma Thurman – Former B+ list mostly movie actress who is an incredible traveling companion and the muse of this A list movie director.

Val Kilmer – Former A list mostly movie actor who chose his love of buffets over his acting career and is struggling to find that old magic.

bodwaya
bodwaya
9 years ago

what about amy adams she is alist she been pumping good movies year after from man of steel to american hustle

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  bodwaya
  1. Man of Steel was crap*
  2. Making good movies has nothing to do with being A-list

*Yes, this is technically a matter of opinion. But I loathe Man of Steel.

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

I would second the viewpoint on Man Of Steel except I haven’t seen and can’t muster any enthusiasm to do so.

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

It’s on my DVR. I keep trying to work up the courage to watch it a second time. I keep failing to do so.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  bodwaya

Future of Movie Stars: Who Will Shine? Who Will Fade Away? http://forums.previously.tv/topic/7750-future-of-movie-stars-who-will-shine-who-will-fade-away/page-12#entry1012625 I have to disagree. I think Amy Adams is actually an exception to the over 30 crowd and is a no doubt A-lister right now. She annually appears in Oscar bait as well as more commercially popular films such as Night at the Museum and the new Superman movies. Also, she’s had staying power since Junebug really put her on the map. (Although to me, she will always be Leslie Miller from Drop Dead Gorgeous.). I think she’s a bigger star now than back in 2007 with Enchanted.… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

http://forums.previously.tv/topic/7750-future-of-movie-stars-who-will-shine-who-will-fade-away/page-20#entry1486667

See, I always thought that more than anything, it’s the B-list or C-list “character” actors that have a longer life than anything. Look at Julianne Moore- she’s been in this for decades, she’s finally got her Oscar, and she’s never really been the A-list leading lady. She’s more than anything the definition of a “long” star, as opposed to a “big” star. Her career isn’t dependent on whether or not she can make the studios over a 100 million dollars per movie, which is what A-list stars need to do.

bodwaya
bodwaya
9 years ago

but amy adams is getting famous so i qualify her as alist she had a good resume for someone at a young age

peyton
peyton
9 years ago

Lebeau, what do you think will happen to Jennifer Lawrence’s career in the long run? I know she’s in demand now but I think that’s cause she’s so freaking popular. I think the hunger games would still make good money even if they had someone else in the lead. Personally, I think she’s pretty overrated. You’re definitely right about Kristen Stewart. Without the coattails of Twilight to ride on, i’m hoping she’ll disappear soon.

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  peyton

Lawrence’s popularity is bound to decline. That’s not a judgement on her talent. It happens to everyone. The question is when. The Hunger Games has definitely taken her to the next level. But it’s not all she has going for her. She’s prominently featured in the X-Men movies. And she’s got a good collaboration going with David O Russell which should keep her in high brow movies and walking down red carpets for at least a few years. I think we’ll be hearing from her for a while to come.

Sia
Sia
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

Sure her popularity will die down because she’s honestly hit top and has nowhere to go. Jennifer has so much talent and likability that she’s going to be here a long time ! She just has to continue to do great movies indie and box office. I’m not worried about that girl at all !

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

How Far Can Jennifer Lawrence Go? http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/521242/far-jennifer-lawrence Post by Crappler on 3 hours ago She has arguably been the top star of the 2010s. She hasn’t really had a misstep yet (okay, Serena was a misstep). She’s proven that she can have great success outside of those franchise movies. She’s already been nominated three times for Academy Awards, winning for Silver Linings Playbook. Her first Oscar-nominated performance was for Winter’s Bone, which came out before she became better known for playing Mystique and Katniss. Then she appeared in two David O. Russell movies (Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle). At… Read more »

Sia
Sia
9 years ago
Reply to  peyton

Overrated ? Yea not so much . Just saw Mockingjay part 1 and she’s amazing in that. The girl isn’t going anywhere !

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