10 Movies That Had A Ridiculous Number Of Stars Before They Were Famous
There is this old adage – ya gotta start somewhere. In Hollywood, this is the case for everyone breaking into the business. Most stars, before they were famous, got their start on smaller projects, though there are those outliers who were thrown into the fire immediately. But looking back as to where some of the now-famous actors got their start, you might be surprised at how many of them got their start together.
There are a number of movies that prove this point. Films in early careers that had not one or two stars before they were famous, but multiple stars before they hit it big. We have found 10 movies of this sort, ones we are sure you have heard of, but also ones you may not be aware of that included many stars before they were famous. Let’s check them out.
10 Movies With Stars Before They Were Famous
Dazed and Confused (1993)
The list of stars in this movie before they were famous is quite impressive. The movie itself, when it premiered in movie theaters, was a commercial disappointment, not generating much box office at all. It wasn’t until the film entered the home video market that it began to find its audience.
Dazed and Confused is your typical high school fare. It’s the last day of school in 1976 small-town Texas and the upperclassmen are conducting their ritual of hazing the incoming freshmen while everyone is trying to get drunk, stoned, or laid.
Here is the impressive cast of stars before they were famous: Mathew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Jason London, Milla Jovovich, Adam Goldberg, Nicky Katt, Joey Lauren Adams, and Rory Cochrane.
The Outsiders (1983)
It’s not that we didn’t know who was in the film, it’s that we simply didn’t realize WHO was in the film. The Outsiders was made back in 1983, which is why there are many who don’t realize the star power that came from this Francis Ford Coppola coming-of-age film.
The film is set in 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma, and tells of two rival gangs, the Greasers (the poor kids) and the Socs (the rich kids) who are in constant battle. When a death between the two factions occurs, the gang violence becomes an untenable situation.
The amazing cast of stars before they were famous includes Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Diane Lane, and Leif Garrett.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Another early ‘80s film (what a decade for moviemakers) that resonates even today. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is based on the true story and eventual book by screenwriter Cameron Crowe, who to do his research for the book, went undercover at San Diego’s Clairemont High School as a high school student. The result was a best-selling book and one of the most memorable movies.
This classic comedy follows a number of students through one year of high school and boasts a number of stars before they were famous.
These include Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, Amanda Wyss, and Vincent Schiavelli. On top of that, audiences got an early peek at stars such as Forest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz (in his feature film debut), Anthony Edwards, James Russo, and yes, Nicolas Cage, back then going by Nicolas Coppola, who also made his feature film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Stand by Me (1986)
The decade of the ‘80s churned out Hollywood hit after hit and Rob Reiner’s 1986 take on the Stephen King novella was just one more example of great filmmaking. Based on King’s story, The Body, Stand By Me tells the story of four boys who decide to go find the body of a kid who, it was said, was hit by a train.
The story mainly revolves around the adventure the boys embark upon, but also includes a group of punks who would love nothing more than to harass and beat up on these four young kids.
The cast of stars before they were famous includes River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell (his film debut), Kiefer Sutherland, and Casey Siemaszko.
John Cusack also made an appearance, though he was already on his way to becoming a Hollywood star.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Who doesn’t like their porn with a side of stars before they were famous? Boogie Nights, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is set during the “rise” of porn in the 1970s as it follows a dishwasher who turns into a vastly popular porn star.
The film chronicles Eddie Adams (whose porn name is Dirk Diggler) through his “ups and downs” as a porn star and his downfall.
The film stars a number of actors who were just getting started or who were on the cusp of making it big. These include Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Heather Graham.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
This Is Spinal Tap is considered to be, among things, the film that started the mockumentary genre. It was directed by Rob Reiner (in his directorial debut) and was co-written by Reiner along with the film’s other stars, who were not that well-known but became famous shortly after.
The film follows a fictional heavy metal band (“one of England’s loudest bands”), Spinal Tap, as they embark on their first American tour. The band consists of stars before they were famous Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean (though he was known for playing Lenny in the TV series, Laverne and Shirley).
The film also starred Fran Drescher, who eventually became very well-known years later when she played Fran Fine in the hit TV series, The Nanny.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
The 2001 film, The Princess Diaries is notable for a couple of reasons. First, it was the feature film debut of Anne Hathaway and it was also the first film for singer/actress Mandy Moore. So, there are two stars who made their debut before they were famous. To be fair to Moore, though, by the time The Princess Diaries premiered, she already had two albums out.
The coming-of-age film follows Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis, who learns that she is the heir to the throne of a kingdom in Europe. Enter her grandmother, the Queen (Julie Andrews), who must teach her the ways of royalty. Of note, the sequel to this film – The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement – was the feature film debut of Chris Pine.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
From the mouth of film critic Roger Ebert, “I have a feeling that Mystic Pizza may someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars.” And so it became true. The romantic comedy tells the story of three friends who work at a pizza parlor in a seaside town in Connecticut and their daily struggles.
The film includes stars before they were famous such as Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor, and Julia Roberts. It also stars Vincent D’Onofrio, who had already made a statement with his performance as Pvt. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, but who wasn’t yet quite famous. Mystic Pizza was also the feature film debut of Matt Damon.
Encino Man (1992)
Encino Man has a cast that is the perfect example of new and rising stars. The silly comedy tells the story of two dorky teenagers who happen to find a caveman frozen in a block of ice. Once they thaw out the caveman, they become two of the most popular kids at their high school.
The film includes a few stars before they were famous such as Sean Astin, Pauly Shore, Brendan Fraser, Robin Tunney, Michael DeLuise, and Ke Huy Quan.
Astin and Quan were already on the climb, both having already starred in The Goonies and Quan having debuted in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Encino Man just pushed them more into the Hollywood spotlight.
That Thing You Do! (1996)
That Thing You Do is a 1996 film that was the feature film writing and directing debut of Tom Hanks. It tells the story of four youths in the 1960s who want to become famous by playing in a rock band. They hit it big with one song, “That Thing You Do”, then try to handle the success of that one song.
The film stars Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry as the Wonders in roles that pushed them further into stardom. The movie also marks the feature film debut of Charlize Theron, who plays the girlfriend of Tom Everett Scott’s Guy Patterson.
