An ensemble cast is when a film brings together a group of respected actors. They are usually movies where the actors are needed to bring the story to life. So, while The Avengers may be a movie filled with A-List talent, it isn't necessarily considered an ensemble film because, with the big-budget and the special effects, the actors do not necessarily drive the story forward.
However, that's not to say that an ensemble film needs to be a drama. In fact, great ensemble films can be comedies, romances, and even heist films. Here are the 10 of the best ensemble casts in film history.
Knives Out (2019)
When the trailers and posters for Knives Out were released, nobody really knew what to expect. The exact plotline of the film was kept relatively secret in order to not tip off audiences to all the twists and turns the movie takes (and this article won't be providing any spoilers).
The movie's cast is a superb lineup consisting of Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Don Johnson, and even a secret cameo by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film is one of the best whodunnits to do be released in a very long time.
Crash (2005)
Crash is an extremely polarizing film. It won the 2006 Oscar for Best Picture, beating out Brokeback Mountain. Many said that Crash only won because, at the time, supporting an LGBTQ film was still seen as extremely risky.
However, the racial plotline of Crash has become more relevant than ever in recent years. The movie is both a cultural artifact of how Americans viewed race after 9/11 and a symbol of the missteps Hollywood has taken in trying to tell those stories. The movie stars Matt Dillon, Thandie Newton, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Ryan Phillippe, Terrence Howard, Michael Peña, Brendan Fraser, Ludacris, Loretta Devine, Tony Danza, and Keith David, among others.
Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually is known as "The Ultimate Chick Flick," and rightfully so. Few other rom-coms have had the lasting power of this surprise British hit. The plot centers around a group of interweaving storylines leading up to Christmas.
The move stars Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kiera Knightley, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, (pause to take a breath) Claudia Schiffer, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elizabeth, and Denise Richards. Many say that without Love Actually, films such as He's Just Not That Into You and Valentine's Day would never have happened.
Clue (1985)
What happens when you bring together a group of highly talented comedic actors who have been working in the industry for years? You get Clue, which was based on the Hasbro board game of the same name (also known as Cluedo).
Aside from the whodunnit nature of Clue, the subtly and nuances of the film all lie within the dialogue, which has made it a popular cult classic that continues to be a fan favorite. It stars Tim Curry, Martin Mull, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and even had a cameo from Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's.
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
The Ocean's films have become the pinnacle of modern-day heist movies. In 2001, Ocean's Eleven brought together George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Bernie Mac, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, and Casey Affleck.
But the 2004 sequel, Ocean's Twelve added even more names to the lineup, like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eddie Izzard, and Albert Finney. The series went on to release two more sequels, Ocean's Thirteen and Ocean's 8.
Gosford Park (2001)
Gosford Park is like Knives Out combined with Downton Abbey. During a shooting weekend at an English estate, a murder ensues, and the guests and servants must try to find out who the culprit is and what the motive was.
The movie stars Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ryan Phillippe, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, and Stephen Fry, among many others. Gosford Park is a dark comedy and went on to be nominated for a whopping six Oscars, winning Best Original Screenplay. Gosford Park was also nominated for numerous Golden Globes, BAFTAs, AFI Awards, and many more accolades, winning over 60 awards in total.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Royal Tenenbaums has remained one of Wes Anderson's most profitable and well-known movies. It follows the dysfunctional Tenenbaum family and comes off almost like a mix of Arrested Development and Running with Scissors.
The movie uses the typical quirk and awkwardness that Anderson has come to be known for, and stars Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, and Alec Baldwin, among others.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Boogie Nights tells the story of Eddie Adams (played by Mark Wahlberg) as he rises up the ranks of the porn industry in the 1970s. He ends up becoming the porn star Dirk Diggler, who is known for his large...you know what, but soon discovers that fame and money come with a price.
Along with Wahlberg, the movie also stars Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Thomas Jane, and Robert Downey Sr. The movie was a hit and went on to be nominated for three Oscars, as well as a handful of Golden Globes and SAG awards.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
This movie is known almost as much for its talented cast as it is for its wonderful storyline. In The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a group of seniors move from the UK to India to live in an experimental senior living facility. While there, they learn that they're never too old to keep living life to the fullest.
The movie stars Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie, and Dev Patel. Dench, Smith, and Wilton have all received honors from the royal family and hold the official title of Dame.
Rat Race (2001)
One of the greatest ensemble casts of all time happened in a film that most people have either forgotten about or never even heard of. Rat Race centers around a group of people who go on a massive chase for a duffel bag filled with $2 million dollars.
The movie stars Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, and even has cameos by Kathy Bates, Gloria Allred, and Smash Mouth. Rat Race is whacky and the cast couldn't have been any more random, but they all played off of each other perfectly, helping the movie to become a commercial success.