Ensemble films can't be characterized simply by the amount of recognizable names they include, but by how all of those actors engage with the storylines. These days, it can be easy to classify ensemble films as any new release from Marvel Studios, but unless the principal actors are getting equal screen time, they don't count. A few A-listers and a bunch of cameos do not an ensemble cast make.
That being said, Marvel films (and in fact, films from the superhero genre as a whole) have generally boasted great ensemble narratives, and been well-received for doing so. But amidst their bombastic grandeur, where the marquee is rarely big enough to display all the movie stars they include, there are other ensemble films that deserve just as much recognition. Here are 10 of the most underrated ensemble films from the last 20 years.
THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (2017)
The Meyerowitz Stories is from writer/director Noah Baumbach, an independent film director known for his deft narrative impulses and way of letting stories feel organic even crowded with big-name actors. It follows a dysfunctional family in which the men don't communicate authentically to one another and as a result, don't achieve much emotional growth.
Their dysfunction comes to a head when family patriarch Harold Meyerowitz (Dennis Hoffman) is recognized for his career and all of his adult children gather in NYC to celebrate. Celebrations soon turn to fisticuffs, as the two contrary brothers (Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler) settle some unresolved issues. It also features the acting talents of Emma Thompson, Elizabeth Marvel, and Adam Driver.
SMOKIN' ACES (2006)
When a Vegas crime boss turned magician Buddy Aces (Jeremy Piven) agrees to testify against his old partner, he prepares for the worst. Admitted into the Witness Protection Program, he prepares for every elite assassin to come after him once the word gets out he's turned into a snitch.
The ensemble crime thriller genre is a little played out, but Smokin' Aces delivers mostly because of its stellar cast. Piven does his best since Entourage, and he's matched by genre veterans like Ray Liotta and wise-cracking tough guys like Ben Affleck and Ryan Reynolds.
MYSTERY MEN (1999)
Before there was The Avengers, there was Mystery Men, a superhero ensemble film that seemed to transcend all classification. It had equal parts slapstick comedy, sci-fi, mystery, and heart as a group of misfits on a mission to try to save the world.
When Champion City's Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) goes missing, it's up to the Mystery Men to find him. They have neither his strength, superpowers, or spectacular good looks, but they have each other (and some pretty hilarious outfits). The all-star cast includes William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, Geoffrey Rush, Janeane Garofalo, Hank Azaria, and Paul Reubens.
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN (2006)
Like a slicked-up version of The Big Lebowski with more attractive leads and gun-fu action sequences, Lucky Number Slevin boasts a similar case of mistaken identity. Josh Hartnett plays the unlucky Slevin, a man who gets caught in the middle of a gangland crossfire in NYC.
The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and The Boss (Morgan Freeman) are conducting their "business" on the streets of the city, and the crimelords are making it run red with the blood of any innocent who gets in the way. Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) is on the case, but he has to stay one step ahead of an elite assassin (played by Bruce Willis) who may take out Slevin before he can get to him.
RAT RACE (2001)
When you're a bored casino magnate (John Cleese), you run out of adrenaline-fueled things to wager on. Until you round up your six wealthiest high rollers who will bet on anything, and devise a race for $2 million dollars across the country.
Six ordinary people will be admitted into the race, where they can use any means necessary to get the cash in a New Mexico train station locker. They can lie, cheat, and steal with no repercussions, as long as they continue the contest. This ode to slapstick legends like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World features the comedic talents of Seth Green, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr, and many more.
THE COMPANY MEN (2011)
At the top of his game at a shipping and manufacturing company, Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is on the fast track for executive promotions, money, and success. Then his company is forced to layoff several rounds of employees, and he clocks out for the last time, distinctly aware that his value to the company and his value as a person are not linked.
Suddenly faced with going from having everything to having nothing, he commiserates with fellow work colleagues Phil and Gene (Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones, respectively) on how to improve his post-career life. It's an un-glamorous take on a road many of us find ourselves walking, with some fine performances that also include Kevin Costner, Craig T. Nelson, and Maria Bello.
THE FAMILY STONE (2005)
When an uptight and conservative woman (Sarah Jessica Parker) is brought home to the holiday festivities of her new boyfriend's family, she makes a big impression, but not the one she hoped. Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) hopes to propose to Meredith (Parker) on Christmas, if his eclectic Connecticut family don't drive her away first.
Packed full of familiar faces, the Stone family consists of matriarch Sybil (Diane Keaton), her husband Kelly (Craig T. Nelson), as well as their daughter Amy (Rachael McAdams) and other son Ben (Luke Wilson). If you want more authenticity and less superficiality in your holiday film, give this one a try.
CHEF (2014)
After working on huge Marvel projects, Jon Favreau decided to return to his independent film roots and make Chef, about a talented chef at a ritzy Los Angeles restaurant that has lost his passion for making food. After a blowout with his boss, he quits his job and moves to Miami to rekindle his love of creating recipes and new flavors.
With his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) his best friend (John Leguizamo), and his son he opens up a foot truck to bring his favorite dishes directly to hungry mouths. In the process, he learns that what goes into making a great dish is the same as what goes into making a great life; love, laughter, and friendship. It also features Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr.
IDENTITY (2003)
Ten perfect strangers seek refuge from a freak storm in the Nevada Desert, while at the same time, a serial killer awaits execution for the murder of a group of similar individuals. The exhibition of the killer's diary as evidence reveals a dark tale eerily similar to the events that play out among the motel guests.
One by one, the guests get picked off, with limo driver Ed Dakota (John Cusack) the only person resourceful enough to stay alive and reveal the identity of the murderer. Based on the famous Agatha Christie murder mystery, Identity features a stellar cast that includes Ray Liotta, Rebecca De Mornay, Amanda Peet, and Alfred Molina.
STATE OF PLAY (2009)
This tight political thriller reveals what lengths party influencers will go to ensure that their dirty laundry never sees the light of day. When a handsome and seemingly unflappable Congressman (Ben Affleck) suddenly finds himself facing a murder charge for his mistress and a deluge of sensitive information flooding Washington, it threatens to derail his rise to the presidency.
His former friend turned investigative reporter (Russell Crowe) has been assigned the story, and he's unprepared for the magnitude of the cover-up he encounters. Based on a BBC series, this film boasts such acting talent as Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Rachel McAdams, Patrick Bateman, and many more.