Do film stars nonetheless exist? Movie journalists, cinephiles, and producers have been debating this level for over a decade, declaring the film star extinct.
However all through the 2010s, Hollywood leaned into mental properties and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whereas authentic movies starring A-list abilities like Jennifer Lawrence (“Passengers”), Johnny Depp (“The Lone Ranger”), and Will Smith (“Gemini Man”) flopped, and step by step everyone appeared to be lining as much as pay their respects on the grave of the film star.
They’ve blamed the dying on Hollywood’s starvation for IP, the erasure of the mid-budget film, and the rise of tv. However many of those arguments miss the forest for the bushes: We not solely nonetheless have film stars right this moment, however stardom right this moment is similar to what it was within the Golden Age of Hollywood. The movie trade isn’t post-movie stars, and big-name actors nonetheless affect audiences’ viewing habits and movies’ monetary success.
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, whose movies “Mission: Unimaginable — The Closing Reckoning” and “F1” are in theaters this summer time, are extensively thought of the final “true” film stars, the few aged film veterans nonetheless able to reliably opening a movie. However opposite to widespread perception, stardom isn’t depending on watertight field workplace potential — Katharine Hepburn, as an illustration, was thought of field workplace poison for years. From 1935’s “Break of Hearts” till no less than “The Philadelphia Story” in 1940, her movies persistently earned nice opinions however poor attendance.
Cary Grant additionally made many business failures whereas nonetheless a number one man, together with George Cukor’s “Vacation” and “Bringing Up Child” (by which he co-starred with Hepburn). Cruise and Pitt could be film stars, however they nonetheless have off days, like “Rock of Ages” or “Wolfs,” respectively. These actors actually elevate the profile of their movies and enhance the probability that they’ll generate income, however monetary safety doesn’t robotically decide who’s a film star.
What makes an actor a film star is their persona. If you watch Cruise hug the door of an airplane because it takes off in “Mission: Unimaginable — Rogue Nation,” you neglect you’re watching the character of Ethan Hunt. As an alternative, you’re watching the rigorously crafted display persona of Tom Cruise, motion hero, who will threat sure dying if it means delivering cinema to his adoring followers.
The Fashionable Film Star and Their Contract
In 2019, the Wall Road Journal reported that Jason Statham, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Vin Diesel had distinctive contracts for his or her collaborations within the “Quick and Livid” franchise that mainly meant they couldn’t lose fights. Statham’s contract reportedly protected him from getting overwhelmed up an excessive amount of on display, whereas Johnson and Diesel had folks on set to observe what number of licks they obtained.
Such contracts are nothing new in Hollywood, and plenty of students of basic Hollywood will doubtless recollect the strict contracts studios had for his or her stars in that period.
Within the previous days, stars — particularly feminine stars — have been placed on strict diets, their names usually modified, and so they have been normally given voice classes to be taught that basic Transatlantic diction. Management over a star’s picture went even additional than that, although. Jean Harlow was forbidden by studio mandate from marrying, since producers at MGM didn’t wish to complicate her picture as a intercourse image. Actors like Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Fay Wray have been all contractually prevented from having youngsters — some, in accordance with lore, have been pressured to have abortions.
Now, Hollywood studios not personal their stars’ photos; they haven’t because the early Nineteen Sixties. As an alternative, actors management their very own photos, and so they have groups of brokers, publicists, and, typically, private stylists available to do it. When Emily Blunt and Penélope Cruz turned pregnant whereas making “Into the Woods” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” respectively, they weren’t dropped from the movies — as an alternative, the costume departments, stunt groups, and administrators accommodated the actors and their pregnancies, reimagining complicated sequences and altering costumes as wanted.
Actors right this moment nonetheless depend on contracts, artistic management over their productions, and agreements with producers to construct and keep constant photos. The Twenty first-century definition of name picture implies that some film stars get typecast — except, like Emma Stone, Kristen Stewart, Anna Kendrick, and Jennifer Lawrence, an actor leverages their mainstream success to interrupt the mildew and make impartial movies.
Some naysayers allege that the decline of movie stars is because of social media, that having the elevated publicity of celebrities’ private lives has made them appear much less alluring. However these stars nonetheless have brokers and publicists, and as such, main actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, Tom Hanks, and Ryan Reynolds nonetheless have rigorously cultivated photos, the identical method that Jimmy Stewart, Charlie Chaplin, Veronica Lake, and Rita Hayworth did. Some actors protect the phantasm (and their very own privateness) by not being on social media in any respect, together with Lawrence, Pitt, and Johansson, however they nonetheless interact with viral advertising and marketing, which incorporates the whole lot from GQ and Vainness Honest’s profession breakdowns to consuming spicy wings on “Scorching Ones.” The celebs could be on TikTok now, however they’re nonetheless stars.
“The Falcon Is a Film Star”
At Comedian-Con 2017, “Captain America: Courageous New World” star Anthony Mackie famously stated that there aren’t any film stars anymore. “Anthony Mackie isn’t a film star,” he stated. “The Falcon is a film star.” And Mackie is true that, more and more, Hollywood has hitched its wagon to mental property over authentic concepts — and the celebrities have, too. Quentin Tarantino echoed these phrases in 2022, saying, “It’s these franchise characters that turn out to be a star,” fairly than the actors taking part in them.
In 2024, out of the 50 highest-grossing home movies within the U.S. in accordance with BoxOfficeMojo, 32 have been IP-driven motion pictures (i.e., remakes, reboots, or sequels) with enormous stars in them, like “Unhealthy Boys: Journey or Die” starring Will Smith. Six movies, like “Depraved” and “The Fall Man,” tailored profitable IP for the display. Solely 13 movies within the prime 50 have been star-driven tasks that didn’t depend on IP, and even amongst that group, you’ll be able to establish some, like “Purple One” or “Argylle,” that appear like they’re making an attempt to astroturf a franchise. Others, like “Anybody However You” and “Bob Marley: One Love,” adapt materials many are acquainted with — William Shakespeare and the lifetime of Bob Marley, respectively — which helps with model recognition however means they’re not wholly authentic works.
Merely headlining a movie lately doesn’t make somebody a film star. However it’s at all times been that method. Chris Evans, Brie Larson, and Chadwick Boseman all headlined motion pictures that grossed a billion {dollars} worldwide, however these movies have been constructed across the manufacturers, characters, and tales fairly than the actors. It’s telling that Marvel has recast each Captain America and Black Panther (passing the mantle onto Letitia Wright’s Shuri) and nonetheless discovered field workplace success, however fairly than recast a brand new Iron Man and change its largest star, Robert Downey Jr., the studio invited him again in a very totally different function for “Avengers: Doomsday.” Marvel didn’t kill the film star; they know the worth of 1 as a lot as anybody else.
The distinction between a film star and an A-list actor is a effective line. Timothée Chalamet, for instance, straddles the road between film star and character actor, selecting complicated roles that require him to inhabit radically totally different characters and exhibit his vary and performing chops. But whenever you watch “A Full Unknown,” you’re not seeing Chalamet disappear into Bob Dylan. You’re seeing Chalamet pretending to be Bob Dylan — the efficiency is as a lot concerning the actor as it’s concerning the character.
His character actor contemporaries like Tilda Swinton, Gary Oldman, Lakeith Stanfield, Paul Giamatti, and Toni Collette turn out to be no matter their roles require them to be. However Chalamet remains to be Chalamet, no matter what costume or affectation he’s carrying. He has a model and an identification that reveals by in all of his roles and that he carries with him to each single movie, identical to Meryl Streep or Tom Cruise. His movies may not at all times make their a reimbursement, and he may not be hanging on the wing of a biplane, however his persona is what makes him a star.