pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:09:29 PM permalink
So far making big money in films is primarily goes to actors. Of the top 3 dozen film actors whose movies have collectively made the most money, only 5 are female. Tom Hanks is ranked #1 with 37 films since Splash grossing $4 billion domestically. While Toy Story movies account for 22% of the total, his dramas Forrest Gump, Cast Away. The Da Vinci Code, and Saving Private Ryan made a fortune. Tom Hanks usually only fails at comedies.

The quiz is to name the 5 actresses whose movies make the most money. Their age when they made it big, their current age, Oscar nominations/wins, and Golden Globe nominations/wins, number of films, number of animated films with voice only, and other hints are given. I suspect that final name will be the most difficult one to guess.

These actresses only have 2 Oscars between them out of 152 films. This is a question primarily about generating money, not about winning awards.

Age hit Age Current Oscar Golden Globe Total films Voice films Other information
24.7 38.7 0/0 4/0 28 4 Can be vulgar, voice work made $$$
22.4 43.6 3/1 7/3 35 2 Called "Biggest Female Movie Star"
29.6 61.6 3/0 6/2 40 1 She is 5' 11", Comedies and Dramas
11.6 21.1 0/0 0/0 8 1 Her age and number of films should give it away
42.4 62.9 3/1 6/2 41 1 Least Photogenic of group/ Oscar role was scary to men/ usually supporting actress/ currently on a TV series


Obviously, to make a lot of money in films, one way is to be the center of a franchise, like Matt Damon in Bourne Identity series, or Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, or Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Some of these women have been in franchise movies. But with with only one possible exception they are not so critical to the franchise that it would be nearly impossible to make another film without her.

The two questions are can you name the 5 actresses in the table? Also do you think a woman will ever own a franchise of 3 or more movies where she is unquestionably the biggest star like "The Bourne Identity" series?
WizardofEngland
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:25:23 PM permalink
no 2 is julia roberts for sure
no 4 troubles me
no 5 might be sharon stone?
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
rdw4potus
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:30:43 PM permalink
I think 4 is Emma Watson

edit: and I think 5 is Kathy Bates. Love that show!
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WizardofEngland
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:31:24 PM permalink
Quote: rdw4potus

I think 4 is Emma Watson



good shout, think you could be right.

Paco - Cracking quiz this one. really got me thinking
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
rdw4potus
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:37:31 PM permalink
Pretty sure I figured out #1, the hint about the voice work was very helpful. With 4 films there, I think it's Cameron Diaz as the princess in Shrek.
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WizardofEngland
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:37:58 PM permalink
no 3, could be sigourney weaver, although I can only imagine alien, which is a sci-fi?
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
WizardofEngland
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May 24th, 2011 at 2:39:55 PM permalink
Quote: rdw4potus

Pretty sure I figured out #1, the hint about the voice work was very helpful. With 4 films there, I think it's Cameron Diaz as the princess in Shrek.



like it
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
Nareed
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May 24th, 2011 at 3:01:41 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Also do you think a woman will ever own a franchise of 3 or more movies where she is unquestionably the biggest star like "The Bourne Identity" series?



Depends.

If you include more than one woman, how many Charlie's Angels movies yet?

The three main types of big moneymakers are 1) Action films, 2) Kid films, 3) "Date" movies (aka chick-clicks).

In the first category the main audience is amde of men. You won't get men in droves to watch a woman as action hero. Co-hero, yes, sole hero no (with a few exceptions). So that's out. I'm not sure about the second category. The third is a natural for a woman to star in, but these movies tend to be one shot deals.

So find a way to make a date movie franchise and you'll make someone very rich.
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rdw4potus
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May 24th, 2011 at 3:02:31 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin


Also do you think a woman will ever own a franchise of 3 or more movies where she is unquestionably the biggest star like "The Bourne Identity" series?



I think Angelina Jolie did a good job in Tomb Raider - at least in terms of leading the cast, but that was only a 2 movie run. I hated the Miss Congeniality movies, but I suppose the same goes for Sandra Bullock there. I think it's only a matter of time before a woman leads a 3 or more movie series.
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MathExtremist
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May 24th, 2011 at 3:14:26 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Also do you think a woman will ever own a franchise of 3 or more movies where she is unquestionably the biggest star like "The Bourne Identity" series?


Yes: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming Hunger Games trilogy.

But what about Bambi Woods in the Debbie Does Dallas trilogy? (Not that I've seen them, mind you...)

Edit:
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in the Alien trilogy
Milla Jovovich as Alice in Resident Evil (four movies with a fifth in pre-production)
Kate Beckinsale as Selene in Underworld trilogy (third movie in post-production)

I guess outside of porn, this sort of proves the rule that it's going to happen in action movies if it happens at all.
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pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 4:09:39 PM permalink
Quote: WizardofEngland

Paco - Cracking quiz this one. really got me thinking



Thank you, I thought it would be fun. But all were guessed correctly.

#1 Cameron Diaz. Her four biggest movies were the Shrek films which make up 1/2 her gross. However, There's Something About Mary was her 5th (not the only vulgar comedy). She is a solid co-star in other films, but she has only been the lead star in art-house films.
#2 Julia Roberts. Still the golden actress. A solid mix of types of films, co-stars, lead roles, action films, romantic comedies, art house films, and only two movies in a franchise (Oceans 11 and Oceans 12).
#3 Sigourney Weaver. Comes close to owning the alien franchise although she shares it with the creatures who are carrying on without her. If she is resurrected from the dead for the Avatar sequels, she will probably pass Cameron Diaz. Personally I thought her performance was the best in Avatar.
#4 Emma Watson. She actually has the highest average gross for any actor or actress since she has only strayed from the Harry Potter series for one reasonably successful animated movie (while her co-stars have made art-house films).
#5 Kathy Bates. Very difficult one to guess, but 1/2 her gross was from Titanic, Blind Side, and Waterboy. The movie she dominated, made her famous and for which she won the Oscar was Misery, which makes men wince just thinking about it.

A sequence of movies is not normally considered a "franchise" until it reaches three films. Cameron Diaz and Emma Watson were in franchises, but not the dominant actor in that franchise. Sigourney Weaver was in Aliens for 4 movies, and she had a solid movie and a sequal with Ghostbusters.

But they have never really been able to find a woman to lead a franchise. Angelina Jolie looks like the one actress who may be able to play the same role for 3 or more movies and still attract people. Tomb Raider went two films before fizzling out. Now the money is on her role as a spy in Salt.



Orlando Bloom is the luckiest actor since most of his career has been spent in acging in two different franchizes (Pirates of Carr. and Lord of the Rings). I don't think any actor has ever gotten three franchises.
zippyboy
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May 24th, 2011 at 4:31:48 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Orlando Bloom is the luckiest actor since most of his career has been spent in acging in two different franchizes (Pirates of Carr. and Lord of the Ring0).


I'd have to add Hugo Weaving to the "luckiest actor" category, as he went from obscurity to international recognition after starring roles in The Matrix films as Agent Smith, and Lord of the Rings trilogy as Elrond.
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pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 4:46:43 PM permalink
Quote: zippyboy

I'd have to add Hugo Weaving to the "luckiest actor" category, as he went from obscurity to international recognition after starring roles in The Matrix films as Agent Smith, and Lord of the Rings trilogy as Elrond.



I suppose he is an actor to be in three franchises (Matrix, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, and Transformers), but he doesn't exactly star in them.
Ayecarumba
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May 24th, 2011 at 4:51:22 PM permalink
What about Natalie Portman and Carrie Fisher? Both have some cheddar from the Star Wars ATM. Carrie Fisher was in "Blues Brother's" too.
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rdw4potus
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May 24th, 2011 at 5:39:52 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Orlando Bloom is the luckiest actor since most of his career has been spent in acging in two different franchizes (Pirates of Carr. and Lord of the Rings). I don't think any actor has ever gotten three franchises.



I would argue that Harrison Ford had three: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and as Jack Ryan.

Mike Meyers, too, maybe: Wayne's World, Austin Powers, Shrek.
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pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 5:46:02 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

What about Natalie Portman and Carrie Fisher? Both have some cheddar from the Star Wars ATM. Carrie Fisher was in "Blues Brother's" too.


The next names on the list are as follows. However, there is a bias against Carrie Fisher since her films made money when ticket prices were much cheaper. Cameo roles of only a few lines don't count. Carrie Fisher is considered to have performed in 16 movies, and made 14 cameos (including Blue's Brothers). She essentially stopped making movies almost 20 years ago.

Meryl Streep is easily the most honored living actress with 16 Oscar Nominations (2 wins) and 25 Golden Globe nominations (7 wins), but her movies have only recently been in the top 20 for boxoffice.

Helena Bonham Carter
Natalie Portman <----------
Kirsten Dunst
Cate Blanchett
Meryl Streep
Sandra Bullock
Queen Latifah
Nicole Kidman
Drew Barrymore
Liv Tyler
Halle Berry
Angelina Jolie
Zoe Saldana
Michelle Rodriguez
Gwyneth Paltrow
Anne Hathaway
Carrie Fisher<----------
Judi Dench
Michelle Pfeiffer
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Susan Sarandon
Rene Russo
Diane Keaton
Renee Zellweger
Meg Ryan
Famke Janssen
Jennifer Aniston
Anna Faris
Reese Witherspoon

The ranking is of dubious distinction since you can appear in a lot of money making movies without necessarily having a large role or much to do with the production. There would be no way to guess the top 5 without the hints.
pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 5:52:10 PM permalink
Quote: rdw4potus

I would argue that Harrison Ford had three: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and as Jack Ryan.

Mike Meyers, too, maybe: Wayne's World, Austin Powers, Shrek.



That is true, I did forget that Harrison Ford made a 3rd Indiana Jones movie after two decades. So he made exactly 3 films in each franchise.

Mike Myers only made two Wayne's World films, so he almost counts. Maybe he will try and revive that series, but I doubt it.
pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 6:17:02 PM permalink
Most of the top 12 directors (by money) are household names. I think most people could tell you there primary movies with a few exceptions. To the best of my knowledge only Clint Eastwood is an actor.
Steven Spielberg
Robert Zemeckis
James Cameron
Ron Howard
George Lucas
Chris Columbus
Tim Burton
Michael Bay
Gore Verbinski
Peter Jackson
Sam Raimi
Clint Eastwood

------------------
But it is my guess that it would be nearly impossible for most people to name two movies that the top 5 female directors (by $$$) directed without looking them up.

Betty Thomas (she played Sgt. Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues over 2 decades ago)
Nancy Meyers (never acted)
Nora Ephron (only acted in 2 small roles in movies) ex-wife of Carl Bernstein from Washington Post; skewered her ex-husband in her book
Penny Marshall (she played Laverne on Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley) her father and brother are both famous directors
Amy Heckerling (only acted in 2 very small roles)
Ayecarumba
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May 24th, 2011 at 6:39:32 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Most of the top 12 directors (by money) are household names. I think most people could tell you there primary movies with a few exceptions. To the best of my knowledge only Clint Eastwood is an actor.
Steven Spielberg
Robert Zemeckis
James Cameron
Ron Howard
George Lucas
Chris Columbus
Tim Burton
Michael Bay
Gore Verbinski
Peter Jackson
Sam Raimi
Clint Eastwood

------------------
But it is my guess that it would be nearly impossible for most people to name two movies that the top 5 female directors (by $$$) directed without looking them up.

Betty Thomas (she played Sgt. Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues over 2 decades ago)
Nancy Meyers (never acted)
Nora Ephron (only acted in 2 small roles in movies) ex-wife of Carl Bernstein from Washington Post; skewered her ex-husband in her book
Penny Marshall (she played Laverne on Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley) her father and brother are both famous directors
Amy Heckerling (only acted in 2 very small roles)




Ron Howard used to be a TV actor... He was Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show, and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days.

Nora Ephron helmed "Almost Famous"
Penny Marshall directed "Big"
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Doc
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May 24th, 2011 at 6:48:12 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

That is true, I did forget that Harrison Ford made a 3rd Indiana Jones movie after two decades. So he made exactly 3 films in each franchise.



Uhh ... wasn't that the 4th in the series? Raiders, Temple, and Last Crusade followed years later by Crystal Skull.

I think he was only in the 2nd and 3rd Jack Ryan films, not the 1st or 4th.
pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 8:20:51 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Ron Howard used to be a TV actor... He was Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show, and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days.

Nora Ephron helmed "Almost Famous"
Penny Marshall directed "Big"



Good guess, you got Penny Marshall correct, but not Nora Ephron.
rdw4potus
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May 24th, 2011 at 8:43:48 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Good guess, you got Penny Marshall correct, but not Nora Ephron.



Didn't Nora Ephron do the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movies? Sleepless in Seattle and You've got Mail? (sadly, not Joe Versus the Volcano...she'd have made it better.)
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pacomartin
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May 24th, 2011 at 9:29:51 PM permalink
Quote: rdw4potus

Didn't Nora Ephron do the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movies? Sleepless in Seattle and You've got Mail? (sadly, not Joe Versus the Volcano...she'd have made it better.)



Yes, you are correct. People do know their directors better than I thought.

If female leads and big budget movies don't get together that often, then big budget films and female directors almost never come together. So far the biggest movie ever directed by a woman has been the sequel to Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Sophia Coppola, and Kathryn Bigelow have won major kudos for directing art house films, but the big budget ones are still very rare. The few that are directed by women are romantic comedies, "emotional" drama, and family stories.


Director Date Title Male Star $ million
Nancy Meyers 25-Dec-2009 It's Complicated Alec Baldwin $113
Betty Thomas 23-Dec-2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Zachary Levi $220
Nancy Meyers 12-Dec-2003 Something's Gotta Give Jack Nicholson $125
Nancy Meyers 15-Dec-2000 What Women Want Mel Gibson $183
Nora Ephron 18-Dec-1998 You've Got Mail Tom Hanks $116
Betty Thomas 26-Jun-1998 Doctor Dolittle Eddie Murphy $144
Nora Ephron 25-Jun-1993 Sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks $127
Penny Marshall 1-Jul-1992 A League of Their Own Tom Hanks $108
Amy Heckerling 13-Oct-1989 Look Who's Talking John Travolta $140
Penny Marshall 3-Jun-1988 Big Tom Hanks $115



I am not sure why Catherine Hardwicke, after directing Twlight and having it end up a huge movie, was not hired back to direct the sequels.
EvenBob
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May 24th, 2011 at 9:49:15 PM permalink
Quote: rdw4potus

Didn't Nora Ephron do the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movies? Sleepless in Seattle and You've got Mail?



You've Got Mail is a remake of The Shop Around the Corner, from the early 40's. I saw it recently and there is almost no similarities, except they're pen pals instead of email. The Shop Around the Corner was boring and dumb, IMO.
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zippyboy
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May 24th, 2011 at 10:40:47 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin


Sophia Coppola, and Kathryn Bigelow have won major kudos for directing art house films, but the big budget ones are still very rare. The few that are directed by women are romantic comedies, "emotional" drama, and family stories.

I am not sure why Catherine Hardwicke, after directing Twlight and having it end up a huge movie, was not hired back to direct the sequels.


Let's not forget that Kathryn Bigelow directed the Oscar winner The Hurt Locker.

And Catherine Hardwicke directed one of my favorite dark movies Thirteen with the talented Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood.

These were certainly NOT chick flicks. The ladies can sure tell a good story.
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pacomartin
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July 4th, 2011 at 6:15:58 PM permalink
The 5 actresses whose movies made the most money.

Age hitAge Current Oscar Golden Globe Total films Voice films Name USA Gross of films
24.7 38 0/0 4/0 29 4 Cameron Diaz $2,724.5
22.4 43 3/1 7/3 36 2 Julia Roberts $2,516.3
29.6 61 3/0 6/2 40 1 Sigourney Weaver$2,143.3
42.4 63 3/1 6/2 41 1 Kathy Bates $2,083.0
11.6 21 0/0 0/0 8 1 Emma Watson $2,059.0


Obviously when the last Harry Potter film is released in 2 weeks, Emma Watson will move up to 3rd place for women whose films made the most money in the American market. In November she will have a small part in a movie about Marilyn Monroe in a very British movie.

Emma is still younger than any of these other four women were before their first hit. Where do you think she will end up when she is in her 30's? Do you think she will be challenging Julia Roberts? Do you think she will ever get a lead role in a film?

Julia Roberts got the lead actress part by her 4th film, Pretty Woman, one of her most profitable pictures.

Of course, the actor that is pretty amazing is Eddie Murphy, who did 31 (non-animated) roles in three decades, and never once was the supporting actor or been in an ensemble cast.
EvenBob
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July 4th, 2011 at 7:06:17 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin



Of course, the actor that is pretty amazing is Eddie Murphy, who did 31 (non-animated) roles in three decades, and never once was the supporting actor or been in an ensemble cast.



Can you say huge ego? I've read interviews where he says he's constantly offered roles and he's only interested when he's the top banana. Thats why most of his movies are flops.

"Eddie Murphy’s career is a quiet tragedy. He’s managed to steer clear of many of the traps that ensnare superstars—drugs, alcohol, violent rages, jail, nervous breakdowns, a compulsion toward self-destruction—only to become a victim of his own apathy and ruthless lack of creative ambition."

Ever see 'Meet Dave' or 'Imagine That?' What was he thinking..
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pacomartin
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July 5th, 2011 at 4:24:24 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Can you say huge ego? I've read interviews where he says he's constantly offered roles and he's only interested when he's the top banana. Thats why most of his movies are flops.



There seems to be some truth to what you are saying. Eddie Murphy is one of the most successful film comedians of all times, but he has also pulled off some of the most spectacularly expensive bad films ever.

Julia Roberts hit a bad streak that lasted about 3.5 years. when she appeared in a movie playing against type in My Best Friend's Wedding where she shared the spotlight with relative newcomer Cameron Diaz. That movie moved Julia back to the top. It did also did a lot to propel Cameron Diaz.
rxwine
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:53:15 AM permalink
I believe I heard somewhere Jennifer Aniston has maintained A-list status, without really being much of box office success. (although she's probably the most successful of all the former Friends (regular cast)
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pacomartin
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July 5th, 2011 at 6:42:38 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

I believe I heard somewhere Jennifer Aniston has maintained A-list status, without really being much of box office success. (although she's probably the most successful of all the former Friends (regular cast)



Most of the time women don't carry movies by themselves like men do. I'm not talking about quality of acting, just about sheer moneymaking force.

Angelina Jolie is relatively rare in that she can carry a movie like Salt, or Laura Croft movies almost entirely by herself.

Julia Roberts is most successful paired with a single male star, primarily with Richard Gere, but also with Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, or in ensemble casts like the Oceans 11, and 12 movies. But she has powered a success almost entirely on her own like Erin Brockavitch.

So yes, Jennifer Aniston has been more successful in movies than the other 5 friends, but her biggest movie was Bruce Almighty which was a Jim Carrey Vehicle.
Ayecarumba
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July 5th, 2011 at 12:23:51 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin


Of course, the actor that is pretty amazing is Eddie Murphy, who did 31 (non-animated) roles in three decades, and never once was the supporting actor or been in an ensemble cast.



Of course, playing all the supporting parts (Klumps, Norbit) doesn't hurt.

What about his supporting role in "Dreamgirls"? I think that was one of his best performances.


As for Emma Watson, would her Harry Potter role be considered the same as the girl interest in "Transformers", or the women in Pirates of the Carribbean? The last Pirates movie just moved over $1 billion at the box office this past weekend. Should Penelope Cruz get any of the credit?

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EvenBob
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July 5th, 2011 at 1:13:17 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Most of the time women don't carry movies by themselves like men do.



This has always been true in the movies. The blockbusters are always male oriented, as are the vast majority of movies. Once in a while a chick flick will do well, but producers are very aware these days that movies have to appeal to a worldwide audience and women are often second class citizens in the countries they're pandering to, so keeping it male oriented is a good strategy. Plus, lets face it, women are boring. I've even had women admit that to me, spending a lot of time with just women bores them to tears.
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pacomartin
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July 5th, 2011 at 2:18:52 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

As for Emma Watson, would her Harry Potter role be considered the same as the girl interest in "Transformers", or the women in Pirates of the Carribbean? The last Pirates movie just moved over $1 billion at the box office this past weekend. Should Penelope Cruz get any of the credit?



I don't think that Emma Watson should be compared to the girl interest in Transformers, who could probably have been played by a CGI character.

Penelope Cruz, Keira Knightly , Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush should get some of the credit for the Pirates franchise, but the major movie star is Johnny Depp.

I am not implying that starring in a lot of high grossing films is a good way to rank how good a film star you are. But women rarely carry a blockbuster film where everyone else is a supporting actor. The very few exceptions are Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side", Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich" and Angelina Jolie in "Salt".

Emma Watson has played one character in 8 movies. Outside of that she has voiced a character in an animated film, played a TV movie, and will have a bit part in a movie this fall. But I can't think of a actress whose had this kind of exposure at this age since Elizabeth Taylor or Shirley Temple.

They are treating Daniel Radcliffe very carefully. He is mostly appearing in plays, and in art films. His first movie post Harry Potter will be a British horror film. I assume they think he might become a superstar someday, but they have to gingerly allow him to be seen in other roles first.

I think she can move up to major movie star, but I am not sure how many people believe that.
rxwine
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July 5th, 2011 at 4:30:57 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Emma Watson has played one character in 8 movies. Outside of that she has voiced a character in an animated film, played a TV movie, and will have a bit part in a movie this fall. But I can't think of a actress whose had this kind of exposure at this age since Elizabeth Taylor or Shirley Temple.



The entertainment biz is pretty unreliable. There are plenty of talented people that seem to never catch the prominent couple of roles to move them into the spotlight. I think Bruce Willis doesn't have any particular bigger appeal than a couple hundred other actors in Hollywood, but he got the right breaks and roles all at the right time.

There's a joke about Arnold Schwarzenegger not being able to act (except he fooled his wife all those years, so there's that!), but that dude capitalized on roles for millions of dollars that needed either robotic skills, or a couple raised eyebrows (light comedy and action in True Lies)
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buzzpaff
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July 5th, 2011 at 4:40:37 PM permalink
Old Hollywood saying " Luck is what gets your name in lights, talent it what's keeps it there " Steve McQueen in " The Blob " is just one of many examples.

Speaking of Shirley Temple , did she have any adult roles besides in Fort Apache ?
Nareed
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July 5th, 2011 at 4:42:01 PM permalink
Quote: rxwine

There's a joke about Arnold Schwarzenegger not being able to act (except he fooled his wife all those years, so there's that!), but that dude capitalized on roles for millions of dollars that needed either robotic skills, or a couple raised eyebrows (light comedy and action in True Lies)



Arnold suceeded largely because he has a charisma to spare, comes across as a nice guy, and has a glutton's taste for self-promotion. And he scored important roles in high-grossing films.
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Ayecarumba
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July 5th, 2011 at 4:54:17 PM permalink
Quote: buzzpaff

Speaking of Shirley Temple , did she have any adult roles besides in Fort Apache ?



According to IMDB.com she did four more films in 1949 then a few TV shows before dropping out of the spotlight:

Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
Adventures in Baltimore
The Story of Seabiscuit
A Kiss for Corliss
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Ayecarumba
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:07:16 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

Arnold suceeded largely because he has a charisma to spare, comes across as a nice guy, and has a glutton's taste for self-promotion. And he scored important roles in high-grossing films.



It's not that he "scored" roles, as much as roles "scored" him. The post-Terminator blockbusters were custom made for him. It would be hard to imagine any other actor in his place having the same success. Fans would pay knowing that what they would get for their money is a weakly scripted, explosion laden, cgi shoot-em-up with a few funny catch phrases. I think they are still willing to pay for it.

I suppose the, "you know what you're gonna get, and it ain't great acting" thing is true with the guys who bought tickets to see any movie with Bo Derek.

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Nareed
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:17:47 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

I suppose the, "you know what you're gonna get, and it ain't great acting" thing is true with the guys who bought tickets to see any movie with Bo Derek.



I can't believe any movie featuring such a hideous hairstyle sold more than two tickets. :P
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buzzpaff
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:20:37 PM permalink
Thanks I am goona llok for that version of Seabiscuit on netflix Thanks again
buzzpaff
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:21:54 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba
I suppose the, "you know what you're gonna get, and it ain't great acting" thing is true with the guys who bought tickets to see any movie with Bo Derek.

Nareed I didn't see any guys asking for a refund. Least of all me !
Ayecarumba
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July 5th, 2011 at 5:43:22 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

I can't believe any movie featuring such a hideous hairstyle sold more than two tickets. :P



Haha... There were two "big stars" in that movie, and neither of them were named Bo Derek or Dudley Moore.

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EvenBob
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July 6th, 2011 at 12:03:40 AM permalink
Quote: pacomartin


Penelope Cruz, Keira Knightly , Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush should get some of the credit for the Pirates franchise,.



I didn't care for Cruz in the last Pirates movie. I don't like when beautiful women act more masculine than the guy in the lead role, it just looks contrived and dumb. She was completely forgettable, like those Laura Croft movies. Silly..
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pacomartin
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July 6th, 2011 at 3:16:14 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

I didn't care for Cruz in the last Pirates movie. I don't like when beautiful women act more masculine than the guy in the lead role, it just looks contrived and dumb.



I didn't see the movie, but Penelope Cruz is trying to build a body of work in Peninsular Spanish film at the same time as she does her English language movies. I've seen her do the masculine role in Sin Noticias de Dios where the part is of a male mafiosa who comes back from the dead as a beautiful woman.

pacomartin
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July 9th, 2011 at 6:31:16 AM permalink
Video highest paid actresses

Forbes rated the women who are primarily actresses
Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon
Julia Roberts
Kristen Stewart
Katherine Heigl
Cameron Diaz
Sandra Bullock
Meryl Streep

They rated them by overall income from all sources.
pacomartin
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June 20th, 2012 at 9:01:21 PM permalink
Hollywood's top paid actresses for 2011
Kristen Stewart, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep, Kristen Wiig, Jennifer Aniston


Top all time actresses by domestic boxoffice remain little changed.
Overall rank, Name, Millions $ (unadjusted), # of films, average in millions, name of top grossing film

9 Cameron Diaz $2,804.2, 30, $93.5 Shrek 2
13 Julia Roberts $2,603.0, 38, $68.5 Ocean's Eleven
17 Emma Watson $2,455.6, 10, $245.6 Harry Potter / Deathly Hallows (P2)
24 Helena B. Carter $2,296.0, 29, $79.2 Harry Potter / Deathly Hallows (P2)
32 Sigourney Weaver $2,172.4, 42, $51.7 Avatar
33 Kathy Bates $2,164.1, 42, $51.5 Titanic
47 Natalie Portman $1,854.2, 23, $80.6 The Phantom Menace

IMHO Julia Roberts is still the reigning queen of box office. Cameron Diaz made over 40% of her gross in the four Shrek movies, while Julia Roberts has only made one animated film for her children (Charlotte's Web).

Adjusting for inflation is revealing since Julia Roberts had her biggest hit over 20 years ago:
501 million domestic movie tickets for Julie Roberts
462 million domestic movie tickets for Cameron Diaz (of which 195 million were the four Shrek movies)

It is debatable if the 76 year old Julie Andrews actually deserves the title.The movies "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" sold an estimated 220 million tickets (before TV was the dominant medium). If you add in all the big budget animated movies she appears in briefly in the last 7 or 8 years, her total would exceed Julia Roberts. But some people consider those roles to be cameos.


For male actors it is still Harrison Ford who has appeared in movies over 40 year period that have sold a billion domestic tickets. In addition to Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies he's had a secondary career that most actors would kill for: The Fugitive, Air Force One, Clear and Present Danger, etc etc.

Julia Roberts is still the only actor (male or female) who hit those heights in ticket sale without benefit of a franchise. The Oceans 11 & 12 films only account for 10% of her tickets sold.
Ayecarumba
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June 21st, 2012 at 3:19:11 PM permalink
I don't know if I am in the minority here, but I would not go out of my way to see a movie because of a particular actress. However, I will consider any offering with Robert De Niro, just because it has Robert De Niro in it. Not that I will always pay for a ticket, but I'll give it a look.
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