If you want consistently massive casts within one genre or period of time, you’re probably best off glancing towards the 1950s and 1960s, when there were numerous epic movies, and plenty of those epics went all out with getting massive names attached to them. Films likeThe Great Escape,Lawrence of Arabia, andHow the West Was Wonall exemplify the idea of an “all-star cast” very well, but by no means are such casts limited to such a time or genre.
Looking toward the 1980s, this was a decade when epics weren’t made quite so often, but plenty of films that were popular – even if a little smaller in scale – nonetheless had some incredible casts.The following movies are considered below because they contain quality casting choices, and have noteworthy quantity, when it comes to having so many famous people show up. It’s not easy to pick a selection of the best casts from a decade, but that’s what the following ranking attempts to do regardless.
10’Clue' (1985)
Starring: Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd
Cluedoesn’t have too many characters overall, thanks to itsrelatively contained setting and straightforward premise, but pretty much all of those characters are played by notable actors. Some of the most recognizable include the likes ofMadeline Kahn,Christopher Lloyd,Michael McKean,Martin Mull, and, of course,Tim Curry, who steals many scenes here the way he so often does whenever he shows up in pretty much anything.
As for the story, it’s about abunch of people inside a houseand, while there, there’s a murder, and they have to solve it while also making sure they don’t themselves become victims.Clueis silly, fun, and continually comedic, and everyone here’s cast pretty much perfectly, and the chemistry everyone has (which ensures all the comedy soars) is also worth highlighting.
9’The Untouchables' (1987)
Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
If you want a movie aboutgangsters and cops with an all-star cast,The Untouchablesis a must-watch. It’s one of the bestBrian De Palmamovies, and his direction makes him something of a star here, too (his stylistic choices are always pretty showy). But if you’re not focusing on the direction or some of the historical inaccuracies (if you care about that kind of thing), then it’s the star power of the cast that’ll probably grab your attention.
Kevin Costnerstars here, withSean Connerykind of stealing the showand giving one of his greatest non-007performances. Also, you’ve got a scenery-chewingRobert De Niro, andstrong supporting performances from the likes of Andy García, Charles Martin Smith, and Patricia Clarkson. It’s a big movie with a big cast, and similarly, it’s also hugely entertaining.
The Untouchables
8’The Outsiders' (1983)
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise
ThebestFrancis Ford Coppolamoviescame out in the 1970s, and those films probably had the most impressive casts, too (see the likes ofThe Godfather,The Godfather II, andApocalypse Now). ButThe Outsidersgives those movies a run for their money as far as impressive casts go, with this coming-of-age movie standing out for having so many up-and-comers in it; countless people who’d become big stars later on in their careers.
The Outsidersstars the following people:Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Diane Lane, all of whom were starting to get famous or would achieve fame pretty shortly after 1983. It’s a good movie in its own right, but it might be most interesting to watch just to see so many big-name actors giving early performances, withall of them being so young here, too.
The Outsiders
7’The Last Temptation of Christ' (1988)
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey
The Last Temptation of Christis controversial for many reasons, and that kind of extends to its casting, to some extent.Willem Dafoeisn’t an expected choice for the role of Jesus, but he makes it work. More unusual is the casting ofHarvey Keitelas Judas, but honestly, he’s good here, once you move past his accent (or lack thereof).
It’s a film that takes some swings with its supporting cast, too, givenDavid Bowieas Pontius Pilate is a somewhat distracting casting decision that – once more – kind of ends up working, in a weird way. Also,The Last Temptation of ChriststarsBarbara Hershey,Harry Dean Stanton, and evenIrvin Kershner(the last of those being best known for his directing), butsuch decisions feel purposeful and add to justhow striking the film as a whole is.
The Last Temptation of Christ
6’Time Bandits' (1981)
Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall
Time Banditshas a bit of an interesting all-star cast, given that many of the biggest names here belong to actors who only show up for minor (or even just cameo) roles. Butit’s a comedic time-travel moviethat involves zipping around to a bunch of places throughout history, and that way of structuring the movie ensures it makes sense that characters don’t always stick around for long.
As for those big names that show up duringTime Bandits? Well, the movie’scast includes the likes of Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Peter Vaughan, David Warner, Kenny Baker, Michael Palin, and John Cleese. And the inclusion of Cleese and Palin makes sense when you consider that a third member ofMonty PythondirectedTime Bandits:Terry Gilliam, whose post-Monty Python work might well eclipse the stuff he did with the comedy group, admittedly.
Time Bandits
5’The Blues Brothers' (1980)
Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Carrie Fisher
WithThe Blues Brothers, the cast impresses on two fronts. If you want to see a whole bunch of legendary actors from the 1970s and 1980s (many of them well-acquainted with comedy), then you’re in luck, considering this movie features performances byJohn Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Carrie Fisher, John Candy, and Twiggy, just for a few of the key players(plus memorable cameos from the likes ofFrank OzandSteven Spielberg).
But then you factor in allthe appearances by legendary musicians, and suddenly, the cast is even more star-studded, given the likes ofJames Brown,Cab Calloway,Ray Charles,Aretha Franklin, andJohn Lee Hookerall get at least one opportunity to shine here. Also,The Blues Brothershas spectacle outside its casting, with one ofthe wildest – and most dangerous-looking – car chasesin film history. Actually, it’s got two of the wildest – and most dangerous-looking – car chases in film history. It’s an incredible film, in every way.
The Blues Brothers
4’Once Upon a Time in America' (1984)
Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
Here’s another film where some of the people working behind the scenes feel like they might as well be stars. After all, inOnce Upon a Time in America,Ennio Morricone’s presence is felt throughout, given he composed one ofthe best film scores of all timefor this one. Also, it’s the biggest and most ambitious filmSergio Leoneever directed, and easily ranks as one ofthe most epic of all gangster moviesbecause of how passionate he was, as a filmmaker.
Yet the cast is also worth singling out for just how stacked it is, with Robert De Niro andJames Woodsbeing the leads here, and the supporting cast is packed withthe following actors (plus many others): Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld, Joe Pesci, Danny Aiello, Burt Young, and Jennifer Connelly.
Once Upon a Time in America
3’Henry V' (1989)
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi
Kenneth Branaghhas directed some massive casts in his time as a director (and he himself has starred in many of them, too), and admittedly,Henry Vdoesn’t have the biggest, given1996’sHamlethas an astoundingly gigantic one. ButHenry Vis not far off, as far as star power goes, given that alongside Branagh, it starsJudi Dench,Derek Jacobi,Emma Thompson, Ian Holm,Robbie Coltrane, andChristian Bale, to name just a few.
It’s pretty engaging stuff, as far as Shakespeare adaptations go, being (unsurprisingly) well-actedand more thansolid if judged as a historical war movie, too. It’s perhaps fair to call it underrated, especially because the (also arguably slightly underrated)Hamlet(1996) overshadows it, but anyone who can appreciate a good Shakespeare film adaptation should find a good deal to like here.
2’The Princess Bride' (1987)
Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
What’s there to say aboutThe Princess Bridethat hasn’t already been said? It might well be an all-timegreat as far as films in general go, bouncing gleefully between genres and somehow making it all work tonally.The Princess Brideis comedic, sincere, exciting, and romantic, all at once, and just as it packs a lot into one movie, so too does it have many big names show up in its varied and expansive cast.
Some became more famous afterThe Princess Bridewas released, and others ultimately have small roles, but still,the cast here does include the likes of Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, André the Giant, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane. All in all, it’s undeniably one of the greatest casts for any comedy movie released in the 1980s.
The Princess Bride
1’Blade Runner' (1982)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young
Blade Runneris about as perfect asscience fiction films of the 1980sget, and that perfection extends to its cast. You’ve gotHarrison Fordmemorably playing against type,Rutger Hauerbeing such a perfectly tragic villain he might well be the hero, and flawlesssupporting turns from the likes of Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Joe Turkel, and James Hong.
Everyone here does exactly what they need to do, and everyone makes an impression as an actor, regardless of how large their part actually is. It’s a movie that takes risks with its casting, had various difficult roles that needed playing, and combined both legendary character actors and big stars into the one project seamlessly. Of course, there are countlessother reasons to praiseBlade Runner, but the casting here might well be one of the most praiseworthy.
