# Actors (either gender) under 40 who can be considered A-List **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697 "2015-01-23T18:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/1 "2015-01-23T18:15:00Z")
Since [Bradley Cooper](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177896/?ref_=nv_sr_1) just turned 40 on Jan/5 we could include those 40 and under who are in the Top Tier of working actors. Who else needs to be on such a list? (An IMDb link would be nice.) šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/2 "2015-01-23T18:26:44Z")
Leonardo DiCaprio is definitely A-list and he is barely 40. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/3 "2015-01-23T18:41:01Z")
Jennifer Lawrence ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/4 "2015-01-23T18:41:15Z")
Anne Hathaway Jessica Chastain ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/5 "2015-01-23T18:43:28Z")
[Benedict Cumberbatch](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is just under the wire. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/6 "2015-01-23T18:45:23Z")
I was gonna say JLaw. Chris Hemsworth? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/7 "2015-01-23T18:50:25Z")
While weā€™re at it, the other two Marvel Chrises, Evans and Pratt, are also under 40. I donā€™t know if Evans is quite A-list, but Pratt starred in not one but two of the most profitable movies of 2014, which seems like a pretty solid qualification. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/8 "2015-01-23T18:55:03Z")
Scarlett Johansson should be considered to be an A list actress. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/9 "2015-01-23T18:58:09Z")
Emma Stone is only 26. I thought she was closer to 30. Anyway, sheā€™s an A lister. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/10 "2015-01-23T18:59:43Z")
> [@Enlightening\_Meditation](#): > > Scarlett Johansson should be considered to be an A list actress. No. Not ever. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/11 "2015-01-23T19:02:33Z")
> [@Enlightening\_Meditation](#): > > Scarlett Johansson should be considered to be an A list actress. Only if the category is ā€œBest performance by a forest product.ā€ Which I guess raises the question: Are we looking for a list of the most talented actors, or those with big drawing power? Define ā€œA List.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/12 "2015-01-23T19:03:59Z")
What do we consider A list? Tom Cruise - sized paychecks? Lead in at least one successful big budget movie? In 2014 the biggest grossing stars under 40, according to Forbes, were Jennifer Lawrence (24), Chris Pratt (35), Scarlett Johansson (30), Chris Evans (33), Emma Stone (26), James McAvoy (35)-no, really, apparently the latest X-Men did very well, which also explains-- Michael Fassbender (37) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/13 "2015-01-23T19:04:19Z")
Reese Witherspoon is 38. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/14 "2015-01-23T19:08:16Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Only if the category is ā€œBest performance by a forest product.ā€ > > Which I guess raises the question: Are we looking for a list of the most talented actors, or those with big drawing power? Define ā€œA List.ā€ Perhaps modifiable to ā€œBest performance by a forest product _with nice limbs_.ā€ šŸ˜‰ And as for definitions of ā€œA List,ā€ just do your own thing. This ainā€™t for college credit, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/15 "2015-01-23T19:28:28Z")
Okay, an attempt to do this scientifically. I went to Box Office Mojo and found the stars under 40 whose movies have earned a total of at least a billion dollars. Drew Barrymore Justin Bartha Jay Baruchel Orlando Bloom Russell Brand Abigail Breslin (the youngest in this list at 18) Rose Byrne Benedict Cumberbatch Kirsten Dunst Chris Evans Dakota Fanning Anna Faris Colin Farrell Isla Fisher Megan Fox James Franco Tyrese Gibson Joseph Gordon-Levitt Ashley Greene Rupert Grint Naomie Harris Anne Hathaway Chris Hemsworth Liam Hemsworth Tom Hiddleston Jonah Hill Josh Hutcherson Scarlett Johansson Angelina Jolie Keira Knightley Shia LaBeouf Taylor Lautner Jennifer Lawrence Justin Long Kellan Lutz Tobey Maguire Jena Malone Rachel McAdams Robert Pattinson Chris Pine Natalie Portman Daniel Radcliffe Jackson Rathbone Ryan Reynolds Michelle Rodriguez Seth Rogen Zoe Saldana Kristen Stewart Emma Stone Channing Tatum Charlize Theron Liv Tyler Emma Watson Kate Winslet Reese Witherspoon Elijah Wood Sam Worthington ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/16 "2015-01-23T19:32:52Z")
A-list is typically meant to represent oneā€™s power in the industry, as well as oneā€™s name recognition. So I would say Scarlet is definitely in, but Christ Pratt is on the cuspā€“one good year does not an A-lister make. **Jurassic World** will probably give him that necessary boost. Similarly, Chastain is incredibly talented, but definitely not an A-lister. Cumberbatch I would argue not quite, because heā€™s mostly known for indie dramas and imports. His biggest movie is where he voices a dragon. Stone is on the path but still is known for supporting parts. She still needs to carry a big movie (and no, **Easy A** doesnā€™t count). Similarly, Chris Evans is too tied to a franchise the way A-listers arenā€™t. He needs to be in something big outside the Marvel universe. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/17 "2015-01-23T19:37:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, an attempt to do this scientifically. I went to Box Office Mojo and found the stars under 40 whose movies have earned a total of at least a billion dollars. > > Drew Barrymore > \<\\> > Sam Worthington Righteous list! 10-4 on the scientific approach. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/18 "2015-01-23T19:42:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While weā€™re at it, the other two Marvel Chrises, Evans and Pratt, are also under 40. I donā€™t know if Evans is quite A-list, but Pratt starred in not one but two of the most profitable movies of 2014, which seems like a pretty solid qualification. Of the two, Iā€™d say Evans has a much stronger claim to being A-list than Pratt. Pratt had a great year in 2014. But one of those was a voice acting role. Which means his entire career is based on being the lead in one movie. Evans has played Captain America in three movies now. Plus heā€™s done other movies like Snowpiercer, Fantastic Four, Scott Pilgrim, Push, The Losers, Street Kings, Cellular, Not Another Teen Movie. Take away Captain America and heā€™s still had a solid career. Take 2014 away from Pratt and heā€™s never been the lead in a movie. His biggest role before last year was fourth credit in Moneyball. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/19 "2015-01-23T19:50:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, an attempt to do this scientifically. I went to Box Office Mojo and found the stars under 40 whose movies have earned a total of at least a billion dollars. Interesting list. Thanks for the research! Now obviously, these arenā€™t all A-listers. Some are piggy backing on a few successful franchises (Sam Worthington, Naomie Harris, Rupert Grint, Megan Fox) or benefit from animated hits (Jay Baruchel). Predictably, the names I didnā€™t recognize were all **Twilight** ers, so they donā€™t count either (at least the two leads from that franchise have broken out a little creatively). Even the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films (both very respectable) put the thumb on the scale a bit. Would anyone consider Liv Tyler A-list, rather than just famous? Ditto Daniel Radcliffe. In most of these cases, being part of a huge blockbuster has allowed them to find a solid footing in the industry. But little of their fame is related to much outside that sphere. Not that that canā€™t change, but Iā€™d argue it doesnā€™t elevate them to A-list. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/20 "2015-01-23T19:51:22Z")
One part of being an A List is when your name is a household name and very one knows your face. Pratt and Evans are not A List, they are newcomers. Having success in one year is not enough. That is akin to say just because an artist scored a number 1 hit this year is king/queen of pop. It takes while and that takes staying power. Leonardo DiCaprio is A list, been in the game for so long and has staying power. I would say it takes a minimum of five years to be established as an A List. Dare I say Jennifer Lawrence is still not A List, but she is getting there. Some on that list are A List but plenty are not. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697.md?page=2)