# Actors you’ll always watch **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [June 6, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254 "2025-06-06T05:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/1 "2025-06-06T05:13:38Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Movies you've seen recently (Part 2)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/2363): Do you have an actor who is so compelling to you that you’ll always watch a movie they’re in, simply because of that actor? For me, it’s Jackie Chan. His movement skills, his stunt foolhardiness, his acting ability are always worthwhile for me to watch. Even if the rest of the movie is terrible. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/2 "2025-06-06T06:14:00Z")
I’ll watch pretty much anything **Leonardo DiCaprio** (Leo DC to me) is in. For myself, I think at least part of my admiration is related to their film / role choices. Another actor who has way more good films than bad is **Kevin Bacon** Answering what the OP actually asks, when I see **Dame Helen Mirren** ’s name in the cast, 98% of the time I’ll check it out. I have a vague awareness that she’s been in some gangster, fast and furious whatnot, and, not even for the exquisite DHM am I going to sit through that ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/3 "2025-06-06T06:17:54Z")
Albert Finney. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/4 "2025-06-06T06:25:38Z")
Anthony Hopkins is a pretty reliable yes for me; probably also Jonathan Pryce. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/5 "2025-06-06T06:31:09Z")
I choose movies based on theme or genre, not on cast. However, if I see certain actors’ names in the credits I will perk up and elevate my expectations. These include people like Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Bill Nighy, and Olivia Colman. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/6 "2025-06-06T08:44:51Z")
Chris Cooper always turns in a compelling performance. He chooses scripts well, you can depend on seeing a good movie if Chris Cooper is involved. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/7 "2025-06-06T08:51:40Z")
I would/will watch anything with Jim Carrey or the late Robin Williams. IMHO, both made a fuckton of mediocre movies - but damn, when they were good they dazzled. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/8 "2025-06-06T09:35:12Z")
Nicolas Cage, half of his stuff can be crap, but the other have can be brilliant. I’ll watch to just see which one it is. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/9 "2025-06-06T09:35:26Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I would/will watch anything with Jim Carrey or the late Robin Williams. > > IMHO, both made a fuckton of mediocre movies - but damn, when they were good they dazzled. Same opinion here. I will watch any movie with Jennifer Connelly. 'Cause she’s cute. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/10 "2025-06-06T11:44:41Z")
Tom Hanks would be near the top of my list, but there would be many others. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/11 "2025-06-06T11:50:09Z")
Tom Hanks, Colin Firth, and Stanley Tucci. Also Margaret Martindale and Terry O’Quinn. I love to watch Robin Williams but it just makes me sad that he’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/12 "2025-06-06T12:40:11Z")
Dustin Hoffman. Jeez, I thought that would be everybody’s answer. Also Vincent Price and Steve Buscemi. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/13 "2025-06-06T12:55:34Z")
Or Jeff Bridges. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/14 "2025-06-06T13:06:49Z")
Limiting this to actors who are still perpendicular, **Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks** come to mind first. Both of them elevate whatever they are in whereas lesser actors would not. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/15 "2025-06-06T13:15:35Z")
Non-stars, but Holt McCallany and Will Patton. Two guys who most people would recognize by face but not by name. Patton many would probably recognize by just his voice. Neither are A-list main protagonist types, but both always do quality work. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/16 "2025-06-06T13:28:41Z")
Chameleon Gary Oldman. He can do the froo-froo Shakespeare roles, portray punk icon Sid Vicious, play a scary pimp in _True Romance_, be an ordinary schmo like Commissioner Gordon in the _Dark Knight_ movies, and even glue on prosthetics and nail WInston Churchill. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/17 "2025-06-06T13:29:23Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > glue on prosthetics and nail WInston Churchill. Phrasing! ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/18 "2025-06-06T14:25:57Z")
I’ve got quite a list, which I may expand on later. One of them is James Garner, with one exception. I will never watch _The Notebook_ because of the dementia plot point. It hits too close to home. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/19 "2025-06-06T16:25:06Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > have a vague awareness that she’s been in some gangster, fast and furious whatnot, and, not even for the exquisite DHM am I going to sit through that Sounds like “Mobland” (Paramount Plus is the streamer). I watched about 5 minutes of that and noped right out of it, even though I usually enjoy Pierce Brosnan as well as Dame Helen. She was superb in “1923”~make sure you see that. Harrison Ford was great in that also. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254/20 "2025-06-06T16:27:37Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > hoped right out of it, even though I usually enjoy Pierce Brosnan as well as Dame Helen. That is supposed to be **noped** right out of it For some reason discourse decided to not offer me the edit ✏. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-ll-always-watch/1019254.md?page=2)