# Movies with the most future stars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455 "2006-06-28T05:22:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/1 "2006-06-28T05:22:31Z")
Which movie has the most relatively unknown actors who would go on to be “stars.” By stars I mean people who would go on to be leads in future major films or become recognizable at some point in their careers for other projects. I can’t think of one with more than “The Outsiders” with Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, and Leiff Garrett. I think Sofia Coppola was in it too. Leiff Garrett might have already been a teen idol and kinda sorta famous and Matt Dillon might have been a lesser teen idol at the time. Any other movies with a lot of future stars? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/2 "2006-06-28T05:43:31Z")
_Red Dawn_ featured Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey and Lea Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/3 "2006-06-28T06:22:54Z")
_School Ties_ had Brendan Frasier, Chris O’Donnell, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/4 "2006-06-28T06:33:55Z")
_Ragtime_, 1981, had a very interesting selection of actors in bit parts: Brad Dourif Mandy Patinkin Debbie Allen Jeff Daniels Fran Drescher Samuel L. Jackson John Ratzenberger Add James Cagney (in his last feature film), Donald O’Connor and Norman Mailer, and you’ve got quite a cast. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/5 "2006-06-28T06:51:33Z")
_Bladerunner_ had Harrison Ford, Daryl Hannah, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Sean Young, Brion James, Joanna Cassidy and William Sanderson. Not all stars sure, but many are great character actors at the start of their careers. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/6 "2006-06-28T07:08:06Z")
If you count political stars, there is always “Predator”. (Two and counting.) ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/7 "2006-06-28T08:02:50Z")
One of my favorite’s, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sean Penn Jennifer Jason Leigh Judge Reinhold Phoebe Cates Holy Cow! Ray Walston Already famous Forest Whitaker Eric Stoltz Nicolas Cage Anthony Edwards ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/8 "2006-06-28T08:08:02Z")
“Beetlejuice,” which starred Michael Keaton. First time I ever saw Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/9 "2006-06-28T08:14:25Z")
[Diner](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083833/): Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, Tim Daly, Steve Guttenberg :dubious: , Paul Reiser, Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/10 "2006-06-28T11:06:06Z")
_Stand By Me_ Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell and Kiefer Sutherland. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/11 "2006-06-28T11:48:37Z")
_School Daze_ had a rack of 'em. You had future superstars Spike Lee, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel L. Jackson and musician Branford Marsalis – three future castmates from TV’s _It’s A Diff’rent World_ Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Darryl Bell – future Spike Lee Joint collaborators Bill Nunn, Roger Guenveur Smith, Giancarlo Esposito and Joie Lee, future directors Rusty Cundieff and Kasi Lemmons, perenniel TV wife Tisha Campbell, legends Ossie Davis and Joe Seneca. _Do The Right Thing_ added to THAT list Danny Aiello’s breakthrough role as Sal, John Turturro and Richard Edson as sons Pino and Vito, and introduced to the world Rosie Perez, the late comedian Robin Harris AND Martin Lawrence, more before-he-blew-up Sam Jackson and screen gem Ruby Dee. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/12 "2006-06-28T12:05:19Z")
Wildcats featured the screen debuts of LL Cool J, Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/13 "2006-06-28T12:35:04Z")
Not a big list, but last night I caught the first ten minutes or so of _The Rachel Papers_, and I swear that Rufus Sewell was the bartender at the party. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/14 "2006-06-28T14:10:31Z")
**Dazed and Confused** : Ben Affleck Matthew McConaughey Renee Zellweger Parker Posey Adam Goldberg Joey Lauren Adams Rory Cochrane Milla Jovovich ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/15 "2006-06-28T14:28:34Z")
**American Graffiti** future stars: Ron Howard (post-Andy-Griffith, but pre-Happy-Days) Richard Dreyfuss Suzanne Somers Paul Le Mat Harrison Ford Cindy Williams Mackenzie Phillips Kathleen Quinlan Charles Martin Smith Joe Spano (best known from emmy-nominated role on NYPD Blue) Debralee Scott (later Hotsy Totsy from Welcome Back Kotter) ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/16 "2006-06-28T15:03:33Z")
To a much lessser extent I was surprised how many present and future tv stars were in “Can’t Hardly Wait” (a teen coemdy from the late 90s)…now granted some of them were already known: We have Seth Green, Jenna Elfman, Ethan Embry, Lauren Ambrose (including two other 6 Feet Under future cast memebers; Freddy Rodríguez and the guy who played Gabriel), Melissa Joan Hart and Jennifer Love Hewitt. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/17 "2006-06-28T15:04:43Z")
To a much lessser extent I was surprised how many present and future tv stars were in “Can’t Hardly Wait” (a teen coemdy from the late 90s)…now granted some of them were already known: We have Seth Green, Jenna Elfman, Ethan Embry, Lauren Ambrose (including two other 6 Feet Under future cast memebers; Freddy Rodríguez and the guy who played Gabriel), Melissa Joan Hart and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Oh and that sliders guy… Josh… His brother was the Bachelor. Fat Kid from Stand By Me… ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/18 "2006-06-28T15:09:35Z")
_The Bounty_ - Anthony Hopkins (an established actor by 1984, but hardly a star) - Mel Gibson (granted this was after _Mad Max_ and _The Road Warrior_), but before he was considered A list. - Daniel Day-Lewis (his third film) - Bernard Hill - Liam Neeson - John Sessions ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/19 "2006-06-28T16:06:40Z")
**The Paper Chase** gave us John Houseman (who was “discovered” here) Lindsay Wagner (who’d mostly done just TV up until that point), and quintessential “Hey! It’s That Guy!” character actors Graham Beckel, James Naughton and Edward Herrmann. You don’t know their names? You know their faces. **The Last Picture Show** with director/co-writer Peter Bogdonavitch, gave us Cybill Shepherd, Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman (who also did mostly just TV), Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, Sam Bottoms and of course, Randy Quaid. **Animal House** gave us a bunch, too. John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Steven Furst and Kevin Bacon all got their start in the movie industry here. Others like John Vernon and Donald Sutherland merely solidified their greatness. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455/20 "2006-06-28T18:34:55Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > To a much lessser extent I was surprised how many present and future tv stars were in “Can’t Hardly Wait” (a teen coemdy from the late 90s)…now granted some of them were already known: We have Seth Green, Jenna Elfman, Ethan Embry, Lauren Ambrose (including two other 6 Feet Under future cast memebers; Freddy Rodríguez and the guy who played Gabriel), Melissa Joan Hart and Jennifer Love Hewitt. > > Oh and that sliders guy… Josh… His brother was the Bachelor. Fat Kid from Stand By Me… Don’t forget Jason Segal from “Freaks & Geeks” and “How I Met Your Mother.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-with-the-most-future-stars/362455.md?page=2)