# Who is today's Biggest Male Star? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852 "2004-04-24T23:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/1 "2004-04-24T23:04:38Z")
I was at a Dr. office and was browsing the magazines. Entertainment Weekly (I think) said that Tom Cruise is today’s “Biggest Male Star.” I’m not sure that he is, but I can’t think of anyone else. Who would you say is? ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/2 "2004-04-24T23:22:57Z")
Probaby [Jerod Mixon](http://www.forat.com/pictures/mpc/1%20Forat%20Clients%20folder/Jerod%20Mixon.jpg) I can’t imagine it being Tom Cruise, the guy’s only like 5’6 160. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/3 "2004-04-24T23:32:11Z")
Tom Hanks? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/4 "2004-04-24T23:36:56Z")
Well, Tom Cruise has certainly starred in as many box office hits as anyone, over the past 20 years. I suppose one could make a case for Tom Hanks. But most of the men who would have been considered contenders a decade ago (Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger) have faded, and haven’t made a smash hit movie in quite some time. Once you get beyond Cruise and Hanks, I don’t see many contenders. You could certainly argue that there are numerous better actors! But bigger stars, in terms of box office drawing power? Nope. Strangely enough, Adam Sandler may be #3! Like him or not (and I know many people abhor him), he’s made a half dozen comedies that have broken the $100 million mark, over the past ten years. How many other actors can match that? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/5 "2004-04-24T23:56:11Z")
I thought it was Kevin Dean? Note: I can’t link to a photo or bio without violating board rules, so you’re gonna have to google him yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/6 "2004-04-24T23:57:11Z")
Johnny Depp seems to be the most popular with the ladies. Even moreso than Brad Pitt in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/7 "2004-04-25T00:06:38Z")
Tom Hanks. Good one. Yes, I agree, definitely a contender. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/8 "2004-04-25T00:07:43Z")
'Tis me ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/9 "2004-04-25T00:08:36Z")
Todays Biggest Male Star? When I read this topic, I thought you meant a fairly new actor whos making quiet a big name for himself, I immediatly thought of Orlando Bloom. Purely because he seems to be in a lot of big movies of late. But to stick with actors were more familiar with, what about Brad Pitt? Whenever I think of Tom Cruise, I always think of him, not sure why, maybe its because of _Interview with the Vampire_. I thought of BP when the OP mentioned him… just to clarify. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/10 "2004-04-25T00:14:18Z")
Well, to start, according to [BoxOfficeMojo.com](http://BoxOfficeMojo.com) Adam Sandler has only had five $100 million dollar comedies: 50 First Dates; Anger Management; Mr. Deeds; Big Daddy, and The Waterboy. Jim Carrey can top that: six in the past ten years - eight if you include the two from 1994 that technically sneak in under the deadline. Tom Hanks has seven since 1995, plus two voice only plus that 1994 technicality called Forrest Gump. Tom Cruise - six plus Interview with the Vampire from late 1994. Ben Afflect - six. Mel Gibson - five plus voice in Chicken Run plus that directorial thingy. Eddie Murphy - five plus voice in Shrek and Mulan. Will Smith - five So Sandler is in the top ten, but I wouldn’t put him at #3. And Tom Hanks looks like the winner. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/11 "2004-04-25T00:44:51Z")
**RON JEREMY**. The biggest star that we’re _sure_ is male. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/12 "2004-04-25T00:45:59Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > **RON JEREMY**. > > The biggest star that we’re _sure_ is male. No, no, no, no…the Hedgehog only has 9-3/4. Kevin Dean has 12. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/13 "2004-04-25T04:14:50Z")
I would have guessed Will Smith, but it seems from **Exapno** ’s post that he’s a bit down the list. Still, “most over 100 million” seems a bit arbitrary… What if we just count total grosses from the movies? Along those lines, though, we’d also have to divide the grosses, for multi-star movies. Otherwise, does _Pirates of the Carribean_, for instance, count for Bloom or Depp? And _Lord of the Rings_ had a good half-dozen or dozen major male characters (depending on how you define “major”). ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/14 "2004-04-25T04:37:33Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Johnny Depp seems to be the most popular with the ladies. Even moreso than Brad Pitt in my experience. Mmm… Johnny Depp… ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/15 "2004-04-25T05:01:51Z")
I would have to go with Tom Cruise. If we’re just talking about money, sure, there are probably people who have made more. But Cruise has been in the public eye, steadily churning out memorable (if not excellent) movies that have done at least OK at the box office. Look at his IMDB record. Last Samurai, The (2003) … Nathan Algren Minority Report (2002) … Detective John Anderton Vanilla Sky (2001) … David Aames Mission: Impossible II (2000) … Ethan Hunt Magnolia (1999) … Frank T.J. Mackey Compare Will Smith’s 5 year record: Bad Boys II (2003) … Detective Mike Lowrey Men in Black II (2002) … Agent Jay Ali (2001) … Cassius Clay/Cassius X/Muhammad Ali Legend of Bagger Vance, The (2000) … Bagger Vance Men in Black Alien Attack (2000) … Agent J Wild Wild West (1999) … Capt. James ‘Jim’ West Not exactly a greatest hits list. Other actors that are generally more “comic” (Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey) are also doing pretty badly in the critical arena, which does have an effect on “Biggest Male Star,” I think. Tom Hanks is definitely a contender… I won’t bother to list his filmography. But I’d say that in the end Cruise edges him out simply because Cruise is pretty and Hanks… well, he ain’t. It’s not fair, but that’s the way life works. Brad Pitt hasn’t really made anything of note since Ocean’s 11 in 2001. Troy might be a comeback for him, of course. Johnny Depp is another serious possibility nowadays. Not only is he pretty, he’s alsocritically acclaimed. However, while his record is impressive, it’s not as full of blockbusters as Mr. Cruise’s. At least, not until recently. And I think that to be the “biggest male star” in America, you need to demonstrate some staying power. But of course, that’s just based on my opinion of what “Biggest Male Star” means. Obviously, other folks have different ideas… ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/16 "2004-04-25T05:04:08Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Russell Crowe. I’m not sure how he’s doing for box office gross or how much he’s paid, but he’s been in lots of popular and/or critically acclaimed movies over the last ten years or so. (L.A. Confidential, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, Master & Commander). ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/17 "2004-04-25T05:08:40Z")
Why are these all actors? Arent there megastars in other fields as well? ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/18 "2004-04-25T05:11:38Z")
Another “Mmmm… Johnny Depp” I take it that you don’t mean **Kevin Dean** , the jazz trumpet player? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/19 "2004-04-25T05:19:54Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > Another “Mmmm… Johnny Depp” > > I take it that you don’t mean **Kevin Dean** , the jazz trumpet player? Not unless he has other talents as well… ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852/20 "2004-04-25T06:10:50Z")
I googled a little and found this: Assuming we mean top male _actors_, [this website](http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/actors.mv?actors+ByAG) has a list of Top Actors. (or actresses) You can sort the list by Number of films, Avg box office gross, Avg gross of movies in the 90s, since 2000, or over their last ten movies, Gross of all movies, and Number of films grossing over $100 million. \*\*Top Ten are: \*\* 1. Orlando Bloom 2. Mark Hamill 3. Will Smith 4. Harrison Ford 5. Hugh Jackman 6. Tom Hanks 7. Mike Myers 8. Billy Dee Williams 9. Tom Cruise 10. Tim Allen **Top Ten (since 2000) are:** 1. Orlando Bloom 2. Ian McKellen 3. Alan Rickman 4. Elijah Wood 5. Tom Hanks 6. Mike Myers 7. Jim Carrey 8. Tom Cruise 9. Judge Reinhold 10. Russell Crowe **Top Ten (for their last 10 movies) are:** 1. Orlando Bloom 2. Tom Hanks 3. Elijah Wood 4. Will Smith 5. Bill Paxton 6. Tom Cruise 7. Jim Carrey 8. Mel Gibson 9. Tommy Lee Jones 10. Ian McKellan ```auto ``` [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-todays-biggest-male-star/241852.md?page=2)