The best ensemble movies of all time
- Updated
The "ensemble film," characterized by a large cast of lead actors that share nearly equal screen-time, has proven its value to filmmakers time and time again.
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Evan Agostini / AP Images
As Hollywood knows, audiences love stars. Putting a bunch of them together in a movie can lead to big returns at the box office. The "ensemble film," characterized by a large cast of lead actors that share nearly equal screen-time, has proven its value to filmmakers time and time again.
New ensemble films are released each year, with the latest film, "Masterminds," starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, opening in theaters on Sept. 30. After delays pushed back the release, moviegoers have been waiting excitedly to see if this star-packed ensemble will achieve box office success.
Both the epic fantasy "Lord of the Rings," and the iconic musical "Hairspray," are considered ensembles, illustrating how versatile the format can be. "Sin City," with its episodic format, is proof that most of the stars don't even need to be on the screen together. After the huge success with "Silver Linings Playbook," writer and director David O. Russell quickly followed up with "American Hustle" and "Joy" to capitalize on the dynamite chemistry between Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.
With so many movies to choose from, PrettyFamous, an entertainment research site powered by Graphiq, decided to put together a list of the greatest ensemble films of all time. PrettyFamous looked at all movies that have been nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for best acting ensemble and ranked them based on their Smart Rating: a weighted average of each film's Rotten Tomatoes score, IMDb rating, Metacritic Metascore, Gracenote rating and U.S. box-office gross, adjusted for inflation.
From "Milk" to "Star Trek," see where your favorite ensemble films rank on the list.
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
#74. Nine
Relativity Media / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 42.15
U.S. Box Office Gross: $19,673,400
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#73. Ocean's Twelve
Jerry Weintraub Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 71.17
U.S. Box Office Gross: $125,532,000
Release Year: 2004
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#72. Bobby
Holly Wiersma Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 72.82
U.S. Box Office Gross: $11,204,500
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte, William H. Macy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#71. Into the Woods
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Smart Rating: 76.11
U.S. Box Office Gross: $127,997,000
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#70. Rent
Revolution Studios / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 77.07
U.S. Box Office Gross: $29,045,200
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Jesse L. Martin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#69. Les Misérables
Relativity Media / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 77.46
U.S. Box Office Gross: $148,775,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#68. August: Osage County
Smokehouse Pictures / Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 80.20
U.S. Box Office Gross: $37,738,400
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#67. Love Actually
StudioCanal / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 81.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,365,100
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#66. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Touchstone Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Smart Rating: 82.04
U.S. Box Office Gross: $24,006,700
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#65. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Gold Circle Films / HBO Films
Smart Rating: 82.63
U.S. Box Office Gross: $241,437,000
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#64. A Prairie Home Companion
New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 83.14
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,338,600
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#63. Syriana
Participant Media / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 83.30
U.S. Box Office Gross: $50,815,300
Release Year: 2005
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#62. Closer
Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 83.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $33,987,800
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#61. Lee Daniels' The Butler
Laura Ziskin Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 83.62
U.S. Box Office Gross: $116,631,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
#60. Trumbo
ShivHans Pictures / Bleecker Street
Smart Rating: 83.73
U.S. Box Office Gross: $7,850,210
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#59. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Participant Media / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 84.15
U.S. Box Office Gross: $46,364,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#58. The Ides of March
Smokehouse Pictures / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 84.51
U.S. Box Office Gross: $40,962,500
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#57. The Hateful Eight
Double Feature Films / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 84.89
U.S. Box Office Gross: $54,116,200
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#56. Doubt
Scott Rudin Productions / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 84.99
U.S. Box Office Gross: $33,422,600
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#55. Bridesmaids
Apatow Productions / Unviersal Pictures
Smart Rating: 86.39
U.S. Box Office Gross: $169,077,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#54. Sin City
Troublemaker Studios / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 86.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $74,098,900
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#53. Babel
Anonymous Content / Paramount Vantage
Smart Rating: 86.96
U.S. Box Office Gross: $34,300,800
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael GarcÃa Bernal
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#52. Dreamgirls
Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.06
U.S. Box Office Gross: $103,338,000
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#51. Ocean's Eleven
Village Roadshow Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.09
U.S. Box Office Gross: $183,406,000
Release Year: 2001
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
#50. A Mighty Wind
Castle Rock Entertainment / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.19
U.S. Box Office Gross: $17,508,900
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#49. Rachel Getting Married
Sony Pictures Classics
Smart Rating: 87.55
U.S. Box Office Gross: $12,796,300
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#48. The Royal Tenenbaums
Touchstone Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.61
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,353,600
Release Year: 2001
Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#46. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Kennedy/Marshall Company / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $127,491,000
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#47. Hairspray
Ingenious Media / New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 88.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $118,823,000
Release Year: 2007
Starring: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#45. The Town
Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.63
U.S. Box Office Gross: $92,173,200
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#44. Gone Baby Gone
The Ladd Company / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 88.66
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,285,100
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#43. Straight Outta Compton
Legendary Pictures / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.95
U.S. Box Office Gross: $161,029,000
Release Year: 2015
Starring: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#42. The Help
DreamWorks Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Smart Rating: 89.34
U.S. Box Office Gross: $169,706,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#41. Crash
Yari Film Group / Lionsgate
Smart Rating: 89.58
U.S. Box Office Gross: $54,557,300
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
#40. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
THINKFilm
Smart Rating: 90.12
U.S. Box Office Gross: $7,083,020
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#39. The Wolf of Wall Street
Red Granite Pictures / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 90.25
U.S. Box Office Gross: $116,867,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#38. The Kids Are All Right
Gilbert Films / Focus Features
Smart Rating: 91.00
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,803,200
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#37. The Hours
Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.03
U.S. Box Office Gross: $41,597,800
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#36. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Parkes/MacDonald Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.16
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,882,800
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#35. Chicago
Producer Circle Co. / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 91.24
U.S. Box Office Gross: $170,681,000
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#34. Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Lee Daniels Entertainment / Lionsgate
Smart Rating: 91.28
U.S. Box Office Gross: $47,537,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#33. Star Trek
Spyglass Entertainment / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $257,704,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#32. The Descendants
Ad Hominem Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.32
U.S. Box Office Gross: $82,625,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#31. Gosford Park
Capitol Films / USA Films
Smart Rating: 91.40
U.S. Box Office Gross: $41,300,100
Release Year: 2001
Starring: Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban, Alan Bates
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
#30. Up in the Air
DreamWorks Pictures / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.69
U.S. Box Office Gross: $83,813,500
Release Year: 2009
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#29. Inglourious Basterds
A Band Apart / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.74
U.S. Box Office Gross: $120,523,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#28. Good Night, and Good Luck.
2929 Entertainment / WIP
Smart Rating: 92.00
U.S. Box Office Gross: $31,501,200
Release Year: 2005
Starring: David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson, George Clooney
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#27. American Hustle
Atlas Entertainment / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.01
U.S. Box Office Gross: $150,142,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#26. Lincoln
20th Century Fox
Smart Rating: 92.18
U.S. Box Office Gross: $182,204,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#25. The Big Short
regency Enterprises / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $70,235,300
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#24. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Regency Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.62
U.S. Box Office Gross: $42,312,500
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#23. The Imitation Game
Black Bear Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.68
U.S. Box Office Gross: $91,120,900
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#22. The Fighter
Relativity Media / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.81
U.S. Box Office Gross: $93,571,800
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#21. Nebraska
Bona Fide Productions / Paramount Vantage
Smart Rating: 92.83
U.S. Box Office Gross: $17,613,500
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.85
U.S. Box Office Gross: $132,089,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Mandate Pictures / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.01
U.S. Box Office Gross: $143,493,000
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Village Roadshow Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.20
U.S. Box Office Gross: $90,135,200
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
American Empirical Pictures / Focus Features
Smart Rating: 93.24
U.S. Box Office Gross: $45,451,300
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Bona Fide Productions / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.26
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,889,900
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Axon Films / Focus Features
Smart Rating: 93.47
U.S. Box Office Gross: $31,838,000
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Michael London Productions / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.66
U.S. Box Office Gross: $71,502,300
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
American Empirical Pictures / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.99
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,065,200
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Harpo Films / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 94.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,076,900
Release Year: 2014
Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
GK Films / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 94.45
U.S. Box Office Gross: $136,019,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Scott Rudin Productions / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 94.51
U.S. Box Office Gross: $74,273,500
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Studio 37 / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 94.71
U.S. Box Office Gross: $44,667,100
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Relativity Media / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.03
U.S. Box Office Gross: $96,917,900
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
See-Saw Films / Momentum Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.08
U.S. Box Office Gross: $138,795,000
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Warner Bros.
Smart Rating: 95.21
U.S. Box Office Gross: $132,373,000
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
IFC Productions / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.42
U.S. Box Office Gross: $25,359,200
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
First Look Media / Open Road Films
Smart Rating: 95.94
U.S. Box Office Gross: $44,988,200
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
Regency Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 96.07
U.S. Box Office Gross: $56,651,900
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
DC Comics / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 96.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $534,858,000
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
- Updated
WingNut Films / New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 96.59
U.S. Box Office Gross: $377,846,000
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
More like this...
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Evan Agostini / AP Images
As Hollywood knows, audiences love stars. Putting a bunch of them together in a movie can lead to big returns at the box office. The "ensemble film," characterized by a large cast of lead actors that share nearly equal screen-time, has proven its value to filmmakers time and time again.
New ensemble films are released each year, with the latest film, "Masterminds," starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, opening in theaters on Sept. 30. After delays pushed back the release, moviegoers have been waiting excitedly to see if this star-packed ensemble will achieve box office success.
Both the epic fantasy "Lord of the Rings," and the iconic musical "Hairspray," are considered ensembles, illustrating how versatile the format can be. "Sin City," with its episodic format, is proof that most of the stars don't even need to be on the screen together. After the huge success with "Silver Linings Playbook," writer and director David O. Russell quickly followed up with "American Hustle" and "Joy" to capitalize on the dynamite chemistry between Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.
With so many movies to choose from, PrettyFamous, an entertainment research site powered by Graphiq, decided to put together a list of the greatest ensemble films of all time. PrettyFamous looked at all movies that have been nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for best acting ensemble and ranked them based on their Smart Rating: a weighted average of each film's Rotten Tomatoes score, IMDb rating, Metacritic Metascore, Gracenote rating and U.S. box-office gross, adjusted for inflation.
From "Milk" to "Star Trek," see where your favorite ensemble films rank on the list.
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
#74. Nine
Relativity Media / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 42.15
U.S. Box Office Gross: $19,673,400
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#73. Ocean's Twelve
Jerry Weintraub Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 71.17
U.S. Box Office Gross: $125,532,000
Release Year: 2004
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#72. Bobby
Holly Wiersma Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 72.82
U.S. Box Office Gross: $11,204,500
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte, William H. Macy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#71. Into the Woods
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Smart Rating: 76.11
U.S. Box Office Gross: $127,997,000
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#70. Rent
Revolution Studios / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 77.07
U.S. Box Office Gross: $29,045,200
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Jesse L. Martin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#69. Les Misérables
Relativity Media / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 77.46
U.S. Box Office Gross: $148,775,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#68. August: Osage County
Smokehouse Pictures / Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 80.20
U.S. Box Office Gross: $37,738,400
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#67. Love Actually
StudioCanal / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 81.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,365,100
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#66. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Touchstone Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Smart Rating: 82.04
U.S. Box Office Gross: $24,006,700
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#65. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Gold Circle Films / HBO Films
Smart Rating: 82.63
U.S. Box Office Gross: $241,437,000
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#64. A Prairie Home Companion
New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 83.14
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,338,600
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#63. Syriana
Participant Media / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 83.30
U.S. Box Office Gross: $50,815,300
Release Year: 2005
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#62. Closer
Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 83.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $33,987,800
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#61. Lee Daniels' The Butler
Laura Ziskin Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 83.62
U.S. Box Office Gross: $116,631,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
#60. Trumbo
ShivHans Pictures / Bleecker Street
Smart Rating: 83.73
U.S. Box Office Gross: $7,850,210
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#59. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Participant Media / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 84.15
U.S. Box Office Gross: $46,364,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#58. The Ides of March
Smokehouse Pictures / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 84.51
U.S. Box Office Gross: $40,962,500
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#57. The Hateful Eight
Double Feature Films / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 84.89
U.S. Box Office Gross: $54,116,200
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#56. Doubt
Scott Rudin Productions / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 84.99
U.S. Box Office Gross: $33,422,600
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#55. Bridesmaids
Apatow Productions / Unviersal Pictures
Smart Rating: 86.39
U.S. Box Office Gross: $169,077,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#54. Sin City
Troublemaker Studios / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 86.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $74,098,900
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#53. Babel
Anonymous Content / Paramount Vantage
Smart Rating: 86.96
U.S. Box Office Gross: $34,300,800
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael GarcÃa Bernal
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#52. Dreamgirls
Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.06
U.S. Box Office Gross: $103,338,000
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#51. Ocean's Eleven
Village Roadshow Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.09
U.S. Box Office Gross: $183,406,000
Release Year: 2001
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
#50. A Mighty Wind
Castle Rock Entertainment / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.19
U.S. Box Office Gross: $17,508,900
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#49. Rachel Getting Married
Sony Pictures Classics
Smart Rating: 87.55
U.S. Box Office Gross: $12,796,300
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#48. The Royal Tenenbaums
Touchstone Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Smart Rating: 87.61
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,353,600
Release Year: 2001
Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#46. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Kennedy/Marshall Company / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $127,491,000
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#47. Hairspray
Ingenious Media / New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 88.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $118,823,000
Release Year: 2007
Starring: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#45. The Town
Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.63
U.S. Box Office Gross: $92,173,200
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#44. Gone Baby Gone
The Ladd Company / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 88.66
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,285,100
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#43. Straight Outta Compton
Legendary Pictures / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 88.95
U.S. Box Office Gross: $161,029,000
Release Year: 2015
Starring: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#42. The Help
DreamWorks Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Smart Rating: 89.34
U.S. Box Office Gross: $169,706,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#41. Crash
Yari Film Group / Lionsgate
Smart Rating: 89.58
U.S. Box Office Gross: $54,557,300
Release Year: 2005
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
#40. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
THINKFilm
Smart Rating: 90.12
U.S. Box Office Gross: $7,083,020
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#39. The Wolf of Wall Street
Red Granite Pictures / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 90.25
U.S. Box Office Gross: $116,867,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#38. The Kids Are All Right
Gilbert Films / Focus Features
Smart Rating: 91.00
U.S. Box Office Gross: $20,803,200
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#37. The Hours
Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.03
U.S. Box Office Gross: $41,597,800
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#36. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Parkes/MacDonald Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.16
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,882,800
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#35. Chicago
Producer Circle Co. / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 91.24
U.S. Box Office Gross: $170,681,000
Release Year: 2002
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#34. Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Lee Daniels Entertainment / Lionsgate
Smart Rating: 91.28
U.S. Box Office Gross: $47,537,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#33. Star Trek
Spyglass Entertainment / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.31
U.S. Box Office Gross: $257,704,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#32. The Descendants
Ad Hominem Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.32
U.S. Box Office Gross: $82,625,000
Release Year: 2011
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#31. Gosford Park
Capitol Films / USA Films
Smart Rating: 91.40
U.S. Box Office Gross: $41,300,100
Release Year: 2001
Starring: Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban, Alan Bates
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
#30. Up in the Air
DreamWorks Pictures / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.69
U.S. Box Office Gross: $83,813,500
Release Year: 2009
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#29. Inglourious Basterds
A Band Apart / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 91.74
U.S. Box Office Gross: $120,523,000
Release Year: 2009
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#28. Good Night, and Good Luck.
2929 Entertainment / WIP
Smart Rating: 92.00
U.S. Box Office Gross: $31,501,200
Release Year: 2005
Starring: David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson, George Clooney
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#27. American Hustle
Atlas Entertainment / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.01
U.S. Box Office Gross: $150,142,000
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#26. Lincoln
20th Century Fox
Smart Rating: 92.18
U.S. Box Office Gross: $182,204,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#25. The Big Short
regency Enterprises / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.53
U.S. Box Office Gross: $70,235,300
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#24. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Regency Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 92.62
U.S. Box Office Gross: $42,312,500
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#23. The Imitation Game
Black Bear Productions / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.68
U.S. Box Office Gross: $91,120,900
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
#22. The Fighter
Relativity Media / The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.81
U.S. Box Office Gross: $93,571,800
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
#21. Nebraska
Bona Fide Productions / Paramount Vantage
Smart Rating: 92.83
U.S. Box Office Gross: $17,613,500
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
The Weinstein Company
Smart Rating: 92.85
U.S. Box Office Gross: $132,089,000
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Mandate Pictures / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.01
U.S. Box Office Gross: $143,493,000
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Village Roadshow Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.20
U.S. Box Office Gross: $90,135,200
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
American Empirical Pictures / Focus Features
Smart Rating: 93.24
U.S. Box Office Gross: $45,451,300
Release Year: 2012
Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Bona Fide Productions / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.26
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,889,900
Release Year: 2006
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Michael London Productions / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.66
U.S. Box Office Gross: $71,502,300
Release Year: 2004
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
American Empirical Pictures / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 93.99
U.S. Box Office Gross: $59,065,200
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Harpo Films / Paramount Pictures
Smart Rating: 94.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $52,076,900
Release Year: 2014
Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Scott Rudin Productions / Miramax Films
Smart Rating: 94.51
U.S. Box Office Gross: $74,273,500
Release Year: 2007
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Studio 37 / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 94.71
U.S. Box Office Gross: $44,667,100
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Relativity Media / Columbia Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.03
U.S. Box Office Gross: $96,917,900
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
See-Saw Films / Momentum Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.08
U.S. Box Office Gross: $138,795,000
Release Year: 2010
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
IFC Productions / Universal Pictures
Smart Rating: 95.42
U.S. Box Office Gross: $25,359,200
Release Year: 2014
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
First Look Media / Open Road Films
Smart Rating: 95.94
U.S. Box Office Gross: $44,988,200
Release Year: 2015
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
Regency Enterprises / Fox Searchlight Pictures
Smart Rating: 96.07
U.S. Box Office Gross: $56,651,900
Release Year: 2013
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
DC Comics / Warner Bros. Pictures
Smart Rating: 96.23
U.S. Box Office Gross: $534,858,000
Release Year: 2008
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: No
- Dustin Clendenen, PrettyFamous.com
WingNut Films / New Line Cinema
Smart Rating: 96.59
U.S. Box Office Gross: $377,846,000
Release Year: 2003
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
Critics' Choice Winner for Best Acting Ensemble: Yes
Vacant Tucson stores could transform into new housing
