The Top 40 Male Film Lead Actors of all Time

Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by Rowdy Roddy McDowall, Sep 15, 2012.

  1. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    It was nothing. Believe me.


    Um.....b-b-b-because in Section 415b of the Actor's Manual, it was established that QUINTET was far worse than the lowest five of Ford's turkeys. That's my creative loophole. It's really Robert Altman's fault, of course. But now it's time for incoming.....

    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery

    Now HIS last movie pre-retirement was a turkey too.
     
  2. Captaindemotion

    Captaindemotion Admiral Admiral

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    ^Actually, his last 5 were. LXG isn't even the worst of them (clue - the worst should not be confused with this year's superhero ensemble movie)

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000125/
     
  3. Harvey

    Harvey Admiral Admiral

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    Finding Forrester is perfectly fine, if a bit rote. Is Playing by Heart (1998) any good? It looks...odd.
     
  4. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    I never saw it, but if memory serves it's one of those 16-character multi-generational ensembles that were once guaranteed to co-star Anne Bancroft.

    Of course, in truth, Ford is 14 and Newman is 30 on my list because, as previously mentioned, the top 17 are my personal favorites. My subjective bias.....

    In 1991 I thought to myself which four film stars should be on a cinematic Mount Rushmore......and though it was arbitrary to limit it to four, I did so. Now, those four will rank at 1, 2, 7, and 8 when this list is complete. Times and tastes keep changing somewhat.....
     
  5. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    Here's a new name I don't think was yet mentioned......not always a lead, not always a supporting player, but exceptional in the first and at least from his startup days, absolutely unparalleled in the second. To me, he has a staggeringly high grade point average. Even when he supports he's dominant. That's why he's nine.

    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall

     
  6. The Borgified Corpse

    The Borgified Corpse Admiral Admiral

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    Ouch! Forgotten already? You were just down ther
    Cruise certainly has longevity. I attribute it to the fact that the man has barely aged in the last 30 years! (And he's largely aged better.)

    Plus, he invented Inward Singing!!!!!!

    Just compare Ed Wood vs. Once Upon a Time in Mexico vs. Pirates of the Caribbean.
     
  7. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
     
  8. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    Before I get knocked off the bottom of the page, here's the latest incoming.:cool:

    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
    7. Henry Fonda

    Hope you all understood my reasoning in choosing Robert Duvall, as nobody else may have picked him. He seems to be basically supporting at present, probably due to his age,
    and there have been a couple or so late-in-the-game paycheck roles. Of course, of all the actors of today, only Sean Penn seems to have avoided this curse unless you count RIDGEMONT.
     
  9. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
    7. Henry Fonda
    6. Charlie Chaplin

    We finally have a silent actor on the list, but unfortunately still no lead Asians or all-purpose horror actors.....
     
  10. Random_Spock

    Random_Spock Vice Admiral Admiral

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    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
    7. Henry Fonda
    6. Charlie Chaplin
    5. Buster Keaton


    Adding Buster Keaton to the list since he did all his own stunts and he was one heck of a comedic actor, silent or otherwise. Really enjoyed seeing the one episode of the Twilight Zone he was in.
     
  11. CorporalClegg

    CorporalClegg Admiral Admiral

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    Bogey and Brando.

    Anyone else is purely academic.
     
  12. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
    7. Henry Fonda
    6. Charlie Chaplin
    5. Gene Hackman

    I really wish he hadn't retired......but unlike Connery, his last film wasn't a turd, and, unlike Connery, he says he might come back for a special film. That's why I'm drafting an outline for UNCOMMON VALOR II: EXPENDABLES SUCK.
     
  13. Harvey

    Harvey Admiral Admiral

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    I haven't seen it, but I thought the consensus on Welcome to Mooseport...wasn't great.
     
  14. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    It couldn't be anywhere near the negative level of THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY CRAPPINESS.
     
  15. Harvey

    Harvey Admiral Admiral

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  16. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    40. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    39. Spencer Tracy
    38. Steve McQueen
    37. Gary Cooper
    36. Daniel Craig
    35. Errol Flynn
    34. Sean Penn
    33. Richard Burton
    32. Tom Hanks
    31. Edward Norton
    30. Paul Newman
    29. Michael Caine
    28. William Holden
    27. Clive Owen
    26. Samuel L. Jackson
    25. Marlon Brando
    24. Al Pacino
    23. Charlton Heston
    22. Burt Lancaster
    21. Frank Sinatra
    20. Tom Cruise
    19. Clint Eastwood
    18. James Cagney
    17. Gary Oldman
    16. Denzel Washington
    15. Jack Nicholson
    14. Harrison Ford
    13. Dustin Hoffman
    12. Sidney Poitier
    11. Humphrey Bogart
    10. Sean Connery
    9. Robert Duvall
    8. Cary Grant
    7. Henry Fonda
    6. Charlie Chaplin
    5. Gene Hackman
    4. Gregory Peck
     
  17. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    PS: For those who have seen THE CONVERSATION and have watched one of its concluding monents with Hackman (5), Harrison Ford (14) and Robert Duvall (9), do you ever wish Hollwywood films of today would be able to afford trios like that in the same scene? At least in 1990s terms and beyond, it's unthinkable. Granted Duvall only had a surprise cameo and Ford was only beginning his career at this point but this is the sort of retroactive power-combo that you just can't get anymore. It's hard enough to have TWO superstars in the same room now, let alone three....
     
  18. Starkers

    Starkers Admiral Admiral

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    ^Have you seen Expendables 2?
     
  19. Rowdy Roddy McDowall

    Rowdy Roddy McDowall Commodore Rear Admiral

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    I had a feeling that somebody would bring up that film. If only Stallone and Schwarzenegger had been paired together in the '90s instead of 2010 when they WERE superstars. But then one would have to accept second billing. Willis and Schwarzenegger were still too proud to appear for more than ten minutes in the first one. So the teamup was long overdue. I only saw five minutes of EX2 in an empty theater in between END OF WATCH and DREDD. I suffered through the first installment in its entirety, and the only thing worse than the film was the audience. I've heard Part Two is actually better.....probably because Stallone's not ''directing.'' Now it shouldn't take 17 minutes for three guys to run to an exploding helicopter.
     
  20. J.T.B.

    J.T.B. Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    It was hard to get three top stars together then, too. The biggest combo I can think of was the same year, The Towering Inferno, with Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and William Holden. Even then Holden was seen as on his way down, but it was a real power struggle between McQueen and Newman. The rest of the '70s "all-star cast" disaster movies relied mostly on names that were big but past their box-office prime.

    But "retroactive" is just an accident; we might say The Outsiders was a big-star cast, but it didn't seem that way at the time because they were just starting out. A Bridge Too Far in 1977 has Hackman, Connery, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, James Caan, Ryan O'Neal, Michael Caine and even Laurence Olivier, but probably only Redford was really in his "superstar" prime, the rest were either "past it" or solid character actors who didn't become big draws till later. Plus it has a bunch of different stories going, not a lot of big stars in scenes together. The Longest Day, similar deal.

    Justin