Movies are a never-ending story. They are iconic, ever-lasting, lingering on people's minds on a daily basis...but can the same still be said about movie stars? When you think of a Hollywood star, you probably tend to think of Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and so many others... these men and women shaped Hollywood as we know it. There would be no Hollywood without the iconic performance of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" (1972), and Meryl Streep's heartbreaking performance in "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995).

Movie stars single-handedly carried Hollywood on their back throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. In the 90s, if a Tom Hanks-led film was debutting in theaters, it was an event. Not because of the movie, (obviously the movie being good certainly helped), but it was Hanks' name that carried that goodwill from audiences and led him to being the biggest box office draw of that decade and drove millions around the world to the theaters.

However, do people today take time of out their day to still go to the movies because your favorite actor's name is on the film's poster? Or will audiences only go to the movies now for big, experientual events and established franchises? Well, I have enough data to prove why that is the case, but also why there are still some movie stars left that can still draw in audiences because of their name alone, especially some newcomers from my generation...

What is a movie star today?

Many people will say: "Hey! I love Robert Downey Jr, he's great and I love going to watch his films!". It's true, RDJ is amazing, one of my personal favorite actors, but let me show you why most audiences would only care to go to the theater for a movie that RDJ stars as the iconic Tony Stark/Iron Man, and not likely for a RDJ-led film without him playing Iron Man. It breaks my heart saying this as a deep lover of the film industry as a whole, but it's simply factual data...

When the first "Iron Man" film came out in 2008 and kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie was beloved by critics and became a box office sensation, grossing $585 million globally, the eighth highest grossing picture of that year. Right after that, "The Avengers" came along in 2012 and established Marvel Studios as the juggernaut they still are today. This elevated RDJ's status even more as a beloved star as he was the face of the most popular brand in the world from 2008-2019.

During his peak of fame around the mid 2010s, he starred in an incredible film named "The Judge (2014)" and that movie, despite being very well-marketed and with RDJ's face stamped all over the posters, still barely made $100 million worldwide, a flop. Iron Man made almost $600 million, Avengers had made close to $2 billion.... see the difference now?

Is Robert Downey Jr the star, or is Iron Man the star?

I'm not saying RDJ himself isn't beloved. Of course he is! His charisma is unmatched! But it leaves that question hanging if audiences still care about movie stars nowadays without their names being attached to an already established franchise...

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What may have caused the ‘decline’ in relevance of movie stars?

Today, beloved YouTuber - Mr Beast - can be considered a bigger star than Leonardo DiCaprio. Let that sink in. I personally disagree as DiCaprio is probably the most recognizable star working today in Hollywood by both the old and new generation.

Youtube, streaming, and all the other media outlets that have been becoming a huge part of our pop culture has really changed the way people see a movie star. Any big TikTok or Instagram influencer now that gets over one million likes per video and has a massive internet following, can technically be considered a star today for many, many people, especially for the younger generation.

That apetite and hunger for when a new Tom Cruise original-led film opens up in theaters is also kinda "gone" to some degree, because you'll eventually catch it on streaming a few months after. However, if Tom Cruise opens a new Top Gun sequel in theaters.... then it becomes a whole different conversation. The movie would make billions and theaters around the world would fill in droves to see Cruise return as the iconic Pete Maverick.

If a film doesn't grab your attention from its trailers and most especifically, isn't attached to an already existing IP/franchise or at least have a big director's name attached to it like Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler, James Gunn, Greta Gerwig, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino and a few others, then your movie won't make much money. But if you have all those things I just mentioned, then you are a guaranteed box office hit around the globe.

It's not stars that sell a movie anymore unfortunately, it's the content in the movie. One thing that also has leveled down the relevance of movie stars today is social media. Most have Instagram and post every few days about their life and daily occurences, and that takes away that mystique, that curiosness and aura those stars used to carry up until the late 2000s.

Will Smith once said it best: "People need distance from actors to make them feel a certain separataion that will then instantly drive them to the theater to watch your new film that just came out. There's a mystery that surrounds you that is unreplacable. Distance and time make the heart grow fonder".

Final Thoughts

That's exactly why any pop singer and social media influencer today can be considered stars more so than actual movie stars because they are on people's minds on a daily. Meanwhile, over fifteen-to-twenty years ago, there was no social media and all there were, were actors and their films. People were excited to see a new Bruce Willis film, people were excited to experience a new Dwayne Johnson film.....because when was the last time they had seen those actors?

Probably in the last film they starred in a couple years ago and not on their Instagram feed almost every day. You see the difference?

However, there are certainly some newcomers from my generation that have already certified themselves as movie stars even throughout social media like Timothee Chalamet, Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar Jones, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and a few others. It's still very much possible to be a movie star today, but honestly, you must be really dedicated and passionate in what you do throughout the earlier "building phase" of your career and build upon your own brand to overcome the obstacles today that actors back then didn't have to overcome.

Hollywood is such a magical place, as it will continue to be forever, and everyday a new star is born, you just have to ignite your light at the moment you feel is right.