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Breakthrough Performances

posted 6 years ago by PeteRose (2893)
29 replies | jump to latest

What are the roles that skyrocketed people from nobodies one day to A-list the next?

I was thinking of Julia Roberts. A keen observer may have already fell in love with her as an indie darling, but after Pretty Woman, everybody knew who she was. And she's a great actor who didn't go batshit crazy.

Who else?

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7251) 6 years ago

Bruce Willis and Die Hard. He definitely got a second wind with The Sixth Sense, but Die Hard is what shot him to stardom.

[–] PeteRose (2893) 6 years ago

Totally. He was a legend in his time but I feel like his 2nd wind is over. I wasn't a huge fan of Glass.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7251) 6 years ago

His second wind is totally over. Glass was boring. And they're still getting him to do Die Hard movies - I think there's another one on the way called McClane? A bad sign. Imagine if Mel Gibson was still doing Lethal Weapon films today.

[–] PeteRose (2893) 6 years ago

Apt comparison for sure

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77999) 6 years ago

Leonardo Di Caprio
The Basketball Diaries

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77999) 6 years ago

Tom Hanks
Splash

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77999) 6 years ago

Brad Pitt
Thelma and Louise

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77999) 6 years ago

Jamie Lee Curtis
Halloween

[–] VictorVictoria (40) 6 years ago

Tippi Hedren in The Birds.

[–] PeteRose (2893) 6 years ago

Good one. Hitch was all about "creating" his stars, and I think he got sort of obsessive and controlling of Tippi.

[–] Frogarama (12942) 6 years ago

Tom Hanks was big already (pun intended) but was Philadelpia his breakthrough drama role? I believe so.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

john wayne - stagecoach