Hollywood actors are the beating heart of pop culture. Whoever is most popular at the time says much about our society’s current beliefs and ideologies, making them a zeitgeist of sorts. Hollywood producers need to identify who these rising stars are, and what exactly makes them popular, so they can bank on them for a big profit at the box office. This leads us onto the topic of our article – who are the biggest stars in Hollywood right now? Why are we all willing to fork out £10 a time just to see them in the cinema? Read on to find out.
Donald Glover
Donald Glover is one of the most talented people alive today. Not only is he an actor, writer, director and producer, but he also has a fruitful music career under the alias of Childish Gambino. After starring in the cult television series Community, Glover has had continued success with the TV show Atlanta (which he created), chart-topping singles like ‘This is America’, and his role as Simba in The Lion King remake, the 7th highest-grossing film of all time.
Chris Pratt
Like Glover, Pratt rose to fame on the small screen as loveable slacker Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation. After a strong career with minor roles in many films, he became a leading man with the release of The Lego Movie and a role as Star-Lord in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. He has since starred in reboots to the Jurassic Park franchise – the latest of which will be coming out in 2021 – and further roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to the ensemble films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. We should see him return to the MCU again with more films exploring the adventures of the Guardians.
Bradley Cooper
If you want bankability, hire Bradley Cooper. Altogether, his films have grossed $11 billion worldwide, and he continues to be one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. With a considerable number of accolades to his name, there’s no wonder why this is the case. Many of these awards are thanks to his roles in American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook, and it’s just a matter of time when these two will enter a list of the best gambling movies of all time. And how could we forget about A Star Is Born? Cooper’s chart-topping single ‘Shallow’ from the film is still on the radio, even two years after its release.
Timothée Chalamet
24-year old Chalamet is fast-proving to be a powerhouse of the art of acting. He built a career in short films and the television series Homeland before appearing in films like Men, Women & Children, and Lady Bird. He also became the third-youngest Oscar nominee for his role in 2017’s Call Me by Your Name. His recent role as Laurie in 2019’s Little Women was highly acclaimed, and fans are eagerly awaiting his portrayal of Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s 2020 adaptation of the sci-fi classic Dune. If this film proves to be a success, it could net Chalamet his second Oscar nomination. The level of nuance he could bring to the role of Paul is going to be marvellous to see on the silver screen.
Margot Robbie
In 2008, Australian actress Margot Robbie had slowly been building her credentials on TV shows like Neighbours, before moving to America and landing a role in The Wolf of Wall Street. This Oscar-nominated film saw Robbie skyrocketing to fame, and she’s become one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. Cinemagoers now know her best for her performances as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Harley Quinn in the DC cinematic universe.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson has recently had somewhat of a cultural resurgence. He first rose to fame in 2008 for his starring role in the Twilight franchise, but then kept his head down for a while to focus on his craft. For several years, Pattinson’s acting abilities have been overlooked (thanks to the general disdain critics have for young-adult franchises), but now with the release of acclaimed films like the Lighthouse and the Rover, he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. As a result, Pattinson has landed the titular role of the Batman. But the main reason we like Robert Patterson is probably because he’s a bit of an oddball. Google his weird quarantine pasta recipe and you’ll know what we mean.
Now you’ve read this article, do you agree with our list of the biggest stars in Hollywood right now?
