Hollywood is fond of a good star vehicle—but occasionally, rather than one headliner, you end up with an avalanche of them. There’s nothing quite as exciting as a movie where nearly every face that appears on screen makes you think, “Wait, THEY’RE in this too?” From classic war epics to contemporary mysteries, here are 15 of the most loaded ensemble casts ever put together, counting down to the greatest of them all.
15. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
Noah Baumbach pulled off a quiet little miracle with this bittersweet family dramedy. Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller square off as bickering brothers, while Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson round out the dysfunctional clan. Sprinkle in appearances by Adam Driver and even Sigourney Weaver, and you’ve got a small indie with the star wattage of a blockbuster.
14. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Coppola’s Vietnam epic is legendary for both its production troubles and its jaw-dropping cast. Marlon Brando looms large, Robert Duvall delivers lines still quoted today, and Martin Sheen anchors the madness. Add in a young Laurence Fishburne and Harrison Ford, and you’ve got one of the most unforgettable rosters in film history.
13. The Longest Day (1962)
This WWII staple is essentially an acting hall of fame. John Wayne, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, and Robert Mitchum are just a few of the legends reliving D-Day. It’s more of an assembly of Hollywood heavies than a film.
12. The Thin Red Line (1998)
Terrence Malick’s poetic war movie is so full of names it’s almost unreal. Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, John Travolta—the roster continues. Some actors have barely more than a scene to themselves, but that’s the point: blink and another A-lister is gone.
11. Knives Out (2019)
Rian Johnson’s Agatha Christie–influenced whodunit does not merely boast a twisty premise—it boasts a killer cast. Daniel Craig is spectacular as the detective, with Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Don Johnson, and Christopher Plummer all chomping scenery. The chemistry is electric, rendering this one of the most enjoyable ensemble films of the decade.
10. The Deer Hunter (1978)
Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep star in Michael Cimino’s unflinching Vietnam War drama. Joined by John Cazale and John Savage, the acting is raw, heart-wrenching, and unforgettable. The acting itself cemented this movie’s place in the history of cinema.
9. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Cool, hip, and ridiculously fun—Soderbergh’s heist film is just an excuse to sit back and watch George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and Don Cheadle out-charm one another. Add in Andy Garcia and Bernie Mac, and it’s a masterclass in easy star power.
8. L.A. Confidential (1997)
A gritty noir with a dream cast: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, and Danny DeVito. The acting is as crisp as the film’s script, and the cast helped the movie secure critical success and Oscars.
7. Birdman (2014)
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s single-shot fever dream required the actors to be able to handle comedy, tragedy, and anarchy—and he was fortunate to have them. Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, and Amy Ryan all deliver bold performances that sustain the film’s energy.
6. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
If comedy ever had an Avengers-style crossover, this would be the one. Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, and more than a dozen others clash in a wacky treasure hunt. It’s raucous, chaotic, and filled with more comedians than you can shake a stick at.
5. Murder on the Orient Express (1974 & 2017)
Both of Christie’s mysteries hold up in the casting department. The ’74 original features Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, and Sean Connery. Jump forward to 2017, and Kenneth Branagh assembles Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, and Daisy Ridley. One narrative, two ridiculously loaded casts.
4. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
David Mamet’s gritty play was made into a movie sustained pretty much by its all-star cast. Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, and Jonathan Pryce engage in an oral combat still being studied today.
3. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Marvel’s mega-crossover is the epitome of “ensemble.” Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, and Brie Larson—and dozens more—fill the screen in the ultimate superhero curtain call.
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson doesn’t believe in small casts, but even this one is absurd even by his standards. Ralph Fiennes, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson—take a look at the list. It’s an eyesore visual treat of familiar faces.
1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001–2003)
Peter Jackson’s fantasy epic isn’t only a milestone in cinema—it’s cast perfection. Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, and Andy Serkis all bring the world of Tolkien to life. The chemistry and commitment of the cast are a big reason why this trilogy is loved decades down the road.
And that’s it: 15 times when Hollywood exclaimed, “Why stop at one star when you can have ten?” Whether war, comedy, mystery, or fantasy, sometimes the true magic is simply seeing an all-time cast shine together on screen.