Top 10 Celebrities in Music Videos
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Who doesn’t love seeing their favorite stars alongside their favorite musical artists? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 celebrities in music videos.
For this list, we’re looking at those music videos featuring celebrities who attained significant fame before their appearances in them. So, our apologies to those who are expecting to see Alicia Silverstone in this list, because it was the Aerosmith videos that really helped her first gain fame and land the lead in “Clueless.”
#10: Johnny Depp
“Into the Great Wide Open” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1991)
The former “21 Jump Street” teen heartthrob stars as Eddie Rebel, a recent high school graduate who moves to Hollywood, gets a tattoo, meets a girl and joins the local music scene. Presented like a modern day fairytale, the story that follows Petty’s song word for word is about the rise to stardom and the top of the charts of our “rebel without a clue.” In the end, Eddie’s indulgence towards alcohol and serious anger issues lead to his fall from grace.
#9: Zach Galifianakis
“Not About Love” by Fiona Apple (2006)
Before reaching mainstream recognition with 2009’s “The Hangover,” Zach Galifianakis had a cult following thanks to his unique comedy stylings. He also appeared in multiple movies such as “Out Cold’ and “Corky Romano” and had his very own talk show on VH1. In the music video for “Not About Love,” we see Zach reading and lip-synching the song’s lyrics in various locations as Fiona Apple follows him wherever he goes. The funnyman also shows us that he’s multitalented while giving us a taste of his dance moves in the streets and in the sea.
#8: Jennifer Love Hewitt
“Hero” by Enrique Iglesias (2001)
The star of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and other late ‘90s teen movies plays Enrique Iglesias’ love interest in this 2001 video. In “Hero,” the Latin crooner is an honorable criminal being chased by a group of men led by Mickey Rourke, and yet he manages to find the time to make out with Jennifer Love Hewitt in the desert. The pair is ultimately caught by their pursuers in front of a church, which leads to a dramatic fight that ends with our hero dying in his loved one’s arms.
#7: Andrew Garfield
“We Exist” by Arcade Fire (2014)
You probably never expected to see “The Amazing Spider-Man” struggling with gender identity as a transgendered person, but in this Arcade Fire video, Andrew Garfield does just that and more. In “We Exist,” we watch his character dress up in women’s clothing and put on a wig to get ready for a night in a small town bar, where she gets harassed and beaten up by the patrons of that establishment. The short film also features a dream-like sequence that shows off Garfield’s dancing talents as well as a scene in which the character gest to share the stage with the band itself.
#6: Bruce Willis
“Stylo” by Gorillaz (2010)
The action hero most famous as John McClane makes an appearance in this Gorillaz video for the first single from Plastic Beach. While on the run from the law, the CGI band members shake off a fat, doughnut-loving cop. This is when Bruce Willis, in his El Camino, steps in. The skies turn black and an epic car chase, accentuated by gunfire, ensues. The hot pursuit ends when the Gorillaz’s Camaro falls off a cliff into the ocean, leaving Willis oh-so-satisfied that he succeeded in making them die hard with a vengeance.
#5: Natalie Portman
“Carmensita” by Devendra Banhart (2007)
In what is probably the most surprising cameo from this list, Natalie Portman makes a royal appearance in the video for a Spanish-language indie folk tune. The Bollywood-inspired story tells of an evil Lord who has kidnapped the sweet princess. It is up to the prince – played by the song’s composer and performer Devendra Banhart - to save the damsel in distress. And in fact, Portman and Banhart later dated in real life.
#4: Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson & Iman
“Remember the Time” by Michael Jackson (1992)
While we could have picked cameos from other Michael Jackson videos, like Macaulay Culkin in “Black or White” or Whoopi Goldberg, John Travolta, Steven Spielberg and many more in “Liberian Girl,” we chose “Remember the Time” because it really showcases what the King of Pop’s videos were all about. This wasn’t just a music video, it was a short film. Featuring beautiful sets and visual effects, its premiere was even a prime time event on TV and helped elevate what we previously thought music videos should be like. With stars like Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson and Iman in tow, it also helped bring us all into a different and exotic world and time that went perfectly with the song’s new jack swing sound.
#3: Keanu Reeves
“Rush Rush” by Paula Abdul (1991)
Taking things much more seriously than the fun-loving slacker he played in the “Bill and Ted” flicks, Keanu Reeves co-stars as Paul Abdul’s suitor in this “Rebel Without a Cause”-inspired music video. Produced by Lucasfilm, “Rush Rush” follows Reeves’ character as he attempts to win Paula’s heart, which is already taken by his rival. He finally succeeds after a fatal car race ends his nemesis. Meanwhile, the pop ballad was a chart topping hit for Abdul and helped her attain international recognition.
#2: Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, Danny McBride & more
“Make Some Noise” by Beastie Boys (2011)
Part of a 30-minute film called “Fight for Your Right Revisited” to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their party anthem, “Make Some Noise” picks up right after the 1987 video ends. The difference is that the Beastie Boys are now played by actors Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen and Danny McBride, who take the party to the streets of New York where they proceed to cause chaos wherever they go. The video is also cameo heaven; everyone seen in it is a celebrity. There’s even some time traveling going on as the trio meets a future version of themselves, played by Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Jack Black.
Before we reveal our number one entry, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Ben Stiller
“Taylor” By Jack Johnson (2004)
- Cindy Crawford, Tatjana Patitz, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington & Linda Evangelista
“Freedom! ‘90” by George Michael (1990)
- Ron Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Samuel L. Jackson & more
“Blame It (On the Alcohol)” by Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain (2009)
- Chevy Chase
“You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon (1986)
- Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Donald Glover & more
“Moves” by The New Pornographers (2010)
- Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Sean Penn & more
“Queenie Eye” by Paul McCartney (2013)
#1: Christopher Walken
“Weapon of Choice” by Fatboy Slim (2001)
What do you get when you mix Christopher Walken, an empty hotel lobby, amazing choreography and beautiful visual effects? Proof that more often than not, quality tops quantity. Winner of 6 MTV VMAs including Best Choreography, this Spike Jonze-directed music video is a hilarious, dance-filled masterpiece. Words fail to explain its greatness, and this is why you should just watch “Weapon of Choice” for yourself. Check it.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite music video featuring a celeb? For more celebrity-packed top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
