Top 20 Movies With the Greatest Casts but We Didn't Know at the Time

National Lampoon started as a humor magazine, but eventually the brand expanded into films, notably with the now-iconic “Animal House.” The talent in front and behind the camera was nothing short of iconic. Tom Hulce was a few years from playing Mozart in “Amadeus,” while Karen Allen was on her way to play Marion in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Donald Sutherland was already a star, but youngsters like Kevin Bacon were fresh on the scene. Most importantly, “SNL” legend John Belushi stole the show as Bluto. Belushi’s performance helps to power a comedy that’s still outrageous and hilarious.

For their second film, directors Joel and Ethan Coen went all out with a zany comedy. They also hired a standout cast to play in this kooky crime adventure. Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter give two spectacular performances as the lead couple, both proving themselves as generational talents. They’re also welcomed by the likes of John Goodman, William Forsythe, and Randall “Tex” Cobb. Hunter was having a breakthrough year in 1987, starring in the award-worthy “Broadcast News” that same year. Cage was well on his way to becoming a leading man as this movie and “Moonstruck” further elevated his career. And Frances McDormand returns after starring in the Coens’ first film, later going on to win several Oscars.

It’s one of the most famous kid films from the 1980s. “The Goonies” also boasts a fantastic cast, making this exciting and entertaining movie come to life. Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Martha Plimpton, and Corey Feldman all make their early mark in this adventure. Ke Huy Quan once again lights up the screen after his memorable turn in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Character actors Joe Pantoliano and Robert Davi also show up as fun villains, both of whom would be prolific performers in the following years. It’s hard not to love this classic that’s overflowing with treasured performances.

At a group home for teenagers, the counselors and residents help each other through difficult times. It’s a heavy subject that’s expertly performed by an incredible cast. This indie drama includes a compelling performance from Brie Larson, showing her skills as a lead performer before “Room.” There’s also supporting work from Rami Malek, Kaitlyn Dever, and LaKeith Stanfield. With some relative unknowns among the ensemble, director Destin Daniel Cretton helps the actors craft amazing portraits of broken people. Stanfield is just one of many standouts here years before his work in everything from “Get Out” to “Judas and the Black Messiah.” If you haven’t seen “Short Term 12,” you should definitely check out this lesser-known gem from the 2010s.

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, this ensemble drama packs in laughs, tears, and plenty of talented stars. The cast is full of actors that were in the midst of their breakthrough decade. This includes the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, Tom Berenger, and JoBeth Williams. William Hurt, fresh off his work in “Body Heat,” was only a few years away from winning an Oscar. They all give nuanced and human performances as former classmates mourning their friend Alex. The latter role was even given to future star Kevin Costner, but the actor was cut out of the final product. Along with its great soundtrack, “The Big Chill” excels because of its choice casting.

From the minds of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, “Superbad” stands as one of the funniest comedies of the 2000s. Good as it is, the script wouldn’t work without the perfect performers. Thankfully, the filmmakers cast Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. They both had experience in the genre, but they really came into their own here as comedy leads. There’s also a handful of talented supporting cast members to help them out. Emma Stone made her debut in this movie, while Bill Hader was only a few years into an amazing run on “Saturday Night Live.” Christopher Mintz-Plasse also earns plenty of laughs as McLovin. The entire film only works if these players are all operating at the top of their game.

Anyone that sees this inspirational drama remembers Robin Williams’ performance. He’s the heart and soul of the movie, but he’s far from the only performer here. Robert Sean Leonard, Josh Charles, and Ethan Hawke played three of the boarding school students. Each actor gives an authenticity to their work, with their characters coming into their own through the power of poetry. Hawke in particular has spoken about Williams’ kindness, mentioning that the comedy legend helped to get him an agent afterwards. Leonard and Charles also show their promise as future film and TV stars. Under the direction of Peter Weir, the cast of “Dead Poets Society” ultimately brings the best out of a timeless and hopeful story.

Adapting Larry McMurtry’s novel, Peter Bogdanovich needed young actors to play teenagers. He ended up finding Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd, and Randy Quaid. Bridges was even nominated for an Academy Award for his performance, while Hollywood veteran Ben Johnson and TV legend Cloris Leachman won Oscars for their supporting roles. Ellen Burstyn and Eileen Brennan fill out this impressive ensemble, delivering richly-textured characters in 1950s Texas. This classic wouldn’t be the same without the immense talent featured in every role. Several stars went on to further fame, awards and iconic movies after this, but “The Last Picture Show” stands as some of their finest work.

Based on director Oliver Stone’s experiences in Vietnam, “Platoon” won multiple Oscars for its unflinching portrayal of military life. The filmmaker also enlisted an eclectic group of incredible actors. He got a young Charlie Sheen to play the main soldier Chris Taylor, surrounding the lead with other up and coming performers. Sheen’s co-stars include Kevin Dillon and Johnny Depp before his success on TV. You’ll likely spot other recognizable faces, filling out a squad that also features John C. McGinley, Tony Todd, and Keith David. Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe played their leaders, earning Academy Award nominations for their roles. The power of their work and the film itself still resonates to this day.

“The Godfather” might be one of the greatest films and ensembles of all time, but not every member of its cast was originally a high-profile star. Oscar winner Marlon Brando is among several veterans in the lineup. But there are also a number of performers, including Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, and John Cazale, who were early in their careers. Pacino arguably has the most important role next to Brando, but he wasn’t even who the studio wanted as Michael Corleone. It’s hard to imagine that this lineup was ever considered anything less than legendary.

Among John Hughes’ finest films is “Pretty in Pink,” starring Molly Ringwald after her success in “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles.” Andrew McCarthy appears as the rich kid who falls for her and Jon Cryer is her hopelessly devoted friend. Cryer is among the standouts of the cast as the lovable Duckie, along with Ringwald delivering one of her best performances. Both the future “Two and a Half Men” star and McCarthy play off Ringwald well in career-making turns. There’s also the evil and charismatic energy of James Spader during his early days. You can argue which Hughes film is the greatest, but there’s no debating the power of this cast all these years later.

Adapting Jane Austen for the 1990s, “Clueless” brings out the charm and humor of every cast member. Many of these actors received a major step-up in their burgeoning careers. Alicia Silverstone commands the screen as Cher Horowitz, becoming an icon before the movie is even over. She also stars alongside the bubbly work of Brittany Murphy and the underrated Donald Faison before “Scrubs.” Paul Rudd shows up in his first film role ever, proving that he had an instant ability to steal scenes. We haven’t finished naming the other highlights from the cast including Breckin Meyer, Stacey Dash, and Elisa Donovan. While there’ve been many high school movies since, this one still stands as a cultural phenomenon partly because of the elite cast.

After winning an Oscar, Yul Brynner took the lead in this Western as arguably the biggest star of the film. His character Chris Adams recruits a group of gunfighters to defend a Mexican village. These men are played by the likes of Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn. Between the three of them, they represented some of the coolest screen presences of the next two decades. Each of them showed off their action skills before they were all considered leading men. Eli Wallach was more established by this time playing the villain, but he was still years away from his immortal work in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Looking back, it’s amazing that any one of these guys was on the squad.

“Trainspotting” treads the line between comedy and drama with precision. It also has an all-star cast that juggles Irvine Welsh’s material with their own electric performances. Future “Star Wars” actor Ewan McGregor plays Renton in an iconic role, while his friends are played by talented performers such as Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller. With stellar supporting work from Ewen Bremner and Kelly Macdonald, the best of Scotland fills out the cast with their energetic and funny presence. Many of them have since found dynamic parts in everything from Oscar-winning films to animated features. Directed by Danny Boyle, this film retains all of its power because of the genius casting.

If you haven’t seen this early 1990s drama, you’re missing out on a pointed drama about hatred and anti-semitism. The film features a cast of young actors that were destined for greatness. Brendan Fraser stars as David Greene, a Jewish teenager struggling against the narrow-minded views of his classmates. The other students include characters played by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, and Cole Hauser. With future Oscar winners among the cast, “School Ties” assembled leading men who would leave the decade as bonafide stars. Fraser and Damon in particular reveal their dramatic chops long before they were nominated for awards.

Richard Linklater’s third film is arguably one of the best of the 1990s, but it’s also remembered for its impressive cast. The filmmakers found newer actors that could pull off the 1970s setting and play natural performances. Matthew McConaughey is a standout, playing the poetic and laidback Wooderson. There’s also Parker Posey and Joey Lauren Adams as the popular girls willing to humiliate the underclassmen. Even “Resident Evil” star Milla Jovovich appears here next to other future stars. Linklater can weave through the characters with a delicate touch, letting the performers deliver in small scenes that prove they’ve been well chosen.

In the 1980s, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” emerged as one of the strongest teen comedies. The film also boasts an enviable cast full of all kinds of varied performers. Most famously, Sean Penn plays the stoner Jeff Spicoli long before his days as a brooding lead actor. There’s also Jennifer Jason Leigh in an early role as she learns the highs and lows of relationships. Forest Whitaker, Judge Reinhold, and Phoebe Cates also make memorable appearances here. We’d also be remiss not to point out the acting debut of cinematic heavyweight Nicolas Cage. All of these exciting performers converge for a high school movie full of hilarious hijinks and iconic set pieces.

Assembling some newcomers and members of The State comedy troupe, “Wet Hot American Summer” parodies summer camp comedies. The critics and box office numbers failed to recognize the amount of talent on display. Among the many success stories to come out of this movie, Bradley Cooper started his film career in this cult classic. Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, and others also starred in promising roles before joining the upper echelon of Hollywood. Over the next decade, the movie developed a following that eventually led to two Netflix series. Bringing together some great performers, this project managed to be a launch pad for comedy legends.

Before he created “Star Wars,” George Lucas directed an acclaimed comedy about teenagers contemplating their future. This look into 1960s car culture also includes several actors on the cusp of greatness. Ron Howard was arguably the most well-known name in the cast, but he’d mainly worked on television up to that point. Richard Dreyfuss had only acted in smaller parts and absolutely shined here in his first major screen role. Other key actors such as Cindy Williams would go on to be a TV star, while Charles Martin Smith would work with Brian De Palma. The most famous of them all is a fresh-faced Harrison Ford as a mean driver. Altogether, these artists create a lived-in atmosphere that remains timeless.

In order to film this adaptation of the classic novel, director Francis Ford Coppola needed a huge cast of young actors. Most of the primary speaking roles went on to become the biggest stars of their era. These include Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and Diane Lane. We didn’t even mention the likes of Patrick Swayze and the most successful of them all, Tom Cruise. Portraying S. E. Hinton’s characters with skill and natural talent, the group really comes together as an engaging ensemble. It’s incredible to know that most of them were only beginning their careers. Coppola’s vision not only did justice to the book, it allowed for the next great generation of artists to emerge.

Did we forget another great cast that we didn’t know about at the time? Let us know in the comments below.