22 Films with Ensemble Casts Bigger Than 15 Recognizable Names

Hollywood history is filled with ambitious projects that attempt to squeeze as much star power as possible into a single feature. These movies often utilize their massive rosters to tell sprawling stories with intersecting plotlines or to create a heightened sense of spectacle for the audience. Directors manage the scheduling nightmares and balancing acts required to give each performer their moment to shine on the big screen. The resulting productions serve as time capsules that capture the who is who of the acting world during their respective release years.

‘The Longest Day’ (1962)

Producer Darryl F. Zanuck recruited an army of international stars to recreate the events of D-Day on a massive scale. The cast features John Wayne and Henry Fonda alongside Sean Connery and Robert Mitchum as they portray soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Richard Burton and Rod Steiger also appear in this black and white epic that chronicles the Normandy landings from multiple perspectives. The production used actual military consultants to ensure historical accuracy regarding the strategic movements of June 1944.

‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ (1963)

Director Stanley Kramer assembled nearly every major comedy legend of the era for this frantic race across California to find buried treasure. Spencer Tracy leads a cast that includes Milton Berle and Sid Caesar as they destroy property and vehicles in their pursuit of money. Cameos from the Three Stooges and Buster Keaton add to the chaotic atmosphere that defines this slapstick masterpiece. The film utilizes an Ultra Panavision 70 format to capture the sheer scale of the destruction and the growing number of participants.

‘A Bridge Too Far’ (1977)

Director Richard Attenborough depicts the failed Operation Market Garden with a roster of talent that spans the British and American film industries. Sean Connery and Michael Caine join Gene Hackman and Anthony Hopkins to illustrate the complexities of the allied paratrooper assault in the Netherlands. Robert Redford and Laurence Olivier deliver memorable performances amidst the tactical confusion and heavy combat sequences. The narrative highlights the logistical challenges and intelligence failures that led to the disastrous outcome of the military campaign.

‘JFK’ (1991)

Oliver Stone directs a conspiracy thriller that examines the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through the eyes of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison. Kevin Costner leads an ensemble that features Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Oldman in pivotal supporting roles that question the official government narrative. Sissy Spacek and Joe Pesci add emotional weight and volatility to the investigation as it uncovers layers of potential cover-ups. The film uses a frenetic editing style to weave together factual events with speculative theories about the tragic day in Dallas.

‘Short Cuts’ (1993)

Robert Altman adapts the writings of Raymond Carver into a tapestry of Los Angeles life that connects twenty-two principal characters. Tim Robbins and Julianne Moore appear alongside Jack Lemmon and Andie MacDowell in stories that explore themes of infidelity and death. The narrative structure allows the characters to drift in and out of each other’s lives through chance encounters and shared tragedies. This film serves as a prime example of the hyperlink cinema style that Altman perfected throughout his acclaimed career.

‘Mars Attacks!’ (1996)

Tim Burton pays homage to 1950s sci-fi B-movies with this satirical invasion film featuring glossy special effects and a star-studded lineup. Jack Nicholson plays two separate roles while Glenn Close and Pierce Brosnan attempt to navigate the arrival of hostile extraterrestrials. Danny DeVito and Sarah Jessica Parker face absurd demises as the Martians wreak havoc on global landmarks with their advanced weaponry. The movie balances dark humor with intentional campiness to mock the tropes of the disaster genre.

‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998)

Terrence Malick returned to filmmaking after a twenty-year absence to direct this philosophical war drama set during the Guadalcanal Campaign. Sean Penn and Jim Caviezel anchor a massive cast that includes George Clooney and John Travolta in brief but significant appearances. The film focuses on the internal monologues of the soldiers as they confront the beauty of nature amidst the horrors of mechanized warfare. Many famous actors filmed scenes that were eventually cut from the final edit due to the expansive amount of footage shot.

‘Gosford Park’ (2001)

Robert Altman directs this murder mystery set in a British country estate where the servants and aristocrats become suspects in a crime. Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon lead the upstairs family while Clive Owen and Helen Mirren portray the staff working downstairs. The screenplay explores the rigid class structure of 1930s England through overlapping dialogue and intricate character dynamics. Julian Fellowes wrote the script that would eventually serve as the thematic precursor to his series Downton Abbey.

‘Sin City’ (2005)

Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller bring the stark visuals of graphic novels to life with this crime anthology set in a corrupt metropolis. Bruce Willis and Mickey Rourke star as hardened anti-heroes who navigate a world filled with violence and moral ambiguity. Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson portray powerful women who control the dangerous district known as Old Town. The film utilizes high-contrast digital photography to replicate the specific ink-wash style of the original comic book source material.

‘Ocean’s Thirteen’ (2007)

George Clooney reunites his crew of professional thieves for a revenge heist against a ruthless casino owner played by Al Pacino. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon return to their roles to execute a complex plan that involves rigging slot machines and creating an artificial earthquake. Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac provide comedic support as the team infiltrates the security systems of the new hotel. This installment brings the trilogy to a close by focusing on the loyalty and friendship between the criminal experts.

‘Valentine’s Day’ (2010)

Garry Marshall weaves together multiple romantic storylines set in Los Angeles on the titular holiday involving a massive group of A-list stars. Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper share a flight while Ashton Kutcher navigates the challenges of running a flower shop during the busiest day of the year. Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner play a high school couple experiencing the excitement of first love amidst the chaos. The film follows the formula of connecting disparate strangers through shared themes of heartbreak and new beginnings.

‘New Year’s Eve’ (2011)

This spiritual sequel to ‘Valentine’s Day’ transports the multi-narrative format to New York City as characters prepare for the ball drop in Times Square. Robert De Niro and Halle Berry share emotional scenes in a hospital while Zac Efron helps Michelle Pfeiffer fulfill her resolutions. Jon Bon Jovi plays a rock star trying to reconcile with an ex-girlfriend played by Katherine Heigl before his midnight performance. The movie celebrates the optimism and reflection that accompanies the transition from one year to the next.

‘Movie 43’ (2013)

Peter Farrelly produced this anthology comedy that consists of several short sketches directed by different filmmakers. Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet star in a segment about a blind date that goes wrong due to a bizarre physical abnormality. Halle Berry and Richard Gere appear in other vignettes that rely on shock value and gross-out humor to solicit laughs from the audience. The project is notorious for its ability to secure major award-winning talent for material that is intentionally crude and absurd.

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (2014)

Wes Anderson curates a whimsical adventure involving a legendary concierge and his lobby boy at a famous European resort. Ralph Fiennes leads a cast that includes Bill Murray and Edward Norton as they navigate a plot involving stolen art and family fortunes. Tilda Swinton and Willem Dafoe disappear into heavy makeup to play eccentric characters within the fictional Republic of Zubrowka. The film utilizes changing aspect ratios and vibrant color palettes to distinguish between the different time periods depicted.

‘The Expendables 3’ (2014)

Sylvester Stallone expands his team of mercenaries by recruiting younger fighters and veteran action icons for a mission against an arms dealer. Mel Gibson plays the villain while Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger provide support from the intelligence community. Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas join the crew to add martial arts skills and comedic energy to the explosive set pieces. The film serves as a celebration of the action genre by uniting stars from multiple decades of blockbuster cinema.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe culminates in this massive crossover event that unites surviving heroes to reverse a galactic tragedy. Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans lead the charge as the Avengers travel through time to gather powerful stones. The final battle sequence features nearly every major character from the previous twenty-one films fighting side by side. This production required immense coordination to manage the contracts and screen time of dozens of leading actors.

‘The French Dispatch’ (2021)

Wes Anderson structures this film as a series of stories brought to life from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional French city. Benicio del Toro and Adrien Brody star in a segment about an incarcerated artist and his muse played by Léa Seydoux. Timothée Chalamet and Frances McDormand lead a chapter regarding a student revolution that mirrors real historical events. The visual style mimics the layout of a print publication through the use of tableau shots and voiceover narration.

‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)

Adam McKay directs this satirical disaster film about two astronomers who try to warn humanity about an approaching comet. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play the scientists who face indifference from a president played by Meryl Streep. Cate Blanchett and Tyler Perry portray television hosts who trivialize the impending doom for the sake of ratings and entertainment. The movie uses its massive cast to critique the intersection of media and politics in the face of a global crisis.

‘Amsterdam’ (2022)

David O. Russell directs a period mystery that follows three friends who become suspects in a political conspiracy during the 1930s. Christian Bale and Margot Robbie team up with John David Washington to uncover a plot that threatens the stability of the nation. Robert De Niro and Rami Malek appear in supporting roles that complicate the investigation into the secret organization. The film blends historical facts with fictional elements to explore themes of loyalty and fascism.

‘Asteroid City’ (2023)

Wes Anderson brings his signature aesthetic to a desert town where students and parents gather for a Junior Stargazer convention. Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson play two of the visitors who find themselves quarantined after an alien encounter. Tom Hanks and Tilda Swinton add to the eccentric population of the retro-futuristic setting that operates within a play within a movie. The narrative explores the nature of grief and the unknown through the lens of 1950s Americana.

‘Barbie’ (2023)

Greta Gerwig brings the iconic doll to life in a colorful fantasy that travels from a plastic utopia to the real world. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling lead a massive ensemble of various dolls played by actors like Issa Rae and Simu Liu. Will Ferrell and America Ferrera represent the corporate and human elements that clash with the naive worldview of the main character. The film uses its extensive cast to comment on gender roles and consumer culture through a satirical lens.

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Christopher Nolan directs this biographical thriller about the physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II. Cillian Murphy stars as the titular scientist while Robert Downey Jr and Matt Damon play key figures in the military and political establishment. Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh portray the women who influenced the personal life and security clearance hearings of the protagonist. The film features a revolving door of famous faces playing real historical scientists and government officials.

Share your favorite ensemble cast movie from this list in the comments.