The
entertainment industry is considered to be one of the most unforgiving of industries. Even though it can elevate people and place them on the "A-list," many stars have found that such success is incredibly ephemeral.
You might be curious about what distinguishes an A-list
celebrity from a B-list celebrity. In Hollywood, A-list celebrities are those who have reached the pinnacle of their careers. Every conceivable profession or field has its own A-list celebrities, often based on their reputation for brilliance and in their field, although definitions vary widely. B-listers are actors who thrive in supporting roles, but these are roles that showcase their distinctive talents and acting styles.
Falling from the
A-list to the B-list can be the death knell for an actor's hopes of cinematic glory. A performer has to work for years, even decades to get on the A-list, but they can easily return to the B-list. For this reason, it's worth looking back at them to appreciate what was lost due to their brief time on the A-list.
#1 Brendan Fraser
Source: The Mummy / Universal Pictures
Throughout the 1990s, Brendan Fraser was at the zenith of his career. With his good looks and acting talent, he's managed to attract audiences in "George of the Jungle", "The Mummy", and "And gods and Monsters". However, starting in the mid-2000s, several forces (sexual assault, divorce, and health problems) brought his career down unfortunately. However, his luck has recently changed and he started starring in hit movies like "
The Whale". This will hopefully be the beginning of one of Hollywood's most endearing characters returning to significant prominence.
#2 Alicia Silverstone
Source: Clueless / Paramount Pictures
Few celebrities captured the 1990s popularity like Alicia Silverstone. When she appeared in "Clueless", a coming-of-age teen comedy film based on Jane Austen's classic novel "Emma", she demonstrated her star potential. She played Batgirl in "Batman & Robin", which bombed, and a few other movies after that meant she didn’t have quite the draw as some had supposed. This was really unfortunate since Silverstone is one of those celebrities who seems to embody charm. Fortunately, she has had more success in smaller dramas and on stage, demonstrating that she still possesses the talent necessary to be a great actor.
#3 Gary Sinise
Source: Forrest Gump / Paramount Pictures
Gary Sinise has always excelled in military roles, especially as Lieutenant Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump", which helped him achieve the height of his career. He brings out so much of this particular character, making it possible for audiences to identify with him - not as an object of pity but as a man who has endured more than anyone should have to. Despite his remarkable ability to bring out hidden depths in his characters, his career failed to maintain momentum. He has played a variety of characters throughout the years, but none have come close to his depiction of Lieutenant Dan.
#4 Geena Davis
Source: Beetlejuice / Warner Bros. Pictures
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Geena Davis was a prominent and well-respected actress in Hollywood. After becoming a household name thanks to her role in "Beetlejuice", she reached the pinnacle of her career with starring roles in both "Thelma and Louise" and "A League of Their Own". But in the latter part of the 1990s, she progressively lost her spot on the A-list as a result of several commercial flops, notably "Cutthroat Island". This was truly unfortunate since it denied moviegoers the opportunity to see further work from one of her generation's most outstanding actors.
#5 Val Kilmer
Source: Top Gun / Paramount Pictures
In the early days of his career,
Val Kilmer was one of Hollywood's male stars with his breakout role as Iceman in the 1986 film "Top Gun". He continued to advance in the following years, culminating in appearances in both "Tombstone" and "Batman Forever". However, Kilmer's popularity started to fade in the late 1990s as a result of his roles in several unsatisfactory movies, such as the bizarre and deeply unpleasant "The Island of Dr. Moreau". However, despite health issues, his recent appearance in Top Gun: Maverick could signal a return to the top of his previous career.
#6 Elisabeth Shue
Source: Leaving Las Vegas / MGM
Before making her debut in "The Karate Kid", Elisabeth Shue largely got her start in commercials. By replacing Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker in "Back to the Future" Parts II and III, she solidified her career. She also experienced considerable success in the 1990s, going so far as to be nominated for an Academy Award in 1995 for "Leaving Las Vegas". After that, she continued to act but she mainly played supporting roles. She stole the show during her time on the Amazon series "The Boys", in which she played the unscrupulous and manipulative Madelyn Stillwell.
#7 Bill Pullman
Source: Independence Day / 20th Century Fox
Bill Pullman first became nationally known for his appearance in the 1986 comedy "Ruthless People". He then had several celebrity guest roles in hit films including "Spaceballs", "While You Were Sleeping", and "Independence Day", all of which helped him land on the A-list. He was well-recognized for portraying nice-guy characters that are often in short supply. This made his final slip off the A-list sad, though understandable. He began specializing more in stage and television work after losing his A-list status. While some of these have had him in the lead, it's hard not to wish he had a little more time to become a major movie star in his own right.
#8 Kate Beckinsale
Source: Underworld: Awakening / Sony Pictures
Before achieving some success in several British costume dramas, Kate Beckinsale began her career as a model. Her fame started to increase once she moved to Hollywood, and her roles in high-profile films like "Pearl Harbor", "Serendipity", and "The Aviator" in the early and mid-2000s helped establish her as one of Hollywood's leading women. Her appearance in the 2003 film "Underworld" may have been the peak and the bottom of her tenure on the A-list. Ultimately, she's one of those actors who successfully combines classic Hollywood elegance with heroism from action movies. Throughout much of the later 2000s and into the 2010s, she has mostly focused on small-scale drama, with occasional forays into action.
#9 Eric Bana
Source: Troy / Warner Bros. Pictures
Despite starting his career in Australian film and television, Eric Bana made a big splash in the US when he appeared in "Black Hawk Down" (2001). In the years that followed, he rode very high, making notable appearances in movies like "Troy" and "Hulk". Despite his charming looks and adaptability, he has since mostly existed outside of the A-list. Although he still frequently portrays high-profile characters, it would be good to see him in some more of the bombastic outings in which he excelled during the early days of his Hollywood career.
#10 Rachael Leigh Cook
Source: She's All That / Miramax Films
Rachael Leigh Cook became a household name overnight after taking part in "She’s All That", which became a surprisingly successful teen film. Her undeniable charm and infectious personality contribute to the success of the movie. Cook's prime time was short-lived, in large part due to the box office failure of the movie "Josie and the Pussycats". Fortunately, she has had success in other areas, making appearances in a number of lower-profile films and lending her voice to a number of animated television series (most notably "Robot Chicken").
#11 Chris Tucker
Source: Rush Hour / New Line Cinema
Chris Tucker began his career as a stand-up comedian, and he appeared in several notable films, including "The Fifth Element" and "Jackie Brown". But the "Rush Hour" series, in which he co-starred with Jackie Chan, helped to cement his position on the A-list. Tucker reprised his role as Detective James Carter in its two sequels. Since the 2007 release of the last "Rush Hour" movie, Tucker has only sometimes made an appearance in blockbuster films. This is unfortunate given his exceptional abilities in both comedy and drama.
#12 Andie MacDowell
Source: Groundhog Day / Columbia Pictures
After appearing in Steven Soderbergh’s "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" in 1989, Andie MacDowell rose to prominence. This was a great start for the actress, who later starred in several blockbuster films, including 1993's "Groundhog Day", which has remained a classic ever since. But her success wasn't as long-lasting as she or her admirers would have hoped. After several failures in the latter half of the decade, she appeared in numerous independent films. Recently, her career has seen something of a resurgence due largely to her acclaimed role in the Netflix series "Maid".
#13 Greg Kinnear
Source: As Good as It Gets / Sony Pictures
Greg Kinnear was fairly well-liked in the latter half of the 1990s given his boyish good looks. He frequently played the lead in films like the Sabrina adaptation, but he also excelled in supporting roles, such as in "As Good as It Gets", for which he received an Oscar nomination. Despite his charm and charisma, Kinnear didn't stay on the A-list for very long. He appeared in several movies in the 2000s and 2010s, but he never quite recaptured the magic of the 19990s.
#14 Kathleen Turner
Source: Peggy Sue Got Married / Tri-Star Pictures
With her sweet voice and porcelain doll-like beauty, Kathleen Turner seemed destined to become a star. This was eventually confirmed by her critically acclaimed performance in the 1981 film "Body Heat", in which she portrays a duplicitous woman who convinces her lover to eliminate her husband. She garnered extra recognition and box office success with movies like "Romancing the Stone" and "Peggy Sue Got Married" as her fame continued to soar during the 1980s. Turner radiated power, sensuous charm, and agency in each of her roles—a rare mix in Hollywood. Turner lasted almost a decade on the A-list, but in the early 1990s, her career slowed down. Her battles with rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent alcohol addiction were partly to blame for this.
#15 Hayden Christensen
Source: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith / 20th Century Fox
Hayden Christensen was almost unknown before he rose to international prominence as Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" and "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". Although some people might not have liked his portrayal, he did succeed in giving the role a certain amount of teenage petulance and, in his best scenes, genuine pathos. However, he had a relatively brief period on the A-list. After his appearances as Anakin, he continued to land roles, but none were as well-known. Christensen demonstrates his special talent for portraying men who are dealing with inner brokenness in the movie Broken Glass, in which he plays disgraced journalist Stephen Glass. Maybe he'll return to the forefront of the show in the future.
#16 Mira Sorvino
Source: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion / Buena Vista Pictures
Mira Sorvino is one of those celebrities that was raised in a performing arts household; her father is renowned actor Paul Sorvino, and her mother, Lorraine, was also a former actress. Her performance in "Mighty Aphrodite" in 1995 propelled her to fame after a few minor appearances and won her an Academy Award. She attained significant A-list stardom, appearing in a number of high-profile films. But she experienced a bit of a professional dip starting in the early 2000s. She never went without a job, but her success never reached the previous levels.
#17 Billy Campbell
Source: The Rocketeer / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Billy Campbell achieved his stint on the A-list thanks to his role as Luke Fuller on the soap opera "Dynasty". He brought a great amount of empathy to this specific role, which was a big accomplishment because the 1980s is a period hardly noted for positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ people. Despite his skill in bringing this role to life, his career never really took off beyond this specific role. Although Campbell has appeared in a lot of things over the years, few of his performances have garnered as much attention as his time on "Dynasty".
#18 Sharon Stone
Source: Basic Instinct / TriStar Pictures
Sharon Stone’s most recognizable role has to be Catherine Tramell in the sensual thriller "Basic Instinct" in 1992. Though she had been in several films before this, Paul Verhoeven’s neo-noir helped establish Stone as one of the most potent actors of the early 1990s. For many, she was the epitome of female allure and Hollywood glamor. She also received significant acclaim for her role in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. No matter what kind of film she appeared in, there was always a steely and formidable strength to her characters, which helps to explain her enduring appeal. But her career saw a rather sharp dip in the late 1990s. After some pretty catastrophic misfires - including the widely-derided Catwoman - she has appeared mainly in independent dramas and television series, including a notable series of guest appearances in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".