Films use stars to market movies more effectively. A star is more than just an actor - they are famous for their acting ability or become famous regardless of film quality. Hollywood heavily utilizes stars in marketing by putting their names on posters. For example, Tom Cruise's name helped market Top Gun, Cocktail, and other films. Stars also come together in "star vehicles" like Ocean's Eleven to showcase their talent. Celebrities additionally help films through production companies, cameo appearances, or endorsements that draw audiences based on their fame.

1. How films use stars
OBJECTIVES
To understand how film studios capitalise on the
success of certain actors and use them to
market movies more effectively

2. Tom Cruise
Johnny
Depp
Robin
Williams
Samuel L.
Jackson
Eddie
MurphyTom Hanks
Harrison
Ford
Morgan
Freeman
Bruce Willis
Michael
Caine

3. Box Office Mojo

4. What is a star?
• A star is more than just an actor
• The star may refer to someone who is famous
for acting well in a film
• The star may also refer to someone who
outshines film and becomes famous
regardless of the quality of the film

5. Hollywood is full of stars
• The term ‘star’ can be overused
• How do you know who is a ‘star’ and who is
merely a star?

6. Stars and Marketing
• Name on the poster?
• No name on the poster?
• Look at Tom Cruise

7. Top Gun (1986)

8. Cocktail (1988)

9. Days of Thunder (1990)

10. Mission Impossible (1996)

11. MI: Ghost Protocol (2010)

12. Ocean’s Eleven
• A star vehicle – designed specifically to show
off a group of actors
• In the 1950s, the Rat Pack (as they were
called):
• Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin,
Sammy Davis Jr (plus others)
• In the 2000s, a new generation of Hollywood
stars

13. The 1950s

14. Ocean’s Eleven – 2000s

15. George Clooney
• Appears at number 91 on the BoxofficeMojo
list.

17. Cameos
• A cameo is an uncredited appearance in a film
• Usually for a short period of time
• May be playing themselves
• Does not appear on the production credits
• Does not appear on the poster
Famous cameos: Tom Cruise in ‘Tropic Thunder’
and Stan Lee in Marvel comics adaptations; also
Michael Jackson as Agent M in ‘Men In Black II’

18. Celebrity Production/Endorsement
• Celebrities start production companies
• Their films become the star attraction
• “A Steven Spielberg Production” (he didn’t
direct it, but everyone is still going to see it)
• Or celebrity directors:
• Clint Eastwood, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer,
Quentin Tarantino

20. Your exam
FM2
PRODUCERS AND AUDIENCES
WORTH 60% of your AS Grade.