While following several characters throughout a film can seem like a daunting experience, if it is carried out correctly, we are given a spectrum of talent and intersecting stories that make for a good story.Filmmakers like Paul Thomas Andersonand Quentin Tarantino frequently utilize ensemble casts filled with talented actors. In Paul Thomas Anderson’sMagnolia, we are given a nearly three-hour epic tale with close to a dozen characters' lives intersecting. Depending on the story, using an ensemble cast can give a filmmaker several paths to tell their story and express their themes. While some audiences may prefer a story focused on an individual, many others appreciate the skills it takes to create a film with an ensemble cast.
From a writer’s perspective, it can be quite difficult to follow numerous characters throughout the story. As a director, equal attention has to be given to each actor to ensure that they are doing right by the story. Ensemble casts work great for all genres of cinema.The Coen brothershave made some great comedy films featuring ensemble casts includingThe Big LebowskiandBurn After Reading.Whether it’s drama or comedy, ensemble casts give us a broad range of talent and effectively tell great stories. Let’s take a look at the best films featuring ensemble casts, ranked.
Updated, October 2022: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Rafa Boladeras.
13Short Cuts (1993)
Short Cutswas directed by Robert Altman, who knew a thing or two about movies with great ensemble casts, and is inspired by the Raymond Carver book of the same name. The story shows different vignettes of people living their lives in Los Angeles and has an incredible, name-worthy cast: Julianne Moore, Jack Lemmon, Tim Robbins, Frances McDormand, Tom Waits, Robert Downey Jr., and many, many more. In the Criterion Collection edition of the film,Michael Wilmington says“Short Cutsshows us “a sense of what the country really is, rather than what it should be.”
12Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Ocean’s Eleventells the story of 11 thieves who want to steal three casinos on one single night in Las Vegas. It’s a fun heist with surprising twists and turns. Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon (and many more famous actors in smaller roles), this movie has Steven Soderbergh’s smooth direction, and a creative script shows us how fun it would be to hang out with these characters and, especially, this cast. The same goes for the two sequels with even more famous actors in them.
11Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Based on a play of the same name,Glengarry Glen Rossis a movie where the dialogue is so unique and blends so well with every actor and character that it feels like the music for an orchestra, and all the actors know how to play great every note. The cast includes Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Jonathan Pryce, and Kevin Spacey. It also has an incredible 8-minute performance (a solo, if you will) of a never-better Alec Baldwin. This movie had great parts for actors, but every one of them came out to play and made the others better.
10Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’smind-bending masterpieceInceptionis a great example of utilizing an ensemble cast in a science fiction film. The cast includes an array of talent including Leonardo Dicaprio, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy, and many more. As we watch the characters embark on a quest through layers of dreams, each one of their personalities is perfectly showcased through the writing. At the same time, each of their personas correlates with their specific task for the mission.
9Babel (2006)
Alejandro González Iñárritu’sBabelshows us how the lives of different characters can be intertwined even if they are on different continents (and, more significantly, never meet).Babeljumps back and forth between times and focuses on the disconnection between people of different ethnic backgrounds. The ensemble cast is top-notch, featuring Brad Pitt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Rinko Kikuchi, Cate Blanchett, and many more.
8Boogie Nights (1997)
Paul Thomas Anderson is known for telling stories featuring several characters. In his film depicting the 1970s porn industry, he showcases many fun and eccentric characters and their involvement in adult filmmaking. The characters are like one big dysfunctional family, and we are given many endearing scenes and some disturbing scenes. Each character evolves asBoogie Nightsprogresses, giving us several great character arcs in this vibrant and intense movie. Production designerBob Ziembicki told Grantland: “He presented the picture to me as either — and I can’t remember which it was — I think Robert Altman doing a John Cassavetes movie or John Cassavetes doing a Robert Altman movie. Either way, I thought,Well, those are two favorites.”So it makes perfect sense he loved casts as big and great as this one."
7Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t Look Upwas one of the best films of 2021, and it featured an ensemble cast of Hollywood elites. Leonardo Dicaprio leads the pack as Dr. Randall Mindy alongside fellow astronomer Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence). The two try to warn the world of an approaching comet, but are up against several sinister characters including President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and tech CEO, Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance). The cast goes on and on and features several great comedic performances from Timothee Chalamet, Jonah Hill, and Ariana Grande.
Related:Cate Blanchett Says Don’t Look Up Started to Feel Like a Documentary During Filming
6The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy showcased J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels to pure perfection. The special effects, script, and ensemble cast blended together to create some of the best fantasy films of all time. The cast includes several talented performers including Sir Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortenson, and Elijah Wood. It is not an easy task to portray characters in the world of Middle Earth, but Peter Jackson picked the right actors for the job. While there are too many characters to count,The Lord Of The Ringsis a trilogy that should be seen by all.
5The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Wes Anderson is a master of story and art direction. His 2001 filmThe Royal Tenenbaumstells the story of a dysfunctional family and showcases several fine performances. Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson play the Tenenbaum children, all with distinct characteristics. The cast is filled with several family friends and acquaintances, played by Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Owen Wilson, and more. The film comes together brilliantly and gives us one of Anderson’s best films to date.
4The Thin Red Line (1998)
There has never been a war film quite likeThe Thin Red Line. The film is poetic, and heartbreaking, and features several memorable roles. Terrance Mallick is known for casting several actors in his films and for occasionally cutting entire performances. His WWII drama features the point of view of soldiers including Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack, and many more. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
