Stars & Supper
By Peyton Schultze
Would comedy legend Will Ferrell be one of your candidates for a dinner with Hollywood’s greatest of all-time? (via Toledo Blade).
Ever wonder which Hollywood legend you would want to have a dinner with? Or what about which group of Hollywood legends would you want to have dinner? This is the heated debate of this particular post, one in which has plenty of options available.
Here is the scenario: eight tables full of the most famous and well-known actors of all-time, all of whom are divided into separate categories with some type of recognition that has defined their career. The three categories (Greatness, Funny, and Entertaining) determine our overall ranking at the end, and will be ranked from 1 (low) to 10 (high). Everyone may have their own personal preferences, but the goal is to see which group really stands out amongst everyone with so much versatility across the board. Without further ado, here are each of our eight groups for this interesting conversation:
Option #1: Film Icons
Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, and Grace Kelly
If greatness and notoriety is your thing, Table 1 is nearly unmatched in this pool. Six of the biggest movie stars of all-time sit together in our first option, with the likes of some of the most well-known actors of all-time. From The Godfather to Casablanca to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Table 1 dishes out some of the biggest stars ever in some of the most famous movies of-time that have been seen by millions over generations.
The highlight of the table is likely Marilyn Monroe, arguably the most well-known actor in movie history. As a staple of American pop culture itself and a well-documented humanitarian during her lifetime, Marilyn stands out in this group as someone who would be great to have a conversation with after showing off her comedic chops in movies like Some Like It Hot. In addition, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn are true Hollywood icons on their own, and their generational appeal on the screen has made their legacies extremely rich and fascinating to watch in movies like My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, Dial M for Murder, and Rear Window.
On top of that, the other highlight of the table is likely Marlon Brando, whom many consider the greatest actor of all-time. The star of On the Waterfront was notorious for being a little tricky to deal with on sets over the course of his career, but adding Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart, two likeable stars with a status as revolutionary actors over the course of their careers, could help ease at tension at the table. A group with unmatched legacies, this table would be an experience unlike any other.
Greatness: 10
Funny: 6
Entertaining: 6
Option #2: Modern GOATs
Jack Nicholson, Kate Winslet, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Jodie Foster
A table with some of the greatest modern actors of all-time with Oscars all around, Table 2 is a special group full of spectacular talent that has wowed audiences for years. But are they the best of the tables? They have a legit case to be made, and the talent across the board is nearly unmatched by any other table in the pool.
Although many of these actors have some serious on-screen personas, some of them have proven to have a light side out in the public. Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep may be known for huge roles in movies like Forrest Gump, Sophie’s Choice, and Saving Private Ryan, but both are known as enjoyable people to be around off the screen. Those two alone are two of the most famous and well-known actors of all-time, and all that is before even mentioning two other legends in Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster? This is truly an elite table full of true greatness.
The highlights of the group could easily be two of the greatest actors of all-time in Denzel Washington and Jack Nicholson, both of whom have a certain level of attraction that captivates audiences in every single movie they star in. Washington and Nicholson would be awesome to learn from over a conversation at dinner, and they only add to the impact of the four other legends before. Table 2 is a true contender for the top spot and one of the best groups among the eight available tables.
Greatness: 10
Funny: 7
Entertaining: 7
Option #3: Heroes of the Screen
Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Robert Downey Jr., Gal Gadot, Ewan McGregor, and Uma Thurman
Table 3 has some truly iconic characters sitting down, from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Wonder Woman to Tony Stark. But do they have enough to take the top spot among the tables? It could be very close with a group as elite as this, so stayed tuned.
Where to even begin with this awesome group of Hollywood’s best? Possibly with some of the most legendary female action heroes of all-time, especially with Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in Alien, Uma Thurman’s Bride in Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2, and Gal Gadot’s impressive Wonder Woman in her latest appearance in Wonder Woman 1984. All three megastars have established themselves as some of the coolest characters in the history of film in these appearances, and they would be awesome to talk to at a dinner table to find out just how difficult each role was.
In addition to this, what is a table full of heroes without Indiana Jones, Tony Stark, and Obi-Wan Kenobi? Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr., and Ewan McGregor each stand out as wildly different actors with some unique personalities that have translated to the screen, and a conversation with them at a dinner table would truly be something awesome to behold. Six stars as six iconic characters in six open table slots makes Table 3 a real contender against anybody in this expansive pool of acting talent.
Greatness: 8
Funny: 6
Entertaining: 10
Option #4: Small Screen Superstars
Nick Offerman, Emilia Clarke, Steve Carell, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Not all superstars have to appear on the big screen. TV has dished out its fair share of acting icons from characters like Don Draper and Rachel Greene, who are just two members that help inhabit a legendary fourth table among the group.
Some of these actors sitting at Table 4 have truly played some of the most iconic television characters of all-time. Standing out among many is Julia Louis-Dreyfus, largely due to her roles in two massive shows where she played Selina Meyer in Veep and Elaine Benes in Seinfeld. Louis-Dreyfus is accompanied by two other hilarious stars in Nick Offerman and Steve Carell, best known for their masterful work on TV as Ron Swanson and Michael Scott, respectively. The table would be full of jokes and quips at any given moment, and adding another one of the biggest stars of the 90’s in Jennifer Aniston would only help add to the fun times at the table.
On top of the comedy at the table, Jon Hamm and Emilia Clarke enter fresh off two of the most iconic television roles of the 21st century. Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones, while Hamm played the mysterious Don Draper in Mad Men (while also guest starring in a memorable role in the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm). Both actors solidified themselves as acting legends in both of these roles, and it is almost a guarantee that they would bring an interesting layer to the table if someone was looking into how to play a serious role. This is truly a stacked table that could contend for the top spot, especially with so much versatility across the board.
Greatness: 9
Funny: 9
Entertaining: 9
Option #5: Funny Friends
Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, Lucille Ball, Larry David, and Melissa McCarthy
If comedy is your forte, Table 5 has to be the best option among the groups. With some of the greatest comedic legends of all-time all sitting together at one table, it is hard to imagine anything but a perfect score in the “Funny” department.
So, who actually stands out the most among the group? It is hard to say with some of the best of all-time sitting at one table, but when someone as iconic as Lucille Ball, star of I Love Lucy, headlines the group, it is quite the easy answer. In addition, two modern-day female comedians in Tina Fey and Melissa McCarthy (standouts who have appeared on Saturday Night Live; Fey as a cast member and McCarthy as a guest host) figure to be major hits at the table with great timing and gags galore.
To add to the action, the ever-so-complicated Larry David, star of Curb Your Enthusiasm and creator of Seinfeld, joins in on the fun as one of the most memorable characters (himself) on TV in recent memory. Meanwhile, Happy Gilmore and Ron Burgundy both sit at the table in the form of Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell, both of whom have starred in such iconic roles over the years. All six of the comedy superstars would be awesome to just hang out with for a night, and there is a real chance that Table 6 could compete for the top spot among all eight tables.
Greatness: 7
Funny: 10
Entertaining: 9
Option #6: Across the World
Idris Elba, Julie Andrews, Chris Hemsworth, Margot Robbie, Sean Connery, and Sophia Loren
Who says that Americans have the only batch of acting stars? International legends at Table 6 have some truly special talents of their own, and this group of individuals makes up arguably the most unique table amongst the eight groups.
Iconic roles as superheroes and international spies? Check. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor makes them two gigantic megastars around the world in the DC and Marvel Cinematic Universes, and it is easy to see why these two Australian products are such attractive hits at the box office on a yearly basis. On top of that, the infamous James Bond, as played by Sean Connery, is one of the most infamous roles in the history of film, while British product Idris Elba has wowed audiences on the screen in several big time movies such as Hobbs and Shaw and The Dark Tower.
In addition, two older actresses in Julie Andrews (United Kingdom) and Sophia Loren (Italy) stand out as global legends who cemented themselves in the pop culture surrounding Hollywood films. Both are former Oscar winners in the Best Actress category for Mary Poppins and Two Women, and would bring a unique layer of greatness to a table full of talent. Table 6 is surely to be a great experience with some captivating stories that you may not find at any other table in the group.
Greatness: 8
Funny: 5
Entertaining: 9
Option #7: Today’s Best
Leonard DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts
Some of the biggest stars in modern Hollywood roam at our second to last table, especially after years of acting prominence in some of the world’s biggest movies. Several iconic masterpieces are represented in this group such as Titanic, Inglorious Basterds, Pretty Woman, and the Avengers franchise, and each member of this group seems to be an Oscar contender on a yearly basis.
It is hard to say who the standout member of the table is, especially when each of the actors has put together such an impressive career. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, however, may be one of the biggest moneymakers in all of Hollywood right now, and his true status as a captivating entertainer makes him a legendary person to have a dinner with. In addition, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are coming off a dynamic together as buddies in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, while also having captured Oscars of their own in the past. All three are gems, and make a strong case for Table 7.
In addition, although she has not appeared in a movie in a few years, Jennifer Lawrence is still a big-time A-Lister who returns to acting prominence this year in Don’t Look Up (alongside DiCaprio). Lawrence is a former Oscar winner who is joined by another past winner in Julia Roberts, who is certainly one of the most respected and well-liked actors in the past few decades. Lastly, Johansson is one of the rare superstar talents in Hollywood right now, with a rare versatility that has shown off her acting to wider audiences like Avengers: Endgame and Marriage Story. Everyone from this group is a special talent in their own right, and there is a real chance that this table could be the leader in the clubhouse with so much to offer.
Greatness: 9
Funny: 7
Entertaining: 10
Option #8: Legendary Roles
Robert De Niro, Faye Dunaway, Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Heath Ledger, and Natalie Wood
The final table among the group has actors in legendary roles that sealed their legacies as all-time greats, which makes the prospect of a conversation with them very fascinating. While it may not compete with some of the other comedic qualities of other tables, Table 8 masters the art of acting and would surely pass along some secrets of the craft.
Although Robert De Niro makes a strong case for his role in Taxi Driver and Natalie Portman’s legendary performance in Black Swan stands out over the past two decades, the clear answer for the best role of the group goes to Heath Ledger as The Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight. As one of the best on-screen villains of all-time, Ledger’s performance was historic and truly one of the most legendary performances of all-time. The fact that the table alone already boosts three all-time greats at the table gives them a strong case for the top spot in the “Greatness” department.
On top of that, three other older actors receive their fair share of credit for historic roles that stand out in the history of film. With Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction, Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde, and Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Table 8 has some iconic pieces that are surely to thoroughly entertain everyone at the table.
Greatness: 10
Funny: 5
Entertaining: 6
Verdict
Julia Louis-Dreyfus was just one of the six members from Table 4 to take home the award for the best group of the bunch (via NPR).
Order:
Small Screen Superstars (27 Points)
Today’s Best (26 Points)
Funny Friends (26 Points)
Modern GOATs (24 Points)
Heroes of the Screen (24 Points)
Film Icons (22 Points)
Across the World (22 Points)
Legendary Roles (21 Points)
With that, the TV legends at Table 4 took the cake for the best of the eight tables. The elite combination of Nick Offerman, Emilia Clarke, Steve Carell, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus simply proved to have a great mix of everything (9 points in each category) and edged out Today’s Best and Funny Friends for the top spot. Legendary Roles happened to take home the last spot among the group with a lot of serious actors across the board, while Modern GOATs and Heroes of the Screen needed a little more of an edge to get to the top spot in the group. It was a hard verdict to settle upon with such greatness at every corner, but at the end of the day, Small Screen Superstars were the overall winner of the hotly contested debate.