While getting a first job is a big victory for any actor, there are some actors whose first movie was so good that it remains their best work. There are manyactors who become known for one iconic role, but most of them still have to work hard over the years to secure that breakout role. With a combination of luck and sheer talent, these actors made their debuts in movies that are still the best titles in their filmography.
In a lot of cases, these werefirst-time actorswho happened upon the role of a lifetime and knocked it out of the park. While that doesn’t mean that their careers afterward were unimpressive, but just means that their first movie was so good, it has yet to be topped. Some of these stars evenwon awards for their debut performances. Regardless of what followed, these actors' debuts remain the highlight of their careers.
10John Cazale - The Godfather (1974)
As Fredo Corleone
John Cazale’s filmographyhas become legendary while also highlighting a career cut tragically short. As a movie actor, Cazale only appeared in five movies. Amazingly, not only did all five movies end up at least nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but they all remain classics that are still revered to this day. With such a limited filmography, it is all the more impressive that Cazale began his career with what many consider the greatest movie of all time.
The Godfatherwas a stunning debut for Cazale, playing the black sheep of the Corleone family, Fredo. WhileThe Godfather Part IIandDog Day Afternoonfeature better performances from Cazale,The Godfatheris a true masterpiece of cinema that is hard to ever surpass. Though his time is more limited, Cazale does so much with his subtle performance as Fredo, setting up his arc in the sequel.
9Jason Schwartzman - Rushmore (1998)
As Max Fischer
Jason Schwartzman comes from Hollywood royalty, being related to the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Cage, and Sofia Coppola. However, his acting debut was not given to him by one of his famous relatives, but rather, he won the much-coveted role in Wes Anderson’s second movie as a director. While Schwartzman would end up becoming one ofAnderson’s regular stars,Rushmoreremains his best movie.
The quirky coming-of-age story findsSchwartzman playing the ambitious but academically unfocused student Max Fischer, who strikes up a friendship with an older businessman (Bill Murray), only for them both to fall for the same woman.
Schwartzman fits right into Anderson’s specific style, which was still being honed inRushmoreand had a nice looseness to it compared to his more rigid style in later movies.
8Anya Taylor-Joy - The Witch (2015)
As Thomasin
Anya Taylor-Joy is a young actor whose career is still on the rise. However, given the number of great projects she has already starred in, it is impressive that her debut remains an unmatched masterpiece. Taylor-Joy confidently stepped into the lead role in her first movie,The Witch, collaboratingwith Robert Eggersfor the first time. She plays Thomasin,the eldest daughter of a Puritan family making a new home for themselves in 1600s New England, only to be plagued by evil forces.
Eggers deals with big genre themes but does so in a grounded and intimate way. Taylor-Joy’s central performance is so crucial to maintaining that grounded feel. She would continue to work with other bold directors in her career, like M. Night Shyamalan inSplit, Edgar Wright inLast Night in Soho, and George Miller inFuriosa, butThe Witchmade for a unique and fresh horror movie that influenced many projects in the “elevated horror” movement.
7Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs.
As Reggie Hammond
Eddie Murphy is the rare case of someone who was already a star when they made their first movie. Murphy was the biggest star onSaturday Night Liveat the time, leading to his first high-profile role alongside Nick Nolte in the 80s action-comedy48 Hrs.Murphy stars as Reggie Hammond, a convict who is snuck out of prison temporarily to help a grizzled cop (Nolte) find Hammond’s deadly former partner.
The success of48 Hrs.led to Murphy becoming one of the biggest movie stars in the world.TheBeverly Hills Copmoviesare fantastic, and Murphy earned praise for performances in the likes ofDreamgirlsandDolemite Is My Name. However,48 Hrs.is a true classic of the action-comedy genre with Murphy not only delivering an iconic comedic performance but also proving himself able to handle the more gritty elements of the movie.
6Jason Statham - Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
As Bacon
Jason Statham has established himself as one of the most popular action stars working today, withThe Expendablesfranchise,The Transportermovies, and recent hits likeThe Beekeeper.However, his first movie did not see him in any fight scenes or shootouts, but still managed to be a great showcase for his charisma and confidence on screen.Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrelsis a fun British crime film following four friends who plot to rob a drug dealer to pay a gambling debt.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrelsis not only his acting debut, but also the movie that launchedStatham’s many collaborations with Guy Ritchie.He drew from his own experiences as a street hustler to play the role of Bacon, one written just for him by Ritchie.
While both Ritchie and Statham have gone on to bigger projects,Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrelsremains their most fun movie and features a star-making role for Statham.
5Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit (2010)
As Mattie Ross
Hailee Steinfeld’s memorable role in the cast ofSinnersproves she is still a young actor with a long career ahead of her, but it will be hard to top her outstanding first movie.Steinfeld was chosen out of thousands of young girls who auditioned for the role of Mattie Rossin the remake ofTrue Grit. At only 13 years old, Steinfeld found herself starring in a Coen Brothers movie alongside the likes of Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.
Not only does Steinfeld hold her own in the daunting project, but she is also the best part of the movie. Her performance captures the innocence and naivety of a child while also proving that Mattie is more heroic and courageous than most adults. To cement her impressive debut, Steinfeld earned an Oscar nomination in what is considered one of thebest Western movies of the 21st century.
4Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween (1978)
As Laurie Strode
There are many actors who started in horror movies, but few have had as iconic a horror debut as Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween. Like Jason Schwartzman, Curtis comes from a Hollywood family, but went out on her own when she was cast in John Carpenter’s hugely influential slasher movieHalloween.She played Laurie Strode, the terrified yet heroic final girl who is targeted by masked killer Michael Myers.
Curtis would go on to have a legendary career, with comedies likeA Fish Called WandaandFreaky Friday, action movies likeTrue Lies, and even her Oscar-winning turn inEverything Everywhere All At Once. However,Halloweenhelped to define an era of slasher movies while also giving horror one of its most iconic villains. Even more impressive, Laurie Strode became themost influential final girl of all time, with Curtis returning to theHalloweenfranchise throughout her career.
3Matthew McConaughey - Dazed And Confused (1993)
As David Wooderson
Dazed and Confused’s cast is a movie filled with actors who would go on to have big careers, including Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, and Cole Hauser. However, one cast member has remained the most memorable part of this movie despite it being his debut movie.Matthew McConaughey was cast as Wooderson inDazed and Confused, a relatively small role that was extended more and more thanks to McConaughey’s winning performance.
McConaughey became a massive star over time, with acclaimed performances inTrue Detective, Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, and much more. However,Dazed and Confusedremains one of the most rewatchable movies of all time with a fun “hangout vibe” that many other high school movies have tried and failed to replicate. Despite how big of a star McConaughey became, he is still associated with and embraces the legacy of Wooderson.
2Alan Rickman - Die Hard (1988)
As Hans Gruber
Alan Rickman was already established asan acclaimed theater actor by the time he was cast inDie Hardas Hans Gruber. The fact that he went on to make many beloved movies, likeSense and Sensibility, Galaxy Quest, and theHarry Potterfranchise, makes it all the more impressive that Gruber remains the role he is most associated with. While Rickman’s performance was a massive hit at the time, its popularity and influence have only grown over time.
Just as Bruce Willis’s John McClane helped to create a more grounded, blue-collar hero for the action genre, Rickman’s Gruber redefined the villain role. His calm and sophisticated performance was balanced with menace and a dark sense of humor that allowed him to command the screen anytime he was on it.Die Hardis still considered one of the greatest action movies of all time, while Rickman’s Hans Gruber is nearly unanimously considered the genre’s greatest villain.
1Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins (1964)
As Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews is one of the most charming actors to ever grace the screen, and a lot of that reputation comes from her first role. Though Andrews is a legend who starred in one of the most beloved films of all time, withThe Sound of Music, it is hard to deny that she made an even bigger impact by introducing one of cinema’s greatest characters in her first movie performance.
Andrews is another actor whose work on the stage was already acclaimed and well-known by the time she debuted in movies. However,it is still awe-inspiring how perfectly she fit into the role of the magical nanny Mary Poppins. She is funny, warm, and inspiring in the role, making generations of children look up to her. Regardless of the great work that followed, it is a beautiful role to remain associated with.
