I never said he was a leading man like Depp and Pitt. But in terms of his overall stardom, for a short while around 2002-2004, he was huge. Girls fantasized over him in the same way they did about Pitt and Depp.

Bloom belongs in this thread. Swank does not. I can't even be bothered to explain why.

Dakota Fanning. Who would have guessed Elle would be the more successful Fanning sister.

She isn't. Neither are someone I would consider hugely popular. But Dakota has her fashion line and has 4 upcoming films including Ocean's 8. As former "it" child stars go, her transition is going pretty well. Elle's first starring role was mixed at best, and a flop. Dakota and Abigail Breslin are actually doing the right things so far.

No. I disagree. She is still as popular as she was.

This is about acting careers only. Fashion lines matter shit.

True, because if fashion lines matters then the olsen twins would trump all, lol.

As said her acting career hasn't not gone anywhere either. She is continuing to costar in in big and small films. She's never really been a headliner.

I feel Charlie Hunnam is lining up perfectly for inclusion in this thread.

Still got my fingers crossed on Channing Tatum.

Does Hidden Figures take Kirsten Dunst off the list?

And Midnight Special.

Luke Wilson
Chris O'Donnell
Jennifer Connelly
Emily Mortimer

Emily Mortimer was once popular?

Maybe not. I don't follow what's popular at the time so I have no idea. And popularity is a tricky thing to define and measure. She was on a few movies and tv series a few years ago. I have not heard about her recently.

Outside of the last two series she's starred on HBO of course. I don't think I would categorize her as popular she pops up in about as much as she always has. What's her biggest role, Scream 3? The Kid? Pink Panther. I think most would know her from The Newsroom and Doll and Em.

Lol Emily Mortimer definitely does not qualify.

Haha yeah Emily Mortimer is not a good example.

I still maintain Alicia Silverstone never fulfilled anywhere near the star potential she had after Clueless.

Similarity Chris O'Donnel never took off as he was supposed to. Coincidently (or not?) - both starred in Batman and Robin.

Good call on Alicia.

Clueless is so iconic but then nothing...

He has been starring on a top 50 TV show for like 8 years. He was never popular, but people knew who he is.

I will say Alicia is a good example. She could have easily been a Reese Witherspoon, but chose to really make weird decisions. This thread still the standard is Cuba Gooding Jr (Until OJ of course, but even that, he's the weakest of the cast)

I would have thought Samantha Barks could do more after Les Mis

So new question, who do you think will be the next candidate?

Hopefully Channing Tatum.

But how about Jamie Foxx? or Amber Heard? or Jason Momoa? and Will Smith?

Foxx has been around for almost 25 years, Same with Smith.

The way I see you need someone who has blown up recently and might falter. Like Amy Schumer or Melissa McCarthy. Kristen Stewart and Miles Tenner are in danger IMO

Yes, it's people that fit that mold that the thread was created for, but Foxx's movie career has stalled and he hasn't been popular for 25 years. First time a lot of people heard about him was around 2004, and where is he now? Nothing for three years then Sleepless which nobody saw. So he qualifies.

Smith, sure. But one can hope.

Well just because you never heard of him until then, doesn't mean he wasn't around. He was a star on In Living Color in 91 and had a pretty solid stand up career. Then he had a sitcom for multiple years after that and starred in movies like Any Given Sunday. Ray and Collateral were his obvious 1-2 punch that gave him international appeal. Plus he has his Radio show and music career. To say his career went no where is silly. He just had a really solid movie career for a few years, and now has leveled. Annie was a decent earner, and even Sleepless might end up making something.

I definitely agree he needs to make better choices. Django does feel like a lifetime ago.

Martin Lawrence definitely faded. He doesn't even really do stand up anymore. Big Mommas 3 (Really scraping the bottom) was 2011 and that show he had on FX back in 2013 was a major flop. He can't wait for Smith to call him.