It shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of Hollywood’s biggest names got their big breaks through humble adventures (or misadventures, in some cases). B-movies, which are low-budget genre films made for drive-ins or television, were a massive fad from the 1970s through the 1990s. As small independent producers churned out creepy thrillers and sci-fi horrors, surprisingly enough, a few stars were born out of the effort.
This brings us to revealing how some A-listers truly paid their dues in B-movies before ascending to the prestigious status and immense praise they have and get today.
Stars like Demi Moore and Leonardo DiCaprio signed up for movies that were shot faster than you’d imagine. These productions were like field tests for the actors, because in just a couple of years after, they would break out as promising stars and sign movies with bigger budgets and wider releases.
10 Jack Nicholson – The Terror (1963)
A creaky independent horror movie directed by Roger Corman, who dubs it as “a classic story of how to make a film out of nothing,” The Terror centers around André Duvalier, a French soldier saved by a young woman named Helena. After realizing that she bears a striking resemblance with Ilsa von Leppe, André tries to investigate and discovers that when Baron von Leppe found out that Ilsa was having an affair, he killed her and the lover. And that Helena may be a shapeshifting demon.
The Little B-Movie with Hidden Star Power
Corman’s movie could have made wonders had he not been in a hurry to shoot it. He once mentioned in his memoir that he shot The Terror in two days, but the production took him nine months. While the low-budget chiller sank without a trace, it graced the world with Jack Nicholson.
An icon, Nicholson starred alongside Boris Karloff, and the two threw themselves into the plot with passion and style. Nicholson went on to totally transform into major grimy roles in Easy Rider and The Shining, winning a Best Actor Oscar for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Stream on Kanopy.
9 Johnny Depp – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The very first in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Wes Craven’s chilling 1984 classic starred Heather Langenkamp, John Sason, Ronee Blakley, and Johnny Depp alongside Robert Englund as the main antagonist. Its plot centers around a bunch of innocent students who begin falling prey to a burned and masked serial killer in their dreams. Nancy and her teenage friends take it upon themselves to stop the horror.
A Nightmare on Opportunity Street
In A Nightmare on Elm Street, Depp delivers a brief but unforgettable performance as Glen Lantz, a quirky teenager who becomes a victim to the dream-stalking entity. While just a supporting player, Depp’s charisma hinted at greater potential. He went on to star in Cry-Baby and Edward Scissorhands. Though easily upstaged by his minor role in A Nightmare on Elm Street, where his character dies. Depp established himself as a beloved and rebellious actor in the industry. Stream on Netflix.
8 Charlize Theron – Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995)
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest was the third film in the series and the first that went straight-to-video. In it, we follow Eli and Joshua, two mysterious brothers who are sent to live with William and Amanda Porter in Chicago after Eli kills his father. The boys do not fit into the new lifestyle and soon, the Porters begin experiencing a chain of supernatural occurrences. There is also involvement from a cult.
Theron’s Launching Pad of the '90s
While the film vanished, certain stars who made their debut under James D.R. Hickox’s guidance drew notice. Among them is Charlize Theron, whose role as one of the cult followers was so small that she was uncredited in the movie. All she does in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest is stare intensely.
Later, Theron dominated the industry as one of the most promising actors, winning an Oscar for Monster. The B-movie was clearly a humble but essential start. Stream on Max.
7 Demi Moore – Parasite (1982)
A barely-seen science fiction thriller, Parasite is set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future where a criminal organization run by the “Merchants,” has overthrown the American government. Unsympathetic and tyrannical, the Merchants force Dr. Paul Dean to create a new form of life – a parasite with the ability to attach itself to a host. Paul succeeds, but the being he creates is far more deadly than he’d imagined, and now Paul must destroy it.
Hidden Star Talent
Parasite would delight fans now, for it delivers several low-quality effects and gore-filled horror. But the B-movie was deemed imperfect for its poor script and weak execution. It did, however, lend Demi Moore her first role. She plays Patricia Welles, a self-proclaimed lemon grower who tries to destroy the titular parasite.
Propelled by an innate grace and unusual talent, Moore used this low-budget film to walk the path of stardom. She then appeared in movies like St. Elmo's Fire and Ghost. Stream on Kanopy.
6 Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Troll (1986)
Quite predictable in its premise, the fantasy comedy centers around the Potter family, who have recently moved into a new home. Their two kids, Harry and Wendy are troublemakers. While unpacking, Wendy is attacked by a mysterious little creature, who then takes on Wendy’s shape. Apparently, the troll is a cursed wizard who wants to regain his actual form, and for that, he seeks to transform the neighborhood into a fairytale land. Harry teams up with a witch to protect his sister and save the town.
Big Laughs From Small Roles
Troll was one of the worst fantasy horror movies of its time. It was criticized heavily for walking an uncomfortable tightrope between the genres while also being absolutely shallow and uninteresting. Regardless, the movie brought Julia Louis-Dreyfus into the movie scene. She played a tiny role as Jeanette Cooper.
Later, her comedic timing was recognized for serving bigger parts as well, and she eventually landed TV stardom on the very popular Seinfeld and the political satire drama, Veep. Rent on Apple TV.
Troll
- Release Date
- January 17, 1986
- Cast
- Noah Hathaway , Michael Moriarty , Shelley Hack , Jenny Beck , Sonny Bono , Phil Fondacaro
- Runtime
- 82
5 Brad Pitt – Cutting Class (1989)
Directed by Rospo Pallenberg in his directorial debut, Cutting Class is less about being absent without leave and more about a low-grade slasher mystery plaguing hallways. Brad Pitt plays the role of Dwight Ingalls, a rebellious and troublemaking high schooler who gets swept up in a murder investigation after his girlfriend Paula’s father is murdered on a hunting trip. The suspect, obviously, is Brian Woods, who recently spent time in a mental institution.
Pitt Announced his Talent While Having Fun
As the charming high schooler embroiled in a mystery, Pitt injected a relaxed but concerned charisma into what could have been a tired plot with no watch value. Cutting Class was released direct-to-video back in the day and was considered to be campy and fun, but not the slightest bit original or scary. And yet, it announced Pitt as a major star in the making.
He then broke out in Thelma & Louise and owned the 90s in Fight Club. Decades later, Pitt remains as one of Hollywood’s most talented leading men. Rent on Apple TV.
4 Arnold Schwarzenegger – Hercules in New York (1970)
In Hercules in New York, we follow the legendary mythical hero making an unexpected trip from Ancient Greek to modern day New York City. It does not take him long to realize that 1970s Manhattan is a mesmerizing but maddening place to be in. He stumbles through bizarre encounters, is dumbfounded by technology and the sweet treats. As an added burden, his father sends some gods to bring him back.
An Unlikely Place for Showcasing Greatness
It makes total sense that someone with the physicality and charm of Arnold Schwarzenegger would portray Hercules in a live-action adaptation. And while Schwarzenegger gave his absolute best to the fish-out-of-water comedy, his heavy accent led to the use of a voice double, which is why the jokes and the plot did not land well.
There were some surprisingly entertaining scenes in the movie, like that fight with a bear, and Schwarzenegger also dominated the following decade by playing iconic action heroes. Stream on Hoopla.
3 Leonardo DiCaprio – Critters 3 (1991)
Another actor who made a brief appearance in a B-movie before he became famous is Leonardo DiCaprio. In the third Critters film, he took on a role as the stepson of a corrupt landlord, who teams up with two suburban kids and their family after they are targeted by hungry alien furballs. As they try to stop the critters’ rampage, everything around them comes crashing down.
From Fighting Hungry Critters to Becoming an A-Lister
With a 0% aggregated Rotten Tomatoes score, Critters 3 hardly set the world ablaze. The Gremlins knock-off had its moments of fun, but it was overall a flop. But it marked as a stepping stone to DiCaprio’s career, who provided comic relief and hinted at deeper talents by playing the role of Josh extremely well.
Two years later, his full talent emerged in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, a movie that earned him his first Oscar nomination. His path to A-list status was then sealed, and Leonardo DiCaprio became a heartthrob of the 90s. Rent on Apple TV.
2 Tom Hanks – Mazes and Monsters (1982)
Another made-for-television B-movie, Mazes and Monsters is based on Rona Jaffe’s novel of the same name. It follows four college students, each with their own complicated issues, who are obsessed with a fantasy role-playing game. Over the course of playing the game, their reality veins to blur, and the deeper they delve into the epic quest of the same, the more troublesome their behaviors get.
When Hanks Found His Groove
Capturing the right blend of charm and intensity, Tom Hanks sells a simple character in an excellent way. He showcases both his comedic and dramatic abilities as Robbie, whose obsession with a game escalated to the point where he cannot separate fantasy from reality.
Even though the movie has not aged well and some of its themes are controversial, Hanks’ performance revealed his appeal. He went on to star in movies like Splash, Philadelphia, and Forrest Gump. Stream on Peacock.
1 Jennifer Aniston – Leprechaun (1993)
Only a year before she signed up for the role of Rachel in the popular sitcom Friends, Jennifer Aniston was seen playing a teenager named Tory in this low-budget horror. Leprechaun follows the titular creature being unleashed from a basement and using its bloody antics to spread terror and blood on the farm that Tory and her father have rented for the summer. As the leprechaun searches for a pot of gold, chaos becomes rampant and bodies keep piling up.
Diluted Display of Talent
While just a supporting player alongside Warwick Davis, Nathan Murphy, and Mark Holton, Aniston emitted a spark that was hard to look away from.
She recently expressed her embarrassment about starring in the movie and revealed how she has been careful about choosing her roles since then. We now remember her for movies like Horrible Bosses, Murder Mystery, and We’re The Millers. Stream on Hoopla.
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