Why Leonardo DiCaprio is Definitely Not Hollywood's Last Movie Star

Following the release of Leonardo DiCaprio's latest film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the Hollywood Reporter published an article titled, "How Leonardo DiCaprio Became Hollywood's Last Movie Star." The article suggests that because DiCaprio is "able to gross hundreds of millions of dollars without wearing a cape, wielding a lightsaber or even having an agent," he is somehow superior to other actors, exuding an aura of "excellence" that others supposedly do not possess. While DiCaprio is certainly an exceptional actor, there are several issues with the idea that he is our "last movie star."

The Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel argues that DiCaprio is Hollywood's last movie star because "unlike waning megastars like Will Smith, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Downey Jr., DiCaprio sits alone atop the Hollywood pantheon without ever having made a comic book movie, family film or pre-branded franchise." However, just because DiCaprio has never stepped into the role of "superhero" doesn't mean he is somehow superior to anyone who has.

The argument that Robert Downey Jr. is somehow less of an "actor" or "star" than DiCaprio merely because he played Iron Man is entirely flawed. What Siegel is really proposing is a sense of elitism; the kind of elitism that gives Academy Awards to movies like The Revenant that few people actually paid to see and continuously ignores movies that millions of people actually enjoyed such as...well, any Avengers film. (The Revenant grossed $533 million while the first film in the Avengers franchise earned over $1 billion).

It is ridiculous to argue that just because Downey Jr. played a character that touched people's lives, he is inferior to a man who sliced open an animal's carcass so he could live in it. In fact, Avengers: Endgame has quickly become one of the highest grossing movies of all time, surpassing even DiCaprio's Titanic. The latest Avengers film also had the highest overseas opening of all time, proving that it has an international appeal that DiCaprio's movies simply do not.

Another flaw in Siegel's argument is that it excludes many other wonderful actors who could be considered "movie stars." Amy Adams, who is the same age as DiCaprio, has six Best Actress/Supporting Actress Oscar nominations- for those keeping track, that's one more than DiCaprio has. Adams has been delivering masterful performances for years. Her choice to play Lois Lane, an absolutely iconic character, should have no bearing on her movie star status. In fact, her ability to land such a legendary, beloved role should say more about her acting abilities than anything. Furthermore, her performance as Lois Lane in no way cheapens what Adams delivers in American Hustle, Arrival, Charlie Wilson's War, or Doubt.

Siegel also argues that DiCaprio remains a movie star by choosing only the best films to star in, quoting Sony film chief Tom Rothman who says, "'If he's in it, the audience knows it's going to be good because he's in it.'" However, Adams has also accepted excellent roles in recent years, starring in award-winning films such as Vice, Arrival, and Big Eyes. Additionally, a producer of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood recalls DiCaprio at first being fearful of having to sing and dance for his role. Meanwhile, you can find the soundtrack for Adams' family-friendly film Enchanted on YouTube here.

Part of choosing only the "best" films means that "'[DiCaprio] just doesn't plug himself into two movies a year,'" according to director Quentin Tarantino. That exclusivity, to Siegel at least, emphasizes DiCaprio's movie star status. However, Cary Grant, who is arguably the biggest Hollywood movie star of all time, filmed three movies in 1957 alone, when he was well into his career and certainly had other options. One of the movies he filmed that year? The legendary An Affair to Remember. DiCaprio's "exclusivity" is nothing but an elitist choice from a man who cares more about money than the art of acting.

To further assert his "movie star status," Siegel eagerly points out DiCaprio's association with Oscar-winners such as Clint Eastwood (whom Adams also worked with in Trouble with the Curve) and Christopher Nolan who (plot twist!) directed The Dark Knight which happens to be...a superhero film! If DiCaprio's association with legendary filmmakers makes him a "movie star" then any actor who has associated with those same filmmakers should likewise be considered a star.

While Siegel is correct in saying that Will Smith and Jennifer Lawrence have both declined in popularity in recent years, mostly due to poor choices in roles, there are plenty of other actors such as Adams who could easily be considered "movie stars." Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali, Michelle Williams, Dev Patel, Brie Larson, Benicio Del Toro, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Saoirse Ronan continue to churn out wonderfully successful movies. Perhaps what Siegel meant to say is that DiCaprio is Hollywood's last white male movie star, but even then we still have wonderful talents like Christian Bale, Sam Rockwell, Timothée Chalamet, and Eddie Redmayne.

The truth is, Mahershala Ali's choice to play Commander Boggs in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay doesn't make his performance in Moonlight any less stellar. And after delivering a legendary performance in Blue Valentine, Michelle Williams doesn't suddenly go back to being a regular "actor" when she lands a role in a family film like The Greatest Showman. Viola Davis didn't destroy the notoriety she earned from The Help and Fences by starring in Suicide Squad, and Brie Larson didn't have to give back her Academy Award to play Captain Marvel.

Leonardo DiCaprio is not "the last movie star." His fastidious acceptance of movie roles expresses nothing but an unnecessary elitism that permeates Hollywood and prevents actors who actually deliver memorable performances from receiving proper recognition. There are plenty of multi-talented actors who easily qualify as movie stars, and accepting a role as a "superhero" or a "princess" or a "Jedi" should not automatically exclude them from that title. In fact, their ability to play such a wide variety of roles (especially ones that include singing, dancing, or other talents) should only increase how bankable they are.

There are plenty of talented "movie stars" left who can use their talents to make legendary, iconic films. Don't worry; they'll keep the Hollywood lights on.