One of the biggest film festivals of the year is taking over Park City, Utah and everybody who is anybody in the film world will be bundled up and ready to chat movies. I’m talking about the Sundance Film Festival, ya’ll!
While the flicks taking over the festival may have some familiar faces in them, such as Ashton Kutcher, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe, plenty of other famous stars actually got their start at Sundance. From Jennifer Lawrence to Quentin Tarantino, here are eight movie stars who can give thanks to Sundance for their big break!
Big Break: Martha Marcy May Marlene
Success After Sundance: The Olsen twins' younger sister actually had two films debut at Sundance 2011, showing her as the “serious actor” of the family. Her horror film Silent House scared the daylights out of everyone and she’s taken on film roles alongside Robert De Niro, Demi Moore, Sigourney Weaver, just to name a few.
Big Break: Winter’s Bone
Success After Sundance: After getting nominated for an Oscar for her role in Winter’s Bone (no big deal), she went from indie star to box office leading lady as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. But she’s back to being nominated for every single award for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.
Big Break: Four Weddings and a Funeral
Success After Sundance: After winning a Golden Globe for his Sundance role, Hugh became the go-to romcom leading man for the ‘90s and ‘00s. Actually, to this day he’s still pretty damn good at that role.
Big Break: Junebug
Success After Sundance: Like Jennifer, Amy landed her first Oscar nomination for Junebug and went on to play a Disney princess in Enchanted and star opposite Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia. She can just retire now after crossing those two things off her career bucket list!
Big Break: The Believer
Success After Sundance: Besides being the hottest guy on the planet –- or ‘Most Wanted’ at least -– he played a total weirdo in Murder By Numbers, but then had women fainting at his feet in The Notebook. The rest? Well, you know!
Big Break: Clerks
Success After Sundance: Continuing his role of being the idol of movie geek’s everywhere, he made films like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (classic) and Cop Out (not such a classic). Plus, it doesn’t hurt that his leading man is usually Ben Affleck.
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Big Break: Reservoir Dogs
Success After Sundance: Quentin has become one of the most famous and kickass filmmakers of our time. With his track record of Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds and 2013 Oscar nominee Django Unchained, I’d say he’s done pretty well for himself.
Big Break: Beasts of Southern Wild
Success After Sundance: Nobody had much of an idea who this little girl was before Beasts of Southern Wild, but this 2013 Oscar nominee could quite possibly become the next Jennifer Lawrence. Why? Her first major film is a total hit and nobody can stop talking about her! Keep an eye out for her next film Twelve Years of a Slave this year!
Which Sundance star is your favorite?
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