The FINANCIAL — He’s played cops and criminals, fought in Civil War engagements, walked across apocalyptic wastelands, and this year Denzel Washington is once again America’s Favorite Movie Star. This is the fifth time he’s held this distinction, with previous wins being a three-year run from 2006-2008 and one more victory in 2012, before spending 2013 in the No. 2 spot, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Riding all the way from No. 7 last year to a second place finish is the only star who has appeared on this list since it first began in 1994 (at which time his most recent film was nearly two decades old), John Wayne. Wayne’s high standing despite having not made a film in so long may come as a surprise to some, but with a recent Harris Poll finding the septuagenarian Civil War epic Gone with the Wind to be America’s favorite movie, it would appear that we have plenty of room in our hearts for the oldies. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt certainly shouldn’t be feeling any Fury at his fast rise from a 9th-place tie last year to this year’s No. 3 spot.
Top Five
Rounding out the top five are two actors who have held the No. 1 spot more than once. Johnny Depp, whose 2014 films included Transcendence and Into the Woods, was America’s favorite movie star in 2010 and 2011; this year he’s is in the No. 4 spot, up two places from last year. Tom Hanks, who held the top position for the third time last year (with previous wins in 2002, 2004 and 2005) drops to the No. 5 spot this year.
The Usual Suspects
Despite being behind the camera for both of his major releases this year (Jersey Boys and American Sniper), Clint Eastwood – America’s favorite movie star as recently as 2009 – is in the No. 6 position this year, up two spots, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
The No. 7 spot is a tie between Jennifer Lawrence (whose 2014 résumé included The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Meryl Streep (with turns in The Giver and Into the Woods among her 2014 roles).
Harrison Ford may not have had much screen time in 2014, but his presence in – and injury during the filming of – 2015’s the next installment in the Star Wars franchise was certainly a topic of pop culture discussion; after slipping out of the top 10 last year, Ford is in the No. 9 spot this time around.
Finally, rounding out the top 10 is Angelina Jolie, who had notable turns both onscreen (with the starring role in Maleficent) and behind the camera (directing the World War II era drama Unbroken) in 2014; for 2014 she holds the No. 10 spot. Like Ford, this marks a return to the top 10 list for Jolie; most recently, she held the No. 5 spot in 2010.
Gone Girl(s)
With Harrison Ford and Angelina Jolie returning to the top 10 list this year, this means we must unfortunately say goodbye – at least for this year – to two of last year’s top 10. Julia Roberts, the Pretty Woman herself and a frequent resident of the top 10 list, falls off the list after a No.4 showing last year. And Gravity appears to have gotten hold of Sandra Bullock, another top 10 list veteran, who falls to earth after holding the No. 5 spot last year, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Discussion about this post