10 Greatest Movie Ensemble Casts of the Last 10 Years

One of the most underappreciated aspects of filmmaking is the casting process. It’s not as simple as slapping a big-name actor into a random story. An ensemble cast can absolutely make or break a film. It’s incredibly important for filmmakers to pick the right people for the job.

In 2026, the Academy Awards will finally recognize this vital part of Hollywood with its own award category. Taking a look back, many films of the past decade deserve to be recognized for their incredible achievements in casting.

10 This Quentin Tarantino Classic Is a Classic Western Standoff

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Quentin Tarantino’s notorious cinematic reputation relies on many important factors; one of which is his standout casting. In the cabin-restricted western epic The Hateful Eight, Tarantino takes the audience on a ride through the brash post-Civil War America of the lawless late 1800s. The film is led by Tarantino mainstays Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell. Cast by Victoria Thomas, the film’s ensemble is rounded out by performances that deserve a lot of high praise.

With the extensive runtime, each performer is able to bring an amazing amount of substance and storytelling to each character. Joining Jackson and Russell as the film’s aptly named Hateful Eight are Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern. Also included in the cast (some returning from Quentin Tarantino’s other films) are James Parks, Dana Gourrier, Zoë Bell, Lee Horsely and Gene Jones. The film also includes a surprise appearance from Channing Tatum. And in classic Tarantino fashion, the writer-director himself is featured in a cameo as the film’s narrator.

9 The Coen Brothers Feature Another All-Star Cast

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

The 2016 film Hail, Caesar! boasts one of the best ensemble casts of its year, with each actor perfectly embodying their roles in this quirky, golden-age Hollywood satire. The Coen brothers’ knack for casting is on full display, with talents like Josh Brolin as the beleaguered studio fixer, George Clooney as a clueless movie star, and standout performances from Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum and Alden Ehrenreich.

Each actor brings a unique charm and comedic timing, elevating the film’s sharp wit and clever narrative. Casting director Ellen Chenoweth deserves particular praise for assembling such a stellar and diverse group of actors. Her ability to match the Coen brothers’ distinct vision with this incredible ensemble helped make Hail, Caesar! one of the most entertaining and well-cast films of the year.

8 Frances McDormand Commands the Screen in Three Billboards

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has one of the most outstanding ensemble casts of 2017, bringing Martin McDonagh’s dark, emotionally charged script to life with incredible depth. Frances McDormand shines as the determined and grieving Mildred, while Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson deliver unforgettable performances as flawed law enforcement officers. Each actor fully inhabits their complex characters, creating a gripping dynamic that propels the story’s intense moral dilemmas. Their performances, and McDonagh’s excellent storytelling abilities, make this film one of 2017’s best.

Kerry Barden and Rich Delia, the film’s casting directors, did an exceptional job assembling this talented group, whose chemistry and individual contributions make Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri one of the best-cast films of its year. The film’s supporting cast, including Peter Dinklage, Lucas Hedges, and John Hawkes, adds further layers to the narrative, making it feel lived-in and real. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri deserves high praise for being a simple, beautiful, heart-breaking film held together by its ensemble cast.

7 Chadwick Boseman Defines a Marvel Role

Black Panther (2018)

First appearing in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther was an instant fan favorite. It’s hard to deny his incredible star power; his introduction was just as fondly remembered as the MCU debut of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. And in 2018, he would get his own film, Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler. Coogler and his team, specifically Marvel casting specialists Jason B. Stamey, Molly Doyle, Nicholas A. Mudd and Sarah Halley Finn, collected a cast of fresh Hollywood faces.

The late, great Chadwick Boseman commands the film alongside cast members Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Forest Whitaker and the Oscar-nominated Angela Bassett. But the most popular casting choice, alongside Andy Serkis as the film’s antagonist, is the standout Michael B. Jordan as Erik Kilmonger. Jordan defines the villain, bringing the character from a comic D-lister to worldwide fame, as a genuine threat that could only be seen on the big screen.

6 The Biggest Film of All Time Has One of the Greatest Casts

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Every Avengers film and casting decision fed into the ultimate conclusion of the current franchise in Avengers: Endgame. Chris Evans plays Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. plays Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth plays Thor, Mark Ruffalo plays the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson plays Black Widow, Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye and Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury.

Some other standouts were Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes. The film’s epic reputation absolutely exceeded audience expectations, and that’s made all the more certain with Josh Brolin portraying the menacing Thanos.

5 Watch the Harsh Trial of the Chicago Seven

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Aaron Sorkin makes waves with his second directorial debut, depicting the true, harsh realities of the 1968 Chicago riots and the court case thereafter called The Trial of the Chicago 7. As the COVID-19 pandemic was going on, movie theaters were hit hard as they couldn’t open their doors to the public for a considerable amount of time. Streaming became an important part of people’s lives, and The Trial of the Chicago 7 was among the best examples of incredible filmmaking released there.

Cast by Francine Maisler, the film has Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Alex Sharp, Noah Robbins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the Chicago Seven. Sacha Baron Cohen was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at that year’s Academy Awards. Included in this incredible cast are Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Frank Langella and a surprise appearance from Michael Keaton. This film is extremely powerful, and that’s largely thanks to the brilliant casting.

4 The New Suicide Squad Stars an Impressive Ensemble

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Before being given full creative control over the whole studio, James Gunn helmed The Suicide Squad. After the critical panning and box office bombing of the 2016 Suicide Squad, DC was in desperate need of another hit. Unfortunately, the film didn’t meet box office standards, largely due to the pandemic, but it did absolutely smash audience expectations. With the help of casting director John Papsidera, the film’s cast is just as great as the film.

Replacing Will Smith as the leader of the squad is Idris Elba playing Bloodsport, a Superman villain from the comics. Joining him on the team is John Cena as Peacemaker, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher II, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Joel Kinneman as Rick Flag, Sylvester Stallone as King Shark and Viola Davis as the intimidating Amanda Waller. There are plenty of other big names and James Gunn favorites on the cast to dazzle audiences, giving this film one of the best ensemble casts of 2021.

3 Benoit Blanc Investigates a New Batch of All-Star Suspects

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

In 2019, Rian Johnson surprised audiences with his incredible original whodunnit epic, Knives Out. The film starred Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a southern gentleman detective with the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes. In 2022, Rian Johnson and Netflix released the sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which somehow brought audiences an even bigger cast of stars. Cast by Mary Vernieu, Bret Howe, Benjamin Bermudez and Nenad Pavlović, the film stars new and seasoned stars from all corners of Hollywood.

Janelle Monáe leads the mystery throughout its fatal night. Rounding out the list of suspects are Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Batista and Jessica Henwick. The film’s cameos are also just as star-studded as its cast, including Angela Lansbury, Yo-Yo Ma, and Stephen Sondheim. The highly anticipated sequel, Wake Up Dead Man, is set to hit theaters in 2025 with just as illustrious a cast.

2 Margot Robbie Leads the Cast of Barbie on a Pink Adventure

Barbie (2023)

One factor that absolutely helps Barbie’s incredible reputation is its casting. This film’s popularity and notoriety should largely be attributed to the casting by Allison Jones, Lucy Bevan, Emily Buntyn and Olivia Grant. Producer Margot Robbie would join the cast as its lead, much to the delight of fans. Joining alongside her would be the ever-so-popular Ryan Gosling as the hilarious and charismatic Ken.

Included in a long line of popular performers are Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef and Sharon Rooney, all playing different versions of Margot Robbie’s titular character. Some Kens playing alongside Ryan Gosling are Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans and even a cameo from a mermaid John Cena. While it could be argued that Oppenheimer had another illustrious cast, Barbie’s will be remembered for years to come.

1 Saturday Night Arguably Has the Best Cast of 2024

Saturday Night (2024)

Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night arguably has the greatest ensemble cast of 2024 so far. The film depicts the tumultuous events of the premiere episode of Saturday Night Live. The amazing, fast-paced, chaotic storytelling is all channeled through the film’s lead character, Lorne Michaels, played by Hollywood’s newest star, Gabriel LaBelle. To accurately portray the jaw-dropping events that took place on October 11, 1975, the film needed to cast actors that could mimic the biggest names in entertainment and originality to each character.

Thanks to casting from John Papsidera and Jennifer Cram, this film shines. This film’s cast includes Rachel Sennott as Rosie Schuster, Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd and Corey Michael Smith as Chevy Chase. Some of the best are Matt Wood as the late John Belushi, practically bringing him back to life on screen, and Nicholas Braun playing two comedy legends, Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. This film deserves recognition for its portrayal of one of the greatest nights in comedy history.