Our mission at SAW is to foster conversations about this thing we all love (or love to hate): film/TV. Many of our features are designed with you in mind. Your opinions, to be more to the point. You have ’em. We want to hear ’em.
Question of the Day (QOTD) is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a film/TV-related question that we put to you, the reader. The comments section below is like the feedback box at work; except, in this example, we actually read what you write and care about what you have to say.
Once upon a time, before streaming and franchises overtook Hollywood, there was a term called “box-office star”. It was given to an actor or actress whose mere presence in a film was guaranteed to generate box office revenue larger than if the film was full of unknowns. The likes of Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Robin Williams were or are considered box-office stars.
While the term may not be used as heavily nowadays given how much emphasize studios place on already established IP (The Marvel or Star Wars logo sells a project now more than an actor does), there are still actors that, no matter the project, will have droves of fans lining up at the theater to see their next film.
So the question I ask today is: what actor constantly gets your butt in a theater seat?
Tom Cruise.
A controversial choice? Maybe, but if I had to think about which actor I have pushed to see in theaters it would have to be Cruise. I’m always interested in his newest films, and the fact that he does his own stunts makes me want to see them on the big screen.
Of course, Michael J. Fox would be the obvious answer, but since he has semi-retired from acting there’s not a lot of new film starring him to see. But you damn well know I suffered through the 2014 Annie remake just to see a five-second cameo from him.
So what about you, folks? What actor(s) will get your ass in a theater seat every single time?
I’ll see you in the trenches.
