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When the term “classic film star” is raised, many envision legendary figures from Hollywood’s Golden Age or charismatic personalities from the vibrant cinema of the 1970s. For Sean Penn, however, this notion is a pointed critique of today’s film landscape: “There’s no such thing as a movie star anymore.”
While my personal favorite is the captivating Timothée Chalamet, the leading man of A Complete Unknown has not even registered on Penn’s radar. Surprisingly, he confesses to having never watched a film featuring Chalamet. He elaborates, “It’s like, people are hanging out in their sections of the library. We all used to be in the same library, and [found out] what was special to everybody. I have a romantic memory of that. It’s moved on since then. There won’t be…you’re not going to have a Warren Beatty, it’s not going to happen.”
Indeed, Warren Beatty is a benchmark of brilliance, yet Chalamet is rapidly becoming the face of contemporary cinema. At just 24, he achieved significant recognition, arriving in the limelight five years earlier than Beatty did with his role in Splendor in the Grass. Alongside him, newcomers like Austin Butler and Glen Powell are asserting their presence, indicating that the mantle of modern movie stardom is not entirely lost. (Please don’t suggest Dwayne Johnson, though.) As for actresses, figures such as Emma Stone and Margot Robbie continually shine; however, for Penn, the quintessential movie star phenomenon seems to dissipate after one name: “I think the movie star manufacturer ran out around Jennifer Lawrence’s time or something. She’s probably the last movie star, yeah.”
While Penn’s candid assertions often provoke thought, this particular declaration feels astonishingly disconnected from reality. His admission of not watching any of Chalamet’s films—three of which have individually outperformed Beatty’s entire oeuvre—is notable. While iconic figures like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Tom Cruise continue to dominate the Hollywood scene since the ‘80s, a new generation of talent is undeniably making their mark.
As we gear up for 2025, the question looms: Who truly captures the essence of a movie star today? Is it Timothée Chalamet, or is there a contender waiting in the wings to redefine stardom for this generation?
