Who Does Sean Penn Think Is Our Last Movie Star?

We're running out of movie stars. The theatrical experience has always been a sacred one, but with more people staying home to watch TV and fewer small movies being made, we're not launching any new faces for the big screen. When asked about this phenomenon, acclaimed actor Sean Penn had ot think hard about who he considered a star anymore. On the most recent episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, he said, "Who do I consider a peer? I'm seeing performances from some young actors where I feel like I should quit and become an accountant, they're so good."But when pressed about who he was talking about, Penn pondered that, "There's no such thing as a movie star anymore."He continued, "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," Penn added. "There won't be... you're not going to have a Warren Beatty, it's not going to happen." But then Penn had an answer: "I think the movie star manufacturer ran out around Jennifer Lawrence's time or something," Penn finished with, "She's probably the last movie star, yeah." 'No Hard Feelings' Credit: Sony Jennifer Lawrence has been a movie star for a bit, but her early career included television roles before her breakout performance in the independent drama Winter's Bone (2010), which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She then rose to international fame starring as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games film series (2012-2015) and as Mystique in the X-Men franchise. I felt like she solidified her place when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and has received further Oscar nominations for American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015).But when you really think about it, we don't have anyone else balancing both commercial and prestige roles and turning people up at the movies. I think you can add Chalamet to this mix, but funnily enough, in the interview, Penn said he had not seen any of Chalamet's work. And I think Zendaya is a star, but I'd love to see her in a prestige movie she's carrying, if only to help that movie get made and get her some Academy attention. Do you agree with Penn? Is Jennifer Lawrence the last movie star? Let me know what you think in the comments.

May 17, 2025 - 00:00

Who Does Sean Penn Think Is Our Last Movie Star?

We're running out of movie stars. The theatrical experience has always been a sacred one, but with more people staying home to watch TV and fewer small movies being made, we're not launching any new faces for the big screen.

When asked about this phenomenon, acclaimed actor Sean Penn had ot think hard about who he considered a star anymore.

On the most recent episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, he said, "Who do I consider a peer? I'm seeing performances from some young actors where I feel like I should quit and become an accountant, they're so good."

But when pressed about who he was talking about, Penn pondered that, "There's no such thing as a movie star anymore."

He continued, "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," Penn added. "There won't be... you're not going to have a Warren Beatty, it's not going to happen."

But then Penn had an answer: "I think the movie star manufacturer ran out around Jennifer Lawrence's time or something," Penn finished with, "She's probably the last movie star, yeah."

'No Hard Feelings' Credit: Sony

Jennifer Lawrence has been a movie star for a bit, but her early career included television roles before her breakout performance in the independent drama Winter's Bone (2010), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

She then rose to international fame starring as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games film series (2012-2015) and as Mystique in the X-Men franchise.

I felt like she solidified her place when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and has received further Oscar nominations for American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015).

But when you really think about it, we don't have anyone else balancing both commercial and prestige roles and turning people up at the movies. I think you can add Chalamet to this mix, but funnily enough, in the interview, Penn said he had not seen any of Chalamet's work.

And I think Zendaya is a star, but I'd love to see her in a prestige movie she's carrying, if only to help that movie get made and get her some Academy attention.

Do you agree with Penn? Is Jennifer Lawrence the last movie star?

Let me know what you think in the comments.