So far this year, Gerard Butler brought in nearly twice as much at the box office as Brad Pitt; Shia LaBeouf easily topped Jake Gyllenhaal; and Amy Adams left Meryl Streep in her dust.
Butler, LaBeouf and Adams are among the previously little or unknown actors who’ve cleaned up at movie theaters in 2007, strong indication that Hollywood is nudging toward a post star-driven reality in which special effects, high concepts and acting ensembles matter more than familiar faces.
Take LaBeouf. A year ago, few outside the entertainment industry would have recognized him. Even today, after bringing home nearly $400 million between April’s “Disturbia” and July’s “Transformers,” he’s hardly a household name.
LaBeouf is emblematic of Hollywood’s Year of the Nobody. And he’s far from alone.
Last week’s biggest film was “Enchanted,” starring the dazzling unknown Amy Adams. A few weeks ago, “Beowulf” topped the box office. Despite starring Angelina Jolie, the movie is built around character actor Ray Winstone.
Oscar prognosticators everywhere await the December release of “Juno,” starring young nobody Ellen Page alongside near-nobody Michael Cera.
Don’t fret, fans: Pitt, Gyllenhaal, Streep and other marquee stars won’t disappear. At least not any time soon. But Hollywood’s up-and-comers and other surprising actors are chasing them down.
GERARD BUTLER
Who? This respected 38-year-old Scottish actor played the Phantom in 2004’s “Phantom of the Opera” and has done cult faves such as “Dear Frankie,” but he broke big with his muscled turn as King Leonidas in “300.”
2007 hit: “300” has earned $210 million so far this year.
Next up: Butler stars with Hilary Swank in the Dec. 21 romance “P.S. I Love You.” After that comes “Nim’s Island” with Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.
JONAH HILL
Who? At 23, Hill has appeared in 12 films since 2005, including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” But showing up in three $100 million flicks in one year is really working in overdrive.
2007 hits: “Superbad,” $121 million; featured in “Evan Almighty,” $100 million; and “Knocked Up,” $148 million.
Next up: “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” with Kristen Bell.
AMY ADAMS
Who? The 33-year-old earned an Oscar nomination for the little-seen “Junebug” and starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me If You Can,” but her luminous turn as a fairy-tale princess in “Enchanted” (above) is her first major movie exposure.
2007 hit: “Enchanted” earned $49 million over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Next up: She stars with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the highly anticipated “Charlie Wilson’s War,” opening Christmas day. She also has “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” with Frances McDormand, as well as projects with Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Steve Zahn, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin.
ANNASOPHIA ROBB
Who? Now 14, Robb has appeared in “Because of Winn-Dixie” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and currently has projects in the works with people including The Rock and Charlize Theron.
2007 films: “Bridge to Terabithia,” $82 million and “The Reaping,” $25 million.
Next up: “Have Dreams, Will Travel” with Val Kilmer.
SHIA LABEOUF
Who? At 21, LaBeouf has been in the business for almost a decade, but this was his breakout year. He may be the guy who’ll carry on the Indiana Jones franchise.
2007 hits: “Transformers” earned $319 million; “Disturbia,” $80 million; the animated “Surf’s Up,” $59 million.
Next up: He stars with Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
SETH ROGEN
Who? A 25-year-old writer-actor-producer, part of the Judd Apatow posse responsible for “KU,” “Superbad” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Rogen specializes in amiable stoner-slacker types, even when playing a cop.
2007 hits: Star of “Knocked Up,” $148 million; featured in “Superbad,” $121 million.
Next up: “Pineapple Express,” which he co-wrote; just signed to do “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” with director Kevin Smith.
ELLEN PAGE
Who? The 20-year-old native of Nova Scotia was an indie sensation in 2005’s “Hard Candy” and then co-starred in the mega-hit “X-Men: The Last Stand,” in which she played Kitty Pryde. “Juno,” in which she plays a pregnant teen, is expected to earn her widespread serious-actress recognition.
2007 films: Little-seen indies “An American Crime” and “The Tracey Fragments.”
Next up: Page already is getting Oscar buzz for the Dec. 14 release “Juno,” in which she stars opposite Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Bateman and Rainn Wilson. After that comes “The Stone Angel” with Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn.
MICHAEL CERA
Who? This 19-year-old earned credibility as the awkward George Michael Bluth on TV’s cult hit “Arrested Development” and the popular Web site clarkandmichael.com, but he took things to a whole new level with the success of “Superbad.” “Juno” will only keep the buzz going.
2007 hit: “Superbad,” $121 million.
Next up: He stars as a virile high school geek in “Juno.” After that comes “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.”
