Roll out the red carpet! Since the first installment of the Ocean’s series, A-list actors have crowded the big screen to pull off the ultimate cons.
Based on the classic 1960 film of the same name, 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven assembled a team of some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and more. The commercial success of the modern heist movie spurred two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). The trilogy raked in $1.17 billion worldwide.
Across each of the three films, most of the iconic supporting ensemble returned to reprise their roles. When Bernie Mac died in August 2008, director Steven Soderbergh was hesitant to promise fans a fourth movie without one of the series’ integral stars.
“I don’t think any of us would want to return to that,” the filmmaker told MTV four months after the actor’s passing. “It’s sad because that was a fun group of people to hang out with.”
Though Danny Ocean’s story may have come to an end with the central trilogy, writer and director Gary Ross had other ideas. In October 2015, it was confirmed that an all-female spinoff was in the works. By the next year, filming had begun with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway and more rounding out the all-star cast. Ocean’s 8 hit theaters in June 2018, exactly 11 years after Ocean’s Thirteen was released.
While some viewers were skeptical that the stars of the spinoff could echo the same charm as the original cast, the actresses knew they were setting an important precedent.
“I do honestly feel like it’s Groundhog Day. This film is a wonderful, fun romp and piece of entertainment,” Blanchett told USA Today of the experience in June 2018. “If this is being forced by the media to stand for all female-centric films, it’s an enormous pressure — it’s unsustainable. And [whether it succeeds or fails], it makes it difficult for other films with women at the center to sink or swim on their own merit.”
Scroll down to see more of the major Hollywood stars who’ve graced the Ocean’s franchise.
Roll out the red carpet! Since the first installment of the Ocean’s series, A-list actors have crowded the big screen to pull off the ultimate cons.
Based on the classic 1960 film of the same name, 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven assembled a team of some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and more. The commercial success of the modern heist movie spurred two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). The trilogy raked in $1.17 billion worldwide.
Across each of the three films, most of the iconic supporting ensemble returned to reprise their roles. When Bernie Mac died in August 2008, director Steven Soderbergh was hesitant to promise fans a fourth movie without one of the series’ integral stars.
“I don’t think any of us would want to return to that,” the filmmaker told MTV four months after the actor’s passing. “It’s sad because that was a fun group of people to hang out with.”
Though Danny Ocean’s story may have come to an end with the central trilogy, writer and director Gary Ross had other ideas. In October 2015, it was confirmed that an all-female spinoff was in the works. By the next year, filming had begun with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway and more rounding out the all-star cast. Ocean’s 8 hit theaters in June 2018, exactly 11 years after Ocean’s Thirteen was released.
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While some viewers were skeptical that the stars of the spinoff could echo the same charm as the original cast, the actresses knew they were setting an important precedent.
“I do honestly feel like it’s Groundhog Day. This film is a wonderful, fun romp and piece of entertainment,” Blanchett told USA Today of the experience in June 2018. “If this is being forced by the media to stand for all female-centric films, it’s an enormous pressure — it’s unsustainable. And [whether it succeeds or fails], it makes it difficult for other films with women at the center to sink or swim on their own merit.”
Scroll down to see more of the major Hollywood stars who’ve graced the Ocean’s franchise.
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Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
George Clooney
Clooney appears as master thief Danny Ocean in each of the series’ three main films and assembles a team of 10 other criminal masterminds to help him pull off his elaborate heists.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Matt Damon
Throughout the trilogy, the Boston native portrays Linus Caldwell, the son of a legendary con man and one of the newest members of Danny’s crew.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Andy García
Terry Benedict is the sly owner of three Las Vegas casinos and Danny’s biggest foil throughout the series. In Ocean’s Thirteen, he’s recruited to join Danny’s team.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Brad Pitt
Pitt portrays Danny’s trusted sidekick Rusty Ryan, who plays a big role in planning the group’s several heists.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Bernie Mac
In the central trilogy, the late actor plays experienced card dealer Frank Catton, who acts as the team’s inside-man at various casinos. Mac died in August 2008, one year after Ocean’s Thirteen hit theaters.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Julia Roberts
Sometimes considered to be the 12th member of Danny’s team, Roberts plays the thief’s ex-wife Tess in the first two films. Tess sparks a romance with Terry in Ocean’s Eleven, causing Danny to plan the series of heists in hopes of winning her back.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Don Cheadle
Basher Tarr brings the big guns to the group of criminals — literally. The British arms expert appears in Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Casey Affleck
Affleck plays one of the Malloy brothers, Virgil, who’s recruited as a driver and mechanic in the first heist film. Virgil and brother Turk (Scott Caan) often go incognito to help conduct surveillance for the Eleven.
Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
Carl Reiner
The late actor portrays old-school con artist Saul Bloom, who’s brought out of retirement to help Danny and his cronies in all three movies. He also appears in a deleted scene in Ocean’s 8, which premiered two years before his June 2020 death.
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Al Pacino
Though he only appears in Ocean’s Thirteen, Pacino makes a big splash as hotel owner Willy Bank. His latest venture becomes the final target of the film’s elaborate theft.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Sandra Bullock
In the female-led spinoff, Bullock plays Danny’s sister Debbie and assembles her own team of criminal masterminds to pilfer the Toussaint, a $150 million Cartier necklace, from the Met Gala.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Cate Blanchett
The Aussie portrays Lou Miller, Debbie’s partner-in-crime, who helps to plot the perfect crime in Ocean’s 8.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Anne Hathaway
The Ocean’s 8 operatives manipulate film star Daphne Kluger (Hathaway) into being their accomplice in their quest for the Toussaint.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Mindy Kaling
Amita the jewelry maker is an essential part of the Ocean’s 8 team. When they finally get their hands on the Toussaint, Amita breaks it up into smaller pieces of jewelry that can be snuck out of the event.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Awkwafina
The New York native plays Constance, a mouthy pickpocket recruited by Debbie and Lou for the Met Gala heist.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Sarah Paulson
Paulson plays Tammy, a suburban mom with a shady side gig and Debbie’s former partner-in-crime.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Rihanna
The Grammy winner graced the big screen as a hacker known as Nine Ball, a character she had a hand in creating before Ocean’s 8 hit theaters. While meeting with director Gary Ross in 2016, Rihanna suggested they tie in her Caribbean background.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Helena Bonham Carter
Carter’s character, Rose Weil, is a bankrupt fashion designer and the final member of Debbie’s team of bandits.
