Hollywood Hall of Fame 2nd Ballot

Ever wonder what the greatest movies of all-time are? What about actors and actresses? The Circuit has decided to create our own Hollywood Hall of Fame, where we honor the greatest films, shows, actors, actresses & directors of all-time!

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Sports have a Hall of Fame. Music has a Hall of Fame. Movies don’t. How can an industry that is so prominent in pop culture, and so obsessed with its own history, not have a Hall of Fame? We are changing that here at The Circuit by creating the Hollywood Hall of Fame!

Because we have about a century of movies and television shows to catch up to, we are going to induct a new class to the Hollywood Hall of Fame each month. Each class will include:

• Five films

• Three television shows

• Three actors

• Three actresses

• One director

Here at The Circuit, we are obsessed with history and context. We like to categorize everything and rank everything. Sports have a Hall of Fame dedicated to celebrating history and enshrining the best of the best.

Here are the 2nd ballot entrants to the Hollywood Hall of Fame!

Jaws (1975)

This movie essentially created the summer blockbuster. A horror movie that is a blast for the whole (well, mostly) family and one that has made millions of people terrified of open waters. Not to mention, the iconic theme music from this film is referenced constantly nearly 50 years later.

Avatar (2009)

Admittedly, there is nothing inherently special about the plot of this movie, but the all-time box office king (for now) deserves an early spot in the Hollywood Hall of Fame. Not only did this obliterate the box office, but the 3D experience watching this film is truly a cinematic experience.

Schindler’s List (1994)

How powerful was this movie? The iconic imagery of the red contrasted against the black and white is a lasting image. Add in a fantastic cast of Liam Neeson, Sir Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes among others, and the degree to which this movie has sunk into the cultural conscience (even Seinfeld had an episode about this movie), it deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Casablanca (1943)

The ability for this movie to mix music with such serious storylines of World War II and the choice between love and sacrifice. This movie still resonates today, and is one of the best films ever made.

Star Wars (1977)

Is this the best Star Wars movie ever? No. Did it inspire a generation and begin the science fiction takeover in the film industry? Absolutely. This is more than a movie; to those who went to see it in 1977, it was a true event. And without this movie, we wouldn’t have a lot of the films we love and celebrate today (like, any of them).

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (1994-2004)

This was the first show that I fell in love with, and I was far from alone. A group of six friends trying to make it in New York City felt so relatable, and the world fell in love with their relationships and their lives. When the show ended, it felt like a part of our lives ended, and its ability to still dominate cable television nearly 20 years later speaks to its brilliance.

Saturday Night Live (1975-)

Wow. This show is still going? Nearly 50 years later and we still love watching SNL every week. This show has the greatest cast of any television show ever made (Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, to name a minute percent of the stars they have had) which earns it this spot in the Hall of Fame.

I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

My mom will appreciate this selection. Lucille Ball was a huge star, and even has a biopic starring Nicole Kidman in the role. This show pushed comedy in a lot of ways back in the ‘50’s, and has even inspired some Marvel content all these years later (see WandaVision). This show was great when it aired, and even holds up today.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Wolf of Wall Street, The Revenant)

If Tom Hanks is the greatest actor of all-time, DiCaprio is 1A. And for my money, he is my favorite actor of all-time. The fact that he only has 1 Oscar is a crime in the movie world; Has he ever done a bad movie? I would argue no. His imdb page is vast and legendary, and will be on the Mt. Rushmore of actors when he is done.

Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln, There Will Be Blood, Gangs of New York)

Another actor who many would argue is the greatest of all-time (I think I’ve got them all in now!) Lewis has won three (3!) Best Acting Oscars, including his turn as our nation's (potentially) most famous President. When you watch him on screen, you know that you are in for a true genuine movie experience.

Charlie Chaplin (The Kid, City Lights, Modern Times)

Chaplin became one of the biggest stars on Earth for what he was able to do in movies, without sound! He made his name primarily in silent films. It is difficult to convey story and emotion without words, but Chaplin did it brilliantly. So brilliantly in fact, that Robert Downey Jr portrayed him in a biopic.

Jennifer Lawerence (Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook, Don’t Look Up)

Lawrence is the youngest inductee so far in the Hollywood Hall of Fame, but she has more than earned it. She already has an Oscar on her mantle for Silver Linings Playbook and undoubtedly has a few more coming her way in the future. In a cast full of acting titans in Don’t Look Up, Lawrence somehow goes toe-to-toe with fellow inductees DiCaprio and Streep. Jennifer Lawerence is incredible, and could go down as the greatest actress ever when she retires.

Marilyn Monroe (Don’t Bother to Knock, Niagra, Some Like it Hot)

Marilyn Monroe is inducted here more so for her lasting impact than her acting resume, necessarily. She was a fine actress, but she has been able to stay culturally relevant through the decades because of her presence; both how she looked and how she carried herself. Ask any teenager today, and they will know who Marilyn Monroe is. The same can’t be said for a lot of legendary actors and actresses.

Sally Field (Norma Rae, Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump)

God I love Sally Field. She is such an incredible actress, and has been in so many iconic films. Not mentioning the movies she won awards for, she was in Mrs. Doubtfire, The Amazing Spider-Man, and even Smokey and the Bandit! Field has been able to pull off a feat few performers have in the history of Hollywood; being in both Oscar-worthy films and huge blockbusters.

Director

Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders)

This was a tough decision, with only one slot for about seven remaining pantheon-level directors. But with Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders & The Godfather trilogy, Francis Ford Coppola earns the lone 2nd ballot Hall of Fame induction for directors.

There you have it! The 2nd Ballot inductees to the Hollywood Hall of Fame! Here is a comprehensive list of the Hall of Famers, which we will update with each class:

Films:

The Wizard of Oz

The Godfather

Shawshank Redemption

Citizen Kane

Lawrence of Arabia

Jaws

Avatar

Schindler’s List

Casablanca

Star Wars: A New Hope

Shows:

M*A*S*H*

The Simpsons

The Sopranos

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Saturday Night Live

I Love Lucy

Actors:

Tom Hanks

Marlon Brando

Jack Nicholson

Leonardo DiCaprio

Daniel Day-Lewis

Charlie Chaplin

Actresses:

Katherine Hepburn

Frances McDormand

Meryl Streep

Jennifer Lawerence

Marilyn Monroe

Sally Field

Directors:

Steven Spielberg

Francis Ford-Coppola