Amazon recently announced that Macaulay Culkin will join Fallout season 2’s cast in an undisclosed role. Hopefully, Culkin will seamlessly integrate into Fallout’s ensemble cast and post-apocalyptic world, because it can be hard to see him and not think of Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister. Culkin is part of a small tier of actors that will always have the acclaim of being a former beloved child star, but many find it hard to break the association with their breakout role.
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Former child stars each take a different path after achieving stardom at a young age. Demi Lovato’s Hulu documentary Child Star explores the vastly different experiences child actors go through. Some embrace the movies that made them famous, returning to the roles even decades later. Others use their financial security to chase passion projects or take obscure roles. Many child stars use their early success to launch huge Hollywood careers. Checking in to see where these former child stars are now can shed interesting light on their original breakout roles.
Macaulay Culkin
Kevin McCallister in Home Alone (1990)
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Macaulay Culkin became famous at age 10 for his role as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. Culkin’s clever, mischievous Kevin is one of the most iconic child performances ever. Home Alone was a massive box office success and is considered a Christmas classic today. He reprised his role in the 1992 sequel, although Culkin did not star in Home Alone 3. Culkin followed his success with several major projects, including My Girl (1991) and Richie Rich (1994.)
By the mid-90s, Culkin stepped back from acting to focus on his personal life. When he returned a decade later, Culkin took more adult roles. Culkin did not pursue superstardom, instead exploring creative outlets like his satirical pop culture website, Bunny Ears. Culkin embraces Home Alone, even reprising the role for a commercial in 2018, but uses his financial security to pursue roles that interest him, like his upcoming role in season 2 of Fallout.
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8/10 Home Alone PGComedyFamily
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, an eight-year-old who is left behind in his Chicago home when his family flies to Paris for the holidays. Not only must Kevin keep himself safe while his mother flies back across the world, but he must protect his home from the Wet Bandits – serial burglars who are targeting the McAllister House. Kevin must use every trick in the book to keep the Wet Bandits from stealing Christmas before his mother returns.
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*Availability in US Director Chris Columbus Release Date November 16, 1990 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers John Hughes Cast Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci , Daniel Stern , John Heard , Roberts Blossom , Catherine O’Hara Runtime 103 minutes Sequel(s) Home Alone 3 , Home Alone 2: Lost in New York , Home Alone 4 Budget 18 million Expand
Mara Wilson
Matilda Wormwood in Matilda (1996)
Mara Wilson rose to prominence playing Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire, but her celebrity reached new heights when she starred as the titular character in Matilda. Wilson embodied the precocious character’s strength and vulnerability so well, especially for someone who was only nine years old. She made the movie feel grounded even with Matilda’s magic powers and the heightened behavior of the many adult bullies in Matilda’s life.
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Wilson continued to have steady work after Matilda, but as she reached adolescence, the roles began to dry up. Wilson decided to step away from acting, especially as she was coping with the death of her mother. Wilson shifted her energy from acting to writing and other creative pursuits. Her memoir, Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, details the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, which has been praised as relatable and important.
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7/10 8/10 Matilda rFamilyComedy
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*Availability in US Director Danny DeVito Release Date June 28, 1996 Studio(s) Sony Writers Robin Swicord Cast Danny DeVito , Mara Wilson , Pam Ferris Runtime 98minutes Budget $36 million Expand
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Abigail Breslin
Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Abigail Breslin gained acclaim for starring as Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine. At just 10 years old, Breslin was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Audiences were moved by the warmth and humor she brought to Olive, and Breslin’s ability to hold her own against veteran actors like Steve Carell and Toni Collette. Breslin used the momentum from Little Miss Sunshine to build quite the varied acting portfolio.
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Breslin, who is only 28, continues to focus primarily on acting. Breslin has explored many genres – from family drama in Nick Cassavetes’ My Sisters Keeper to action-comedy in Zombieland to horror satire in Scream Queens, while avoiding major franchises. While she has not yet reached the award heights of her Little Miss Sunshine acting days, Breslin’s willingness to dabble in different genres and work with different directors suggests that more interesting work is surely to come.
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Little Miss Sunshine RAdventureComedyDrama
Little Olive’s dream is to take part in the Little Miss Sunshine contest. To do so, she embarks on a funny and moving journey with her father, uncle, grandfather, brother and mother. The family has to race against time to ensure that Olive arrives on time and is able to give the performance created by her grandfather.
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*Availability in US Director Jonathan Dayton , Valerie Faris Release Date July 26, 2006 Writers Michael Arndt Cast Abigail Breslin , Greg Kinnear , Paul Dano , Alan Arkin , Toni Collette , Steve Carell Runtime 101 minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
Peter Billingsley
Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story (1983)
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Peter Billingsley is best known for playing Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story at age 12. The movie follows Ralphie’s misadventures during a Christmas season in the 1940s. A Christmas Story was a modest success, but Billingsley’s wide-eyed wonder captured the hearts of audiences. His delivery of lines such as “You’ll shoot your eye out!” was instantly quotable. A Christmas Story’s popularity grew over time due to television reruns and is considered a holiday classic today. Billingsley continued to act, but never outgrew his association with the role of Ralph.
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Billingsley never found the same success as an actor again, and eventually, he pivoted into producing and writing. He had a small cameo as a scientist in Iron Man, which he also executive-produced. Billingsley has good cheer about the role that made him famous. Billingsley has a small cameo in Elf as an Ming Ming, one of the elves. In 2022, Billingsley reprized his role as an adult Ralphie in A Christmas Story Christmas for HBO Max, which he also produced and helped write.
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A Christmas Story PGFamilyComedy
Director Bob Clark Release Date November 18, 1983 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Writers Jean Shepherd , Bob Clark , Leigh Brown Cast Darren McGavin , Zack Ward , Peter Billingsley , Scott Schwartz , Melinda Dillon Runtime 94 minutes Sequel(s) A Christmas Story 2 , It Runs in the Family Budget $3.3 million Expand
Linda Blair
Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973)
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Linda Blair was 13 years old when she starred in The Exorcist as Regan MacNeil, the possessed child. Blair’s physicality is one of the most enduring images from the movie. Blair’s performance was controversial but did earn her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Blair became synonymous with Regan. However, Blair had such a difficult time making The Exorcist that haunted her even after the premiere.
Blair was a sought-after actress following The Exorcist, but she was typecast in horror films. She frequently appeared in lower-budget horror films in the ’70s and ’80, including Hell Night (1981) and Chained Heat (1983.) Blair was never able to branch out of her association with the horror genre, even reprising her role as Regan in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and again in The Exorcist: Believer (2023.)
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9/10 10/10 The Exorcist RHorrorSupernatural
The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
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*Availability in US Director William Friedkin Release Date December 26, 1973 Studio(s) Hoya Productions Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers William Peter Blatty Cast Max Von Sydow , Linda Blair , Lee J. Cobb , Ellen Burstyn , Jason Miller , Kitty Winn , Jack MacGowran Runtime 122 minutes Franchise(s) The Exorcist Sequel(s) The Exorcist: Believer , Exorcist II: The Heretic , The Exorcist III prequel(s) Exorcist: The Beginning , Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist Budget $12 million Main Genre Horror Expand
Chloë Grace Moretz
Mindy Macready aka Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass (2010)
Chloë Grace Moretz gained widespread fame for her role as Hit-Girl in the superhero black comedy Kick-Ass. At age 13, Moretz brought a vulnerability and grounding to a character that also swore and kicked ass. Kick-Ass got a sequel three years later, with Moretz reprising her role.
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Today, Moretz is 27 and continues to act in a variety of projects. Moretz played the classic villain Carrie in Stephen King’s 2013 horror movie Carrie, teenaged sex worker Alina in The Equalizer (2014,) and car accident victim Mia in teen drama If I Stay (2014.) Moretz is respected as an actress but has yet to have her breakout role in her transition from child star to adult star. Maybe Matthew Vaugh’s plans for a Kick-Ass reboot will have Moretz reprise her role of Hit-Girl.
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9/10 7.5/10 Kick-Ass RActionComedyCrime
When average teen Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is mugged, he decides to take matters into his own hands and becomes the vigilante Kick-Ass. Armed with little more than a can-do attitude and nerve damage that makes him resistant to pain, the adolescent hero stumbles into a serious criminal organization. Teaming up with Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), Kick-Ass works to take them down, despite the fact that he’s in over his head.
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*Availability in US Director Matthew Vaughn Release Date March 22, 2010 Studio(s) Lionsgate Writers Jane Goldman , Matthew Vaughn , Mark Millar , John Romita Jr. Cast Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Chloe Moretz , Nicolas Cage , Christopher Mintz-Plasse , Clark Duke , Evan Peters Runtime 117 minutes Franchise(s) Kick-Ass Sequel(s) Kick-Ass 2 Budget $30 million Main Genre Action Expand
Jaleel White
Steve Urkel in Family Matters (1989-1997)
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Steve Urkel was only supposed to be in one episode of Family Matters, but the audience loved Jaleel White’s character so much, he was given a starring role and stayed for over 200 episodes. Urkel’s unapologetic nerdiness, catchphrases including “Did I do that?”, and physical comedy made him a fan-favorite character. White even got the opportunity to write two episodes of Family Matters.
Family Matters’ success was a double-edged sword for White. He owes his career to Urkel, but his career never quite got beyond Urkel, either. White was 12 when the show began and 21 when it ended, so people conflated White with the character he played. He has carved out a career in voice acting, television guest roles, and his podcast, World’s Most Dangerous, but to most people, White will always be Urkel first.
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Family Matters
Family Matters is a classic sitcom that follows the Winslow family, a middle-class family living in Chicago that engages in several misadventures while sharing heartfelt experiences with one another. The show tackles several major real-world issues while keeping the core of the show light at heart, and also featured the breakout role of Jaleel White as the super nerd Steve Urkel.
Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9
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*Availability in US Cast Reginald VelJohnson , Jaleel White , Jo Marie Payton , Darius McCrary , Kellie Shanygne Williams , Rosetta LeNoire , Shawn Harrison , Valerie Jones , Joseph Wright , Julius Wright , Bryton McClure Release Date September 22, 1989 Seasons 9 Creator(s) William Bickley , Michael Warren
Matthew Broderick
Ferries Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off made Matthew Broderick an overnight star. John Hughes knew Broderick from afar through his work on Broadway and his role in WarGames (1983) and sensed Broderick had the irreverence but good-natured charm to bring Ferris to life. Although other actors almost played Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick became synonymous with the character. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off became one of the definitive teen comedies of the 80s. Broderick built quite an eclectic career after the success of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
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Broderick bounced between theater and movies. The success of his Broadway musical, The Producers, even led to a Hollywood adaptation starring him and Nathan Lane. Broderick’s movie choices are interesting and varied: historical war drama Glory (1989,) voicing Simba in Disney’s The Lion King (1994), and the black comedy Election (1999.) Lately, Broderick has cameoed as himself, showing his sense of humor, in Only Murders in the Building season 3 and Trainwreck (2015.) Broderick parlayed early success in a long career where he can cherry-pick projects that interest him.
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9/10 8/10 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off PG-13Comedy
John Hughes’ comedy classic Ferris Bueler’s Day off follows the titular high schooler, a self-assured, charming young man who wants a day off. Going to unheard-of lengths to secure that day for himself, his girlfriend, and his best friend, he conjures up the ultimate scheme to get them out of school. However, his sister and principal are confident he’s up to no good, and his principal will embark on an equally overblown quest to expose Ferris’ truancy.
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*Availability in US Director John Hughes Release Date June 11, 1986 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Writers John Hughes Cast Jennifer Grey , Matthew Broderick , Mia Sara , Alan Ruck , Jeffrey Jones Runtime 103 minutes Budget $6 million Expand
Haley Joel Osment
Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999)
11-year-old Haley Joel Osment became a household name after his role as Cole Sear in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller The Sixth Sense. Osment embodied Cole’s fear and loneliness, bringing a sophistication to the role. His famous line “I see dead people” has become one of the most iconic and chilling lines in movie history. Osment even received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
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Immediately following The Sixth Sense, Osment starred in more high-profile movies, notably Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Since 2002, Osment has voiced Sora in the popular video game franchise Kingdom Hearts. As Osment aged, his career slowed and he pivoted away from mainstream blockbusters to independent movies. Eventually, Osment found his niche in independent films and television. Osment seems to be drawn to off-beat comedies, having guest-starred in Silicon Valley, Future Man, The Boys, and What We Do In The Shadows. Osment has transitioned gracefully from child star to versatile adult actor, finding his own way to shine.
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8/10 7.3/10 The Sixth Sense PG-13ThrillerDramaHorrorMystery
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
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*Availability in US Director M. Night Shyamalan Release Date August 6, 1999 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney , Dimension Films Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Bruce Willis , Toni Collette , Haley Joel Osment , Olivia Williams , Donnie Wahlberg Runtime 107 minutes Budget $40 Million Expand
Daniel Radcliffe / Rupert Grint / Emma Watson
Harry Potter / Ron Weasley / Hermione Granger in The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson will forever be synonymous with their characters from the Harry Potter movies: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Radcliffe and Grint were 11 when filming began, while Watson was only 9. Because eight movies were shot over 10 years, the three did not have much opportunity to pursue other projects at the time. The actors were chosen because they embodied the characters to a certain degree, making the association even harder to shake.
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Post-Potter, Radcliffe is drawn to strange movies that allow him to show off his range. He played a nonverbal corpse in Swiss Army Man and comedic villains in Now You See Me 2 and The Lost City. He has also done four seasons Miracle Workers and Broadway theater. Grint has acted in some television, most recently as Julian Pearce in Servant. Watson got an education at Brown University. Since then, Watson has been selective in her acting roles, tackling the role of Belle in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
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Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students’ time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
Created by J.K. Rowling First Film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone First TV Show Harry Potter Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Matthew Lewis , Bonnie Wright , Evanna Lynch , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Harris , Ralph Fiennes , Helena Bonham Carter , Alfred Enoch , Harry Melling , Gary Oldman , Robert Pattinson , Warwick Davis , Oliver Phelps , James Phelps , David Bradley , David Thewlis , Katie Leung , Jason Isaacs , Imelda Staunton , David Tennant , Jamie Campbell Bower , Timothy Spall , Robbie Coltrane , Eddie Redmayne , Jude Law , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Johnny Depp , Mads Mikkelsen TV Show(s) Harry Potter Character(s) Harry Potter , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Dumbledore , Minerva McGonagall , Rubeus Hagrid , Dobby the House Elf , Draco Malfoy , Sirius Black , Ginny Weasley , Voldemort Expand