12 Movies That Cast MAJOR Actors (Just To Die)

12. Ben Affleck - Smokin' Aces

This knockabout hitman actioner was always marketed as an ensemble about the array of colourful characters out to kill, catch or protect the titular Vegas magician/gangster. Nevertheless, Affleck (then on the verge of a career renaissance that would lead to a Best Picture Oscar) was the big name amongst an impressive list of up-and-comers.

In a cast involving torture lovers who have chewed off their own fingertips and latex mask wearing masters of disguise, Affleck's world-weary bail bondsman felt like the more grounded character we were supposed to root for.

Sure enough, the early scenes presented Affleck as a sort of viewpoint character to establish the setup. Then he was summarily bumped off by Nazi skinhead Chris Pine and his equally psychotic brothers before the main body of the movie's action really got going.

Instead the movie ultimately fixes on Ryan Reynolds's FBI agent as the de facto hero. These days Reynolds heading up such an ensemble would not be out of the ordinary, but back in 2006 he hadn't yet even played the bad version of Deadpool. His signature role was still frat boy Van Wilder.

Still, getting rid of the movie's biggest name in the first act certainly helped establish Smokin' Aces's chaotic energy.