From Jamie Lee Curtis to Johnny Depp: Celebrities whose first movies were a box office hit

Everyone loves a great success story, and in Hollywood, some actors hit the ground running.

While many stars struggle for years in small roles before their big break, a few lucky actors saw instant fame with their very first film.

Here are some of the stars whose first movies were unforgettable hits:

1. Jamie Lee Curtis:

Jamie Lee Curtis has worked in appeared super hit movies, but she made her film debut with John Carpenter's 1978 horror Halloween, which became a box office sensation.

Despite having a limited budget of just $325,000, Halloween earned an impressive $70 million at the box office. This shot Jamie Lee Curtis to instant stardom and cemented her status as one of the greatest horror film actresses of all time.

Later in her career, Curtis won several Awards, including an Academy Award for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

2. Johnny Depp:

Johnny Depp is an American actor well known for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean. 

He made is film debut in the 1984 horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street, although he had a minor role in it but he left a lasting impression in one of the most iconic 1980s horror films. 

The movie was significant box office success particularly considering its relatively low budget, and launched a successful horror franchise.

It had a worldwide gross of $57.1 million against a budget of $1.8 million.

Depp's career has largely revolved around similarly quirky roles, especially through numerous collaborations with director Tim Burton, such as Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow.

3. Natalie Portman:

Natalie Portman, an American actress well known for her role in Star Wars prequel trilogy, made her film debut at the age of 13 years.

Portman starred in Léon: The Professional alongside Jean Reno and Gary Oldman. While the crime thriller wasn’t a huge blockbuster but it still earned $46 million and launched Portman’s career.

By the age of 20, she had already appeared in Heat and a Star Wars film, and she has since become an Academy Award-winning actress with movies grossing nearly $9 billion.

4. Cameron Diaz:

Cameron Diaz well known for her roles in blockbuster comedies, made her unforgettable film debut opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask.

Despite having no prior acting experience, Diaz’s charm helped the comedy achieve $350 million at the box office. 

The role turned her into an instant Hollywood icon, which set the stage for a career in films that collectively grossed over $7 billion before her retirement in 2014.

5. Anne Hathaway:

Anne Hathaway is an American actress who is well known for her family-friendly roles. 

Her first major film role was in Disney’s The Princess Diaries, which earned $165 million worldwide.
Hathaway’s performance exceeded expectations for a newcomer and launched her career as one of Hollywood’s leading stars.
Following this huge success, she continued to star in films like The Devil Wears Prada and Interstellar, earning an Academy Award and a total box office gross near $7 billion. 

Each actor’s first role became the starting point of their journey in the film industry, which paves the way for the careers that followed and their early success remains a notable part of their professional story.