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The 2000s gave way to some great horror films, some of which starred future, and already-established, A-Listers.

After being dominated by teen slasher films in the mid to late '90s, the horror genre went through some interesting times in the 2000s. We saw the rise of popular American remakes of Japanese films like The Grudge, and The Ring, while also giving way to more hardcore films like Saw, and Hostel. The found footage phenomenon took hold, and we were treated to the ridiculousness that was Snakes on a Plane.

Still, that didn't stop new and established actors from appearing in horror films. Whether they were looking to catch a break, or flex some of their already-earned star power, these A-Listers all appeared in horror films before going on to be regarded as some of Hollywood's top performers.

Octavia Spencer had been around Hollywood for about 12 years before she appeared in Rob Zombie's Halloween II in 2009 as Nurse Daniels. Playing bit parts in such films as A Time to Kill, Spider-Man, and Beauty Shop, she'd built an impressive resume up until then. Her big break wouldn't come until 2011, though, when she portrayed Minny Jackson in The Help, a role that landed her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Since then, she's been nominated for her roles in Hidden Figures, and The Shape of Water, and has become a tremendous character actor. On December 8th, 2022, she was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and is set to lead a true-crime series, Lost Women of Highway 20, for MAX and Discovery ID.

In what was only her second appearance on the big screen, Amy Adams appeared in the horror-comedy, Psycho Beach Party, in 2000. Starring alongside the likes of Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), and Nicholas Brendan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), she brought what would become her trademark charm to the set, eager to make sure everyone was having a good time. Speaking with the film's Prop Master, Peter Clines, who has since gone on to become a successful New York Times best-selling author, he told MovieWeb:

"I remember once, we were on stage, and I was having an absolutely crappy day... she walked over and just started singing Smash Mouth's 'All-Star' to me with this big smile on her face. The whole song. It was just ridiculous and sweet, and cheered me up right on the spot."

Adams has since gone on to earn six Academy Award nominations, and recently appeared in Disenchanted for Disney+, and is set to star in the upcoming comedy, Nightbitch.

Making his first appearance in theaters, Seth Rogen had a bit part in the 2001 sci-fi psychological thriller, Donnie Darko, where he portrayed high school bully, Ricky Danforth. From there he'd appear in such films as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but his big break would come when he'd star in the 2007 comedy, Knocked Up, alongside Katherine Heigl.

He's since become one of Hollywood's most renowned artists, earning five Emmy nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, and has even made the transition into directing. He can currently be seen in the Apple TV+ comedy, Platonic, which premiered on May 24th, 2023.

A Hollywood mainstay since 1989, Andre Braugher appeared in the Stephen King adaptation, The Mist, in 2007. Portraying the role of Brent Norton, he'd be killed off-screen by the evil, Lovecraftian monsters lurking in the eerie mist that's surrounding the small town of Bridgton, Maine. An excellent character actor, it would take another six years before Braugher became well-known for his role of Captain Raymond Holt in the long-running comedy series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

During his career, he's been nominated for more than 40 awards, taking home 12 trophies from various organizations, and recently appeared in the 2022 film, She Said, chronicling the investigation that exposed the decades of abuse and sexual misconduct of disgraced Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein.

Long before joining the MCU as Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson appeared in the 2002 horror-comedy, Eight Legged Freaks, as Ashley Parker. The film, about a small mining town overrun with giant, mutated spiders, certainly wasn't Oscar material, but it did showcase Johansson's depth as an actor.

It would lead to her being cast in the critically acclaimed movie, Lost in Translation, a year later, followed by the equally acclaimed, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Besides kicking butt in the MCU, Johansson can be seen in the upcoming Wes Anderson film, Asteroid City, and is also currently filming the Apple TV+ movie, Project Artemis. As for Black Widow? It looks as if she's done with that role for the time being.

Like Scarlett Johansson before him, Ryan Reynolds would eventually join the MCU as Wade Wilson, but 11 years before that he portrayed George Lutz in the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror. While the film received mostly negative reviews, it did give Reynolds a chance to show off his chops as a leading man, and from there he's go on to star in such films as Waiting..., Just Friends, and Chaos Theory.

In 2009, he appeared as Weapon XI in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but it wasn't until 2016 that he'd reprise the role in Deadpool, which won him a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. He's set to play the role again in Deadpool 3, which is slated for a late 2024 release.

Related: Ryan Reynolds is Not Allowed to Improvise in Deadpool 3 Due to Writers Strike

2010 was a breakthrough year for young Chloë Grace Moretz, who was featured in both Let Me In, and Kick-Ass, the two roles that pretty much launched her career. In Let Me In (a remake of the Swedish film, Let the Right One In) she portrays Abby, a child vampire that develops a relationship with 12-year-old Owen. It's rare that a Hollywood remake receives any acclaim, but Let Me In was the exception.

Praised for her dramatic performance, Moretz would become a force to be reckoned with, winning several awards and appearing in such films as Hugo, Carrie, and The Equalizer. She can currently be seen in the Amazon Prime sci-fi drama, The Peripheral, which was recently renewed for a second season. Even though she's been around for a while, at only 26, it really does feel as if her career is just getting started.

After hitting it big thanks to his portrayal of the God of Thunder in the 2011 blockbuster, Thor, Chris Hemsworth would go on to star in four films in 2012, with The Cabin in the Woods being just one of them. Portraying Curt Vaughn, Hemsworth would eventually die after trying to jump a ravine on a motorcycle, but his blockbuster career would continue.

He's been a staple in the MCU ever since, and has also recently appeared in the action-thriller, Extraction, where he'll reprise his role of Tyler Rake in the upcoming sequel on Netflix.

Already Hollywood royalty by this point, Nicole Kidman starred in the gothic horror film, The Others, in 2001. Portraying Grace Stewart, Kidman gave a commanding performance that garnered her several award nominations, and furthered her career as a Hollywood mainstay. She's since gone on to join the DCU as Queen Atlanna in Aquaman, and has appeared in the MAX series, Big Little Lies, and Nine Perfect Strangers over on Hulu. She's also set to star in the upcoming Paramount+ spy series, Special Ops: Lioness.

After becoming noticed for her roles in Cruel Intentions, and Election, both in 1999, Reese Witherspoon appeared in American Psycho in 2000. Portraying Evelyn Williams, the fiancée of Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), her role was minor in the film, but she'd be catapulted into stardom the next year with the hit movie, Legally Blonde.

She'd appear in several romantic comedies thereafter, as well as being featured in dramatic roles in films such as Wild, Walk the Line (for which she received an Oscar), and the MAX series, Big Little Lies, along with the aforementioned Nicole Kidman. She's also become a successful producer, and can currently be seen on the Apple TV+ hit, The Morning Show, which has already been renewed for a fourth season.

Related: Every Reese Witherspoon Rom-Com, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score

First introduced to American audiences in the 2002 hit, 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy has since gone on to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. He portrayed Jim in the movie, a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma only to discover the world overrun with the Rage virus.

The film was a critical smash, and would propel Murphy into stardom, where he'd go on to appear as Scarecrow in Batman Begins, Robert Capa in Sunshine (a sci-fi film that doesn't get nearly enough love), and Thomas Shelby in the acclaimed drama series, Peaky Blinders. He's set to star next as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan three-hour epic, Oppenheimer, which hits theaters on July 21st, 2023, and recently received a surprising R-rating.

Before appearing in action films such as Thor, and Pacific Rim, Idris Elba made an appearance in Prom Night, a reboot of the horror series that started off all the way back in 1980. Portraying Detective Winn, Elba had a substantial role in the film, even being the one to shoot the killer in the end, and console the final girl. Though it was blasted by critics, Elba would do okay for himself.

He'd go on to join the MCU as Heimdall, the DCU as Bloodsport, and play troubled Detective Chief Inspector, John Luther, in the British crime thriller, Luther. He can next be seen in the thriller miniseries, Hijack, which hits Apple TV+ on June 28th, 2023.

James Melzer is a freelance writer and author with an addiction to '80s horror movies. When he's not dissecting film, he can be found in his favorite chair knitting socks, most likely with a cat curled up beside him.