Sean Penn believes that Jennifer Lawrence is likely the last remaining movie star.

      Sony Pictures

      Actor and director Sean Penn understands what it means to be a movie star, and he believes Hollywood has stopped producing them. In a recent interview on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Penn shared his views on various celebrities.

      “I think the movie star factory ran out around the time of Jennifer Lawrence or something,” Penn remarked. “She’s probably the last movie star.”

      He also expressed admiration for Tom Cruise, a well-established movie star who is set to release Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. “Certain types of movies are appreciated more than others… but he’s a very good actor and an incredibly remarkable craftsman,” Penn said concerning Cruise. “Those high-caliber movies don’t get made without someone extraordinary behind them. He’s the common thread in many of them. It’s no coincidence. He performs his own stunts. He’s probably the best stuntman in the film industry. He’s the most seasoned individual.”

      While Penn acknowledged some impressive performances from younger actors, he mentioned, “I see performances from some young actors that make me feel like I should give up and pursue a career as an accountant because they are so talented.” However, when asked specifically about Timothee Chalamet, Penn admitted that he hadn’t “seen his films yet.”

      The topic of whether Hollywood still creates movie stars is certainly debatable, but many may argue that Chalamet exemplifies that achieving fame through a successful film career is still possible. Both Lawrence and Chalamet balance significant franchise projects with smaller, more intimate films, which could be the key to their success.

      Joe Allen is a freelance writer for Digital Trends, where he covers Movies and TV. He often writes about streaming…

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