Billed Above the Title: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

When an actor -- usually the lead, but occasionally [[One Scene Wonder|someone with a prominent and memorable supporting role]] -- and (almost) always the most famous person involved in a production -- is listed more prominently in the credits and all promotional material than even the title of the work itself.

When an actor -- usually the lead, but occasionally [[One-Scene Wonder|someone with a prominent and memorable supporting role]] -- and (almost) always the most famous person involved in a production -- is listed more prominently in the credits and all promotional material than even the title of the work itself.

A trope mostly associated with [[Film|the cinema]], but actually dating back at least as far as [[Older Than Radio|19th-century theatre]]. Very often, the project in which our actor is appearing is a "star vehicle" -- crafted specifically with him or her in mind. This is especially true in television, where the show itself will likely be named after our star. This is a classic litmus test as to whether the actor is a bona-fide A-lister, or just a prolific [[Hey ~~Its~~ That Guy|character actor]] or product of the [[Hollywood Hype Machine]].

A trope mostly associated with [[Film|the cinema]], but actually dating back at least as far as [[Older Than Radio|19th-century theatre]]. Very often, the project in which our actor is appearing is a "star vehicle" -- crafted specifically with him or her in mind. This is especially true in television, where the show itself will likely be named after our star. This is a classic litmus test as to whether the actor is a bona-fide A-lister, or just a prolific [[Hey It's That Guy|character actor]] or product of the [[Hollywood Hype Machine]].

In most [[New Media]] (such as early [[Live Action TV|television]], [[Video Games]], and [[Web Video|web series]], among others), this tactic is used if they manage to recruit someone that people actually recognize, even if by Hollywood standards the actor is fairly low on the totem pole.

Line 10:

Note that, in [[Music]], ''all'' musicians are billed above the title of the album or single as a matter of course, so please don't add any examples there.

Compare [[And Starring]]. When multiple actors are [[Billed Above the Title]], it's also an example of [[All Star Cast]]. Actors who fall under this trope may also be guilty of [[I Am Not Leonard Nimoy]]. [[Billing Displacement]] can result in someone being [[Billed Above the Title]] in later releases even when they weren't originally. Also compare [[In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It]], which is when the ''author'' of a work which is being adapted receives top billing.

Compare [[And Starring]]. When multiple actors are [[Billed Above the Title]], it's also an example of [[All-Star Cast]]. Actors who fall under this trope may also be guilty of [[I Am Not Leonard Nimoy]]. [[Billing Displacement]] can result in someone being [[Billed Above the Title]] in later releases even when they weren't originally. Also compare [[In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It]], which is when the ''author'' of a work which is being adapted receives top billing.

== Comic Books ==

Line 26:

* Weird case: ''Cobra'' is titled "[[Sylvester Stallone|Stallone]] Cobra" in Brazil because of this.

* [[Audrey Hepburn]] was granted this for ''[[Roman Holiday]]'' after Gregory Peck told his agent that, despite her not appearing in any prior major motion pictures, she should receive high billing for her Oscar-worthy lead performance.

* [[Marlon Brando]] in ''[[Superman (Film)|Superman]]'', who took the role of Jor-El in exchange for both this trope and [[Money Dear Boy]], and infamously provided one of the laziest, most wooden performances of his career.

* [[Marlon Brando]] in ''[[Superman (Film)|Superman]]'', who took the role of Jor-El in exchange for both this trope and [[Money, Dear Boy]], and infamously provided one of the laziest, most wooden performances of his career.

** Similarly, [[Jack Nicholson]] in ''[[Batman (Film)|Batman]]'', for whom top billing was a small price to pay: He is the highest-paid actor in history for a single film (his estimated payday in lump sum plus grosses plus merchandising was ''$60 million'', and that's ''not'' adjusted for inflation). To his credit, though, he does put in a much better performance than Brando.

Line 60:

== Video Games ==

* [[Mark Hamill]] in ''[[Wing Commander (Video Game)|Wing Commander]] IV'', though not in ''Wing Commander III''. Both games had an [[All Star Cast]], but Hamill was the lead (and, technically, the [[Star Wars|most famous actor]]).

* [[Mark Hamill]] in ''[[Wing Commander (Video Game)|Wing Commander]] IV'', though not in ''Wing Commander III''. Both games had an [[All-Star Cast]], but Hamill was the lead (and, technically, the [[Star Wars|most famous actor]]).

* Almost everything [[Sid Meier (Creator)|Sid Meier]] has ever worked on since at least the mid '90s has borne a title starting with ''[[In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It|Sid Meier's]] [Whatever]''.