These great movies had only one actor — and they’re unforgettable

When it comes to choosing my next movie or show to watch, a great cast list can certainly be a nice selling point for me. Sometimes I'll watch a show purely for the ensemble cast rather than the plot, and it doesn't often steer me in the wrong direction. Who doesn't love watching a bunch of talented actors chewing some scenery? It's a large part of what draws me into entertainment.

Yet there's also something to be said for a film that chooses one great actor and then drops them into the narrative all by themselves, and sees what magic they can create. It can really show you what a particular star is capable of without anyone else to lean on for a particular scene. Some of my favorite movies to revisit are those with a sense of isolation that can only be captured by one actor, typically in a single setting.

All is Lost

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All is Lost is what happens when you put a legendary actor like Robert Redford in a survival film and just let him do his thing. Focused on an unnamed man who must contend with a devastating tropical storm aboard his boat. It is a harrowing watch, where Redford truly embodies a man who struggles to survive despite everything going completely wrong.

Essentially, it's a film that truly lives up to its title, and that's largely due to Redford's dedication to the role, despite the absence of spoken dialogue. The survival genre is perfect for a one-actor movie like this, and All is Lost really utilizes every second of its runtime.

Buried

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Okay, so technically, there are other actors in Buried, but they're all voices. The action itself is always focused specifically on star Ryan Reynolds as he tries to survive being buried alive. This is a concept that could easily wear thin once you get past the novelty of it, but Reynolds turns in what I believe is still one of the best performances of his career. Yes, it helps that he can talk to other characters on his phone, but the emotional center remains solely with him.

Buried is so good that I find myself wishing that Reynolds would take more acting risks nowadays. Don't get me wrong, I love Deadpool and his other action comedy efforts. But there's a lot of acting talent underneath his sarcastic persona that I wish he would let shine more often, and Buried is just a small sample size of that.

Cast Away

Watch Cast Away on Amazon Prime Video

Okay, you got me. This movie definitely has a cast other than Tom Hanks, and Cast Away does have a significant amount of time spent with them. However, the crux of the drama and character development occurs when Hanks' character is left all alone on the island after his plane crashes. Unless you want to count Wilson as a character, which I'm not opposed to.

The point remains: Hank turns in a harrowing, brilliant performance, and Cast Away is one of those movies I revisit when I want to be inspired to find the beauty in life. It's more bittersweet than it is anything else, but I still find it to be one of my top feel-good movies, because it puts my own problems into perspective. And this is still one of my favorite Hanks performances because it's so understated compared to the other obvious films you could mention.

Moon

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Moon is one of those sci-fi movies that no one really talks about when it comes to mainstream greats in the genre, which baffles me. A large part of why boils down to Sam Rockwell's magnificent and soulful performance in multiple roles as a clone. Hey, there's technically only one actor, though I guess Kevin Spacey does voice a robot. But we really don't need to think about that.

Moon is something I will sing the praises of as long as I am able to. Rockwell does a fantastic job of making each version of Sam Bell feel distinct and unique. It also remains Duncan Jones' best directorial effort, a testament to his and screenwriter Nathan Parker's creativity despite a smaller budget. Modern sci-fi could learn a lot from Moon.

Arctic

Watch Arctic on Amazon Prime Video

First, I want to acknowledge that Mads Mikkelsen is one of the most underrated actors of the modern era. From the title role in the series Hannibal to the underutilized villain in Doctor Strange, Mikkelsen has been quietly killing it as a character actor for a long time now. Yet, Arctic, a survival thriller set in the Arctic Circle, is a true testament to his abilities.

Like All is Lost, there's not much in the way of dialogue because it's just Mikkelsen (mostly) all alone, trying to survive and make his way to safety. This is nothing more than a showcase for Mikkelsen and his talents, and the actor brings a lot of subtle emoting to the role. You can feel the desperation in just a look or a twitch of the face. And director Joe Penna smartly lets shots linger on him rather than trying to bum-rush to the finish line. Arctic is superb survival entertainment.

The modern era could do with more one-actor films

In an age where every film is seemingly trying to pack as much star power into it as it possibly can get away with, I think it might be time to invest in some low-key one-actor movies again. It's a lost art form in the modern world, and I think that's a shame. Regardless, these films are among the best in showcasing an actor's ability to carry an entire film on their shoulders.