The Difference between A-list, B-list, C-list and D-list Actors & Celebrities

“A-list” actors are exceptionally successful, their notoriety extends beyond the silver screen, and their name guarantees a box office hit. Some “A-list” actors include: Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, and Johnny Depp. The “A-list” actors are usually made up of male actors as with more high earning positions.

“B-list” actors are usually television actors or less successful movie stars. Some “B-list” actors include: Nicholas Cage, Katherine Heigl, David Morse, Samantha Morton, and Pierce Brosnan. “B-list” actors usually never headline a film by themselves; this means the supporting actors are usually fairly notable too.

“C-list” actor is a character actor that’s known by face and not by name. They are usually still good actors, but they receive less notoriety than an A or B-list actor.

“D-list” actors are the lowest on the celebrity hierarchy; they appear on celebrity game shows and reality television.

• Celebrity refers to popular fame and public attention in the media, usually applied to a person, or group of people (celebrity couple, family etc.), or occasionally, to animals or fictional entities. Celebrity status is often associated with wealth (commonly referred to as fame and fortune) and fame can often provide opportunities to make money.

Successful careers in sports and entertainment are commonly associated with celebrity status. People may also become celebrities due to media attention for their lifestyle, wealth, or actions, or for their connection to a famous person.

• A-list is a term that alludes to major movie stars, or the most bankable in the Hollywood film industry or to major recording artists, major international sports stars or miscellaneous occupations such as the most successful film directors, certain high profile media and entertainment moguls and the most notable international TV broadcasters.

The A-list is part of a larger guide called The Hot List that has become an industry-standard guide in Hollywood. James Ulmer has also developed a Hot List of directors.

The Ulmer scale categorizes the lists into A+, A, B+, B, C, and D listings.

WHO USES THE ULMER SCALE?

Hollywood's top powerbrokers and professionals have for years relied upon The Ulmer Scale to assess and reduce the inherent risks of funding, casting and producing motion pictures. Financiers, producers, casting directors, sales agents, talent agents, buyers and distributors, both in the United States and abroad, have taken advantage of the Scale's unique ranking system to help cut time and costs in doing business. Thanks to the perennial public fascination with Hollywood and the business of celebrities, The Ulmer Scale also has been regularly followed by non-industry readers through its appearance in numerous consumer press outlets.

• The Ulmer Scale powerbases have been developed by James Ulmer to exploit his 20 years of experience in reporting and researching the international film and television marketplace.
• The results are published in a handy, pocket-sized book -- ideal for use at deal meetings, sale negotiations and casting sessions. Internet access is coming soon!

The Ulmer Scale powerbases take the guesswork out of financing, casting and packaging your film. 

The Ulmer Scale saves you time and money by gathering all the information you need to do your job--putting projects together and finding the right talent for them.

• The Ulmer Scale is devoted exclusively to researching, analyzing and reporting the value of actors worldwide.
• The Ulmer Scale is the only system to measure an actor's bankability by the budget level of a film.