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Who Is This Generation's Brat Pack?

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | June 12, 2014 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | June 12, 2014 |


I know that actors dislike comparisons and categorizations (especially Shailene Woodley, for good reason), but for Internet list purposes, they’re fun, and this one in particular because a strong group of actors is beginning to take shape as sort of Hollywood’s next generation: They’re being cast in a lot of films, they’re working together frequently, they’re 27 or younger, and like the Brat Pack, they’re often featured as the leads in movies about high-school or college kids.

Not all of the next generation’s Hollywood actors are among them: Jennifer Lawrence is obviously like the Julia Roberts of the group: She’s already ascended, along with Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield). Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac (among others) aren’t really in this crowd. However, I think the following list of eight seems to be the best spiritual fit to the original Brat Pack: Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.

I will note, however, that the new generation of Brat Packers, or The Echo Boomer Pack, is less flashy than the ’80s version, more activist, and — no offense to the original Brat pack — but better actors, by and large.

The Core Members

Shailene Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, The Spectacular Now)

Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, Carrie)

Miles Teller (Divergent, That Awkward Moment, The Spectacular Now)

Michael B. Jordan (That Awkward Moment, Fruitvale Station, Chronicle)

Brie Larson (The Spectacular Now, Short Term 12, Don Jon)

Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Warm Bodies, the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road)

Elizabeth Olsen — (the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Godzilla)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, Kick-Ass, Godzilla)

The Non-Core Members

The James Spader Creepy Award Goes to Dane DeHaan (Chronicle, The Amazing Spider-Man 2)


The Michael Schoeffling Early Career Bow-Out Award Could Go To Theo James (Divergent)

The Peripheral Ralph Macchio Award Goes to Nat Wolff (The Fault in Our Stars)

The Tough Guy Patrick Swayze Award Goes to Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard, Divergent, Terminator: Genesis)

The Haviland Morris Forgotten Girlfriend Award Goes to Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, I Am Number Four)

The C. Thomas Howell Lifetime Supporting Character Award Goes to Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect)

The Ione Skye Too-Cool for This Crowd Award Goes to Greta Gerwig.