Franchise or film star: Big things come from small beginnings

This Sunday marks the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony. That means Oscar has reached the late geriatric stage of his cultural significance, and like with most village elders, that longevity comes with respect.

But more than anything, the Oscars represent the culmination of years of hard work for actors and actresses. These men and women toil away in bit parts in B-movies for years hoping they might one day hear their names called on the big stage.

In this way, film stars share a similar trajectory to franchises. McDonald’s wasn’t always the Meryl Streep of the franchise game, after all. And just like each new year brings another crop of budding stars to compete with the old guard, it delivers a new wave of hungry franchises ready to make their mark (at the risk of overreaching with an analogy, if Pizza Hut is Robert Duvall at this year’s Academy Awards, Toppers Pizza is Edward Norton).

So before you find yourself blinded by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood this Sunday, take a moment to think on the small beginnings of some of today’s biggest stars. And remember that your favorite neighborhood restaurant could someday have locations all around the world.

Thank Flavorwire for the above supercut of various nominees’ earliest roles. The video is surprisingly safe for work except for a couple cuss words tossed out by Best Supporting Actress nominee Emma Stone. She’s got the face of an angel and the mouth of a sailor, that one.