All-star

This article is about the sports and entertainment industry term. For other uses, see All-star (disambiguation).

For the shoes, see Chuck Taylor All-Stars.

All-star (also All-Star) is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. It can also be used for a group of individuals, who are popular in certain areas.

Sports

Main article: All-star game

"All-star" as a sports term refers to an individual named as an "all-star" on a team representing the top performers in a given sport, or to a list of top participants in individual sports such as golf and bowling. Events limited to such honorees are referred to as "all-star games" or events.

In American team sports the premier all-star games are the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, Pro Bowl, NHL All-Star Game, and the MLS All-Star Game. Many all-star teams, such as collegiate "all-conference" and All-America squads, are recognitions of performance only, without the connotation of those selected ever being teammates in a game.

In gaelic games, the term "all-stars" refers to the GAA GPA All Stars Awards. These awards involve picking a fantasy team consisting of the top players in each position in the various sports (Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football, hurling, rounders and camogie).

Entertainment

Cinema

The term all-star is often used as a form of publicity gimmick to promote the cast of a movie in which a number of high-profile actors appear, sometimes merely in cameo roles. Well-recognized examples include Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Ocean's 11 (1960), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Casino Royale (1967), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), A Bridge Too Far (1977) Cop Land (1997), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Dogville (2003), Valentine's Day (2010), The Expendables (2010), New Year's Eve (2011), and Movie 43 (2013).

Television

In television, there are a number of groups who could be considered All-Stars. Many reality competition shows produce All-Stars editions, which feature notable and particularly talented contestants of past regular seasons.