Women leads who stole the show

While James Stewart enjoyed some international accolades for his role as a former detective dealing with some anxieties, a young Novak is often more memorable in the female lead as Judy/Madeleine. Now, both stars can more than hold her own, but it was Novak who made a name for herself via this Alfred Hitchcock thriller.

Playing opposite Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin, too, MacLaine stars brilliantly as Ginny, the intellectually challenged love interest of Sinatra's Dave. MacLaine plays a character who has a tendency to grow on the audience, and she played it well enough to earn her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress and open the door for her legendary screen career.  

While Foster earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as teenage prostitute Iris, she was no doubt the most dominant and memorable female presence in the film, and some can argue she stole some of Robert De Niro's thunder in his own stellar role. Not only was it a breakthrough gig for Foster, it proved just how talented she was for her age — and certainly gave a glimpse at what greatness was on the horizon for this eventual Hollywood superstar.

Lange's legendary film career opened with a bang by portraying the famed ingenue in the remake of the 1933 classic "King Kong." Lange, a fashion model at the time, had never acted in a film, but she captured big-screen fans with her beauty and vulnerability, outshining male leads Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin. If she was good enough for Kong, it's more than good enough for us as the audience.

Now, Woody Allen, who also starred as the male lead, reportedly wrote the part of the title character for Keaton. Still, he was given top billing and won the Oscar for direction. Yet, as most fans of Allen's films, and specifically this one, know Keaton was the undisputed star. It earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in a role that somewhat made her a trendsetter from a social and fashion standpoint during the late 1970s.

This seems like a rather easy one. Eric Stoltz played the male lead, Keith, a creative, high school introvert looking to prove his worth to the hot girl in school. Yet, it was his tomboy best friend Watts (Masterson), who drove this John Hughes-penned '80s hit with her quirkiness and sarcasm while hiding her true feelings for her buddy.   

Albert Brooks and William Hurt were established stars — and tough to beat while earning Oscar love in this media-based romantic comedy. But, it can be argued that Hunter was the best of the bunch. She earned her first Academy Award nomination for the role of Jane Craig, the workaholic television news producer. Hunter became a bona fide Hollywood star thanks to this empowering character.

Billy Crystal earned top billing for this Nora Ephron/Rob Reiner classic. However, it was Ryan as the somewhat uptight, totally high-maintenance (though she thinks she's low-maintenance) Sally Albright, who delivers a good chunk of the film's most memorable moments. Most notably, her fake orgasm scene in a crowded deli that continues to stand the test of cinema time. 

Richard Gere was an international star, though maybe not shining as brightly at the time, but the film was all about Roberts, in her first real leading role. Her breakthrough part came as the down-on-her-luck prostitute, Vivian, who is hired as the escort of Gere's Edward. The two ultimately fall in love, and the viewers can't help but fall for Roberts, who won a Golden Globe for the role and Oscar nomination for Best Actress. 

One of the most controversial movies of its time, thanks to the seductive, sultry Stone as the sexy but diabolical author Catherine Tramell. It was her breakout role, and she completely overshadowed Michael Douglas' Nick Curran, a detective trying to put his hard-living days behind him. Stone, whose memorable interrogation seemed too hot for the screen, never achieved nearly the same kind of success going forward than she did from this role.   

Keanu Reeves was good as the heartthrob cop trying to save the day, and Dennis Hopper was great as the maniacal bad guy, but when we talk about stealing the show, Bullock comes through in her door-opening role as bus passenger Annie. She begins her day riding the bus and ends it by helping Reeves save the vehicle from blowing up. Her combination of perfectly timed comic relief and unknowing confidence make Bullock quite memorable.  

Driver earned marquee roles opposite Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon ("Good Will Hunting") and John Cusack ("Grosse Pointe Blank") because of her work in the film version of this popular novel. Driver earned much acclaim for her first lead role and upped the presence of male lead Chris O'Donnell, who was not bad. Just not as relatable as Driver's Benny, who successfully covers a range of emotions within her character.

Tom Cruise was nominated for an Oscar and Cuba Gooding Jr., rather stunningly, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. However, Zellweger's take as single-mom Dorothy Boyd earned her some breakout Hollywood love. In a lot of ways, she was consistently more endearing than both Cruise and Gooding, who annoyed at times. She completes us, too.

When Ryan and Tom Hanks teamed up with Nora Ephron five years earlier for "Sleepless in Seattle," it was more about Hanks — or at least seemed that way. With "You've Got Mail," it was Ryan who seemed to step up her game and slightly edged Hanks in terms of who delivered the better performance. She's confident and independent, yet vulnerable, and plays those characteristics to near rom-com perfection.

Matthew Broderick was solid as a disgruntled high school teacher in this dark comedy, but Witherspoon as his student and nemesis was just plain brilliant as the overachieving Tracy Flick. In her first, true leading role, Witherspoon found a way for moviegoers to appreciate Tracy's dislikeability because we've probably known a classmate or two just like her. 

In this remake of the 1968 heist film, Russo gives a smart and sultry performance as an insurance investigator playing a steamy cat-and-mouse game with billionaire and alleged thief Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan). No knock to Brosnan, but Russo is the true star of the film, keeping up with her male lead and pulling ahead when all is said and done.

"Boys and Girls" might be a forgettable film to most, but Forlani is one of its saving graces. Freddie Prinze Jr. was the movie's big name, but Forlani was an empowering female presence, who was confident and insecure at the same time as Jennifer. Prinze's Ryan is often whiny and annoying, but Forlani, who made her name with "Mallrats" five years earlier, might be the only reason to see the film.

We'll take some liberty here, considering Hudson's role as the free-living, groupie Penny Lane is technically a supporting character. But like Jodie Foster in "Taxi Driver," Hudson is arguably the most important and memorable female presence in the Cameron Crowe film — topping veteran Francis McDormand. And, far more appealing than prominent male characters played by Billy Crudup and youngster Patrick Fugit.

Still the role that movie fans should go to first when bringing up Berry's filmography — one that made her the first African-American Best Actress Oscar winner. She plays Leticia, a single mother who is struggling to get by and starts a relationship with the man (Bill Bob Thornton) who oversaw the prison execution of her husband. It's the most raw and vulnerable character Berry has ever played, and it's emotionally unforgettable 

The movie was a surprising box-office hit, making more than $164 million worldwide. It was also Latifah's first real success in a starring role, one in which she more than held her own opposite legend Steve Martin's uptight lawyer, Peter. Latifah's Charlene is funny, honest and compassionate when needed as an escaped, innocent convict.

Here's another one from Keaton, who as we've seen throughout her career, is able to more than keep up with whoever is opposite in a leading role. Pitted with another Hollywood giant in Jack Nicholson, Keaton has great on-screen chemistry with her legendary co-star in the rom-com about up-in-age love. Keaton earned her fourth Best Actress nomination for her role as 50-something divorcee Erica Barry.

The second time we highlight Witherspoon came in arguably her best role to date in this Johnny Cash biopic. Playing opposite Joaquin Phoenix as the country legend, Witherspoon's portrayal as June Carter Cash exceeded expectations and won her a Best Actress Oscar. Slightly outshining Phoenix, who was stellar in his own lead role, but not quite as authentic as Witherspoon's effort.

Popular geek Michael Cera got top billing for this under-the-radar indie romantic-comedy, but Dennings is the true star. Though not as salty as her character Max from the former CBS sitcom "2 Broke Girls," Dennings offers a nice blend of sarcasm, humor and honesty to the role of Norah Silverberg. Her chemistry with Cera also helps. 

Tabbed as a "romantic comedy with commitment issues," there was no issue with Brie's underrated performance opposite Jason Sudeikis. Both lead characters are flawed and struggling in the game of love. However, Brie's Lainey stands out more, and we seem to feel for her with every misstep and poor relationship decision. 

This was Bradley Cooper's film, but Lady Gaga proved again just how ridiculously versatile and talented an entertainer she is as the female lead in this fourth version of the film. Gaga, like Cooper, earned an Oscar nomination for her leading role and won the Best Original Song award for the widely popular "Shallow," which she co-wrote. The theme of the film has always been considered schlocky, and the male lead is honestly hard to root for, but Gaga's portrayal as the up-and-coming star singer stands out among those previously played by greats Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland and Judy Garland. Pretty good company.