[General] What is the meaning of "first billed"?

[Olympian]

Hello,

I was looking at a movie information on the IMDB website and there, under "Cast" it said: "Cast overview, first billed only:". What does "first billed" mean?

Thank you

 

[MrPedantic]

I would take it to mean only the actors that appear on adverts for the film, or in a larger font in the titles - i.e. not the minor characters.

Best wishes,

MrP

 

[Olympian]

Thank you MrP.

 

[5jj]

I would take it to mean only the actors that appear on adverts for the film, or in a larger font in the titles - i.e. not the minor characters.

You may be right, Mr P; I took it to mean only the first name to appear.

 

[MrPedantic]

It would probably have helped if I'd checked at IMDb first; but they seem to use the phrase to designate the main actors, with the remainder listed in a "full cast and crew" expandable link.

 

[5jj]

It would probably have helped if I'd checked at IMDb first;

I didn't think of it, either.

 

[Ouisch]

Film credits can be a confusing minefield of celebrity ego....actors' agents will lobby to have their star listed in a certain place on movie posters or in ads, or prior to the title in the actual film. Anyway, "first billed" usually refers to actors listed in the opening credits of a movie. As a rule, actors with minimal roles in films (say, Joe Smith who played "Man at Party") will be listed in the closing credits. But occasionally a major star (or major star of years past who hasn't had a starring role in eons but whose name has sentimental value) will play a small role in a film and, because of their celebrity stature will land a spot in the opening credits: "Special guest appearance by Milton Berle as Man at Party".

 

[Olympian]

Film credits can be a confusing minefield of celebrity ego....actors' agents will lobby to have their star listed in a certain place on movie posters or in ads, or prior to the title in the actual film. Anyway, "first billed" usually refers to actors listed in the opening credits of a movie. As a rule, actors with minimal roles in films (say, Joe Smith who played "Man at Party") will be listed in the closing credits. But occasionally a major star (or major star of years past who hasn't had a starring role in eons but whose name has sentimental value) will play a small role in a film and, because of their celebrity stature will land a spot in the opening credits: "Special guest appearance by Milton Berle as Man at Party".

Thank you Ouisch for this behind-the-scenes information. I did not know that agents also played a role in getting their star listed.