Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- Before George Clooney was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- Steven Soderbergh originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- The incredible score for Ocean's Eleven was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh, a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film starring Frank Sinatra. George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean, a charming ex-convict who recruits a team of eleven specialists to simultaneously rob three Las Vegas casinos owned by the ruthless Terry Benedict, played by Andy Garcia, who happens to be dating Danny's ex-wife Tess, played by Julia Roberts. The team includes Brad Pitt as the sardonic Rusty Ryan, Matt Damon as the young pickpocket Linus Caldwell, and an ensemble of character actors including Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, and Elliott Gould as financial backer Reuben Tishkoff.
Ocean's Eleven exemplified a specific type of early-2000s blockbuster โ slick, witty, impeccably cast, and designed primarily to entertain through the pleasure of watching charismatic movie stars having fun together. George Clooney and Brad Pitt's effortless on-screen rapport became the defining buddy dynamic of the decade. Steven Soderbergh's direction balanced elaborate heist mechanics with character comedy, making the "how they did it" reveal as satisfying as any thriller.
The film earned $450 million worldwide on a $85 million budget and launched a franchise with two sequels and a female-led spin-off. The ensemble cast approach, with major stars accepting smaller roles for the pleasure of working together, influenced a generation of ensemble films.
