Richard Linklater's classic 1993 coming of age comedy well-realized high school movies ever made. However, while the film itself still stands up even today, arguably the most impressive aspect of Dazed and Confused is the sheer number of famous faces that feature onscreen.
Set in a mid-1970s Texas high school, Dazed and Confused revolves around the last day before summer and the various teenage rituals associated with the end of term. Over the course of the action, several groups of teenagers negotiate hazing rituals, keg parties and various defining moments as they grapple with what it means to grow up. Despite being a commercial disappointment at the time, the movie is today widely hailed as a seminal moment in the coming-of-age genre and is regularly named on best-of-the-90s lists. It also features one of the most iconic soundtracks of all time.
The sprawling nature of the narrative means that Dazed and Confused features a wealth of then-up-and-coming talent. Although many cast remain relatively unknown, several players have gone on to become bona fide movie stars in their own right. Here is every future movie star in Dazed and Confused, along with where they feature in the original film.
Milla Jovovich
Now best known as the star of the Resident Evil series, Jovovich appears in the Linklater movie as the guitar-strumming songstress Michelle Burroughs. Aged just 17 at the time, Jovovich has become better known for her action exploits rather than her comedy chops in recent years. Beyond the The Fifth Element and is a regular collaborator with her husband Paul W.S Anderson.
Ben Affleck
One of the most recognizable actors working in Hollywood today, Affleck is now a prolific presence both in front of and behind the camera. As a director and screenwriter, he has found critical acclaim with hits such as Good Will Hunting, The Town and Argo, while some of his most famous acting roles include his star turn as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Zack Snyder's DCEU movies. Before this success, however, Affleck featured as bullying senior Fred O'Bannion, who gets his comeuppance after participating in an overzealous hazing ritual by being doused in paint.
Matthew McConaughey
Arguably the most iconic character in the entire movie, McConaughey stars as the perennially marijuana-smoking Dave Wooderson – a 20-something former high schooler who still hangs around with the younger students. At the time, McConaughey's role as Wooderson was hailed by critics, many of whom credit him with stealing the show. Beyond Dazed and Confused, McConaughey has enjoyed a hugely successful acting career, including a surprising early performance in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, before going on to feature in a string of award-winning dramas, such as his Oscar-winning turn in Dallas Buyers Club.
Related: The Origin Of Matthew McConaughey's Wolf Of Wall Street Chant
Anthony Rapp
Both a successful stage and screen actor, Anthony Rapp is perhaps best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the acclaimed Broadway production of Rent. By contrast, his role in Dazed and Confused sees him take on the part of the intellectually snobbish Tony Olson who initially looks down with scorn on the unfolding hazing traditions. Beyond his part in the Linklater movie, Rapp has also featured in films such as A Beautiful Mind and Twister.
Parker Posey
A veteran screen performer, Posey has featured in dozens of significant big and small screen productions in the years following Dazed and Confused. Although her most recognizable roles include the likes of Blade Trinity and Jennifer Jolie in Scream 3, she also has extensive voiceover experience – appearing in shows such as The Simpsons and Futurama. In Dazed and Confused, Posey plays the villainous Darla Marks, who seems to take genuine pleasure in hazing the incoming freshman girls.
Cole Ha
Although he might not be the most instantly recognizable Dazed and Confused alumnus, Cole Ha has still enjoyed an incredibly successful career. In addition to his role as confrontational football player Benny O'Donnell in Linklater's classic flick, Ha has also featured in films such as Good Will Hunting (alongside Dazed and Confused co-star Ben Affleck), sci-fi horror Pitch Black and Gerard Butler actioner Olympus Has Fallen.
Adam Goldberg
Beyond his role as Anthony Rapp's equally cynical friend Mike Newhouse in Dazed and Confused, Adam Goldberg's seriously impressive CV boasts several critically celebrated films. Beyond his performances in hits such as David Fincher's Zodiac and Babe: Pig in the City, Goldberg's best-known role is probably as Pvt. Stanley Mellish in Steven Spielberg's acclaimed World War Two drama Saving Private Ryan. Beyond film, Goldberg is also a successful multi-instrumentalist composer, having released several singles and soundtracks for various movies.
Joey Lauren Adams
After appearing as Simone Kerr in Dazed and Confused, Joey Lauren Adams arguably found her greatest success in Kevin Smith's so-called View Askewniverse, in which she plays the recurring role of Alyssa Jones. Most notably, Adams found critical success for her performance in Chasing Amy, in which she starred opposite fellow Dazed and Confused compatriot, Ben Affleck. Interestingly, post-Dazed and Confused, Adams found herself regularly going up for the same roles as several other costars, most notably Parker Posey during the 1995 film Mallrats. The pair would also appear together in the 1994 comedy-drama Sleep With Me.
Renée Zellweger
Although her blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in Dazed and Confused is incredibly brief, the movie nonetheless represents legendary performer Renée Zellweger's first major big-screen appearance. Needless to say, her career has only gone from strength to strength since. The Academy Award-winning actress is probably best known for her star turns in hits such as Bridget Jones's Diary and Chicago, although her other well-known roles include Jerry Maguire and Cold Mountain. In 2019, her performance as Judy Garland won a slew of awards, most notably the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role. It certainly marks a significant progression from her part as Nesi White in Linklater's movie. However, given the huge success enjoyed by many of the film's stars, perhaps it's unsurprising that even Dazed and Confused's ing cast went on to great things.
