I know it’s frowned upon to talk during movies, but it’s nearly impossible to watch Ocean’s 8 without sharing your excitement every time you spot a celebrity cameo. Which is a lot.
Between the elaborate heist plot, the overwhelmingly star-studded cast of boss women, and the extreme glitz and glamour, Ocean’s 8 feels like an ode to Hollywood, and a nod to women taking the reins of the industry. The whole movie is gloriously OTT and that’s what makes it so charming.
The celebrity cameos are particularly thrilling. It’s hard to explain the special kind of delight we get from Hollywood fiction crossing over with Hollywood reality, but let’s indulge it with this thorough ranking of the many, many celebrity cameos in Ocean’s 8 according to the pure joy they provided.
#1 Kim Kardashian
Rumours that Kim Kardashian would appear in the movie date as far back as January 2017, and yet it still gets your heart racing when she enters into the Ocean’s 8 world. Because Kimmy K is such an absolute icon of celebrity culture, seeing her on the fictional Met Gala red carpet is a comically gaudy reminder that the film is merely fellow celebrities playing make-believe.
Kim’s cameo brings attention to how gloriously Hollywood this whole Met Gala heist plan really is. Also Kim looks glam as hell and it’s perfect.
#2 Serena Williams
So we arrive at the Met Gala and our team of con-women are all in place to steal the $150 million diamond Cartier necklace from Anne Hathaway’s lovely neck, which is the perfect time to take a pause and talk about Serena Williams being a boss.
A reporter interviewing Serena Williams on the red carpet says something along the lines of “So, you’ve conquered the sporting world and now you’ve conquered motherhood.” Serena Williams gives a humble response and continues with her perfect existence.
The reason I love this cameo so much is because its only purpose is to tell the audience to appreciate Serena Williams. In a movie inherently about female empowerment, I welcome the aside.
#3 Heidi Klum
We’re mid-heist. Our ringleader Debbie (AKA Sandra Bullock) is on the Met Gala red carpet and she shares a moment with Heidi Klum.
While Debbie and her team are technically imposters at the Gala, they look the absolute part in their gowns, and Heidi Klum tells her she loves her dress. What a lovely and welcoming comment from Heidi. It really feels like Heidi and Debbie could be mates in this universe. Let Heidi join the heist in Ocean’s 9!
Points for good and wholesome female bonding.
#4 Kendall and Kylie Jenner
I’m honestly a little embarrassed by how excited I got seeing Kim’s sisters on the Met Gala red carpet but it was just so extravagant. They’re so out of place in the movie but so in place at the Met Gala it’s all very ridiculous and enjoyable.
#5 Matt Damon
The great thing about this cameo is that it didn’t happen.
Matt Damon appeared in an original trailer for Ocean’s 8, assumed to be reprising his role as Linus from the previous Ocean’s films. After he couldn’t stop sharing his unwanted and frankly offensive opinions on the #MeToo movement people literally petitioned to have him removed from the movie. He was apparently removed for “storytelling reasons”. Sure.
The lack of cameo definitely enhanced the watching experience.
#6 Rihanna Coming Down The Met Gala Stairs
Yes, I know Rihanna isn’t technically a cameo. She’s actually a part of the core cast of con-women and she does an incredibly boss job as the uber chill hacker, 9-Ball.
But I’m including Riri walking down the Met stairs in slow motion in a red gown because DAMN. Her character really doesn’t need to be at the Gala except to wear a little cut up piece of the stolen diamond necklace out of the joint so I’ll be treating this indulgent camera shot as a reference to the real life Rihanna who is the official queen of the Met Gala.
#7 Dakota Fanning
Unlike most of the celebrities who make cameos, Dakota Fanning doesn’t play herself – and she’s actually relevant to the plot.
Fanning plays a young it-girl actress who is used as a pawn to make Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) jealous and trick her into wanting to be dressed by Helena Bonham Carter’s character, designer Rose Weil. Well done Dakota you did great sweetie.
#8 Gigi Hadid
We catch a glimpse of Gigi chatting to fellow model Lily Aldridge in the bathroom of the Met Gala when Awkwafina rushes in to lock the all the bathroom doors except one. Apparently it’s imperative that Daphne Kluger later throws up in that last cubicle. I’m honestly not sure why. A lot happens in this movie.
#9 Katie Holmes
Our girl Katie Holmes has the privilege of being seated right next to Hollywood’s biggest star Daphne Kluger at their Met Gala table. Holmes must still be relevant in the Ocean’s universe?
She attends with designer Zac Posen (who dressed her for the actual Met Gala! Thorough!), and they’re both in the firing line when Anne Hathaway runs to the bathroom after Mindy Kaling poisons her soup and she’s all vom city when Awkwafina swipes the $150 million dollar diamond Cartier necklace. It’s hectic.
#10 Elliott Gould
Reuben! Debbie runs into Reuben of the previous Ocean’s team at Danny Ocean’s (alleged) grave. This appearance plays on the heart strings.
#11 Shaobo Qin
Qin comes outta nowhere to Reprise his role as Yen, another member of Danny’s team, and steals a whole lot of jewels using creative acrobatics. Classic Yen.
#12 James Corden
Is this a cameo? He has an actual character in the film so I’m on the fence with this one. But why is a British investigator assigned to the cases of the entire Ocean family? Not overjoyed by James Corden’s appearance but not mad either.
#13 Olivia Munn
Olivia is just trying to enjoy the Gala when the place goes into lock-down and we see her asking the guards what’s going on.
#14 Maria Sharapova
Sharapova is also disgruntled by the disruption the extravagant jewellery heist has caused their evening. All I was thinking was another tennis star! Yay!
#15 Kevin Brown
The 30 Rock alum plays a very straight-faced security guard at the Met Gala. Fails to protect The Met’s jewels.
#16 More Celebs On The Red Carpet
At this point, the appearance of all these celebrities thrilled me equally. On the red carpet you’ll spot Hailey Baldwin, Adriana Lima, Jaime King, the rapper Common, and probably a few others in a sea of famous faces.
#17 More Fashion Designers and Co
If you’re a fashion fanatic you’ll get a kick out of these cameos: Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander Wang, Lauren Santo Domingo and Derek Blasberg, Sofía Sanchez de Betak, aka Chufy, Waris Ahluwalia, Hamish Bowles and probably a whole lot more. I was all cameo’d out to notice.
