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50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It
They say hard work beats talent, and there’s plenty of truth to that. However, there’s no denying that some people have a natural gift for what they do.
Take the world’s greatest movie stars, for instance. It feels like they were made for the roles they play, leaving us completely spellbound every second they’re on screen.
Redditors recently weighed in on this and shared their thoughts about which actors delivered performances that can never be topped. Scroll down to see their picks and let us know if you agree!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Alan Rickman is Snape. Always.
#2
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Prof_Walrus:
The fact they're trying to replace/reboot him is a guaranteed box office flop.
anonymous:
The role was actually written for Hugh Jackman but Johnny Depp had more star power.
#3
Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.
enricopallazo22:
There's only one doc Brown and only Marty Mcfly and it should always be that way.
#4
Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House.
unstopablystoopid:
There can be only one!
#5
Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
Far-Government5469:
Harrison brought just the right amount of incredulity to his circumstance to sell them.
#7
Gene Wilder will forever be Willy Wonka.
thegreatresistrules:
This... my little daughter loved the Johnny Depp version until she finally saw the original. Now she hates the Depp version.
#8
Michael Keaton did great with Beetlejuice.
DeeVa72:
I also think he was the best Batman
#9
Viggo Mortensen in Lord of the Rings. That wasn't how I pictured the character reading the book 40 years ago, or any time re reading it before the films, but that is Aragorn for me now.
#11
Tim Curry as Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror.
DirtRockEngineer:
This is so true. He didn't cross my mind until I read this comment and now I can't forgive myself.
#12
Ian McKellen as Gandalf.
#13
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
warchiefx:
Reynolds was practically born to play that role.
notlikeyou1971 3 weeks ago
Ryan Reynolds is the ONLY person that should play Deadpool. He's the ONLY person who should continue to write the movies as well because he stays true to the character and won't change anything to please Disney and their modern methods of changing characters and sticking ideology in things where they don't belong. He's fighting really hard for the future of the character and the whole Mutant Saga right now. In my opinion he's irreplaceable.
#14
Patric Stewart/Picard.
craigerstar:
Stewart is the biggest reason for the success of a Star Trek reboot. If not for Stewart's Picard, I believe every Star Trek vehicle made since would not have happened or been some low budget hatchet job, including the current Chris Pine movies.
Hanging_with_my_gnomies 3 weeks ago
I'll also throw in in Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier. Nailed it 👍
#15
Heath Ledger's Joker.
FloydsForked:
This is the one for me. The most epic performance of all time.
#16
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley.
Jeff White 3 weeks ago
I understand, and hope it is actually true, that the role for Ripley was written as a male actor. Then they found Saint Sigourney and went with her. And didn't change the character dialog, actions, anything. Sigourney IS Ripley.
#18
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Everyone else pales in comparison.
#19
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. if Hugh dies they should retire that character same with the Black Panther.
Sandra Angulo 3 weeks ago
I think Jackman is terrific as Wolverine, but I’d love to see other actors’ takes on the character. And Chadwick Boseman was great as Black Panther, but there’s no way he would’ve wanted the character retired after his death. It’s a very important character for many young people who don’t see themselves represented enough in superhero roles. Besides Shuri already took up the mantle of Black Panther in the sequel, but I’m not certain that will stick. And really Black Panther is a character that makes the most sense to change actors since it is a position passed down in their culture.
#20
Tom Hanks and in Forest Gump.
tojifajita:
Honestly for me it is actually Tom hanks in Cast away, I see that character in every other movie, lonely deranged man.
#21
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel "Misery".
mohksinats:
Just rewatched this at the local theater recently, and she is the reason that film holds up to this day.
#23
Bryan Cranston as Walter White "Heisenberg".
Sharp_Ad_6336:
The fact that he was able to break the mental association we all had of him as Hal from Malcolm in the middle is the true tribute to how well he nailed that role.
#25
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
#26
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon. He played his role so well that fans of Game of Thrones made him quit acting all together.
#27
Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.
Rambo_1923:
No one else can be Terminator!
Sandra Angulo 3 weeks ago (edited)
I guess they mean the original Terminator, but Robert Patrick was excellent and scary as hell in the sequel as the T-1000
#28
John Cleese as Basil Fawlty.
PumpJack_McGee:
Was always surprised Cleese didn't give himself an aneurysm playing Fawlty. Imagine even just pretending to be that high-strung all the time.
Sandra Angulo 3 weeks ago
Cleese kinda comes off high strung in real life, too. Still, A Fish Named Wanda is one of my all time favorites (not to mention Monty Python).
#29
Henry Cavill as a Witcher.
#30
Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire.
Danni 3 weeks ago
Anything he touched was gold. what a terrific actor. Dead poets society, What dreams my come, good morning Vietnam, Moscow on the Hudson. Oof, I could go on and on. I miss him so so much.
Surly Scot 3 weeks ago
Any other actor and we'd all have found this movie incredibly weird instead of funny.
#32
Jack Nicholson - "One flew over the cuckoos nest" and "The Shining".
LaserBrain 3 weeks ago
If you liked the movie, I recommend reading the book. It goes a few levels deeper, has a different ending, and is told from the perspective of the Chief, not McMurphy. Not talking about the Steven King book.
#33
Cristof Waltz/ Hans Landa.
Shumuu:
Actually Tarantino wrote Landa and after seeing actor after actor try it he believed the character to be "unplayable" because no one could pull it off. Well, thank God he found Waltz because wow!
#35
Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith.
#36
Jim Carrey as the Mask.
whineygingercat 3 weeks ago
Because of Jim Carey's natural facial features, and what he can do with them, the budget for visual effects was barely touched on that film
#37
Brandon Lee - The Crow.
Tiffany Marie 3 weeks ago
This should be higher up and not #66. It needs more up votes. There's already been a recent remake and it flopped. The dude died for the original film. He was absolutely perfect. Taken too soon.
#39
Dustin Hoffman in Rainman.
Sarah Jones 3 weeks ago
Tom Cruise was really great in it too. I’m not normally a fan of his, but he was amazing in Rain Man
#40
Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh.
Sayon7:
I think he’s the scariest villain ever
#42
Sylvester Stallone, Rocky.
KeyKick7759:
I agree I've enjoyed other boxer films but none have ever got to me like Rocky did.
#43
James McAvoy in Split.
Pitiful_Winner2669:
It's so good it makes me uncomfortable to such a degree. Incredible performance(s).
#44
James Gandolfini. Tony Soprano.
DarthDregan:
All these takes I'm seeing and thinking "I can see someone else doing that."
And then I saw this post. And... yeah. That's all James.
LaserBrain 3 weeks ago
He was good in True Romance also. Classic movie, one of QT's earlier ones
#45
Milla Jovovich as Leeloo.
Hellcaste's Wife 3 weeks ago
Milla Jovovich as Alice (Resident Evil). She's why those are my favorite movies!
#46
All of the Harry Potter cast was perfect, it better not be redone. Not even that big of a fan but they're good movies with great casting.
Jaya 3 weeks ago
I think most of them were pretty unremarkable and very replaceable. Most roles could have been done by some random other good actor and turn out just as well. I feel like people are attached to those actors because they happened to see them as kids and the movies/books meant so much to them.
#47
Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird.
#48
Jeff Bridges as The Dude! There’s no way anyone else could play that roll.
#49
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry potter.
#50
JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.
Cuppieecakes:
He so good they just made him a multiversal constant
What do you think ?
Mavis 3 weeks ago
Liza Minelli as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She is the gold standard for that character. I've seen clips of other actresses playing the role on Broadway and no one beats Liza.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 3 weeks ago
This is just a list of "people who played roles". You really need to be picking actors who played a role already played by several people but did it so well that THEY became synonymous with it, like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.
Phantom Phoenix 3 weeks ago
Sorry, but Benedict Cumberbatch is Sherlock Holmes
Load More Replies...
CanadianDimes 3 weeks ago
For me, it's Hugo Weaving as Elrond and Emily Clarke as Daenarys Targaryen.
Surly Scot 3 weeks ago (edited)
Robin Williams & Nathan Lane in The Birdcage. No one else could have made it so comedic that I still burst out laughing at the kitchen scene despite seeing it 100+ times.
Annik Perrot 3 weeks ago
The original play was French (La Cage aux Folles), I saw it in the 70s with the original actors, Jean Poiret (who wrote the play) and Michel Serrault. To me, they're indissociable from those roles, though I would love to see Robin Williams in the rôle of Albin. Just like Michel Serrault, he was mad enough to carry it.
Load More Replies...
Arthur Waite 3 weeks ago
Brace yourself, but: Bill Cosby as Dr. Huxtable in his tv show. (memo: must separate fiction from reality.)
Amelia Jade 3 weeks ago
I agree. I grew up with that show and I LOVED it. My own home life being what it was, I adored the Huxtables. They were firm but caring parents. I used to wish so much that they were my parents. It really sucked when the things came out about Cosby. Not only did my own dad let me down, but so did my fictional dad. I was also a fan of Little Bill, another show about family that highlights good parenting. It's hard to fathom Cosby can be behind such wholesome content, being who he is. But I'd still recommend both shows.
Load More Replies... vanjatimmers 3 weeks ago
Sorry, have to add some ladies to this list: Clare Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland - Julie Andrews in/as Mary Poppins - Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct - Juliette Lewis in Natural Born Killers - Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction - Judi Dench as M - Helena Bonham as Bellatrix
Babs McGurk 3 weeks ago
Not a fan of him personally, but Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. No one else could have played that role to the perfection that he did.
Surly Scot 3 weeks ago
Agree, that was the first movie I could stand Will Ferrell in. After that I was able to start watching some of his movies and not be completely put off by him.
Load More Replies...
Dusty's mom 3 weeks ago
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers (Captain America). Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier). Anthony Mackie was a fantastic Falcon, and will be sure to wow us if they ever release Captain America #4. Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
Apatheist Account2 3 weeks ago
In most of these, it's whoever you see first, if they're any good. One exception for me is Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn - streets ahead of Dorothy Tutin, even allowing for the difference in approach between the decades.
Phantom Phoenix 3 weeks ago (edited)
Keanu Reeves as Neo, John Wick, Constantine etc Andy Serkis as Gollum
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago
Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall. I don't have a very detailed imaginatione when it comes to visualizing characters, but that one was 12/10! And if they had ever managed to make a Discworld movie with a witches plot she would have been my one and only Granny Weatherwax! The card playing scene on the riverboat in Witches Abroad alone would be SO worth it!
Don Adams 3 weeks ago
With the penchant of just remaking old movies, Clint Eastwood was the definitive Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry movies, and The Man with No Name in the Sergio Leone films. Also as William Munny in Unforgiven, and Josey Wales. Those parts were all him, and he was all those parts and more.
fan of phish 3 weeks ago
Bruce Campbell as Brisco County Jr. and Ash. As mentioned in other comments, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in The X-Files.
William Teach 3 weeks ago
James Roday as Shawn and Dule Hill as Gus in Psych. I never once saw them as anything but their characters while watching all the episodes
Justin Tyme 3 weeks ago (edited)
Daniel Day-Lewis as John Proctor in The Crucible (1996). James Woods as Rudy Giuliani in Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story (2003)
Daniel Atkins 3 weeks ago
Jack Black as Nacho in Nacho Libre. Just enough silliness to make the character work without going overboard.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 3 weeks ago
Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce as Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Cole E 3 weeks ago
I'm shocked Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent didn't make this list!
Daniel Atkins 3 weeks ago
I think the movie 3 and 4 probably ruined that they were so goofy.
Load More Replies...
Ben Aziza 3 weeks ago (edited)
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Kirk Lazarus as Iron man, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Mycocaine as Alfred, Heath ledger as the joker, Random Australian ex PE teacher as the Wolverine, Ian McKellen as gandalf, Zoolander as Ben stiller, Antony Starr as homemander ,Jackie Chan as Jackie chan, Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod (He somehow made me love my least favourite char archetype)
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 3 weeks ago (edited)
Wentworth Miller in Prison Break, and Legends Of Tomorrow. Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman trilogy. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in anything. And my personal favourite, Andrew Robinson as Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and as Liberace.
Ben Aziza 3 weeks ago
"Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in anything." There is no statement more accurate than that one.
Load More Replies... 
Mavis 3 weeks ago
Liza Minelli as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She is the gold standard for that character. I've seen clips of other actresses playing the role on Broadway and no one beats Liza.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 3 weeks ago
This is just a list of "people who played roles". You really need to be picking actors who played a role already played by several people but did it so well that THEY became synonymous with it, like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.
Phantom Phoenix 3 weeks ago
Sorry, but Benedict Cumberbatch is Sherlock Holmes
Load More Replies... CanadianDimes 3 weeks ago
For me, it's Hugo Weaving as Elrond and Emily Clarke as Daenarys Targaryen.
Surly Scot 3 weeks ago (edited)
Robin Williams & Nathan Lane in The Birdcage. No one else could have made it so comedic that I still burst out laughing at the kitchen scene despite seeing it 100+ times.
Annik Perrot 3 weeks ago
The original play was French (La Cage aux Folles), I saw it in the 70s with the original actors, Jean Poiret (who wrote the play) and Michel Serrault. To me, they're indissociable from those roles, though I would love to see Robin Williams in the rôle of Albin. Just like Michel Serrault, he was mad enough to carry it.
Load More Replies... Arthur Waite 3 weeks ago
Brace yourself, but: Bill Cosby as Dr. Huxtable in his tv show. (memo: must separate fiction from reality.)
Amelia Jade 3 weeks ago
I agree. I grew up with that show and I LOVED it. My own home life being what it was, I adored the Huxtables. They were firm but caring parents. I used to wish so much that they were my parents. It really sucked when the things came out about Cosby. Not only did my own dad let me down, but so did my fictional dad. I was also a fan of Little Bill, another show about family that highlights good parenting. It's hard to fathom Cosby can be behind such wholesome content, being who he is. But I'd still recommend both shows.
Load More Replies... vanjatimmers 3 weeks ago
Sorry, have to add some ladies to this list: Clare Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland - Julie Andrews in/as Mary Poppins - Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct - Juliette Lewis in Natural Born Killers - Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction - Judi Dench as M - Helena Bonham as Bellatrix
Babs McGurk 3 weeks ago
Not a fan of him personally, but Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. No one else could have played that role to the perfection that he did.
Surly Scot 3 weeks ago
Agree, that was the first movie I could stand Will Ferrell in. After that I was able to start watching some of his movies and not be completely put off by him.
Load More Replies... Dusty's mom 3 weeks ago
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers (Captain America). Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier). Anthony Mackie was a fantastic Falcon, and will be sure to wow us if they ever release Captain America #4. Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
Apatheist Account2 3 weeks ago
In most of these, it's whoever you see first, if they're any good. One exception for me is Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn - streets ahead of Dorothy Tutin, even allowing for the difference in approach between the decades.
Phantom Phoenix 3 weeks ago (edited)
Keanu Reeves as Neo, John Wick, Constantine etc Andy Serkis as Gollum
Nicole Weymann 3 weeks ago
Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall. I don't have a very detailed imaginatione when it comes to visualizing characters, but that one was 12/10! And if they had ever managed to make a Discworld movie with a witches plot she would have been my one and only Granny Weatherwax! The card playing scene on the riverboat in Witches Abroad alone would be SO worth it!
Don Adams 3 weeks ago
With the penchant of just remaking old movies, Clint Eastwood was the definitive Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry movies, and The Man with No Name in the Sergio Leone films. Also as William Munny in Unforgiven, and Josey Wales. Those parts were all him, and he was all those parts and more.
fan of phish 3 weeks ago
Bruce Campbell as Brisco County Jr. and Ash. As mentioned in other comments, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in The X-Files.
William Teach 3 weeks ago
James Roday as Shawn and Dule Hill as Gus in Psych. I never once saw them as anything but their characters while watching all the episodes
Justin Tyme 3 weeks ago (edited)
Daniel Day-Lewis as John Proctor in The Crucible (1996). James Woods as Rudy Giuliani in Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story (2003)
Daniel Atkins 3 weeks ago
Jack Black as Nacho in Nacho Libre. Just enough silliness to make the character work without going overboard.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 3 weeks ago
Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce as Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Cole E 3 weeks ago
I'm shocked Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent didn't make this list!
Daniel Atkins 3 weeks ago
I think the movie 3 and 4 probably ruined that they were so goofy.
Load More Replies... Ben Aziza 3 weeks ago (edited)
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Kirk Lazarus as Iron man, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Mycocaine as Alfred, Heath ledger as the joker, Random Australian ex PE teacher as the Wolverine, Ian McKellen as gandalf, Zoolander as Ben stiller, Antony Starr as homemander ,Jackie Chan as Jackie chan, Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod (He somehow made me love my least favourite char archetype)
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 3 weeks ago (edited)
Wentworth Miller in Prison Break, and Legends Of Tomorrow. Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman trilogy. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in anything. And my personal favourite, Andrew Robinson as Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and as Liberace.
Ben Aziza 3 weeks ago
"Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in anything." There is no statement more accurate than that one.
Load More Replies... You May Like “She Only Makes One Face”: 50 Beloved Actors That These People Just Can’t Seem To Like 50 Best Actors To Have Ever Graced Our Screens 50 Korean Movies You Should Add To Your Watchlist
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