Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app

Continue in app Continue in browser

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It

ADVERTISEMENT

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

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Alan Rickman is Snape. Always.

caskei , Warner Bros Report

129points

View more comments

#2

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

Jane_Austen11 , Walt Disney Pictures Report

119points

View more comments

#3

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.

enricopallazo22:
There's only one doc Brown and only Marty Mcfly and it should always be that way.

legojay , Universal Pictures Report

113points

View more comments

#4

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House.

unstopablystoopid:
There can be only one!

LongrodVonHugedong86 , NBCUniversal Report

109points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#5

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones and Han Solo.

Far-Government5469:
Harrison brought just the right amount of incredulity to his circumstance to sell them.

BeerGutNinja , Paramount Pictures Report

107points

View more comments

#6

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, the dude out performed the books.

badlysighteddragon , Orion Pictures Report

107points

View more comments

#7

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Michael Keaton did great with Beetlejuice.

DeeVa72:
I also think he was the best Batman

D1Rk_D1GGL3R , Warner Bros Report

99points

View more comments

#8

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

KevinJ2010 , Paramount Pictures Report

98points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

#9

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

Visible_Star_4036 , New Line Cinema Report

96points

View more comments

#10

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean.

DoctorSkelly , Tiger Aspect Productions Report

95points

View more comments

#11

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Heath Ledger's Joker.

FloydsForked:
This is the one for me. The most epic performance of all time.

WriteOrDie1997 , Warner Bros Report

91points

View more comments

#12

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.

stew_on_his_phone Report

90points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#13

Ian McKellen as Gandalf.

ABCBDMomma Report

90points

View more comments

#14

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

Ldemirci , CBS Studios Report

87points

View more comments

#15

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.

warchiefx:
Reynolds was practically born to play that role.

Mono_Clear , 20th Century Fox Report

87points

View more comments

#16

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley.

grendelfire Report

87points

View more comments

#17

Raul Julia as Gomez Addams.

TheScottishCatLady Report

87points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#18

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Everyone else pales in comparison.

bantharawk Report

84points

View more comments

#19

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. if Hugh dies they should retire that character same with the Black Panther.

Environmental_Stay83 , 20th Century Fox Report

83points

View more comments

#20

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

AussieGirl2022 , Paramount Pictures Report

76points

View more comments

#21

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

velvetrevolting , Columbia Pictures Report

73points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#22

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

certified-fumbler , Sony Pictures Report

71points

View more comments

#23

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It RDJ as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

Aggressive-Command-8 , Marvel Studios Report

70points

View more comments

#24

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard.

scottwax Report

69points

View more comments

#25

Andre The Giant as Fezzic in The Princess Bride.

No-Seaworthiness-500 Report

67points

View more comments

#26

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon. He played his role so well that fans of Game of Thrones made him quit acting all together.

glamscum , HBO Entertainment Report

65points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#27

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Henry Cavill as a Witcher.

Velzevulva , Netflix Report

64points

View more comments

#28

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.

Rambo_1923:
No one else can be Terminator!

Classic-Row-2872 , Pacific Western Productions Report

64points

View more comments

#29

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.

beave9999 Report

60points

View more comments

#30

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire.

neercsnus1 , 20th Century Fox Report

58points

View more comments

#31

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, or most any role he had.

Busy_Donut6073 Report

56points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#32

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Jack Nicholson - "One flew over the cuckoos nest" and "The Shining".

DeadRed402 , Warner Bros Report

54points

View more comments

#33

Sean Connery as James Bond.

Environmental_Help29 Report

54points

View more comments

#34

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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!

Canonboy621 , Universal Pictures Report

53points

View more comments

#35

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Jim Carrey as the Mask.

shuashy , Dark Horse Entertainment Report

53points

View more comments

#36

Brandon Lee - The Crow.

warmachine83-uk Report

52points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#37

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.

uskgl455 Report

51points

View more comments

#38

Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith.

Coolbeans_97 Report

50points

View more comments

#39

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It James McAvoy in Split.

Pitiful_Winner2669:
It's so good it makes me uncomfortable to such a degree. Incredible performance(s).

goated95 , Universal Pictures Report

47points

View more comments

#40

Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca and Alan Alda in MASH.

47points

View more comments

#41

Dustin Hoffman in Rainman.

MetodoTangalanga Report

45points

View more comments

#42

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh.

Sayon7:
I think he’s the scariest villain ever

anon , Miramax Films Report

44points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#43

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It 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.

Doctor_Nowt , HBO Entertainment Report

42points

View more comments

#44

50 Times Actors Nailed A Role So Flawlessly, Nobody Will Be Able To Live Up To It Sylvester Stallone, Rocky.

KeyKick7759:
I agree I've enjoyed other boxer films but none have ever got to me like Rocky did.

Talkndirty33 , Winkler Films Report

42points

View more comments

#45

Milla Jovovich as Leeloo.

jackieatx Report

41points

View more comments

#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.

Nobodiisdamnbusiness Report

41points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#47

Jeff Bridges as The Dude! There’s no way anyone else could play that roll.

Sinister_steel_drums Report

39points

View more comments

#48

Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Hefty-Station1704 Report

37points

#49

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry potter.

RevolutionaryComb433 Report

36points

View more comments

#50

JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.

Cuppieecakes:
He so good they just made him a multiversal constant

HostageInToronto Report

28points

View more comments

Oleksandra Kyryliuk

Kyiv-born, Vilnius-dwelling writer with a suitcase full of curiosity. My Master's in International Communication fuels my love for exploring different stories. Whether I'm putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you might catch me out and about with my film camera, cycling around, or on a quest for the perfect coffee spot. Occasionally seen trying to find inner peace on the yoga mat.

Kyiv-born, Vilnius-dwelling writer with a suitcase full of curiosity. My Master's in International Communication fuels my love for exploring different stories. Whether I'm putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you might catch me out and about with my film camera, cycling around, or on a quest for the perfect coffee spot. Occasionally seen trying to find inner peace on the yoga mat.

Dominyka

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, crafting captivating visual content to enhance every reader's experience. Sometimes my mornings are spent diving into juicy dramas, while afternoons are all about adding extra laughs to the world by editing the funniest memes around. My favorite part of the job? Choosing the perfect images to illustrate articles. It's like imagining a story as a movie in my mind and selecting the key shots to tell the story visually.

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, crafting captivating visual content to enhance every reader's experience. Sometimes my mornings are spent diving into juicy dramas, while afternoons are all about adding extra laughs to the world by editing the funniest memes around. My favorite part of the job? Choosing the perfect images to illustrate articles. It's like imagining a story as a movie in my mind and selecting the key shots to tell the story visually.

What do you think ?

Stinky 2 days ago (edited)

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the x-files.....Alan Alda in MASH, Martin Sheen in the West Wing, Kate Mulgrew as Janeway in ST Voyager, Linda Blair in the original Exorcist, Christopher Walkin playing any of his characters to date,

14points

Mavis 2 days 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.

7points

Dame Cherry 1 day ago

the original was Judi Dench

1point

Load More Replies...

Annik Perrot 1 day ago

To me, Christopher Reeve WAS Superman.

6points

Load More Comments

Stinky 2 days ago (edited)

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the x-files.....Alan Alda in MASH, Martin Sheen in the West Wing, Kate Mulgrew as Janeway in ST Voyager, Linda Blair in the original Exorcist, Christopher Walkin playing any of his characters to date,

14points

Mavis 2 days 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.

7points

Dame Cherry 1 day ago

the original was Judi Dench

1point

Load More Replies...

Annik Perrot 1 day ago

To me, Christopher Reeve WAS Superman.

6points

Load More Comments

You May Like

50 Best Actors To Have Ever Graced Our Screens

Linas Simonaitis

50 Korean Movies You Should Add To Your Watchlist

Linas Simonaitis

61 Johnny Depp Movies To Rewatch And Rediscover

Linas Simonaitis

Back to Homepage

More about Entertainment

Next in Entertainment

Related on Bored Panda

Related on Bored Panda

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower

Trending on Bored Panda

Also on Bored Panda