Best and Worst Casting Decisions in Movie History
Movies are an amazing escape for people to see new worlds, experience epic adventures, and meet some exciting characters. Even when we already have an idea of what someone looks like (thanks to books and other sources being adapted to film), certain casting choices can either make a film great or terrible. You wouldn’t believe how passionate some people get about an actor embodying a character. Whether they look like them or not, the small mannerisms and quirks that make someone unique can be hard to get right. Thankfully, some extraordinarily talented people are fortunate enough to fill those coveted roles. Others make a great attempt and put their own spin on certain characters.
That doesn’t always mean it’s a casting choice made in heaven…
BEST: Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a pretty well-known book. Despite its notoriety in the literary world, most people equate the film with Tom Hanks. Hanks’ portrayal as the far-traveling Forrest was a moment of cinematic history that really helped define him as a chameleon in the acting world. While he’s no stranger to difficult roles, Tom Hanks did more than embody Forrest in the film.
He also seemed to carry a youthful and almost child-like innocence to the world events happening around Forrest. That commitment to both a character and the overall story snagged Hanks his second Oscar win in the 90s! He really ran with that script and came out on top! Lt. Dan would be so proud.
WORST: John Wayne, The Conqueror
When people hear John Wayne most of them imagine cowboys, low talking, and a drawl that just won’t quit. That’s 100% correct. Wayne was one of the greatest Western actors to come out of the early 20th century. His enigmatic stage presence and captivating way of commanding a camera helped him secure some of the most well-known movies of the time. Unfortunately, just because he was one of the top stars in Hollywood doesn’t mean he was destined to shine in every role.
In 1956 he was the lead in a film called The Conqueror. Sounds like some sort of desert Western, right? Wrong. John Wayne, an American actor from Iowa, played the role of Genghis Khan (the leader of the famed Mongol Empire). While creative liberties are always taken in Hollywood, this one felt more like they wanted Wayne on the screen instead of someone who could better embody the role.
BEST: James Earl Jones, The Lion King
“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.” If you don’t hear that in Mufasa’s deep and memorable baritone then you’ve either grown up with a bootleg of The Lion King or never have seen one of Disney’s greatest masterpieces. What makes characters like Mufasa and Darth Vader so intimidating and memorable isn’t their stature or whiskers. It’s that voice that seems to transcend species and generations. James Earl Jones, the actor behind those voices, is no stranger to making a statement and lasting impression.
With just his voice, he cemented characters from pop culture into the identity of entire generations! Could you imagine if Disney or George Lucas had cast anyone else? No? Of course not. Even if they weren’t written for him, only James Earl Jones could be the King of the Jungle AND the leader of the Galactic Empire.
WORST: Mickey Rooney, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Hollywood has never been the most PC place. While some movies do a great job of showcasing sensitive social issues, others throw sensitivity out the window. All you have to do is watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s to see what we’re talking about. The character of I. Y. Yunioshi stands out in the film for all of the wrong reasons.
Not only is he an offensive stereotype, but on top of that, he’s also played by a caucasian actor. Mickey Rooney, famed entertainer, comedian, and actor, was cast in this soon-to-be hotly criticized role. While he did what was asked of him, and later regretted the choice, the portrayal of the character has been preserved in the annals of cinema history as a lesson that future generations should learn from.
WORST: Cameron Diaz, Gangs of New York
Martin Scorsese knows his way around a movie or two. The filmmaker has been known to take his time and really develop a project to make sure it’s just right before delivering it to the masses. Gangs of New York is no different. After being worked on for TWO DECADES, the film was released with a stellar cast and interesting story in 2002. While a fairly good success at the box office, it wasn’t without its criticisms.
One of the largest was the casting of Cameron Diaz. The actor is fantastic at what she does, however, one of the few things she can’t seem to do is deliver a convincing Irish accent. Despite her delivery and conviction, critics often cite the choice of casting Diaz as an Irish immigrant in New York as one of the film’s few, but glaring, issues.
BEST: Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool
What do you do when you’re a wise-cracking, ultra-sarcastic, and handsome entertainer with a ton of personality (and a beautiful smile)? You find the most similar anti-hero possible and pester an entire industry to make that character into a movie that you can star in. That level of gall, gumption, and absurdity can only be associated with Ryan Reynolds. He’s the closest thing we have to an adorable anti-hero in real life.
As the living incarnation of Deadpool, casting Reynolds was a no-brainer. In fact, if he wasn’t cast, we’re pretty sure he’d just become Deadpool in the real world. What makes it all better is that he told us he’d knock the role out of the park…and then went and proved to the world (twice) that he was right.
BEST: Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man
While many people consider Charlie Sheen as one of Hollywood’s most outrageous bad boys, a lot of us know that title belongs to Robert Downey Jr. From the mid-90s to the early 00s, Downey Jr. was mostly in headlines due to some personal issues that prevented him from being hired as an actor. Once he got himself together, his star began to shoot straight up. When it was announced that Downey Jr. was going to play Iron Man people had their reservations.
However, ten films and a whole lot of fans later, everyone, including audiences, is thankful they gave him another chance. Something about Tony Stark’s laidback, rule-breaking, nonchalant way of living seemed to mirror the actor’s in only the most complimentary of ways. Downey Jr. has easily become everyone’s hero.
WORST: Sofia Coppola, The Godfather Part III
The Godfather saga is a masterclass in filmmaking. Almost every line is delivered with such majesty that the movie feels timeless. Francis Ford Coppola just knows what he’s doing. However, his vision became a bit skewed during filming for The Godfather Part III. Before casting his daughter Sofia, Winona Ryder was supposed to play her role!
Unfortunately, Ryder falling ill forced Sofia to step up and take the role. While still a great film, the critics latched on to the family connection and acting skills of the teenager once the film hit theaters. While neither of the Coppolas took it to heart, the elder definitely felt that critics were unjust in criticizing the talents of a teenager in such a serious role.
BEST: Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins
There’s only one word to describe Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins: supercali-you know where we’re going with this. The musical tale of a nanny floating in from some mysterious somewhere with a parasol and magical bag is a timeless classic. What makes it so magical isn’t just the songs or visuals. The movie would be NOTHING (yes, we said nothing) without Dame Julie Andrews.
With her musicality and loveable demeanor, Dame Andrews made us all wish Mary Poppins would float into our lives and spoon feed us sugar. Plus, she can fly! It’s almost shocking to realize that she was Mary Poppins a full year before she was Maria in The Sound of Music (another classic that should never be remade without her).
WORST: Katie Holmes, Batman Begins
When a movie comes out with a sequel we appreciate seeing the same cast of actors play our favorite characters. It’s just part of being consistent. When Christopher Nolan brought the world his gritty version of Batman people were excited. Gotham almost felt like a real city. Katie Holmes plays Rachel, a determined and skilled DA that falls for Bruce/Batman.
She gave a great performance but left the three-part series after one film! It turns out that she had other projects to work on. That’s why Maggie Gyllenhaal replaced her! In the end, the majority of Batman fans agreed that Gyllenhaal did a far better job as Rachel. This was a casting change we didn’t mind one bit.
WORST: Hayden Christensen, Star Wars
There are few series in the world that amassed a following as devoted as Star Wars. The franchise has so many titles under its belt that a lot of actors have gotten the honor of being part of its legacy. Every character has a chance to shine and be remembered. You’d think playing one of the most known villains, Darth Vader, would be a quick way to cement oneself as a staple of the series. It could have been. Hayden Christensen was all ready for superstardom (and still kind of achieved it).
With a brooding demeanor and incredible poise, he seemed destined to deliver a dark pre-Vader Skywalker. While all the pieces were there, clunky dialogue and some character choices caused fans to do a 180 on the future leader of the feared Empire. While we all know how his story ends, even new fans had some doubts after seeing Christensen’s performance.
BEST: Alan Rickman, Harry Potter
When looking back at some of our favorite films it’s hard to imagine what would happen if key characters were played by other people. Despite starting as a book first, the Harry Potter series delivered an impressive and unforgettable collection of characters. They were (mostly) all brought to life by a stellar list of actors across eight films. One of the most loved and loathed is none other than Severus Snape.
Sure, this teacher with a grudge had his rough points, but in the end (spoiler) he did it for love. Alan Rickman is the only Snape to have Snaped in any imaginable timeline. The drawl, hair, and overall demeanor that emanated from him just screamed Snape from the very first frame he apparated into.
WORST: Mark Wahlberg, The Happening
There’s no arguing that Mark Wahlberg is a talented musician and actor. The guy’s been in a lot of films and performed on a ton of stages. Despite his many roles and controversies throughout the years, he’s still a skilled and sought out actor in Hollywood. The problem with being a great actor means you can only stretch your skills as far as a role or script will allow.
When Wahlberg was cast in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening, nobody knew what to expect (aside from a twist). Once the film was released, audiences thought the biggest twist was taking Wahlberg’s performance seriously. The tone and some of the scenes featuring Wahlberg fell flat for audiences and critics.
BEST: Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street is an over-the-top adventure full of ridiculous characters played by amazing actors. What makes it great isn’t just that it’s based on a true story. The surprise in this film is just how hard everyone went with their roles. We dare you to find a poor performance. One of the highlights of the entire film didn’t even come from Leonardo DiCaprio or Margot Robbie’s performances.
The true shining star of this modern Scorsese masterpiece turned out to be Jonah Hill! His embodiment and delivery of DiCaprio’s go-to no-good party partner, Donnie Azoff, was performance art. Every scene he’s in is a riot for all the right reasons and we all have Hill to thank for that.
WORST: Russell Crowe, Les Miserables
Les Miserables is a hefty tome. Victor Hugo used up every single pen he could find to create this sprawling French epic. If you never read it in high school then at least watch the movies made in its name. While each rendition brings a unique twist to the title, the most recent iteration was something spectacular.
This high-budget movie stormed theatres and showed us which powerhouses in Hollywood could and couldn’t perform in a musical. Russell Crowe, for all of his excellent work, is in the latter category. You can be one of the best actors in an ensemble, but if you’re in a musical, that talent may not translate as well when you’re singing most of your lines.
Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones Series
Some stars are chameleons that can take on any role and completely change the way the public sees them. Others can do that but are still known for one specific character. Harrison Ford has f achieved both of those things. Almost every character he plays becomes some sort of staple in pop culture’s tapestry of cinematic favorites. Show of hands: how many people could see Indiana Jones be played by anyone other than Harrison Ford?
That’s what we thought. The professor and nazi-fighting archeologist can only be played by the incredible Ford. Plus, with five movies under his belt, it seems that he won’t be passing on the gruff and lovable image to anyone else anytime soon. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
BEST: Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder was a larger-than-life star that brought the world some incredible movies. Each of his works is so unique it’s hard to pick just one where he was the only casting choice. However, fans around the world have a soft spot and a sweet tooth for his role as the mysterious and deranged confectionary mastermind Willy Wonka! Even with liberties taken from the original text, it’s hard to think of anyone else wearing that top hat.
From his creepy nursery rhyme in the tunnel to his outburst in the office at the end, Wilder’s range is ridiculous in the movie! It also was perfectly delivered and has delighted/horrified people for decades since its premiere in 1971. It also made us want to inherit a chocolate factory.
WORST: Christian Bale, Exodus: Gods and Kings
What do Jesus, Christian Bale, and Sigourney Weaver have in common? Probably not much. However, two out of three of them have starred in a biblical epic that confounded audiences. Exodus: Gods and Kings were supposed to be a grand movie that tried to tell some of the bible’s biggest tales on the big screen.
What people received instead was a very interesting take on some of the world’s most well-known stories. While casing Bale as Moses was a good PR stunt, something didn’t feel right. Maybe audiences weren’t too enthused with seeing a group of actors not from the Middle-East play some of the region’s most famous figures.
BEST: Morgan Freeman, The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is an incredible adaptation of Stephen King’s famous novella. With an all-star cast, great pacing, and some interesting twists, audiences were captivated from the beginning of the film all the way to the inspiring and beautiful ending. However, one of the best parts of the film is without a doubt the character of Ellis Boyd Redding.
In the story, Redding was a redheaded and pale Irish immigrant who landed himself in Shawshank. By the time Freeman got his hands on the script, he turned the character into a much deeper and thought-provoking figure for the tale. His work is undeniably incredible, however, what can you expect? He’s Morgan Freeman. He only delivers his best every time.
WORST: Rosie O’Donnell, The Flinstone movies
Yabba dabba doo! The Flintstones have been part of the bedrock of the world’s cultural zeitgeist for decades. The rocky road traveled by the characters was always a delight to see. Granite, not every episode ages well. However, on the whole, the series is one of animation’s most beloved titles. When a live-action film was announced in the early 90s people were very interested in who would play the fab four adults: Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty! Each casting choice was spot-on, aside from Betty Rubble.
While Rosie O’Donnell brought a new spin to the role, some things felt off. The wise-cracking bestie to Wilma, Betty has a specific tone and cadence to the way she speaks. When the film started audiences realized that not everything seemed polished in O’Donnell’s performance.
BEST: Hugo Weaving, The Matrix Series
Hugo Weaving is an amazing actor. One of his most well-known roles was in the classic and iconic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It’s an Aussie drag extravaganza! After The Matrix came out, everyone decided that his most well-known role was now the creepy and relentless Agent Smith. This program with a vengeance chased and tortured humans for multiple films inside of the Matrix.
His dry delivery and unforgettable snarl made him the perfect program for the part. Even in the new film his reach is still felt. That’s a program with staying power, and it’s all thanks to Weaving’s performance! It takes a special actor to be more memorable than the main lead, but Weaving did it with class.
WORST: Noah Ringer, The Last Airbender
We could write an entire article on Avatar: The Last Airbender. We could also write one on M. Night Shyamalan’s attempt at bringing it to the big screen. The Last Airbender is to the original source material as Sharpies are to the finest of paints available to an artist. It’s clearly based on the animated series, but so many things feel incredibly out of place.
Even the cast seems to have been an afterthought! One of the most peculiar casting choices is Noah Ringer as the Airbender and Avatar Aang. Despite the rough script and confusing plot, the choice of having Ringer play a character clearly of Asian descent made absolutely no sense. When the movie hit screens it was clear his acting abilities weren’t up to snuff, either.
BEST: Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean
When you’re making a movie inspired by a theme park ride you don’t get a lot of backstories to play with. Instead, you have to rely on the imagination and the skill of your cast and crew to make it amazing. Everything from set design to script has to come from a place of authenticity as well as fantasy. When Johnny Depp floated into port as Jack Sparrow, Disney wasn’t prepared for the amount of fanatic love people were about to pour into this character.
The series would be almost nothing without Depp’s performance. His personal touches, along with some of the best line delivery in live-action Disney history, made Captain Sparrow into a staple character throughout the series. It also fused Depp to the character and made the two synonymous with each other.
WORST: Jim Carrey, A Series of Unfortunate Events
If your family perishes in a fire and you’re sent to live with some creepy theatrical dude in a dilapidated mansion, remain calm. As long as you’re not living in some dystopian arson-filled children’s book you’ll probably be okay…hopefully. A Series of Unfortunate Events is a macabre, but family-friendly, series that stands on its own in its artistic endeavors and delivery. Given its length, you’d think it’s easily adaptable into a great show (it has been).
Unfortunately, it doesn’t make a great film since there’s so much going on. Plus, without the right kooky cast, things can go sideways FAST. That’s kind of what happened when the loveable and hilarious Jim Carrey was cast as the overly creepy antagonist Count Olaf.
WORST: Kate Capshaw, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Making your way in Hollywood is all about who you know. No matter how talented or accomplished you are, you still need to have those connections if you want to stay relevant. 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a fantastic addition to the Indiana Jones series. With the introduction of new characters, people were all abuzz about who would fit each role. Stephen Spielberg didn’t disappoint, however, one choice felt a bit off.
The ultra-talented Kate Capshaw was cast as the singer-turned-adventurer Willie Scott. While she has an amazing stage presence and can deliver an awesome scene, something wasn’t quite right. Spielberg didn’t seem to care and even went on to pursue a relationship with Capshaw nearly a decade after the film came out!
BEST: Jim Carrey, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Few actors can get cast twice on the same list of best and worst character choices. However, Jim Carrey is no ordinary actor. When his cartoonish and over-the-top persona is taken into consideration, he can get some impressive roles added to his extensive resume. Aside from starring in The Mask, Carrey’s other great roles also stem from comedy. Playing the world’s greatest pet detective requires a level of skill that only someone like Carrey could deliver.
His zany animal calls and obsession with making sure every case is solved are traits that seemed to resonate with both Ventura and Carrey! In fact, if he weren’t an actor and accomplished painter, Carrey would probably make a great real-life pet detective. Maybe he even has a few exotic pets to keep him company that we don’t know about?
WORST: Jesse Eisenberg, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Batman V Superman helped audiences scratch an itch they’ve had for a while: which great hero would win in a fight? While comics and shows have done this in the past, seeing a movie of this scale pit Superman and Batman together was a must-see event. With those two heroes on-screen, who cares about the real villain? Okay, fine, we guess the producer does.
To help drive the story forward, we got to see Jesse Eisenberg tackle the role of Lex Luthor. The thing about Luther is that he’s a shrewd businessman and genius mastermind. He also doesn’t overreact as much as Eisenberg’s version would lead you to believe. Fans were a little more than disappointed by his performance.
BEST: John Goodman, The Big Lebowski
Cult films may not appeal to everyone, but the fanbase they touch is usually voracious in their defense of these movies. One of the most legendary films of American cult classics is The Big Lebowski. This bizarre adventure of bowling, rugs, and uncomfortably upset people just works well on a lot of odd levels. While it’s hard to explain what makes it so good, one of the obvious signs of its success is John Goodman.
This actor has been part of some of the best shows and movies in the 20th century. As Walter, Goodman hilariously showed his range and temper. Fun fact: the character he plays is actually based on one of the screenwriters of the movie!
WORST: Topher Grace, Spider-Man 3
Filmmakers take a lot of liberties when adapting something for the silver screen. It’s not always the heroes that get the short end of the stick. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man saga was a great addition to the lore of the friendly neighborhood web-slinger. The first two films were legendary. By the time the third one came around people had high hopes. Nearly everything was perfect aside from everyone’s favorite symbiote: Venom.
The alien blob-turned-monster has always been a mainstay in the series. However, some liberties were taken with Raimi’s version. Instead of having to fight Venom on his own, Spider-Man had to deal with him being a parasite. Visually? Incredible. However, Topher Grace’s version as fanboy turned monster Eddie Brock just wasn’t delivering enough carnage on-screen to be taken seriously.
BEST: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
You want to talk about perfect casting choices in the Batman universe? Let’s talk about the best and most authentic version of a comic book villain: Heath Ledger as The Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime has had a lot of voices and faces in the past. Some performances are more beloved than others. However, they all pale in comparison to the level of professionalism and horrifying believability that Ledger brought to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight film.
With researched and prepared affectations and ticks nobody had seen before, Ledger knocked the role out of the park. Unfortunately, he passed before he could receive an Oscar for what is arguably one of the best iterations of one of the comic book world’s favorite characters.
WORST: Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades Trilogy
We’d like to start by saying that the source material these actors were given was beyond subpar. It’s hard to pull off Twilight fanfiction that only serves to titillate readers. While Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan were able to take a terrible script and make it somewhat serviceable, we think these two lacked any kind of believable chemistry.
The main focus of the story is about their romance, yet it’s hard to believe these two even LIKE each other! There were rumors that the two didn’t get along during filming, though both of them deny the allegations. We don’t know why these two couldn’t create that onscreen spark, but we think we can all agree they weren’t the right match.
BEST: Anthony Hopkins, Silence of the Lambs
How do you capture an audience’s attention with just 24 minutes of screen time? Anthony Hopkins can answer that question for you. With only a fraction of the film’s runtime, Hopkins managed to portray a complicated cannibalistic serial killer perfectly. We don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he turned Hannibal Lecter into one of the most famous villains in cinematic history.
Would we have had all those spinoffs without his initial performance? We think not. While Hannibal the cannibal has been portrayed by other actors, we don’t think anyone else could’ve pulled it off in Silence of the Lambs. Is it any wonder that he won an Oscar for this role?
WORST: Bonnie Wright, The Harry Potter Franchise
Most of the actors cast in the Harry Potter franchise were highly praised for their performances. They weren’t just good actors, they literally embodied the characters from the books. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Daniel Radcliffe as Harry or anyone but Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood. The same can’t really be said about the youngest Weasley child…
In the books Ginny is fearless and outspoken but in the movies she sort of fades into the background. It’s hard to say whether this was bad screenwriting or the wrong casting, but Bonnie Wright just doesn’t feel like Ginny to most Potterheads. Do you think someone else could’ve played Ginny better?
BEST: Ian McKellen, The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the greatest works of fantasy in film history, but where would it be without its stellar cast? While all of the actors give their all, we think the best casting choice was Ian McKellan as Gandalf. Can you believe director Peter Jackson originally wanted Christopher Lee for the part?
It’s hard to imagine anyone but McKellen playing this powerful and loveable wizard. Gandalf is a larger-than-life character that needed an actor who could really step into his shoes. McKellen was able to do just that while making him one of the most legendary figures in movie history.
WORST: Natalie Portman, Thor
It seems that movie-goers are split when it comes to romantic subplots in movies. Sometimes they can enhance a film, other times they muddy the plot and bring everything down. The latter is how Marvel fans felt about Natalie Portman in the Thor movies. Not only was the romance poorly received, but people weren’t buying Portman’s chemistry with Chris Hemsworth.
While Portman has been in a number of great films, it seems like she was miscast in this one. Going with an A-lister doesn’t always mean you’ll get the right performance, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Thor films. C’mon Hollywood, there’s a whole lot of acting talent out there!
BEST: Andre the Giant, The Princess Bride
This nostalgic film lives on in the hearts of everyone who’s ever seen it. Audiences young and old can’t help but be captivated by this fairytale full of romance, action and adventure. There are a bunch of talented actors who bring these magical characters to life, but one big (literally) favorite was Andre the Giant’s performance as Fezzik.
This was his last film role before his passing, and what a memorable one it was. We sincerely hope Hollywood never thinks of remaking this classic, no one else would be able to replicate this giant’s role. In fact, William Goldman had him in mind when writing the screenplay! It’s inconceivable that anyone else could’ve filled his giant shoes.
WORST: Emma Watson, Beauty and the Beast
This starlet caught the world’s attention with her portrayal of the book smart witch Hermione Granger. But as she grew older she wanted to take on different roles. For years people were comparing her to one of Disney’s most beloved princesses, with her A-list status it came as no surprise that she was cast in the live-action Beauty and the Beast. But did she succeed in bringing Belle to life?
Most audiences didn’t seem to think so. People rated her performance as flat and lifeless, they weren’t a big fan of the autotuned singing either. Live-action Disney remakes aren’t received well in general, so it’s not surprising that Watson wasn’t praised for this one.
BEST: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
You can’t really go wrong with Daniel Day-Lewis. The guy is one of the most highly-acclaimed actors out there, part of what makes him so great is the way he carefully chooses his roles. Casting him as the ruthless oil baron in There Will Be Blood was a match made in heaven. The screenplay was written with him in mind, it’s hard to imagine the movie getting made without him.
While this slow-paced flick isn’t for everyone, it’s well worth the watch for the ending scene alone. The famous milkshake line didn’t become one of the most quotable moments in cinema history for no reason!
WORST: Keanu Reeves, Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Movie audiences have been entertained by vampires for decades, and there’s no shortage of movies that feature these supernatural beings. But their popularity doesn’t necessarily equal a great film (ahem, Twilight anyone?). Bram Stoker’s Dracula had pretty average reviews despite its cast of talented and critically acclaimed actors. The weakest link seemed to be Keanu Reeves.
Critics felt he was no match against powerhouses like Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins. People felt that Reeves was out of his element and as a result gave a weak performance. And we’re not even going to bring up that English accent! All in all this was one of the worst miscasts anyone’s ever seen.
BEST: Wilson, Castaway
Some actors are chameleons who excel at blending into any character. Others are experts at playing themselves. There are movie-goers who look down on actors like these, but we think their talents deserve appreciation. Wilson might’ve only been featured in one movie, but his chemistry with leading actor Tom Hanks couldn’t have been replicated by anyone else.
You think you can draw a face on just any old ball? No, Wilson really brought the emotion that made this movie so memorable. We know a good performance when we see one and we’re tired of seeing this Oscar-worthy actor fly under the radar. This was truly an excellent casting choice.
BEST: Chris Evans, Captain America
Marvel has a plethora of different superheroes, it’s easy for a few of them to get lost among the franchise’s many movies. While the powerhouse is known for cranking out top-notch movies starring everyone’s favorite comic book characters, it didn’t always have a stellar reputation. Fans were skeptical when Marvel planned on bringing a somewhat dull character to the big screen. But they picked the right actor to knock it out of the park.
Chris Evans was no stranger to acting before being cast, however this role allowed him to prove just how talented he is. He took what could’ve been a forgettable and one-dimensional character and made him into one of the biggest heroes of all time!
WORST: Michael Gambon, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
If you ask Harry Potter fans what their biggest pet peeve is, you’ll probably get a few answers referencing Dumbledore’s performance in Goblet of Fire. You may already know that Dumbledore was recast after the second movie due to the passing of Richard Harris. And after we got attached to the actor it was hard to accept anyone else. But one particular moment of Gambon’s performance will have us cringing forever.
“DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE??” should be a quote every Potter fan is familiar with. We just couldn’t reconcile his performance with the sage and soft-spoken wizard we remembered from the book.
BEST: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator
It can’t be easy playing a cyborg, you’ve got to find the perfect balance between robot and human. And in Arnold’s case, he also had to seem super threatening. The Terminator is a great film, but it wouldn’t have worked if the killer hunting Sarah Conner wasn’t played by the right guy. While there were certainly other options on the table, there’s no doubt that this Austrian-American bodybuilder was the perfect choice.
His unique way of delivering lines made him seem both non-human as well as super intimidating. It also didn’t hurt that he was one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. No wonder this role launched him into mega-stardom.
WORST: Lindsay Lohan, Liz & Dick
Starring in a biographical film can be risky. On one hand, you can receive tons of praise by bringing a beloved figure back to life. On the other hand, be prepared for a ton of criticism if you screw up. Casting comedy actress Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor seemed like a weird choice from the start, and unfortunately, the starlet failed to deliver a memorable performance.
Lohan is absolutely iconic in her early films like Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, however, this role just seemed to be out of her wheelhouse. Whoever greenlit that casting decision must’ve been smoking something, because it was a seriously bizarre and bad decision.
BEST: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Hailed as one of the greatest performances in a biographical drama, this flick about American novelist Truman Capote garnered several awards. It’s not easy portraying someone who audiences are already familiar with, particularly if that person has an eccentric personality and manner of speaking. But if anyone could do it Phillip Seymour Hoffman could.
There’s really no questioning why he took home an Academy Award for Best Actor that year. While this wasn’t the first time Capote was portrayed on screen, it’s certainly the most memorable. You can tell Hoffman gave this role his all and proved that he deserved to be cast as a leading man.
WORST: Marwan Kenzari, Aladdin (2019)
In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a ton of negative backlash toward live-action Disney remakes. Though they seem to be making money for the studio, they don’t get a whole lot of love or critical acclaim from viewers. And when people are already primed to dislike your movie, your performance has to be REALLY good to win them over. Marwan Kenzari failed to deliver on that front.
Jafar is possibly one of Disney’s most memorable villains, what with his creepy and subtly threatening demeanor. But absolutely nothing about Kenzari’s performance was the least bit scary. And if your antagonist isn’t a threat, why watch the movie in the first place?
BEST: Marlon Brando, The Godfather
There are a lot of great mobster movies out there (thank you Martin Scorcese), but there’s one that’s always been considered a league above the rest. The Godfather will forever live on as the crowning jewel of Italian mafia films, and part of that is because of the talent behind Don Vito Corleone.
Marlon Brando was already an acclaimed actor before taking on the role, but most people will probably best remember him as the cat-stroking head honcho of the Corleone family. Though he had a reputation of being difficult to work with, he certainly made it worth the director’s while to cast him in such an important part.
WORST: Jared Leto, Suicide Squad
While this movie is typically considered to be a dumpster fire of a film, the crowning piece of trash would definitely be the bastardization of a beloved villain. We’ve seen The Joker portrayed by acting giants like Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, what would Jared Leto bring to the role? As it turns out, not a whole lot.
He’s probably more remembered for harassing his co-stars behind the scenes rather than bringing a modern version of The Joker to life. You’ve got to be especially bad to stand out in a movie that most people hate, and Leto clearly was ready to accept that challenge. He’s certainly not untalented, but this was a major miscast.
BEST: Kathy Bates, Misery
Stephen King has written about a whole lot of monsters and villains over the years, but Annie Wilkes definitely stands out among them all. Far from a conventional killer, the terrifying part about Annie is not knowing when she’s going to flip. One moment she’s bringing you soup and the next she’s breaking your ankles. Kathy Bates brought both of those sides to life.
Every line she delivers is perfect, she really manages to make us despise her by the end of the film. A less skilled actor might have trouble playing Annie without seeming unrealistically cartoonish. Bates was the perfect person to play this deceptively sweet baddie.
WORST: Julianne Moore, Hannibal
Recastings are usually hard for the audience to swallow. Who wants to have their favorite character swapped out with an actor who doesn’t resemble them at all? Sometimes we can roll with it, but usually, we can’t. Julianne Moore replacing Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling seemed doomed from the start, especially with a story as bizarre and dark as Hannibal.
There’s a reason Jodie Foster passed up the opportunity to reprise her iconic role as Agent Starling, and unfortunately, Moore couldn’t bring anything memorable to the table. She’s by no means a poor actress, but the cards were definitely stacked against her in this one. The movie should’ve been scrapped when Foster passed on it.
BEST: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. His movies are both entertaining and far-reaching with some expertly crafted dialogue and settings. But when it came to this film set in WW2, he couldn’t have done it without a truly menacing bad guy. He was lucky to have landed an actor as talented as Christoph Waltz to play the part of Hans Landa
The Austrian actor’s participation in the film turned his already lucrative European film career into a multi-national Hollywood blockbuster empire. It’s not hard to say we didn’t see this coming, he’s a real charmer and steals every scene he’s in. We doubt Tarantino would’ve made the movie without him on board.