Total Nerd

For every adaptation that cleans up at the box office or earns widespread critical acclaim, there are examples of Hollywood failing to do the source material justice. Sometimes, for one reason or another, the magic simply isn’t there, often because of weaknesses in the direction, the performances, or the script (or sometimes all three).Every so often, however, there’s a performance in one of these movies which somehow manages to lift up at least the scenes in which they appear. In the most exemplary cases, such performances can even make the film much more enjoyable than it would otherwise manage to be, which in turn leads to a deeper appreciation for their charisma and prowess as actors.

Bad Movie Adaptations With One Perfect Performance

Actor

Thomas West

Ranking the best, funniest, and most original stand-up comedians and comic actors.

Very Funny People

Looking closer at the actors who have played cold-blooded bad guys—and totally nailed it.

Playing the Villain

Comedy

Actors like Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, and John Malkovich can&#39;t always play the villain. These times great villains were played by comedians prove that sometimes casting against type can reap great rewards.

Robin Williams and Jim Carrey were both hilarious stand-up comedians with&nbsp;impressive filmographies filled with hilarious movies. However, both actors wanted to expand their resumes with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-serious-movies-starring-comedians" target="_blank">dramatic roles</a>&nbsp;that cast them in a completely different light.&nbsp;Sometimes it&#39;s hard to imagine our comedic heroes <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-villains-played-by-musicians/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">playing the bad guy</a>. But, sometimes when the script and performances are just right, those normally funny protagonists make terrifying villains.

Make your voice heard. Vote up the most sinister villains played by comedians.

14 Times Great Villains Were Played By Comedians

Ann Casano

Looking at standout roles, unforgettable performances, and behind-the-scenes drama of famous and forgotten actors.

Casting Calls

Showbiz

These&nbsp;actors who <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-got-big-after-playing-bad-guys/orrin-grey" target="_blank">broke typecasting</a> have one thing in common - they were willing to take an incredible career risk in order to avoid being branded as one thing for life.&nbsp;

Play a Disney princess a few times, and the world is going to only see you as a Disney princess - which is why Anne Hathaway went after gritty and controversial dramas to deny a permanent &quot;Hathaway archetype.&quot;

Typecasting has ruined so many potentially great careers. Just ask the cast of Gilligan&#39;s Island or The Brady Bunch&nbsp;how difficult it was for them to find work when their respective series ended. TV fans simply could not see many of those actors playing a different type of character.&nbsp;Just try to imagine Bob Denver (Gilligan) as an anti-hero, hard-drinking detective type. Can you picture Michael Lookinland (Bobby Brady) as a deranged villain?

Perhaps those actors could have played those types of roles.&nbsp;But they never got the chance because they were so resolutely identified with very specific character traits. Which actor took the biggest risk to break typecasting? Who defied their original screen persona? Who just couldn&#39;t break type?

13 Actors Who Took Huge Risks To Avoid Typecasting

Actors Who Took Huge Risks To Break Typecasting

Lists about actors and actresses and the characters they became, how they disappeared into roles, what they really look like, and more.

The Art of Acting

The acting game can be a tough business. Whether it&#39;s bad luck at the box office, problematic personal choices, or a lack of job offers, sometimes a career can just go wrong. Even the most talented of actors can find themselves down on their luck before you know it. And then&nbsp;bang, they&#39;re back!

There&#39;s nothing like a Hollywood career resurgence. Sometimes it defies all logic. Why would Tinseltown give problematic actors who don&#39;t sell tickets another shot at the big time when the next big thing could be out there for much less money? That&#39;s why we love to root for the stars who got their career&nbsp;back on track. Without further ado, let&#39;s run through some stars who essentially disappeared and came back in ways we couldn&#39;t imagine.

18 Actors Who Basically Disappeared - Then Came Back Stronger Than Ever

18 Actors Who Disappeared But Came Back Stronger Than Ever

T.W. Mitchell

Underrated

The '90s was a pivotal time for humanity. Not only did McDonald's allow customers to supersize their meals, and the Tamagotchi replaced the golden retriever as America's favorite pet, but it also boasted another golden era of movie stars. From <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/people-talk-about-nicolas-cage/pierce-nahigyan">Nicolas Cage</a> to Ben Stiller, the Hollywood Hills were alive with the sound of superstardom.Much like any A-lister from any time period, these stars have several features in their filmography that the average moviegoer might not remember. This isn't to say the films are bad, just lesser known than others. Since everyone loves a good laugh, here are some forgotten comedies from the biggest celebs of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/favorite-movies-of-the-90s">1990s</a>.

17 Forgotten Comedies Of '90s Movie Stars

Film

17 Forgotten Comedies Of ‘90s Movie Stars

Sergio Pereira

Before they were mega-stars, celebrities in every genre were just normal people trying to make their mark in the world. 

Before They Were Famous

Performances

Most of Generation X is familiar with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-abc-afterschool-special-episodes/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">ABC Afterschool Specials</a>, the anthology series started in 1972 and ran for 25 years. The low-budget educational programs handed out important lessons in sensitive areas like sex and drugs but in an easy-to-digest relatable dramatic story. Several future big-time Hollywood actors appeared in these melodramatic episodes from the ‘70s, ’80s, and '90s.Teen actors of the era often got their professional breaks from being in the series, which led to much greater opportunity and recognition in the rest of their career. Vote up the actors you didn't know got their start in an afternoon special.

Famous Actors Who Starred In Afterschool Specials

Costuming & Props

Acting is the practice of pretending to be someone else, which becomes complicated when an actor must go through a physical transformation in order to accurately fill the look for a role. Though a few highly dedicated actors choose to gain or lose weight to shape their figure for a role, most character transformations are made through intense applications of various makeup and prosthetics.&nbsp;As prosthetics technology advances every year, it seems as if more and more actors in films are cleverly disguised as their characters under copious amounts of latex and makeup. While subtle changes can be powerful, it is even more impressive when makeup and hairstyling can make an actor appear to be a totally different person. Whether literally turning them into disgusting <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-human-villains-in-monster-movies/orrin-grey?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">villains and monsters</a>, or maybe just an entirely different human, the advances in makeup have made it possible for anyone to play any role. Here are the actors who, thanks to movie magic, became totally unrecognizable while playing villains.

Actors Who Became Unrecognizable To Play A Villain

Griffin Peters

Pop Culture

For a while it seemed that these forgotten &#39;80s stars were going to become the next big thing in Hollywood. While most of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have had impressive careers in Tinseltown, they never quite made that giant leap to superstardom.&nbsp;

Remember Mia Sara from Ferris Bueller&#39;s Day Off, or&nbsp;Phoebe Cates from <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-characters/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Fast Times at Ridgemont</a> High? Both of those forgotten actresses of the &#39;80s hold a special place for anyone who came of age in the Reagan decade. However, after a fast start to their careers, both Cates and Sara never achieved next-level fame.&nbsp;

Perhaps these forgotten actors of the &#39;80s made the personal decision to step away from the spotlight? Perhaps&nbsp;they ran into a problem with drugs or alcohol that hindered their careers? Perhaps&nbsp;they still continue to work in film or television but their performances come more in independent movies or lesser-known television shows?

Vote up the Generation X actors that you still love from the 1980s, even if they never became the next Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts.&nbsp;

Actors From The ’80s Who Were Supposed To Be The Next Big Thing, But Never Quite Made It

Person

'80s Actors Who Never Quite Became The Next Big Thing

It&rsquo;s wonderful for an actor to get to a point in their career where they can pick and choose the film parts they want. These actors who were forced to take roles did not have a choice. Sometimes, contracts and even handshake deals get in the way of an actor&rsquo;s freedom.

Modern-day Hollywood is filled with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/5-star-movie-franchises" target="_blank">franchises</a> and sequels. Often, if an actor signs on for a superhero role in a franchise like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even if the sequel movie&rsquo;s script is awful, they still have to do the project.

Additionally, green actors often sign multi-picture deals with movie studios, especially at the beginning of their careers when they don&rsquo;t have a ton of leverage. Sometimes, an actor will find an incredible <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-screenwriters-of-all-time/ranker-film" target="_blank">script</a> and want to make that movie with a different studio. However, they cannot if they are contractually obligated to finish their original deal.

Even A-list star power does not trump signing on the dotted line, even in one actor&rsquo;s case where their &ldquo;friend&rdquo; forged their signature.&nbsp;

Which famous actors were forced to take film roles they did not want?&nbsp;

Famous Actors Who Were Forced To Take Film Roles They Didn't Want

Famous Actors Who Were Forced To Take Film Roles They Didn’t Want

Wealth and fame are just two of the benefits that come with being a Hollywood movie star. Another perk for bankable actors is the leverage to get their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/family-bonding-passion-project-movies/tyler-mitchell">vanity project movies</a> produced. Would <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/proud-flop-actors-of-hollywood/tyler-mitchell">Battlefield Earth</a> get made if John Travolta wasn’t one of the most popular actors in the world? Would The Postman ever see the light of day if Kevin Costner didn’t have an Oscar-winning past&nbsp;to back up his vision?The short answer is probably not. The scripts for both of those films were not very good. Producers only banked on those stories because of the star power Travolta and Costner had during the height of their Tinseltown fame. Some of these passion projects ruined careers, while others were just tiny bumps in the road. A couple of these vanity affairs have even gone on to find an audience and become cult classics. Vote up the passion projects that you think should have never been made.

15 Actor Passion Projects That No One Wanted To See

Lists about unforgettable child actors who nabbed the spotlight and how they have navigated life after fame at such vulnerable stages in their development.

Bright Young Stars

Unscripted

Hollywood, and American culture more generally, has a vexed relationship with child stars, particularly when their most notable roles are in films of a mature nature. Child actors often have only a limited understanding of the movies in which they are appearing as children or young adults.In<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/schindler_s-list-behind-the-scenes/gordon-cameron"> behind-the-scenes interviews</a>, these actors reveal what goes into the production of such movies, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of just how complicated it can be to work with underage performers, particularly in films that engage with decidedly adult issues.&nbsp;

Child Actors Talk About Starring In Movies They Were Too Young To Understand

Lists about action stars and characters who are eternally sweaty and smeared with dirty blood, having just leapt out of reach of another fiery explosion.


Yippee-Ki-Yay, Mister Falcon

Transitioning from athletics to acting can be <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-tried-to-be-action-stars/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">a bumpy road</a>, but there have been plenty of&nbsp;action stars who used to be athletes over the years in Tinseltown. For every Dennis Rodman and Shaquille O&#39;Neal, you have genuinely prolific former <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-former-athletes-turned-actors/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">athletes turned actors</a> like Jason Statham and Terry Crews&nbsp;proving you can pivot careers later in life. And these aren&#39;t just athletes showing off acting chops, either;&nbsp;these are athletes who use their innate athletic abilities to become action heroes on the big screen.

And before you get all in a tizzy, yes, we are including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pro-wrestlers-horror-movies/jim-rowley" target="_blank">professional wrestling</a> as a sport on this list. They are athletes. You may not like it, you may argue the merits of it, but until you can pull off the feats that people like Dwayne Johnson, Ronda Rousey, and John Cena could pull in the ring, you can just zip it. Get ready to feel inadequate in multiple ways as we reminisce on some of the action star athletes who were able to succeed at both athletics and acting.&nbsp;

Athletes Who Tried To Become Action Stars (And Nailed It)

Exposing all the weird, expensive, political, ego-driven stuff that happens behind the scenes before and after films and TV series hit the screens.

That's Showbiz, Baby

Behind The Scenes

Most artists <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/adventure-movies-based-on-real-myths/jim-rowley">draw inspiration from real life</a>, but some creations are more directly inspired by specific experiences than others. Many filmmakers have adapted their lives to the screen, including Steven Spielberg with&nbsp;The Fabelmans, Greta Gerwig with&nbsp;Lady Bird, and François Truffaut with&nbsp;The 400 Blows, but not all autobiographical filmmaking depicts events from the distant past. In some cases, filmmakers are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-altered-after-real-events/jacob-shelton">responding to events in real time</a>. This often leads to disguised storytelling. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s alien apocalypse movie&nbsp;The World’s End, for instance, isn’t an obvious depiction of the star’s struggles with alcoholism, but Pegg later revealed that it was a creative response to a painful time in his life. Similarly, few fans would suspect that&nbsp;Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom&nbsp;is a glorified <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-about-getting-dumped/anncasano?ref=browse_list">breakup movie</a>, but its notorious darkness helped George Lucas and Steven Spielberg purge their feelings after their respective breakups.&nbsp;Some filmmakers intentionally use their artistic medium as a form of therapy, while others are surprised by the emotional impact of making art out of their own struggles. In some cases, they choose not to discuss the real-life parallels until years after the film’s release. Whatever the case, these movies are windows into the personal hardships of their creators, and while they are not always easy to watch, they do demonstrate the power of filmmaking to depict real-world experiences in innovative and surprising ways.

14 Movies That Were Surprisingly Inspired By Creators' Personal Hardships

Movies You Didn't Realize Were Low-Key Autobiographical

Lily McElveen

Entertainment

As more and more Disney films <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-disney-movie-remakes/jason-bancroft">get the live-action treatment</a>, from the Glenn Close-starring 101 Dalmatians to 2023's The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan &amp; Wendy, there’s no bad time to reflect on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-live-action-movies/film-snob">the many films that have hit theaters over the years</a> .Whether you enjoy spotting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/live-action-disney-movie-details/loren-o_connell">magical details</a> missed in the first watch or discussing which&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/disney-villain-live-action-movie/taylor-park">villains need origin stories</a>, there’s something for every Disney nerd. Grab some popcorn, get cozy, and prepare to be dazzled by the performances of these incredible movie stars.

17 Live-Action Disney Performances That Live Up To The Originals

Live-Action Disney Performances That Live Up To The Originals

Rebecca Williamson

Animated Characters

For any actor, playing a cartoon character in a live-action movie is a massive challenge. Such characters are often designed in a very exaggerated way, both in terms of appearance and personality. They wear costumes that could look silly in real life. Some have abilities or quirks that are tough to pull off. The issue becomes how to capture the essence of a character audiences know and love, while still making it seem credible in a live-action setting.The following actors managed to succeed at the task. Each of them hit the sweet spot between remaining true to the character's origin and bringing a little something of their own to the roles. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are great names among them, including Oscar nominees and eventual Oscar winners. Their work demonstrates palpable love for the source material. You can tell they put in the work to get things exactly right.

15 Actors Who Played Live-Action Cartoon Characters - And Nailed It

Actors Who Played Live-Action Cartoon Characters - And Nailed It

Mike McGranaghan

The movies have a funny way of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/overqualified-nerd-franchise-icons/jake-williams">turning characters in to iconic figures</a>. Naturally, Hollywood is always looking for new ways to expand popular properties, and getting new actors to play classic movie characters for television adaptations is an excellent way to do that - and hopefully extend the life of those characters to begin with.Sometimes, that fails completely. Other times, a new actor absolutely nails the role, and makes a classic movie character all their own. Here are a few who did just that!

Actors Who Played Classic Movie Characters On TV - And Nailed It

Emmett ORegan

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of actor lists and rankings.

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Actor lists on Ranker

Actors lists on Ranker

Actors

Jaden Smith

Miley Cyrus

Beyoncé

Tom Hanks

Morgan Freeman

Robert Downey Jr.

Robin Williams

James Earl Jones

Eddie Murphy

Liam Neeson

Cillian Murphy

Richard Harris

Visit Ireland

Lists that rank the greatest performers to hit the large and small screens.

The Best Actors and Actresses

Ireland

Sure, Colin Farrell is a handsome bad boy, but what about all those other great Irish actors? This list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-irish-actors-working-today/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Irish actors</a> of all time reaches back in film history to rank the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-actors?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest male actors</a> to have ever hailed from Ireland. Hollywood just wouldn't be the same without Lawrence of Arabia and a whole bunch of James Bond films, and those movies wouldn't be what they were without a few of the top Irish actors ranked here.Who are the best Irish actors ever? The land of Erin has given the world many good actors, who have played iconic roles, been part of blockbuster and classic films, and represented Ireland on the big screen for decades. Great classic Irish actors like Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris are listed here, along with more modern talents like Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, and Pierce Brosnan. Think of your favorite movie, and there just might be a good Irish actor starring as the leading man.This list features the top Irish actors of all time including Peter O’Toole, &nbsp;Liam Neeson, Noel Purcell, Tony Doyle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Harris, and Colin Kenny. Don't see your favorite actor from the Eire? Add him below so other film fans can vote. Then, be sure to vote and rerank the list according to who you think are the best Irish actors to have ever graced the screen.

Pierce Brosnan

The Best Irish Actors of All Time

Person in Film

Ranking the 40+ Best Irish Actors of All Time

Ranker Film

It takes a lot to make a movie great. There has to be excellent writing, production, direction, editing, and of course, acting. While the crew draws out the parameters for a movie, the actors are the ones who color in the film to bring it to life, and without great acting, a great film can crumble.&nbsp;

These Hollywood actors are the ones who deliver time and again, regardless of how good the script or the production of the film is. These are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-americans-ever/jacariah?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the greatest American</a> actors who are alive today. Who are the best actors from the USA? Sure, you have your Oscar winners like Tom Hanks and Tommy Lee Jones. But what about those reliable, <a href="/list/underrated-vincent-donofrio-movie-and-tv-roles/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">underrated guys like Vincent D&#39;Onofrio</a>? Some other top American actors include Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Harrison Ford.&nbsp;

We can all agree there are a lot of great American actors. However, which of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-actors-working-today/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">male movie stars</a> is the best? That&#39;s up to you to decide. Vote up all of the popular male actors that you believe to be the best! Then check back to see which of the famous male stars have topped the list.&nbsp;

Ed Harris

The Best Living American Actors

150+ Best Living American Actors | Greatest Movie Actors Alive Today

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

Animated Movies

This list contains information about the best animated voiceover performances in film, ranked by your votes. Several famous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have lent their voices to to help create some of the most iconic animated characters of all time. Some of these celebrities voiced Disney characters while others teamed up with Dreamworks. Several Academy Award winners are also among the best voice over actors, and have given great voice over performances.Which Hollywood actors have given some of the best animated VO performances in film? Robin Williams is at the top of the list. Robin Williams's iconic performance as Genie in Aladdin is one of the best vocal roles in any Disney film. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen also gave great performances as Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies. Johnny Depp brought the character of Rango to life with his expressive vocals.Some famous women also voiced animated characters. Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu both gave great performances in Kung Fu Panda. Oscar-winner Meryl Streep did a great job being the voice of reason as Mrs. Fox in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Perhaps one of the the best animated voiceovers from a famous actress would be Cameron Diaz's portrayal of Princess Fiona in Shrek.Which animated voice overs are your favorite? Vote on this list and let your voice be heard in the comments section.

Mark Hamill

The Best Animated Voiceover Performances

Best Animated Voiceover Performances | Actors with the Best V.O. Performances

This list of the most overrated actors of all time, has been ranked by critics and fans from all over the world. Actors are seen as the face of the movies, television, and other media products in which they star. Hollywood <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have become like gods to many people around the globe, and they are worshiped with praise, money, awards, and gifts.

However, many of the actors receiving the most accolades are extremely overrated in their raw talent, charisma, and chemistry with other actors. Some believe that overrated male actors, like Tom Cruise and Will Smith, bring in the big box office bucks, but have little to no acting range and often phone in their performances.

Many of the actors who get the most praise gave one or two great performances, but then rested on their laurels for the rest of their careers. Others are pretty good actors, but nowhere near as talented as the overwhelming praise they receive. Even more overrated celebrities&nbsp;have no talent at all, but are famous because of their looks and personality. Bottom line: some of the actors and actresses from classic movies aren&rsquo;t as gifted as many claim.

Who are the most overrated actors and actresses? This list features current and old Hollywood actors who are rated far more highly then they deserve (for their acting skills). Make your opinions heard by voting below!&nbsp;