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

Lists about great entertainment that took chances and strayed from that same boring formula.

And Now: Something Different

Entertainment

It&#39;s a true feat of screenwriting when a movie&#39;s plot comes full circle. Developing a story that credibly boomerangs takes a great deal of skill and imagination. In returning to the beginning, the plot has to devise a way to make that feel like a progression for the characters, rather than a regression. In other words, they have to gain something by reverting to the start.

The following films&nbsp;are all examples of this in action. Their characters begin in one location or in some specific scenario. From there, they go out on a journey that&#39;s filled with tribulations. At the end, either by choice or circumstance, they&#39;re dropped right back off where they started. Despite that, they&#39;ve grown in the interim, so they aren&#39;t 100% the same as they were initially. The movies are potent because that idea is crystal clear in their respective stories. By going in a loop, the protagonists are changed in important ways.

Which of these movies best comes full circle at the end? Your votes will decide.&nbsp;

12 Movies Where Everything Comes Full Circle By The End

Film

12 Movies Where The Characters End Right Back Where They Started

Mike McGranaghan

Cartoon Network

Animated

Since its debut in 1992, Cartoon Network has delivered some of the <a href="/list/best-2000s-cartoon-network-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">best cartoons</a> on cable TV. Old Cartoon Network shows such as Dexter&#39;s Laboratory, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, and Johnny Bravo helped draw attention to the network in the late &#39;90s. With the channel&#39;s expansion into video games and more adult-oriented material, Cartoon Network continues to dominate the market today.

While the network has a slew of beloved shows, there are&nbsp;plenty of Cartoon Network shows you forgot about. These shows maintain small yet solid fan bases years after their final episodes. Make sure to vote for your favorite forgotten Cartoon Network shows below.

The Most Overlooked Cartoon Network Shows

TV Program

Terrance W. Pryor

There is no betrayal in cinematic history quite like&nbsp;R-rated movies with PG-13 sequels. An R isn&#39;t just a rating -&nbsp;it&#39;s a signifier of a particular type of movie. These films are gritty and unyielding in their devotion to the filmmaker&#39;s&nbsp;vision. Nothing was censored or removed from the script to garner the wider release and bigger box office numbers that a PG-13 rating would earn. Sadly, sometimes <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-franchise-worst-decisions/tyler-mitchell" target="_blank">greedy executives decide to cash in</a> on a franchise by watering down these R-rated movies with&nbsp;wimpy&nbsp;PG-13 sequels.&nbsp;

It&#39;s expected, but still sad, when a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-that-failed-to-pass-the-torch/josh-plainse" target="_blank">sequel doesn&#39;t have the same magic as its predecessor</a>. Sometimes a director changes. Other times, an actor gets too big to return. Occasionally, a studio starts to meddle a bit too much because the movie was a big success, and now the sequel has a bigger budget. And, worst of all, sometimes this meddling means the franchise that gained mainstream attention because it was an R-rated gorefest will now be a PG-13 film that cuts away before the action really gets started.

Remember to vote up the worst offenders.

14 Times R-Rated Franchises Made PG-13 Sequels No One Asked For (Or Wanted)

R-Rated Franchises That Made PG-13 Sequels Nobody Asked For (Or Wanted)

Jake Williams

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

Celebrities

You have to be 17 to see an <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-r-rated-teen-film-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">R-rated film</a> by yourself, but R-rated action movies starring kids and horror movies about kids are more common than you&#39;d think. And these aren&#39;t run-of-the-mill R-rated dramas we are talking about here. We&#39;re talking about the R-rated movies you would never, ever show to your kids in fear of them being scarred for life.&nbsp;

Sometimes, kids will show up in a supporting role of an&nbsp;action movie, like&nbsp;Commando&nbsp;or&nbsp;Sudden Death. Sometimes, kids will be at the center of a vicious movie like&nbsp;Kick-Ass&nbsp;or&nbsp;L&eacute;on: The Professional. Maybe it&#39;s a horror flick like&nbsp;The Exorcist&nbsp;or&nbsp;The Omen. Whatever the case may be, there are just some kid-starring films actual children should never watch. So put the kids to bed, and get ready to vote up your favorite disturbing films that star kids who are too young to watch them.

14 Violent And Disturbing Movies That Star Kids Too Young To Watch Them

14 R-Rated Movies That Star Kids

T.W. Mitchell

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

Look, you watch enough of a show, you get to know the characters. Maybe you even care about them. Maybe you even love them. Or hate them. Or want to read tons of lists about them.

The People in Your TV

Given that TV shows usually feature large ensembles, it's natural for characters to appear or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-characters-disappeared-without-explanation/adina-kruskal">disappear</a>. Sometimes new arrivals are clearly meant to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-show-replacements-same-character/adina-kruskal?ref=profile_own">replace</a> an old character; other additions may simply be intended to expand possibilities beyond the current group of characters.It's strange for viewers when we see a character who was not on the show before, but the people in-universe act as if they know them and they've been around the whole time, conveniently off-camera. In some settings - a school, a workplace, a town - it's understandable, but other closed-off settings, like a deserted island, make it harder to suspend disbelief. Some shows even joke about the new arrival upon introduction before moving on to incorporate them into the show. Here are the most notable characters who joined TV shows partway through their run but supposedly were “there all along.”

13 Times TV Shows Introduced New Characters And Pretended They Were There All Along

General

TV Shows That Introduced New Characters And Pretended They Were There All Along

Adina Kruskal

Lists about the best (and worst) films, TV series, novels, characters, etc. in every sci-fi genre.

The Worlds of Science Fiction

The Best of the 2010s

There was certainly no lack of television content in the 2010s. With the introduction of Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and every other streaming service out there, there&#39;s so much to watch; nobody could see everything good. Because of this, a lot of really <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-2010s-sci-fi-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">interesting and exciting science-fiction series</a> went by the wayside despite being well-made and incredibly entertaining.

To be clear, the shows listed here aren&#39;t bad, nor did they lack a dedicated fan base. These underrated sci-fi shows are the ones that simply didn&#39;t have enough of a fan base to sustain them. They may have aired a couple of seasons, but without the numbers behind them, many were canceled before their time. Others built up quite a following, but their inclusion in the broader spectrum of pop culture never really manifested.

The Most Underrated Sci-Fi TV Shows Of The 2010s

The 2010s Most Underrated Sci-Fi TV Shows Of The Decade, Ranked By Fans

Jonathan H. Kantor

As they say in well-written scripts, "You mean... like time travel?" + also a few bizarre stories about real people who have claimed, despite every law of physics, they have traveled through time.

Travelin' Through Time

Everyone and their mother knows about time travel movies like&nbsp;Back to the Future&nbsp;and&nbsp;Avengers: Endgame, but what about the underrated <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-time-machines-in-movies-and-tv/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">time travel movies</a>? It&#39;s a sci-fi subgenre with plenty of room to maneuver; there have been virtually countless time travel movies since the dawn of filmmaking. Some films fare better than others - the less said about 2002&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1112951-time_machine" target="_blank">The Time Machine</a>, the better - but we&#39;re here to focus on some of the hidden gems and/or underrated films of the genre.

From low-budget gems like&nbsp;Primer&nbsp;and&nbsp;Timecrimes&nbsp;to&nbsp;big-budget blockbusters like&nbsp;Men in Black 3&nbsp;and&nbsp;Deja Vu. From comedies to&nbsp;anime to the foreign arthouse, time travel keeps reliably cropping up.&nbsp;There&#39;s a lot of room to maneuver in this particular subgenre, so get ready to dive deep.&nbsp;Remember to vote up your favorite underrated films about time travel.

17 Underrated Sci-Fi Movies About Time Travel

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

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

Underrated

Many elements come together to form the “prestige” of prestige TV drama. Great writing, moving performances, and distinct setting and costumes are all important for a show to resonate with audiences. One key ingredient to the depth of a fictional universe is a roster of memorable antagonists for viewers to root against.Whether&nbsp;plotting theatrical capers like a<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-comic-book-villain-tv-show-performances/sean-migalla"> comic book supervillain</a>, or more subtle like the scheming villains on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-game-of-thrones-characters">Game of Thrones</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;Breaking Bad, villains come in many forms. While the most eye-catching TV villains get the love they deserve, some performances go largely underrated. Though they may be overshadowed by other antagonists that have splashier appearances or stick around for longer, the villains on this list are the greatest under-the-radar foes from prestige TV.

Underrated Prestige TV Villains That Truly Get Under Your Skin

TV Character

Underrated Prestige TV Villains That Get Under Your Skin

Sean Migalla

Lists that rank the best and worst film series, sequels, prequels, threequels, and other ways movie studios chew up and regurgitate good ideas to squeeze out every last dignity-free penny.

Super-Franchise Me

Entertainment Franchises

Making a sequel to a classic movie is a dicey proposition. For every Godfather Part II, there's a Blues Brothers 2000. For every Aliens, there's a Caddyshack II. Audiences come to these sequels with high expectations, so if the film can't come close to its predecessor, the sense of disappointment is magnified.&nbsp;In a separate class are those <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-1990s-movie-sequels/jim-rowley">sequels that are underrated</a>. Every once in a while, a sequel to a classic comes along that lets people down initially, then goes on to prove itself to be okay on its own terms in later years. The following movies all fall into that category. They were either not received with the same enthusiasm as the originals or were unfairly picked apart in comparison to them. They deserve a second chance. No, most of them aren't going to become classics - but that doesn't mean they don't have something to offer.

Underrated Sequels To Classic Movies That Are Surprisingly Good

A closer look at the funny shows that keep us going.

Sit-Comedy

Employment

Laugh-out-loud, deep belly laughs are good for both the soul and your health. One way to let out all those chuckles is to curl up with a great&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-sitcom-year-you-were-born/jonathan-kantor">TV show</a>, particularly a great&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-90s-sitcoms/thomas-west">sitcom</a>. Seeing characters make fools of themselves at their jobs, like in the popular show&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-season-of-the-office/ranker-tv">The Office,</a> is many viewers’ favorite way to unwind.&nbsp;Whether you’re tired of watching The Office again and just need a new&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-2000s-sitcoms/ranker-tv">comedy</a>, or the show isn’t your type of humor, there are many other workplace sitcoms to add to your watch list. Plus, many of these series are finished, so you won’t have to wait for the next episode to air! Though there is undoubted greatness in these shows, it’s important to note that many of the older sitcoms have inappropriate and offensive humor that is unacceptable in any modern context.Which of these sitcoms do you think you’ll be binge-watching next?

16 Rewatchable Workplace Sitcoms When You’re Tired Of ‘The Office’

Rewatchable Workplace Sitcoms When You’re Tired Of ‘The Office’

Rebecca Williamson

Suspense. Excitement. Plot twists. Dim corridors. Flickering lights. Ringing phones. Speeding cars. Mysterious strangers? No, those are just mannequins.

'Cuz This Is Thriller

90s Movies

Plenty of Hollywood movies are based on best-selling books. While some come from source material that's well-known as literature first, like&nbsp;Lord of the Rings and the&nbsp;Hunger Games&nbsp;series, audiences may not know how many famous '90s thrillers are adapted from paperback best-sellers from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/authors-like-john-grisham/kate-kavanagh?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">authors like John Grisham</a> and Michael Crichton.Fans can be a little picky when it comes to adaptations of their favorite books. Now, it is true that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sci-fi-stories-with-terrible-movies/john-saavedra">some adaptations</a> go poorly, and it would probably be best if Hollywood <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/books-that-deserve-better-movie-adaptations/charley-ruddell">gave it another try.</a> Many thriller novel adaptations hold up to the test of time, yet, for various reasons, didn’t get the love they deserved. These underrated '90s thrillers based on bestseller novels are definitely worth revisiting.

16 Underrated '90s Thrillers Based On Paperback Bestsellers

Underrated ’90s Thrillers Based On Paperback Bestsellers

Total Nerd lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Total Nerd lists on Ranker

Total Nerd lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Total Nerd lists and rankings.

Iron Man

Spider-Man

Thor

Are you a Marvel fanatic? Vote on these lists of the best, funniest, dumbest, most underrated, etc. characters in the MCU to have your voice heard.

MCU Character Power Rankings

Since the big-screen debut of Iron Man in his self-titled 2008 franchise-starter, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been turning niche characters into household names - and reigniting the popularity of legendary characters from its comic-book pages. Many of the greatest comic book characters of all-time - superhero and otherwise - have been featured throughout the franchise and its many sub-franchises.Beyond the big-ticket superheroes like Thor, Captain America, and Spider-Man, the likes of Bucky Barnes, Happy Hogan, Rocket Raccoon, and Bruce Banner are among the best MCU characters. and that’s just the heroes - the list wouldn’t be complete without the ongoing series’ many memorable villains, including Killmonger, Vulture, Loki, and Thanos. Even characters who only show up for cameos can count, like Stan Lee, whom <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://screenrant.com/mcu-stan-lee-cameos-steve-rogers-time-travel-explained/">one fan theory suggests</a> is the same character through all of his many brief appearances.From movies like the original team-up, The Avengers, to TV shows like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-agents-of-shield-storylines/jonathan-kantor">Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</a> and Moon Knight, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. Who is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-mcu-characters/joedonley">your favorite</a> character? Who deserves <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/marvel-characters-missing-from-the-mcu-movies/williamsbrianjake">more screen time</a>? Vote up the best characters <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-mcu-movies/ranker-film">in the MCU</a>, and feel free to add any new or underrated characters to the list. After all, there are still plenty of Marvel characters <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-avengers-not-in-mcu/joedonley">who haven’t appeared… yet</a>.