There may not be a more important aspect of making a film than casting, as it is always characters that end up resonating the most with audiences. Certainly, a film has no opportunity to succeed if the screenplay is already not strong in the first place, and does not include characters that an audience would feasibly want to invest in. That being said, finding an ensemble of actors that can bring the material to life is what “movie magic” is all about.
There are plenty of interesting “what if?” scenarios in the history of cinema, but some movie castings stand out because it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Even though most great actors have many films within their careers that could be considered “iconic,” it is often just one great hero who they become completely synonymous with. Here are the top ten movie castings of all-time, ranked.
14 Sean Connery, ‘Dr. No’ (1962)
Character: James Bond
Image via MGM
Although there have been many actors who have starred in the James Bond series, Sean Connery helped to bring one of the most iconic characters of all-time to life in Dr. No. It’s remarkable how radically different the character in Dr. No is from the protagonist in Ian Fleming’s novel series; while the books featured a cold-hearted, cynical assassin, Connery created an endlessly charismatic secret agent that audiences everywhere wanted to emulate.
Connery set a template that countless other action franchises would want to replicate, and ensured that finding a new Bond would be a difficult task. Although Roger Moore and Daniel Craig in particular have received praise for their new takes on the character, there is certainly an entire generation that will always remember Connery as the one and only Bond. “Shaken, not stirred” would not have become as iconic of a line if it came from someone else.
Your changes have been saved
Dr. No
A resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.
Release Date October 7, 1962
Director Terence Young
CastSean Connery , ursula andress , Joseph Wiseman , Jack Lord , Bernard Lee , Anthony Dawson
Runtime 110
Writers Richard Maibaum , Johanna Harwood , Berkely Mather , Ian Fleming , Terence Young
Tagline NOW meet the most extraordinary gentleman spy in all fiction!
13 Harrison Ford, ‘Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope’ (1977)
Character: Han Solo
Image via Lucasfilm
Harrison Ford was one of the most important parts ofStar Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope, as Han Solo was one of the few characters that did not fit into the standard archetypes that are often found within science fiction films. While Mark Hamill brought out the innocence within Luke Skywalker and the great Sir Alec Guinness showed the wise insight of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Star Wars series needed a charming, albeit cynical scoundrel who could provide both humor and pathos.
Ford ended up making the most of his character in Star Wars, and managed to bring more depth to the franchise within each subsequent installment that he appeared in. By establishing himself as one of the definitive movie stars of all-time, Ford gave himself the opportunity to appear in other iconic movie sagas, such as Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, Jack Ryan, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe among others.
A farm boy from a desert planet becomes an unlikely hero in the fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. Guided by a former Jedi Knight and alongside a rebellious princess, a smuggler, and his co-pilot, he embarks on a mission to destroy the Death Star, a massive space station capable of annihilating entire planets. As he learns about the mystical Force, he discovers his destiny and the true strength within himself.
Daniel Day-Lewiswould have been considered one of the greatest actors of all-time regardless of whether or not he starred inLincoln, but appearing in Steven Spielberg’s beloved biopic of the 16th President of the United States was certainly one of the biggest challenges of his career. Unlike his iconic work in There Will Be Blood or Gangs of New York, Day-Lewis had to honor one of the most famous leaders in history, who is still cited today as an important and inspirational figure.
Day-Lewis brought a surprising softness to his performance that helped humanize Lincoln, proving himself to be a vulnerable, yet heroic figure that shaped history forever. In addition to winning his third Academy Award for Best Actor, Day-Lewis created a performance that could be used for educational purposes within future generations that are learning about American history.
As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.
Release Date November 9, 2012
Runtime 120
Writers Tony Kushner , Doris Kearns Goodwin
Budget $65 million
Studio(s) DreamWorks Distribution, Disney
Distributor(s) DreamWorks Distribution, 20th Century, Disney
Naomi Watts wasn’t necessarily a huge star before she appeared in Mulholland Drive, but she immediately became someone that Hollywood was interested in after her seismic performance in the David Lynch film, which is now considered by many pundits to be one of the greatest films ever made.
It takes a truly talented performer to stand out within a Lynch film, as his style is so extreme that it can be easy to feel secondary to the wild plot mechanics and surrealist imagery. However, Watts was able to embody the soul of countless young women who came to Hollywood with dreams of being a famous movie star, only to be abused and discarded by an industry that masks its most critical abuse. Even if viewers were confused on what the ambiguous ending of Mulholland Drive was intended to mean, it was easy to be invested in Watts due to her soul-shattering performance.
After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.
Ingrid Bergman was the ideal casting choice for Casablanca , as she helped to complete one of the greatest romantic stories in cinematic history. Although director Michael Curtiz had already struck gold when he cast Humphrey Bogart as Rick, finding a co-star who could match his energy was going to be a challenge; Bogart was already one of the most famous leading men of his generation thanks to his star making performances in The Roaring Twenties and The Maltese Falcon.
Bergman brought beauty, intelligence, and sincerity to the character of Ilsa, as she had to show uncompromising bravery and humility in the face of fascism. Considering that Casblanca was released when World War II was still going on, the fact that Bergman played an ardent anti-fascist in a major Hollywood production comes across as an even braver achievement that is worthy of admiration.
Your changes have been saved
Casablanca
A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
Release Date January 23, 1943
Director Michael Curtiz
CastHumphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet
Runtime 102 minutes
Main Genre Drama
Writers Julius J. Epstein , Philip G. Epstein , Howard Koch , Murray Burnett , Joan Alison , Casey Robinson
Robert De Niro truly came into his own as Martin Scorsese’s greatest collaborator inTaxi Driver, even though the pair had previously worked together on Mean Streets. Scorsese needed an actor who could play the ultimate anti-hero, as Travis Bickle was a veteran of the Vietnam War who brought his own sense of vigilante justice to the crime-ridden streets of New York City.
De Niro had to be both terrifying and pathetic, as Bickle has a completely unhealthy view of the world that has made him isolated. Although the actions he takes are often quite disturbing, the film shows that Travis ultimately considered himself to be a hero, as evidenced by the way he is depicted at the very end when the media hails him. De Niro and Scorsese would work together many more times, but Taxi Driver represents the most important project within their careers together.
A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.
Sigourney Weavercreated the ultimate “final girl” inAlien, a film that ostensibly marketed itself as being “Star Wars meets Jaws.” While there had never quite been such a potent blend of exciting science fiction fantasy and grotesque body horror before, the film also required an actress who could combine the sheer terror of Laurie in Halloween with the innocence of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars.
Weaver was able to turn Ripley into a very inspiring character, as she emerges from being a victim to the hero that ends up saving humanity from the Xenomorphs. It was a role that Weaver continued to perfect within subsequent installments; Aliens showed that she could become a maternal protector who is tasked with righting the wrongs of corrupt corporate interests, and earned her the first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress of her career.
Your changes have been saved
alien
Release Date May 25, 1979
Runtime 117 minutes
Writers Dan O'Bannon
Franchise Alien
Sequel Aliens, Alien: Resurrection, Alien 3
Prequel Prometheus, Alien: Covenant
Cinematographer Derek Vanlint
Producer David Giler, Gordon Carroll, Walter Hill
Production Company Brandywine Productions, Twentieth Century Fox
Debbie Reynolds absolutely embodied charisma inSingin’ in the Rain, and provided the most accessible form of joy that was necessary to relaunching the American musical as a viable genre. Although the “Golden Age of Hollywood” was littered with great musicals, Singin’ in the Rain analyzed an important moment within the history of cinema, in which the “talkies” began to fade out in favor of sound films.
Reynolds was able to sing, dance, and make jokes throughout Singin’ in the Rain, allowing the film to become an endlessly rewatchable form of pure escapism that can be appreciated even more after generations have passed. Although Gene Kelly was already regarded as one of the greatest musical actors of all-time, it was the chemistry that he shared with Reynolds that turned Singin’ in the Rain into a masterpiece that continues to influence modern cinema.
Release Date April 9, 1952
Director Stanley Donen , Gene Kelly
Cast Gene Kelly , Donald O'Connor , Debbie Reynolds , Jean Hagen , Millard Mitchell , Cyd Charisse
6 Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, the 'Harry Potter' Franchise' (2001-'11)
Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger
Image via Warner Bros.
J.K. Rowling's fantasy series about a boy wizard on a classical hero's journey gripped international imaginations from the late '90s forward. Warner Bros. obtained the film rights, and much of the films' success came down to casting three children as the leads. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson were cute and plucky from the jump, and became exceptional young actors.
Much like the achievement of the novels, what happened here is staggering. Save for the notable recasting of Dumbledore following the death of Richard Harris, the production of the Harry Potter series went by rapidly, fruitfully, and without serious incident at the level of what audiences could see. This is easily one of the best film franchises ever. - Samuel R. Murrian
Character(s)Harry Potter , Ron Weasley , Hermione Granger , Albus Dumbledore , Draco Malfoy , Severus Snape , Rubeus Hagrid , Minerva McGonagall , Vernon Dursley , Quirinus Quirrell , Petunia Dursley , Mr. Ollivander , Argus Filch , Neville Longbottom , Oliver Wood , Goblin Bank Teller / Filius Flitwick / Griphook (voice) , Dudley Dursley , Fred Weasley , George Weasley , Nearly Headless Nick , Percy Weasley , Dean Thomas , Seamus Finnigan , Vincent Crabbe , Gregory Goyle
Writers Steve Kloves
Producers David Heyman , Duncan Henderson , Mark Radcliffe
5 Rita Moreno, ‘West Side Story’ (1961)
Character: Anita
Image via United Artists
Rita Moreno had one of the most important roles inWest Side Story, as she had to embody the experience of Puerto Rican immigrants everywhere. Hollywood has often been slow to recognize that marginalized people are in need of being represented. West Side Story openly confronted themes of race and culture, and solidified itself as an all-time classic that ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Moreno’s performance is one of the aspects of West Side Story that has aged the best, as the film has received some criticism for casting Natalie Wood as a Puerto Rican character, which obviously would never happen today. Nonetheless, Moreno’s performance was so important that she ended up appearing in a key supporting role in Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story in 2021, which some have argued is even better than the original classic.
Your changes have been saved
West Side Story
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
L. Frank Baum's sprawling fantasy story about a Kansas farm girl transported to the Land of Oz was an astounding success at the turn of the 20th century, ultimately spawning a long-running series of novels. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was poorly adapted more than once in the silent era before MGM greenlit a massive, color motion picture musical spectacular. It became the most-watched movie ever.
Many key figures in the production originally wanted Shirley Temple to play Dorothy Gale. Thank God we all dodged that bullet. Such casting would have rendered one of the best films ever made into nothing more than an expensive novelty. Judy Garland gives one of the best performances in all of cinema here; Dorothy sings with a soulfulness well beyond her years, and she's got brains, heart and courage from the jump. - Samuel R. Murrian
Your changes have been saved
The Wizard of Oz
Release Date August 25, 1939
Director Victor Fleming
Cast Margaret Hamilton , Jack Haley , Judy Garland , Bert Lahr , Ray Bolger
Runtime 102 minutes
Writers Florence Ryerson , Noel Langley , Edgar Allan Woolf
Budget $2.8 million
Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
3 Vivien Leigh in 'Gone With the Wind' (1939)
Character: Scarlett O'Hara
Image via MGM
"As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!" Margaret Mitchell's epic American Civil War romance Gone With the Wind was perhaps destined to become the highest-grossing motion picture of all time even before cameras rolled. The search for the screen's version of steadfast, occasionally ruthless Scarlett O'Hara was one of the great Hollywood casting hunts ever.
Ultimately, the David O. Selznick and Victor Fleming production found its heroine in British actress Vivien Leigh. With enormous presence and smoldering chemistry opposite Clark Gable's Rhett Butler, the result was instantly and enduringly iconic. - Samuel R. Murrian
Your changes have been saved
Gone With the Wind
A sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
Release Date December 15, 1939
Director Victor Fleming , George Cukor , Sam Wood
Cast Thomas Mitchell , Barbara O'Neil , Vivien Leigh , Evelyn Keyes , Ann Rutherford , George Reeves , Hattie McDaniel
Runtime 238 minutes
Main Genre Drama
Writers Margaret Mitchell , Sidney Howard , Oliver H.P. Garrett , Ben Hecht , Jo Swerling , John Van Druten
Studio MGM
Tagline For the first time in its original technicolor glory and a remastered digital soundtrack
'
2 Anthony Perkins, 'Psycho' (1960)
Character: Norman Bates
Image via Paramount Pictures
"We all go a little mad sometimes." Alfred Hitchcock notoriously loved to play the audience like a piano, and this included a frequent staple in his films of casting actors against type, no example of this is more well-known than heartthrob Anthony Perkins as serial killer Norman Bates in the iconic thriller Psycho.
The doe-eyed hunk who broke out in Friendly Persuasion was a revelation in Psycho, which would become the most profitable black and white film ever made, and Hitchcock's biggest blockbuster hit. Perkins was involved with the Psycho franchise for decades to come, even directing Psycho III. - Samuel R. Murrian
Your changes have been saved
Psycho
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Release Date September 8, 1960
CastJanet Leigh , Martin Balsam , Anthony Perkins , John Gavin , Vera Miles
Runtime 109 minutes
Writers Joseph Stefano , Robert Bloch
Sequel Psycho 2, Psycho 4: The Beginning, Psycho 3
Budget $806 thousand
Sequel(s) Psycho 2
Franchise(s) psychonauts
1 Marlon Brando, ‘On the Waterfront’ (1954)
Character: Terry Malloy
Image via Columbia Pictures
Marlon Brando is often cited as one of the greatest actors of all-time, but no film embodies the unique sense of pathos he could bring to the screen better than On the Waterfront. Although Brando had previously worked with director Elia Kazan on the acclaimed adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront allowed him to go even deeper by playing a former prizefighter who gave up his future in service of the mob.
Brando was able to bring a childlike innocence to a very dark character, and show the constraints that mental health stigma had on Terry Malloy when Hollywood was not willing to be so up front about showing male characters that were sensitive. It was the performance that solidified Brando as a legend; without On the Waterfront, he never would have appeared in Mutiny on the Bounty, Last Tango in Paris, or The Godfather among many other classics.
Your changes have been saved
On The Waterfront
An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.
Release Date June 22, 1954
Director Elia Kazan
CastMarlon Brando , Karl Malden , Lee J. Cobb , Eva Marie Saint , Rod Steiger
Runtime 108 Minutes
Main Genre Crime
Character(s) Father Barry , Terry Malloy , Johnny Friendly , Edie Doyle , Charley Malloy , Kayo Dugan , Glover , Big Mac , Truck , Tillio , 'Pop' Doyle , Mott , Moose , Luke , Jimmy , Barney , Gillette (uncredited) , Sidney (uncredited) , Dues Collector (uncredited) , Slim (uncredited) , Mrs. Collins (uncredited) , Jocko (uncredited) , Longshoreman's Mother (uncredited) , Johnny's Banker (uncredited) , Longshoreman (uncredited)
Custom Image by Federico Napoli
Image via MGM 
Image via Lucasfilm 
Image via Dreamworks Pictures 
Image via Universal Pictures 
Image via Warner Bros. 
Image via Columbia Pictures 
Image via 20th Century Studios 
Image via Metro Goldwyn Mayer 
Image via Warner Bros. 
Image via United Artists 
Image via MGM 
Image via MGM 
Image via Paramount Pictures 
Image via Columbia Pictures 
English (US) ·