The perfect fit! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best casting decisions in movie history.
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00:00It was good
00:02It was very very good
00:04Welcome to watch mojo and today. We're counting down our picks for the best casting decisions in movie history
00:11These actors who thanks to fates were destined for some of the most iconic roles of all time
00:18Now shall we get on with it?
00:21Number 10 Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory
00:30Crowd Cheering
00:34When comedy star Gene Wilder took on the role of Roald Dahl's offbeat chocolatier
00:40He may not have known that he'd be cementing an iconic legacy
00:44His easy wit and sarcasm gave an extremely subtle edge to Willy Wonka's trademark whimsy
00:50What we'll see will define
00:56Explanation
00:57Even as he navigated the weird world of Willy Wonka
01:01Wilder injected a layer of resignation and emotional exhaustion into his performance
01:06The result transformed a simple children's story into a deeply layered morality tale about modern society
01:12You get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!
01:18Wilder's comedic timing and theatrical flair brought the chocolate factory to life
01:23Making every scene a delightful adventure tinged with warning and danger
01:28Despite several other actors taking on the role
01:31None have matched his combination of pathos and flair
01:34We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams
01:40Number 9 Jack Nicholson as Randall Patrick McMurphy
01:44One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
01:47Jesus, I must be crazy to be in a lonely vent like this
01:51One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was an adaptation of the 1962 Ken Kesey novel
01:57It lived in Hollywood development hell for over a decade
02:00Originally, Kirk Douglas was attached to star as the lead, Randall Patrick McMurphy
02:05As talented as Douglas may have been
02:08Jack Nicholson's unique blend of charisma and rebelliousness fit in perfectly with a fantastic ensemble cast
02:15It's going! It's going!
02:19Cinema historians frequently call Cuckoo's Nest one of the best American films of all time
02:24And it's no wonder
02:26Nicholson's natural charm and expressive face made McMurphy's defiance against authority both compelling and relatable
02:33When the meeting was adjourned, the vote was 9 to 9
02:37Oh come on, you're not going to say that now, you're not going to say that now
02:42His realistic acting style made McMurphy feel like a real person
02:46And gave the audience a window into deep inner turmoil
02:50His performance was truly a masterclass in character acting
02:54But I tried, didn't I? God damn it, at least I did that
02:59Number 8
03:01Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley
03:04The Alien Franchise
03:06You are my lucky star
03:13In 1979, Sigourney Weaver made a big splash as Ellen Ripley in Alien
03:18With the follow-up sequel, Aliens, she fully redefined what it means to be an action hero
03:24Get away from her, you bitch
03:27Ripley set a new standard for female characters on screen
03:31Weaver's portrayal was groundbreaking
03:33Ripley represented a unique combination of intelligence, grit, compassion and vulnerability rarely before seen in film
03:41Bishop, you did okay
03:46I did?
03:47Oh yeah
03:48Her performance was the driving force behind the success of the franchise
03:53By the end of the 1980s, Ripley was an international symbol of female empowerment
03:58It's impossible to overstate Ripley's impact on pop culture
04:02She was the prototype for an entire generation of strong, independent heroines
04:08Ripley remains a milestone of cinematic history
04:11Highlighting the importance of diverse and compelling representation in media
04:16This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo
04:21Signing off
04:23Number 7
04:24Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson slash Steadpool
04:28The X-Men Franchise
04:30An MCU
04:33Oh, I'm touching myself tonight
04:39Since 2016, there has been one consistent sentiment coming out of Hollywood
04:44Ryan Reynolds was born to play Deadpool
04:47The character's trademark humor, foul mouth and irreverence have long been a part of Reynolds' repertoire
04:53Wait!
04:55You may be wondering why the red suit
04:57Well, that's so bad guys can't see me bleed
05:00This guy's got the right idea
05:02He wore the brown pants
05:03The merc with the mouths, razor sharp quips are second nature to the Canadian funny man
05:08His fourth wall breaks infuse a bit of self-deprecation that makes his antics easier for audiences to swallow
05:14He's a device to slide through time
05:16The longer I travel, the harder it is to control
05:19I got two charges, one to get me here, one to get me home
05:23Well, that's just lazy writing
05:26Reynolds is clearly dedicated to the role
05:29which he secured forever when someone leaked test footage in 2014
05:34Deadpool breathed new life into the superhero sub-genre
05:38which by 2016 had been suffering from stagnation and audience fatigue
05:43Reynolds' performance as Deadpool remains a standout in the genre
05:47showcasing his talent for blending humor with heart
05:51Damn it!
05:53Maximum effort!
05:56Number 6
05:57Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
06:00The Silence of the Lambs
06:02You're one of Jack Croft's, aren't you?
06:05I am, yes
06:07May I see your credentials?
06:09Sir Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of the infamous killer Hannibal Lecter was chillingly captivating
06:15His innate intelligence blended seamlessly with Lecter's sinister charm
06:19When director Jonathan Demme had Lecter look straight down the barrel of the lens
06:24his creepy charisma was hypnotic
06:28A census taker once tried to test me
06:31I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti
06:39Never before had a character so polite been so terrifying
06:43Even his co-stars were frightened
06:46Jodie Foster was too scared to speak to him between takes
06:49Despite appearing in only a fraction of the film
06:52Hopkins' performance was so commanding and unforgettable
06:55that it earned him an Oscar for Best Actor
06:58You still wake up sometimes, don't you?
07:00You wake up in the dark
07:03and hear the screaming of the lamb
07:05Hannibal Lecter set the standard for on-screen villains
07:08showcasing the power of a truly exceptional actor
07:11to transform a role into something both legendary and historic
07:15I do wish we could chat longer but
07:18I'm having an old friend for dinner
07:22Bye
07:25Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
07:29The Indiana Jones franchise
07:31I'm going after that truck
07:33I don't know, I'm making this up as I go
07:36Over the decades, Harrison Ford has played several iconic characters
07:40His intelligence and gravitas made Jack Ryan a staple of the 1990s
07:45Two decades earlier, his charisma and sly smile
07:48cemented Han Solo as an icon of American popular culture
07:52But by the actor's own admission
07:54adventurer Indiana Jones is closest to his heart
07:58Without Ford, the adventurous archaeologist
08:01wouldn't have become such a quintessential piece of 1980s Americana
08:05It's important, Marion
08:08Trust me
08:10His rugged, no-nonsense charm and easy smile
08:13gave Dr. Jones an innate screen presence
08:16Ford's performance elevated the character beyond a cookie-cutter action hero
08:20He had a depth, humor, and humanity that made him shockingly relatable
08:25Snakes
08:27Why did it have to be snakes?
08:29By donning the fedora and bullwhip
08:32Ford's Indiana Jones became a timeless classic in the history of cinema
08:36I never expected to see you again
08:39I'm like a bad penny, I always turn up
08:52Robin Williams made an entire career out of one-of-a-kind performances
08:56His epic performance as the Genie in Aladdin, for example
08:59opened the door to major stars doing voice work and animation
09:06Why?
09:08Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck
09:13His hit streak arguably began, however, with 1987's Good Morning Vietnam
09:18Despite starting as a stand-up comic
09:20Williams proved that he had the chops to be one of the best dramatic actors in Hollywood
09:25He captured Cronauer's disdain for authority while using humor to mask a deep well of emotion
09:30I'm saying I'm through, Ed
09:32I'm tired of people telling me what I can't say
09:35This news is unofficial, that comment is too sarcastic
09:38I can't even make fun of Richard Nixon, and there's a man who's screaming out to be made fun of
09:42Williams slid back and forth between comedy and drama with ease
09:46earning both critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for Best Actor
09:50He spent the rest of his career utilizing his unique ability to backstop his comedy
09:54with both heart and humanity
09:57Tonight's gonna be hot and wet
09:58That's nice if you're with a lady, but it ain't no good if you're in the jungle
10:02Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins
10:15A year after The Hills came alive with the sound of music
10:18Julie Andrews solidified her place in the pantheon of musical stars
10:23She was the perfect Mary Poppins
10:25effortlessly blending magic, charm, and a spoonful of sugar
10:32Her performance made the sorceress British nanny a favorite character of children around the world
10:39With a wink and a song, she encapsulated a unique blend of wonder, grace, and elegance
10:44Andrews' impeccable singing voice and posh accent endeared her to several generations of children
10:57Mary Poppins netted her a Best Actress Oscar
11:00solidifying her status as a cinematic legend
11:10Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow
11:21Without Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow
11:23the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may have never successfully left ports
11:27The bizarre combination of swashbuckling cowardice and situational heroism somehow works
11:33He's a little macho, a little femme, and perpetually drunk
11:37But the pirate oozes charisma from every filthy pore
11:43His performance earned him critical acclaim and a lasting place in the cinematic pantheon
11:48Whatever your thoughts on Depp's controversial personal life are
11:51Jack Sparrow can still delight
11:57Only when you have a chance to show it
11:59To do the right thing
12:01I love those moments
12:03I like to wave at them as they pass by
12:05There's no denying that he brought a unique and unforgettable magic to the role of Captain Jack
12:10making him one of the most iconic characters in modern cinema
12:15Gentlemen
12:16Milady
12:17You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught
12:21Captain Jack Sparrow
12:23Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions
12:27Denzel Washington as Malcolm X
12:30Malcolm X
12:31Director Spike Lee felt as if Denzel had somehow channeled the civil rights leader's spirit
12:36We didn't land on Plymouth Rock
12:38Plymouth Rock landed on us
12:40Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly
12:43Breakfast at Tiffany's
12:45Hepburn and her character had eerily similar biographies
12:48turning into an iconic performance
12:51There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion
12:54Alan Rickman as Severus Snape
12:57The Harry Potter franchise
12:59His epically dry British wit made Rickman the only possible choice for the bitter potions professor
13:07Turn to page 394
13:10Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent slash Superman
13:13The Superman franchise
13:15At the end of Hollywood's most cynical era
13:18Reeves as Superman brought a hefty dose of optimism
13:21You know something? We all get a little afraid of heights now and again
13:25Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800
13:28The Terminator
13:30The silent physicality of the Austrian bodybuilder gives the killer robot an imposing menace
13:35I'll be back
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13:53Number 1
13:55Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark slash Iron Man
13:59MCU
14:00Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing
14:03Robert Downey Jr. spent years all but blacklisted from Hollywood
14:07He earned a reputation as a bad boy with substance issues twice over
14:11and it looked like his career was waning
14:13Then, in 2008, he starred as billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark
14:19and sparked the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
14:30Always quick with a quip and a smirk
14:32Downey Stark was the perfect mix of humor and badassery
14:36Over more than a decade of films
14:38Downey's portrayal of Tony showed a brilliant character evolution
14:41Textbook narcissism
14:46Agreed?
14:47He slowly transformed from a self-absorbed industrialist
14:51to a selfless superhero who won the world's collective heart
14:55His performance set the tone for a multi-billion dollar Marvel juggernaut
15:00And I...
15:03am...
15:08Iron Man
15:10Did we fail to perfectly cast this list?
15:13Let us know who we missed in the comments below
15:16Casting directors look for confidence, preparation, personality
15:21and that you're easy to work with
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