20+ Times Actors Made It Hard for Us to Choose “Who Played It Better”

With the technology and platforms we use today, it would seem believable to have a time machine on our hands. With just one click, we can revisit our fondest memories by watching our favorite shows and flicks. However, despite plenty of choices, we still stick to the same bunch of characters we love seeing on-screen. In fact, experts say we crave the same old stories but with a new twist.

Bright Side loves binge-watching classic stories that had an impact on our lives. That’s why we collected our beloved characters played by different actors.

1. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

The best sleuth in Scotland Yard is arguably the most popular detective there is. The character, together with his trusted sidekick, Dr. John Watson, is a crowd-pleaser. Their timeless story makes it appealing enough to become a motion picture. In fact, there are over 250 screen adaptations of the beloved duo.

2. The March sisters in Little Women (1994, 2017, and 2019)

Who would’ve thought that the story of 4 young sisters set in the Victorian era would inspire generations of girls and boys to dream on their own terms? Louisa May Alcott’s classic has been made into various versions, all by women influenced by the March sisters’ girl power.

3. The Doctor in Doctor Who (1963 — present)

As the longest-running sci-fi TV show in the world, Doctor Who has an equally lengthy list of actors who have played the titular doctor from 1963 to the present. Choosing your favorite one is difficult, as all 13 doctors’ performances were well-received by both fans and critics.

4. Cinderella

Cinderella’s rags-to-riches fairy tale is the ultimate dream for little girls. It is one of the timeless classics that directors love interpreting. May it be a musical, a sweet film, or a teen-pop version, there are many different ways to sing, “A dream is a wish your heart makes...”

5. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005)

The tug-of-war between Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy is one whirlwind romance put into classic literature, and fans of the Jane Austen novel can’t get enough of the many TV and movie adaptations. The various screenplays differ, and each time, their lines hit differently.

6. Mary Poppins

We’re betting almost everyone had a “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” time when they saw their favorite nanny, Mary Poppins, return on-screen once again. But this time, it was Emily Blunt’s moment to shine, and she made the character unique in her own way.

7. Paul Atreides in Dune

The 2021 remake of Dune had big shoes to fill, but it was not a problem for the director and the star-studded cast to pull off their own take of the sci-fi classic. Kyle MacLachlan and Timothée Chalamet, Paul Atreideses from different generations, delivered the character’s emotions on-screen superbly.

8. Lara Croft in Tomb Raider

Telling the story of Lara Croft, an aristocrat and heiress with a penchant for adventure, has always been a challenge for film creators. Still, both Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander nailed their performances by bringing depth to the character.

9. Spider-Man

The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has been on our screens since 1967, and there’s no stopping the web-slinger from having more screen time in the future. In fact, fans couldn’t contain their excitement when 3 Spider-Mans from the biggest franchises appeared together in the latest film, No Way Home.

10. Wonder Woman

The Amazonian warrior has been the symbol of women’s empowerment and feminism since the day she was created. The TV series was cemented into pop culture, and 2 of the most popular Wonder Women briefly appeared on-screen together in the 2020 movie.

11. Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars (1977 — present)

The Jedi Master has truly become a legend, and his character has made it into almost all of the Star Wars films. Played by both Alec Guinness in the 1970s and Ewan McGregor from 1999 up to the present, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s character was forged by both the actors’ masterful portrayals.

12. Cruella

The cold, heartless, fur-obsessed couturier is the most dynamic character in 101 Dalmatians. It was difficult for Emma Stone to match the eccentricity of actress Glenn Close, who played Cruella de Vil in the 1996 feature. Good thing she enjoyed the process of turning into the villainess as well as fans did.

13. James Bond

The world-famous spy has been on-screen for quite a while, and there’s been a fair share of dashing bachelors who played each version of Mr. Bond, complete with suave and style. Fans have such a hard time choosing their favorite Bond movie and actors, experts have stepped in to analyze the dilemma.

14. Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter wizarding world

The magic of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be lackluster without its headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The beloved wizard was actually played by 3 different actors throughout the movie franchise, and they all added their own unique charm to the character.

Which of these crowd favorites did you love growing up? Which actor did the best job?