19 On-Screen Heartthrobs From the ’90s Whose Modern Counterparts Look Very Different

year ago

Many of us associate the 1990s with careless childhood or teenage years. At that time, we could easily fall in love with handsome actors who starred in movies or on TV shows. But nowadays, we have new heroes, and they look quite different from the ones we adored in the past.

The mythical hero

© Hercules: The Legendary Journeys / Universal Television and co-producers, © Thor: Ragnarok / Marvel Studios and co-producers

Kevin Sorbo in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys vs Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok

The charming loser

© The Faculty / Dimension Films and co-producers, © Spider-Man: Homecoming / Marvel Studios and co-producers

Elijah Wood in The Faculty vs Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming

The hot hunk

© Hercules: The Legendary Journeys / Universal Television and co-producers, © Aquaman / Warner Bros. and co-producers

Kevin Smith in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys vs Jason Momoa in the Aquaman film series

The scientist

© Quantum Leap / Universal TV and co-producers, © The Avengers / Marvel Studios and co-producers

Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap vs Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers

The funny guy

© Ace Ventura: Pet Detective / Morgan Creek Entertainment and co-producers, © Brooklyn Nine-Nine / 3 Arts Entertainment and co-producers

Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective vs Andy Samberg in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The lover

© Hélène et les garçons / TF1 and co-producers, © Muhteşem Yüzyıl / Tims Productions and co-producers

Philippe Vasseur in Helen and the Boys vs Burak Özçivit in The Magnificent Century

The main hero’s friend

© Hercules: The Legendary Journeys / Universal Television and co-producers, © The Witcher / Netflix and co-producers

Michael Hurst in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys vs Joey Batey in The Witcher

The action movie villain

© Léon / Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © No Time To Die / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and co-producers

Gary Oldman in Léon: The Professional vs Rami Malek in No Time to Die

The action hero

© The Fifth Element / Gaumont and co-producers, © The Fate of the Furious / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element vs Jason Statham in The Fate of the Furious

The homme fatale

© Melrose Place / FOX and co-producers, © Fifty Shades of Grey / Focus Features and co-producers

Grant Show in Melrose Place vs Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey

The most popular boy in school

© Beverly Hills, 90210 / CBS and co-producers, © Euphoria / HBO and co-producers

Jason Priestley in Beverly Hills, 90210 vs Jacob Elordi in Euphoria

The long-haired good-looker

© Highlander III: The Sorcerer / Lumière Pictures and co-producers, © The Witcher / Netflix and co-producers

Christopher Lambert in Highlander: The Final Dimension vs Henry Cavill in The Witcher

The brave man

© Santa Barbara / New World Television and co-producers, © Free Guy / 20th Century Studios and co-producers

A Martinez in Santa Barbara vs Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy

The charming villain

© Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © Loki / Marvel Studios and co-producers

Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves vs Tom Hiddleston in Loki

The hunk with a fast vehicle

© Thunder in Paradise / Rysher Entertainment and co-producers, © Fast & Furious 7 / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Hulk Hogan in Thunder in Paradise vs Vin Diesel in Furious 7

The aristocrat

© Pride and Prejudice / BBC and co-producers, © Les Misérables / BBC and co-producers

Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice vs Josh O’Connor in Les Misérables

The businessman

© Pretty Woman / Touchstone Pictures and co-producers, © Sen Çal Kapımı / MF Yapim and co-producers

Richard Gere in Pretty Woman vs Kerem Bürsin in You Knock on My Door

The policeman with a dog

© Kommissar Rex / ORF and co-producers, © Hudson & Rex / Shaftesbury Films and co-producers

Tobias Moretti in Kommissar Rex vs John Reardon in Hudson & Rex

The captivating villain

© Fantaghirò / ANFRI S.r.l. and co-producers, © Hannibal / Living Dead Guy Productions and co-producers

Nicholas Rogers in Fantaghirò: Cave of the Golden Rose vs Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal

Who served as your biggest heartthrob in the 1990s? Are there any contemporary actors that you’d compare them to?

Please note: This article was updated in January 2023 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.

Preview photo credit Hercules: The Legendary Journeys / Universal Television and co-producers, Thor: Ragnarok / Marvel Studios and co-producers

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