The Ten Most Convincing Screen Tests Of All Time

These audition tapes from TV and movies show that first impressions do matter, and thank heavens they were such good ones. From "Star Wars" to "E.T." to "Harry Potter," how could it have been anyone else?

10. Lindsay Lohan - "The Parent Trap"

youtube.com

Oh, this is sad.

9. Steve Carrell - "Anchorman"

youtube.com

Hilarious.

8. Mark Hamill - "Star Wars"

youtube.com

Is this more convincing than he is in the actual films?

7. Hugh Laurie - "House"

youtube.com

It's hard to believe this role wasn't written just for him.

6. Rachel McAdams - "The Notebook"

youtube.com

Girl can cry. Bonus off-screen Gosling.

5. Phil Hartman - "Saturday Night Live"

youtube.com

Caution, genius at work... R.I.P., Phil.

4. Daniel Radcliffe (with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) - "Harry Potter"

youtube.com

Thank goodness they grew up just as cute.

3. Natalie Portman - "The Professional"

youtube.com

It's hard to imagine this role played by anyone else.

2. James Dean and Lois Smith - "East of Eden"

youtube.com

No words are spoken and yet Dean exudes a metric ton of raw charisma.

1. Henry Thomas - "E.T."

youtube.com

Henry Thomas is so convincingly depressed that E.T. is being taken away from him that this audition makes me cry even more than the movie. It's believed that's Steven Spielberg at the end saying "Okay kid, you got the job!"