People Shared The Movie Roles That Made Them Reevaluate An Actor's Abilities, And Honestly, Yes

"With great role comes great responsibility." —Uncle Ben, probably

Every once in a while, you'll see an actor in a role that's so far outside of what YOU had predetermined their "range" was — and they positively CRUSH IT.

Warner Bros.

Well, this week, redditor shaunna_thedork asked, "What film made you notice an actor was better/had more range than you originally thought?" And WHEW, people came through with some honest, accurate picks!

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

So with that in mind, here are just a few of the film roles that made people reevaluate the way they felt about certain actors:

1. John Goodman as Howard Stambler, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Paramount Pictures

"I always thought of him as a big teddy bear, but he was terrifying in this movie! He also proved he can have a lot of range even within the same role. He can convincingly go from welcoming and shy to creepy and dictatorial."

—u/ghost-0427

2. Will Smith as Chris Gardner, Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I knew he was a pretty good actor, but that showed me he was one of the greats."

—u/Relative-Gap7643

3. Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding, I, Tonya (2017)

Neon

—u/the-keen-one

4. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, Tombstone (1993)

Buena Vista Pictures

"Very different from his roles in Top Secret and Real Genius."

—u/DahnkeBallz

5. Helena Bonham Carter as Marla, Fight Club (1999)

20th Century Fox

"She'd really only done Shakespearean-type stuff before that, then suddenly played a loopy addict really well!"

—u/Down2earth5

6. Dwayne Johnson as Spencer, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I always saw him as just the stereotypical 'ex–Special Forces, Marines, CIA, Secret Service' guy, but this movie really tested his acting skills with other characters!"

—u/senor_smoothie

7. Jeff Daniels as Teddy Sanders, The Martian (2015)

20th Century Fox

"I saw him in this and didn't know who this intimidating, scary man was! I assumed that if the film had a villain, he'd be it — then I realized I had ALSO seen him in Dumb and Dumber (1994). And I was like, 'He was THAT guy?! Well, he sure does have some range!'"

—u/RedFeather_Coronatus

8. Rosamund Pike as Amy, Gone Girl (2014)

20th Century Fox

"I was absolutely blown away by her. I genuinely thought she didn't have it in her to be Amy. I was very wrong."

—u/WhimsyAndSnark

9. Robert Pattinson as Thomas Howard, The Lighthouse (2019)

A24

"I have to be honest, I didn't know him from anything other than Twilight before watching this. He's an exceptional actor."

—u/CallHimIshmael

10. Jamie Foxx as Django, Django Unchained (2012)

The Weinstein Co.

"I knew he was a good actor, but I’d never seen him in anything other than Annie before."

11. Paul Rudd as Ned, Our Idiot Brother (2011)

The Weinstein Co.

"He has such a powerful scene at the end. I've loved him since seeing that."

—u/beranmuden

12. Colin Farrell as Ray, In Bruges (2008)

Universal Pictures

"I honestly had no idea he could really act until I saw that movie, and since then, he’s had quite a few extremely good performances."

—u/tonderthrowaway

13. John C. Reilly as Amos, Chicago (2002)

Buena Vista Pictures

—u/the-keen-one

14. Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash, Walk the Line (2005)

20th Century Fox

"I don't generally care for Reese Witherspoon, and alternatively, I'm a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix — but she acted circles around him in this movie."

—u/mordeci00

15. Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa, Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The Weinstein Co.

"I knew Waltz was a 'good' actor, but his performance in that is a masterpiece of its own, inside a masterpiece of a movie. The man got an Oscar for that role, and it was damn well deserved."

—u/YoMomIsANiceLady

16. Jim Carrey as Joel, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Focus Features

"It was the first time I saw him in a role where he wasn't, well, 'Jim Carreying.' I was so impressed by how subtle and nuanced his performance was."

—u/tomorrowistomato

17. Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

20th Century Fox

"I had only ever seen him in Mr. Robot prior to that, and while he did an excellent job there, I thought that type of character would be the extent of his range. I was very wrong — he did an amazing job playing Freddie Mercury, who is the polar opposite of Elliot."

—u/CrazyLikeGollum

18. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos, Monster (2003)

Newmarket Films

"I recently watched this for the first time, and I was blown away. Not because 'Wow, they made Charlize Theron ugly!' but because of how she gave everything to that role. Throughout the movie, she would go from likable to toxic to crazy to sympathetic, all in the span of about three seconds. Her acting was just so good."

—u/landofcockaigne

19. Keanu Reeves as John Wick, John Wick (2014)

Lionsgate

"I'd seen Keanu in other productions, some uneventful, some too mainstream, and obviously the Matrix saga — but THIS was the movie when I managed to finally see him as a full-blown actor, one who literally exuded their character instead of just playing it."

—u/U_L_Uus

20. Adam Sandler as Barry Egan, Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Sony Pictures Releasing

"That movie is an absolute gem and made me rethink Adam Sandler as an actor. Dude can clearly act, but goofing off with his friends makes him a fuck load more money."

—u/openletter8

21. Rashida Jones as Celeste, Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Sony Pictures Classics

"She was only Karen from The Office to me, but after watching this movie, I gained so much respect for her. She was so funny and genuine in it. One of my favorites."

—u/srs1289

22. Dave Bautista as Sapper Morton, Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Warner Bros.

"I remember watching him as the WWE heavyweight champion when I was a kid, and then as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, but it was so enjoyable to see him act in the same scenes as Ryan Gosling."

—u/slevin_rulez

23. James McAvoy as Kevin Wendell Crumb, Split (2016)

Universal Pictures

"He played 23 people/personalities! I went in a skeptic and was just blown away."

—u/LT_Blount

24. Daniel Craig as Joe Bang, Logan Lucky (2017)

Fingerprint Releasing

"It might not be the most obvious answer, but he was so great in this and showed a great comedic flair. He made me forget what a stiff he was in the Bond movies and Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

—u/rAmen_P00dles

25. Thandie Newton as Dame Vaako, The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Universal Pictures

"She wasn't someone I thought was 'bad,' but I certainly didn't expect someone so good in a bit role. I'd seen 'bad script, good actor' and vice versa, but I had never seen someone so obviously above the movie they were in."

—u/PropagandaPagoda

26. Lady Gaga as Ally, A Star Is Born (2018)

Warner Bros.

"Both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga blew me away with their acting in the movie. Lady Gaga gained my respect as an actor with that role. She's incredibly talented."

—u/livedeLIBERATEly1776

27. And finally — not an acting role, but a directing role: Jordan Peele, Get Out (2017)

Universal Pictures

"I loved Key & Peele and knew Jordan Peele was a great actor and writer, but his directing chops are top tier!"

—u/eraserh

Now it's your turn! What film role made you reevaluate your feelings toward an actor's ability? Share your pick or picks in the comments below!

Note: Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity. H/T: r/AskReddit.