People Are Sharing The Roles That Showed An Actor's Range, And Some Are Straight-Up Shocking

The aesthetics, the personality — it's an incredible display of range.

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to share the characters an actor played that were different from their usual roles. Here are some of the mind-blowing submissions:

1. Charlize Theron in Young Adult vs. Monster.

Paramount Pictures, Newmarket Films

"I literally had chills watching Monster; she was sheer perfection."

—Mizztina

2. Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore vs. Uncut Gems.

Universal Pictures, A24

"Adam Sandler’s serious stuff. He was great in Uncut Gems."

—agreen1490

3. Steve Carell in The Office vs. Foxcatcher.

NBC, Sony Pictures Classics

"Typically, Steve Carell is the quirky, funny, all-around lovable guy, but in this movie his character is dark, intense, and unsettling. He absolutely nailed it."

—mackir

4. Will Smith in action comedies vs. The Pursuit of Happyness.

Sony Pictures Releasing

"At the time The Pursuit of Happyness came out, Will Smith had played funny, heroic characters. His ability to make me ugly-cry during the bathroom scene was incredible."

—audras40ba7dcb9

5. Regina King in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde vs. Watchmen.

MGM Distribution Co., HBO

"She had a lot of sidekick-type roles that didn't have too much to them in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Daddy Day Care, and even Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. But Watchmen showed her range. It was such an adrenaline rush watching her perform in that show."

—cocopa

6. "Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada vs. The Lovely Bones.

20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures

"He's normally in a lot of comedic or lighthearted roles, like The Devil Wears Prada and Easy A. Even in The Hunger Games, his role is eccentric and comedic, but seeing him in The Lovely Bones blew me away. His range from comedic and lovable to creepy, serious, and disgusting is 10 out of 10."

—Amber R

7. Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones vs. Me Before You.

HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures

"She went from terrifying to quirky."

—hayesgabby19

8. Will Ferrell in various comedies vs. Stranger Than Fiction.

DreamWorks Pictures, Columbia Pictures

"Not only is this movie beautiful (and highly underrated), but Ferrell's portrayal of a buttoned-up IRS agent is so charming and believable that you can’t help but fall in love with him. It’s the first time I ever saw him in a more serious role, and like many great comedians, he completely changed my view of him as an actor."

—eliep2

9. Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls vs. The Notebook.

Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema

"They were released in the SAME YEAR. Insane."

—toiltroublex

10. Heath Ledger in various roles vs. The Dark Knight.

Buena Vista Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

"Heath Ledger as the Joker. Some thought it was a horrible casting choice. All it takes is watching the first five minutes of the movie to know that he was without a doubt the right choice."

—pebbles88

11. Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire vs. One Hour Photo.

20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures

"He’s totally different! He’s genuinely unsettling and scary in One Hour Photo."

—ericag476c06e05

12. Melissa McCarthy in various comedies vs. Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Universal Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures

"I’d really only seen her in comedies, and this was far from that. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role."

—brienj

13. Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vs. Dallas Buyers Club.

Paramount Pictures, Focus Features

"He has such range."

—eleanorwarne

14. Bill Hader in Saturday Night Live vs. Barry.

NBC, HBO

"While he's still funny, he is absolutely terrifying. He plays an ex-Marine who is now a hired killer. The pure rage, pain, and agony his character feels is portrayed perfectly. And I know what you’re thinking: Bill Hader? Scary? No way. Oh my gosh, yes way. He keeps you on the edge of your seat."

—AshtonK

15. Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place vs. Mary Poppins.

Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Emily Blunt got the bathtub scene in A Quiet Place down in one take. No one does it like she does."

—districtrue

16. Ross Lynch in Austin & Ally vs. My Friend, Dahmer.

Disney, FilmRise / Courtesy Everett Collection

"He went from being a Disney kid to portraying one of the most prolific serial killers known to man, and he absolutely murdered the role (no pun intended)."

—emamunat98

17. Mo'Nique in various comedies vs. Precious.

MGM Distribution Co., Lionsgate

"Her Precious performance was amazing."

—PHM8

18. Zac Efron in various comedies vs. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

Universal Pictures / AF Archive / Alamy Stock Photo, Netflix

"He'd been in a lot of comedies (Neighbors) and family movies (High School Musical), but he crushed it as serial killer Ted Bundy."

—Megan French

19. Jason Bateman in various comedies vs. Ozark.

20th Television, Media Rights Capital / Album / Alamy Stock Photo

"Watch Jason Bateman in Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses, The Change-Up, and other silly comedies, then watch him in Ozark."

—king_of_the_rats

20. Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle vs. Breaking Bad.

Fox, AMC

"He shows incredible range."

—linzmc

21. Lizzy Caplan in Mean Girls vs. Castle Rock.

Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Television Distribution

"You know her iconic humorous role as Janis in Mean Girls, but have you seen her in Castle Rock? She plays the unstable and murderous Annie Wilkes, and wow. She is unbelievable! Talk about range. From 'I’ve got a big lesbian crush on you' to a hallucinating psycho."

—PennywiseSav

22. John Lithgow in 3rd Rock From the Sun vs. Dexter.

NBC, Showtime

"He was so scary — the best villain on Dexter. I had only known him in silly roles before this. All I could think while watching was, This is the same guy from 3rd Rock From the Sun?!'”

—melp4c5d95b27

23. Jim Carrey in Liar Liar vs. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Universal Pictures, Focus Features

"Honestly, Jim Carrey as Joel in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind always struck me as something so poignant and different from everything else he has done. Hard to believe it's the same actor in Liar Liar."

—idontknowwhatusernametouse

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.