23 Times TV Shows And Movies Straight-Up Just Hit Copy And Paste On A Character From Another TV Show Or Movie

Two sides of the same coin, one might say.

There are a million TV shows and movies out there, so it makes sense that some have similar themes, tropes, and characters.

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But there are times when I'm watching a TV show or movie and think, Hang on...I've seen this exact character before.

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Here are 21 examples of TV and movie characters that are low-key the same person.

1. Chandler from Friends and Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection, James Sorenson / 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Always ready with a joke? Check. Unlucky in love? Check. Afraid of commitment? Check.

For example..."I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?" 100% sounds like something either of them would say.

NBC

I can literally HEAR Xander saying this.

2. Dan from Gossip Girl and Jughead from Riverdale

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Both are "outsiders" who think the only way they can write about the events and people around them is to remain on the outside...except both of them are total insiders. They've both got a chip on their shoulder and think they're better than others, and both date the pretty, popular blonde girl who doesn't seem like she'd be their type.

3. But also, like....Dan from Gossip Girl and Joe from You

Bettina Strauss / Lifetime TV / Courtesy: Everett Collection, Giovanni Rufino / The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

This has got to be one of the best career decisions Penn Badgley ever made. Joe is just Dan x10. Honestly, Beck and Serena are low-key similar too.

I mean, is this Dan or Joe? The world will never know!!

Lifetime

(It's Joe.)

4. Robocop from Robocop and Inspector Gadget from Inspector Gadget

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Tell me these movies don't have the same plot, just in different genres.

5. By that measure, Walter from Breaking Bad and Nancy from Weeds

Ursula Coyote / AMC / courtesy Everett Collection, Michael Desmond / Showtime / Courtesy Everett Collection

Different genre, same plot, same descending-into-villainy selfish "hero" who claims to do things for their family.

6. Also in that vein...Matilda from Matilda and Carrie from Carrie

TriStar / courtesy Everett Collection, United Artists / Courtesy Everett Collection

Once again — age Matilda up and change the genre to horror, and you've got Carrie. Both have abusive families and telekinetic powers, and both are sweet and innocent but also clever, and both have horrible lives at school.

I mean....this could easily have been Matilda in 10 years.

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7. Syndrome from The Incredibles and Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far from Home

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Both use technology to seem like superheroes, both have huge grudges against larger-than-life superheroes and want the same recognition, both *tried* to get noticed by that hero years prior, both have evil plots to bring down that hero's legacy and/or his protégées...

8. Troy from High School Musical, Eddie from Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off, and Izzy from Jump In

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9. ...And all of their dads

Disney Channel, John Medland / DISNEY CHANNEL / courtesy everett collection

Literally, any dad from these three movies:

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Except replace "playmaker" with "baseball player" or "boxer" and singer with "cook" or "jump-roper."

And literally every son:

Disney Channel

10. Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries

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Both are angsty hundreds-of-year-old vampires with dark, violent pasts trying to turn over a new leaf. Both fall for the protagonist but must protect them from their dark sides. Both have the main personality trait of brooding.

Like, here's Wesley making fun of Angel and his relationship with Buffy...but he could easily be talking about Stefan and Elena.

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11. ...And also kind of Edward from Twilight

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Edward is also a super-old vampire with a dark past who falls for the new girl in town. I'd also like to point out they all have hair that defies gravity.

12. Seth from The O.C. and Stiles from Teen Wolf

WB / Courtesy: Everett Collection, MTV / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Nerdy, sarcastic best friends who deal with their lovesick, occasionally broody protagonists with hero complexes? Check. Oh, and both also have slow-burn relationships with popular girls they've loved since childhood who see them as geeks.

I mean, here's Seth...

Fox

And here's Stiles.

MTV

Stiles is also a little Xander/Chandler (I just realized their names are similar too), but he's much more emotional and less misogynistic.

13. Leslie from Parks and Recreation and Ted from Ted Lasso

Ron Tom / NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection, Colin Hutton / Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

Both are wholesome, quirky bosses who truly care about their employees like family, and both are quintessentially American and patriotic (but like, the good parts of being American and patriotic). Both also deal with an enterprising businessperson (Tom/Keely), a deadpan employee who's secretly a great leader (April/Roy), and a strange mustached coworker of few words who seems like an unlikely friend but is actually one of the protagonist's best friends (Ron/Beard).

14. Roy from Ted Lasso and Derek from Teen Wolf

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Angry and reluctant older mentor with a secret soft spot for the young'uns who becomes an unlikely leader? Yep.

15. Joey from Friends and Andy from Parks and Recreation

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I love a good dumb-as-nails side character who you can't help but love, and these two are maybe as good as they come.

Like, this would 100% be Joey and Andy meeting:

Sony Pictures Releasing

16. And also...Bolin from The Legend of Korra

Nickelodeon / Courtesy Everett Collection

Tell me I'm wrong.

He's clearly a fellow animal and food lover.

Nickelodeon

17. AND Jason from The Good Place

Justin Lubin / NBC / courtesy Everett Collection

I mean, this...

NBC

...Has the same energy as this:

NBC

18. Brooke from One Tree Hill and Summer from The O.C.

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Both were sassy and vain rich girl brunettes who went through an arc where they showed how smart, kind, and strong they were, and both ended up with the kind of nerdy guy.

19. Tony Stark from the MCU and Doctor Strange from the MCU

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They are low-key the same person. Brainy, arrogant, and rich, they both overcome injuries and humble themselves while simultaneously chasing god-like power. Don't @ me.

20. Haley from Modern Family and Alexis from Schitt's Creek

Ken Woroner / CBC/POP / courtesy Everett Collection, Colleen Hayes / ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Both are vain and fashionable, slightly relationship-obsessed daughters who grow throughout the show to become ambitious and career-oriented.

I mean, is this not something Alexis would say?

ABC

21. ...And also Lindsay from Arrested Development

20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

The only difference here is that Lindsay really doesn't better herself.

This sure feels like an early Alexis quote to me.

Fox

22. And on that note, also Michael from Arrested Development and Johnny from Schitt's Creek

Sam Urdank / Netflix / Courtesy: Everett Collection, Steve Wilkie / ©CBC/POP / courtesy Everett Collection

Both are the straight man/businessmen who hold their over-the-top formerly rich families together.

Like, I'm pretty sure this is how Michael always feels around his family.

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23. And finally, Lois from Family Guy and Marge from The Simpsons

FOX / Courtesy Everett Collection, Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

I mean, they're already super-similar shows, but I feel like Lois and Marge are the most similar characters. Both are the straight man in their family and are a bit nagging but also sweet and seem to genuinely love their husbands, even if they're annoyed by them.

What TV/movie characters do you feel are basically the same? Let us know in the comments!