When we think of a well-known film with a cult following, we don’t picture anyone other than the chosen actors, not even the same actor at a different age, playing those iconic roles. It would be fascinating if the actors could go back in time and recreate their most memorable parts.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future
Back to the Future was one of the most popular movies of the 1980s, receiving numerous accolades and nominations. Michael J. Fox, who debuted at the age of 24, and Christopher Lloyd, who debuted at the age of 47, were the starring men.
Fox has continued to act to this day, with his most recent production being Lil Nas X: The Origins of “Holiday” (2020). Lloyd is still working in show business, and he appeared in Queen Bees in 2021.
John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (1994), directed by Quentin Tarantino, is considered a classic in film history. It helped John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson gain a lot of attention at the time. Travolta was in the commercial, Capital One: Christmas Ad, in 2020, after more than 25 years, and Jackson is in pre-production for Futha Mucka.
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
In the United States, Forrest Gump was the second highest-grossing film of 1994. It was also regarded as a cultural and historical landmark. Tom Hanks starred in the picture when he was 38 years old, and he won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role the following year. Masters of the Air, a miniseries starring Tom Hanks, is now in production.
Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense
The film Sixth Sense starred Bruce Willis, who was 44 at the time, and his co-star, Haley Joel Osment, who was 11 at the time. Both benefited from the film’s success, but Osment’s was particularly significant because his acting career was only getting started. Willis’ most recent film performance was in Cosmic Sin, while Osment is currently working on Not an Artist in post-production.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winsletin Titanic
After the release of Titanic in 1998, a global trend was established thanks to the winning blend of a love plot and tumultuous events. The film’s two protagonists, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet earned worldwide celebrity in their teens, and the film moved around the world with them. DiCaprio is currently a member of the cast of the film Don’t Look Up, which is currently in post-production, and Winslet is the star of the mini-series Mare of Easttown.
Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone
When the first film in the Home Alone franchise was released, actor Macaulay Culkin was only ten years old, and he received a nomination for Best Comedy Actor for his performance as Kevin. This film is regarded as a family Christmas classic and is credited with launching Culkin’s career. He is now one of the main characters in the American Horror Story television series.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The principal actors in all of the Harry Potter films were Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. They started the first film together in 2001, when they were 12 years old, 11 years old, and 13 years old, respectively. Thanks to this film, the three actors became well-known in the film industry.
Radcliffe is now filming the Lost City of D, Watson recently starred in Little Women (2019), and Grint just appeared in the second season of the TV series Servant (2021).
Johnny Deppin Edward Scissorhands
With his appearance in the film Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp acquired worldwide acclaim at the age of 27 in 1990. It was a commercial triumph and received positive reviews from critics. Puffins, Depp’s latest animated mini-series, is now in production.
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
Pretty Woman, a movie office smash in 1990, helped main actors Richard Gere and Julia Roberts gain international acclaim, with Roberts winning her second Golden Globe at the age of 24. Roberts is in pre-production for a new TV series, Gaslit, while Gere continues his acting career in the TV series MotherFatherSon, which premieres in 2019.
Sam Neill and Laura Dern in Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park, starring Sam Neill and Laura Dern, was released in 1993. Until 1997, it held the record for the highest-grossing film in cinema history. Both celebrities are well-known as a result of their roles in this film. Dern voiced Sue Murphy in the series F is for Family in 2021, and Neill’s most recent effort is The Portable Door.
Kirsten Dunst in Jumanji
Kirsten Dunst was cast in one of the key roles in the film Jumanji when she was 13 years old. It’s regarded as a mid-’90s classic, and it helped establish the young actress’s name and fame. She is now a member of the cast for the film The Power of the Dog, which will be released in the United Kingdom in 2021.
Keanu Reeves in The Matrix
The first film of the Matrix trilogy was released in 1999. Several video games and comics based on the film have been produced as a result of the overwhelmingly positive response. It was categorized as a cult film, and it starred 35-year-old Keanu Reeves, who earned a large following alongside the film. Bill & Ted Saving the Universe, which was released in 2020, was Reeves’ last on-screen appearance.
Tom Cruise in Top Gun
Top Gun, featuring Tom Cruise at the age of 34, was one of the most critically and commercially successful pictures of the 1980s, and one of the highest-grossing films of the decade. After more than 25 years, the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, will be published at the end of this year, with Cruise reprising his role as the main character.
Drew Barrymore in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore’s role in the primary cast of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), which was the highest-grossing film worldwide until Jurassic Park was released in 1993, drew the attention of moviegoers when she was just 6 years old. Barrymore worked on her television show, The Drew Barrymore Show, in 2020 and 2021.
Which actor is your favorite? Which of their performances did you enjoy the most?
Preview photo credit Titanic / Twentieth Century Fox, and co-producers, VALERIE MACON/AFP/East News
