# Three films an actor basically "owned" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [February 2, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748 "2025-02-02T03:39:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/1 "2025-02-02T03:39:28Z")
I was reading the wiki on the film “Groundhog Day”, pretty sure for the first time. I was a little surprised there was some contention on the screenplay (Rubin and Ramis) yet also that Ramis and Murray, who had worked together since 1974 and had a good relationship and been in several films together - yet Ramis wasn’t all that keen about casting Murray who while not being a Chevy-Chase, can be somewhat difficult to work with. Yet his work - that is what shows up on the movie reels - is often superb and it’s difficult to imagine someone else in the role. Tom Hanks was offered the role, so was Michael Keaton - yet they declined. A single film might be too simple. Three films can be considered at least a starter in a “body of work” where you or a casting director would think right off, “Tom Hanks is the only guy who can play this role.” So it is three films that an actor appeared in that you would not think “meh, Mel Gibson could have done that.” Or that in some other reality it would not have mattered if this actor appeared in the films he or she appeared in. I suppose the phrase “they owned the film” applies if that helps. Remakes/reboots pretty much do not count. And if Zero Mostel is your Tevye on Broadway in “Fiddler on the Roof” you get Chaim Topol in the film. The Monty Python troupe is right out. We’re not even going to consider replacing any of them. > Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. It helps to be the screenwriter, director and star (good luck doing that now) Great roles by great actors whom it would be (almost) inconcievable to cast another actor in: ``` Orson Welles - Citizen Kane, The Third Man, Touch of Evil Jack Lemmon - Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot, The Apartment Jimmy Stewart - It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rear Window (honorable mentions for Rope and Vertigo) Gene Wilder - The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy Bill Murray - Stripes, Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation Harrison Ford - Han Solo/Star Wars, Indiana Jones/Raiders, Blade Runner Robert Downey Jr - Less than Zero, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man Tom Cruise - Risky Business, Top Gun, The Color of Money (lots of hon mentions) Nicolas Cage - Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas, Wild at Heart Keanu Reeves - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, My Own Private Idaho, John Wick/series River Phoenix - Stand By Me, My Own Private Idaho, Litte Nikita (with Sidney ...) Sidney Poitier - Blackboard Jungle, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night ``` ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/2 "2025-02-02T03:48:52Z")
John Wayne in just about every movie he ever made. They were after all referred to as John Wayne movies. But to pick three I’d go with; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Sands of Iwo Jima True Grit ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/3 "2025-02-02T04:54:59Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > True Grit By contrast, I would say that Jeff Bridges owned it as well. There could be a heated debate on the matter, which would be a major hijack, so it is best not to go there. I should suggest another angle on the question of the thread. Consider _Casablanca_, _To Have and Have Not_ and _African Queen_: Humphrey Bogart did not own those movies but was the foundation upon which Ingrid, Betty Joan and Kathryn took ownership of them. I my estimation. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/4 "2025-02-02T05:28:38Z")
I’d argue that _Tombstone_ wouldn’t have been the same without Kurt Russell playing Wyatt Earp, and especially not with him effectively directing the whole thing behind the scenes, even if he wasn’t credited as the director. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/5 "2025-02-02T05:53:03Z")
Tommy Lee Jones stole the thunder in _The Fugitive_. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/6 "2025-02-02T16:48:44Z")
That was pretty hinky. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/7 "2025-02-02T17:34:02Z")
**Gary Oldman** : Leon: The Professional The Fifth Element Immortal Beloved **John Malkovich** : Being John Malkovich Con Air Making Mr Right ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/8 "2025-02-02T17:36:41Z")
**Henry Fonda** : The Grapes of Wrath Twelve Angry Men Once Upon a Time in The West ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/9 "2025-02-02T17:38:33Z")
**Peter Sellers** : Dr Strangelove The Pink Panther Being There ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/10 "2025-02-02T18:33:37Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Nicolas Cage - Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas, Wild at Heart I’d argue that John Travolta _is_ Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, and _is_ Danny Zuko in Grease, and _is_ Nicolas Cage as Castor Troy as Sean Archer in Face/Off. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/11 "2025-02-02T18:40:05Z")
Jack Nicholson in almost every film he’s made. The top three that come to mind are: Five Easy Pieces The Shining One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest And Henry Fonda: On Golden Pond The Oxbow Incident The Grapes of Wrath ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/12 "2025-02-02T18:45:39Z")
Robert De Niro’s oft-imitated performance in TAXI DRIVER came in between his Oscar-winning role in GODFATHER II and, well, his Oscar-winning role in RAGING BULL… ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/13 "2025-02-04T01:31:36Z")
Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/14 "2025-02-04T01:59:09Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > **John Malkovich** : > > Being John Malkovich Isn’t this one kind of a freebie? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/15 "2025-02-04T02:34:43Z")
Malkovich owned a movie called _100 Years_, but since no one will be able to watch for another 90 years, that is only a guess. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/16 "2025-02-05T22:52:44Z")
Wesley Snipes in Blade, and … maybe … New Jack City, though the cast was such an ensemble that it’s hard to say anyone owned it. Passenger 57 there are a few other actors (Samuel L Jackson comes to mind) who might have been able to pull it off, but for the most part I think it’s all him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/17 "2025-02-06T01:54:18Z")
I only have two for Christopher Lloyd, but: there’s nobody I’d swap in as Doc Brown, and nobody I’d swap in as Judge Doom; maybe with an honorable mention for the Emmys he won as Reverend Jim? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-films-an-actor-basically-owned/1013748/18 "2025-02-06T02:34:01Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Wesley Snipes in Blade, and … maybe … New Jack City, though the cast was such an ensemble that it’s hard to say anyone owned it. Passenger 57 there are a few other actors (Samuel L Jackson comes to mind) who might have been able to pull it off, but for the most part I think it’s all him. Don’t forget Demolition Man. I’m sure lots of actors could potentially have played the villain but Snipes made Simon Phoenix legendary!