Honestly, casting is one of the biggest things that decides whether a story will be successful or not. The best script and the most wonderful shots might be there, but if the actor who is playing a particular role is not an image of the character, then the whole thing is going to stop working. On the other hand, perfect casting? It is something a very few times. It can make us laugh, cry, or feel with a character that we considered terrible. Sometimes, it is only one actor who becomes so amazing in the role, and other times it is the whole cast that is going well together. There are 10 instances when the casting directors landed right on the target.
10. Margo Martindale in BoJack Horseman
When an actor is cast as himself and magically turns into a fan-favorite character, you know it’s something special. Margo Martindale’s recurring appearance as “Esteemed Character Actress Margo Martindale” was a wild, self-referential joy. Her wildly exaggerated misadventures became so legendary that the in-joke still arises in fan circles years after the fact.
9. Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge – Harry Potter
Not many performances make people actively loathe a character—and that’s praise here. Imelda Staunton’s sweet, sinister take on Umbridge was so genuine it got people seething. She got the character’s prim, pink facade concealing a genuinely vile center just right.
8. Jesse Plemons as Todd – Breaking Bad
Todd wasn’t boisterous, flashy, or showy—he was uncomfortably quiet, and that made him more terrifying. Jesse Plemons had the perfect level of calm menace in every scene, leaving audiences wondering what he was going to do next. His unpredictability made Todd unforgettable.
7. Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute – The Office
One of the major factors that made Dwight one of the most memorable characters in the history of sitcoms is the way that Rainn Wilson fitted the character as if it were specially made for him. From his strange beet-farm viewpoint to his complete loyalty to Michael Scott, Wilson made Dwight the heart of the show’s comedy.
6. The Addams Family Cast
Finding one good actor is difficult. Finding an entire cast just right is a miracle. Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci didn’t merely act the Addamses—they were the Addamses. Their chemistry, timing, and devotion to the creepy and kooky atmosphere made the movies cult classics.
5. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark – Iron Man
Marvel took a gamble on Robert Downey Jr., and it paid off in ways no one could’ve predicted. His swagger, wit, and humanity brought Tony Stark to life so completely that it’s now impossible to picture anyone else in the role. In many ways, his casting shaped the entire MCU.
4. Bryan Cranston as Walter White – Breaking Bad
The transition from acting as a silly sitcom dad in Malcolm in the Middle to a deteriorated drug lord overlord was quite a long way. Bryan Cranston managed the entire character arc of Walter White in such a way that he was a very empathetic and relatable character in the beginning of the series, and then he gradually changed to a scary one.
3. Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa – Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino required an individual who could be charming, frightening, and multilingual—step forward, Christoph Waltz. His turn as Hans Landa was razor-sharp, half charisma, half menace, and immediately fixed him as one of cinema’s greatest villains.
2. Accurate Deaf Casting in CODA
Representation is important, and CODA showed how effective real casting could be. By casting deaf actors—Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel Durant—the film didn’t merely tell a tale, it lived it. Kotsur won an Oscar, and the deployment of ASL consultants and interpreters on the movie set a new standard for diversity in Hollywood.
1. Meryl Streep—Effectively Every Role She’s Ever Had
There’s a reason that Meryl Streep’s name is synonymous with “perfect casting.” She brings icy poise as Miranda Priestly or vanishes into historical figures, and she makes every movie she’s in better. Casting Streep doesn’t only assure a solid performance—it tends to pull equally solid co-stars along, forming powerhouse casts.
Casting directors may not receive their Oscar nods (yet), but their contributions make the stories we adore. Single-scene stunners to all-time casts, these selections remind us that sometimes the greatest choice is made before the cameras roll.