The Worst Movies Where Actors Played Multiple Roles

Engaging in diverse roles within a single project appeals immensely to an enthusiastic performer aiming to demonstrate their versatility. Remarkably, this complexity is achievable in the realm of film, where advanced technology allows for seamless repetition of the same actor across multiple instances in the same scene, sometimes even portraying distinct characters.

Generally speaking, it’s just as entertaining for spectators as it is for performers to witness an actor portraying several characters simultaneously, whether they are twins or resembling each other coincidentally, or entirely distinct individuals with varying hairstyles and makeup. Since the inception of cinema, filmmakers have been creatively utilizing double casting, and with advancements in digital face-swapping and other contemporary technologies, we’ve mastered the skill of placing a single actor in multiple roles.

Some films feature actors portraying multiple characters, but in certain instances, this technique can detract from the overall quality of the production, leaving viewers feeling more confused than captivated. The issue could stem from subpar de-aging effects, overly conspicuous wigs or facial prosthetics, or insufficiently distinct characters that require intense focus to tell apart. In these cases, the double casting becomes a liability rather than an advantage, and the only lasting impression is often how peculiar it felt to witness one actor play numerous roles. Whether slightly odd or painfully awkward, these actors might have been more successful if they had focused on just one role instead.

10 Actors Who Played Distractingly Bad Doubles in Movies

Tom Hanks in Cloud Atlas

The main appeal of the movie “Cloud Atlas,” remarkably engaging despite its complexities, lies in the unique concept where actors assume various characters spanning different eras. This intricate narrative explores the recurring themes of reincarnated souls experiencing similar emotions throughout time. Remarkably, in 2015, it was still possible to persuade a studio to support a multicultural cast playing roles not limited by their ethnicity – a fact that might seem unlikely today. The movie features some extraordinary makeup effects, particularly on Tom Hanks, who transforms into a hotel manager, an actor, and a primitive inhabitant of post-apocalyptic Hawaii. While every actor in the film could have been included in this list, it’s Hanks who undergoes the most drastic change as “Dermot Hoggins,” a menacing author with a bald head, goatee, and gold chain, infamously throwing a critic who disparaged his book off a balcony to his death. (Rest assured, Korean Jim Sturgess is fictional and cannot harm you.)

Jean Claude Van Damme in Double Impact

In the movie “Double Impact”, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s portrayal of twin brothers Alex and Chad Wagner lacks distinctiveness. Given his unique appearance, it is hard to visualize another person resembling him. However, his attempts to differentiate between the two characters often feel like a contrived gimmick rather than genuine character development. Essentially, it seems as though Van Damme is playing a single character throughout the film, instead of two separate individuals.

Will Smith in Gemini Man

The film “Gemini Man” was more about displaying advanced technology than it was about being a truly effective movie. Its high frame rate and digital de-aging of Will Smith are the main attractions. In this movie, Smith portrays a retired assassin who is pursued by his clone, also played by a digitally enhanced version of Smith through motion-capture and CGI. This project had been in development for decades, with various stars like Harrison Ford and Sean Connery attached at different times. It only came to life when the technology was considered ready. Despite personal opinions on the film, it looks visually impressive – until it doesn’t. The high-definition, high frame rate exposes any flaws in the digital character rendering, creating an unsettling uncanny valley effect in an otherwise typical action-thriller. It even makes one nostalgic for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s facial prosthetics in “Looper.

Tom Hollander in The King’s Man

In the movie “The King’s Man,” a prequel to the Kingsman series, Tom Hollander played an unusual role: he portrayed not just doubles, but triples of himself. He took on the characters of King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Tsar Nicholas. To differentiate between the three, he wore distinctive outfits and sported varying facial hair. Hollander gave each character a unique voice; he delivered a refined calmness for King George V, while Kaiser Wilhelm’s voice was stereotypically loud and German. The humor lies in the fact that these three monarchs were cousins, all being grandchildren of Queen Victoria, symbolizing the shared ancestry of distant royal families.

Tom Hollander played an exceptional role in “The King’s Man,” a prequel to the Kingsman series, by portraying not just two but three versions of himself – King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Tsar Nicholas. He skillfully donned different costumes and facial hair for each character and gave them distinct voices. Hollander brought a quiet refinement to King George V’s role, while Kaiser Wilhelm was given a stereotypically loud German accent. The amusing aspect of the movie is that these three monarchs were cousins, being grandchildren of Queen Victoria, highlighting the common ancestry among distant royal families.

Tom Hardy in Legend

It’s impossible not to notice that the crime drama film “Legend” features twin characters portrayed by Tom Hardy, who depict the infamous Kray brothers. These London underworld figures from the 1960s wielded power with their duo of iron grips. As Ronnie and Reggie Kray, Hardy enjoys a double dose of intriguing roles – a suave, charming lead and his rough-edged brother with an amusing voice and peculiar speech pattern reminiscent of Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone if he hailed from the East End. Although Hardy showcases remarkable talent, he never fully immerses himself in either role, resulting in the movie being more of a “look at this, it’s the same actor in every scene” experiment instead of an effective biopic.

Hilary Duff in The Lizzie McGuire Movie

In the initial scenes of “The Lizzie McGuire Movie,” Hilary Duff’s Italian accent as Isabella Parigi, a pop star doppelganger of Lizzie McGuire, is instantly endearing. The digital doubling technique used by Duff to portray both characters is almost flawless, with the film frequently displaying them together on screen. However, there’s a scene where their hands are conspicuously not shown holding hands. Despite this, Duff delivers an impressive performance as both characters, with Isabella serving as a flamboyant contrast to Lizzie’s shy small-town persona. While the character portrayal might stretch credibility, so does the overall plot of the movie.

Leo DiCaprio in The Man in the Iron Mask

In “The Man in the Iron Mask,” the filmmakers broke away from Hollywood’s common practice of having non-American characters speak with British accents by allowing the majority of actors to speak in their native tongues. This is particularly striking when Leonardo DiCaprio appears, portraying both King Louis XIV and his masked twin brother Philippe. In a movie filled with the lavish spectacle typical of Alexandre Dumas’s stories, it feels out of place when one of the main characters sounds like an American teenager, and in this film, there are two such characters. The only significant differences between the two characters are minimal – they even share the same hairstyle.

Rory Kinnear in Men

The eerie sensation evoked by Rory Kinnear’s diverse characters in Alex Garland’s film “Men” was deliberately intended, as having one actor portray various characters created an unsettling atmosphere. Rory Kinnear effectively plays a multitude of town residents who seem determined to ruin a widow’s peaceful vacation. It is uncertain whether these characters are distinct individuals or mere manifestations of a sinister entity, but the repeated appearance of one face can certainly induce unease. There are moments where the performance falters, particularly with the young boy in the cemetery scene, but the thrilling climax justifies the effort put into makeup, wigs, and digital aging techniques.

Vanessa Hudgens in The Princess Switch

As a movie enthusiast, I must confess that in the festive rom-com series “The Princess Switch,” Vanessa Hudgens grapples with accents that seem a tad challenging for her, but this shouldn’t discourage anyone from enjoying these delightfully affordable Christmas movies. In the initial installment, Hudgens portrays two characters: Stacy De Novo, an Italian-American baker from Chicago, and Lady Margaret Delacourt, the duchess of Montenaro who is unwillingly betrothed to a prince from Belgravia – both countries being fictitious. In her portrayal as Lady Margaret, Hudgens attempts a vaguely British accent that leaves room for improvement until the second film arrives, where another Vanessa Hudgens emerges as Lady Fiona Pembroke. This character is somewhat reminiscent of Lady Gaga and Cruella de Vil, leaving one to ponder whether they truly understand what a British accent should sound like.

Nicholas Braun in Saturday Night

In the star-studded cast of the movie “Saturday Night“, based on the origins of “Saturday Night Live“, one might assume that actors wouldn’t have the opportunity to portray multiple characters. However, this assumption would be incorrect, as Nicholas Braun managed to appear in the film not once, but twice, playing both the puppet master Jim Henson and comedian Andy Kaufman. Interestingly, he stepped into the Kaufman role when Benny Safdie had to withdraw from the production, and it’s evident that his lanky frame is more fitting for the Henson character. When Braun reappears in the film as different characters, it becomes a distraction rather than adding humor to the storyline.

Terrible Movies That Won Academy Awards

1. Suicide Squad (2016)

It seems that the most confusing and poorly made superhero films received an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, yet it fortunately did not win for Best Editing.

2. The Wolfman (2010)

Prior to Universal’s failed Dark Universe, they had already stumbled in their effort to rejuvenate their classic monster characters with a delayed werewolf movie starring Benicio Del Toro. The makeup, created by Rick Baker, was the only noteworthy aspect of the film. Therefore, it’s understandable that this won the award for Best Makeup, but it’s disheartening to know that this is an Academy Award-winning film due to its technical merit alone.

3. Alice in Wonderland

The live-action adaptation of the beloved Disney animation not only proved tedious but managed to secure two Oscars in the categories of Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

4. The Golden Compass (2007)

Initially, this expensive children’s movie was meant to kickstart a series of films. However, unfortunately, it failed to do so. Yet, it managed to secure an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Check out that armored polar bear!

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Among the sequels I’ve ever seen, one that left me feeling particularly let down was the winner of the 2006 Oscar for Best Visual Effects. It could always be worse; they might have awarded the Oscar to “On Stranger Tides” instead.

6. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

The children’s film won the award for Best Makeup. You think it’s difficult to transform Jim Carrey into an odd character?

7. Pearl Harbor (2001)

As a cinephile, I can’t help but share an interesting trivia about Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor. While it clinched the prestigious Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, it was also a six-time nominee for the infamous Razzie Awards that same year. Interestingly, it didn’t manage to win any Razzies because it found itself in competition with the notorious Freddy Got Fingered.

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

In another instance, Jim Carrey clinched the title for Best Makeup yet again. The Academy found themselves captivated by the irresistible allure of Jim Carrey, who was extensively made up.

9. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

The Best Sound Effects Editing of 1996, hands down.

10. Dick Tracy (1990)

In 1991, Warren Beatty’s film Dick Tracy received two Academy Awards – one for Best Art Direction and another for Best Makeup. If it had also won the award for Best Costume Design, it would have taken home three statuettes. However, that honor went to Cyrano de Bergerac instead.

11. Innerspace (1987)

Among Amblin’s 1980s productions, Innerspace might have been the one I most eagerly tried to appreciate as a child. It appeared to be the kind of movie I ought to enjoy, considering its subject matter, cast, and impressive visual effects. Interestingly enough, it won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects that year.

12. The Woman in Red (1984)

In this relatively unknown movie starring Gene Wilder, Stevie Wonder’s popular ballad “I Just Called to Say I Love You” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It’s difficult to dispute such a win.

13. Thank God It’s Friday (1978)

In a different wording: One instance of a film that won an Oscar for its music, specifically Donna Summer’s disco hit “Last Dance”. Leonard Maltin famously asserted that this movie was the poorest to ever receive an Academy Award (apparently prior to the release of Suicide Squad).

14. Earthquake (1974)

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve got to admit that I enjoy a pulse-pounding disaster flick. However, when it comes to “Earthquake”, it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me as an exceptional disaster movie. That being said, it did make history by winning the Best Sound Oscar, and its sound technology was truly groundbreaking. The film was presented in a unique format called “Sensurround,” which gave audiences an immersive experience, making them feel like they were experiencing the earthquake alongside the characters on screen.

15. Song of the South (1946)

In simpler terms, this movie by Disney, known for its controversial aspects, isn’t where we delve deeply into analysis (you can find our perspective elsewhere). However, it’s worth noting that the Academy Awards recognized a timeless aspect of the film – the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

2025-03-21 16:55