Culture Culture 4 min read

One role, lasting fame

Forever famous: 10 actors we'll always link to a single role

Image: Josué Reyes

Some characters stay with us forever, and so do the faces that brought them to life. Thanks to TV and movies, these 10 talented actors and actresses became forever linked to the roles that made them famous or defined their careers. Remember Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Alien or Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather ? Of course you do! So, let's revisit those performances and 8 other iconic roles that we'll never forget!

1
Sigourney Weaver – Ellen Ripley

Image: Олег Мороз

If someone mentions Sigourney Weaver, one character instantly comes to mind: Ellen Ripley. Weaver first played her in Alien (1979) and then returned for three sequels in 1986, 1992, and 1997. Her performance was groundbreaking, redefining female roles in action films. And while Weaver has had many other great roles, none have matched the legendary status of Ripley.

2
Anthony Hopkins – Hannibal Lecter

Image: Josh Mackey

Although Anthony Hopkins has an extensive and varied filmography, one role stands out above all others: the chilling Hannibal Lecter, one of the most iconic villains in movie history. Hopkins first portrayed him in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), alongside the brilliant Jodie Foster. He later returned to the role in Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002).

3
Julie Andrews – Mary Poppins

Image: Guillaume de Germain

We'll always love Julie Andrews for bringing the magical Mary Poppins to life in the 1964 Disney classic. Believe it or not, that was her very first film, and it earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress! Just a year later, she captivated audiences again in The Sound of Music , but Mary Poppins remains the role most closely tied to her charming persona.

4
Al Pacino – Michael Corleone

Image: Tibor Pinter

Al Pacino first appeared as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and returned for the sequels in 1974 and 1990. His powerful performance turned Michael into one of the most iconic characters in film history. To this day, it's almost impossible not to think of Pacino as the unforgettable and complex successor to Don Corleone.

5
Marlon Brando – Don Vito Corleone

Image: Maximilian Kopsch

When it comes to exceptional characters, we can't leave out Don Vito Corleone, brought to life by the legendary Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972). This role was so iconic that it redefined the image of the gangster on screen. When we picture Brando, we often imagine him wearing the prosthetics he used to portray the mob boss. The performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, which he famously declined in protest of Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans.

6
John Travolta – Tony Manero

Image: Paul Zoetemeijer

Although John Travolta has played many roles throughout his career, the one that defined him was the unique Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1977). From the moment he appeared on screen in that white suit nearly 50 years ago, Travolta became forever linked to the disco king who ruled the dance floor and captured countless hearts along the way.

7
Lynda Carter – Wonder Woman

Image: Dale de Vera

From 1975 to 1979, Lynda Carter brought Wonder Woman to life in a way that left a lasting mark on television. Her performance was so memorable that it defined the character for an entire generation. For many of us, Lynda Carter is Wonder Woman, and it's hard to imagine anyone else filling those iconic boots.

8
Tom Hanks – Forrest Gump

Image: Yosuke Ota

If there's one thing our generation knows well, it's that "life is like a box of chocolates." That memorable line comes from Forrest Gump , played by Tom Hanks in 1994. With his big heart, kindness, and unexpected wisdom, Forrest won over audiences everywhere. The impact of the character was so powerful that it not only cemented Hanks’ status as a leading actor but also forever linked his image to the role.

9
Harrison Ford – Indiana Jones

Image: Intricate Explorer

If there's one actor forever tied to Indiana Jones , it’s Harrison Ford. He first took on the role in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and then embodied the archaeologist again in sequels released in 1984, 1989, 2008, and 2023. With his iconic fedora and whip, Ford made the character unforgettable, so much so that it's hard to imagine anyone else bringing him to life.

10
Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa

Image: Luisa Frassier

Although some producers wanted to cast another actor, Sylvester Stallone refused to let anyone else bring the story of Rocky Balboa to the screen. As we know, Stallone wrote the script with the intention of playing the role himself, and thank goodness he did! It's hard to imagine anyone else portraying the iconic boxer the way he did. And we're not the only ones who think so; the Academy clearly agreed, as Rocky (1976) earned ten Oscar nominations.

History History 3 min read

No bad titles here

These 12 popular movies have very different names in other countries

Image: Yuvraj Singh

Granted, not every name sounds as great in its original language as it does when translated. Therefore, a certain degree of artistic liberty is granted when coming up with good movie title translations. However, some of these adaptations take a bit too much freedom in their detachment from the original title. Take a look at the following 12 examples and marvel at the creativity and sense of humor of their translators.

1
The Blues Brothers - Rogues at Full Speed (Spain)

Image: Tanner Boriack

The Blues Brothers sounds like a pretty straightforward name, right? Not for the Spanish , who are very protective of their native language and translate every movie title that comes across their border. When this 1980 movie was released in Spain, its title could have been easily translated as " Los Hermanos del Blues ," but, for some reason, it was named Rogues at Full Speed .

2
Die Hard - The Crystal Jungle (Spain)

Image: Yns Plt

The second entry on the list is also awarded to Spain for its creative title translation of Bruce Willis’ Die Hard as The Crystal Jungle . The reasons for this name remain a mystery . Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the city can be considered a jungle, and a significant part of the movie takes place in a city. Other than that, we're stumped.

3
Leon The Professional - This Hit Man is Not as Cold as He Thought (China)

Image: Matt Seymour

The Chinese translators of the French movie Léon: The Professional decided that the title wasn’t descriptive enough and opted instead for a name that served as a commentary on the main character .

4
Airplane - The Unbelievable Trip in A Wacky Aeroplane (Germany)

Image: Niels And Marco

Apparently, the Chinese are not alone when it comes to inventing more descriptive names for the movies they translate. The German version of the slapstick comedy Airplane! is translated as The Unbelievable Trip in a Wacky Aeroplane .

5
Thelma and Louise - An Unexpected Ending (Mexico)

Image: Amanda Sandlin

An implied rule when it comes to movie titles is that they should not be spoilers . Mexican translators decided to partially, at least, ignore this rule and went with An Unexpected Ending for the local version of Thelma and Louise . Yes, there could be countless possible unexpected endings, but still...

6
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - The Boy Who Drowned in Chocolate Sauce (Denmark)

Image: Kaffee Meister

It's well known that Scandinavians have a dark sense of humor , but some things are still surprising. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory , the 1971 movie featuring Gene Wilder in the title role, received an odd translation from the Danish.

7
Ghostbusters - Exorcists of Spirits (Serbia)

Image: Winston Chen

Serbians are no strangers to the supernatural . Many ghost stories and myths can be found in their beautiful and mysterious land. Perhaps that is why the people responsible for translating Ghostbusters thought it was acceptable to modify the original name to Exorcists of Spirits .

8
Grease - Pomade (Hungary)

Image: Lachlan Rennie

This one is not as far off as the previous examples, but there is something about it that just doesn’t sound quite as right as the original title. Who knows? Maybe that’s what Hungarians call their hair gel .

9
Home Alone - Mom, I Missed the Plane (France)

Image: Liubomyr Vovchak

The French translators could have done a lot worse with this one. After all, while the film’s storyline involves Kevin being stuck home alone, he ends up stuck at home because he missed his flight in the first place .

10
Annie Hall - The Urban Neurotic (Germany)

Image: Dylan Freedom

Yes, this is a Woody Allen movie, and yes, the main character, aside from Annie herself, is an urban neurotic. Maybe that’s why the German translators decided, once again, to change the simple original title of the movie to a description of the leading man’s character .

11
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - It’s Raining Falafel (Israel)

Image: Clark Douglas

Similar, but not the same— not by a long shot. The Israeli title for this children’s movie evokes a somewhat similar image to the one in the original title, but it does so with a more local dish as the element replacing the rain .

12
Deep Impact - The End of the World, the Sky Collapsed, and the Land Collapsed (Thailand)

Image: Viktor Mindt

Some movie title translations seem as if they were written by small children. But then, maybe that’s the kind of content their audience demands, in which case, more power to them. Deep Impact sounds ominous enough, sure. But a title like The End of the World, the Sky Collapsed, and the Land Collapsed is much more exciting , isn’t it?

General General 4 min read

Lines that stuck

Which brand first said "Just Do It"? How many slogans can you recognize?

Image: Justcreativestock

We might forget many things, but some songs and brand slogans have been living in our brains for years, completely rent-free! From the iconic "Just Do It" to the catchy "I'm Lovin' It," today, we're celebrating these 6 slogans that definitely stood the test of time. Can you match each one to its brand?

1
Just Do it

Image: Peter Aroner

This sportswear brand has been supporting top athletes for many, many years. It was founded in 1964 in the beautiful state of Oregon, though under a different name than the one it has today! Famous for its "Swoosh" logo, it started out making sports shoes, but today, it offers different kinds of apparel and products. We know you know which brand we're talking about!

2
Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands

Image: JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN

For those of us with a sweet tooth, there's one candy that checks all the boxes. It has chocolate, colorful candy, a mix of textures, and a lot of flavor!

Although still one of the most popular candies among Americans today, this brand isn't new; it was actually founded back in 1941. And here's an interesting fact: When it was created, one of the brand's main goals was to make the perfect candy for WWII soldiers! Can you guess which brand it is?

3
Breakfast of Champions

Image: engin akyurt

A good breakfast is one thing, but a breakfast of champions? That's a new level! And we all want to start the day like a champion, don't we?

This cereal brand certainly knows that, and that's why it adopted this unforgettable slogan. It was created in 1924, and since the 1930s, it has featured iconic athletes on its boxes. Guess who was the first? Lou Gehrig, The "Iron Horse" of baseball!

4
I'm Lovin' It

Image: Joyce Panda

When it comes to fast food, this brand is the first that comes to mind. Originally founded as a drive-in restaurant in 1940, it grew by leaps and bounds to become the famous brand it is today, present in more than 100 countries around the world! Both its slogan and logo are hugely recognized worldwide, and it's hard to find someone who hasn't tried something from its menu.

5
There are some things money can't buy. For everything else…

Image: Fabian Blank

This company really knew how to condense their service into a great slogan! And, in fact, they have been using it for almost 3 decades. Founded in 1966 with a different name than the one it has today, this financial services company is not only here in America but you can also find it in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia! What's your guess?

6
Betcha Can't Eat Just One

Image: Tim Mossholder

This brand's slogan is absolutely true! Their snack is so delicious that it's one of the most popular salty treats, not just in America but all over the world.

Surprisingly, this brand is over 90 years old! Its success is likely due not just to its iconic advertising campaigns but also to the delicious "crunch" inside every bag. Do you already know which brand we're talking about?

7
Just Do it- Nike

Image: Domino Studio

Of course! Nike has been encouraging us to "Just Do It" since 1988, when it adopted this iconic slogan, now one of the most famous in the world. With its classic athletic spirit, Nike inspires us to take action with purpose, overcome obstacles, and chase our goals.

8
Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands- M&Ms

Image: Sebastian Gómez

That's right! This iconic M&M's slogan has been around for more than 70 years, and its origin is quite interesting. As we mentioned, the brand aimed to create a candy suitable for WWII soldiers, so they came up with the genius idea of coating chocolate with a thin candy shell to keep it from melting inside the package. Just brilliant (and delicious)!

9
Breakfast of Champions- Wheaties

Image: Andrijana Bozic

With its famous slogan, Wheaties has been associating itself with sporting excellence since 1933, reinforcing this image by featuring elite athletes on each of its orange boxes. Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Muhammad Ali are just some of the great competitors that have been on the cover.

10
I'm Lovin' It- McDonald's

Image: Brett Jordan

Of course you knew it! "I'm Lovin' It" is the legendary and unmistakable slogan of the Golden Arches: McDonald's . Though it feels like it's been around forever, it's actually relatively young! Introduced in 2003 , it debuted alongside a catchy jingle that you probably still have stuck in your head.

11
There are some things that money can't buy; for everything else, there's Mastercard

Image: Markus Winkler

Mastercard's "Priceless" campaign is one of the most successful advertising initiatives worldwide. Focusing on customers' feelings, it highlights the emotional value of things money can't buy, like love and happiness. But it also drives home a key point: for everything that does require money, there's a Mastercard to make it possible.

12
Betcha Can't Eat Just One- Lay's

Image: Mustafa Bashari

If you're craving a tasty snack, Lay's is probably one of the first brands that comes to mind. Known for being one of the most famous potato chip brands, they really know how to tempt us. That's why they rightly say, "Betcha Can't Eat Just One." At least, we definitely can't!

Explore more American facts

Choose your favorite category!

General
General

As American as apple pie—the very best America has to offer!

Culture
Culture

Delve into the astounding richness of American lore.

Geography
Geography

Hop in and explore vast and diverse American landscapes.

History
History

Discover the key moments that shaped the United States.