23 Times TV Shows And Movies Straight-Up Just Hit Copy And Paste On A Character From Another TV Show Or Movie
There are a million TV shows and movies out there, so it makes sense that some have similar themes, tropes, and characters.
Paramount Network
But there are times when I'm watching a TV show or movie and think, Hang on...I've seen this exact character before.
Sony Pictures Releasing
Here are 21 examples of TV and movie characters that are low-key the same person.
1.Chandler from Friends and Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Always ready with a joke? Check. Unlucky in love? Check. Afraid of commitment? Check.
For example..."I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?" 100% sounds like something either of them would say.
NBC
I can literally HEAR Xander saying this.
2.Dan from Gossip Girl and Jughead from Riverdale
Both are "outsiders" who think the only way they can write about the events and people around them is to remain on the outside...except both of them are total insiders. They've both got a chip on their shoulder and think they're better than others, and both date the pretty, popular blonde girl who doesn't seem like she'd be their type.
3.But also, like....Dan from Gossip Girl and Joe from You
This has got to be one of the best career decisions Penn Badgley ever made. Joe is just Dan x10. Honestly, Beck and Serena are low-key similar too.
I mean, is this Dan or Joe? The world will never know!!
Lifetime
(It's Joe.)
4.Robocop from Robocop and Inspector Gadget from Inspector Gadget
Tell me these movies don't have the same plot, just in different genres.
5.By that measure, Walter from Breaking Bad and Nancy from Weeds
Different genre, same plot, same descending-into-villainy selfish "hero" who claims to do things for their family.
6.Also in that vein...Matilda from Matilda and Carrie from Carrie
Once again — age Matilda up and change the genre to horror, and you've got Carrie. Both have abusive families and telekinetic powers, and both are sweet and innocent but also clever, and both have horrible lives at school.
I mean....this could easily have been Matilda in 10 years.
United Artists
7.Syndrome from The Incredibles and Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far from Home
Both use technology to seem like superheroes, both have huge grudges against larger-than-life superheroes and want the same recognition, both *tried* to get noticed by that hero years prior, both have evil plots to bring down that hero's legacy and/or his protégées...
8.Troy from High School Musical, Eddie from Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off, and Izzy from Jump In
9....And all of their dads
Literally, any dad from these three movies:
Disney Channel
Except replace "playmaker" with "baseball player" or "boxer" and singer with "cook" or "jump-roper."
And literally every son:
Disney Channel
10.Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries
Both are angsty hundreds-of-year-old vampires with dark, violent pasts trying to turn over a new leaf. Both fall for the protagonist but must protect them from their dark sides. Both have the main personality trait of brooding.
Like, here's Wesley making fun of Angel and his relationship with Buffy...but he could easily be talking about Stefan and Elena.
The WB
11....And also kind of Edward from Twilight
Edward is also a super-old vampire with a dark past who falls for the new girl in town. I'd also like to point out they all have hair that defies gravity.
12.Seth from The O.C. and Stiles from Teen Wolf
Nerdy, sarcastic best friends who deal with their lovesick, occasionally broody protagonists with hero complexes? Check. Oh, and both also have slow-burn relationships with popular girls they've loved since childhood who see them as geeks.
I mean, here's Seth...
Fox
And here's Stiles.
MTV
Stiles is also a little Xander/Chandler (I just realized their names are similar too), but he's much more emotional and less misogynistic.
13.Leslie from Parks and Recreation and Ted from Ted Lasso
Both are wholesome, quirky bosses who truly care about their employees like family, and both are quintessentially American and patriotic (but like, the good parts of being American and patriotic). Both also deal with an enterprising businessperson (Tom/Keely), a deadpan employee who's secretly a great leader (April/Roy), and a strange mustached coworker of few words who seems like an unlikely friend but is actually one of the protagonist's best friends (Ron/Beard).
14.Roy from Ted Lasso and Derek from Teen Wolf
Angry and reluctant older mentor with a secret soft spot for the young'uns who becomes an unlikely leader? Yep.
15.Joey from Friends and Andy from Parks and Recreation
I love a good dumb-as-nails side character who you can't help but love, and these two are maybe as good as they come.
Like, this would 100% be Joey and Andy meeting:
Sony Pictures Releasing
16.And also...Bolin from The Legend of Korra
Tell me I'm wrong.
He's clearly a fellow animal and food lover.
Nickelodeon
17.AND Jason from The Good Place
I mean, this...
NBC
...Has the same energy as this:
18.Brooke from One Tree Hill and Summer from The O.C.
Both were sassy and vain rich girl brunettes who went through an arc where they showed how smart, kind, and strong they were, and both ended up with the kind of nerdy guy.
19.Tony Stark from the MCU and Doctor Strange from the MCU
They are low-key the same person. Brainy, arrogant, and rich, they both overcome injuries and humble themselves while simultaneously chasing god-like power. Don't @ me.
20.Haley from Modern Family and Alexis from Schitt's Creek
Both are vain and fashionable, slightly relationship-obsessed daughters who grow throughout the show to become ambitious and career-oriented.
I mean, is this not something Alexis would say?
ABC
21....And also Lindsay from Arrested Development
The only difference here is that Lindsay really doesn't better herself.
This sure feels like an early Alexis quote to me.
Fox
22.And on that note, also Michael from Arrested Development and Johnny from Schitt's Creek
Both are the straight man/businessmen who hold their over-the-top formerly rich families together.
Like, I'm pretty sure this is how Michael always feels around his family.
Pop!TV
23.And finally, Lois from Family Guy and Marge from The Simpsons
I mean, they're already super-similar shows, but I feel like Lois and Marge are the most similar characters. Both are the straight man in their family and are a bit nagging but also sweet and seem to genuinely love their husbands, even if they're annoyed by them.
