Michael Keaton: Birdman

Thanks to his role as Batman in Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns, Michael Keaton became a superstar and a household name in the early '90s. Keaton had a low-key career after he left Batman behind him, appearing in forgettable movies like Jack Frost and Quicksand. When he was cast as Riggan Thomson in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) it felt poetic, as his character in the film was an actor trying to break free from his most iconic role, the superhero Birdman. The parallels were too clear to ignore. His performance even earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 2014 Academy Awards. Since then, it seems like Keaton has found his stride again, appearing in successful projects such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Trial of the Chicago 7.