I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I notice at the movies is how much the actors playing characters can change.
It’s usually just a new hairstyle. Maybe they use a different accent. Perhaps they wear different clothes than we’re accustomed to seeing them in. But every now and then, they really take it up a notch with a wild body transformation.
For a variety of reasons, actors willingly go through these grueling physical transformations for movie roles. Some go unnoticed, but others are impossible to ignore.
That’s where this list of the craziest movie body transformations comes in. Whether it’s bulking up with extra muscle, packing on some fat, or slimming way, way down, these actors raised an eyebrow or two with their physical changes.
Looking for the wildest body transformations for movie roles? I rank the top 5 below.
5. Tom Hanks – Philadelphia (1993)
First up in my list of impressive body transformations for movie roles is Tom Hanks’ turn in Philadelphia. In one of his early roles that helped make him famous, Hanks dropped major weight in addition to handing in a brilliant acting performance.
For his role as a lawyer with AIDS, Hanks lost roughly 50 pounds, after originally starting at 185 pounds.
That had Hanks weighing a light 135 pounds during shooting, a mark he reached by consuming a small amount of food every day.
Calorie deficit is a popular way to drop some pounds, but there is a downside to it, as Hanks admitted the process left him feeling woozy. Of course, he can’t complain too much now, as it also led him to his first Best Actor nod at the Oscars.
4. Robert De Niro – Raging Bull (1980)
Hanks started off our wild Hollywood body transformation rankings by losing some poundage, but another acting legend makes the cut by going in the opposite direction.
Robert De Niro is famous for many roles, but he probably doesn’t get enough credit for portraying boxer Jake LaMotta in the turbulent Raging Bull.
The Martin Scorsese classic was shot in black and white and was extremely gritty, and it was also quite realistic. So much so, that De Niro took it upon himself to literally add 60 pounds to his frame to keep things as authentic as possible.
De Niro started off at 165, but ballooned up to 225 pounds to play the troubled boxer. He got there by regularly working out and consuming high-calorie foods
Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds for his role as boxer Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.” He went from a weight of around 165 pounds to 225 pounds. He achieved this by consuming a strict diet of high-calorie foods and working out regularly.
Unsurprisingly, De Niro later admitted that the weight gain made this the hardest role he’s ever had.
3. Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
If you’re looking for shocking body transformations in cinema, look no further than Chris Pratt. Known by most as the chubby (and hilarious) Andy on Parks & Rec, Pratt ditched his silly persona and turned into blockbuster action star almost over night.
Of course, it wasn’t over night.
It took hard work for Pratt to shed 60 pounds for his role as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. His success within the MCU blossomed a now surging acting career, which has led to numerous starring roles.
Pratt’s journey from almost 300 pounds to 240 helped morph him into one of the best actors in the world, and it appears his major change is here to stay.
2. Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club (2013
There is an even greater weight loss story to be told, and it’s with none other than Texas legend, Matthew McConaughey.
The man who made Rustin Cohle a household name first announced his return to superstardom with an Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club.
McConaughey lost less than Pratt did (47 pounds), but his movie body transformation was far more compelling considering he started at 185 pounds. Much like Tom Hanks, McConaughey dropped weight to play an AIDS victim.
How did he get there? McConaughey shed that insane amount of weight by eating a strict diet of fish, egg whites, and veggies. He probably won’t choose to go back down that road of self deprivation anytime soon, of course.
1. Christian Bale in “The Machinist” (2004)
I saved the best Hollywood body transformation for last. That belongs to Christian Bale, who admittedly could have made this list more than once.
He seriously has had one torrid run.
Bale has lost and gained weight more often than most actors, but he never had a body transformation that beat what he did for The Machinist.
Starting at a firm 185 pounds, Bale dropped a staggering 63 pounds to get to a tiny 122 to play a factory worker suffering from insomnia.
I won’t spoil The Machinist for you (amazing film), but I can tell you that’s a ton of weight being lost, and almost dangerously so. His diet to get to that point – mostly coffee, water, and an apply daily – is enough to shock you, but when you tack on his amazing performance, this is easily the best body transformation for a movie role in history.
Think there are better movie body transformations deserving of cracking my top 5? Toss them in the comments below!
- Top 15 Game of Thrones Characters Ranked – Who Should Be #1? - December 6, 2023
- 3 Reasons Why a Stranger Things Movie Absolutely Needs to Happen - September 20, 2023
- 4 Best TV Shows Like Black Mirror – Watch Dark and More - August 15, 2023
Scott Bondiful 
Greg Anderson