10 Actor Replacements That Actually Improved Movies

10. Maggie Gyllenhaal - Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight)

In Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the role of Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) primary love interest Rachel Dawes was played by Katie Holmes.

Holmes' totally fine performance nevertheless slides into the periphery while up against top-shelf work from the likes of Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, and Morgan Freeman.

Holmes opted not to return for sequel The Dark Knight, however, preferring instead to shoot the crime comedy Mad Money with one of her idols, Diane Keaton. A film, unfortunately, which bombed both critically and commercially.

Holmes was ultimately replaced with Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Dark Knight, and while Holmes is far from an incapable actress, Gyllenhaal was just a much better fit for this character in every fiber of her being.

Holmes seemed a little too young and fresh-faced to fully convince as Gotham's Assistant District Attorney, while Gyllenhaal carried herself with an inherently more mature and sophisticated air.

This is evident from the first time we see Gyllenhaal's new take on Rachel, and to boot she also has far more persuasive chemistry with Christian Bale than Holmes ever did.

The series would've been absolutely fine if Holmes stayed onboard, but Gyllenhaal probably should've been cast in the part from the very beginning.