One of the best parts of any geek movie is debating the casting. Fan favorites are chosen years before comics or books even get optioned by Hollywood, so we feel strongly about our opinions. While dreams can’t always come true, and rarely do, here are some of the best performances by actors portraying our favorite geek icons.

7. Chris Evans as Human Torch

Amid the bright and perky mediocrity that is the Fantastic Four movie, Chris Evans shines surprisingly bright. Even without being blond, Evans played the arrogant, womanizing, spotlight stealing narcissist as if he lived the role everyday. Every funny like came from this man’s mouth. On top of that, but this guy has a real super-hero’s body, and filmmakers didn’t seem to mind showing off that fake, regulating Evans to nothing but a towel or spandex for the majority of both films.

6. Mickey Rourke as Marv

Innovative film techniques alone didn’t make Sin City one of the greatest comic book movies. Mickey Rourke portrayed Sin City’s most recognizable hero with all the subtly of a fist to the face, just the way he should. Rourke mixed Marv’s self-hatred with a chiseled exterior, eventuated by the awesome visual effects, creating the perfect movie representation of the modern film noir bad ass.

5. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape

Casting for the Harry Potter films on a whole is top notch, from Potter himself to both Dumbledores. But Alan Rickman as Severus Snape casts the best spell. His raw monotone and goth girl mentality are flawless recreations of our storybook imaginations. And if Rickman has stolen the show thus far, just imagine what happens when he actually contributes to the plot in the Half-Blood Prince.

4. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

After every actor with facial hair auditioned, this nobody from the Land Down Under with a knack for musical theater came to save the day. He made everything from the claws to the cigar to the insults and even a few ‘bubs work like movie magic. Sure Wolverine went back to musical theater a few times, I hear he’s in rehab now. And it’s called a solo Wolverine movie. Thankfully, Jackman’s so good, I don’t think it’ll suck too much.

3. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man

It may have just hit theaters, but already Downey’s turn as the armored billionaire playboy is the stuff of movie magic, make us laugh and love Tony Stark’s arrogance, bravado, and charm. Downey personified Stark (substance abuse intact) and likely did for his career what Captain Jack Sparrow has done for Johnny Depp - it made Downey a blockbuster.

2. Ian McKellen as Gandalf

Sir Ian McKellen might have been a second choice to Sean Connery, but his loss is our gain. As much as we love our James Bond, McKellen could not be topped as the gray haired wizard, never letting his old frame doubt his fighting readiness. He balanced the humor, wisdom, and bad-assness with a rare skill.

1. Patrick Stewart as Professor X

When geeks thinking balding and brilliant, every thought goes directly to Patrick Stewart. After almost a decade of captaining the U.S.S. Enterprise, Stewart was a geek icon with gravitas and acting chops like none other (the man does Shakespeare). So when we needed a bald and brilliant man to play Professor Charles Xavier, every geek thought when to Patrick Stewart. This casting was so perfect, it’s even a Geek-Out Moment.