The Exorcist (1973)
Starring: Max von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair
Almost Starring: Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Jamie Lee Curtis, Melanie Griffith, Brooke Shields, Kim Basinger, Eve Plumb

• The studio wanted Brando to play exorcist Father Merrin, but director William Friedkin thought he was too recognizable.
• Fonda, Hepburn, Streisand and MacLaine all turned down the role of mother Chris MacNeil.

• Curtis, Griffith, Shields, Basinger and The Brady Bunch's Plumb all auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil.

Fatal Attraction (1987)
Starring: Glenn Close
Almost Starring: various

• Meryl Streep, Linda Hamilton, Barbara Hershey, Amy Irving, Kelly McGillis, Annie Potts, Miranda Richardson, Mary Steenburgen, Isabella Rossellini and Debra Winger all reportedly turned down the role of the obsessed Alex.

Final Destination (2000)
Starring: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter
Almost Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst

• Pre-dating their turn in Spider-Man, Maguire and Dunst were reportedly the first choices of producers for the roles of doomed students Alex Browning and Clear Rivers.

Ghost (1990)
Starring: Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze
Almost Starring: Madonna, Geena Davis, Kim Basinger, Molly Ringwald, Kathleen Turner, Debra Winger, Andie MacDowell, Mary Steenburgen Bruce Willis, Paul Hogan

• Geena Davis reportedly turned down the role of Molly Jensen to do Thelma & Louise.
• Madonna, Basinger, Ringwald, Turner, Winger, MacDowell and Steenburgen also turned down the role for various reasons.

• Bruce Willis and Paul Hogan turned down the ghostly role of Sam.

Ghost Busters (1984)
Starring: Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Slavitza Jovan
Almost Starring: John Belushi, John Candy, Eddie Murphy, Paul Reubens (PeeWee Herman)

• The role of Peter Venkman (Murray) was written for John Belushi.
• The role of Louis Tully (Moranis) was written for John Candy.
• The role of Winston Zeddemore (Hudson) was written for Eddie Murphy.
• Reubens turned down the role of Gozer (Jovan).

Ghosts of Mars (2001)
Starring: Natasha Henstridge
Almost Starring: Courtney Love

• Love left the project when her boyfriend's ex-wife ran over her foot with a car.