It is 1999. You’re in a dark theater, and Jude Law leans over a balcony in Italy, looking like a literal sun god in a linen shirt. Fast forward to 2024. Andrew Scott is staring at a fountain in grainy black and white, looking like he hasn't slept since the Eisenhower administration.
Both are Tom Ripley. Sorta.
Whenever people talk about talented mr ripley actors, the conversation usually turns into a brawl between the "Matt Damon was perfect" camp and the "Andrew Scott is the true sociopath" crowd. It’s a weirdly personal debate. Everyone has a favorite version of Patricia Highsmith’s slippery con man, and honestly, the casting choices tell you more about the decade the movie was made in than the book itself.
Highsmith’s 1955 novel is a nasty piece of work. It’s cold. It’s bitter. But Hollywood usually likes its killers with a bit of "aw-shucks" charm. That tension—between the charming boy next door and the dead-eyed predator—is exactly where the magic happens.
The 1999 Powerhouse: Damon, Law, and Paltrow
Anthony Minghella’s 1999 film is basically the gold standard for late-90s prestige cinema. It’s lush. It’s sweaty. It makes you want to buy a boat and a martini shaker immediately.
Matt Damon played Tom as a wounded puppy. You almost felt bad for him while he was bashing people’s heads in. He was 29 at the time, and he carried this desperate, "please like me" energy that made the character’s descent feel like a tragedy rather than a heist. He wasn't just stealing Dickie’s life; he was trying to borrow a soul because he didn’t think he had one.
Then you have Jude Law.
💡 You might also like: Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail: Is the New York Botanical Garden Event Worth Your Money?
If there was an Oscar for "Best Use of a Tan," he would’ve won it. His Dickie Greenleaf was the ultimate golden boy. He was magnetic and cruel in equal measure. When he loses interest in Tom, you feel the temperature in the room drop twenty degrees. It’s one of those rare performances where the actor’s physical beauty is actually a plot point.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Marge Sherwood in the '99 film was much softer than the book version. She was the emotional anchor. She was the one we were supposed to pity because she was too kind to see the monster standing right in front of her. Throw in Philip Seymour Hoffman as Freddie Miles—the only person smart enough to realize Tom was a "creepy little sponge"—and you have a cast that felt untouchable for twenty-five years.
The 2024 Reimagining: A Colder Shade of Gray
When Netflix announced a new series, everyone asked the same thing: Do we really need another Ripley?
Then we saw Andrew Scott.
The 2024 talented mr ripley actors took a hard left turn. Director Steven Zaillian stripped away the color, the 90s glamour, and the warmth. Scott, who was 47 during filming, plays Tom not as a boyish striver, but as a seasoned, weary professional. He’s a cockroach. He’s not trying to be your friend; he’s trying to survive.
Some critics called him "too old," but that missess the point. At 47, Tom’s desperation is much scarier. A 20-year-old making mistakes is a coming-of-age story; a 40-year-old forging passports in a basement is a psychological horror. Scott’s performance is twitchy, calculated, and deeply uncomfortable to watch.
📖 Related: Diego Klattenhoff Movies and TV Shows: Why He’s the Best Actor You Keep Forgetting You Know
The New Trio: Flynn, Fanning, and Sumner
- Johnny Flynn as Dickie: Unlike Jude Law’s radiant playboy, Flynn’s Dickie is a bit of a dud. He’s a mediocre painter with a lot of money and not much else going on. This fits the book much better. Tom isn't obsessed with Dickie's personality; he's obsessed with Dickie's stuff.
- Dakota Fanning as Marge: This was a massive departure. Fanning plays Marge as someone who hates Tom from the second he steps off the bus. She is cold, suspicious, and unapologetic. There is no "poor Marge" here. She’s an intellectual match for Tom, which makes their cat-and-mouse game way more intense.
- Eliot Sumner as Freddie Miles: They took a character Philip Seymour Hoffman made iconic and did something totally different. Sumner’s Freddie is sophisticated, observant, and weirdly calm. They didn't try to copy Hoffman, and that was the smartest move they could've made.
Why the 1960 Original Still Looms Large
You can't talk about talented mr ripley actors without mentioning Alain Delon.
Before Damon or Scott, there was Purple Noon (1960). Delon was 25 and arguably the most beautiful man to ever appear on screen. But beneath that face was something incredibly sinister. Highsmith herself famously loved Delon’s performance, even if she hated the ending of that specific movie (they changed it so Tom gets caught).
Delon’s Ripley didn't have the "vulnerability" of Damon. He was just a shark. If you watch Purple Noon today, you can see where every subsequent actor took their cues. They’re all just trying to capture a fraction of that cold, Gallic stare.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
Beyond the big names, both versions used their supporting cast to flesh out the world.
In 1999, Cate Blanchett played Meredith Logue, a character who didn't even exist in the books. She added this layer of "high society" pressure that forced Tom to keep lying even when he wanted to stop. Jack Davenport as Peter Smith-Kingsley gave Tom a glimpse of what a real, kind life could look like, making the final scenes of that movie absolutely devastating.
The 2024 series leaned into the Italian side of things. Maurizio Lombardi as Inspector Ravini is a revelation. He’s basically the co-star of the second half of the series. His dry, skeptical interactions with Tom (who is pretending to be Dickie) provide some of the only humor in an otherwise bleak show.
👉 See also: Did Mac Miller Like Donald Trump? What Really Happened Between the Rapper and the President
Comparing the Approaches
| Aspect | 1999 Cast (Film) | 2024 Cast (Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Ripley | Vulnerable, emotional, needy | Calculating, weary, predatory |
| Dickie Greenleaf | Magnetic, explosive, erratic | Muted, mediocre, entitled |
| Marge Sherwood | Heartbroken, trusting, warm | Sharp, cynical, observant |
| Freddie Miles | Boisterous, loud, aggressive | Quiet, aristocratic, piercing |
Real Talk: Who Did It Better?
Honestly? It depends on what you want from the story.
If you want a lush, romantic tragedy about a man who loses his way in the Mediterranean sun, the 1999 cast is unbeatable. It’s a movie about feeling too much.
If you want a pitch-black noir about a sociopath who views people like chess pieces, the 2024 cast wins. It’s a show about thinking too much.
Andrew Scott’s version feels more like the "true" Tom Ripley from the novels—a man who is essentially a void. But Matt Damon’s version is the one that sticks in your heart. You want Damon to get away with it because he seems so lonely. You want Scott to get away with it just to see how he pulls off the next trick.
Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you've only seen the 1999 movie, you are missing out on the sheer, uncomfortable tension of the 2024 Netflix series. Conversely, if you started with Andrew Scott, go back and watch Purple Noon.
Watching all three back-to-back is like a masterclass in how different actors can read the exact same lines and create three completely different human beings. It’s not just about who is the "best" actor; it's about which version of the monster you find more believable.
Start by watching the first 30 minutes of each. Notice how Tom enters the room. In 1999, he’s looking for a seat. In 2024, he’s looking for the exit. In 1960, he already owns the place.
Check out the 1999 version on Paramount+ or rent the 1960 Purple Noon on Criterion to see where it all began.