Rank the best cinematic/live action "comebacks"

[Remo Williams]

The list: LAST EDIT: 03/24

Alan Grant
Latest entry: 2001
Comeback: 2022
Timespan: 21 years

Andrew "Andy" Barclay
Latest entry: 1990
Comeback: 2013
Timespan: 23 years

Ashley Joanna "Ash" Williams
Latest entry: 1992
Comeback: 2015
Timespan: 23 years (2 months more than Andy Barclay's timespan)

Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen/Flash (John Wesley Shipp)
Latest entry: 1991
Comeback: 2018
Timespan: 17 years

Bruce Wayne/Batman (Michael Keaton)
Latest entry: 1992
Comeback: 2023
Timespan: 31 years

Ellie Sattler
Latest entry: 2001
Comeback: 2022
Timespan: 21 years

Ghostbusters (original team)
Latest entry: 1989
Comeback: 2021
Timespan: 32 years

Han Solo
Latest Entry: 1983
Comeback: 2015
Timespan: 32 years

Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones
Latest entry: 1989
Comeback: 2008
Timespan: 19 years

Ian Malcom
Latest entry: 1997
Comeback: 2018
Timespan: 21 years

Jean-Luc Picard
Latest entry: 2002
Comeback: 2020
Timespan: 18 years

John J. Rambo
Latest entry: 1988
Comeback: 2008
Timespan: 20 years

Kevin Flynn/FLYNN
Latest entry: 1982
Comeback: 2010
Timespan: 28 years

Laurie Strode
Latest entry: 1981
Comeback: 1998
Timespan: 17 years

Luke Skywalker
Latest entry: 1983
Comeback: 2017
Timespan: 34 years

Peter Benjamin Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)
Latest entry: 2007
Comeback: 2021
Timespan: 14 years

Rick Deckard
Latest entry: 1982
Comeback: 2017
Timespan: 35 years

Robert "Rocky" Balboa
Latest entry: 1990
Comeback: 2006
Timespan: 16 years

S.D. "Snake" Plissken
Latest entry: 1981
Comeback: 1996
Timespan: 15 years

Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton)
Latest entry: 1991
Comeback: 2019
Timespan: 28 years

Spock
Latest entry: 1991
Comeback: 2009
Timespan: 18 years

Thomas Anderson/Neo
Latest entry: 2003
Comeback: 2021
Timespan: 18 years

[levcore]

It's a little early to say on two of them as the movies haven't come out yet.

[principehomura]

Also, it looks like Terence Hill is coming back as Trinity 53 years later!

[Remo Williams]

Originally Posted by principehomura

Also, it looks like Terence Hill is coming back as Trinity 53 years later!

I wanted to insert him, but they will do the film shooting this summer. Still too early.

[Remo Williams]

I added Rick Deckard and Han Solo.

[ImBlu_DaBaDee]

Rocky in Rocky Balboa and then again in Creed
Kevin Flynn in TRON: Legacy
Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

[levcore]

Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek (2009)

[Remo Williams]

Originally Posted by ImBlu_DaBaDee

Rocky in Rocky Balboa and then again in Creed
Kevin Flynn in TRON: Legacy
Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

God, how did I forget those?

[Remo Williams]

I added the missing ones and put them in alphabetical order.

[Remo Williams]

Originally Posted by levcore

Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek (2009)

Nice call.

[Remo Williams]

Deleted Mad Max.

Added:

Ghostbusters
Andy Barclay
Laurie Strode
Rambo

[starsteam]

Alan Grant 2001/2022 (21 years)
Ellie Sattler 2001/2022 (21 years)
Ian Malcolm 1997/2018 (21 years)

Ghostbusters 1989/2021 (32 years)

Shinichi Chujo 1961/2003 (42 years)

Isaac Chroner 1984/1999 (15 years)

Tall Man 1998/2016 (18 years)

[Zivouhr]

Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 1 2 and 3 from 2002, 2004, 2007, and then his return comeback in Spider-Man No Way Home 2021.

[Remo Williams]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 1 2 and 3 from 2002, 2004, 2007, and then his return comeback in Spider-Man No Way Home 2021.

Nice call!

[Remo Williams]

Originally Posted by starsteam

Isaac Chroner 1984/1999 (15 years)

Tall Man 1998/2016 (18 years)

Great entries, but maybe we should stay on the "hero" side for this, otherwise the list would be endless.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Remo Williams

Great entries, but maybe we should stay on the "hero" side for this, otherwise the list would be endless.

Wasn't sure if we were just counting the roles if played by the same actor. Most slasher villains were at least re-cast therefore different.

Since you included television series (Ash vs Evil Dead) then Jean Luc Picard (2002/2020) could be another.

[DR Herbert West]

Herbert West 1989/2003 (14 years)

[starsteam]

This might not count because of unique continuity issues, but James Bond (Sean Connery) 1971/1983 (12 years).

Avatar WOW was 13 years but I don't find it fair to include a sequel that was actively in development for that time span. It's doesn't feel like a 'comeback' to me.

[Martoto]

Snake Plissken

1927/1981 ( 54 years.)

[Show spoiler]

[Poya]

Indy's longest span was 19 years (1989-2008).

Frank Oz - Yoda (1983 to 1999) 16 years, if that counts.

Linda Hamilton - Sarah Conner (1991 to 2019) 28 years.