Michael Fassbender vs Adam Driver

1. Is the better actor? I think Driver is more versatile and has more range. Fassbender's not very good at playing raw, intense characters -- it feels too much like posturing. He's excellent at playing cool, demure types, though.

2. Has the better filmography? Driver, most def.

3. Has the better career? So far, Driver. Fassbender seems to have really hit a wall after 2016, and he's had a tough time gaining his footing again. Meanwhile, Driver's career since his breakout has been meteoric and shows no real sign of slowing down. Driver's career has been textbook on what an actor should be doing.

4. Was the bigger star, at their peak? Fassbender at his peak was an IMDb darling, and while I think Driver's certainly got muscle and cred, I feel like Fassbender circa 2011/12 was a phenomenon. But I guess if Driver hangs dong in something, we'll see.

5. Is more respected? I think people probably respect Driver's work ethic and his career choices more, whereas I feel that Fassbender's last half-decade hasn't really helped him.

1. Fassbender easily for me. His Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave performances are borderline all time tier stuff and he was always at least solid in the constant string of roles he had in the early 10's, a great accomplishment given the crazy workload. I've never really found Driver better than alright in a movie tbh.

2. Again, easily Fassbender. Basterds, the 2011 Jane Eyre, 12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs, and so forth. I guess Driver's got supporting roles in Silence and Inside Llewyn Davis but Fassbender's just made way more good movies.

3. At the moment, certainly Driver, who seems to have reached that Gosling/Gyllenhaal tier. Fassbender really seems to have hit the wall at the moment and is barely even in anything. Don't know if he overworked himself earlier and wants to take a break to spend quality time with Alicia Vikander or what. Hollywood really wanted to turn him into a leading man when he should have been a character actor.

4. Again, Driver at the moment is bigger than Fassbender ever was. He had a lot of internet/IMDB hype but I don't think that translated to ID with the GP. I get the feeling most people who weren't big movie fans would have just recognized him from X-Men but not really known who he was. Star Wars and Girls just gives Driver a much bigger pop culture footprint.

5. I'll say Driver again. Fassbender had his internet cult following but Driver's nominated performances in Blackklansman and Marriage Story are just a lot more mainstream and widely seen. He also gets a lot of props for his reputation on stage as well.

1. Is the better actor?

Fassbender

2. Has the better filmography?

Hmmm. Prob Driver slightly. Small roles in Lincoln and Llewelyn Davis really helps him.

3. Has the better career?

I think Fassbender has a major resurgence with leading Fincher’s next. Absolutely huge for him.

4. Was the bigger star, at their peak?

Driver, just because of Star Wars.

5. Is more respected?

Still say Fassbender overall. Driver is hotter right now but overall body of work I think Fassbender is more respected.

1. Driver
2. Driver
3. Driver
4. Fassbender
5. Fassbender

The more I think about it, the more it seems like Fassbender occupied the same niche that Driver now does. I've just learned about this, and it looks like Fassbender was offered the role of Kylo Ren which he passed because he was busy doing something else: I wonder how their careers would look today if Fassbender had played Kylo Ren instead of Driver. Would Fassbender be playing some of roles Driver is playing these days?