25 Stars Who Have Done Lifetime Movies

Lifetime movies are a pop culture staple that have been around forever (since 1990, to get specific), and no matter what anyone says about them, they aren't going away any time soon. Back in the day, Lifetime movies were always the butt of a joke. The stories were either ridiculously corny and silly, overly sappy and romanticized, or a touch too dramatic - or maybe a mix of all of those things. The point is, no one ever really said "cinematic masterpiece" and "Lifetime movie" in the same sentence.

But in the last few years, these movies have become a bit more elevated. Sure, many are still crime dramas based on true stories or biopics featuring old celebrities, but that does't mean they don't have potential. Plus, many Lifetime movies feature some of your favorite stars. In the past, big name celebrities seemed to only take on Lifetime movie roles as a way to kickstart their careers. More recently, A-listers have jumped on board without a hint of irony or dissatisfaction. Here's a look at the stars who have done Lifetime movies that you may have totally forgotten about.

Back in 1991, a much younger Ben Affleck starred in Daddy, a movie about a family going through some tough times when the mom leaves the dad to find herself. Affleck plays their teenage son Ben, who's kind of stuck in the middle of everything.

In 2015, Will Ferrell took on a more serious role in the movie A Deadly Adoption. It's a black comedy thriller about a successful couple who want to adopt the baby of a woman who is six months pregnant. They end up having her come live with them, but things quickly go downhill.

Kristen Wiig is the second part of that couple in A Deadly Adoption, starring alongside Ferrell. It was pretty shocking that these two incredibly successful comedians decided to make a Lifetime movie, but they made it work.

In 2008, Ashley Benson starred in the the film Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal. The movie is about a teacher who is being harassed by a group of popular mean girl cheerleaders who think they have free rein over the school. The movie is based on real-life events that happened at McKinney North High School in Texas back in 2006.

Taraji P. Henson took on the role of teacher Tiffany Rubin in the film Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story. In the film, Rubin goes to South Korea to rescue her seven-year-old son, Kobe, after he was abducted by his biological father. This is another Lifetime film based on true events.

Kristen Stewart starred in Speak, a 2004 film based off the popular novel by the same name by Laurie Halse Anderson. Stewart plays high school freshman Melinda, who refuses to speak after being raped at a party. The movie premiered at Sundance Film Festival before being aired on Lifetime and Showtime.

The 1991 movie Wildflower stars a very young Reese Witherspoon as Ellie, a young girl in 1938 who finds a woman alone in a shack (that woman is actually played by Patricia Arquette). Ellie and her brother grow close to the woman and do whatever they can to help improve her life.

The 2014 Lifetime biopic Lizzie Borden Took An Axe stars Christina Ricci as the title character Lizzie Borden. The movie tells the story of how Borden was tried and acquitted for the murders of her father and stepmother in 1892. The film was actually really successful, and went on to become a miniseries called The Lizzie Borden Chronicles.

In 2003, Jason Momoa starred in the film Tempted, about a young woman named Emma who brings her grandmother's ashes to Hawaii. She ends up falling in love with Momoa's character, Kala.

The 2008 biopic Coco Chanel is, obviously, the story of wildly successful French fashion designer Coco Chanel, played by Shirley MacLaine. It goes through the story of her life, beginning in an orphanage and ending as one of the most influential fashion icons of all time.

The 2014 Lifetime movie Flowers In The Attic is based on the novel by V. C. Andrews. It's a creepy tale of a mother who hides her four children in the attic after their father dies so she can reclaim the family fortune. Graham plays the mother in this adaptation.

Kiernan Shipka plays one of the siblings in Flowers In The Attic alongside Graham. The film did so well that Lifetime quickly moved forward with the sequel, Petals on the Wind, and then two other movies adapted from the book series. Shipka only appeared in the first film.

Hayden Panettiere has appeared in a few Lifetime movies: she was in If You Believe, a Lifetime movie version of A Christmas Carol, where she played a Christmas-loving child. Then, in 2011, she took on the role of Amanda Knox in Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy, based on real-life events.

In 1997, Hilary Swank starred in Dying To Belong. She played Lisa Collins, a young college student who is pressured into joining a sorority. When her friend dies in an initiation prank, she realizes that she's also in danger.

You can catch Raven Symone in the 2006 film For One Night, another movie based on true events. Symone plays Brianna McCallister, who is determined to end the racially segregated proms her town puts on every year. Her attempt ignites old racial tension throughout her hometown.

In 1998's 15 and Pregnant, Kirsten Dunst plays 15-year-old Tina Spangler, who, you guessed it, gets pregnant while still in high school. The film is classic Lifetime movie fodder.

Kristen Bell starred in 2004's Gracie's Choice, which was inspired by true events. She plays 17-year-old Gracie Thompson, who is forced to become the mother of her four siblings (each from a different father) when their mother ends up in jail.

Lindsay Lohan had the chance to play the iconic Elizabeth Taylor in Liz & Dick, a 2012 film that tells the story of the relationship between Taylor and Richard Burton. Although the movie was highly anticipated, reviews were less than great.

In 1997, Mark Ruffalo played Bert in On The 2nd Day Of Christmas. The film is about a woman and her niece who get caught stealing right before Christmas. Ruffalo's character is the security guard (Bert) who catches them.

Rosario Dawson can be found in the film Five, which is a different kind of Lifetime movie: it's comprised of five short films that explore the impact of breast cancer. The films are directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins, and Penelope Spheeris. Dawson plays Lili in the film directed by Keys.

Tracee Ellis Ross also shows up in Five, playing Alyssa alongside Dawson in the segment directed by Keys. The film did well, and both Dawson and Ellis Ross were nominated for a Best Actress award for the Black Reel Awards.

Rob Lowe has been in a few Lifetime movies. In 2012, he was unrecognizable as Drew Peterson in Drew Peterson: Untouchable, which was the story of a Chicago police officer accused of killing one of his wives and making the second disappear. In 2013, he played Jeff Ashton in Prosecuting Casey Anthony. He also played David Grossman in The Bad Seed, a man who suspects his young daughter may be behind a tragedy at her school.

Look closely and you can spot Maya Rudolph in the 1997 horror film The Devil's Child. In the film, a woman learns she's carrying the devil's baby because of a bargain her mom made years ago. Rudolph has a really small role in the film.

In 2007, Nina Dobrev played Justine in My Daughter's Secret, about a young girl (Justine) who is pressured into acting as a lookout while her boyfriend robs a store (that her mother happens to work at.) He has to shoot the manager in order to escape, and Justine is put in a difficult position.

Zac Efron starred in the 2004 film Miracle Run, which is based on the true story of an autistic boy who has to prove he can handle high school even when no one wants him there because of his disorder. Mary-Louise Parker plays his mother in the film.