| 1 | '''A Administrivia/{{No Recent Examples|please}} rule applies to this trope'''. Unless the star directly announces their retirement, examples shouldn't be added until '''five years''' after the relevant role. |
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| 7 | [[folder:A-F]] |
| 8 | * Creator/BenAffleck almost saw his career killed by ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' right after the maligned ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''Film/Daredevil2003'' had put his status as blockbuster lead material in question. Fortunately, [[CareerResurrection it rebounded by the end of the decade]] when Affleck embraced his talent as a writer/director to great acclaim, first with ''Film/GoneBabyGone'', followed by such features as ''Film/TheTown'' and ''Film/{{Argo}}''. His career took a dent yet again after ''Film/LiveByNight'' crashed and burned, and his public exit from the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse didn't help. It should be stressed, however, that he hasn't had a shortage of acting projects since. He got critical acclaim for his {{meta|casting}} role in ''Film/TheWayBack2020'' and was cast in Creator/RidleyScott's ''Film/TheLastDuel'', reuniting him with his old pal Creator/MattDamon. He briefly returned to the DCEU for additional scenes in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' and ''Film/TheFlash2023'', before the reboot of Creator/DCStudios. Plus, ''Film/Air2023'' getting critical acclaim renewed his standing as an actor and a director. |
| 9 | * Creator/TomArnold became well known mostly for being Creator/RoseanneBarr's husband, and with supporting roles in movies like ''Film/TrueLies'' and ''Film/NineMonths'', Hollywood tried to make him a movie star. This soon started falling apart with a string of flops in 1996 (''Film/BigBully'', ''Carpool'', and ''Film/TheStupids''), but the final blow came the following year when he did the film version of ''Film/McHalesNavy''. His acrimonious divorce from Roseanne also resulted in her using her clout to blackball him from many major productions. He has hardly appeared in a mainstream film since and has done mostly independent or Direct-to-DVD movies. He's had more success as a TV presenter, especially on Fox Sports' ''The Best Damn Sports Show Period''. |
| 10 | ** ''Film/BigBully'' was also the last theatrical live-action movie that Creator/RickMoranis would star in, though it was less to do with this movie and more to do with his wife's passing. |
| 11 | * Creator/ChristopherAtkins first debuted in 1980 with ''Film/TheBlueLagoon1980'' alongside Creator/BrookeShields (see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses), which was popular and profitable despite being critically panned. However, his next film afterwards, ''Film/ThePirateMovie'', failed to match the hype and heights of ''The Blue Lagoon'', with him even receiving a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor. It also served as a Star-Derailing Role for Creator/KristyMcNichol (see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses). His career went further into the ground with ''A Night In Heaven'', for which he actually won the Worst Actor award. The final straw came when he starred alongside Creator/KirkCameron (see below) in 1989's ''Film/ListenToMe'', which also was an unsuccessful flop and got him a second Razzie award (this time for Worst Supporting Actor). Post-TheEighties, Atkins has only acted sporadically. |
| 12 | * Creator/DanAykroyd, after establishing himself in TheEighties with successes like ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'', ''Film/{{Ghostbusters|1984}}'', and ''Film/DrivingMissDaisy'', lost a good chunk of esteem from starring in the massive failure of 1991's ''Film/NothingButTrouble'' ([[CreatorKiller which he also directed and wrote]]). Luckily, his continued work in the ''Ghostbusters'' franchise, as well as return appearances to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', ensure he's still prominent. |
| 13 | * Creator/IkeBarinholtz, similarly to fellow ''Series/{{MADtv|1995}}'' alumni Crista Flanagan and Nicole Parker (see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses), departed the show to try establishing himself in film, and unfortunately like them, also made his feature film debut in ''Meet the Spartans'' and ''Disaster Movie'', films by Creator/SeltzerAndFriedberg. Unlike them, he dodged long-term damage to his career by shifting to supporting roles. He still is far from a marquee name, but at least he hasn't quit screen work like Flanagan and Parker. |
| 14 | * To quote Michael Beck: "''Film/TheWarriors'' opened a lot of [acting] doors for me, which ''Film/{{Xanadu|1980}}'' then closed." |
| 15 | * ''Film/SuperheroMovie'' and ''College'' are the only theatrical releases Creator/DrakeBell had a lead role in. When both films became critically panned, he mostly did DirectToVideo and TV work before charges of domestic abuse and child endangerment filed from 2020 to 2021 effectively made him ''persona non grata'' for a couple of years; until it was revealed he was a victim of sexual assault by dialogue coach Brian Peck, which garnered him sympathy from the general public. |
| 16 | * Creator/RobertoBenigni followed his [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-winning ''Film/LifeIsBeautiful'' with a live-action version of ''Film/Pinocchio2002'' where he portrayed the title character (keep in mind Benigni was ''50'' back then), which earned a notorious Website/RottenTomatoes rating of '''0%'''. Given he directed it as well, the film additionally was a CreatorKiller for him (see CreatorKiller/FilmIndividualCreators). He's infrequently worked in films afterwards, with ''The Tiger and the Snow'' (a film he also directed) and the Creator/WoodyAllen-directed comedy ''Film/ToRomeWithLove'' to his credit. He got a bit of critical esteem back much later appearing in a more praised adaptation of ''Pinocchio'' in 2019 as Geppetto, a role he was unanimously agreed to be better cast according to critics. In fact, Benigni had almost killed his career a decade ago with ''Film/SonOfThePinkPanther''. His performance as Inspector Clouseau's illegitimate son Jacques Gambrelli was unanimously eviscerated by critics, with the film utterly flopping in theaters overnight and earning him a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward nomination for Worst New Star. American audiences most likely would've viewed him as a talentless joke were it not for ''Life is Beautiful''. |
| 17 | * Creator/JasonBiggs saw his career take off after ''Film/AmericanPie'' became a hit. However, his subsequent films outside the ''American Pie'' series like ''Film/{{Loser}}'' flopped. ''Film/SavingSilverman'' was the final straw, though. After that bombed, he never had a leading role in a mainstream movie outside of reprising his role as Jim in ''Film/AmericanWedding'' and ''Film/AmericanReunion''. An attempt at recovering his career by playing the male lead in ''Film/AnythingElse'' failed when it got mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, also serving as a rare flop for director Creator/WoodyAllen and affecting co-star Creator/ChristinaRicci; see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses. However, being in ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' served as a slight comeback for him. |
| 18 | * ''Film/{{Elizabethtown}}'' is often blamed for ending Creator/OrlandoBloom's run as an A-list Hollywood leading man; despite being one of the most iconic actors of the 2000s thanks to his performances as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Legolas]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Will Turner]], and [[Film/{{Troy}} Paris]], most critics reacted negatively to his lead role in ''Elizabethtown''--a purely dramatic film that mostly required him to carry the emotional weight of the story by himself (without Creator/ViggoMortensen, Creator/JohnnyDepp, or Creator/EricBana backing him up). He's mostly appeared in smaller films and supporting roles since then. |
| 19 | * Creator/DiegoBoneta was already known in his native Mexico as a singer when he chose to pursue an acting career, which started out alright with roles in the TV teen dramas ''Series/NineOhTwoOneOh'' and ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars''. But he then made his film debut in ''Film/RockOfAges'', which failed to turn Boneta into the superstar the filmmakers wished he'd become despite having popular co-stars like Creator/TomCruise and Creator/CatherineZetaJones. He wouldn't star in another major blockbuster until seven years later in 2019's ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'', which revived neither Boneta's career nor the ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise. His next theatrical releases ''Film/MonsterHunter2020'' and ''Film/DieInAGunfight'' were liked even less by viewers while the well-received ''Film/FatherOfTheBride2022'' was an Creator/HBOMax exclusive. |
| 20 | * J. Evan Bonifant was a child actor who did mostly guest appearances on TV shows, with the exception of playing Tum Tum in ''Film/ThreeNinjasKickBack''. Then he got a role that could've potentially made him a big star, ''Film/BluesBrothers2000'', but it flopped with both audiences and critics and led him back to mostly doing TV work (with the occasional short film here and there). |
| 21 | * ''Film/{{Valentine}}'' killed Creator/DavidBoreanaz's movie career in the crib. His television career survived unscathed when he jumped straight to ''Series/{{Bones}}'' after ''Series/{{Angel}}'' was cancelled, but all of his subsequent films have gone DirectToVideo in the United States. |
| 22 | * For a while, Music/DavidBowie held a reputation as one of the best actors out there whose main trade wasn't acting[[note]]he was formally trained in acting and mime, but was primarily a musician[[/note]], being acclaimed for his roles in films like ''Film/TheManWhoFellToEarth'' and ''Film/MerryChristmasMrLawrence''. Then came 1986, when Bowie starred in the {{camp}}-fests ''Film/AbsoluteBeginners'' and ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}''. Though {{cult classic}}s today, they were critical and commercial bombs that put the kibosh on people ever taking Bowie as a serious actor for the rest of his life. Later leading roles were in comparatively minor and similarly-panned movies, the well-regarded films he did appear in only featured him in cameo roles, and his biggest appearance post-1986 was a guest spot in the much-maligned ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' special "Atlantis Squarepantis". |
| 23 | * Creator/StephenBoyd was a regular actor in a number of big Hollywood productions such as ''Film/BenHur1959'' and ''Film/TheFallOfTheRomanEmpire'', before landing the lead role in ''Film/TheOscar''. Outside of a few films shot before that one opened, Boyd was reduced to smaller films for the rest of his career (he died in 1977 while in talks to make a possible comeback with ''Film/TheWildGeese''). |
| 24 | * Creator/ZachBraff had much expected from him after the success of ''Film/GardenState'' and the popularity of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''. Then ''Film/TheLastKiss'' (which he received near-complete creative control over in an attempt to create another hit like ''Garden State'') fared so terribly with viewers that he practically vanished after ''Scrubs'' was cancelled, while little has been heard from him since. His role in ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'' in 2013 might have brought him back from oblivion, but he followed it up with ''Wish I Was Here'': for which he had to turn to Kickstarter just to get the funding (which soured his reputation further, as most assumed he was wealthy enough to finance it himself or find a legitimate backer), and eventually opened to mixed reviews in a limited release. Since then, Braff has shifted to writing/directing and got nominated for a few awards for his directing work on ''Series/TedLasso''. |
| 25 | * After starring in the hit ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'', Creator/RussellBrand seemed to be on the road to being a successful comedic actor. Unfortunately, most of the movies he starred in after ''Sarah Marshall'' where he didn't star as Aldous Snow, didn't manage to get the same critical acclaim or box-office numbers did. But after Hollywood tried to make him a movie star with [[Film/Arthur2011 a 2011 remake]] of ''[[Film/{{Arthur 1981}} Arthur]]'', he seems to have disappeared from movies almost entirely, as the only movies he was in since were ''Film/RockOfAges'', ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2'', and the independent film ''Paradise''. After his TV show ''Brand X With Russell Brand'' flopped, he seems to have disappeared from Hollywood entirely. His tabloid marriage with Music/KatyPerry probably didn't help. |
| 26 | * In the early-mid 2000s, Creator/SpencerBreslin was an up-and-coming child actor who was in many mainstream movies like ''Film/{{The Kid|2000}}'', ''Film/TheSantaClause 2'', and ''Film/RaisingHelen''. But his career seems to have been killed by three movies in 2006 – ''Film/{{Zoom|Academy for Superheroes}}'', ''Film/TheShaggyDog'', and ''Film/TheSantaClause3TheEscapeClause''. After those movies, he stopped appearing in major Hollywood films and has primarily done independent work, besides ''Film/TheHappening''. Ironically, his sister {{Creator/Abigail|Breslin}}'s career kickstarted the same year his career died. |
| 27 | * The bomb ''Film/BangkokDangerous2008'' knocked Creator/NicolasCage off the Hollywood A-list and marked the beginning of his career decline. He spent the late '00s and early '10s in either supporting roles like ''Film/KickAss'', in {{Acclaimed Flop}}s like ''Film/TheBadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'', or in bombs like ''Film/SeasonOfTheWitch'', ''Film/DriveAngry'', and ''Film/TheSorcerersApprentice''. His tax problems during this time, which many have speculated were [[MoneyDearBoy responsible for his choice in roles]], also didn't help his career and reputation. The final nail in the coffin, though, was ''Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance'' in 2012, after which Cage's films started going DirectToVideo. He has, however, began making a comeback in later years with more non-mainstream films such as ''Film/{{Mandy|2018}}'', ''Film/{{Color Out of Space|2020}}'', ''Film/{{Pig}}'', ''Film/TheUnbearableWeightOfMassiveTalent'', and ''Film/DreamScenario''. Unfortunately, his first blockbuster in years, ''Film/{{Renfield}}'', wherein he played Main/{{Dracula}}, underperformed. |
| 28 | * ''Film/SavingChristmas'' finished off what was left of Creator/KirkCameron's career post-''Series/GrowingPains''. After the cancellation of his short-lived sitcom ''Kirk'' in 1996, Cameron, whose born-again religious conversion during production of ''Growing Pains'' [[WagTheDirector led to many of that show's late-period troubles]], retreated to making religious films to keep his career afloat and began stoking controversy for his statements regarding homosexuality and the theory of evolution. Then came 2014's ''Saving Christmas'', which ended up getting negative reviews for its poor production values and its questionable messages. Cameron wound up playing the victim card and urged his followers to increase the film's user score on Website/RottenTomatoes to counter the "anti-Christian" critics who panned it. This plan backfired spectacularly [[StreisandEffect when people who had never heard of it before went to see it]] and realized that the critics had a point, turning Cameron into a laughingstock by the general public and evaporating whatever goodwill he had left from the Christian Right. He still is making films but hasn't had the same impact prior to making ''Saving Christmas'', which is now considered one of the worst films ever made. |
| 29 | * Country music star Glen Campbell jumped into film in 1969 opposite Creator/JohnWayne in ''Film/TrueGrit'', which was hugely successful. Campbell's follow-up project, the Vietnam-era dramedy ''Norwood'', was a failure, and he was later relegated to supporting roles until he took on the voice of Chanticleer in Creator/DonBluth's animated film ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'', a legendary critical and commercial failure. Fortunately, it didn't impact Campbell's already successful music career. He retired in 2012 and died from Alzheimer's disease five years later. |
| 30 | * Creator/NickCannon, who became a movie star with ''Film/{{Drumline}}'', saw his career plummet when ''Underclassman'' flopped at the box office, with the ''Film/DayOfTheDead2008'' reboot killing it for good (which also derailed the film career of Creator/MenaSuvari; see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses). He's had more success in television since, enjoying a good career producing and hosting TV shows like ''Series/AmericasGotTalent''. |
| 31 | * Creator/JimCarrey, after making a name in the 1990s and '00s as ''the'' biggest comic actor going (and surprisingly resilient against occasional box office disappointments), hit a snag with the dismal reception of ''Film/DumbAndDumberTo'' in 2014. The film was widely panned by fans, critics, and audiences alike as an inferior sequel to the 1994 comedy hit. While his co-star Creator/JeffDaniels didn't see his career impacted by this film's failure (mainly due to solid work [[Series/TheNewsroom on]] [[Series/{{Godless}} both]] [[Series/TheComeyRule TV]] [[Film/SteveJobs and]] [[Film/TheMartian film]]), Carrey retreated from the spotlight for the next few years. (He kept busy and content – pursuing a new career as a painter with his art critical of then-president UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump getting the most attention, appearing in a couple of low-budget films that never saw a wide release, having a pay-cable vehicle with the Showtime series ''Series/{{Kidding}}'', and so on.) He finally made a splash on the big screen again as Dr. Robotnik in 2020's ''Film/{{Sonic the Hedgehog|2020}}''. The film earned positive reviews ([[EvilIsHammy particularly for Carrey's hammy performance as the villain]]) and was a box office hit, proving Carrey [[CareerResurrection was on a rebound]]. |
| 32 | * ''Film/TheMasterOfDisguise'' was intended to get Creator/DanaCarvey out of the career slump that his failed sketch comedy show, ''Series/TheDanaCarveyShow'', had started six years prior; it was also his first big role following his botched heart surgery and the lawsuit which followed. Instead, it obliterated what little of a career he had left. Since then, he's mainly stuck to standup with the occasional minor role in other poorly-received comedies like ''Film/JackAndJill''. |
| 33 | * ''Film/{{Grease 2}}'' derailed Maxwell Caulfield's then-rising career, who later claimed it took him ten years to recover when nobody would hire him after its failure. His co-star Creator/MichellePfeiffer didn't lose much career momentum, though Creator/BrianDePalma initially refused to consider her for ''Film/{{Scarface|1983}}'' because of it. |
| 34 | * Creator/CedricTheEntertainer became successful when he was in the hit ''Film/{{Barbershop}}'' films. They then tried to make him a star with ''Johnson Family Vacation'', which was a modest box office success. However, he then starred in the remake of ''Series/TheHoneymooners'', which flopped at the box office. Then he starred in ''Code Name: The Cleaner'', which flopped so hard, it didn't even crack the top 10 on opening weekend. After that movie, he has still popped up here and there in supporting roles, but he has never been given another chance to star in a major mainstream film. |
| 35 | * For years, Creator/JackieChan was a popular action star in Hong Kong and the rest of Asia. However, he became popular in America with the ''Film/RushHour'' and ''Film/ShanghaiNoon'' series. His other efforts to become a movie star in America, including ''Film/TheTuxedo'', ''The Medallion'', and ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays2004'' didn't work out so well[[note]] The last one of these is part of a string of Creator/{{Disney}} flops that turned into a CreatorKiller for soon-to-be-ex-CEO Michael Eisner [[/note]], but after ''Film/RushHour3'' became a modest success thanks to its worldwide gross, Hollywood tried to make him an American star again. However, that ended when ''Film/TheSpyNextDoor'' flopped at the box office, and while he remains an icon in Asia, he has hardly done any films in America since (''The Spy Next Door'' also annihilated the theatrical career of director Brian Levant, who already had a two-decade-long string of critical busts on his resume by this film's release). The few exceptions were ''Skiptrace'', which (despite mixed reviews) received a healthy box office; and ''Film/TheForeigner2017'', which earned positive reviews and was a major box office success, mostly due to him PlayingAgainstType. |
| 36 | * Creator/JustinChatwin found himself as one of the leads in a [[Film/WarOfTheWorlds2005 Steven Spielberg movie of all things]] when he was still a complete unknown, one whose biggest roles at that point were a supporting role in ''Superbabies: Film/BabyGeniuses 2'' and a bit part in ''Film/JosieAndThePussycats''. While some complained about the kids in the film, the movie did boost his star power a bit and he got a lead role in ''Film/TheInvisible'' two years later. However, any momentum his career had came crashing down when he played Goku in ''Film/DragonballEvolution''. Not only did the casting of [[RaceLift a white guy as an Asian character]] raise eyebrows and cause many complaints, but the movie met a disastrous response with critics, audiences, and ''Franchise/DragonBall'' fans alike. After that movie, he's mostly stuck to independent films, with his only big projects since being a recurring role in ''Series/{{Shameless|US}}'' and a supporting part in the movie version of ''Film/{{CHiPS}}''. He did recover some credibility after a well-received guest spot in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' Christmas special "[[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio The Return of Doctor Mysterio]]". |
| 37 | * Throughout TheSeventies and TheEighties, Creator/ChevyChase was a big star, but by the '90s, movies like ''Film/NothingButTrouble'' had turned him into a walking joke. But he was still getting lead roles until ''Film/VegasVacation'', which killed his status as a leading man in Hollywood. His only big role since has been on ''Series/{{Community}}'', which he left after numerous clashes with the show's creator, Creator/DanHarmon, something not uncommon with the notoriously difficult-on-set Chase. |
| 38 | * Creator/MichaelChiklis made his big-screen debut as Creator/JohnBelushi in the 1989 biopic ''Wired'', which was universally panned by critics and became a notorious BoxOfficeBomb. Although it effectively derailed his career in films aside from ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' and its sequel ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer'', Chiklis carved out a respectable niche for himself in television when he headlined two successful, long-running police procedurals (''Series/TheCommish'' and ''Series/TheShield''). |
| 39 | * Creator/AndrewDiceClay already made his mark as a stand-up comedian in TheEighties with the help of his onstage {{Greaser Delinquent|s}} persona "The Diceman" when he tried becoming a movie star, via playing the title role in ''Film/TheAdventuresOfFordFairlane''. It instead tanked critically and commercially, with Clay eventually "winning" the 1990 Worst Actor UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for his performance. His next movie was the stand-up concert film ''Dice Rules'', which also bombed and garnered Clay another Razzie nomination. He promptly moved away from films for the next few decades, although he did have some success in recent years with supporting roles in ''Film/BlueJasmine'' and ''Film/AStarIsBorn2018''. |
| 40 | * Creator/SachaBaronCohen become big in America after the controversial ''Film/{{Borat}}'' became a hit. His follow-up ''Film/Bruno2009'' didn't do as well critically or financially and most people dismissed it as a ''Borat'' rip-off, but it was still a modest success. Then he did ''Film/TheDictator'', which did even worse critically and financially and caused him to resurrect his [[Series/DaAliGShow Ali G]] character for television as opposed to doing another movie. His only subsequent starring role, ''Film/{{Grimsby}}'', was a BoxOfficeBomb that seems to have finished him off. Luckily, his career seems to have [[CareerResurrection rebounded]] on streaming in 2020 with the success of his films ''Film/BoratSubsequentMoviefilm'' and ''Film/TheTrialOfTheChicago7''. He received [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] nominations for co-writing the former's screenplay and for his supporting role as anti-Vietnam War activist Abbie Hoffman in the latter. |
| 41 | * After starring in ''Film/EmployeeOfTheMonth2006'', Creator/DaneCook went on to have supporting roles in ''Film/DanInRealLife'' and ''Film/MrBrooks'', and leading roles in two other movies, ''Film/GoodLuckChuck'' and ''My Best Friend's Girl''. The latter two movies seem to have derailed his screen career, as he didn't act in another movie until his supporting role in ''Film/{{Detention}}'' three years later. This would become a trend for him, as most of his post-''My Best Friend's Girl'' film work have been supporting roles in independent films. The only starring role he's had since was a voice-acting role in ''WesternAnimation/{{Planes}}'', which came out in 2013. |
| 42 | * The critical and commercial savaging of ''Film/LeonardPart6'' and ''Film/GhostDad'' killed the film career of Creator/BillCosby, with him sticking largely to TV and Stand-Up Comedy afterwards until the 2014 sex scandal finished off his career. |
| 43 | * ''Superdad'' was the beginning and the end of Creator/BobCrane's career as a leading man on film, as he was unable to translate the success of ''Series/HogansHeroes'' to the big screen. (Creator/{{Disney}} [[TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment shelving the film for a year]] also didn't help.) The film's critical and box office failure was so great that he only appeared in one more film before his murder in 1978. His downfall story is told in the Creator/PaulSchrader film ''Auto Focus''. |
| 44 | * Creator/MacaulayCulkin suffered this with the 1994 films ''Film/RichieRich'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePagemaster'', and ''Film/GettingEvenWithDad''. He hasn't appeared often since then, partly due to the [[StageMom Stage Dad]] tendencies of his now-estranged father Kit. However, he later found some success in smaller indie projects like ''Film/{{Saved}}'' |
| 45 | * In TheEighties, Creator/JohnCusack made many hit movies like ''Film/BetterOffDead'' and ''Film/SayAnything''. His career cooled off a bit in the '90s, but he still had some hits like ''Film/GrossePointeBlank''. However, in the 2000s, most of the movies he made were critical (and even sometimes commercial) flops. ''Film/TheRaven2012'' was the last straw, as he's mostly done only independent films since then, with the exception of a cameo in ''Film/TheButler''. [[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/25/john-cusack-hollywood-maps-to-the-stars-interview Disillusionment]] with working in Hollywood (particularly its treatment of women and child actors) also played a part in his choice to pull back from larger films and limit himself to independent projects like ''Film/LoveAndMercy''. |
| 46 | * Creator/RodneyDangerfield became a breakout star after ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'', following it up with hits like ''Film/EasyMoney'' and ''Film/BackToSchool''. Then he made ''Meet Wally Sparks'', which flopped big time. He never starred in another major film after that disaster, while most of the films he did star in went DirectToVideo before his death in 2004. |
| 47 | * Creator/TonyDanza had made a name for himself on television with ''Series/{{Taxi}}'' and ''Series/WhosTheBoss'' when he tried becoming a movie star with ''Film/ShesOutOfControl''. Its bad reception (which included a Worst Actor Razzie nomination for Danza) quickly ended that possibility. Danza thereafter stuck to TV aside from an occasional supporting role such as in ''Film/{{Crash}}'' and ''Film/DonJon''. |
| 48 | * Creator/BradDavis saw his career following ''Film/MidnightExpress'' and ''Film/ChariotsOfFire'' hampered by substance abuse when he portrayed a gay sailor dabbling with drug dealing and murder in ''Film/{{Querelle}}'', which was the final film from German filmmaker Creator/RainerWernerFassbinder before he died of a drug overdose himself. The role was described as "career suicide" by at least one critic, leaving his career languishing within MadeForTVMovie purgatory until catching HIV via intravenous drug use killed it for good. Davis ultimately committed assisted suicide by deliberate overdose in 1991. |
| 49 | * Creator/StephenDorff worked away in film throughout TheNineties after establishing himself in TheEighties on television, before seemingly grabbing his big break when ''Film/{{Blade}}'' (where he played the main villain) became a monster hit at the box office. Unfortunately, his career trajectory afterwards sank like a stone. While playing the titular role in ''Film/CecilBDemented'' did damage his career (in addition to killing that of Creator/MelanieGriffith; see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses), it well and utterly died in 2002 when he headlined three duds in a row: ''Deuces Wild'', ''Steal'', and ''Film/{{FeardotCom}}''. His films for almost the rest of the decade underperformed and/or were just as ill-received, the most notorious being ''Film/{{Alone in the Dark|2005}}'' (which killed his [[Creator/TaraReid co]]-[[Creator/ChristianSlater stars']] careers too; see StarDerailingRole/MultipleOffenders). A shot at a comeback briefly came via a supporting role in ''Film/PublicEnemies'' and a leading role in ''Film/{{Somewhere}}'', but he derailed it after appearing in flops such as ''Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star'' and ''Film/{{Immortals}}''. |
| 50 | * Creator/AaronEckhart saw his film career as a leading man virtually die with ''Film/IFrankenstein''. He, before its release, amassed critical respect as a character actor in ''Film/InTheCompanyOfMen'', ''Film/AnyGivenSunday'', ''Film/ErinBrockovich'', ''Film/NurseBetty'', ''Film/ThePledge'', etc. After attaining mainstream attention with his performance as a tobacco lobbyist in ''Film/ThankYouForSmoking'' and as ComicBook/TwoFace in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', it appeared his career could only rise further. However, many underperforming films after ''The Dark Knight'' (with ''I, Frankenstein'' being the worst-received of the lot in 2014) sunk it. Besides a role in ''Film/{{Sully}}'' (and acclaim went largely to Creator/TomHanks for his performance or to Creator/ClintEastwood for his direction), Eckhart hasn't appeared in any successful projects since ''I, Frankenstein''. The majority of his following input consisted of obscure independent fare which rarely earned a wide release. |
| 51 | * Creator/AnselElgort, who became a popular teen heartthrob by starring in adaptations of the ''{{Film/Divergent}}'' series and ''Literature/TheFaultInOurStars'', broke into more adult fare with ''Film/BabyDriver'' in 2017, which, in addition to getting good reviews, was a decent box office success amidst a busy summer season packed with multiple franchise films. His ascent abruptly halted after headlining 2019's ''Film/TheGoldfinch'', one of the year's biggest {{Box Office Bomb}}s. In total, its loss cost nearly $50 million for production company Creator/AmazonStudios and distributor Creator/WarnerBros. The film was released during the beginning of the year's Oscar season with expectations it would be a major player come awards time, but its generally negative critical reception immediately put an end to those hopes. ''Film/WestSideStory2021'', delayed from its initial 2020 release because of [[UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic COVID-19]], could've functioned as a CareerResurrection, if Elgort's conspicuous absence from its promo campaign [[note]] probably prompted by the actor being accused of sexual misconduct[[/note]] hadn't made it uncertain. His next project after ''West Side Story'', the Creator/HBOMax crime drama ''Series/TokyoVice'', was mostly received positively, though neither audiences nor critics considered him to be a standout. |
| 52 | * Creator/EmilioEstevez suffered this in 1986 with ''Film/MaximumOverdrive'' and ''Film/{{Wisdom|1986}}'', [[CreatorKiller with the latter also hampering him as a director and a writer]]. He once starred in hits like ''Film/TheOutsiders'' and ''Film/RepoMan'', before becoming a prominent figure in the Creator/BratPack with ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'' and ''Film/StElmosFire''. After those two flops in 1986, his career on screen, despite ''Film/{{Stakeout}}'', ''Film/YoungGuns'', ''Film/TheMightyDucks'', and each films' respective sequels, lost a lot of traction. When ''Film/{{Bobby}}'' (a film he also directed and wrote) massively underperformed in late 2006, Estevez has rarely acted besides reprising his role in the Creator/DisneyPlus show ''Series/TheMightyDucksGameChangers'' (only to leave the show following the first season). |
| 53 | * Creator/MichaelFassbender experienced this with ''Film/TheSnowman2017''. After being introduced to the public eye in 2009 with a notable supporting role in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'', he truly broke out in 2011 with [[Film/JaneEyre2011 a]] [[Film/XMenFirstClass quartet]] [[Film/{{Shame}} of]] [[Film/ADangerousMethod films]]. He kept that positive streak going with UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated work in ''Film/TwelveYearsASlave'' and ''Film/SteveJobs'', along with the fiscal success of ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. However, beginning in 2016 and continuing into the following year, his star power subsided when ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', ''[[Film/AssassinsCreed2016 Assassin's Creed]]'', and ''Film/AlienCovenant'' underperformed to varying degrees. This culminated in late 2017 when ''The Snowman'' flopped abysmally and was panned by nearly everyone who saw it. Fassbender's decline was further set in stone with ''Film/DarkPhoenix'', which was widely panned in 2019 and ended the [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Fox]] ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' with a sad whimper. That being said, critics who otherwise hated the movie called his performance the best (if not only good) part. He didn't appear in a film for four years until ''Film/NextGoalWins2023'' and ''Film/TheKiller2023''. The former, directed by Creator/TaikaWaititi and based on [[Film/NextGoalWins the documentary of the same name]], opened in Toronto to polarizing responses, while the latter, directed by Creator/DavidFincher and an adaptation of [[ComicBook/TheKiller the French graphic novel of the same name]], premiered to far more positive reception in Venice. Only time will tell if it kicks off a comeback for Fassbender. |
| 54 | * Creator/DanFogler is a Broadway award-winner who was tapped by Hollywood executives to headline several major comedy films, including ''School For Scoundrels'' and ''Film/BallsOfFury''. The final straw, however, came with ''Film/GoodLuckChuck'', which bombed and mostly killed his film career before he could go anywhere with it. The only films he appeared in after this were the financially-unsuccessful ''Film/{{Fanboys}}'' and ''Take Me Home Tonight'', both of which were shot years before he broke into Hollywood, and ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms'', which just put the coffin in the ground. [[ThrowTheDogABone In spite of all this]], he's managed to land a key supporting role as MuggleBestFriend Jacob Kowalski in the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', as well as its sequels ''[[Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald The Crimes of Grindelwald]]'' and ''[[Film/FantasticBeastsTheSecretsOfDumbledore The Secrets of Dumbledore]]''. |
| 55 | * Creator/JamieFoxx lost a great deal of his post-[[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] hype after winning for ''Film/{{Ray}}'', when ''Film/{{Stealth}}'' became a notorious flop in 2005. Besides ''Film/{{Dreamgirls}}'', most of his films for the next seven years tanked before ''Film/DjangoUnchained'' kicked off his CareerResurrection. |
| 56 | * Creator/JamesFranco was once of the biggest rising stars of the 2000s and early 2010s, with roles in numerous hit films to his name (such as Harry Osborn in Creator/SamRaimi's ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'', his UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated turn as Aron Ralston in Creator/DannyBoyle's ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'', and his Golden Globe-winning one as Creator/TommyWiseau in his self-directed ''Film/TheDisasterArtist''). That is, until he suddenly hit a massive setback between 2018 and 2019 with the combined critical and financial failures of ''[[Film/FutureWorld2018 Future World]]'', ''The Pretenders'', and ''Zeroville'' – [[CreatorKiller all of which he also directed]]. ''Zeroville'' spiraled into a particularly notorious fiasco since it initially finished filming in 2014, but lingered on TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment for years after the original distributors filed for bankruptcy. Franco had no projects announced until 2022 besides directing and starring in an adaptation of William Gay's novel ''The Long Home'', which he had also finished making years prior (in this film's case, it wrapped in 2015). It too has been shelved and left unreleased, and will seemingly remain so since he's under scrutiny for many sexual misconduct and assault accusations. He's currently set to play UsefulNotes/FidelCastro in an independent biopic, a casting choice which instantly became controversial given Franco's not Hispanic. Several Latino actors and filmmakers (like Creator/JohnLeguizamo) denounced his casting as yet another case of whitewashing, though it also garnered approval from Castro's family. |
| 57 | * In the 1990s, Creator/BrendanFraser was an up-and-coming actor with hits like ''Film/SchoolTies'' and ''Film/TheMummy1999'', but by the early 2000s most of the movies he did were flops. However, it seems like ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' was the movie that ended his career, as he didn't do many mainstream releases for five years after that, except for a supporting role in ''Film/{{Crash}}''. Then, after having a small comeback with ''Film/JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth2008'', his career was again killed in 2010 by ''Film/ExtraordinaryMeasures'' and ''Film/FurryVengeance''. For the rest of the decade, he would mostly do indie films or voice-over work. |
| 58 | ** What didn't help was that he was supposed to star in a film version of the legend of William Tell. However, he ended up suing the producer, Todd Moyer, after Moyer failed to stay on schedule due to financial problems, as he stated that Moyer screwed him out of more than $2 million worth of acting fees as he had to turn down many projects to stay on the William Tell project. To make matters worse, he was also involved in an accident that injured his back and made him unable to perform his own stunts, which limited the types of movies he was able to do. |
| 59 | ** However Fraser has [[CareerResurrection rebounded considerably]] in recent years with highly acclaimed turns in ''Series/{{Trust}}'' and his lead role in ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'' and a younger generation who appreciate his work and the fact that his career decline was partially brought on by his being sexually assaulted by Philip Berk has garnered him immense sympathy. He also had a major role in Creator/StevenSoderbergh's ''Film/NoSuddenMove'' and won an Oscar for his role in ''Film/TheWhale'' by Creator/DarrenAronofsky. |
| 60 | * Not even Creator/MorganFreeman was immune to this. After his role in the critically acclaimed ''Film/{{Se7en}}'', he starred in the 1996 movies ''Literature/MollFlanders'' and ''Film/ChainReaction''. Both were unpopular among critics and audiences alike, though the latter recouped its budget thanks to a decent [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff overseas]] gross. His star power was weak for [[{{Irony}} seven]] years before he was cast in ''Film/BruceAlmighty'', followed up by an Academy Award-winning CareerResurrection role known as ''Film/MillionDollarBaby''. |
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| 63 | [[folder:G-K]] |
| 64 | * Creator/RichardGere became a star with ''Film/DaysOfHeaven'' after first getting noticed in TheSeventies. This trend kept up into TheEighties with ''Film/AmericanGigolo'' and, of course, ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman''. ''Film/TheCottonClub'' failing was blamed on its TroubledProduction, but Gere took it right on the nose with ''Film/KingDavid''. For the next five years Gere was largely passed over for coveted roles [[note]] So much so that only years after ''Film/{{Misery}}'' did William Goldman and Creator/RobReiner realize he would have been their ideal lead; his name had not even come up despite the many A- and B-list stars who considered the script before the desperate-for-a-comeback Creator/JamesCaan took it.[[/note]] until ''Film/InternalAffairs'' performed well enough to make him a viable candidate for ''Film/PrettyWoman'', kicking off his CareerResurrection. |
| 65 | * The character of George Valentin in ''Film/TheArtist'' is a once-successful silent movie idol whose career is badly damaged as a result of the prominence of "talking pictures." Valentin's downfall parallels that of real-life silent star Creator/JohnGilbert. His suave, dashing, and handsome image gained the attention of moviegoers, especially when paired with leading lady (and alleged lover) Creator/GretaGarbo. That image was forever destroyed when he appeared in a disastrous "talkie" called ''His Glorious Night''. Audiences laughed when Gilbert squeaked "I love you, I love you, I love you!" to his female lead, literally destroying his career reportedly because of the sound of his voice. The worst part? Many sources claimed that Gilbert's voice was fine,[[note]] Watch any of his later talkies, such as ''Film/{{Downstairs}}'' or ''Film/QueenChristina'' (which re-teamed him with Garbo), for evidence that Gilbert had a good speaking voice. Unfortunately, said films flopped at the box office and failed to reverse Gilbert's career decline.[[/note]] but was altered in post-production by studio head Louis B. Mayer (the second "M" in Creator/{{MGM}}). Mayer hated the star for his erratic behavior and allegedly maneuvered his downfall by giving him roles in awful films, including that one. A heartbroken Gilbert ultimately drank himself to death in 1936; he was 36 years old. |
| 66 | * This could aptly describe most films Creator/CubaGoodingJr made after his Oscar-winning role in ''Film/JerryMaguire'' (''Film/BoatTrip'', ''Film/SnowDogs'', ''Film/{{Norbit}}'', ''Film/DaddyDayCamp'', etc.). He claims the problem began once [[NeverMyFault all the good roles stopped reaching him while he got replaced as Hollywood's new favorite African-American star by]] Creator/WillSmith. Any chances of him nabbing a comeback were buried between 2019 and 2020 after he was accused by over 30 women of sexual misconduct, a matter taken more seriously following the [=#MeToo=] movement. |
| 67 | ** Cuba's films were the most-rented from Blockbuster at one time until the film ''Film/{{Radio}}'', in which he portrayed an InspirationallyDisadvantaged football fan. You could say that ''Radio'' [[{{Pun}} Killed the Video Star]]. |
| 68 | * Creator/TomHardy was supposed to land his breakout role with ''Film/StarTrekNemesis''. It was a huge BoxOfficeBomb that flattened his career, which eventually [[CreatorBreakdown drove him to drink and to the brink of suicide]]. He [[CareerResurrection gradually got out of the slump]] with roles in ''Film/{{Bronson}}'', ''Film/{{Inception}}'', and especially ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', where he played ComicBook/{{Bane}}. |
| 69 | * Creator/RexHarrison permanently damaged his career when ''Film/DoctorDolittle'' becoming a colossal bomb, made possible in part by him acting as a drunken prima donna; he demanded endless script rewrites, completely impractical production changes, and ridiculous cast changes so he could guarantee no one can show him up singing, and also hurled anti-Semitic insults at his Jewish co-star. It didn’t help that Harrison, who by the late '60s was older than most leading men (he was 58 when filming ''Dolittle'') outright refused to play supporting roles. A few years after ''Dolittle'', Sam Spiegel approached him to play Count Witte in ''Film/NicholasAndAlexandra'', a [[SmallRoleBigImpact small but important character]]. Harrison took offense, angrily telling Spiegel "I don't do bit parts!" The role went to Creator/LaurenceOlivier, who famously [[MoneyDearBoy had no such reservations]]. |
| 70 | * Creator/JonHeder saw his star ascend playing ''Film/NapoleonDynamite'', then it fell in 2006: first with ''Film/TheBenchwarmers'' opposite Creator/RobSchneider and Creator/DavidSpade (who are both listed below), followed by ''School For Scoundrels''. He got a slight reprieve the next year when he starred in ''Film/BladesOfGlory'' (although that film's success was mostly because of co-star Creator/WillFerrell), only for his comeback chance to leave as soon as it came after the failures of ''Moving [=McAllister=]'' and ''Mama's Boy'' (the latter film also helped derail the career of Creator/DianeKeaton; see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses). He hasn't starred in any major films since 2007. |
| 71 | * David Hemmings became an international star after appearing in ''Film/BlowUp'' (1966), only for his career to implode thanks to the high-profile flops ''Film/TheChargeOfTheLightBrigade'' (1968) and ''Alfred the Great'' (1969). His reputation for being extremely temperamental and arrogant on-set didn't endear him to producers, either. He practically disappeared besides doing a few foreign movies like ''Film/DeepRed'' and directing some television, until experiencing a brief comeback with ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' and ''Film/GangsOfNewYork'' before his death in 2003. |
| 72 | * ''True Identity'' was British comedian Creator/LennyHenry's bid for both American and silver screen stardom, but the disastrous critical reception and poisonous box office (on both sides of the Atlantic) ended his US career before it started; other than the concert film ''Lenny Live And Unleashed'', this is his only non-voice-related starring movie to date. (It also [[CreatorKiller singlehandedly ruined the career of the film's director (and fellow cast member) Charles Lane]], who's only had one directing (for ''American Playhouse'') and two acting credits since.) Much like Creator/RikMayall, maybe film wasn't for him. |
| 73 | * ''The Art of Getting By'' killed Creator/FreddieHighmore's film career after he had made a name for himself in the 2000's as one of THE child actors of that decade (''Film/FindingNeverland'', ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', ''Film/AugustRush'', etc.), proving that a successful film career as a child doesn't always translate to a successful one as an adult. Television has been more fruitful for him with hits like ''Series/BatesMotel'' and ''Series/TheGoodDoctor''. |
| 74 | * Creator/EmileHirsch suffered severe career damage when ''Film/SpeedRacer'' flopped. Hirsch, who had been in a number of acclaimed films before it, such as ''Film/IntoTheWild'', mostly disappeared into supporting roles since, nor did he land another leading role until ''Film/TheDarkestHour'' and ''Film/KillerJoe'', both of which also underperformed financially (although the latter was {{acclaimed|Flop}}). His troubles worsened after getting arrested for nearly killing Creator/{{Paramount}} executive Daniele Bernfeld at a nightclub, giving studios more incentive not to work with him. Aside from a bit part in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInHollywood'' (whose director Creator/QuentinTarantino received some criticism for casting Hirsch when there are several talented actors who haven't tried drunkenly strangling a woman half their size), he hasn't starred in any mainstream productions. |
| 75 | * Creator/DennisHopper went from a popular but not especially remarkable actor throughout TheFifties and TheSixties (with roles in classics such as ''Film/RebelWithoutACause'', ''Film/{{Giant}}'', ''Film/TheSonsOfKatieElder'', ''Film/CoolHandLuke'', etc.) to a stratospheric Hollywood sensation overnight after directing and starring in the low-budgeted, indie road drama ''Film/EasyRider'', which became a counterculture landmark of the later '60s, a touchstone for the younger generation, and both a BreakthroughHit plus a StarMakingRole for Hopper. Hollywood thus granted him an AuteurLicense for his next film, ''Film/TheLastMovie'' (which Hopper also starred in and directed). Unfortunately, its critical and commercial failure promptly revoked it and killed his star power for many years. He became a recluse from Hollywood during this interval before slowly returning to prominence with a small but memorable role in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''. Hopper later gained praise for ''Film/BlueVelvet'' and ''Film/{{Hoosiers}}'', with the latter getting him an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination. |
| 76 | * Creator/CThomasHowell was an up-and-coming teen actor who starred in hits like ''Film/TheOutsiders'' and ''Film/{{Red Dawn|1984}}''. Then, he headlined ''Film/SoulMan''. Although a box office success, it garnered controversy because he spent half of the movie in {{blackface}}. He's hardly appeared in a major Hollywood movie since (a notable exception being ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan''), and when he has it mostly is either DirectToVideo work or minor television roles. |
| 77 | * Creator/KevinJames, after a successful stint in the sitcom ''Series/TheKingOfQueens'' and a supporting role in ''Film/{{Hitch}}'', took a major nosedive after co-starring with long-time partner Creator/AdamSandler in ''Film/INowPronounceYouChuckAndLarry'', which was panned by critics despite box office success and marred by accusations of promoting homophobia. He seemed to be on the right track again when he went on to star in ''Film/PaulBlartMallCop'' two years later, which despite mediocre reviews was a box office hit. But then his next starring role was ''Film/{{Zookeeper|2011}}'', which did not do as well at all critically or financially. And then came ''Film/HereComesTheBoom'' the next year, which did even ''worse''. After that movie, he has not starred in another theatrical movie, except for the critically reviled sequel to ''Paul Blart'' and a supporting role in ''Film/{{Pixels}}''. He then tried to pick up the pieces with another sitcom, ''Series/KevinCanWait'', but it ended up being cancelled after a heavily-panned second season in which James' TV wife was written off and replaced by his former TV wife Creator/LeahRemini in an attempt to turn the series into a ''King of Queens'' clone. As of 2020, he seems to be on a bit of an upswing, with an acclaimed [[PlayingAgainstType villainous turn]] in the thriller ''Film/{{Becky}}'' and a supporting part in the surprisingly well-received ''Film/HubieHalloween''. He's also started a Website/YouTube channel dedicated to comedic shorts, which has turned out to be reasonably popular. His chances of being an A-list comedic leading man have likely come and gone, but he's at least a bit more respected now than he was during his HollywoodHypeMachine days. |
| 78 | * Brad Johnson, hyped as a rising star with his role in Creator/StevenSpielberg's ''Film/{{Always}}'', took a similar role in the big-budget war epic ''Film/FlightOfTheIntruder'', in hopes it would match that hype. Its failure torpedoed those chances, leaving Johnson's career languishing in straight-to-video sequels and religious films before his death in 2022 due to complications from UsefulNotes/COVID19. |
| 79 | * ''Film/{{Heartbeeps}}'' derailed Creator/AndyKaufman's potential film career. Creator/{{Universal}} was leery of having him make films more in tune with his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} sensibilities right off the bat, especially after ''In God We Tru$t'' (in which he played a key supporting role) bombed. Thus, appearing in a family-friendly sci-fi comedy was a way to prove he could draw an audience; also, he liked the script when he read it. It was a TroubledProduction, however, and was cut to less than 80 minutes by the time it was released at the tail end of 1981, whereupon it flopped instantly. |
| 80 | * Creator/MichaelKeaton found his A-List reputation put in jeopardy in TheNineties thanks to the box office failures of ''Film/{{Multiplicity}}'' and ''Film/DesperateMeasures'', with not even Creator/QuentinTarantino's ''Film/JackieBrown'' staving off his decline. The final straw came with 1998's ''Film/{{Jack Frost|1998}}'', which [[{{Pun}} froze]] Keaton's leading-man opportunities for many years. He would occasionally resurface in supporting roles: in films like ''[[Film/TheLoveBug Herbie: Fully Loaded]]'', ''WesternAnimation/Cars1'', ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' and ''Film/TheOtherGuys'' – with his most high-profile leading role coming from 2005's ''White Noise''. It would take until 2014's ''Film/BirdmanOrTheUnexpectedVirtueOfIgnorance'' for Keaton, [[MetaCasting playing a washed-up actor who can't shake the specter of his superhero film success]], to experience a true CareerResurrection, as the film was universally acclaimed and put Keaton in heavy contention for an Oscar. He's kept up the momentum with his career arguably doing far better now, and even returned to [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} one of his most famous roles]] in ''Film/TheFlash2023''. He's set to return to [[Film/{{Beetlejuice}} his other most famous role]] for the long-gestating sequel ''Film/BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice'' in 2024. |
| 81 | * ''Film/RedPlanet'', as well as his growing reputation of sabotaging the production of his movies, such as ''Film/BatmanForever'' and, most notoriously, ''Film/TheIslandOfDrMoreau1996'', ensured that Creator/ValKilmer wouldn't headline any potential mainstream productions. His subsequent bout with throat cancer, which robbed him of his voice, all but permanently sidelined his career as a leading man. However, he has found some renewed recognition recently with his [[Film/{{Val}} eponymous, critically acclaimed documentary]], as well as returning as his ''Film/TopGun'' character Iceman for a small but pivotal appearance in the sequel ''Film/TopGunMaverick''. |
| 82 | * Creator/TaylorKitsch saw his hype from ''Series/FridayNightLights'' vanish after he had the dubious distinction of starring in not just one, but ''two'' of the most high-profile blockbuster bombs of 2012. ''Film/JohnCarter'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}'' met lukewarm reviews and failed to inspire audiences to turn out, tanking so hard that each of them posted a total loss of over ''$200 million'' for their respective production companies Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/{{Universal}}. The final blow came shortly after with ''Film/{{Savages}}'', a smaller-budgeted Creator/OliverStone crime thriller that got a similarly chilly critical reception and barely made back its budget in the US. Just ''John Carter'' tanking was bad enough, but the failure of ''Battleship'' and ''Savages'' a few months later really closed the door on Kitsch becoming a big-time leading man in Hollywood. Most of his biggest roles since have been on television. |
| 83 | * Creator/ChrisKlein saw his potential as a leading man stumble several steps backward after he starred in the critically lambasted 2002 remake of ''Film/{{Rollerball}}''. Having already garnered notoriety for the ''Film/AmericanPie'' films, he subsequently hit a snag when ''Rollerball'', along with the prior year's ''Film/SayItIsntSo'' (which also served as a Star-Derailing Role for its leading lady Creator/HeatherGraham; see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses), tanked. His next leading role in ''Film/StreetFighterTheLegendOfChunLi'' appears to have removed him from the spotlight, in addition to being a Star-Derailing Role for Creator/KristinKreuk (again, see Film Actresses). However, he recently received some notices for his role as the villain Cicada on the CW series ''Series/TheFlash2014''. |
| 84 | * Creator/JohnKrasinski was afflicted by this with ''Film/LicenseToWed'' (which [[StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses also derailed]] Music/MandyMoore's film career), ''Film/{{Leatherheads}}'', and ''Film/AwayWeGo'' in the late '00s. Krasinski was best known for ''Series/TheOfficeUS'' beforehand, with these films being his shot at breaking into film comedy. ''License to Wed'' and ''Leatherheads'', unfortunately, both bombed while ''Away We Go'' was acclaimed by critics, although its limited release caused it to go ignored at the box office. Thus, he was reduced to supporting roles in indie film for years until his CareerResurrection after the huge success of ''Film/AQuietPlace'' (a film he also directed) and ''Series/JackRyan'' on Creator/PrimeVideo. |
| 85 | * Creator/AshtonKutcher was one of many young, handsome men who received a big push in the mid-2000's as the next big thing. He first got attention for his role as Kelso in ''Series/That70sShow'', with that show's ratings success and youth popularity convincing Hollywood he could be a star in the making. He was promptly cast in comedy after comedy (''Film/DudeWheresMyCar'', ''Film/JustMarried'', ''Film/MyBossDaughter'', ''Film/CheaperByTheDozen2003'', ''Film/GuessWho'', ''Film/WhatHappensInVegas'') that were box office hits (besides ''My Boss's Daughter'') and adored by his fanbase despite often receiving negative reviews from critics. His forays into drama, however, were even less liked in general, with ''Film/TexasRangers'' becoming an infamous disaster while ''Film/TheButterflyEffect'', although profitable, getting criticism for Kutcher being badly miscast in the lead role. His film career truly hit the gutter in the 2010's with such flops as ''Film/ValentinesDay'', ''Film/{{Killers}}'', ''Film/NewYearsEve'' [[note]]the latter two also helped kill the film career of Creator/KatherineHeigl (see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses)[[/note]], and most notably ''Film/{{Jobs}}'', with his performance as UsefulNotes/SteveJobs being widely criticized as inaccurate despite bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jobs himself in his younger years. He didn't appear in a film – aside from a cameo in ''Film/Annie2014'' – for over nine years afterwards. He has remained relevant on television after ''That '70s Show'' ended, replacing Creator/CharlieSheen as a co-lead in ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'' until it also ended and starring in the Creator/{{Netflix}} series ''Series/TheRanch''. |
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| 87 | |
| 88 | [[folder:L-P]] |
| 89 | * After finding success with The Series/BlueCollarComedy Tour, Creator/LarryTheCableGuy tried to become a movie star with ''Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector'', which fell $2 million shy of its $17 million budget and was critically ravaged (though it would be VindicatedByCable soon after). Studios still tried to make him a movie star with ''Film/DeltaFarce'' and ''Witless Protection'', both of which flopped just as hard. The only major acting roles he's had since then are the more-acclaimed voice part of Tow Mater in the ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'' series and a number of supporting roles. Otherwise, he has stuck to doing DirectToVideo sequels to family films and reprising his role as Mater in animated shorts and video games. Today, ''Health Inspector'', along with some of his other film work, has garnered a small but respectable [[CultClassic cult following]]. |
| 90 | * Creator/LorenzoLamas, after attaining fame in TheEighties for his role on the PrimeTimeSoap ''Falcon Crest'' opposite Creator/JaneWyman, tried to parlay that hype into a successful film career by playing the lead in ''Body Rock'', a film about a young break-dancer from the streets hoping to make it big. However, its critical and financial failure, which included a [[UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward Razzie]] nomination for Lamas, killed his opportunity before it began, forcing him back to TV. He wouldn't star in another movie for five years after ''Body Rock'' flopped in 1984, and when he did it was in a ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'' rip-off called ''Snake Eater'' and its sequel released in the same year. When those films tanked as well, he never again appeared in a major film. On TV, he played the lead role in TheNineties action drama ''Series/{{Renegade}}'' and had a temporary run on ''Series/TheBoldAndTheBeautiful'' from 2004 to 2006. However, his career on the small screen has also stagnated since he wrapped up on the latter show. |
| 91 | * Creator/TaylorLautner saw his chance of a career after ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'' (which briefly turned him into one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors) go up in smoke after ''Film/{{Abduction}}'' sank with critics and moviegoers alike. Planned roles in adaptations of Stretch Armstrong and the David and Goliath story got indefinitely shelved. His career since has been composed of bit parts and DirectToVideo films. |
| 92 | * Creator/GeorgeLazenby's career already suffered a major blow, when he decided not to return as Franchise/JamesBond after ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'', but what really killed it was ''Universal Soldier'' (1971), which he co-wrote and which Lazenby himself described as a comedy with no plot. After that, he mainly appeared in movies made in Australia and Hong Kong (most notably ''Film/TheManFromHongKong''), TV shows, and made-for-TV movies. |
| 93 | * While they didn't completely kill his career, ''Film/OperationDumboDrop'' and ''Two If by Sea'' probably didn't convince studios to give Creator/DenisLeary any more starring roles. Leary shifted gears towards television instead, only appearing onscreen by the early-late 00's whenever an ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'' movie came out, which proved to be a more prosperous endeavor (most notably with the Emmy-nominated ''Series/RescueMe''). But, once that series ended, he tried to return to movies with a supporting role in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'' as well as reprising his role as Diego in ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeContinentalDrift''. While both movies did well financially, he followed it up with ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', which underperformed, and ''Film/DraftDay'', which bombed, in the same year. He then acted in ''Film/FreaksOfNature'', which was only dumped in a few theaters, and ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeCollisionCourse'', which did poorly enough [[FranchiseKiller to (temporarily) kill that franchise]]. Since then he's [[Series/AnimalKingdom focused more]] [[Series/TheMoodys on]] [[Series/SexAndDrugsAndRockAndRoll TV]], though hasn't had any major successes there either. |
| 94 | * 1931's ''The Gay Diplomat'' was the first and last film starring Ivan Lebedeff, a would-be Valentino who was clearly full of himself. ''Diplomat'' tanked and RKO executives were shocked that Lebedeff got bad notices for his performance as test audiences were allegedly raving about him, judging from all of the screening cards. Then, it was revealed those cards were written by Lebedeff himself! |
| 95 | * While still working on ''Series/{{Friends}}'', Creator/MattLeblanc decided to make a big break in Hollywood with the comedy film ''Ed'', which was an incomprehensible critical and box office disaster instead. Other than his supporting roles in the ''Film/LostInSpace'' and ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'' film adaptations (and the former itself wasn't very well-received either), he has barely done any film work since then, and after ''Friends'' was canceled he attempted to keep his television spotlight with a spin-off titled ''Series/{{Joey}}'', which was ScrewedByTheNetwork in its second season and later axed. Burnt out after this, he took a year-long sabbatical that turned into a five-year break. The long break ended up becoming a boon for him. [[CareerResurrection He made his comeback]] in the critically-acclaimed ''Series/{{Episodes}}'' and won a Golden Globe in the process. Since then, he became the lead presenter on ''Series/TopGear'' (and one of the few things people universally liked about the show's revamp) and returned to American network television with the sitcom ''Series/ManWithAPlan''. |
| 96 | * Creator/JaredLeto, for many years starting in TheNineties, balanced a relatively successful career in acting and music, the latter as a member of the rock band Music/ThirtySecondsToMars. However, his acting career began declining midway through the TurnOfTheMillennium after ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' (which he had a minor supporting role in) flopped. It came to a head in 2007 when ''Chapter 27'', where Leto played Mark David Chapman, the man notorious for killing Music/JohnLennon, became both unsuccessful and controversial. Besides headlining the initially overlooked but eventual CultClassic ''Film/MrNobody'' in 2009, he didn't star in a movie for six years and instead concentrated more on his music. Leto's [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-winning performance in ''Film/DallasBuyersClub'' almost revived his acting career, but he unfortunately followed that up with his divisive portrayal of the ComicBook/{{Joker}} in the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] film ''Film/SuicideSquad2016''. After a minor part in ''Film/BladeRunner2049'', he starred in a couple of otherwise well-liked movies where he was singled out for criticism like ''Film/TheLittleThings'' and ''Film/HouseOfGucci''. However, ''Film/Morbius2022'' was the one that really damaged his career when it became both a critical and a financial failure. For ''House of Gucci'' and ''Morbius'', he "won" two [[UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward Razzies]]. |
| 97 | * Creator/JerryLewis had a multi-decade stretch of success (both as half of the comedy pairing Creator/MartinAndLewis alongside Creator/DeanMartin, and then as an individual) until starring in, directing, and co-writing ''Film/HardlyWorking''. Billed as his big comeback movie after a decade-long hiatus, the film, although a slight box office hit in 1980, received horrible reviews, putting his reputation at risk. He nearly bounced back two years later after starring in Creator/MartinScorsese's ''Film/TheKingOfComedy'' opposite Creator/RobertDeNiro, but his next films after that classic were the even worse-received ''Cracking Up'' (which Lewis also wrote and directed) and ''Slapstick of Another Kind''. The latter, which was filmed and released overseas in 1982, but had its American release delayed for nearly two years, was based on the Creator/KurtVonnegut novel ''Slapstick'', and was torn apart as both an unfunny comedy and a bad adaptation of the writer's work. Lewis never had a major role in a film again before he died in 2017, and now is posthumously notorious for controversial behavior behind the scenes becoming public knowledge. ''Hardly Working'' and ''Cracking Up'' additionally were {{Creator Killer}}s for Lewis (see CreatorKiller/FilmIndividualCreators). |
| 98 | * Although he was always a character actor and never a movie star, [[Creator/TinyLister Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.]] got some notice for playing Zeus in ''Film/NoHoldsBarred'', which got him a brief stint as a famous wrestler in the Wrestling/{{WWE}}. This helped get him to frequently pop up in supporting and bit parts in many popular 90s and 00s films, including ''Film/UniversalSoldier'', ''Film/{{Friday}}'', ''Film/JackieBrown'', ''Film/TheFifthElement'', ''Film/LittleNicky'', and ''Film/AustinPowersInGoldmember''. However he then threw a fit that got him kicked off the set of ''Friday After Next'' where he was set to reprise the role of Deebo[[note]]and then he ended up being replaced by Creator/TerryCrews[[/note]]. He was then in the combined bombs of ''My Baby's Daddy'' and ''Never Die Alone'' which seems to have been the straw that broke the camel's back, as he had scarcely appeared in a mainstream film since, except for bit parts in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'', before dying in December 2020 due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. |
| 99 | * Creator/HerbertLom, throughout an illustrious career onscreen spanning seven decades, starred in many hits like ''Film/{{The Ladykillers|1955}}'', ''Film/{{War and Peace|1956}}'', ''Film/{{Spartacus}}'', and ''Film/ElCid'', but was best known, however, for playing Inspector Dreyfus in ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' films, often opposite Creator/PeterSellers as Inspector Clouseau. Lom retired from film acting when ''Film/SonOfThePinkPanther'', which was filmed long after Sellers died back in 1980, bombed in 1993. He continued to make occasional television appearances before his own death in 2012. |
| 100 | * Creator/JustinLong was a popular actor in the 2000s, starring in many films (''Film/JeepersCreepers'', ''Film/DodgeballATrueUnderdogStory'', ''Film/HerbieFullyLoaded'', ''Film/{{Accepted}}'', ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard'', ''Film/DragMeToHell'', etc.). He was also an early spokesperson for Creator/{{Apple}}, appearing as an anthropomorphic personification of the Mac computer for its Advertising/GetAMac ad campaign. Unfortunately, he popped up in a chain of bad films in the next decade with ''Film/{{Tusk|2014}}'', a body-horror-comedy directed by his friend Creator/KevinSmith, as the biggest one in 2014. He seldom appears in a mainstream project since besides television work and returning for more of Smith's films. |
| 101 | * Having spent years taking small or supporting roles in many films, Creator/JoshLucas got his first taste of stardom playing the estranged ex of Creator/ReeseWitherspoon's character in ''Film/SweetHomeAlabama''. After it became a hit, he starred in the 2003 version of ''Film/{{Hulk}}''. He was quickly given the chance to star in four big-budget films from 2005 to 2006: ''Film/{{Stealth}}'', ''Film/AnUnfinishedLife'', ''Film/GloryRoad'', and ''Film/{{Poseidon}}''. But when those films underperformed both critically and commercially, Lucas was never deemed leading man material again. |
| 102 | * Any chance Creator/NormMacDonald had at being a leading man in Hollywood quickly vanished when ''Film/DirtyWork'' bombed at the box office and got negative reviews from critics. He mostly appeared in DirectToVideo stuff, the occasional Creator/AdamSandler film, and a brief stint of KFC commercials until his death from cancer in 2021, with his most recognizable role in two decades being a recurring voice-only role in ''Series/TheOrville''. |
| 103 | * Creator/GabrielMacht had a small but steady streak of supporting roles before his big break arrived with 2008's ''Film/TheSpirit''. The film bombed ''miserably'', and Macht's film career was basically over then and there. He would go to TV, where he found much better success on the long running ''Series/{{Suits}}''. |
| 104 | * Creator/SteveMartin suffered this with ''Film/ThePinkPanther2''. Before that film was released, he had enjoyed a multi-decade run of success as one of the most popular comedians in Hollywood. While ''Film/ThePinkPanther2006'' earned bad reviews (with Martin's performance as Inspector Jacques Clouseau being unfavorably compared to that of Creator/PeterSellers), it nevertheless was an adequate box office hit. Its sequel, though, was both a critical and a financial disaster in 2009, with Martin receiving a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward nomination for Worst Actor. He nearly recovered later that year with ''Film/ItsComplicated'', only for the failure of ''Film/TheBigYear'' two years later to promptly eradicate that chance. The only big acting roles Martin did for nearly a decade were voice-only roles in animation and sporadic appearances on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', with his sole live-action film role being a part in the unsuccessful ''Film/BillyLynnsLongHalftimeWalk''. He only received a new high-profile role in 2021 starring with Creator/SelenaGomez and frequent collaborator Creator/MartinShort in the Creator/{{Hulu}} comedy ''Series/OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding''. |
| 105 | * Paul Mercurio first garnered attention for his role in the acclaimed Australian dancing film ''Film/StrictlyBallroom''. Its success brought him to the USA where he landed his first American movie role in ''Film/ExitToEden''. The latter film earned a savaging from critics and flopped at the box office, causing Mercurio to retreat back to his native country and appear in a string of low-budget and direct-to-video flicks. Plus, he was also more successful as a dancer and as a television personality back there later, never giving Hollywood another chance. |
| 106 | * Creator/KelMitchell was a popular comedian due to ''Series/AllThat''. He ended up becoming so popular that he and his ''All That'' co-star, Creator/KenanThompson, got their own spin-off show, ''Series/KenanAndKel''. They ended up being such a popular duo that they even got their own movie, ''Film/GoodBurger'', which was a modest hit. Then Kel did ''Film/MysteryMen'', which bombed at the box office. ''Kenan and Kel'' was canceled a year later and he was never seen in a major film or series again, besides appearing in a revival of ''All That'' and competing on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' back in 2019. Kenan managed to avoid it; despite being in bombs like ''Film/TheMasterOfDisguise'' and ''Film/FatAlbert'', he starred on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' for two decades and later headlined his own eponymous sitcom. |
| 107 | * Creator/EddieMurphy has quite the reputation for being a very good comic actor who should ''really'' fire his agent. |
| 108 | ** He emerged as a massive comedy star in TheEighties, thanks in no small part to being a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' cast member and barely saving the show from disaster during [[AudienceAlienatingEra its 1980-1981 season]]. After a series of comedy classics like ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/FortyEightHrs'', and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'', as well as his stand-up comedy special ''Delirious'', Murphy's initial decline began with the 1989 VanityProject ''Film/HarlemNights'', after which the quality of his films took a nosedive. Creator/RogerEbert, in his review of ''Harlem Nights'', made an excellent point (which was, essentially, career advice) about not taking your fans for granted. |
| 109 | ** The remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'' became a CareerResurrection for him in the late '90s, with many critics noting that Murphy's Buddy Love character was a massive TakeThat to what he had been reduced to in the public eye. Unfortunately, he quickly fell on the same track he was on before with another string of flops, the most notorious being ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'', [[BoxOfficeBomb which grossed $7.1 million against a $100 million budget]] ''[[EpicFail no less]]''! His voice acting in the ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' films kept him on the B-list, and his supporting role in ''Film/{{Dreamgirls}}'' looked to be another CareerResurrection, with many going as far to peg him as the front runner for an Academy Award (his first nomination for said award and his first Golden Globe win). |
| 110 | ** Then he backpedaled hard with ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' (despite making a profit, it was savaged by critics and possibly cost him his ''Dreamgirls'' [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] win) and the two family films ''Film/MeetDave'' and ''Imagine That''. Following the critical ravaging of those films, he declared his intention to go back to making mature comedies, starting with the Creator/BrettRatner film ''Film/TowerHeist''. Even this couldn't save him, however, as his next (released) film after ''Tower Heist'' was the critically mauled bomb ''Film/AThousandWords'', which despite having sat on the shelf for about four years was still accompanied by a reasonably strong advertising campaign. But ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', which was critically acclaimed, especially for his performance, might prove to be a comeback vehicle, but only time will tell whether or not it will fluke like ''Dreamgirls'' and ''Tower Heist''. |
| 111 | * ''[[Film/AgentCodyBanks Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London]]'' killed Creator/FrankieMuniz's career as a leading man. After that movie, the only lead role he had was a voice-acting performance in ''Film/RacingStripes'' and he only did two other theatrical movies after that – both in supporting roles. However Muniz doesn't seem to mind; in his own words (in response to someone tweeting that his acting is awful): "Yeah, but being retired with $40,000,000.00 at 19 has not been awful." Since then, Muniz has spent the last few years as a racing car driver and playing golf. |
| 112 | * Creator/MikeMyers in the LiveActionAdaptation of ''Film/TheCatInTheHat'', followed up by the finishing blow of ''Film/TheLoveGuru''. He was a comedy superstar in the '90s and early '00s, with ''Film/WaynesWorld'', ''Film/AustinPowers'', and ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' becoming pop-culture touchstones. ''Cat'', however, outraged the Creator/DrSeuss estate with its raunchy humor, causing Seuss' widow Audrey Geisel to vow never to approve any further live-action adaptations of Seuss' books, and critics ravaged it for the same reasons. ''Guru'', meanwhile, flopped at the box office and "won" three [[UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward Razzies]]. Since the hiatus of the ''Shrek'' franchise, Myers has become a painter and semi-retired from the screen (with minor roles in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' and ''Film/BohemianRhapsody'', and hosting a revival of ''Series/TheGongShow'' on [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]]). |
| 113 | ** Myers' downward career trajectory was largely his own doing. Even as early as ''Film/WaynesWorld'', he'd gotten a reputation for being a diva and kept burning bridges on almost every project he worked on. The entire reason he ended up working on ''The Cat in the Hat'' was that he'd tried to get out of doing a ''Sprockets'' movie with Creator/{{Universal}} and Imagine Entertainment. Part of the legal settlement with them required he make a different film for them. In other words, he only made that movie because he was ''[[ContractualObligationProject legally obligated]]''. After this killed his career for several years, the opening of ''The Love Guru'' was tarnished by [[https://ew.com/article/2008/06/16/mike-myers-man-mystery/ a massive exposé]] in ''Entertainment Weekly'' on just how many people in Hollywood hated him and hoped the movie would bomb. After it did bomb, it was clear that Myers had completely tapped out the audience goodwill that had kept him afloat in the past. |
| 114 | ** He has been attempting a comeback; for many years he wanted to star in a [[Music/TheWho Keith Moon]] biopic, but this will probably never happen due to the fact he is now too old for the part and it's a serious subject matter. There are rumours that ''Austin Powers 4'' is back on the agenda again, it remains to be seen if this happens and arrests his career decline. |
| 115 | * ''Film/ColdPursuit'' appears to have stunted Creator/LiamNeeson's career, not just by underperforming, but also with a dark memory from his past that inspired his performance. MistakenForRacist doesn't even begin to describe the controversy that followed his comments about an attempt to avenge the rape of his friend, and even his clarifying how it went down on ''Good Morning America'' (read: he ultimately came to his senses and sought help, and he said he would've done the same thing in a Scottish, British, or Lithuanian community if his friend said a Scot, Brit, or Lithuanian was responsible and he asked his friend for a physical description of her attacker other than race) didn't do much to quell the controversy and help this film's chances. |
| 116 | * Creator/AnthonyNewley's first error of judgement was an ill-fated attempt to capitalise on his 1960s success as a singer, songwriter, and stage and movie actor. The former husband of Creator/JoanCollins let his ego run away with him in 1969 with the musical ''Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?'' Newley starred and directed himself, as well as wrote the songs. Described by a critic as "professional suicide", this film consistently scores highly in any vote for The Worst Film of All Time. It crippled Newley's later career and contributed to his divorce from Collins (who played one of the female leads). His highest-profile work after that was composing ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', for which he earned an Oscar nomination. |
| 117 | ** Newley believed that one comeback movie role would be a huge hit and would re-establish him, but again he chose appallingly badly. The putative career-salvaging role turned out to be a colossal piece of crap and cursed him to work in small TV roles for the rest of his life. That was ''Film/TheGarbagePailKidsMovie'' (1987). |
| 118 | * Following the mixed reception of the third ''Film/TheNakedGun'' film, Creator/LeslieNielsen was unlucky enough to have starred in four critically savaged flops over the next three years: ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt'', ''Film/SpyHard'', the LiveActionAdaptation of ''Film/MrMagoo'', and ''Film/WrongfullyAccused''. After these disasters, he spent the remaining years of his life appearing on TV and spoof movies (which he was notorious for) and never played a lead role in a major motion picture again. |
| 119 | * ''Film/{{Dutch}}'' was this for Creator/EdONeill. When ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' put him in the Hollywood spotlight, the next logical step was to break into movies, and this one was even written by the great Creator/JohnHughes. Unfortunately it bombed critically and commercially, though the actors weren't blamed (most saw it as a retread of Hughes's ''Film/PlanesTrainsAndAutomobiles''). It was the end of O'Neill's brief run as a leading man in film, though he has still had a solid career in television and as an ensemble film actor, making a big comeback with ''Series/ModernFamily'' and a co-lead voice role in ''WesternAnimation/FindingDory.'' |
| 120 | * The disappointment of ''Film/{{Revolution|1985}}'' caused Creator/AlPacino to take a four-year hiatus from acting. His first film after that, ''Film/SeaOfLove'', would signal the start of his [[CareerResurrection comeback]], leading to his Oscar-nominated turn in 1990's ''Film/DickTracy'' and his Oscar-winning one in 1992's ''Film/ScentOfAWoman''. His star power would later be dented again with the failures of ''Film/EightyEightMinutes'' and ''Film/RighteousKill'', for which he received Razzie nominations for Worst Actor in 2008. A Razzie win would come three years later for his supporting role in ''Film/JackAndJill'', amidst ten years of flops before ''Film/OnceUponATimeInHollywood'' and ''Film/TheIrishman'' brought him back into the spotlight. |
| 121 | * Mark Patton, after first gaining notice in Creator/RobertAltman's ''Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean'', signed onto ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreetPart2FreddysRevenge'' hoping that it would be his big break. Instead, the film's HomoeroticSubtext caused people to question Patton's sexuality (he was gay, though still closeted at the time), and at the height of the AIDS crisis and the wave of homophobia that resulted, his career was destroyed; he only did some TV work before retiring from acting and moving to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The makers of the ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' retrospective documentary ''Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy'' had to hire a private investigator to find him. The documentary ''Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street'' delves deeper on Patton's experience with the film and its aftermath. |
| 122 | * Although it wasn't a major dent in his career as a singer, Luciano Pavarotti was not destined for the cinema after the failure of ''Yes, Giorgio''. |
| 123 | * Hot off the success of his role as Jesse Pinkman in ''Series/BreakingBad'', Creator/AaronPaul was cast as the lead man in ''Film/NeedForSpeed2014''. The film, unfortunately, was a flop in the United States, and Aaron's film career was relegated to lower-profile indie flicks and rarely as the lead. Meanwhile he still has a steady television career, playing Todd Chavez in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' and reprising the role of Jesse Pinkman in ''Breaking Bad'' spin-off ''Series/BetterCallSaul''. |
| 124 | * Any potential acting career Music/{{Prince}} could've had was derailed by his second film, the critical and commercial flop ''Film/UnderTheCherryMoon''. He waited another four years to make ''Graffiti Bridge'', and when that flopped he took the hint and went back to music for the rest of his life. |
| 125 | * Creator/FreddiePrinzeJr was once ''the'' most popular teen heartthrob in the late '90s, before his time as a leading man came to an end between 2000-2001 with four flops: ''Down to You'', ''Boys and Girls'', ''Film/HeadOverHeels2001'', and ''Summer Catch'', with his résumé growing very skimpy since then. Video games have become his career crutch after providing the voices of {{Ensemble Darkhorse}}s [[VideoGame/MassEffect3 James]] [[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Vega]] and [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition the Iron Bull]]. Additionally, his role as the voice of Kanan Jarrus on ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' garnered him more acclaim than he ever received as a major leading man. |
| 126 | * ''Film/TheProdigal'' was meant to seal Edmund Purdom's stature as a Hollywood leading man but flopped at the box office instead, impelling him to spend the rest of his career in Europe. His co-star Creator/LanaTurner avoided any harm to her career when this film failed with smash hits like ''Film/PeytonPlace'' and ''[[Film/ImitationOfLife1959 Imitation of Life]]''. |
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| 129 | [[folder:Q-T]] |
| 130 | * Creator/ChristopherReeve claimed in his autobiography that the failure of ''Switching Channels'', along with ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'', ''The Aviator'', and ''Street Smart'' (which he in part agreed to do ''Superman IV'' under the condition that he was allowed to star in this long time "pet project" of his), knocked him off the A-list in Hollywood and he would have to audition for major roles for the rest of his career. Reeve also expressed regret in making ''Switching Channels'' (Reeve took on the role because he felt that making a comedy would be a good distraction from the depression steaming from his split with his longtime girlfriend, Gae Exton), believing that he had "made a fool of himself" (Reeve [[PlayingAgainstType played decidedly against type]] as Creator/KathleenTurner's hapless fiancé) and had to act as a referee for constantly feuding costars Turner and Creator/BurtReynolds. During his career, Reeve also turned down the lead roles in ''American Gigolo'', ''Literature/TheWorldAccordingToGarp'', ''Film/{{Splash}}'', ''Film/FatalAttraction'', ''Film/PrettyWoman'', ''Film/RomancingTheStone'', ''Film/LethalWeapon'', and ''Film/BodyHeat''. Reeve even turned down the lead role in ''Film/TheBounty'' after Creator/KatharineHepburn recommended him to original director Creator/DavidLean; the part ultimately went to Creator/MelGibson after Reeve dropped out at the last minute. |
| 131 | * Creator/KeanuReeves initially suffered from a dry spell in the mid-90's after starring in a bunch of flops such as ''Film/JohnnyMnemonic'' and ''Film/ChainReaction'' (the latter also derailed Morgan Freeman's career for a while; see above), before [[CareerResurrection rebounding]] by the end of the decade with ''Film/TheMatrix''. Unfortunately, in the 2000's his career started to sink again: culminating in 2012 with the critically panned independent drama film ''Generation Um...''. Besides his critically acclaimed directorial debut ''Film/ManOfTaiChi'' (which he also starred in), his next role was in the BoxOfficeBomb ''Film/FortySevenRonin''. Thankfully, ''Film/JohnWick'' served as another major comeback for Reeves when it became a critical and commercial success upon release in 2014. Not only did it spawn another successful franchise for Reeves, but his return to his past franchises with later entries like ''Film/TheMatrixResurrections'' and ''Film/BillAndTedFaceTheMusic'', along with more successes like ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' and ''Film/AlwaysBeMyMaybe'', re-affirmed his mega-stardom and ubiquity with the general public. |
| 132 | * Scottish actor Creator/MichaelERodgers started his on-screen acting career as a [[NervousWreck nervous patient]] (a cameo role) in the 1996 film ''Film/TheDentist'' when he was unknown to many people. After guest-starring in some television work and less well-known films, he finally had a supporting role as Mr. Conductor's fun-loving and likable younger cousin, Junior, in the big-screen children's movie ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'', but the film [[{{Pun}} derailed off the tracks]] and thus, besides another cameo role in ''Film/ThePatriot2000'', he never appeared in a mainstream film again. |
| 133 | * Alex Russell's next films after his breakout in ''Film/{{Chronicle}}'' were ''Film/Bait3D'', ''Film/TheHost2013'' and ''Film/Carrie2013'', which all seemed promising but ended up underperforming financially and critically. He has hardly appeared in a mainstream film after those flops, besides a small role in ''Film/{{Unbroken}}''. However, he later found a nice niche on television as Jim Street on ''Series/SWAT2017''. |
| 134 | * Creator/KurtRussell saw his renown as a leading man in feature films end in 1998 following the failure of ''Film/{{Soldier}}'', compounded by ''Film/ThreeThousandMilesToGraceland'' also bombing three years later. A shot at a comeback came after ''Film/{{Miracle}}'' became a critical and commercial success in 2004, but Russell soon squandered it when ''Film/{{Poseidon}}'' flopped two years later. Nowadays, he mainly does supporting parts. |
| 135 | * Paul Rust's career as a leading man began and died after ''Film/ILoveYouBethCooper''. Whereas his co-star Creator/HaydenPanettiere maintained a thriving career with her role in the ''Film/{{Scream}}'' franchise (plus success on TV with ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' and ''Series/{{Nashville}}''), his acting input has comprised of nothing major besides starring on the Creator/{{Netflix}} series ''Series/{{Love|2016}}'' opposite Creator/GillianJacobs. |
| 136 | * The double-whammy of ''Film/JackAndJill'' in 2011 and ''Film/ThatsMyBoy'' in 2012 seems to have been the point of no return for Creator/AdamSandler. Sandler's movies always received, at best, lukewarm critical receptions; out of a twenty-year leading man career, he has only four movies, ''Film/PunchDrunkLove'', ''Film/TopFive''[[note]] Although it isn't technically a proper Sandler film since he only has a cameo in it.[[/note]],''Film/TheMeyerowitzStories'' and ''Film/UncutGems'', that are rated higher than 70% on Website/RottenTomatoes, and all but five of his other films are rated Rotten. However, from the mid-'90s through the '00s CriticalDissonance was in full effect, with Sandler being among the biggest and most CriticProof comedy stars of the era. ''Film/BillyMadison'', ''Film/HappyGilmore'', ''Film/TheWaterboy'', ''Film/TheWeddingSinger'' and, to a lesser extent, ''Film/YouDontMessWithTheZohan'' are nowadays viewed as comedy classics, and even his few flops like ''Film/LittleNicky'' and ''WesternAnimation/EightCrazyNights'' were easily brushed off.\ |
| 137 | As the '00s went on, however, audiences' opinions of Sandler began to fall more in line with those of critics. While most of his films were still making big money, complaints about his [[VulgarHumor low-brow, vulgar style]] began to mount, especially after Creator/JuddApatow's style of comedy (ironic, given that Apatow was Sandler's college roommate and longtime friend) started earning the favor of critics and audiences with movies like ''Film/TheFortyYearOldVirgin'' and ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall''. ''Film/JackAndJill'', despite making money, earned a [[MedalOfDishonor record]] ten UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s, while ''Film/ThatsMyBoy'' was Sandler's first out-and-out flop in years; together, the two films arguably marked the turning point in the public's opinion of him. While the ''Film/GrownUps'' and ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' films were financially successful, ''Blended'', his reunion with his ''Wedding Singer'' and ''Film/FiftyFirstDates'' [[ThoseTwoActors co-star]] Creator/DrewBarrymore, was a dud. The final straw seems to have been ''Film/{{Pixels}}'', a big-budget action-comedy that hit theaters with a resounding thud in 2015, spawning [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/adam-sandler-pixels-flop-movie-star-1201549330/ a litany]] of [[http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/29/netflix-adam-sandler articles]] about how his star has fallen. Since then, Sandler has been making films almost exclusively for Creator/{{Netflix}}. Things have finally started to turn around for him, however. In 2017, both he and Creator/BenStiller gave rare dramatic roles in Creator/NoahBaumbach's ''Film/TheMeyerowitzStories'', for which they both earned good notices from critics. The following year, he released his first stand-up special in years to surprisingly positive reception. 2019 wound up being an especially good year for him. In May, he returned to the stage that made him a household name when he hosted ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' and wound up being one of the best-received hosts from the last few years. The next month, a new movie of his, ''Film/MurderMystery'', was released on Netflix. It was met with a resounding "meh" from critics but wound up being an unexpected smash hit for the platform, boasting the largest opening weekend for any movie in the site's history. And later that year, he had a starring role in the thriller ''Film/UncutGems'', which saw him cast wildly against type. The movie was met with rave reviews and his performance in particular was universally lauded, with the possibility of him netting an [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] becoming a hotly discussed potential news story. When he failed to get a nomination, there was significant outrage both online and in the media. While his next project, ''Film/HubieHalloween'', was a comedy film more in line with the sort of films he's primarily known for, it was met with a decent reception from critics, indicating that his days as a laughingstock are seemingly behind him. |
| 138 | * Creator/FredSavage was a popular child actor thanks to his roles in ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' and ''Series/TheWonderYears''. However, the failures of ''Film/LittleMonsters'' and ''Film/TheWizard'' in 1989 discouraged studios from having him further headline any major films. He remained on ''The Wonder Years'' until it concluded in 1993, but drifted away from acting and more towards behind the camera work in adulthood – before hitting a snag there with the failure of ''Film/DaddyDayCamp'' (see CreatorKiller under CreatorKiller/FilmIndividualCreators). |
| 139 | * ''Film/DeuceBigalowEuropeanGigolo'' put the death knell on Creator/RobSchneider's power as a leading man after it underperformed at the box office. His simultaneous war of words with Creator/RogerEbert didn't help matters, either. After his next headlining film ''Film/TheBenchwarmers'' tanked too, the only leading roles he's had in theatrical releases are ensemble pieces. For a while, supporting roles in Creator/AdamSandler's films were all that was keeping him in the studio system. Now that he's stopped appearing in Adam's movies, he's made only straight-to-DVD films and some independent movies. Then he did 2013's ''In-APP-ropiate Comedy'' and 2016's ''WesternAnimation/NormOfTheNorth'', both of which bombed completely with audiences and critics alike. He since tried mounting another come back with ''Real Rob'': a supposedly autobiographical sitcom that apes elements from better-regarded shows like ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'', and ''Series/ModernFamily''. It lasted two seasons on Creator/{{Netflix}} only because he paid all the production costs out of his own pocket. |
| 140 | * Creator/DavidSchwimmer suffered this with ''Duane Hopwood'', his first film project following the end of ''Series/{{Friends}}''. Following that indie's flop, he's only made sporadic television appearances while his few major roles were in a bunch of financially unsuccessful independent films. His only noteworthy projects are his voice roles in the ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'' series as he shifted towards a directing and off-Broadway theatrical career. |
| 141 | * Creator/TomEverettScott worked often on TV in TheNineties before making his film debut in the Creator/TomHanks-directed ''Film/ThatThingYouDo'' It seemed as if Scott would soon become a bigger star, only for his following lead role in 1997's ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInParis'' (a sequel to ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon'') to kill the chance with its very negative reception and overall inferiority to the original. ''Film/DeadManOnCampus'' was just as reviled the next year while ''Film/OneTrueThing'' was an AcclaimedFlop, but starring in ''The Love Letter'' was the final blow for his career in 1999. Though he's kept working on film with roles in ''Film/BoilerRoom'' and ''Film/LaLaLand'', his hype has unfortunately died down considerably. |
| 142 | * Creator/StevenSeagal landed a genuine blockbuster hit with ''Film/UnderSiege'' which briefly put him in the A-list of action stars, but his growing ego led to him [[VanityProject producing, directing and starring]] in ''Film/OnDeadlyGround'', which was blasted by critics and a BoxOfficeBomb that quickly ended his A-list status. His Hollywood career would limp into the TurnOfTheMillennium but a combination of [[Film/FireDownBelow more]] [[Film/TheGlimmerMan box office]] [[Film/HalfPastDead bombs]] and ego issues drove him off the big screen and to DirectToVideo shelves, where he's had a prolific career but has become infamous for, among other things, his reliance on [[ObviousStuntDouble body doubles]] even outside of action scenes. He briefly returned to mainstream cinema as the BigBad of ''{{Film/Machete}}'', but a laundry list of controversies including several violent incidents involving stuntmen, sex trafficking allegations and vocal support of strongman world leaders have made it unlikely that he'll be seen in theaters again. |
| 143 | * For a while in the late 2000s, Creator/JasonSegel seemed to be on the rise following his presence on the sitcom ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' and a supporting role in the well-received ''Film/KnockedUp'', accumulating in ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'', a film he wrote and starred in. This was followed by a continuing streak of roles in well-received movies or at the very least [[CriticalDissonance movies that were successful]]. He arguably reached his peak with passion project ''Film/TheMuppets2011'', which he also penned the screenplay for and starred in. That film was incredibly well-received, financially successful, and seemed to set Segel in as an actor who could headline a movie. Then that film was quickly followed up by ''Film/TheFiveYearEngagement'', another written-and-starred-in effort by Segel that had more of a mixed reception from critics and was decimated by ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' at the box office. 2014 killed his star prospects, ''How I Met Your Mother'''s reputation sank like a stone following its contested finale, [[Franchise/TheMuppets the franchise he helped revive]] was nearly killed as quickly as it was revived after [[Film/MuppetsMostWanted a sequel to his film bombed]] but the thing that directly affected his career was ''Film/SexTape'', currently the final film he wrote the screenplay for in addition to starring in it. That film was largely loathed by critics and was a BoxOfficeBomb. He hasn't starred in a wide-release studio film and, since then, has mostly left the Hollywood life behind him today, mostly writing young adult fantasy novels, but will occasionally still take [[TomHanksSyndrome some roles more serious than what he used to]]. He has recently reemerged on the small screen with roles in the critically acclaimed series ''Series/WinningTime'' on Creator/{{HBO}} and ''Series/{{Shrinking}}'' on Creator/AppleTVPlus, but only time will tell if it becomes a full CareerResurrection. |
| 144 | * Creator/TomSelleck was expected to be the next face in the action film industry after ''Series/MagnumPI'' gave him the catapult to the A-list, subsequently starring in action-packed thrillers like ''Film/{{Runaway}}'' and ''Film/AnInnocentMan'' while occasionally PlayingAgainstType in ''Film/ThreeMenAndABaby'' (the biggest hit of 1987) and ''Film/InAndOut''. Selleck's popularity in that era was big enough to help him weather through occasional duds like ''Film/HerAlibi''. Then ''The Love Letter'' bombed critically and commercially in 1999, thus blackballing him from feature films. An awkward appearance on '' The Creator/RosieODonnell Show'' to promote the movie that turned into a [[UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics gun-control argument]] (Selleck is very pro-NRA; O'Donnell very much ''isn't'') didn't improve his lot. He retreated back to TV with only three big-screen roles since 1999. While Selleck's film career petered out, he has continued thriving on television with the hit Creator/{{CBS}} show ''Series/BlueBloods'' (a rare success in the FridayNightDeathSlot) and a popular multi-year guest run on ''Series/{{Friends}}''. |
| 145 | * Creator/PeterSellers was actually fired midway through the shoot of ''Film/CasinoRoyale1967'' when he proved too unreliable and uncooperative. While the film was finished without him, it was extremely messy. This left a black mark on his reputation (particularly with American studios), and most of his subsequent films through 1974 would turn out to be flops if they even made it to theaters. He experienced a CareerResurrection after that with ''Film/TheReturnOfThePinkPanther'', and remained on top until his death in 1980. [[Film/TheFiendishPlotOfDrFuManchu Of course, as luck would have it, his body went up in flames just before his career could do so yet again.]] |
| 146 | * Creator/CharlieSheen was thoroughly entrenched in a career decline by the end of TheNewTens, with an arguable catalyst being the 2012 movie ''A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III''. He was established in the past decade on television with ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'', which made him one of the biggest actors on TV and even its highest-paid in 2010 (earning around $1.8 million per episode). Sheen's film career, throughout TheEighties and TheNineties, thrived with hits like ''Film/{{Platoon}}'', ''Film/WallStreet'', ''Film/MajorLeague'', and ''Film/HotShots'', but slowly cooled down by TheEarly2000s, which made him turn towards TV in the first place. He was fired from ''Two and a Half Men'' in 2011 for a myriad of issues [[note]]including being plagued by substance abuse, getting carted off to rehab multiple times for treatment, making derogatory comments about series creator Creator/ChuckLorre while under the influence, and finally, publicly demanding a 50% raise to remain onboard the show[[/note]] and attempted to bounce back the next year by playing the title protagonist in ''A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III''. The film became a BoxOfficeBomb that was widely slammed by critics and audiences alike, continuing Sheen's downward spiral. ''Series/AngerManagement'', an adaptation of the Creator/AdamSandler [[Film/AngerManagement film of the same name]], was his next foray into television, which got negative reviews despite a run of one hundred episodes. His film career also further sunk, while more recent legal and health problems (including accusations of sexual assault and being diagnosed with HIV) hampered his ability to work. |
| 147 | * Creator/WesleySnipes got his with ''Film/BladeTrinity''. His career was beginning to cool by the late '90s and early 2000s with the exception of the first two ''Blade'' films, which were box office successes. By the time the third movie came out, it received a negative reaction from both critics and fans alike, leading to a disappointing total. It also doesn't help that Snipes filed a lawsuit against Creator/NewLineCinema (which distributed the trilogy) and the film's director David S. Goyer, claiming that they cut him out of casting decisions and filmmaking processes. After the film's failure, Snipes appeared in a string of [[DirectToVideo straight-to-DVD]] releases and didn't make another theatrical appearance for six years (with the film ''Film/BrooklynsFinest''). He also went to federal prison for tax evasion, putting the franchise on hold. After being released, he attempted to mount a comeback with an appearance in ''Film/TheExpendables3'' (to no avail), and there was talk of doing a fourth ''Blade'' film for a while ([[ChannelHop at]] Creator/{{Disney}}; [[ScrewedByTheLawyers long]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext story]]). Unfortunately for Snipes, Disney ultimately decided to reboot ''Blade'' and gave Creator/MahershalaAli the role, depriving him of a potential blockbuster comeback. He has had some success otherwise, including reuniting with Creator/SpikeLee for ''Chi-Raq'', an award-winning supporting role in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', and a role in ''Film/Coming2America'', but the rest of his work in the last few years has consisted mainly of indie and direct-to-video films. |
| 148 | * The complete failure of ''Film/BillionaireBoysClub'' on opening day, during which it earned only $126 across 10 theaters, has likely officially established Creator/KevinSpacey as box office poison following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against young men in response to the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal and the [=#MeToo=] movement. It [[NotHelpingYourCase didn't help matters]] when, after initial accuser Creator/AnthonyRapp fired the opening salvo, Spacey tried to deflect by coming out as gay, a move that backfired when many people (especially in the LGBT community) accused him of feeding into [[AllGaysArePedophiles the highly offensive stereotype of the gay pedophile]]. |
| 149 | * Creator/DavidSpade's previous efforts with Happy Madison, ''Film/JoeDirt'' and ''Film/DickieRobertsFormerChildStar'', both bombed at the box office. Despite doing better than the previous two movies, however, ''Film/TheBenchwarmers'' seems to have been the film that made sure Dave would never lead another movie in Hollywood again, as he's done only supporting roles since (unless you count him as one of the leads in the ''Film/GrownUps'' movies). |
| 150 | * Just as the 2013 version of ''Film/{{The Lone Ranger|2013}}'' [[StarDerailingRole/MultipleOffenders killed the careers of its stars]], 1981's ''Film/TheLegendOfTheLoneRanger'' did the same to that of Klinton Spilsbury, [[OneBookAuthor who made his film debut and film farewell here]]. It didn't help that his voice was dubbed. Not helping matters was the decision by production company [[Creator/ITCEntertainment ITC]] to sue Clayton Moore (who had played the character on the [[Series/TheLoneRanger TV series]] and related films, and to many, ''was'' the Lone Ranger) for making public appearances as the character, something he had done for decades. The suit greatly offended the American public, who rallied around Moore and stayed away from the film. Moore won the suit, but the film was irreparably damaged from the bad press and negative reviews, resulting in an all-around disaster. |
| 151 | * In addition to negatively impacting Creator/DanaCarvey and Creator/TomHardy (see above), ''Film/TheMasterOfDisguise'' and ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' also were the last films Creator/BrentSpiner had any significant role in. After both those movies were trashed in 2002, his input went from a bit part in ''Film/TheAviator'', which was a decent hit, to larger parts in ''Film/MaterialGirls'' and ''Superhero Movie'', which weren't. He reprised his role as Dr. Brackish Okun in ''Film/IndependenceDayResurgence'', which was also unsuccessful. Most of his latest work has come from returning as Data or other related characters in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' universe. |
| 152 | * Jerry Springer attempted to jump into the film medium by replicating the success of [[Series/TheJerrySpringerShow his talk show]] with the comedy film ''Ringmaster'', in which he essentially played himself as a tabloid talk show host. The attempt enormously failed at both the box office and critics, the latter of which helped Springer a Razzie Award for Worst New Star. Other than co-starring with Creator/DolphLundgren in the direct-to-video movie ''The Defender'', he never made any film appearances again before his death in 2023. |
| 153 | * Creator/DanielStern never recovered his career after ''Film/{{Bushwhacked}}'' and ''Film/CelticPride''. Following the successes of ''Film/{{Diner}}'', ''Series/TheWonderYears'', ''Film/HomeAlone'', and ''Film/CitySlickers'', much was expected from him. Then these films, which he intended to be his big breaks in Hollywood, were ruthlessly savaged by critics and failed miserably at the box office. Since then, he's been reduced to working on straight-to-video films and television parts, notably voicing the title role in the short-lived [[WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}} television adaptation]] of the comic strip ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', and has never gotten out of the garbage heap. ''Film/WhipIt'' could have served as a comeback for him, but despite being praised for his role, it flopped at the box office instead, failing to change his career direction. After a failed NBC project and starring in the much-reviled ''Film/AChristmasStory 2'', Stern landed a dramatic role in WGN's ''Manhattan'', but is far from the rising star of TheNineties. |
| 154 | * John Stockwell's following roles after a breakout part in the film version of ''Literature/{{Christine}}'' were mostly in {{box office bomb}}s and/or critical flops. Among those included ''City Limits'', ''Film/MyScienceProject'', ''Radioactive Dreams'', and ''Dangerously Close'', which he unfortunately co-wrote. Any hopes for his return to lead roles in TheNineties failed, as by that time his acting career was dead. It's probably because of those films that he became a director. |
| 155 | * The career of Creator/JimSturgess looked like it would go places after ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse2007'' and ''Film/TwentyOne'' did well. But then he did ''Film/CloudAtlas'', which flopped at the box office and sharply divided critics in 2012. It ended up on just as many "best of", as well as "worst of", lists of that year. He followed it up with some high-profile projects which also tanked, rendering his buzz all but nonexistent now. It didn't help that Sturgess starred in two films accused of {{Yellowface}} – ''21'' and ''Cloud Atlas''. He recently starred on the Creator/AppleTVPlus series ''Home Before Dark'' (although most of the praise for that show was heaped upon his co-star, child actress Brooklynn Prince). |
| 156 | * The universally savaged flop ''Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star'' derailed Nick Swardson's chance as a leading man in film before it even began. Its failure also led to Creator/ComedyCentral nullifying their contract with Swardson and canceling his ''Pretend Time'' sketch series, further damaging his reputation. |
| 157 | * Creator/PatrickSwayze saw his A-list status start slipping in TheNineties, with flops including ''Film/{{City of Joy|1992}}'' and ''Film/TallTale''. But 1998's ''Film/BlackDog'' ensured that he would never headline a major studio film again and relegated him to rather obscure independent films for the rest of his life. Swayze planned a comeback on TV with ''The Beast'', but his terminal cancer diagnosis sadly led to the show's premature end. |
| 158 | * Creator/JonathanTaylorThomas was an immensely successful child actor in TheNineties, having been on the sitcom ''Series/HomeImprovement'' and co-starring in movies like ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''. He attempted new acting ventures upon growing up and eventually got the lead role in 1998's ''Film/IllBeHomeForChristmas''. It was a massive flop instead that significantly slowed his adult career down as a result. |
| 159 | * ''Film/ChairmanOfTheBoard'' was Carrot Top's first and last headlining role. His lengthy stand-up comedy career has continued unscathed, however. It also was the first major film for Creator/RaquelWelch in twenty years after her career died back in TheSeventies (see StarDerailingRole/FilmActresses), but its failure kiboshed hopes for a comeback. |
| 160 | * Alberto Tomba wasn't a movie star (or even an actor by trade) to begin with, but an acclaimed alpine skier with numerous medals and championships under his belt. Following his retirement in 2000, he chose to star in the crime film ''Alex l'ariete''. Tomba's extremely bad performance (often not even saying his lines intelligibly) ensured he likely won't grace the silver screen again. The movie was unanimously panned by critics and also became a huge BoxOfficeBomb, with only 285 tickets sold on its opening weekend. |
| 161 | [[/folder]] |
| 162 | |
| 163 | [[folder:U-Z]] |
| 164 | * Creator/RobertUrich saw his film career grind to a screeching halt with ''Turk 182'', which got bad reviews and made $3.5 million on a budget of $15 million in 1985. Luckily, Urich's career on television didn't slow down one bit. His co-star Creator/TimothyHutton soon recovered from this failure, with a well-received performance in the critically acclaimed spy drama ''Film/TheFalconAndTheSnowman'' released that same year. |
| 165 | * Creator/CasperVanDien got a huge career boost starring in ''Film/StarshipTroopers'', only for his hype to plummet after playing [[Franchise/{{Tarzan}} the titular character]] in ''Tarzan and the Lost City''. Since then, he's mostly appeared in B-movies like various DirectToVideo ''Starship Troopers'' sequels. |
| 166 | * Creator/VinceVaughn, in the early-mid '00s, was one of Hollywood's top comedy actors thanks to films like ''Film/OldSchool'', ''Film/WeddingCrashers'', and ''Film/DodgeballATrueUnderdogStory'', which gave him enough clout to guarantee creative control on a film. His career was starting to slip with weaker films like ''Film/FourChristmases'', but on the set of ''Film/TheDilemma'', he suffered a major case of SmallNameBigEgo, forcing many rewrites, [[WagTheDirector taking over creative control]] from director Creator/RonHoward, and defending his character's [[UnfortunateImplications homophobic comments]]. Consequently, audiences stayed away. His follow-up ''Film/TheWatch2012'', co-starring Creator/BenStiller and Creator/JonahHill, also didn't do well with critics and audiences either. Now, he's trying to repair the damage by taking smaller roles in dramatic fare. He attempted a return in 2013, co-starring with Owen Wilson in ''Film/TheInternship'', but although the film made decent box office, it was generally not well-received by critics and still lost money for FOX. His next film, 2015's ''Unfinished Business'', however, was a critical and financial failure and marked the end of Vince Vaughn headlining any studio film. He has since rediscovered some success as a supporting actor in critically acclaimed films like ''Film/HacksawRidge'' and ''Film/FightingWithMyFamily'' (though attention was mostly directed towards Vaughn's [[Creator/AndrewGarfield co]]-[[Creator/FlorencePugh stars]] than Vaughn himself), while his performance in ''Film/{{Freaky}}'' was lauded even if the film's commercial performance was hindered by the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. |
| 167 | * Ted Wass seemed to be setting his sights for a long and successful career when he appeared as a supporting character in the legendary sitcom ''Series/{{Soap}}'', as well as receiving praise for his roles in television movies. He finally got his Hollywood wish as the star of ''Film/CurseOfThePinkPanther'', a film that was so poorly received critically and financially that it completely obliterated his film career before it could even start -- his only other film role of note came the following year as the main protagonist in ''Film/OhGod You Devil!'', which got a middling at best reaction and probably only even did that well due to Creator/GeorgeBurns's turn in the title roles -- and also turned him into a laughingstock by his own TV fans. But come TheNineties he found a regular gig again as Series/{{Blossom}}'s dad, and he has found success as a director for various television programs such as ''Series/RulesOfEngagement'' and ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls''. |
| 168 | * Creator/DamonWayans was the first breakout star to emerge from TheNineties sketch comedy series ''Series/InLivingColor'', with characters such as Homie D. Clown and Anton Jackson. Much was expected of him when he decided to leave the show and break out into the movie business. His first films, ''Film/TheLastBoyScout'' and ''Film/MoMoney'', did fine at the box office, but starring in the 1994 flop ''Film/{{Blankman}}'' harmed his hopes. He starred in ''Film/MajorPayne'' the next year, which did decently. However, 1996 was his opportunity to stake his claim on the A-List with leading roles in three films: ''Film/CelticPride'', ''Film/TheGreatWhiteHype'' and ''Film/{{Bulletproof}}''. All of them tanked, hurting his career. His next major role was in the 2000 Creator/SpikeLee BlackComedy satire ''Film/{{Bamboozled}}'', which got mixed reviews in its initial release but was later VindicatedByHistory. He returned to TV one year later with ''Series/MyWifeAndKids'', which had a respectable run from 2001 to 2005 and put another hit TV series under his belt. During this time, Wayans would try one more crack at the silver screen in 2003 with ''Film/MarciX''. The movie was blasted apart by critics and bombed once more, snuffing any chance Wayans had of headlining any future theatrical releases. He stuck to TV afterwards, recently taking on the role of Roger Murtaugh in an adaptation of ''Series/LethalWeapon'' for three seasons from 2016 to 2019 before his departure. |
| 169 | * Creator/MichaelJaiWhite was an actor whose career was mostly made up of bit roles before getting the chance to star in a big-budget Hollywood film, ''Film/{{Spawn|1997}}''. However, his career didn't go anywhere when that film flopped both critically and financially. White's mostly done bit parts in things like ''Film/DraggedAcrossConcrete'' and direct-to-video movies since then, though at least years later he would attract a cult following with the blaxploitation parody ''Film/BlackDynamite''. |
| 170 | * Though his career had been on a slippery slope for a while, Creator/RobinWilliams was still headlining movies until starring in three poorly-received films in 2006: ''Film/{{RV}}'', ''The Night Listener'', and ''Film/ManOfTheYear''. He began taking supporting roles afterwards (most notably in the ''WesternAnimation/HappyFeet'' and the ''Film/NightAtTheMuseum'' films), with his only leading roles being in the equally ill-received ''Film/LicenseToWed'' and ''Film/OldDogs'' – which additionally helped bring down [[Music/MandyMoore other]] [[Creator/JohnKrasinski actors']] [[Creator/JohnTravolta careers]]. He also returned to TV with ''Series/TheCrazyOnes'', which itself lasted only one season. Sadly, it's thought that the failure of the last one may have played a role in [[DrivenToSuicide his death]]. |
| 171 | * Creator/NicolWilliamson won extraordinary acclaim for Creator/JohnOsborne's ''Inadmissible Evidence'' and Tony Richardson's production of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' onstage. Between 1968 and 1970, touted as the next Creator/MarlonBrando, Williamson starred in a quick succession of movies, two based on his theater roles: ''Inadmissible Evidence'', ''The Bofors Gun'', ''Laughter in the Dark'', and the film version of ''Hamlet''. Each film flopped, which, along with Williamson's crude off-stage antics, short-circuited his career. Williamson later found his cinematic footing with roles in ''Film/RobinAndMarian'' and ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'', but as a character actor rather than a leading man. |
| 172 | * Just as 1988's ''Film/DieHard'' propelled Creator/BruceWillis from [[Series/{{Moonlighting}} comedic TV actor]] to big-screen ActionHero, so too did 2013's ''Film/AGoodDayToDieHard'', the film that [[FranchiseKiller killed]] the ''Franchise/DieHard'' franchise, take down his career for good. The failure of ''Film/Red2'' that same year, which required overseas box-office returns to break even, didn't help, and his attempt at a mainstream comeback five years later with the remake of ''Film/{{Death Wish|2018}}'' fared even worse. Nearly every movie Willis starred in since then, mostly in [[AdvertisedExtra glorified bit parts]], went DirectToVideo, to the point that in 2022, the {{UsefulNotes/Golden Raspberry Award}}s created a special category for "Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie" simply to poke fun at how far his career had fallen [[note]] though the category and award were ultimately rescinded after Willis' aphasia diagnosis was disclosed[[/note]]. The fact that Willis was suffering from aphasia, a cognitive disorder that makes it harder to comprehend written and spoken language, also hobbled his career. When he announced his diagnosis in 2022 alongside his retirement from acting, many speculated that his late-period choice of roles was largely so he could [[MoneyDearBoy make enough money to retire comfortably]] before he could no longer work. |
| 173 | ** Willis evaded a career decline back in TheNineties when ''Film/StrikingDistance'', ''Film/{{North}}'', and ''Film/ColorOfNight'' failed. The latter two were particularly reviled disasters in 1994, with both being major contenders at that year's UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s. Only the successes of ''Film/PulpFiction'' and ''Film/NobodysFool'' that same year rescued his career from complete oblivion. |
| 174 | * Creator/LukeWilson saw his future potential as a leading man evaporate when ''Film/HenryPooleIsHere'', ''Tenure'', and ''Film/MiddleMen'' received an indifferent reception between 2008 and 2010, after he had accumulated recognition as a supporting actor throughout the decade. He returned to supporting roles afterwards, not nabbing another high-profile role until ''Series/{{Stargirl|2020}}'' as [[ComicBook/StarsAndSTRIPE Pat Dugan / S.T.R.I.P.E.]]. |
| 175 | * Ben Winchell's first and last starring role in a film was in the infamous 2016 debacle ''Film/MaxSteel'', based on the Creator/{{Mattel}} [[Franchise/MaxSteel toyline of the same name]]. Having had bit parts in various kid or teen-oriented shows up until that point, he's done nothing noteworthy since then besides more small roles in similar shows. |
| 176 | * Creator/JamesWoods was afflicted by this in 1998 after ''Film/JohnCarpentersVampires'' underperformed. He was a well-respected actor with UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations for ''Film/{{Salvador}}'' and ''Film/GhostsOfMississippi'' before that failure. His input afterwards mostly consisted of voice acting in animation, a venture which began a year before after playing Hades in Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}''. His most successful work in live-action has been on television before he was negatively impacted by the [=#MeToo=] movement, when accused of sexual harassment by several women including Creator/ElizabethPerkins and Creator/AmberTamblyn. Today, he's mostly known for his outspoken far-right political beliefs than as an actor. |
| 177 | * Creator/SamWorthington was a rising superstar for some years following the advent of ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' in 2009. Then in 2012, his star was doused after ''Film/ManOnALedge'' and ''Film/WrathOfTheTitans'' bombed. His career was further hampered by a litany of legal charges in 2014. However, the 2022 sequel ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'' may prove to herald a CareerResurrection for him. |
| 178 | * While the failure of ''Film/{{UHF}}'' completely derailed any chance Music/WeirdAlYankovic could've had success as an actor, his long career in music thankfully went on unaffected. ''UHF'' has since become a [[VindicatedByCable cult classic]], and Al still does occasional cameos and voice work, even doing the title role in the Disney series ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw''. |
| 179 | [[/folder]] |
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