27 Terrible Movies That Almost Ended Actors’ Careers
Hollywood can be a tough place. One bad movie can change everything for an actor. It might lead to bad reviews, lost roles, or even a full stop in their career. We’ve all seen stars rise and fall. Sometimes, a single flop does the damage. This list looks at 27 terrible movies that almost ended actors’ careers. These films bombed at the box office or got slammed by critics. Many actors bounced back, but some struggled for years. We pulled from lists like BuzzFeed, Looper, and WatchMojo to make this. Let’s dive in. Each entry has the movie, actor, and why it hurt so bad.
1. Showgirls (1995) – Elizabeth Berkley
Elizabeth Berkley starred in the TV show Saved by the Bell. She played the smart Jessie Spano. Fans loved her. But then came Showgirls. This NC-17 film about Vegas dancers flopped hard. It made just $37 million on a $40 million budget. Critics hated it. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 23%. Berkley got a Razzie for Worst Actress. The sexy role shocked fans. It typecast her as too racy. She lost big movie offers. Her career stalled for years. She did some TV, but no major films. Later, she got small roles, but the damage stuck.
2. The Godfather Part III (1990) – Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola wanted to act like her dad, Francis Ford Coppola. She got a big break in The Godfather Part III. She replaced Winona Ryder as Mary Corleone. But the movie got mixed reviews. It sits at 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. Sofia’s acting drew the most hate. Critics called her wooden and out of place. She won a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actress. Fans blamed nepotism. Her acting career ended right there. She switched to directing. Now, she’s famous for films like Lost in Translation. But acting? Never again.
3. Battlefield Earth (2000) – John Travolta
John Travolta was hot in the 90s with Pulp Fiction. Then he produced and starred in Battlefield Earth. This sci-fi mess based on a Scientology book bombed. It earned $29 million on a $75 million budget. Critics trashed it. Rotten Tomatoes score: 3%. Travolta played the villain Terl. His over-the-top acting got laughs for wrong reasons. He won two Razzies: Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actor for his wig. The flop hurt his box office draw. He did okay later with Hairspray, but it took time. Many say it stalled his A-list status.
4. The Phantom Menace (1999) – Jake Lloyd
Young Jake Lloyd got the role of young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I. It seemed like a dream. But the prequel got hate. Rotten Tomatoes: 52%. Lloyd’s acting as whiny Anakin drew bullying. He quit acting after. School kids mocked him. It hurt his mental health. He tried directing but faced issues. In 2015, he had a car chase with police. Now, he avoids the spotlight. The role ended his career early. He never acted again.
5. Catwoman (2004) – Halle Berry
Halle Berry won an Oscar for Monster’s Ball in 2001. Then she did Catwoman. This superhero flop made $82 million on $100 million budget. Rotten Tomatoes: 9%. Berry’s suit and acting got panned. She won a Razzie for Worst Actress and showed up to accept it. The film hurt her leading lady image. She did X-Men sequels, but big solo roles dried up for years. It took time to recover. Now, she’s back with action films, but Catwoman lingers.
6. Norbit (2007) – Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy was a comedy king in the 80s and 90s. Norbit changed that. He played the nerdy Norbit and his evil wife Rasputia. The film made $398 million, but critics hated it. Rotten Tomatoes: 8%. Murphy got a Razzie for Worst Actor, Screenplay, and more. It was his Worst Actor of the Decade. The fat suit and stereotypes drew backlash. His movie career tanked. He stuck to voice work like Shrek. Live-action roles vanished for years.
7. John Carter (2012) – Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch rose with Friday Night Lights. Then Disney’s John Carter. This $250 million sci-fi epic flopped at $284 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 52%. Kitsch’s lead role as the space cowboy got blamed. Critics said he lacked charisma. The studio lost $200 million. Kitsch’s career stalled. He did small roles, but no big breaks till True Detective. It almost buried him.
8. Cutthroat Island (1995) – Matthew Modine
Matthew Modine was up-and-coming after Full Metal Jacket. Cutthroat Island was a pirate adventure with Geena Davis. It bombed big. Budget $98 million, earned $10 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 4%. Modine played the hero. Critics called it cheesy. He read a bad review before press and froze. No leading roles after. He did TV and indies, but Hollywood forgot him for years.
9. The Love Guru (2008) – Mike Myers
Mike Myers killed it with Austin Powers. The Love Guru was his guru comedy. It flopped at $40 million on $60 million budget. Rotten Tomatoes: 15%. Myers’ accent and jokes bombed. He got a Razzie. It ended his movie run. He did voice work, but no live-action hits till now. Career on pause.
10. Son of the Mask (2005) – Jamie Kennedy
Jamie Kennedy shone in Scream. Son of the Mask was a sequel to Jim Carrey’s hit. It tanked. Earned $59 million on $36 million, but critics ripped it. Rotten Tomatoes: 6%. Kennedy’s wild dad role was too much. No more big comedies. He did TV, but movies dried up.
11. Pinocchio (2002) – Roberto Benigni
Roberto Benigni won an Oscar for Life Is Beautiful. Then he directed and starred in Pinocchio as the puppet. This Italian flop got 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Benigni’s childlike acting creeped out viewers. He won Razzies. His Hollywood dreams ended. Back to smaller films.
12. After Earth (2013) – Jaden Smith
Jaden Smith was a kid star. After Earth with dad Will Smith flopped. Budget $130 million, earned $243 million, but losses huge. Rotten Tomatoes: 11%. Jaden’s wooden acting got blamed. Critics said he couldn’t lead. He quit movies for music and social media.
13. The Next Best Thing (2000) – Rupert Everett
Rupert Everett was hot after My Best Friend’s Wedding. The Next Best Thing with Madonna bombed. Earned $42 million on $50 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 27%. Everett’s gay dad role drew bad press. He said it felt like “career death.” Fewer leads after. Mostly supporting now.
14. Vice Versa (1988) – Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold was big in Beverly Hills Cop. Vice Versa, a body-swap comedy, flopped. Earned $38 million on $15 million, but critics panned it. Rotten Tomatoes: 50%. Reinhold’s dad role was forgettable. He said it ended his “highfalutin Hollywood career.” Back to small parts.
15. Corky Romano (2001) – Chris Kattan
Chris Kattan was funny on SNL. Corky Romano was his mob comedy. It bombed at $25 million on $12 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 6%. Kattan’s goofy role got laughs, but wrong kind. Career stalled. He did TV, but no movies.
16. Swept Away (2002) – Madonna
Madonna wanted acting fame. Swept Away, a remake, flopped hard. Earned $1 million on $10 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 4%. Her rich girl role was awful. Won Razzie for Worst Actress. It killed her movie dreams. Back to music.
17. Batman & Robin (1997) – Chris O’Donnell
Chris O’Donnell was Robin in Batman Forever. Batman & Robin bombed. Earned $238 million on $160 million, but hated. Rotten Tomatoes: 12%. O’Donnell’s whiny Robin got mocked. He lost movie roles. Went to TV with NCIS.
18. Striptease (1996) – Demi Moore
Demi Moore was hot after Ghost. Striptease flopped. Earned $113 million on $50 million, but panned. Rotten Tomatoes: 17%. Moore’s stripper role drew Razzie. Her $12.5 million pay got hate. Career faded. Focused on personal life.
19. Gigli (2003) – Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
Gigli was a romantic crime flop. Earned $7 million on $54 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 6%. Affleck and Lopez’s chemistry bombed. Affleck’s career hit low. He did smaller films till Argo. Lopez too, but it hurt.
20. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) – Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy’s space comedy bombed. Earned $7 million on $100 million. Straight to video in some places. Rotten Tomatoes: 14%. Murphy’s lead role flopped bad. Almost ended his career again after sequels. Stuck to family films.
21. From Justin to Kelly (2003) – Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson won American Idol. From Justin to Kelly was her movie. It flopped at $5 million on $1.5 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 19%. Her singing star role was stiff. She ditched acting for music. Big win there.
22. Rollerball (2002) – Chris Klein
Chris Klein was in American Pie. Rollerball remake flopped. Earned $26 million on $70 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 3%. Klein’s athlete role was wooden. Career stalled. Did TV and small films.
23. Freddy Got Fingered (2001) – Tom Green
Tom Green was a MTV star. Freddy Got Fingered was his gross-out comedy. Earned $14 million on $2 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 17%. Green’s antics shocked. Won Razzies. Comedy career over. Back to TV.
24. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1997) – Mandy Patinkin? Wait, no – Actually, Klinton Spilsbury from The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
Klinton Spilsbury starred in The Legend of the Lone Ranger. It bombed at $13 million on $18 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 33%. His masked hero was stiff. He quit acting after. Never worked again.
25. Chairman of the Board (1998) – Carrot Top
Carrot Top was a prop comic. Chairman of the Board was his surf comedy. Straight to video. Rotten Tomatoes: 0%. His lead role bombed. Stuck to Vegas shows. No movies after.
26. Soul Man (1986) – C. Thomas Howell
C. Thomas Howell was in The Outsiders. Soul Man had him in blackface for college. It drew backlash. Earned $28 million on $5 million, but hated. Rotten Tomatoes: 0%. Career hurt by controversy. Small roles only.
27. Tooth Fairy (2010) – Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson was rising in action. Tooth Fairy was his family comedy. Earned $110 million on $48 million, but Rotten Tomatoes: 18%. Lowest score for him. Critics said it was cheesy. He bounced back with Fast & Furious, but it almost derailed the family turn.
These movies show how fragile fame is. Bad choices or bad luck can tank a career. Some actors recovered with smart moves. Others faded away. Hollywood forgets fast. But talent can bring them back. What do you think? Seen any of these?