8 Movies That Ruined the Actors’ Careers
Most actors can survive a misfire. One bad script, one awkward release, and the industry usually moves on. But every so often, a single movie lands so poorly that it reshapes how an actor is seen, sometimes permanently. Roles dry up, studio confidence fades, and what once looked like momentum turns into a long pause. These are eight films where the fallout lingered, not because of bad luck, but because everything unraveled at once.
Showgirls and Elizabeth Berkley
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After Saved by the Bell, Elizabeth Berkley took a big swing with Showgirls, hoping to prove she could handle grown-up roles. The film was meant to be edgy and provocative, but critics and audiences saw it as awkward and over-the-top. While the film later found cult status, her shot at leading roles vanished almost instantly.
The Love Guru and Mike Myers
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After years of near-bulletproof success with the Austin Powers series and Shrek, Mike Myers seemed untouchable. The Love Guru was meant to introduce a fresh character and mark the start of another long-running comedy chapter. Instead, the film drew heavy criticism and struggled at the box office. The response stalled Myers’ momentum, and he stepped away from major live-action roles for a long stretch afterward.
The Godfather Part III and Sofia Coppola
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Sofia Coppola never planned to act in The Godfather Part III, but when Winona Ryder dropped out, her father cast her in a key role. Reviews of the film focused heavily on her performance, and not in a good way. She moved behind the camera instead and became a respected director.
Catwoman and Halle Berry
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Halle Berry stepped into Catwoman at a moment when her career looked unstoppable. The film was pitched as a bold reworking of a familiar character, but the execution fell apart. Critics mocked the story and tone, and audiences stayed away. Berry famously showed up to accept her Razzie with humor and self-awareness, yet the fallout was real. After Catwoman, leading roles became harder to come by, and her career shifted into smaller, less prominent projects.
Howard the Duck and Lea Thompson
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In 1986, Lea Thompson was still riding the success of Back to the Future when she took on Howard the Duck, a sci-fi comedy featuring a talking alien duck. The film was panned for its strange tone and odd romantic subplot. Thompson later admitted she took the role for the paycheck, but the fallout stuck.
Superman Returns and Brandon Routh
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Brandon Routh was launched into the spotlight as Superman in Bryan Singer’s 2006 reboot. Expectations were massive. While the film made money, it failed to generate the excitement Warner Bros. had hoped for. Routh’s Superman didn’t get a sequel. He later found success on television, yet his film career never took off the way many had predicted after that debut.
In the Cut and Meg Ryan
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Known for her work in romantic comedies, Meg Ryan shocked audiences by starring in Jane Campion’s thriller In the Cut. The film aimed to showcase a different side of her acting range, but no viewers were ready for the shift. Ryan later said she felt done with Hollywood around that time, and after In the Cut, Hollywood seemed to agree.
Grease 2 and Maxwell Caulfield
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Following the massive success of Grease, the sequel was expected to launch Maxwell Caulfield’s film career in a big way. It didn’t. The movie was critically panned and flopped financially, and Caulfield shouldered much of the blame. Years later, he recalled how quickly the offers dried up.
Abduction and Taylor Lautner
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After the Twilight films, Taylor Lautner had real momentum and strong studio backing. Abduction was meant to show he could carry a movie on his own. Instead, it disappointed both critics and audiences, and his performance took much of the blame. Big studio roles slowed after that. Lautner moved toward smaller projects and television, and the expected post-Twilight rise never fully happened.
Two-Faced Woman and Greta Garbo
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Greta Garbo had already achieved legendary status when she took on Two-Faced Woman in 1941. The film was meant to show a more playful side of her, but the reaction was brutal. Critics called her performance stiff and awkward. Embarrassed by the response, Garbo left Hollywood entirely.