20 Actors Whose Careers Sank After One Movie

In Hollywood, a single unsuccessful film can dramatically alter an actor’s career trajectory. Many promising actors, who once had strong reputations or recent successes, have seen their momentum halted by a high-profile flop. These stories serve as warnings whenever a new film starring a popular actor doesn’t perform well.

Elizabeth Berkley

After gaining fame on television, Elizabeth Berkley took a risk with the film ‘Showgirls’. Unfortunately, the movie, which received an NC-17 rating, was critically panned and didn’t attract many viewers. This negative reception overshadowed her previous successes and made it difficult for her to get leading roles in major studio films. While she continued acting, Berkley primarily focused on smaller projects and theater work instead of the large-scale films people had anticipated.

Chris O’Donnell

‘Batman and Robin’ initially generated a lot of excitement, with Chris O’Donnell starring alongside a talented ensemble cast. However, the movie received negative reviews for its style and didn’t resonate with audiences. Following this, O’Donnell found fewer leading roles in films. He eventually found consistent work and regained public recognition through television, particularly in procedural dramas.

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone became famous after starring in ‘Clueless,’ but her career faced a setback with the poorly received film ‘Batman and Robin.’ While she continued to act in independent movies and on stage, she shifted her focus over time to voice work and smaller roles, rather than leading parts in big studio films.

Taylor Kitsch

Taylor Kitsch’s attempt to become a leading man hinged on the success of the big-budget sci-fi film ‘John Carter.’ Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well enough to justify its cost, which hindered Kitsch’s career trajectory. He then focused on more nuanced roles in television and film to reconnect with audiences.

Dana Carvey

As a big comedy fan, I remember when Dana Carvey, fresh off his ‘Saturday Night Live’ success, tried to make a splash with ‘The Master of Disguise’. Sadly, it just didn’t land with critics or audiences. It really didn’t get the buzz comedies need to stay in theaters. After that, he seemed to shift focus, doing more stand-up and voice acting instead of trying to lead big movies. It was a bit of a shame, but he clearly found success in those other areas.

Jamie Kennedy

Jamie Kennedy aimed to become a leading actor with ‘Son of the Mask,’ but the sequel to the hit comedy didn’t perform well with critics or audiences. After that, Kennedy’s movie roles became smaller, often going straight to video. He continued to find success in stand-up comedy and television, where he maintained a loyal following.

Eddie Murphy

As a big Eddie Murphy fan, I remember when ‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ came out – everyone expected it to be huge, given his star power. But it totally flopped, both with audiences and critics. It was a real setback, and for a while, it made studios hesitant to invest in big, flashy comedies built solely around him. Thankfully, he bounced back by focusing on roles that really let him show off his acting chops, or projects that tapped into that nostalgic feeling people have for his earlier work.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore took on the film ‘Striptease’ after a period of successful, high-paying roles. However, the movie received negative reviews and didn’t perform well at the box office. This led to Hollywood studios becoming hesitant to center new films around her. While Moore continued acting, she received far fewer opportunities to be the lead in major productions.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis was a popular actress when ‘Cutthroat Island’ was made with a big budget. However, problems during filming and negative reviews meant the movie didn’t perform well. This impacted both Davis’s career and the studio that made the film. Afterwards, she focused more on television and took on fewer leading roles in major movies.

Kevin Costner

When Kevin Costner’s big-budget film ‘Waterworld’ came out, it received a lot of attention. However, reports of its high production costs and mixed reviews started to overshadow the film itself. This impacted Costner’s reputation as a guaranteed box office success. He responded by taking on roles in ensemble casts, directing projects, and working in television to keep his career going.

Mike Myers

After achieving great success with comedies like ‘Austin Powers’ and ‘Shrek’, Mike Myers’ film ‘The Love Guru’ was not well-received by critics, and audiences quickly lost interest. This led to fewer plans for similar comedies starring Myers. He then focused on occasional voice acting, small appearances in other films, and work behind the camera instead of consistently taking on leading roles.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry’s role as Catwoman received a lot of negative attention and the movie wasn’t successful. This damaged her chances of leading big-budget action films on her own. As a result, Berry expanded her work into thrillers, high-quality TV shows, and producing to guide her career in a new direction.

Taylor Lautner

Taylor Lautner attempted to move beyond his fame from ‘The Twilight Saga’ with the film ‘Abduction,’ but it wasn’t successful. Critics disliked the movie, and it didn’t help him become a leading action star. After that, he received fewer offers to star in films. He then focused on television work and smaller roles, taking time to figure out what kinds of parts he wanted to play.

Brandon Routh

I remember when Brandon Routh first donned the suit in ‘Superman Returns.’ It was a big moment, stepping into such legendary shoes. Sadly, the film didn’t quite land with everyone, and the studio decided to go in a different direction with the franchise. That meant Routh didn’t get to continue as Superman, and leading roles in movies became harder to come by. Thankfully, he found a consistent groove on television, even landing roles in superhero shows where he could still utilize that classic, heroic image he’d become known for.

Hayden Christensen

Hayden Christensen hoped ‘Jumper’ would launch him as a leading man, but the science fiction thriller didn’t receive good reviews and quickly lost public interest. This meant he couldn’t establish himself as a consistent box office draw beyond his work in well-known franchises. As a result, Christensen shifted his focus to smaller projects and occasionally revisited beloved characters.

Rachael Leigh Cook

Rachael Leigh Cook gained recognition with popular teen movies before landing a role in the musical comedy ‘Josie and the Pussycats.’ While the film didn’t perform well in theaters initially, it later gained a dedicated following. After that, Cook received fewer offers from major studios, but she continued acting in independent films and television, building a strong fanbase along the way.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone revisited her famous role in ‘Basic Instinct 2’, but the sequel didn’t achieve the same success as the first film, either with critics or at the box office. This impacted her opportunities for major leading roles right away. Stone continued acting, appearing in television shows and smaller independent films, often in supporting roles or roles that allowed her to explore complex characters.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell starred in the large-scale historical movie ‘Alexander’, but it received mixed reviews and struggled in theaters due to tough competition. This led to a temporary slowdown in offers for leading roles in big-budget films. Farrell then strategically chose smaller, director-focused projects with interesting characters, which eventually allowed him to return to starring in larger films.

Chris Klein

Chris Klein tried to expand his appeal with the film ‘Rollerball,’ but the action remake wasn’t successful and didn’t do well in theaters. This hindered his progress toward becoming a major leading actor, so he pivoted to roles in comedy ensembles and television to keep working.

Billy Zane

Billy Zane experienced a shift after starring in a major hit movie when he took the lead role in ‘The Phantom.’ Unfortunately, the film wasn’t a big success with audiences and didn’t launch the planned series. This made it harder for him to find leading roles in other projects. However, Zane continued working steadily through smaller parts in films, independent projects, and voice acting.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us which one movie you think changed a career the most.

2025-10-28 16:47