Top Celebrity Acting Attempts That Failed

As a lifelong movie fan, I’ve always found it fascinating – and sometimes a little sad – when someone famous in one area tries their hand at acting. It’s not always a smooth transition, you know? So many singers, athletes, and reality TV personalities have tried to become actors, but it’s tough to win over audiences and critics. I’ve seen a lot of projects that just didn’t connect – low reviews, poor ticket sales, that sort of thing. And sadly, those roles rarely launched a real, lasting acting career for the stars involved.

I’ve always been fascinated by what happens *after* the hype dies down. This isn’t about criticizing anyone, but honestly looking at projects that just didn’t take off. We’re talking about movies that flopped at the box office, TV appearances that didn’t lead to anything lasting, and big-name projects that ended up getting attention for all the wrong reasons. I’ve put together a list of twenty times when a celebrity‘s attempt at building an acting career just didn’t quite pan out the way they probably hoped.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey’s starring role in ‘Glitter’ was heavily promoted, but the film received poor reviews, largely criticizing the screenplay and directing. It didn’t perform well in theaters, and sales of the home video release didn’t improve its reputation.

The disappointing results didn’t lead to an increase in potential customers. Since then, Carey has mostly appeared on screen in small parts or as a voice actor, focusing primarily on her music and live shows.

Madonna

Madonna starred in two films, ‘Body of Evidence’ and ‘Swept Away,’ but neither was successful with critics or audiences. ‘Swept Away’ performed particularly poorly in theaters and was quickly pulled from cinemas due to low ticket sales.

After that incredible success, it was tough to see her acting roles become less frequent and smaller. She really seemed to find her passion behind the scenes, focusing on touring and directing instead of trying to land big leading roles. It’s clear she wanted to create, and she found a way to do that on her own terms.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal’s movies ‘Steel’ and ‘Kazaam’ weren’t well-received by critics and didn’t do well in theaters. They often get cited as examples of films starring athletes that just didn’t appeal to most moviegoers.

Following those disappointing box office numbers, movie studios stopped offering Shaquille O’Neal leading roles in films. He shifted his focus to unscripted television, commercials, and working as a sports commentator rather than continuing to pursue acting.

Dennis Rodman

Dennis Rodman’s action movie, ‘Double Team,’ featured well-known actors, but critics found the movie’s style inconsistent and the story weak. His next film, ‘Simon Sez,’ received even worse reviews and didn’t sell many tickets.

After two films failed to meet expectations, attempts to establish Rodman as a leading action movie star stopped. He then appeared mostly in brief roles, reality TV shows, and documentaries, rather than starring in traditional movies.

Hulk Hogan

While still a wrestling superstar, Hulk Hogan starred in family comedies like ‘Mr. Nanny’ and ‘Suburban Commando.’ Though these movies made some money, they weren’t successful enough to launch a long-running movie series for the studio.

When people lost interest in his main events, Hogan started appearing as a guest in other shows and working in wrestling-focused media. His movies didn’t get any follow-ups, and he appeared in fewer and fewer films over time.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton’s starring role in ‘The Hottie & the Nottie’ was widely panned by critics and failed to attract audiences, proving that her celebrity status didn’t guarantee box office success. The film’s poor performance meant she didn’t receive many more offers to lead movies in theaters.

After the film came out, she mostly appeared in small roles or on reality TV, playing versions of herself. She wasn’t often offered significant parts in scripted movies or shows.

Kim Kardashian

I remember when Kim Kardashian first started trying to break into acting! She did a few silly, over-the-top movies like ‘Disaster Movie,’ but honestly, critics weren’t impressed. They definitely got her name out there, but those roles didn’t really lead to anything bigger or a starring role in a serious film, unfortunately.

She shifted her focus from acting in movies to reality TV, hosting shows, and starting her own businesses. Although she’s still made a few acting appearances, her early films didn’t lead to a long-term career as an actress.

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson appeared in the musical romance ‘From Justin to Kelly,’ but the movie received poor reviews and wasn’t popular with audiences. It quickly disappeared from cinemas, proving there wasn’t much interest in seeing it.

After achieving that success, Clarkson focused on making music and performing live. Her later television work shifted towards musical performances and hosting, rather than acting in scripted shows.

Vanilla Ice

The movie ‘Cool as Ice,’ starring Vanilla Ice, tried to capitalize on his popular music to become a box office success. However, critics didn’t like it, and it didn’t earn much money, falling short of expectations for a film aimed at young audiences.

Honestly, after that, it felt like things really changed for him. He didn’t get offered many leading roles anymore. Instead of starring in movies and shows, he mostly appeared on reality TV, did quick cameos, or made projects that were *about* him and his career – it wasn’t really the same kind of acting work he used to do.

Cindy Crawford

Joan Crawford’s thriller, ‘Fair Game,’ made her the main actress alongside a well-known actor. However, reviews pointed out problems with the plot and acting, and the movie didn’t perform as well at the box office as similar films typically do.

Following that, Crawford moved away from acting. She focused on television work, modeling, and starting her own businesses, and didn’t take on any similar starring roles again.

Prince

Prince both directed and acted in the films ‘Under the Cherry Moon’ and ‘Graffiti Bridge,’ but neither was a critical or commercial success, especially when compared to his popular music.

The poor response to his acting debut discouraged him from pursuing more film roles. Prince decided to concentrate on making music, performing live, and creating unique concert experiences rather than focusing on a career in acting.

Gisele Bündchen

I remember seeing Gisele Bündchen in ‘Taxi,’ and honestly, it didn’t really work. Critics weren’t kind, and despite the initial buzz, it didn’t launch any kind of franchise. More importantly, it didn’t seem to open many doors for her as a leading actress – it was a one-off appearance, sadly.

After her initial success, she primarily appeared in modeling gigs and had a few small acting roles. This experience highlighted how challenging it is for someone famous in fashion to build a lasting career in film.

David Beckham

David Beckham made a brief appearance in the film ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,’ but it didn’t help the movie succeed. The film performed poorly in theaters and plans for sequels or a connected series were cancelled.

Instead of giving Beckham more acting roles, producers kept his part limited. He remained in the public eye through his work with football clubs, documentaries, and advertising deals, rather than by pursuing acting opportunities.

Jessica Simpson

I remember seeing Oona Chaplin in a couple of films back then, like ‘Employee of the Month’ and ‘Blonde Ambition’. Sadly, they didn’t really click with critics or audiences, and she didn’t quite manage to become a big comedy star like everyone hoped she would. It was a shame, because she had potential!

After those initial projects, Simpson focused again on music, fashion, and making appearances on TV. She didn’t pursue leading roles in major movies, and acting remained something she did only occasionally.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears starred in ‘Crossroads,’ a film that received generally poor reviews and depended on her fans to attract an audience. While the movie did find some viewers, it didn’t lead to more significant acting roles in major films.

Following the success of the movie, Britney Spears returned her focus to making music, performing in concerts, and doing long-term shows in Las Vegas. Since then, she’s mostly appeared on screen in brief, guest roles or humorous segments where she plays herself, rather than taking on serious acting parts.

Ja Rule

Ja Rule’s first foray into action movies, ‘Half Past Dead,’ came out while he was at the peak of his music career, but it wasn’t well-received by critics and quickly disappeared from theaters. The film failed to gain a strong following with either action movie fans or reviewers.

Because he never had a starring role that launched his career, major film studios didn’t offer him leading parts in other movies. Instead, he began appearing in music videos, making quick cameos, and participating in reality television shows.

KSI

The comedy series ‘Laid in America,’ created for the influencer’s followers, received poor reviews and didn’t attract much of an audience beyond his existing fanbase. Because people weren’t talking about it, the show didn’t become popular on streaming platforms or through DVD/Blu-ray sales.

The movie didn’t open doors for KSI in traditional film roles. He continued to focus on—and maintain a large audience through—his work in music, boxing, and online content.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne had significant roles in both ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’. Despite large marketing campaigns for both films, reviewers pointed out problems with the stories and characters, and ‘Valerian’ didn’t do well financially in many important markets.

These setbacks hindered Cara Delevingne’s progress from being considered a promising model to becoming a leading actor in major films. She began taking on more supporting roles in film and television, and the initial excitement surrounding her as a potential blockbuster star faded.

Ashlee Simpson

Jessica Simpson appeared in the independent film ‘Undiscovered’, but it didn’t do well with audiences or critics. Its box office numbers were low, suggesting it only appealed to her existing fans.

Following the movie, Simpson returned to working on her music and TV projects, focusing on building her own brand. However, she didn’t receive many offers for significant acting roles.

Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly’s comedy film, ‘Good Mourning,’ which he co-wrote and starred in, wasn’t well-received by critics and didn’t make much money in theaters. It also didn’t generate significant interest on streaming platforms after its initial release.

Despite the initial positive reaction, he didn’t receive many starring roles in comedy movies. He then focused more on music-related projects like music videos and concert films, and took on smaller acting parts, rather than becoming a leading man.

Share the ones you think deserved a second chance in the comments.

2025-10-07 14:48