Top 10 Actors Who Saved Their Career with One Performance

Top 10 Actors Who Saved Their Career with One Performance

These stars came back in a big way. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Actors Who Saved Their Career with One Performance.

For this list, we’ll be looking at actors who largely turned their careers around with one movie. We’ll be taking into account the state of their respective careers both before and after the particular role, as well as the popularity of the role itself. Whether the actor eventually returned to infamy is irrelevant, so long as there was a noticeable uptick in their output after the performances in question.

#10: Ryan Reynolds / Deadpool

“Deadpool” (2016)

Despite being one of the most likable movie stars in the business, Ryan Reynolds was hit with a barrage of box-office bombs in the early 2010s. As he’ll gladly tell you now, 2011’s “Green Lantern” was far from the crowd-pleaser DC had in mind for their iconic hero’s first feature. We knew he was right for the Merc with a Mouth, but the studio’s botching of the character in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” hardly inspired confidence. Fortunately, he got the comics-accurate solo film we’d been dreaming of in 2016, and it did not disappoint. We just have to thank whoever released the test footage that got the ball rolling, whether or not that person’s name rhymes with Schmyan Schmeynolds.

#9: Keanu Reeves / John Wick

“John Wick” (2014)

We’ve known for a long time that Keanu Reeves can kick ass on film, as is evidenced by the first “Matrix” movie. However the poor reception to that film’s two sequels and later duds like “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and “47 Ronin” signaled that perhaps the action star’s best days were behind him, as expressed in the “Sad Keanu” memes. Though we never thought of him as a powerhouse actor, ardent fans of his hoped the perfect role for him would come around. Someone must have been listening, as the “John Wick” movies slowly evolved from sleeper hits to blockbuster sensations. Reeves-mania has gotten so big in fact, that a “Matrix 4” practically went from being a long shot to a done deal.

#8: Michael Keaton / Riggan Thomson

“Birdman” (2014)

Back in the day, people were skeptical of Keaton’s casting as the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s Batman movie, though many were silenced when they saw him don the cape and cowl on the big screen. After a single sequel, Keaton stepped away from the franchise, which got significantly worse while Keaton did... well... “Jack Frost.” Keaton stayed relatively quiet for much of the 2000s, but we’re sure the meta commentary on his career in 2014’s “Birdman” was too good to pass up. The film was a critical sensation, ultimately winning Best Picture and making Keaton an Oscar nominee. Since then Keaton has been in a slew of big movies, in addition to being another bird-themed character in a superhero movie as the MCU’s Vulture.

#7: Matthew McConaughey / Ron Woodroof

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013)

For much of his career, Matthew McConaughey was ridiculed for making a throng of lazy romantic comedies, from “Failure to Launch'' to “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” Then a little thing called the McConaissance happened, which started slow with movies like “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Mud,” allowing McConaughey to reveal his acting chops in a big way. It crested in 2013 when he gave an absolutely transformative performance in “Dallas Buyers Club,” which saw him pick up numerous critic accolades, culminating in an Oscar for Best Actor. Now we live in a world where McConaughey starring in serious projects like “Interstellar” and “True Detective” isn’t taken as jokes but as good marketing ploys, and to which we can only say…[insert “Alright, alright, alright…”]

#6: Mickey Rourke / Marv

“Sin City” (2005)

While you could argue that his Oscar-nominated turn in 2008’s “The Wrestler” put Mickey Rourke back in the winner’s circle, we maintain that came a little bit earlier in 2005 with Frank Miller’s “Sin City.” In the neo-noir thriller, he plays Marv, a hard-hitting brute out for revenge and to clear his name for the death of his lover. Though the ensemble film has plenty of memorable characters, his was especially so, as he adopted the tough-guy persona we’d know him for then on. In typical career-resurgence fashion, he then joined a superhero movie in “Iron Man 2” and even reprised his role as Marv in 2014’s “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.”

#5: Robert Pattinson / Connie Nikas

“Good Time” (2017)

For much of his early career, Robert Pattinson couldn’t be mentioned without someone groaning at his identification with “The Twilight Saga.” Though many defend his involvement citing poor source material, Pattinson spent the better part of five years trying to clear his name. Earning consistently decent marks for several lesser-known indies, it was inevitable one would put him over the top, and that one came in 2017 with “Good Time.” Pattinson gave a commandingly manic performance as a criminal evading capture all throughout New York City. Along with “The Lighthouse,” this gave Pattison the freedom to do basically whatever he wanted, and apparently what he wants is to be the next onscreen Batman. There’s that role again.

#4: Drew Barrymore / Casey Becker

“Scream” (1996)

Long referred to as America’s Sweetheart, then-child actress Drew Barrymore fell out of fashion in her adolescence due to issues attributed to a troubled upbringing. By the time “Scream” came out in 1996, people were intrigued to see what she would do in her twenties as the star of a meta, satirical slasher movie. They were in for a huge surprise as the movie’s biggest draw was killed off in the opening scene. Naturally, it was a small part, but boy was it the shocking, memorable one she was looking for. She springboarded off that into a career as a romantic comedy lead in films like “The Wedding Singer” and “Never Been Kissed.” Suffice it to say, Drew’s still got us screaming.

#3: Marlon Brando / Vito Corleone

“The Godfather” (1972)

Everyone knew Brando was a heavyweight actor from the get-go with his early work in movies like “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront,” the latter of which he won an Oscar for in 1955. However, the ‘60s saw Brando grow increasingly cynical towards the craft, as an uncharacteristic multipicture studio signing led to a string of disappointing flops. Despite his infamy for being difficult to work with, Brando transcended all criticisms in 1972 with his embodiment of mafia don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Brando commanded the screen yet again, winning his second Oscar and later proved that some of his best work was still ahead with “Apocalypse Now,” though the less said about “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” the better.

#2: John Travolta / Vincent Vega

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

Back in the ‘70s, John Travolta could do no wrong with back-to-back hits in “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” However, the ‘80s weren’t so kind, as his sequel to the former, “Staying Alive,” was panned by critics. Director Quentin Tarantino has made a career building back up the careers of former stars, but it all started with John Travolta as the alliteratively named Vincent Vega in 1994’s “Pulp Fiction.” Without this, we probably wouldn’t have gotten another fan-favorite performance of his in “Face/Off.” Of course, Travolta would soon re-tarnish his image in the year 2000 with “Battlefield Earth,” from which his career has never fully recovered, but that doesn’t take away from this entry’s impact.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Adam Sandler / Howard Ratner, “Uncut Gems” (2019)
Because He Turned His Manic Mannerisms into a Captivating Character

Jennifer Lopez / Ramona Vega, “Hustlers” (2019)
Because She Proved She Can Play a Nuanced Persona

Kristen Stewart / Valentine, “Clouds of Sils Maria” (2014)
Because She Strutted Her Stuff Post “Twilight”

Renée Zellwegger / Judy Garland, “Judy” (2019)
Because She Reminded People She Can Headline a Movie and Win Awards

#1: Robert Downey Jr. / Tony Stark

“Iron Man” (2008)

Could it really have been anyone else? As is now public knowledge, Robert Downey Jr. went through a severe dark period in the late ‘90s and early 2000s that saw him battle numerous drug addictions. This took a huge toll on his career, and people were genuinely shocked by his casting as Marvel’s Iron Man despite his recently sustained sobriety. All reservations evaporated when the film was released, as Downey rode a wave of critical acclaim as the star of one of the best superhero movies of all time. From this, the highest-grossing movie franchise was shaped in the form of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which employed Downey for an additional eleven years and made him one of the highest-paid stars on the planet.