Top 10 Actors With Only One Good Movie
It's possible they just need better agents. From Hayden Christensen, to Cuba Gooding Jr., to Marlon Wayans, these actors could stand to be more discerning with their role choices. WatchMojo counts down the top actors with only one good movie.
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Top 10 Actors With Only One Good Movie
Top 20 Actors With Only One Good Movie
While most actors will have a couple bad films on their résumé, these actors sadly have the opposite. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Actors With Only One Good Movie. For this list, we’re taking a look at actors that let their talent shine through in a particularly strong film, but have otherwise starred in one stinker after another.
#10: Hayden Christensen
“Shattered Glass” (2003) Poor Hayden, his career was over before it really began. Starring in “Episode II” and “III” of the very divisive “Star Wars” prequels, Christensen was criticized for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker and overall acting ability. In between these films, however, he starred in the biopic, “Shattered Glass.” Performing as Stephen Glass, who became notorious for his falsified magazine articles, Christensen’s brilliant portrayal helped the film receive rave reviews. While Christensen would star in other financially successful films, he has yet to see another critical hit.
#9: Andrew Dice Clay
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“Blue Jasmine” (2013) For all the success Andrew Dice Clay has had in the entertainment industry, the comedian’s track record at the box office is nothing short of dismal. That was the case until he was cast in the Woody Allen’s award-winning film, “Blue Jasmine.” If nothing else, Clay returning to film after 12 years and attempting to do a drama was a bold step. The film, however, was a critical and commercial hit and Clay’s performance was praised. Along with the 2015 “Entourage” movie, “Blue Jasmine” is the only film he has done in recent years. Here’s hoping the Diceman can get another good role.
#8: Tom Arnold
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“True Lies” (1994) Prior the box office juggernaut that is “True Lies,” Tom Arnold was known for his relationship with Roseanne Barr and his character “Arnie” that appeared on her sitcom. Earning an MTV Movie Award nomination for his portrayal as government agent Albert Gibson in “True Lies,” Arnold’s stock in Hollywood skyrocketed. What groundbreaking roles did he take after this? How about the token white guy in “Soul Plane” or a guy who sang about being his own grandpa? The rest of his film library is just as varied, but there isn’t another good offering in the bunch.
#7: Cuba Gooding Jr.
“Jerry Maguire” (1996) Cuba Gooding Jr.’s star was on the rise after he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for his role as the braggadocious Rod Tidwell in “Jerry Maguire.” Like Tidwell’s catchphrase, “Show me the money,” Gooding became the hottest thing after the film’s success. However, no film he has done since has matched the magic of the acclaimed comedy. While many of Gooding’s films seemed good on paper and tanked in execution, there was no way to make excuses for “Snow Dogs” and “Daddy Day Camp.” When Gooding can show us a film that can be enjoyed by fans and critics alike, then he will again be shown the money.
#6: Brendan Fraser
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“Gods and Monsters” (1998) While Brendan Fraser headlined the critically mixed, but financially profitable “Mummy” trilogy, he took part in the Academy Award-winning “Gods and Monsters” a year earlier. Sharing scenes with veteran actors Lynn Redgrave and Sir Ian McKellen, Frasier’s performance in the drama showed a whole other range of his acting ability. More often than not, though, Frasier played in mainly over-the-top comedy films like the live-action adaptions of “George of the Jungle” and “Dudley Do-Right.” While coming a long way from his humble beginnings in “Encino Man” and being a part of more dramatic film roles, “Gods and Monsters” was the critical peak he never returned to.
#5: Marlon Wayans
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“Requiem for a Dream” (2000) Marlon is a member of the Wayans family and got his start on his brother, Keenen’s film, “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” While dipping into the action and drama film genres, Wayans is best known for working with his brother Shawn on films that at best can be good for a cheap laugh. But in Darren Aronofsky’s drug drama, “Requiem for a Dream,” Wayans dives deep into his character and gives a remarkable performance. The performance is such a stark contrast to his comedic offerings that it’s almost hard to comprehend that it’s even the same actor.
#4: Linda Blair
“The Exorcist” (1973) Being a child actor in Hollywood is a very difficult road. For her role as the possessed Regan MacNeil in “The Exorcist,” Linda Blair became a Golden Globe-winning, and Academy Award-nominated, supporting actress. The terrifying role garnered her instant name recognition, but she was unable to duplicate that success in the rest of her film work. After the critical dumpster fire that was “The Exorcist II,” Blair was synonymous with lackluster horror movies and films that referenced her most acclaimed role; a role that overshadowed the rest of her career.
#3: Katherine Heigl
“Knocked Up” (2007) 2007 was a great year for Katherine Heigl. She not only won a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role as Dr. Stevens in “Grey’s Anatomy,” but the Judd Apatow rom-com, “Knocked Up” was critically successful and a box office hit. Not long after, Heigl’s movie career took off, earning several more financial successes. We say financial, as critics slammed these films hard. Recently, audiences have been sheepish towards her recent offerings. You know things aren’t as good as they used to be when your most recent successful film is “The Nut Job”.
#2: Stephen Baldwin
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“The Usual Suspects” (1995) When you’re a Baldwin in Hollywood and don’t have the first name of Alec, you tend to get overshadowed a bit. Still, every Baldwin gets their time to shine. Stephen, for example, is part of the stellar ensemble cast of the noir film, “The Usual Suspects.” His role as the foul-mouthed criminal, Michael McManus, is part of why this movie is loved by filmgoers, won Academy Awards, and quintupled its budget. But most of Baldwin’s other films pale in comparison, lacking the same quality storytelling and often flopping drastically.
#1: Tyler Perry
“Gone Girl” (2014) Tyler Perry is the man that made Madea a household name, whether we wanted it or not. A man that wears many hats, Perry’s role as an actor is the most tumultuous. Movies featuring Mabel “Madea” Simmons have yet to get the critics on their side. Even his transition to a more dramatic film like “Alex Cross” was universally panned. But as the lawyer, Tanner Bolt, in the thriller “Gone Girl,” Perry received critical praise that Madea never did, and it didn’t hurt that the film made over $360 million at the box office. While Perry and Medea still may make some money, Perry’s portrayal in “Gone Girl” was as good as gold.
