Top 10 Celebrity Comebacks of 2022
#10: Kate Bush
Almost 37 years after its original release, the 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill” by renowned British singer Kate Bush saw a huge resurgence. In 2022, the synth-pop tune was heavily featured on the fourth season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things”, after which it bounced right back onto the charts. Bush, who hardly ever licenses her songs to movies and TV shows, approved of the decision only because she was a fan of the series. That singular action brought a renewed interest in her discography and introduced her to a generation of listeners who hadn’t been born back in her heyday. “Running Up That Hill” soared to the top of the UK charts, becoming her first #1 hit there in decades.
#9: Lindsay Lohan
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Lindsay Lohan first hit it big playing twins in Disney’s 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap”. She then landed starring roles in cult classics like “Freaky Friday” and “Mean Girls”, which turned her into a teen idol and one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. In the late 2000s, Lohan suffered a series of personal setbacks that made her an easy target for the tabloids. Since then, the New York actress has been on-and-off from the big screen, mostly appearing in low-budget projects that never achieved much success. The 2020s offered something new and promising for Lohan though: a multi-picture deal with Netflix, with her comeback beginning with the 2022 holiday rom-com “Falling for Christmas”.
#8: Zach Cregger
One of the people behind the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, Zach Cregger established himself as a rising comedy star early in his career. The group’s sketch comedy show aired on IFC for four years and led to the development of the feature film “Miss March”, which was co-directed by Cregger. Following a string of regular roles in short-lived sitcoms, Cregger quietly disappeared from the spotlight. He, however, made a terrific return in 2022 with the release of his solo directorial debut “Barbarian”. The horror flick became a box office hit, grossing over $40 million worldwide and receiving rave reviews from movie critics.
#7: Baz Luhrmann
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Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann is well-known for his distinctive visual style - usually consisting of glamorous sets, theatrical sequences and vibrant color palettes. He earned particular praise for his “Red Curtain Trilogy” and the 2013 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. Following the success of “The Great Gatsby”, Luhrmann co-created the Netflix series “The Get Down” but remained largely absent from the big screen. After nearly a decade away, his next film - the eponymous biopic about rock & roll icon Elvis Presley - was released in June 2022. “Elvis” was widely praised for its visuals and performances, and proved to be a dazzling comeback for the Australian filmmaker.
#6: Selma Blair
Selma Blair first gained prominence starring in teen dramas and comedies such as “Cruel Intentions” and “Legally Blonde”. Though she found some global recognition with the Hellboy film series, she later stepped back from the limelight, appearing in a number of small independent films. Two years after portraying Kris Jenner in the acclaimed miniseries “American Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson”, Blair disclosed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 2022, she released a memoir detailing her experience with the illness, and returned to the screen as a contestant on the 31st season of “Dancing with the Stars”. Blair also presented the last trophy of the night at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, receiving a standing ovation as she walked onstage.
#5: Blink-182
In 2022, mysterious billboards and posters began appearing in cities around the world bearing the name of the pop-punk band Blink-182. The band also cleared their Instagram account and placed their official website under construction, leading many to speculate that they were gearing up for a comeback. After a few days of delayed gratification, fans were put out of their misery when they announced a new tune entitled “Edging”. The anthemic tune harkened back to their signature sound and also marked the return of founding member Tom DeLonge, who departed the band in 2015. Details of a comeback global tour were also revealed, with the group scheduled to play in Latin America for the first time ever.
#4: Hayden Christensen
Canadian actor Hayden Christensen began his career at the age of 12, but achieved international recognition when he won the role of Anakin Skywalker in the “Star Wars” franchise. He played the character who would eventually become Darth Vader in Episodes II & III of the prequel trilogy. Christensen picked up other starring roles afterwards, most notably in the films “Jumper” and “Takers”, but his performances became far and few between as the 2010s progressed. After returning in a voice role for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”, Christensen donned his Jedi robe for an epic comeback as the Sith Lord in the 2022 “Obi-Wan Kenobi” limited series.
#3: Ke Huy Quan
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Ke Huy Quan was just 12 years old when he starred opposite Harrison Ford in Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”. The film made him one of the most recognizable child actors at the time and opened the door to yet another starring role in “The Goonies”. In the years that followed, Quan had trouble booking Hollywood acting gigs so he eventually transitioned to stunt coordination. After seeing the success of “Crazy Rich Asians”, the Vietnam-born actor took a second stab at it and ultimately landed the role of Waymond Wang in 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Judging from the positive reception, it’s clear that audiences and critics alike are delighted to see Quan back on the screen.
#2: Britney Spears
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In light of her personal struggles in the mid-to-late 2000s, Britney Spears was placed under a conservatorship led, in part, by her father. Although she continued releasing music afterwards, the drawn out legal battle to regain control of her assets took its toll on the pop star and led to a dry spell. Following an outpouring of support by fans that evolved into the #FreeBritney movement, Spears was released from the conservatorship in November 2021. She stepped back onto the music scene a few months later, releasing the duet “Hold Me Closer” with Elton John. It may not have been the massive comeback we were hoping for, but we’re all just happy that Britney has found her voice once again.
#1: Brendan Fraser
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Back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Brendan Fraser was one of Hollywood’s leading men, starring in major blockbusters like “George of the Jungle” and “The Mummy” trilogy. As the years went on, Fraser suffered a few setbacks in his personal life, including a divorce from his longtime wife, the loss of his mother and health issues. Also, in 2018, he came forward with assault allegations against the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk. All of these significantly affected his career, relegating him to the sidelines. That is, until 2022 when Fraser starred in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale”. The role brought him widespread acclaim and a heartwarming ovation at the Venice International Film Festival.
