Top 10 Movies That Bombed Hard Due to Bad Acting
#10: “The Love Guru” (2008)
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This comedy was not only bad, it arguably helped end Mike Myers’s career as a funny live-action leading man. He stars as the titular Love Guru, who must help the best player on the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team get through some personal problems. Myers doesn’t shine his brightest in the role, and even won the Razzie Award for Worst Actor. But he’s not the only one who disappoints. Many of the movie’s Razzie nominations were for its acting, with Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer, and Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley also receiving nominations. “The Love Guru” made a little over $40 million on a $62 million budget, which tells you everything you need to know.
#9: “The Mummy” (2017)
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Tom Cruise doesn’t miss often, but when he does, he misses hard. “The Mummy” served as a reboot of the long-running horror franchise, and it looked to kickstart a brand new shared world centered around the classic Universal Studios Monsters. The film’s budget reportedly fell between $125-$195 million, and it grossed a seemingly successful $410 million. But it appears no expense was spared on promotion, which meant money was lost in the end. “The Mummy’s” failures were many, and critics often pointed to the acting as a particular source of contention. Cruise’s performance didn’t measure up to his career-highs, and he was aided by disappointing showings from the supporting cast, including the Razzie-nominated Russell Crowe and Sofia Boutella.
#8: “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” (2002)
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Few movies have bombed as hard as “The Adventures of Pluto Nash.” It’s one of the worst-performing releases of all time, grossing a pitiful $7.1 million on a $100 million budget. The fact that disaster was on the horizon was evident from the jump. Both actor Joe Pantoliano and director Ron Underwood have claimed that they knew the film left a lot to be desired even as they were making it. Underwood pointed to his star Eddie Murphy, claiming that he “wasn't feeling that funny.” This opinion was mirrored by critics, who berated Murphy’s lead performance and felt it was uncharacteristically dull. It’s safe to say it’s certainly a blemish on the actor’s otherwise legendary resume.
#7: “Batman & Robin” (1997)
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When people look back and remember the great movie Batmans, George Clooney probably isn’t the first name to pop into mind. Now, he’s hardly “Batman & Robin”’s only problem. It’s considered one of the worst movies out there, with its campy tone and horrible script earning much ire. But the cast was also the subject of some criticism. Many people disliked Alicia Silverstone’s Batgirl, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was found to be grossly miscast as Mr. Freeze. At least his dreadful puns are legendary? But most of the blame was laid at Clooney’s feet, with critics finding him a poor and unconvincing Batman. Five of the actors received Razzie nominations, with Silverstone winning for Worst Actress.
#6: “Kazaam” (1996)
Shaquille O'Neal is a spectacular basketball player. But in this case, his acting chops didn’t live up to his athletic skill. “Kazaam” was released in 1996 - the same year O’Neal won gold at the Olympics and moved from the Magic to the Lakers. It was a huge year for his career, but he wasn’t able to capitalize with “Kazaam.” He plays the titular character, a genie who grants three wishes to the young Max. O’Neal’s performance was enjoyed by some, including critic Roger Ebert. But most found it uninteresting, and it has since become the target of jokes. The movie bombed, grossing just under its budget of $20 million, and O’Neal later admitted that he only did it for the experience and money.
#5: “Gigli” (2003)
On paper, “Gigli” is a winner. It was written and directed by the Oscar-nominated Martin Brest and featured a number of A-list celebrities. The cast was led by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who starred as the titular Larry Gigli. Despite the duo being a real-life couple when the movie was released, folks felt they lacked on-screen spark, and the movie floundered. Both received Razzies, and they even won one together for Worst Screen Couple. Even fabled actors like Al Pacino and Christopher Walken had nothing to work with, with the latter giving a horribly over-the-top performance as a detective chasing Gigli. The movie made just over $7 million on a $75.6 million budget and effectively ended Brest’s directing career.
#4: “Glitter” (2001)
Mariah Carey likely hoped to become a film star with “Glitter,” but that didn’t quite pan out. The movie’s story feels derivative, with Carey playing an aspiring singer who falls for a DJ. Unoriginal scripts can still work with sharp writing and good performances, but “Glitter” contained neither. Carey’s performance is considered particularly egregious. It’s been said that she often fails to emote, and many of her scenes come across as painfully awkward. But Carey would be the first to admit that it was bad. She has spoken at length about the movie’s failure and the toll it took on her. Thankfully, there’s always that mega-successful singing career to fall back on!
#3: “The Wicker Man” (2006)
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Is Nicolas Cage the most memed actor of all time? If not, he’s certainly up there. “The Wicker Man” is two things - a remake of a beloved horror movie from 1973, and a gold mine of unintentional laughs. Cage plays Edward Malus, a cop who explores a pagan island off the coast of Washington for a missing girl. He hams it up to an absurd degree, and many people find his role over-acted and hilarious. Look, Cage is a great actor, but not here, not with this level of terrible line delivery. Poor reviews and bad word-of-mouth quickly spread (not to mention the jokes), and the movie failed to meet its $40 million budget.
#2: “Showgirls” (1995)
Many factors went into the bombing of “Showgirls.” For one thing, the movie was released with an NC-17 rating, meaning nobody under 17 could be admitted. Most mainstream movies avoid this rating, as it’s considered a death knell for box office success. For another, it just wasn’t considered very good, with most aspects of the production earning criticism. The acting was often singled out for condemnation - especially Elizabeth Berkley’s lead performance as Nomi Malone. “Showgirls” was nominated for a staggering thirteen Razzies, with six coming from the acting categories. Berkley was notably awarded Worst Actress, and the film’s failure also marked the end of her time with the Creative Artists talent Agency.
#1: “Battlefield Earth” (2000)
This notorious film seems to have been something of a passion project for John Travolta. A Scientologist since the mid-‘70s, he hoped to adapt L. Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth” for the big screen. Hubbard had published the novel in 1982, long after founding the Church of Scientology. Travolta even added his own money to the movie’s budget, which ballooned up to $73 million. Everything backfired, though. “Battlefield Earth” was widely condemned, with many finding fault in the movie’s acting. Travolta’s gonzo performance was mocked far and wide, as were those of Barry Pepper, Forest Whitaker, and Kelly Preston. Basically, no one came out looking good, and the film grossed just under $30 million. Suffice to say, plans for a sequel film were abandoned.
