Top 10 Times One Actor Destroyed a Movie
#10: Jared Leto
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“Suicide Squad” (2016)
Who knew it was possible to make the Joker too weird? After Heath Ledger’s rendition of the villain in “The Dark Knight”, Jared Leto had a lot to live up to. Going all in, he tried to convince us the clown was part-criminal boss, part-deranged psychopath. But one could say the depiction was too on-the-nose, right down to the “damaged” face tattoo. Leto’s overacting and goofy facial expressions had the opposite effect, and probably led to more people laughing than being intimidated. He had proven himself as a formidable actor in other projects, which made his over-the-top characterization even more confusing. While the movie itself wasn’t met with total acclaim, his performance didn’t exactly help.
#9: Kristen Stewart
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“Snow White and the Huntsman” (2012)
Stewart is a talented actress — just look at her performance in “Spencer.” But her skills had often been criticized prior to that project. Her work as Bella Swan in the “Twilight” series gave her the reputation of being “wooden”, and her appearance in “Snow White and the Huntsman” seemed to cement it. In this rendition, the princess is a fighter, who isn’t taking her step-mothers’ murder attempts lying down. It could’ve been a cool take, but ultimately, Stewart wasn’t able to sell the role’s intensity. Some felt she wasn’t on the same level as the other performers, particularly Charlize Theron. While it was nice seeing her step out of her comfort zone, the fantasy might’ve fared better had they cast someone with more action experience.
#8: Stephen Lack
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“Scanners” (1981)
When a film is fantastic, even the smallest errors stick out like a sore thumb. When that error is an entire performance, it becomes glaringly obvious. This was the case for “Scanners”, a sci-fi story about psychics caught in wild circumstances with opposing goals. While it was praised by many, there was something holding it back– Stephen Lack’s acting. Many found him to be lifeless and absent in emotion. While this did make some sense for the role, he took it so far that the result could take one out of the experience. His deadpan delivery came across as him bored, rather than committed to the character. If he had emoted even a bit more, it might’ve made the movie a true 10/10.
#7: Russell Crowe
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“Les Misérables” (2012)
Live singing isn’t everyone’s strong suit. When it was announced that the “Les Misérables” movie would be sung live, audiences were intrigued. While stars like Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway got to flex their theater chops, others, like Russell Crowe, had less raw talent to depend on. With a smaller part, his voice could’ve blended into the company. However, he played the antagonist, who’s featured in multiple musical numbers. While he more than delivered on the acting aspect, his vocals simply couldn’t hold up. Despite his best efforts, his more minimal stage experience ultimately shone through and distracted from the rest of the show. This left many theater enthusiasts wishing that someone with stronger vocals had portrayed Javert instead.
#6: John Travolta
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“Battlefield Earth” (2000)
Following the success of 1994’s “Pulp Fiction”, the actor was on top of the world. He decided to use his leverage in Hollywood to back one film in particular – “Battlefield Earth”. Unfortunately, his passion didn’t translate to a well-made project. Everything about Travolta’s character fell flat, from the ridiculous look to his unintentionally comedic rendition. He didn’t do simple things that would have added depth, such as altering his voice to match his appearance. Considering how hard he pushed for the movie to be made, you’d think he would have put more effort into it. It was a massive step down from his previous work, and many couldn’t believe that this was the same person who had previously been nominated for Oscars.
#5: Kate Capshaw
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“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984)
In the first installment of the “Indiana Jones” series, Marion set the standard as an Indy companion, being resourceful, snappy, and independent. So when Kate Capshaw brought a different kind of characterization to Willie Scott in the sequel, it left some disappointed. While Willie was more of a “damsel in distress”, it’s been argued that Capshaw took that direction too far. Indeed, many felt that she didn’t add to anything beyond the romantic subplot. The character’s constant overreactions also led to the interpretation quickly becoming one-note. She isn’t the only denounced companion, though. Shia LaBeouf’s portrayal of Jones’s son in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” wasn’t unanimously loved, either.
#4: Elizabeth Berkley
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“Showgirls” (1995)
After being known for a show catered to kids and teenagers, it only makes sense that one would want to break out into more mature projects. For Elizabeth Berkley, that meant portraying Nomi in “Showgirls”, a film about a woman with aspirations of being, well, a showgirl. Unfortunately, after her time as straight-laced Jessie Spano, it was hard to buy her as a troubled rebel. She came across as melodramatic and stilted in many of her scenes, and though the controversial project itself was dramatic, she didn’t show much variation in her emotions. While it was a valiant attempt at making it big on the silver screen, the seriousness of the part was too much, and it just didn’t work.
#3: Marlon Brando
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“The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996)
At the peak of his career, Marlon Brando was untouchable. With roles in everything from “The Godfather” to “A Streetcar Named Desire”, he quickly cemented himself as an icon. However, when it came to “The Island of Dr. Moreau”, he seemed to have given up. Granted, he was going through a personal crisis at the time. However, instead of bowing out, he reportedly refused to learn his lines and was generally uncooperative. Further, he ad-libbed some scenes, and it all culminated in a shaky and unbecoming performance. Considering his caliber and previous work, it was jaw-dropping for all the wrong reasons. It was one of his final films as well, which only adds to the disappointment.
#2: Keanu Reeves
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“Bram Stoker's Dracula” (1992)
We know, we know, everybody loves Keanu Reeves — us included! But even the most beloved stars fumble the ball sometimes. This is most apparent in his portrayal of Jonathan in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” As a horror flick, It differed from his previous work, and gave him the opportunity to try something new. However, it soon became clear that it wasn’t quite a match. Compared to more seasoned members of the cast like Gary Oldman, he didn’t really match up. Between his lackluster attempt at an English accent and his unintentionally hilarious dramatic scenes, it was clear he was the wrong choice. Many have lamented that the end result would have been drastically better had they found someone who could properly sell the part.
#1: Sofia Coppola
“The Godfather Part III” (1990)
Considering how impactful the first two “Godfather” films were, it’s wild that Francis Ford Coppola took a chance on the third by casting his daughter as Mary Corleone. If she had been an extra or had a side part, it would’ve been fine, but her role was vital. Sofia was simply too green compared to the other cast members, many of whom had been working for decades, and lacked spirit. Indeed, her performance was panned by numerous critics, who felt she had been entirely miscast. In fact, her inclusion is considered by many to be the worst aspect of the feature. Luckily, she was able to rewrite her narrative by pivoting into movie-making, where she’s repeatedly proven her writing and directing talents.
Which movie do you think was dragged down by one performance? Let us know in the comments below!
