There are times when I see an actor cast in a movie that makes me wonder if they’re being blackmailed to take part. Why else would actors of such high caliber partake in a film they know is doomed from the start?
Yes, I know money plays a role, but these must have been offers they couldn’t refuse. Money or not, these roles left a stain on each actor’s filmography.
Cats (2019) – Ian McKellen
While we know Sir Ian McKellen has a love for the theater, I don’t think this is what he had in mind. His disdain for CGI and green screen work was on full display during the making of the Lord of the Rings films, so I can’t imagine he had a good time making this literal nightmare.
It speaks to his acting abilities that even though he found it difficult to act in an imaginary environment, his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy stands as his greatest work. He is Gandalf, and no amount of CGI fur can take that from him.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – Oscar Isaac
Oh, Oscar. What an absolute waste of an incredible talent. Oscar Issac’s role as Poe Dameron in the most recent Star Wars trilogy was built up beautifully in the first two films, but it fell flat in the finale. His story fizzled, and he became little more than a background character.
Ex Machina is a role in which Oscar’s range is fully displayed. His chilling portrayal of a manipulative tech genius has massive staying power.
Prometheus (2012) – Guy Pearce
You’re telling me they needed the Guy Pearce to don old age makeup and be on screen for less than three minutes to play Peter Weyland? Just hire an actor who’s already old and call it a day.
If you want to Guy use his full potential while looking his age, queue up Memento and bask in his brilliance.
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
Dolittle (2020) – Robert Downey Jr.
This had to have been a blackmail situation, right? RDJ didn’t need the money after those Marvel checks hit his account. Maybe he just wanted to hang out with animals and have fun. That seems like the likely reason.
Most people would consider RDJ’s greatest role to be Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but to see his true range outside of a comic book character, feast your eyes upon Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus. His portrayal as a man with hypertrichosis (better known as Werewolf Syndrome) is multifaceted and heartachingly magnificent.
The Emoji Movie (2017) – Patrick Stewart
This entire movie feels like a fever dream. It’s clearly a failed attempt to ride on the coattails of Inside Out’s success. We don’t need a film about emojis and we definitely don’t want Sir Patrick Stewart playing a poop emoji.
Your time would be better spent witnessing him in all his glory as Professor X in the X-Men franchise. There’s a reason he’s held the role for over 20 years!
The Last Witch Hunter (2015) – Michael Caine
Does anyone else remember this movie? Vin Diesel with hair? *shudders* Oddly enough, Vin Diesel’s freaky follicles weren’t the most surprising part of the movie. Sir Michael Caine makes an appearance as a fatherly figure offering advice. Sounds familiar.
To see Sir Michael flex his acting chops, look no further than The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Not every actor can hold their own alongside a gaggle of puppet cast members as well as Caine does. His portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge made this one of the best adaptations of A Christmas Carol.
Warcraft (2016) – Ben Foster
While Ben Foster might not be a household name like the other actors mentioned, he is still incredibly talented and gives 110% in every performance. That’s why his appearance in Warcraft came as a shock. While fans had high hopes for the movie, it ended up being CGI slop.
Foster’s raw talent really shines with his performance in 3:10 to Yuma (2007). He steals every scene, making it an unforgettable role.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Woody Harrelson
I don’t necessarily dislike the Venom movies, but I do feel that Woody Harrelson was wasted in this sequel. He’s on screen for around 15 minutes sporadically throughout the movie, and given his abilities, it’s clear he was a waste in this film.
If you think Woody’s portrayal of a psychopath was good as Carnage, witness true insanity with his performance in Natural Born Killers (1994). His ability to play a character both charming and capable of horrific violence should not be overlooked.
Gods of Egypt (2016) – Chadwick Boseman
This jumbled mess of Egyptian mythology, bad CGI, and an even worse storyline left much to be desired. It was already bad enough that most of the actors weren’t even Egyptian, but having the late Chadwick Boseman waste his time and talent on this flop was the icing on the doo-doo cake.
Give one of Chadwick’s knockout performances as Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017) a watch instead. He breathes life into this telling of the first African-American Supreme Court Justice and his fight through one of many career defining court cases.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – Nicole Kidman
I recently watched Eyes Wide Shut for the very first time (put your pitchforks down), and it wasn’t what I expected. I’d always heard it was some debauchery-filled, scandalous film. It seemed tame, and Nicole’s performance outshined anything else the film had to offer.
On the other hand, watch her most recent success, Babygirl (2024), to see an Eyes Wide Shut-level performance surrounded by a film that is deserving of such talent.
Follow us on MSN for more of the content you love.
Read More:
Kayla is a creative force at Outrun Gaming, where she handles image editing with a dash of flair. When she’s not leveling up content, she’s hanging with her family, binging movies, booting up video games, or getting lost in art. With a knack for making people laugh, Kayla brings her playful energy to everything she does, mixing fun with creativity at every turn.
Leave a Reply