10 Roles Famous Actors Would Rather Forget
Every actor has to start somewhere, and sometimes, even when they're famous, they have bills to pay. They tend to hope we only remember their amazing roles, but we definitely remember the bad ones just as well. Here's a few of our favorites!
1) Leonardo DiCaprio - Critters 3
Before he was king of the world or winning an Oscar for having to eat raw liver, Leo was charming no audiences whatsoever in the forgotten dud, Critters 3. Do you remember this movie? I sure don't.
2) Johnny Depp - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Riding high off the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp was suddenly everywhere in Hollywood. Of course, he was a regular in his friend Tim Burton's movies, which ultimately lead to the announcement of his playing Willy Wonka in a new adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The results were less than thrilling. Taking on an iconic role from an iconic movie originally played by an iconic actor like Gene Wilder is no small task, and Depp's portrayal of the character was less whimsical and more... irritating.
3) Natalie Portman - Star Wars Prequels
Natalie Portman has been a major force in Hollywood since she was a child, giving a stellar debut performance in Léon: The Professional at the age of 13. She's since gone on to win an Oscar for Best Actress and be nominated several other times, but you'd be forgiven for thinking she's a terrible actress if all you know her from is Star Wars Episodes 1 - 3.
As Padmé Amidala, she's supposed to be the strong, intelligent queen of an entire planet. Instead, she spends most of her time spouting awful dialogue (which admittedly is George Lucas' fault, not hers) with the most wooden tone possible. Even the emotional scenes fall flat.
4) Robert De Niro - The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
In 2000, Hollywood released a reboot of this beloved Cold War-era cartoon that nobody really wanted. Somehow, they managed to rope a lot of genuine talent into the travesty: Rene Russo, Jason Alexander, John Goodman, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg all made appearances.
The worst of all though was Robert De Niro, veteran actor and Hollywood tough guy, as Fearless Leader, the ruler of Pottsylvania. It's such a steep drop for the actor that they even resort to him quoting his own lines from better movies!
5) George Clooney - Batman & Robin
One of the worst movies of 1997 and a total box office flop, Batman & Robin ultimately features a ton of big name actors that come out of it looking awful. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman as the villains couldn't save this trainwreck.
Of all of them though, George Clooney seems the most vocal about how much he regrets the film. He's been actually known to refund fans who tell him they saw it in theaters!
Click to the next page for even more roles that the stars probably hope you don't remember.
6) Anthony Hopkins - Bad Company
Buddy cop movies were everywhere in the 80s and 90s thanks to the success of franchises like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop. By the 2000s, the genre had largely gotten stale, with no better example than 2002's Bad Company.
Teaming Sir Anthony Hopkins, star of stage and screen, with Chris Rock for a bizarre buddy comedy pretty much doesn't work on any level. The jokes fall flat and the drama seems forced, and above all else, Hopkins comes off like he really just needed a paycheck.
7) Michael Caine - Jaws: The Revenge
Did you know that Jaws, the movie that rocketed Steven Spielberg to Hollywood royalty and single-handedly created the concept of the "Summer Blockbuster" had a sequel? Well, it actually had THREE, and all of them are awful.
The last (and worst) of them all, Jaws: The Revenge, features an already well-established Sir Michael Caine, who when asked about the film commented that "I have never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific."
8) Faye Dunaway - Dunston Checks In
Faye Dunaway was Hollywood royalty for years, starring in acclaimed films like Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, each of which earned her an Oscar nomination (and an ultimate win for Network). Her performances in these films even still get mentioned in "Best Of" lists to this day.
Her career entered something of a downward spiral in the 80s, ultimately culminating in her appearance in Dunston Checks In, a movie about a boy who befriends an orangutan in a luxurious hotel. Yeesh.
9) Marlon Brando - The Island of Dr. Moreau
Marlon Brando's career is one of the most classic examples of an A-lister falling from grace. After delivering legendary performances in classics like A Streetcar Named Desire, On The Waterfront, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, his growing personal and health issues lead to a steep decline in his output.
This ultimately culminated in an adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, a film that did nothing to help Brando or co-star Val Kilmer's careers. Brando, who was recovering from his daughter's suicide, reportedly needed to have his lines fed to him via radio receiver, and constantly feuded with Kilmer.
10) Martin Sheen - Spawn
Better-known these days as the father of fellow actor and living drug trip Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen has remained a staple in both film and television for decades. His roles in Badlands, Apocalypse Now, and The West Wing speak for themselves.
It's unfortunate then that he appeared in the notorious flop of a comic book adaptation, 1997's Spawn. As villain Jason Wynn, Sheen spends much of the film chewing the scenery and honestly not much else.