Several big-budget Hollywood films with exceptionally talented actors failed to capitalize on the high potential of their exceptional casts.
Summary
-
Cats (2019) had a star-studded cast including James Corden, Judi Dench and Taylor Swift, but became one of the most unpopular films in recent memory.
-
Amsterdam (2022) had potential as an Oscar-contender drama with an exceptional cast, but ended up being a mediocre disappointment despite the talents of Christian Bale and Margot Robbie.
-
Suicide Squad (2016) failed to live up to expectations, despite a cast that included Will Smith and Margot Robbie, and missed the chance to be DC’s answer to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
PROJECT OF THE DAY VIDEO SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
A handful of star-studded films turned out to be total flops that ultimately wasted the cast’s potential. Typically, an ensemble piece is a promising insight into the quality of any movie or TV show, as well as an excellent marketing strategy for the content. In some cases, however, a movie that appears to be great just from the cast list and trailer simply doesn’t turn out the way it probably should due to a boring script, lazy direction, or some other type of creative disappointment.
Each of the following films has at least five lead actors as part of its main line-up, so it’s surprising that they haven’t been commercially successful or won over fans. Several of the actors in the following films are well decorated with accolades and are known internationally for iconic performances in other notable roles. With great victories come devastating losses, and these twelve films certainly fall into the latter category due to their inability to capitalize on the great films they could have been.
RELATED: 10 of the Longest Single-Take Scenes in Film History
12 Cats (2019)
The live-action adaptation of the Broadway musical. cats It was a strange failure that failed to win over audiences with its undeniable depth of talent. The film starred James Corden, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Rebel Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen and Taylor Swift, but ultimately became abundant source material for hilarious internet memes. Not even Swift’s appearance could change the fate of one of the most unpopular films of recent times.
11 Amsterdam (2022)
Amsterdam It had all the makings of an Oscar-nominated period drama with an exceptional cast and an experienced director in David O’Russell. However, the film seems to have lost its footing after an exciting start with countless cameos from famous actors and ended up being a mediocre and confusing disappointment. Amsterdam It featured a cast consisting of Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Timothy Olyphant, Rami Malek, Robert De Niro and Taylor Swift.
10 Movie 43 (2013)
Movie 43 is famous for being a notoriously bad movie with 13 directors and dozens of famous actors culminating in a colossal on-screen disappointment. During its relatively short running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, the film features appearances by Emma Stone, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pratt, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Liev Schreiber, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Kristen Bell, Gerard Butler, Halle Berry, Dennis Quaid, Seth MacFarlane, Greg Kinnear, Anna Farris, Jeremy Allen White, Kieran Culkin and more.
9 Gangster Squad (2013)
gangster squad It’s a hollow mafia movie and a period piece that doesn’t take advantage of its star cast. The film stars Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mack, Michael Peña, Holt McCallany and Giovanni Ribisi. gangster squad It’s certainly watchable, but it’s too stylized to distract from its lack of plot and character development and fails to make the most of its accomplished actors.
RELATED: 10 Great Characters Without Great Movies
8 Suicide Squad (2016)
Hopes were high for suicide squad, similar to almost every new DCU installment during the 2010s, but the film turned out to be overfunded and poorly executed. The cast included Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, David Harbour, Cara Delevingne, Joel Kinnaman, Ezra Miller and an unhinged Jared Leto as Joker. With all the hype surrounding the film, suicide squad could have been DC’s answer to Marvel guardian of the galaxy but it failed to impress either critics or the public.
7 All the King’s Men (2006)
All the king’s men was a 2006 remake of a popular 1949 noir film of the same name that stumbled despite the exceptional talents of its screenwriter and cast. The choral piece attracted artists such as Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini and Patricia Clarkson thanks to the prestige of writer and director Steven Zaillian, who wrote classics such as Schindler’s List, Gangs of New York, American Gangster, Moneyball, and the Irish.
6 The dead don’t die (2019)
The dead don’t die It had enormous potential from its idiosyncratic director Jim Jarmusch and his cast, but fell into the realm of mediocrity. The cast of the genre-blending comedy includes Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits, Steve Buscemi, Selena Gomez and Austin Butler. The attempt at comedy failed with the public and left much of the talent of its actors on the table.
5 Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t look up It also falls into the category of ensemble comedies that should be appreciated but ultimately failed. Director Adam McKay rarely fails with an impressive filmography that includes Succession and The big shortbut Don’t look up It felt like a missed opportunity considering their talent pool. The cast includes Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman and Timothée Chalamet.
RELATED: 10 Best “Worst Picture” Razzie-Nominated Movies, Ranked
4 The Counselor (2013)
The Counselor was a 2013 flop from director Ridley Scott based on a screenplay by renowned novelist Cormac McCarthy. The crime thriller starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Rosie Perez and Bruno Ganz felt like a cryptic, abstract narrative-style passion project rather than a thoughtful, tension-filled thriller.
3Dolittle (2020)
dolittle It was a move to another lead role for Robert Downey Jr. after years of playing Tony Stark/Iron Man in the film. Avengers movies and the larger MCU. The film was a critical disaster, dashing any hopes of a potential franchise and wasting its talented cast of Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Kumail Nanjiani, Tom Hollan, Ralph Fiennes, Craig Robinson, Marion Coultard and Selena Gomez. .
2Aloha (2015)
aloha It was a swing and a miss Jerry Maguire and almost famous Writer and director Cameron Crowe. The cast includes Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, Alex Baldwin, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, Danny McBride and Elizabeth Marvel. Crowe’s attempt to reinsert the nostalgic aura of his hit films of the late ’90s and early ’00s failed to ignite the same spark he once had among modern viewers and critics.
1 Armageddon (1998)
Michael Bay’s Armageddon is one of the most tonally ambiguous and objectively implausible films in his filmography, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a box office hit. Armageddon It could have been a much better film although its financial success means it really didn’t have to be. The star-studded film features a cast consisting of Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, Owen Wilson, William Fichtner, Jason Issacs and Michael Clarke Duncan.