When a big box office movie flops, it doesn’t just waste your ticket money. A really terrible movie can take even A-list actors down with them. Why doesn’t Prince star in movies anymore? Whatever happened to Cuba Gooding Jr.’s career? These movies are why some of your favorite actors aren’t invited in front of the camera anymore.
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The Color Purple
This movie was excellently executed and so well acted most people have a hard time separating the characters from the acgtors who played them. Every time I see Danny Glover on screen I want to give him the chicken foot curse. And I’m willing to bet that most people who’ve seen The Color Purple have trouble forgiving any of Danny’s characters for what Mister did to Celie.
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Madea
Did you watch Alex Cross? The 2012 film was one of Tyler’s first feature films without the dress. Unfortunately the jump from cross-dressing grandma to hard-boiled detective was too big a jump for Perry fans to make. Alex Cross was a box office disaster — mostly because fans couldn’t stop picturing Tyler in a dress. Maybe he needs to spend a few more years behind the scenes until we can stop seeing Madea in every role he plays.
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“Showgirls”
“Jessie Spano” was one of our favorite characters from Saved By the Bell. But when “Showgirls” turned out to be more soft core porn than actual movie, the critics tore it and Elizabeth Berkley apart — and “Jessie Spano” hasn’t had a starring role since.
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Graffiti Bridge
Not every career ruiner is a bad thing. Despite Purple Rain‘s success, Prince might just be one of the worst actors on record. And fans were glad when Graffiti Bridge‘s spectacular flop convinced The Purple One to go back to focusing on what he does best. Prince hasn’t made a movie since and his fans couldn’t be happier.
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Boat Trip
Whatever happened to Cuba Gooding, Jr.? In two words? Boat Trip. This terrible movie was one long gay joke that was so terrible, Cuba publicly apologized for having made it. In 2006, He told the New York Times, “I was wrong on so many levels … It was also for the money. When I got to ‘Boat Trip,’ I thought it was time to do something that was going to make me a $20 million player.” Unfortunately, Cuba was wrong.
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Kazaam
Shaquille O’Neal may be one of the most likeable ballers that ever lived. But Shaq’s dreams of movie stardom were crushed when Kazaam was released: a terrible movie with an even worse soundtrack. The sad thing is, I think that given the chance at a watchable script, Shaq wouldn’t make a bad movie star.
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“Soul Man”
Back in the 80s, C. Thomas Howell was a big budget actor with roles in blockbusters like E.T., and “Red Dawn.” We’re still not sure why he thought it was a good idea to agree to blackface for his role in Soul Man. Predictably, the movie was a failure and C. Thomas Howell has been a “B” movie actor ever since.
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Glitter
We don’t know if we ever had high hopes about Mariah’s acting ability. But when the songstress starred in Glitter — one of the worst movies on record — her acting career came to a grinding halt. It took MiMi over a decade and a marriage to Nick Cannon to get back in front of the screen. We think her roles in “Precious” and “The Butler” could be what MiMi needs to get back on he big screen.
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Woo
For a few years in the 90s, it seemed like Jada Pinkett’s career was going to skyrocket like her famous future husband’s. Then along came “Woo.” Jada’s character was just as unlikeable as the script was unwatchable. And Jada’s leading roles just stopped coming. But thanks to “Hawthorne” and her husband’s serious Hollywood clout we hope Jada’s career is getting back on the upswing.
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Most of Eddie’s Movies
We’ll never understand why Eddie started doing family movies after he broke onto the scene as one of the Raw-est comedians of all time. Some of his movies were laugh out loud hilarious. But the rest of them have been some of the biggest flops of all time. “Norbit”? “Meet Dave”? “The Adventures of Pluto Nash”? Enough said.
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Waterworld
Kevin Costner directed and starred in this spectacular big-budget flop. And when it sank to the bottom to be one of the worst films in action movie history, it took Kevin Costner’s leading-man status right along with it.
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The Honeymooners
For a while it seemed like Cedric the Entertainer was going to follow in the footsteps of all the other Kings of Comedy and land himself a sitcom. But then along came “The Honeymooners”: a movie with a talented cast but a script so bad that not even Ced’s likability could save it. And when the movie tanked, it took all of Cedric’s leading roles with it. But since then, The Entertainer has been slowly climbing his way back to Hollywood visibility and we hope he breaks back into movies in a big way soon.
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Cat Woman
Have you seen Halle’s new TV show Extant? It’s been a long road back to leading lady status since Cat Woman derailed Halle’s career. The movie’s script was so terrible that just three years after Halle’s Oscar win she was awarded the Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress and a ticket to a Hollywood back seat. Luckily it looks like Halle’s career might finally be turning around.
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Iron Man
Terrence Howard’s onscreen performance in Iron Man was pitch perfect. But his fight for more money from the franchise earned him diva status as a difficult actor. Not only was he replaced by Don Cheadle for the rest of the series, but he’s had trouble getting A-list work ever since.
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The Love Guru
Remember Mike Myers? He was on a comedic hot streak with the “Shrek” and “Austin Powers” series. And then he made “The Love Guru.” If you managed to watch this travesty all the way through, you have a stronger stomach than most. The unfunniest movie of all time bombed so badly we haven’t seen Mike Myers in a starring role since.
