Top 10 Actors Who Need A Hit Movie To Save Their Career Right Now

#10: Sam Worthington

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Since his lead role in 2009’s “Avatar,” it’s been a rough go for this Australian actor. Sure, there’s an “Avatar” sequel coming in 2020, but Sam Worthington’s recent filmography has been anything but spectacular. He remains a working actor, with notable roles in blockbusters like “Everest” and “Hacksaw Ridge,” but he’s undeniably lost his clout as a potential Hollywood A-lister. Plus, his 2014 legal troubles involving the alleged assault of a paparazzo might make directors think twice about casting him. Hopefully at least one of the four planned Avatar sequels will bring Worthington back to the A-list.

In 2004, this American actor emerged with standout performances in both “Troy” and “Friday Night Lights.” At the time, it seemed like Garrett Hedlund would be breaking hearts and cashing checks for years to come. But since 2010’s “Tron: Legacy,” he’s fallen into a James Dean-type character archetype. Y’know, the squinty-eyed, cigarette smoking character we’ve all seen before. Just take a look at Hedlund’s performances in “On the Road” and “Inside Llewyn Davis” for reference. He’s still got heartthrob appeal and maintains a decent Hollywood resume, appearing in 2017’s “Mudbound.” But will Garrett Hedlund become a true leading man, or remain a perpetual supporting actor?

#8: Shia LaBeouf

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Shia, Shia, Shia. This man used to have it all. Geez, he was even looking like the successor to Indiana Jones at one point. But then he started acting… strange. And, whereas some eccentric actors, like James Franco, have charm, Shia LaBeouf often appears unlikeable, with his egocentric ways and bizarre behavior. Recently, Shia appears to be back on track with films like “Fury”, “American Honey” and “Borg McEnroe,” but only time will tell if he’s going to be the prototypical indie-minded actor who’s committed to the craft, or the Hollywood actor who’s committed to maintaining a public image.

Thanks to the “Transformers” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchises, this American actress has become a cinematic sex symbol. But many movie fans are wondering what Megan Fox has to offer beyond her obvious sex appeal. Way back in 2012, she showed off a comedic side in Judd Apatow’s “This Is 40,” but we’ve only seen her as April O’Neil since then. So, as Megan Fox enters the next stage of her career, she doesn’t have much on her resume besides critically lambasted franchise movies. She may live a comfortable life, but will she have a legacy beyond her most famous roles?

#6: Jai Courtney

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If you’re not familiar with this Australian actor, then you probably haven’t seen the “Divergent” movie franchise. He’s also reached mass audiences with roles in “Suicide Squad” and “Terminator Genisys.” But here’s what his fans want: a leading role in a major Hollywood film. His 2016 film “The Exception” didn’t exactly kill at the box office. In fact, it made less than a million dollars. While he recently showed off a good sense of comedic timing in Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later”, his IMDb page is relatively sparse in regards to future big budget projects. Here’s hoping that changes!

#5: Charlie Hunnam

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For seven seasons on FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” this man was so good in the leading role that many viewers didn’t even know he’s actually from England. Unfortunately, Charlie Hunnam’s transition into feature films hasn’t exactly won him the same renown. It’s not like he hasn’t been given the opportunity, however, with roles in “Crimson Peak” and “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” but he’s still at a cinematic crossroads, so to speak. If Charlie Hunnam’s leading role in the “Papillon” re-make doesn’t connect with mainstream audiences, then we just may see him returning to the small screen, although that might not be a bad thing, what with streaming services like Netlfix and Hulu on the rise.

#4: Taylor Lautner

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As of now, this buff American actor’s career has been defined by the “Twilight” saga. For some, Taylor Lautner IS Jacob Black, and that’s it. Considering the massive success of the vampire franchise, it’s been difficult for Lautner to establish himself elsewhere in Hollywood. He was Frat Boy Andy in “Grown Ups 2” and he also played Lil Pete in the Adam Sandler flick “The Ridiculous 6” . . . neoher of which was the most high profile of parts. While a main role on FX’s “Scream Queens” kept him in the spotlight, it doesn’t seem like Lautner is a hot commodity in Hollywood as much as he once was.

#3: Jessica Biel

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For years, this American actress seemed like she was always on the cusp of breaking into super-stardom. She’s a former “7th Heaven” starlet who has been able to maintain a steady career in the movie industry. Add to that the fact that she’s married to Justin Timberlake, and things seem to be going pretty well for her. However, she’s yet to land that one special role. Yes, she’s been in some blockbuster films like “The A-Team,“ “Total Recall” and even some notable rom-coms. But, Biel still seems to be trending downward, despite her best efforts to display her versatility as an actress. Perhaps Rob Reiner’s “Shock and Awe” will re-ignite her career.

This Canadian can’t seem to catch a break. Mostly known as Tim Riggins from the TV series “Friday Night Lights,” Kitsch’s main issue isn’t his lack of acting talent, but rather his choice of projects. 2012 should’ve been his year, but the three movies he starred in – “John Carter”, “Battleship”, and “Savages” – were disappointments either critically, financially, or both. Things were looking up when he was cast in the sophomore season of HBO’s “True Detective”…but the season was nowhere near as well received as the first. Admirably, Kitsch hasn’t slowed down, even though the upper echelons of stardom always seem to be just out of his reach.

There was a time when this English actor was a legit A-lister and movie heartthrob. In the 2000s, Orlando Bloom reached superstar status with iconic roles in both “The Lord of the Rings” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchises, not to mention leading roles in “Troy” and “Kingdom of Heaven.” But then “Elizabethtown” happened. Since then, Orlando has failed to maintain his mainstream mojo, as evidenced by a recent supporting role in the indie dramedy “Digging for Fire” and a leading role in the flop thriller “Unlocked.” It’s now or never for Orlando Bloom, and it just doesn’t seem like “S.M.A.R.T. Chase” will be the mainstream hit that he needs.