Top 10 Movies So Bad Actors QUIT
#10: "Battledogs" (2013)
Ariana Richards An Asylum production with supersoldiers fighting werewolves sounds like the bottom of the cinematic barrel. For diehard sci-fi fans, though, Ariana Richards’s not-so-big comeback was a selling point. Richards claimed fame as a child actress through several sci-fi blockbusters. Rather than pursue her superstardom following "Jurassic Park," however, she began focusing on her passion for painting. Richards acted off and on for years, most notably reprising her "Jurassic Park" and "Tremors" roles in sequels. But after a long hiatus, she called it quits with “Battledogs.” At least as she has found great success as a professional artist. Richards even remains an icon for her earlier creature features, though “Battledogs” suggests how showbiz can be more trouble than it’s worth.
#9: “Swept Away” (2002)
Madonna As one of the biggest pop stars ever, Madonna was bound for screen stardom. It seemed her already prominent acting career would achieve new prestige with her marriage to renowned British filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Sure enough, their first collaboration would be a remake of the Italian art film "Swept Away," in which an insufferable socialite and a lowly deckhand are marooned on an island. Unfortunately, hot off her Drowned World Tour, Madonna washed up. "Swept Away" was a box office disaster, receiving scathing reviews and sweeping the Golden Raspberries. It’s still widely considered Ritchie's worst movie. It was certainly Madonna's last in front of the camera. Though she maintains ties to the film industry, "Swept Away" convinced her to "take a bow" from acting.
#8: “A Thousand Words” (2012)
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Eddie Murphy The downfall of Eddie Murphy is almost as legendary as his revolutionary heyday. The 2000s were a financially uneven, critically bankrupt decade for the comedian’s film career. But 2012’s “A Thousand Words” marked the final word in this rut. The obnoxious mix of goofy family fantasy and PG-13 shock value alienated everyone. The movie bombed at the box office, largely thanks to word of mouth. Devastated by his 14th Razzie nomination, Murphy decided to take a year off. Well, that year turned into four. His attempt at a dramatic comeback with “Mr. Church” sure didn’t work. But with the beloved Rudy Ray Moore biopic “Dolemite Is My Name,” Murphy is back in action. After “A Thousand Words”, though, even fans didn’t mind the quiet streak.
#7: “Year One” (2009)
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Harold Ramis Filmmaker and actor Harold Ramis’ comedy classics can always take us back to the 1980s. “Year One,” however, doesn’t just literally set comedy back to the Stone Age. This prehistoric romp’s sense of story and humor amounts to clubbing audiences over the head with lazy religious and anthropological references. Ramis himself made a shameless cameo as Adam the First Man. The writer-director-producer clearly had some sort of vision. Sadly, with this bomb following several critical and box office disappointments, Ramis stepped away from the camera entirely. It wasn’t completely his choice. His health rapidly declined from 2010 to his passing in 2014. Ramis’ career should still be remembered fondly. It’s just a shame that it couldn’t end on something more evolved than “Year One.”
#6: “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999)
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Jake Lloyd The "Star Wars” Prequel Trilogy started as one of the most polarizing projects in Hollywood history. Many kids loved "The Phantom Menace," but it didn't form any nostalgic memories for one. Jake Lloyd had the honor of playing a young Anakin Skywalker, destined to become Darth Vader. That honor didn't hold up under disappointed critics and fans focusing an unfair amount of hostility on the movie's child star. Never mind the hostilities he faced when he returned to school. Overwhelmed by fame and infamy in the wake of "The Phantom Menace," Lloyd vanished from the industry. He has not had an easy life since. But there's one person who can credibly claim that the "Star Wars" prequels ruined their childhood.
#5: “The 13th Warrior” (1999)
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Omar Sharif The sterling international reputation of Omar Sharif seemed invincible, even as major work slowed down. In 1999, what was supposed to be his big comeback to Hollywood ended up being one of his great regrets. “The 13th Warrior” chronicles a Viking settlement accompanied by an Arab Muslim traveler, played by Antonio Banderas. Sharif merely plays supporting to this miscast lead. The movie was not only critically panned, but became one of the biggest box office bombs ever. Sharif was so openly embarrassed by the failure that he flat-out retired. Thankfully, he made a César-winning return with the French film “Monsieur Ibrahim”, then worked steadily until his passing in 2015. For a while, though, it looked like “The 13th Warrior” had slain his distinguished career.
#4: “Trog” (1970)
Joan Crawford As one of the most reliable screen stars of Old Hollywood, Joan Crawford consistently bounced back from career slumps. But after she became typecast in mediocre B-thrillers, there was no busting the slump that was “Trog.” The horror of an anthropologist discovering a revived caveman was nothing compared to the horror of the movie’s failure. At least the famously dedicated lead actress was considered convincing as a dedicated, terrified scientist. All the same, Crawford never appeared in a movie again. She held her tongue in public during her final years, but it’s understood that she considered “Trog” to be the last straw. With so many true classics to her name, she probably wouldn’t take much comfort in her last film becoming a camp classic.
#3: “The Two-Faced Woman” (1941)
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Greta Garbo With consistent praise and inconsistent popularity, Greta Garbo knew well how two-faced the public can be. "The Two-Faced Woman" didn't even have the praise. Audiences felt that the farce failed to rise above its ridiculous premise of a woman who seduces her estranged husband by pretending to be her own sister. It wasn't Garbo's first flop, but it was guaranteed to be her last. She shockingly retired at age 36, despite plans to return after World War II. It's debatable how much the backlash over "The Two-Faced Woman" played into this decision, but it couldn't have helped. Garbo still maintains a legacy as one of the defining dramatic actresses of her era. Her comedy work, however, was an unfortunate closer to a groundbreaking career.
#2: “Welcome to Mooseport” (2004)
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Gene Hackman For four decades, Gene Hackman was recognized as one of America's finest actors. His popularity never declined, but "Welcome to Mooseport" was a real non-starter campaign. Hackman plays a former U.S. President who runs for Mayor of a small town, against a respected business owner. What promised to be an ingenious satire of American politics wound up being a dull mess. Audience turnout was even more abysmal. Hackman's big ideas seemed to no longer be in qualified hands. This had to play some role in the stress test that convinced him to switch to a more controllable career. Hackman fully retired with dignity after another nine years as a successful novelist. Still, "Welcome to Mooseport" remains a cold farewell for a towering screen icon.
#1: “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003)
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Sean Connery Besides originating James Bond for the big screen, Sean Connery's legendary charisma made him a major leading man into the 2000s. But he himself fell out of love with the film industry after "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Based on a subversive comic series, the movie was immediately panned as a generic and silly low point in superhero cinema. Connery's heated rivalry with director Stephen Norrington was also notorious. "LXG" may have shown a profit, but that wasn't enough for Connery. Openly observing a decline in the quality of Hollywood, he decided to retire. Ironically, he returned in 2012 to voice act in the catastrophic "Sir Billi." With Connery's legacy being otherwise stellar, at least he went out on his own terms.
