Top 10 Movies That Bombed So Hard They Ruined Actors Careers

“The Master of Disguise” (2002)
Nearly a decade after leaving “SNL,” Dana Carvey got a chance to be the star of his own feature. The film showed off his talent for impressions, but it received negative reactions for its childish jokes and a less-than-convincing storyline. Carvey’s abilities were stretched out into a movie that sometimes ranks among the worst comedies of its kind. Even with its limited financial success, “The Master of Disguise” was the comedian’s last role before a lengthy film hiatus. He instead shifted his attention to his family and stand-up in the meantime. Other than the occasional appearance on late night television or podcasts, the performer rarely acts in movies outside of voice work.

“Swept Away” (2002)
The Italian film “Swept Away” by Lina Wertmüller received a 21st-century update courtesy of director Guy Ritchie. The movie focuses on the story of two complete opposites surviving on a deserted island together. Playing the part of a snobby rich woman, Madonna was heavily criticized for her appearance in the love story. Given that the singer and Ritchie were married at the time, there was even more spotlight on the two artists during that period. Some people noted that the film was inferior to the original, along with the performer’s character being a divisive anti-hero. The remake ended up being one of her last live-action roles, turning her attention back to music and touring in the years since.

“Freddy Got Fingered” (2001)
It’s hard to believe that a movie called “Freddy Got Fingered” was released to the general public. Directed by, written by and starring Tom Green, the film was a provocative comedy with some truly controversial jokes. Green had momentary attention from this film and other projects such as his MTV show, but the reaction to the former halted any major career progress. While much of his comedy from the period has developed a cult following, he’s mainly steered towards his own stand-up and more talk shows in the intervening years. Green has yet to return to the level of stardom he achieved in the early 2000s.

“Batman & Robin” (1997)
“Batman & Robin” wasn’t kind to any of its main stars, including Alicia Silverstone. She had built up a reputation for her charismatic turn in “Clueless,” and was touted to be another huge star. After the release of the most panned Batman film ever, Silverstone started to disappear from larger Hollywood productions. Her appearance as Batgirl didn’t inspire confidence in filmmakers at the time, earning her a Razzie award and a mixed reception for the role. Films like “Blast from the Past” and “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” offered her supporting parts through the end of the ‘90s and the 2000s. Participating in theatre, the actor also spent the next few decades exploring different artistic avenues.

“Chairman of the Board” (1998)
Love him or not, Carrot Top is widely known as a premier prop comic. His rise to fame in the ‘90s spawned several TV appearances and this film. “Chairman of the Board” captures the performer’s wackiness in a movie that didn’t go over well with audiences. With bizarre casting choices including Raquel Welch, the strange plot about an inventor taking over a corporation failed to connect on a comedic level. The movie didn’t even crack a million dollars at the box office, unable to transplant Carrot Top’s success into the film world. Instead of taking the starring role in another project, he focused on his live comedy and developed a show in Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel.

“Cutthroat Island” (1995)
Winning an Academy Award and starring in commercial films in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Geena Davis was a surefire choice to star in “Cutthroat Island” in 1995. The swashbuckling adventure story partnered Davis up with Matthew Modine in a big-budget production. Audiences in the middle of the decade weren’t compelled by the material and it became a historic box-office bomb. Despite the talent and money on display, this pirate movie proved to be a substantial setback in the actor’s career. The next few years saw less roles for her as an above-the-title star, positioning her as a supporting actor instead. Next to a few parts in television, she started working in the 2000s to promote female representation in media.

“John Carter” (2012)
“John Carter” was set to be a huge Disney live-action epic. Instead of breaking records in a good way, the movie was among the biggest failures of its kind. The film's star Taylor Kitsch could’ve likely gone on to greater success, but this disastrous release stalled his trajectory as a future box-office star. He reappeared in films like “Lone Survivor,” but it seemed like the fallout from the sci-fi adventure had dashed any chances of him attaining leading-man status. Any plans for a sequel were also ditched despite original plans to the contrary. Kitsch has found more success in television since “John Carter,” whereas his future in cinema remains unclear.

“Son of the Mask” (2005)
Jamie Kennedy was never a massive star, but he received several chances to reach a bigger audience. After his role in “Scream” and his own prank show, this part in “Son of the Mask” was a big break for him as a potential comedy star. Instead of capturing the spirit of the original, the film was a jumbled mix of endless gags without the edge of Jim Carrey’s presence. Audiences largely steered away from the spinoff and its lack of genuine star power. Kennedy took on a significant amount of criticism and after the film his opportunities in Hollywood seemed to largely fade away. He’s managed to pave his own path in lesser-known movies, but this critical failure was a negative flashpoint for his career.

“The Love Guru” (2008)
In the ‘90s, Mike Myers was synonymous with hilarious comedy in both television and film. The actor finished out his spy trilogy “Austin Powers” in the early 2000s, later focusing on an original idea called “The Love Guru.” The result was one of Myers’s biggest critical and commercial misfires. Parodying Bollywood cinema, the movie doesn’t have the same fresh energy as Myers’s previous work. Ineffective and unflattering for the star, the project didn’t impress audiences. The resulting effect dulled the actor’s hold on Hollywood and compelled him to take a step back from leading roles. He’s slowly climbing out of this less successful period, having developed his own Netflix series called “The Pentaverate.”

“Showgirls” (1995)
“Saved by the Bell” introduced Elizabeth Berkley to the world in the late ‘80s. By the time the show ended in the mid ‘90s, it was fair to say that the actor wanted to take a dramatic leap forward into films. Her opportunity came with the making of Paul Verhoeven’s panned film “Showgirls.” Instead of being a gritty look into the life of a dancer, the project comes off like a parody of itself. Berkley’s performance was widely derided along with the rest of the production. While it wasn’t entirely her fault, the film left a stain on her future as a leading woman. Some supporting parts allowed the performer to continue her career, but this was the last recognizable role for her.