Top 20 Actors Who Saved Their Career with One Performance

“Uncut Gems” (2019)

We’ve known for a long time that Adam Sandler could act, whether it be from his grounded performance in “Punch-Drunk Love” or the surprisingly serious “Funny People.” However, he’s developed a reputation for seeming much more comfortable screwing around on-screen through… let’s just say “eccentric” characters. Yet, in 2019 he blew everyone out of the water with his manic energy in “Uncut Gems.” It’s too soon to tell where his career will take him from here, though he did threaten to make a movie that is “so bad on purpose” if he wasn't nominated for an Oscar, which he wasn’t. Whelp, then bring on “Grown Ups 3.” We deserve it.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)

No one ever really doubted Johnny Depp’s abilities as an actor prior to 2003, but aside from “Sleepy Hollow,” he hadn’t really starred in anything that had mass appeal, seeming to prefer off-kilter fare like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Though it’s easy to forget now, the prospect of Depp headlining an adaptation of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride didn’t sound all too appealing. However, when the first installment in the franchise was released, it was a massive success, and legions of fans popped up overnight to support Depp, who would even earn an Oscar nomination for his work. From there, he went on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood for the better part of fifteen years.

“Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020)

Back in the ‘90s, Jim Carrey rose to fame portraying wacky characters like Ace Ventura, the Mask, Lloyd Christmas, and the Riddler, just to name a few. However, his typical schtick became more and more seldom in the decades to come with his 2004 turn as Count Olaf in “A Series of Unfortunate Events” being arguably the last true Carrey performance. Throw in some personal troubles, and it seemed like the Carrey we knew and loved was gone. Enter “Sonic the Hedgehog,” where his zany portrayal of classic video game baddie Dr. Robotnik was praised for harkening back to his previous work. Though the film was plagued with post-production issues, Carrey is certainly one of the reasons a sequel was greenlit.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)

Though Paul Bettany was technically a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the beginning, voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. in 2008’s “Iron Man,” he had to wait to get his real shot. In those intervening years, he starred in a slew of critical and commercial failures, be it movies he headlined like “Legion” and “Priest” or those where he acted as a supporting player like “The Tourist” and “Transcendence.” Just when it seemed he didn’t know how to pick ‘em, Bettany’s MCU investment paid off with the advent of Vision in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” A bright spot in a decent enough sequel, Bettany was perfectly cast to play the android, and will be doing so again in the Disney+ series “WandaVision.”

“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)

From one MCU cast member to another, Chris Evans got his first chance to play a superhero in the first two “Fantastic Four” movies as Johnny Storm, a.k.a. Human Torch. However, that franchise fizzled out early, and his later attempts to participate in superhero / comic book adaptations like “Push” and “The Losers” also failed. Proving that fourth time’s the charm, Evans finally landed the perfect role in that of Steve Rogers and the titular hero in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” His popularity as the character growing with each subsequent appearance, Evans rounded out his time in the MCU by making fans everywhere weep. Now let’s see what he does outside the comic sphere.

“Clouds of Sils Maria” (2014)

Not the last actor to be marred by the “Twilight Saga” that we’ll talk about on this list, Kristen Stewart found herself one of the most disliked actors in Hollywood by the series’s end in 2012. Her affair with “Snow White and the Huntsman” director Rupert Sanders and subsequent breakup with “Twilight” co-star Robert Pattinson didn’t help matters. Moving somewhat out of the limelight, Stewart built her career back up with a string of indie movies, but the one that made doubters prove she could act came in 2014 with “Clouds of Sils Maria.” She more than held her own working against veteran actor Juliette Binoche, and has since returned to the blockbuster scene with 2019’s iteration of “Charlie’s Angels.”

“Hustlers” (2019)

Much like another entry on this list, Jennifer Lopez couldn’t be mentioned without evoking the string of romantic comedies she made throughout the 2000s. Though some are popular among a certain demographic like “Maid in Manhattan” and “The Wedding Planner,” few were very positively received from a critical standpoint, with the worst of the bunch coming in the form of “Gigli.” Another surprise 2019 performance, her role in “Hustlers” as Ramona Vega reminded people why she was such a magnetic star to begin with, receiving a bulk of the praise for the film. Though she too wasn’t nominated for an Oscar like many had hoped, it did show that J.Lo’s still got it.

“Mandy” (2018)

Even during his critical heyday around the turn of the 21st century, Nicolas Cage could still be described as an unorthodox and mesmerizingly manic screen presence. Exacerbated by a slew of financial troubles, it started to seem as if Cage accepted every offer that came his way to make ends meet, gracing us with such “esteemed classics” such as “Knowing” and “Season of the Witch,” whereby his eccentricities turned into overacting. Just when the world began to get nostalgic for him, we were graced with the perfect combination of manic Cage with actual quality in “Mandy.” It remains to be seen what kind of career renaissance may be over the horizon, but if it’s anything like “Mandy,” we’re here for it.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)

Beginning in 2009, Chris Pratt showed the world just how funny he could be on the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation” as fan-favorite Andy Dwyer. However, his presence in film remained rather limited for several years, inhabiting only small roles in good movies like “Zero Dark Thirty” and roles that were memorable for the wrong reasons like his turn in “Movie 43.” Yet, Pratt shocked the world in 2014 when he ditched his schlubby, slacker persona and bulked up for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” proving he could be funny and kick ass. This led to him being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, following up with more blockbusters like “Jurassic World.”

“Birdman” (2014)

Back in the day, people were skeptical of Keaton’s casting as the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s Batman movie, though many were silenced when they saw him don the cape and cowl on the big screen. After a single sequel, Keaton stepped away from the franchise, which got significantly worse while Keaton did... well... “Jack Frost.” Keaton stayed relatively quiet for much of the 2000s, but we’re sure the meta commentary on his career in 2014’s “Birdman” was too good to pass up. The film was a critical sensation, ultimately winning Best Picture and making Keaton an Oscar nominee. Since then Keaton has been in a slew of big movies, in addition to being another bird-themed character in a superhero movie as the MCU’s Vulture.

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013)

For much of his career, Matthew McConaughey was ridiculed for making a throng of lazy romantic comedies, from “Failure to Launch'' to “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” Then a little thing called the McConaissance happened, which started slow with movies like “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Mud,” allowing McConaughey to reveal his acting chops in a big way. It crested in 2013 when he gave an absolutely transformative performance in “Dallas Buyers Club,” which saw him pick up numerous critic accolades, culminating in an Oscar for Best Actor. Now we live in a world where McConaughey starring in serious projects like “Interstellar” and “True Detective” isn’t taken as jokes but as good marketing ploys, and to which we can only say…

“Sin City” (2005)

While you could argue that his Oscar-nominated turn in 2008’s “The Wrestler” put Mickey Rourke back in the winner’s circle, we maintain that came a little bit earlier in 2005 with Frank Miller’s “Sin City.” In the neo-noir thriller, he plays Marv, a hard-hitting brute out for revenge and to clear his name for the death of his lover. Though the ensemble film has plenty of memorable characters, his was especially so, as he adopted the tough-guy persona we’d know him for then on. In typical career-resurgence fashion, he then joined a superhero movie in “Iron Man 2” and even reprised his role as Marv in 2014’s “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.”

“Taken” (2008)

Believe it or not, but there was a time when Liam Neeson was better known as a dramatic actor, with only limited action set-pieces in movies like “The Phantom Menace” and “Batman Begins.” Though he wasn’t exactly starved for work, his career took a turn for the badass in 2008 with a little movie called “Taken,” in which he single-handedly takes down a procession of scumbags as he rescues his daughter from a sex trafficking ring. Opening the floodgates for other middle-aged actors to become action stars, virtually everything Neeson made afterward was an action romp of sorts, from “The A-Team,” to “The Grey,” to “Non-Stop,” to “The Commuter,” seriously, the list goes on and on.

“Deadpool” (2016)

Despite being one of the most likable movie stars in the business, Ryan Reynolds was hit with a barrage of box-office bombs in the early 2010s. As he’ll gladly tell you now, 2011’s “Green Lantern” was far from the crowd-pleaser DC had in mind for their iconic hero’s first feature. We knew he was right for the Merc with a Mouth, but the studio’s botching of the character in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” hardly inspired confidence. Fortunately, he got the comics-accurate solo film we’d been dreaming of in 2016, and it did not disappoint. We just have to thank whoever released the test footage that got the ball rolling, whether or not that person’s name rhymes with Schmyan Schmeynolds.

“John Wick” (2014)

We’ve known for a long time that Keanu Reeves can kick ass on film, as is evidenced by the first “Matrix” movie. However the poor reception to that film’s two sequels and later duds like “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and “47 Ronin” signaled that perhaps the action star’s best days were behind him, as expressed in the “Sad Keanu” memes. Though we never thought of him as a powerhouse actor, ardent fans of his hoped the perfect role for him would come around. Someone must have been listening, as the “John Wick” movies slowly evolved from sleeper hits to blockbuster sensations. Reeves-mania has gotten so big in fact, that a “Matrix 4” practically went from being a long shot to a done deal.

“Good Time” (2017)

For much of his early career, Robert Pattinson couldn’t be mentioned without someone groaning at his identification with “The Twilight Saga.” Though many defend his involvement citing poor source material, Pattinson spent the better part of five years trying to clear his name. Earning consistently decent marks for several lesser-known indies, it was inevitable one would put him over the top, and that one came in 2017 with “Good Time.” Pattinson gave a commandingly manic performance as a criminal evading capture all throughout New York City. Along with “The Lighthouse,” this gave Pattison the freedom to do basically whatever he wanted, and apparently what he wants is to be the next onscreen Batman. There’s that role again.

“The Godfather” (1972)

Everyone knew Brando was a heavyweight actor from the get-go with his early work in movies like “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront,” the latter of which he won an Oscar for in 1955. However, the ‘60s saw Brando grow increasingly cynical towards the craft, as an uncharacteristic multipicture studio signing led to a string of disappointing flops. Despite his infamy for being difficult to work with, Brando transcended all criticisms in 1972 with his embodiment of mafia don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Brando commanded the screen yet again, winning his second Oscar and later proved that some of his best work was still ahead with “Apocalypse Now,” though the less said about “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” the better.

“Scream” (1996)

Long referred to as America’s Sweetheart, then-child actress Drew Barrymore fell out of fashion in her adolescence due to issues attributed to a troubled upbringing. By the time “Scream” came out in 1996, people were intrigued to see what she would do in her twenties as the star of a meta, satirical slasher movie. They were in for a huge surprise as the movie’s biggest draw was killed off in the opening scene. Naturally, it was a small part, but boy was it the shocking, memorable one she was looking for. She springboarded off that into a career as a romantic comedy lead in films like “The Wedding Singer” and “Never Been Kissed.” Suffice it to say, Drew’s still got us screaming.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

Back in the ‘70s, John Travolta could do no wrong with back-to-back hits in “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” However, the ‘80s weren’t so kind, as his sequel to the former, “Staying Alive,” was panned by critics. Director Quentin Tarantino has made a career building back up the careers of former stars, but it all started with John Travolta as the alliteratively named Vincent Vega in 1994’s “Pulp Fiction.” Without this, we probably wouldn’t have gotten another fan-favorite performance of his in “Face/Off.” Of course, Travolta would soon re-tarnish his image in the year 2000 with “Battlefield Earth,” from which his career has never fully recovered, but that doesn’t take away from this entry’s impact.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Shia LaBeouf / James Lort
“Honey Boy” (2019)

Sylvester Stallone / Rocky Balboa
“Rocky Balboa” (2006)

Renée Zellwegger / Judy Garland
“Judy” (2019)

“Iron Man” (2008)

Could it really have been anyone else? As is now public knowledge, Robert Downey Jr. went through a severe dark period in the late ‘90s and early 2000s that saw him battle numerous drug addictions. This took a huge toll on his career, and people were genuinely shocked by his casting as Marvel’s Iron Man despite his recently sustained sobriety. All reservations evaporated when the film was released, as Downey rode a wave of critical acclaim as the star of one of the best superhero movies of all time. From this, the highest-grossing movie franchise was shaped in the form of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which employed Downey for an additional eleven years and made him one of the highest-paid stars on the planet.