Even the biggest Hollywood stars can go through rough patches, where one box office flop follows another, threatening to derail their career. Whether due to poor film choices, personal struggles or being typecast, some actors find themselves stuck in a streak of commercial and critical failures. However, in the world of cinema, all it takes is one hit movie to change everything.
These films not only revive an actor’s career, but also remind the audience of the talent that first made them famous. From genre-defining performances to unexpected comebacks, Certain films have the power to drag the actors from a snake and back into the spotlight. These movies reverse an actor’s bad box office streak, showing how a single success can mark the beginning of a new chapter and a return to box office glory.
10
The Wrestler (2008) – Mickey Rourke
Worldwide Box Office: $44.7 million
Mickey Rourke’s bad box office streak spanned much of the late 1980s and 1990s, primarily due to personal issues and career missteps. After gaining fame in the 1980s with hits like 9½ weeks And Diner, Rourke developed a reputation as difficult to work withWhich led to conflicts with directors and fewer major roles. He also refused iconic roles in films like Plato And rain manFurther stalling his career.
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During this period, some of his films, such as Wild orchid And Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Manwere critical and commercial flops. The latter only had a $7.4 million box office haul despite a $23 million budget. In the early 1990s, Rourke left Hollywood to pursue a boxing career, further damaging his acting prospects and resulting in facial injuries that altered his appearance. His career only rebounded in 2008 with The wrestlerA critically acclaimed film that earned him an Academy Award nomination and revived his status in Hollywood.
9
Scream (1996) – Drew Barrymore
Worldwide Box Office: $173 million
The late 1980s and early 1990s represented Drew Barrymore’s bad box office streak, following her breakout success as a child star in et After her early fame, Barrymore faced personal struggles, including substance abuse and a rebellious image, which led to a series of underperforming films and a tarnished reputation in Hollywood. During this period, movies like Firestarter, Far from homeAnd Sam Ivy failed to make a significant impact, both critically and commercially. With a budget of $3 million, Sam Ivy Earned just $1.8 million at the box office.
Barrymore’s troubled personal life, including stints in rehab and massive tabloid attention, made it difficult for her to land substantial roles, and her box office appeal diminished. However, Barrymore made a strong comeback in the mid-1990s with her role in the beloved horror franchise screamFollowed by other hits like Charlie’s Angels. These films helped her regain credibility in Hollywood and re-established her as a successful, bankable actress.
8
Pulp Fiction (1994) – John Travolta
Worldwide Box Office: $213.9 million
After his early success in iconic films like Saturday night fever And LubricateJohn Travolta’s career took a downturn due to poor film choices and the changing landscape of Hollywood. Movies like Look who’s talking now!, screamAnd The experts There were critical and commercial failures, which led to his declining star power. In the case of The expertsIts box office haul of just $169,203 was a result of distributor Paramount Pictures disliking the film enough to pull it from wide release.
During this period, Travolta struggled to find roles that matched his earlier successAnd its box office draw faded. Travolta’s career was at a low point, with a series of forgettable films and few major opportunities. However, his comeback came with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp fictionWhere his role as Vincent Vega not only revived his career, but also earned him an Academy Award nomination, ending his box office decline and re-establishing him as a leading actor.
7
John Wick (2014) – Keanu Reeves
Worldwide Box Office: $86.1 million
Still staring at The matrix franchise, Keanu Reeves struggled to find similar box office hits, featuring in films like Sweet November, The WatcherAnd The replacementswhich has been critically and commercially successful. Additionally, Reeves’ roles in A scanner darkly And The Lake House did not resonate with wide audiences, with the former failing to recoup its $8.7 million budget by roughly $1 million.
As action movie roles became more limited, Reeves faced a period where his career was largely stagnantAnd his ability to direct blockbuster films was in question. His career turnaround came in 2014 with John Wickwhich revitalized his reputation as an action star. John WickIts success spawned a beloved franchise and marked the end of Reeves’ box office slump, bringing him back into the spotlight and kicking off a career resurgence.
6
The Blind Side (2009) – Sandra Bullock
Worldwide Box Office: $309.2 million
Sandra Bullock experienced a box office slump in the early 2000s after a string of successful films in the 1990s, including While you are sleeping And Speed. After her rise to stardom, some of her films in the early 2000s struggled critically and commercially. Movies like 28 days And Two weeks notice Failed to achieve the success of her previous hits. moreover, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Didn’t do as well as the originalAdding to her career downturn. The sequel earned $101.4 million worldwide compared to Miss Congeniality$212.7 million.
During this time, Bullock’s star power seemed to fade, and her ability to consistently deliver box office hits was put under serious question. Her comeback came in 2009. The blind side Not only became a massive box office success, but also earned her an Oscar, re-establishing her as a major Hollywood force and ending her box office decline.
5
Birdman (2014) – Michael Keaton
Worldwide Box Office: $103.2 million
Michael Keaton faced a significant box office decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s, after his major success in the late 1980s with films like Batman And Beetlejuice. After stepping away from the Batman franchise, Keaton struggled to find roles that resonated with audiences. Films such as Jack Frost, Desperate measuresAnd Quicksand were both commercial and critical disappointments, with Desperate measures Earning only $13.8 million despite a $50 million budget.
During this period, Keaton appeared in lower-profile films that failed to reignite his career or recapture the momentum of his earlier successes. His star power waned, and he remained out of the Hollywood spotlight for several years. Keaton’s comeback began with BirdmanWhere His portrayal of a washed-up actor attempting to regain relevance mirrored his own career. The film gained wide publicity, earned him an Academy Award nomination, and re-established him as a prominent figure in the film industry.
4
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) – Matthew McConaughey
Worldwide Box Office: $55.2 million
How to lose a guy in 10 days And The wedding planner Established Matthew McConaughey as a leading man in romantic comedies of the 2000s. Despite early success, McConaughey became typecast in a series of formulaic rom-coms Which are critically panned, such as Failure to launch, fool’s goldAnd Ghosts of girlfriends past. The films underperformed at the box office, and McConaughey’s career began to stagnate.
Audiences and critics alike tired of his repetitive roles, and he struggled to break free from the rom-com mold. His once promising career seemed to be in decline as he was no more than a versatile actor. McConaughey’s career turnaround, often dubbed the “McConaissance,” began with his shift to more serious roles in The Lincoln Advocate. However, it culminated with his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Clubwhich also turned in an impressive box office haul relative to its meager $5 million budget.
3
Gone Girl (2014) – Ben Affleck
Worldwide Box Office: $370.9 million
Ben Affleck’s decline at the box office happened in the early 2000s after his rise to stardom in the late 1990s with hits like Good luck hunting And Armageddon. Despite his early success, Affleck’s career took a downturn when he starred in a string of poorly received films. Notable flops during this period included GigliWidely regarded as one of the biggest box office disasters in history at $7.3 million, Daredevilwhich was criticized despite decent box office returns, and Surviving ChristmasAnother critical and commercial failure.
Affleck also faced public backlash due to his highly publicized relationship with Jennifer Lopez, which overshadowed his work. His reputation as a leading man suffered, and Hollywood became hesitant to cast him in leading roles. nevertheless, Affleck’s career rebounded in the late 2000sStarring in critically acclaimed films such as Gone girlA time when he also made the transition to directing, with gone baby gone And Argo Reviving his career and reputation.
2
Joker (2019) – Joaquin Phoenix
Worldwide Box Office: $1.079 billion
Joaquin Phoenix had a challenging box office period in the mid-2000s, despite previously being acclaimed for films like Gladiator And wonders. After his success, Phoenix struggled with a series of under-performing films, such as Two lovers And We own the night. Both failed to make a significant impact on business, although his performances were praised.
Unexpectedly, in 2010, Phoenix took a detour in his career by starring in the mockumentary I’m still hereA controversial project where he pretended to quit acting to pursue a rap career. This unconventional move confused audiences and critics, further dampening his mainstream appeal. His erratic behavior during this period caused many to doubt his future in Hollywood. Phoenix’s comeback came with JokerWhat more than resolved its return to box office success by becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time. It also won Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor.
1
Iron Man (2008) – Robert Downey Jr.
Worldwide Box Office: 585.8 million
Due to personal struggles and legal issues, Robert Downey Jr. Went through a negative period career-wise in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After gaining critical acclaim for films like Chaplin, His career was derailed by substance abuse and repeated arrests. These issues led to his rejection of projects and made it difficult for him to secure major roles.
During this period, Downey appeared in a string of films that failed to resonate with audiences, such as in dreams And Black and white. The former earned only $17 million against a budget of $30 million. Downey’s reputation in Hollywood plummeted, and he was considered unreliable by many studios. Fortunately, Downey’s career turnaround came with his casting as Tony Stark in Iron Man. The role revitalized his career, launching him into superstardom and ending his box office decline, making him one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood.