10 actors whose careers were destroyed by one role
10. Hayden Christensen — Star Wars Prequels
Hayden Christensen had the impossible task of playing Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. At the time, critics mocked the dialogue and performance relentlessly. For years, he stayed away from big Hollywood roles. Recently, though, returning to the character in newer Star Wars shows has given him something of a redemption arc with fans.
9. Jake Lloyd — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Being cast as young Anakin Skywalker should have been a dream. Instead, Jake Lloyd faced years of backlash after Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace came out. As a kid, he became the target of endless criticism and bullying. Lloyd eventually quit acting altogether, making it one of the saddest stories tied to a major blockbuster.
8. Chris Klein — Rollerball (2002)
After the success of American Pie, Chris Klein looked like Hollywood’s next big leading man. Then came the remake of Rollerball. The movie was widely panned and quickly disappeared from theaters, and Klein’s leading-man momentum disappeared with it.
7. Sofia Coppola — The Godfather Part III (1990)
When Sofia Coppola stepped into The Godfather: Part III at the last minute, critics were ruthless about her performance. It became one of the most talked-about criticisms of the entire trilogy. Ironically, she later proved everyone wrong by becoming a hugely respected director and even winning an Oscar for writing.
6. Taylor Lautner — Abduction (2011)
After The Twilight Saga made him hugely famous, studios rushed to turn Taylor Lautner into an action star. Abduction was supposed to prove he could lead his own franchise. Instead, it flopped critically and commercially, and the momentum he had from Twilight faded pretty quickly.
5. Maria Schneider — Last Tango in Paris (1972)
This one is less a “career mistake” and more a tragic story about the industry. Maria Schneider starred opposite Marlon Brando in Last Tango in Paris. Years later, she revealed she felt deeply traumatized by how a controversial scene was handled during filming. The experience affected her life and career for years afterward.
4. Jamie Kennedy — Son of the Mask (2005)
Replacing Jim Carrey in a sequel was always risky. Jamie Kennedy took the lead in Son of the Mask, and the result was… rough. The movie was panned by critics and audiences alike. Kennedy later talked about how harsh the backlash was and even made a documentary about dealing with hecklers and criticism.
3. Brandon Routh — Superman Returns (2006)
Getting cast as Superman should be the ultimate career boost. Brandon Routh landed the role in Superman Returns and looked perfect in the suit. But the movie didn’t become the blockbuster revival the studio hoped for. Routh unfairly got blamed by some critics, and instead of becoming a big-screen superstar, he ended up doing more TV work later on.
2. Noah Ringer — The Last Airbender (2010)
Noah Ringer had the martial arts skills, but acting in a massive franchise is a different challenge. The Last Airbender became one of the most infamous adaptations ever, especially among fans of the original animated series. The backlash was brutal, and after another film appearance, Ringer quietly stepped away from Hollywood.
1. Elizabeth Berkley — Showgirls (1995)
Elizabeth Berkley thought Showgirls would launch her movie career after TV fame. Instead, it did the opposite. The movie was mocked nonstop; critics tore it apart, and Berkley was suddenly treated like she’d committed some kind of crime by starring in it. She reportedly lost her agency and disappeared from major roles for years. Funny enough, decades later, the film has a weird cult following, and Berkley herself has entered a bit of a redemption era.
