# Cinema's Greatest One Hit Wonders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057 "2006-02-12T00:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/141 "2006-02-14T20:08:35Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > **Brewster McCloud** – Robert Altman’s next film after M_A_S\*H. Didn’t that movie have a nifty theme song, “Love is All”? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/142 "2006-02-14T20:10:30Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > GOOD CALL. He went from “Jerry Maguire” to…what? “Rat Race”? That dog-sledding movie? The one where he’s on the cruise ship? So much talent wasted… He is quite good in “The Fighting Temptations” ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/143 "2006-02-14T20:11:51Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > Not to mention \*Sideways > \* > > **Ione Skye** was also in _Four Rooms_, but it was a supporting role in only one fourth of the movie. Ain’t she the daughter of hippy Donovan? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/144 "2006-02-14T20:18:22Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I’ll second the Lazenby nomination. Rumor had it he’d rather kill then kiss the girls… ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/145 "2006-02-14T20:28:59Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > What about Karen Allen from _Raiders of the Lost Ark_? I loved that movie and she was great in it, but what else did she do? A lot. Most notably, Starman, Scrooged and Ghost In The Machine. She’s also done several TV shows and made-for-TV movies. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/146 "2006-02-14T20:40:26Z")
Cuba Gooding Jr.'s had a fairly solid career - Remember he was also in Boyz in the Hood. I think between that and Jerry Maguire, in addition to his other not so stellar but still good roles (Men of Honor, As Good As It Gets, etc.), he ought to be disqualified for one hit wonder-dom. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/147 "2006-02-14T21:25:33Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > Natasha Lyonne in _Slums of Beverly Hills_. She’s had some crappy roles since then and is now infamously washed-up. She was in the _American Pie_ series. Did she ever get released from the hospital after her collapsed lung and heart ailment? That was in August of '05… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/148 "2006-02-14T21:30:32Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Did she ever get released from the hospital after her collapsed lung and heart ailment? That was in August of '05… Out of the hospital and [on the lam](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18252,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/149 "2006-02-14T21:46:10Z")
Thanks for the update. Wow…she’s turning into a Michael Jackson-like trainwreck. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/150 "2006-02-14T22:00:05Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Not true at all. She had her nose fixed **after** filming had wrapped. Unfortunately, several scenes had to be re-shot, so it’s hardly her fault, let alone unprofessional. Hollywood contracts generally contain a clause forbidding actors from significantly modifying their appearance during filming, and if she’d’ve done what you suggest, I’m sure there would’ve been a major lawsuit for breach of conract against her, and there wasn’t. (_referring to my post about Jennifer Grey_) Hmmmmm, 'twas a widely-reported rumour (and my google-fu cannot find a cite for the exact date or even month/year of her surgery), and continues to be repeated. If you are correct, then I guess she doesn’t work strictly because she’s a bad actress… ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/151 "2006-02-14T22:29:55Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > How about Alex Winter? > > He made a nice splash with Keanu Reaves in the two Bill & Ted movies. Since then…? > > Zev Steinhardt Aside from **Lost Boys** , which **divemaster** already mentioned, he wrote, directed and starred in **Freaked** , which is a great movie to MST3K, also “starring” Randy Quaid, Brooke Shields, Morgan Fairchild, Bobcat Goldthwait and, of course, Mr. T as the bearded lady. Oh yes, I do own it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/152 "2006-02-14T22:48:00Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > GOOD CALL. He went from “Jerry Maguire” to…what? “Rat Race”? That dog-sledding movie? The one where he’s on the cruise ship? So much talent wasted… Yes, he really needed a bigger part in _Pearl Harbor_ He was way better than Ben Affleck. Anyhoo, Louise Fletcher had a recurring role on _Star Trek: Deep Space Nine_. It turned out her glacial, rather stiff posture which everyone apparently thought was great acting in _Cuckoo’s Nest_ was how she performed all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/153 "2006-02-14T22:57:39Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Anyhoo, Louise Fletcher had a recurring role on _Star Trek: Deep Space Nine_. It turned out her glacial, rather stiff posture which everyone apparently thought was great acting in _Cuckoo’s Nest_ was how she performed all the time. I dreaded every episode she was in, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/154 "2006-02-15T11:32:04Z")
I think these are ineligible: Daryl Hannah Besides Splash; Blade Runner, Steel Magnolias, Kill Bill 1 and 2. Brad Dourif Never been a leading man, usually plays a villain. (Saying that he’s never had a good role, including Grima in LotR is like saying that Steve Buschemi hasn’t ever had a good role). He was in Dune, Urban Legend, Color of Night, Chucky in all the Child’s Play films, Blue Velvet. I’ll bet he’s been in tons of B-movies too, but those are the ones I’ve seen that I can remember him in. Natasha Lyonne Somebody already mentioned the American Pie movies. She was also in Blade: Trinity. My contribution: the guy who played Jim Craig in The Man from Snowy River, Tom. . .something. He was in that film, the sequel, Return to Snowy River, that ties up the big flapping loose ends from the first movie, and that’s all I can remember ever seeing him in. That was a Disney film, I’m pretty sure it was his first real role, he was pretty good and the movie was good quality, especially for Disney, and he had that good-looking charm thing going for him. I’m surprised he didn’t get more work after that. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/155 "2006-02-15T14:49:09Z")
Another nomination: How about the two leads from Zefferilli’s 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet”. They were poised to be big stars because of that, but I can’t even remember their names. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/156 "2006-02-15T15:49:20Z")
> [@well he's back](#): > > Another nomination: How about the two leads from Zefferilli’s 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet”. They were poised to be big stars because of that, but I can’t even remember their names. Juliet was Olivia Hussey and she did largely disappear. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/157 "2006-02-15T16:56:46Z")
Tom Hulce was also Dr. Frankenstein’s (Kenneth Branagh’s) best friend in _Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein_. (And since he’s been mentioned a few times, the guy that played as Boon was the main cop in _The Mask_.) And though technically not a one-hit wonder, Tia Carrere is one of those who started with a promising career that quickly went downhill. She used her soap opera popularity to get a significant role in Wayne’s World, then did Rising Sun with Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery, then did the Wayne’s World sequel, and then what? True Lies? (_Shudder_) Video Games? Or the number one sign your career is going into the toilet: You play Pauly Shore’s love interest. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/158 "2006-02-15T16:58:14Z")
How about Sam J Jones from Flash Gordon. Sure he had a supporting role as Bo Derrick’s husband in 10, but what else? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/159 "2006-02-15T17:07:50Z")
**Miles O’Keefe** as Tarzan in the Bo Derek version – surely the most underplayed Tarzan in history. He turned up as Ator in two Ator movies (one of them showed up on MST3K, inspiring “Miles and Miles O’Keefe”), but not much else that anyone’s heard of. He played Sir Gawaine in the overlooked **Sword of the Valiant**. The movie deserved a bit better, not only because it’s my favorite Arthurian story, but because Sean Connery (!!) played the Green Knight. And wasn’t bad. But O’Keefe sported a Dutch Boy hairdo, so nobody took him seriously. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/160 "2006-02-15T17:30:54Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Sure he had a supporting role as Bo Derrick’s husband in 10, but what else? Now that you mentioned it, how **about** Bo Derek? 10 should have made her a star – did she do anything else of note? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=9)