# Have you ever seen an actor who never made a good film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** netflix, movies, actor-characters\ **Created:** [March 22, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203 "2024-03-22T13:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/101 "2024-03-23T20:31:33Z")
I had forgotten Schindler’s list. Yeah, he doesn’t qualify. Any other ‘great’ actors that never had a good movie? I guess the ones that made their bones on TV might qualify. Or maybe actors back in the studio system days who were under contract to a studio and had little choice in the movies they made. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/102 "2024-03-23T20:55:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Any other ‘great’ actors that never had a good movie? If you change “good” to “classic”: Meryl Streep. > **[Name One Masterpiece Of Cinema That I've Starred In](https://www.theonion.com/name-one-masterpiece-of-cinema-that-ive-starred-in-1819584655)** > > My friends and I were sitting around yesterday having a casual conversation about how the one thing all great actors have in common is that they have all starred in at least one classic piece of cinema. For my good friend Al Pacino it's obviously The... (Written in 2009; IMHO, still largely true.) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/103 "2024-03-23T21:04:21Z")
A lot of actors are only there due to nepotism, a LOT of them. Look up Nepo Babies. Gwyneth Paltrow. Mom is Blythe Danner, dad is producer/director Bruce Danner. Cousin to senators Gabby Giffords and Mike Kelly. Her godfather is Steven Spielberg for Christ sake!. There is more. No talent ass clown who’s most convincing roll was when her head was cut off and pulled out of a box in the movie, Se7en. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/104 "2024-03-23T21:12:03Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Atomic Blonde is great. Other than the outfits- which dont fit the period anyway, I rate that film as “meh”. No one mentioned Steve Martin? I mean, his “King Tut” was sheer brilliance, but in film? Best film is a “meh”. > [@veryfrank](#): > > Kristen Stewart has been in a few good movies like _Clouds of Sils Maria_ and _Still Alice_, Art films. But I heard they were not bad at all. But for a lot of her career her only expression was what I call the “bunny sneer”. > [@kitap](#): > > You forget the excellent **The Emperor’s New Groove**. Excellent _and_ under-rated. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > A lot of actors are only there due to nepotism, a LOT of them. Look up Nepo Babies. No, many had talent. Some even changed their name so as not to get just nepo roles. Name alone wont cut it- look at Frank Sinatra jr. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Gwyneth Paltrow. … > No talent ass clown who’s most convincing roll was when her head was cut off and pulled out of a box in the movie, Se7en. **Best Actress Academy Award** for _Shakespeare in Love._ That alone invalidates your point. and others- > **[List of awards and nominations received by Gwyneth Paltrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Gwyneth_Paltrow)** > > Gwyneth Paltrow is an American actress and singer who has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. > Paltrow rose to international fame with her portrayal of Viola de Lesseps in the romantic period comedy-drama film Shakespeare in Love (1998), which earned her many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy, t... ---
**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:** [March 23, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/105 "2024-03-23T21:20:13Z")
Steve Martin has made some excellent films. And some real stinkers, especially his remakes. Parenthood, the already mentioned LA Story and Planes Trains and Automobiles are all over 90% on Rotten tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/106 "2024-03-23T21:21:28Z")
None of the films Hulk Hogan **starred** in were any good. (He did have a small role in _Rocky III_ and a cameo in _Gremlins II: The New Batch_ though.) ---
**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:** [March 23, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/107 "2024-03-23T21:26:39Z")
To support your post, neither of those movies rate out well. Though Rocky plays better with viewers. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/108 "2024-03-23T21:40:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Steve Martin has made some excellent films. And some real stinkers, especially his remakes. > > Parenthood, the already mentioned LA Story and Planes Trains and Automobiles are all over 90% on Rotten tomatoes. Okay, yes, three films. Over how many? . so I concur Martin is not “an actor who never made a good film”. But if you take the average… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/109 "2024-03-23T21:42:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Okay, yes, three films. Over how many? . so I concur Martin is not “an actor who never made a good film”. But Dirty. Rotten. Scoundrels. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/110 "2024-03-23T21:43:09Z")
But not the point of this thread. Double-check the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/111 "2024-03-23T22:16:56Z")
OK, let me get serious: Elvis Presley. What you say: He was never an actor? My point precisely. But he did appear in movies, as the main character even. Not one of them good. Depressingly bad, all of them, is more like it. And why nobody has mentioned [Ronald Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan_filmography) yet, I don’t know. Although his role as president of the USA was… huh… interesting. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/112 "2024-03-23T22:21:24Z")
Probably right on Elvis. Reagan made at least 2 classics. Knute Rockney Story playing the Gipper no less. Kings Row, a 100%/78%. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/113 "2024-03-23T22:24:12Z")
I should have put a 😉 on Reagan, you’re right. But nice that Elvis gets approval. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/114 "2024-03-23T22:24:55Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And why nobody has mentioned [Ronald Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan_filmography) yet, I don’t know. He did make a whole lot of B-level movies. That said: - _Knute Rockne, All American_ was a popular, well-received movie for its time (88% positive for critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) - His final Hollywood film, _The Killers_ (an adaptation of an Ernest Hemingway story), was also well-received (80% positive) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/115 "2024-03-23T22:32:21Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Probably right on Elvis. Agreed. Though, a lot of the blame for that can be pinned on Colonel Tom Parker, who guided Presley into making movies after he left the Army, and focused him on cheaply-made, formulaic musical comedies, which were crap, but consistently profitable. That said, early in his movie career, Elvis did make a couple of dramatic films; of the two, the first one, _[Flaming Star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_Star#Reception)_ (1960) got some good reviews, and many critics gave Presley some praise for his acting in it (it’s even 91% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, though those do not appear to be contemporary to the film). But, it didn’t do well at the box office, and after the next of his dramas (_Wild in the Country_, 1961) did even worse, Parker and Presley focused on the musical comedies. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/116 "2024-03-23T22:47:44Z")
you forgot Kid Creole was pretty good too … and based on a Harold robbins book too ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/117 "2024-03-23T22:51:57Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > OK, let me get serious: Elvis Presley. > What you say: He was never an actor? My point precisely. But he did appear in movies, as the main character even. Not one of them good. Depressingly bad, all of them, is more like it. _Jailhouse Rock_ (1957), _King Creole_ (1958) and _Viva Las Vegas_ (1964) have too much entertainment value - along with great soundtracks - to be fairly labeled “depressingly bad.” I would call the first and third “good,” the middle one “approaching good.” ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/118 "2024-03-23T23:17:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > What has Liam Neeson done? The ‘Taken’ movies, which are formula thrillers. He’s considered a very good actor. Neeson starred in **Rob Roy** , which was a very decent film. Over 70% on RT. Three and 1/2 stars from Ebert. It came out right after Brave Heart and was overshadowed, but a good movie. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/119 "2024-03-23T23:22:17Z")
**Schindler’s List** ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-an-actor-who-never-made-a-good-film/999203/120 "2024-03-23T23:34:44Z")
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