# How Big Must a Flop Be to Ruin a Career? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-must-a-flop-be-to-ruin-a-career/624404 "2012-06-07T17:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-must-a-flop-be-to-ruin-a-career/624404/81 "2012-10-05T02:22:08Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I can’t remember who it was, but I heard an anecdote about some well-known actor who had been in a bunch of stinkers. Some fan or reporter asked him, “Why have you been in so many bad movies?” > > Flabbergasted, the actor replied, “I’m an _actor_! It’s what I _do_!” (His point being, “This is my job - if I don’t act, I don’t earn a living”.) I don’t have a quote in my pocket but I’ve read interviews with Christopher Walken where he says that his job is to be an actor so if someone wants to cut him a paycheck to act, he’ll do it. Got a movie about cartoon bears or ping-pong or hip-hop kangaroos? It ain’t his job to judge, it’s his job to act. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-must-a-flop-be-to-ruin-a-career/624404/82 "2012-10-05T06:49:03Z")
I remember reading a review about the stinker “Meet Joe Black” back when Brad Pitt wasn’t a megastar yet. The reviewer was pretty sure that he would have several more shots at making it big because “He’s too handsome not to”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-must-a-flop-be-to-ruin-a-career/624404.md?page=4)