# What actors have hardly ever made a bad movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [May 31, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462 "2022-05-31T20:52:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/21 "2022-05-31T21:48:40Z")
I don’t think there’s anybody. If they don’t do some cheap schlock film early on they’re all tempted do a movie for fun later on. And even the best movies in concept can fall apart in the end. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Jimmy Stewart It really shouldn’t count but his very first film appearance was in a comedy short called [Art Trouble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Trouble) where he was uncredited and Shemp Howard was one of the stars. I’m sure he was in other far less than stellar movies later on. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/22 "2022-05-31T21:51:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Men In Tights I saw Men in Tights so many times before I saw Prince of Thieves that the latter felt like a parody of the former. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/23 "2022-05-31T23:41:42Z")
Robert Donat Louis Jouvet Vivien Leigh and Valerie Hobson (after establishing themselves around the mid-'30s) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/24 "2022-05-31T23:47:08Z")
Paul Newman found himself in _The Silver Chalice_ early on, and vowed to be more discriminating. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/25 "2022-05-31T23:50:15Z")
I’ve only seen a part of his output, and he was very prolific, but I think [Edmund Gwenn](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350324/) had an instinct for good movies. Several Hitchcock films, plus things like _Miracle on 34th Street, Them!, Mr. 880, Life with Father,_ and much else. Cary Grant made a bunch of classics- both comedies and dramas – with very few clunker. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/26 "2022-06-01T00:04:22Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Paul Newman found himself in _The Silver Chalice_ early on, and vowed to be more discriminating. Legend has it he tried to track down and destroy every print but then VHS and DVD came along. Anyway, it was his Hollywood debut to give the guy a break. ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/27 "2022-06-01T00:06:54Z")
i nominate **Stephen Root**. Everything I’ve seen him in has been interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/28 "2022-06-01T00:19:02Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **[Audrey Hepburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Hepburn_on_screen_and_stage#Film)** probably only made one bad movie and it was a prestige project. War and Peace. Oh, wait, also [Green Mansions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Mansions_(film)). You obviously never saw _Bloodline_. It was a bad movie which paid some well-respected actors (like Hepburn) to appear in it to sell some tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/29 "2022-06-01T00:22:04Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Alec Guiness. First actor to come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/30 "2022-06-01T01:08:48Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Even the times **Alan Rickman** was in a stinker ( _Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves_ ), his performance was usually great. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MhfuuKiTcYQ/hqdefault.jpg "Cut your heart Out with a spoon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhfuuKiTcYQ) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/31 "2022-06-01T01:11:47Z")
> [@alfonzos](#): > > i nominate **Stephen Root**. Everything I’ve seen him in has been interesting. Good one. He plays great villains, but an even better Milton Waddams 😄. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/32 "2022-06-01T01:51:23Z")
I’m gonna go with Tom Waits. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/33 "2022-06-01T02:10:17Z")
Yeah. Both had a few “meh” films early on, but mostly, if you see “Starring Tom Hanks” (Or Jimmy Stewart) you were in for some at least decent entertainment. To be honest Hanks first staring role was a stinkeroo- _Mazes and Monsters._ > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I’m not a fan of Forrest Gump, so I’d add that in as well. Sure, but you’d be pretty much alone. _Forrest Gump_ won [Best Picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture), [Best Actor in a Leading Role](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actor) (Hanks had won the previous year for [_Philadelphia_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_(film))), [Best Director](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Director), [Best Visual Effects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Visual_Effects), [Best Adapted Screenplay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Writing_(Adapted_Screenplay)), and [Best Film Editing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Film_Editing) at the [67th Academy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/67th_Academy_Awards). The film was nominated for seven [Golden Globe Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52nd_Golden_Globe_Awards), winning three of them: [Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Actor_%E2%80%93_Motion_Picture_Drama), [Best Director – Motion Picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Director), and [Best Motion Picture – Drama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Motion_Picture_%E2%80%93_Drama). The film was also nominated for six [Saturn Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Awards) and won two for [Best Fantasy Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Fantasy_Film) and [Best Supporting Actor (Film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actor). In addition to the film’s multiple awards and nominations, it has also been recognized by the [American Film Institute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Film_Institute) on several of its lists. The film ranks 37th on _[100 Years…100 Cheers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Cheers)_ , 71st on _[100 Years…100 Movies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movies)_ , and 76th on _[100 Years…100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movies_(10th_Anniversary_Edition))_ . In addition, the quote “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” was ranked 40th on _[100 Years…100 Movie Quotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movie_Quotes)_ .[[81]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Gump#cite_note-AFILists-81) The film also ranked at number 61 on _[Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(film_magazine))_ 's list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time.[[82]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Gump#cite_note-82) > [@beowulff](#): > > Alec Guiness. # _A Run for Your Money_ Many great actors had a stumble or two right out of the gate. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/34 "2022-06-01T02:13:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My first thought is **Daniel Day Lewis**. I’m not a real “Movie Guy”, but this dude is serious good act-a-part-guy. So good, in fact, you almost don’t even recognize him from movie to movie. He just creates the character. Tom Hanks is Always Tom Hanks playing somebody else. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/35 "2022-06-01T02:21:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, but you’d be pretty much alone. I never said my tastes were typical 😜. I’m someone who ranks Terry Kiser highly based on Weekend at Bernie’s, Weekend at Bernie’s II, and Friday the 13th Part VII, as well as Kane Hodder for his work on the aforementioned Friday the 13th Part VII (and VIII and X) and the Hatchet movies, so my opinion on movies should be taken with a large grain of salt 😅. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/36 "2022-06-01T02:45:02Z")
Pauly Shore Charlie Chaplin didn’t make many clunkers. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/37 "2022-06-01T03:02:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > To be honest Hanks first staring role was a stinkeroo- _Mazes and Monsters._ Does he get a pass for that since it was made for TV…so not a “real” “movie?” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/38 "2022-06-01T03:04:25Z")
How about **James Garner**? A few great movies, come kinda forgettable, but I don’t know of any truly bad movies in his career. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/39 "2022-06-01T03:06:49Z")
Humphrey Bogart ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462/40 "2022-06-01T03:15:55Z")
Meryl Streep? Has she done a crappy movie? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-have-hardly-ever-made-a-bad-movie/965462.md?page=3)