5 Biggest Box Office Flops That Ended Hollywood Stars’ Careers

Take a look at this list of actors and the films that negatively affected their lives. Did a film you particularly enjoy get included?

5 Biggest Box Office Flops That Ended Hollywood Stars’ Careers

SUMMARY

  • Some actors choose roles for various reasons such as a compelling character, good pay, or career advancement.
  • However, a single role can sometimes have a negative impact on an actor's life.
  • Hollywood is known for its failures, but successful celebrities are able to overcome adversity.
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Actors choose a particular role for a variety of reasons. Either the character was compelling, the money was good, or the part could be a huge step up. However, sometimes a single role can destroy their life. An actor has at least one bad film under his belt. 

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Failures are unavoidable in Hollywood, and one of the key characteristics of an A-list celebrity is the ability to overcome adversity. Unfortunately, not all famous people are able to recover. It is imperative to take risks in the entertainment sector. But what if those opportunities do not pan out? Actors are frequently blamed for poor performances, even when they have no control over the film.

Today, we examine the five biggest box office flops that unintentionally ended the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

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Also Read: 5 One Piece Villain Whose Laugh Will Intimidate Their Foes

1. Adriana Caselotti- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Snow White - Adriana Caselotti
Snow White – Adriana Caselotti

Adriana Caselotti’s portrayal in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs solidified her place in popular culture. You can unmistakably identify Snow White’s voice, even if you are unfamiliar with Caselotti’s name. The actress, however, died of cancer on January 19, 1997.

Despite being the fairest of them all, Caselotti’s unique voice made it difficult for her to land roles after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Because they would always hear Snow White’s voice the moment she opened her mouth, many directors and producers were hesitant to cast her in any role.

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is streaming on Disney Plus.

2. Freddie Prinze Jr. – Scooby-Doo

There was a generation that was delighted by the whimsical humor of the live-action Scooby-Doo films, despite the negative reviews from reviewers and the positive reception from fans. There was no denying that Freddie Prinze Jr., the star, was not happy.

Actually, Prinze was allegedly irritated and felt jaded about acting during the making of these movies, as well as other roles. He took a brief hiatus from acting career to create content for World Wrestling Entertainment. He eventually returned to television acting, but this time he played roles that gave him greater personal satisfaction.

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Scooby-Doo - Freddie Prinze Jr.
Scooby-Doo – Freddie Prinze Jr.

Watch Scooby-Doo on Max.

3. Taylor Lautner- Abduction

One of the most appealing stars to emerge from the Twilight series was Taylor Lautner. In 2011’s Abduction, Lautner attempted to make the leap from teenage idol to leading man in an attempt to grab the moment. Sadly, he would prefer if the movie had never been made.

Lautner’s acting was criticized by critics, and Abduction performed poorly at the box office. The actor failed to attract an audience beyond the Twilight fandom, despite his strong affiliation with the series. After that, he would have difficulty landing leading roles in movies. Despite having a $35 million production budget, the movie made $82 million worldwide.

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A still from Abduction
A still from Abduction

You can stream Abduction on Amazon Prime Video.

Also Read: 5 Forgettable Movies of Angelina Jolie That Failed at Box Office Despite a Star Studded Cast

4. Madonna- Swept Away 

Known as the Queen of Pop, Madonna received praise not only for her pop vocals but also for her acting in films such as Evita and A League of Their Own. Her abilities were not severely questioned by critics or viewers until her role in Swept Away, which was directed by her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie.

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Despite costing $10 million to make, the film was a box office bomb, earning only $1,036,520 in theaters. Madonna would also take home the Golden Raspberry Awards’ Worst Actress and Worst On-Screen Couple titles. Since then, she has promised never to appear in a motion picture again and has lost all credibility as an actress.

Swept Away - Madonna
Swept Away – Madonna

Swept Away is available on Amazon Video.

5. Charlie Chaplin- The Great Dictator 

It is widely acknowledged that The Great Dictator is among the best political satires ever made for the big screen. Charlie Chaplin‘s critique of fascism and Adolf Hitler was both hilarious and powerful. However, the film’s impact on his life was far from amusing.

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Although the movie was well-received by critics and was nominated for several awards, audiences felt that the film’s final five-minute speech was a bit of a plot twist and overly didactic. Chaplin’s political views started to be questioned by the FBI. The actor was compelled to leave the United States and relocate to Switzerland after an FBI investigation was opened.

The Great Dictator is streaming on Max.

The Great Dictator- Charlie Chaplin
The Great Dictator- Charlie Chaplin

The Hollywood industry can be a two-edged sword. It can propel careers to unimaginable heights, but it can also easily bring them crashing down. Showbiz can be dangerous, even for the most beloved celebrities, as these five massive box office failures illustrate. 

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Written by Siddhika Prajapati

Articles Published: 1450

Between everyday normalities and supernatural abnormalities, Siddhika Prajapati finds the story in everything. Literature Honors Graduate and Post-Graduated in Journalism (from Delhi University), her undying need to deduce the extraordinary out of simplicity makes her a vibrant storyteller.

Serving as a Senior Entertainment Writer at Fandom Wire and having written over 1400 pieces, Siddhika has also worked with multiple clients and projects over the years, including Indian Express, India Today, and Outlook Group.

Who knows, maybe your next favorite persona on the screen will be crafted by her.