A range of Superhero movies have managed to create huge fanbases around the world in recent years. However, not all of them prove to be good. DC Studios and Marvel Studios are well-known giants who produce big-budget blockbuster hits based on comics. However, their casting sometimes ends up ruining the movies.
In some cases, some actors gave outstanding performances but soon proved they were one-hit wonders with respect to the genre. Unfortunately, these 6 talented Hollywood stars made an outstanding debut as fan-favorite superheroes but couldn’t meet expectations on their second attempts:
1) Zachary Levi as Billy Batson / Shazam
2019’s Shazam introduced actor Zachary Levi as one of the most popular DC characters: Shazam. The film was a massive success, grossing over $367 million worldwide with positive reviews from critics. As a result, a sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, was released in 2023.
Unfortunately, Levi couldn’t fill up the theatres with his charisma as this film was a box-office bomb, grossing roughly $133 million worldwide on a production budget of $125 million.
Also read: 5 Most Expensive Movies in 2023 and How Much Money Did They Gross at Box Office
2) Dwayne Johnson as Teth-Adam / Black Adam
The expectations for 2022’s Black Adam were set too high and unfortunately, the film couldn’t reach it. Johnson’s performance as Teth-Adam / Black Adam received mixed reviews and ultimately the film was a huge flop.
Despite grossing roughly $393 million at the global box office, the film was a financial loss for DC Studios. Due to this film’s terrible performance, Johnson never returned as the iconic comic book character.
3) Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman
There are a lot of mixed opinions regarding Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne / Batman in DC Extended Universe. Initially, his iteration was liked by the fans but as the universe progressed, his character lost its dark tone, something which people were fond of.
Fans complained that Affleck lost his true element which made his performance entertaining. Despite his efforts, his performance in films like The Flash (2023) and Justice League (2017) was not liked by the fans, ultimately leading to his removal from the franchise.
4) Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
After being teased in Avengers: Infinity War (2019), Captain Marvel was introduced in 2019’s Captain Marvel, a film that managed to become the first female-led superhero film to pass the billion-dollar mark, grossing over $1.1 billion at the global box office. Brie Larson’s performance as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel made the film a treat to watch for the fans.
Thanks to its success, Marvel Studios decided to create a sequel called The Marvels and unfortunately, it was a bad decision. It seems like Larson couldn’t save the sequel as The Marvels (2023) is officially the lowest-grossing film in the MCU and a box-office bomb.
5) Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman
Aquaman (2018) grossed roughly $1.152 billion at the global box office, breaking several records. Actor Jason Momoa’s performance was one of the main reasons behind the success of the movie and naturally, the actor had to return for a second film.
The sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is set to be released on December 22, 2023. However, test screenings thus far have proven to be disastrous. It has been projected that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could possibly be the lowest-grossing DC film until now.
6) Edward Norton as Bruce Banner / Hulk
There is no doubt that Edward Norton is a talented star and he proved that he has what it takes to play a fan-favorite character like Hulk. 2008’s The Incredible Hulk was praised for its action sequences and grossed roughly $264 million worldwide.
Norton, however, was not happy with the final edit of the film, leading to his small feud with Marvel. As a result, Mark Ruffalo replaced him. Surely, Norton’s performance was good but it’s safe to say that Marvel will never approach him again.
Related: DCA vs. DCEU: 5 Superior Aspects Animation Had Over Live-Action
