5 Actors Who Haven’t Made A Great Movie In Years

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Hollywood is renowned for its skilled filmmakers and performers who consistently create captivating movies and TV shows enjoyed by audiences worldwide. As a major global industry, it has shaped popular culture for decades, with blockbuster films often becoming significant cultural events. Actors play a central role in bringing these stories to life through their appearances and talent, and award-winning performances – like those recognized with Oscars – further solidify their reputations and impressive careers.

There’s no single formula for what makes a great actor – many things contribute to a performer’s success. Some actors become well-known through dedicated preparation, while others benefit from appearing in popular and critically acclaimed films. However, an actor’s reputation can also suffer if they don’t appear in a strong film for a while. This isn’t necessarily a reflection of their talent, but some actors simply haven’t been in a successful movie for quite some time.

5) Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton’s career has been full of both successes and challenges, starting with his early work in Troma films. He became a major star in the 1990s, earning awards and recognition for acclaimed performances in films like Sling Blade and A Simple Plan. He also appeared in popular movies such as Tombstone, Primary Colors, and Armageddon, which made him widely known. Thornton continued to find success with various roles throughout the 2000s.

Billy Bob Thornton’s film career has faced challenges in recent years. Many consider his best movie to be Friday Night Lights from 2004, and his films since then haven’t been well-received. However, he’s found success on television, appearing in several critically acclaimed shows despite the downturn in his movie roles.

4) Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson is currently gaining a lot of attention for her role in the Star Wars series Ahsoka, but she’s been a familiar face in Hollywood for quite some time. She started her film career in the 1990s and appeared in popular movies like Men in Black II, Sin City, and Clerks II. While she had a string of successful films in the late 90s and early 2000s, it’s been a while since she starred in a truly standout movie.

I’ve been a fan of Rosario Dawson for ages, and while I loved her in Death Proof back in 2007, a lot of her movies since then just haven’t hit the mark, sadly. But honestly, she’s been killing it on TV! Her work as Claire Temple in the Marvel shows and as Ahsoka in Star Wars has been fantastic. It’s just a shame she hasn’t had a really standout movie role in a while, because she’s such a talented actress.

3) John Travolta

John Travolta became a major star in the 1970s with iconic films like Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, and Grease. While his career cooled off after a few unsuccessful movies, he continued to appear in notable films, including some well-regarded roles in the 1990s. However, the 2000s proved difficult for Travolta, and his career hasn’t fully rebounded since then.

John Travolta hasn’t had a truly successful movie role in years. Most of his films over the last decade have gone straight to video and haven’t been well-received. It’s particularly disappointing for an actor with such a history of starring in classic, popular movies to not have a recent hit.

2) Halle Berry

Halle Berry is a well-known and talented actress, but her career has had its ups and downs. She gained recognition in the 1990s and won an Academy Award for her performance in the 2001 film Monster’s Ball. With roles in popular movies like X-Men (2000), Swordfish (2001), and Die Another Day (2002), she initially appeared poised for lasting superstardom. However, her career didn’t continue on that trajectory.

Halle Berry experienced a string of unsuccessful films before appearing in a project that garnered attention. However, even after that, her movies were mostly just okay, and nothing really stood out until she joined the cast of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in 2019. Unfortunately, the last six years have seen her return to less notable roles, which is disappointing given her clear talent as an actress.

1) Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr. first gained recognition with his role in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, and many predicted he would become a major star. He reached a peak in 1996, winning an Academy Award for his performance in Jerry Maguire, and continued to appear in popular films in the early 2000s. However, he hasn’t been in a critically successful movie for nearly twenty years.

Cuba Gooding Jr. received praise for his roles in American Horror Story and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, even earning an Emmy nomination for the latter. However, his film career has significantly slowed down. After a series of unsuccessful movies, he hasn’t been able to regain prominence in Hollywood, and it’s been a while since he’s appeared in a truly standout film, despite still working.

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2025-12-24 00:14