18 Embarrassing Acting Roles That Were Tough to Sit Through

Sometimes, even the best actors fall short, with dull performances that fail to connect with audiences, eventually driving their films to box-office failure. Here are 18 of the worst acting performances of all time.

Mike Myers in The Love Guru 

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Another box-office flop, The Love Guru, is not one to add to your watchlist anytime soon. Myers’ performance most definitely contributed to the film’s failure. It was deemed so bad that it essentially ruined his career. The film won three Golden Raspberries, including Worst Actor for Myers.

Hilary Duff in The Haunting of Sharon Tate 

Photo Credit: Saban Films.

The movie failed for several reasons, one being its offensive and paranormal take on Sharon Tate’s murder. The film itself was pretty awful, but Duff made it an unbearable watch, particularly when you compare her performance with other takes on the actress, such as Margot Robbie in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Tom Cruise in The Mummy 

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures.

Some movies are better left alone, and this remake proved just that. An overall flop at the box office, the film was nominated for eight Golden Raspberry Awards and won Worst Actor for Tom Cruise’s dull performance.

Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures.

Based on E.L. James’ novel of the same name, Fifty Shades of Grey won five Golden Raspberry awards, including Worst Actor for Dornan. Critics felt that Dornan and co-star Dakota Johnson lacked chemistry, leading to dry performances that fell flatter than the Twilight fan-fiction the film was based on.

Adam Sandler in That’s My Boy 

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures.

Let’s face it: Adam Sandler has spun out some pretty terrible performances over the years, and That’s My Boy is no exception. The film was nominated for seven Golden Raspberries and won Worst Actor for Sandler’s stereotypical and predictable performance.

Adam Sandler in Jack and Jill 

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Another Sandler flop, the film was nominated for 12 Golden Raspberries and won in every category it was nominated for, including Worst Actor for Sandler’s portrayal as both titular characters.

Eddie Murphy in Norbit 

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Murphy’s performances in Norbit were so bad that he received Golden Raspberries for Worst Actor as Norbit and Worst Supporting Actress as Rasputia. Critics felt that Murphy failed to commit to any of his characters beyond superficial stereotypes.

Bruce Willis in Armageddon 

Photo Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

While Armageddon has since become a fan-favorite in the disaster subgenre, Bruce Willis was only cast as part of a three-picture deal with Touchstone Pictures. And it’s evident by his dull performance that he didn’t want to be there. He won the Worst Actor Golden Raspberry for his performance.

Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

Although the film was a box-office success and grossed $390 million worldwide, Costner’s performance failed miserably. His performance was poor on his own, let alone next to Alan Rickman’s strong performance as the Sherriff of Nottingham. Costner won a Worst Actor Golden Raspberry for his portrayal of Robin Hood.

Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox.

Rhinestone bombed at the box office and was panned by critics for Stallone’s uncomfortable performance in this comedy musical. This performance earned him a Worst Actor Golden Raspberry.

Robert Downey Jr. in Dolittle 

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures.

For most of the film, Downey Jr. appears to be half asleep, almost as if the usually magnetic actor can’t decide whether Dolittle is a vulgar comedy or an honest drama. As a result, his performance falls short of both.

Jamie Kennedy in Son of the Mask

Photo Credit: New Line Cinema.

Let’s face it: no one was ever going to live up to Jim Carrey’s performance in 1994’s The Mask, but Jamie Kennedy was too far off the mark to even enjoy the film. Carey’s original wit is replaced by Kennedy’s weak delivery and cringe-worthy jokes.

Megan Fox in Transformers 

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

The Transformers franchise has been an overall box-office success, and for the most part, solid performances have made the franchise what it is today, except for Megan Fox. The actress took what appears to be an intriguing character and drained her of personality.

Halle Berry in Catwoman 

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

Halle Berry is an outstanding actress, but talent can only take you so far. Berry contributes to the film’s confusing tone as the lead by playing the titular character in various ways, from cartoonishly timid to overly sexual to simply bizarre.

Jaden Smith in After Earth 

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures.

Nepotism rears its ugly head in After Earth, where Smith lacks his father’s formidable charm and instead delivers an overacted and unnatural performance.  

Taylor Lautner in Abduction 

Photo Credit: Lionsgate.

By 2011, this teen heartthrob was adored by fans for his portrayal of Jacob Black in the Twilight Saga. So it’s no surprise that fans were excited to see Lautner’s star turn in this action thriller. Unfortunately, his one-note performance led to the film’s failure, and watching Lautner try to force tears at a rather pivotal moment in the film was just painful.

Jennifer Lopez in Gigli 

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing.

J Lo’s may not have been the only panned performance in this comedy crime thriller, but it still deserves a spot on this list. Lopez appears to sleepwalk through the entire film, demonstrating little acting range. Inevitably, she won a Worst Actor Gold Raspberry for her dull performance.

Jared Leto in Morbius 

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

Despite its promising premise, this Marvel flick was a huge box-office flop and received five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Actor for 

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Amy Watkins

Writer & Blogger

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