Comebacks are rare in a discerning town like Hollywood, but occasionally, we see a tremendous performance from a has-been that catapults them to industry royalty. From John Travolta to Sylvester Stallone, look at the washed-up or typecast actors who turned their careers around.
John Travolta in Pulp Fiction
After a string of forgettable flicks, Grease legend John Travolta found his mojo as Vincent Vega, a hitman with a taste for dance. Thanks to a career break from the renowned director Quentin Tarantino, he quickly went on to appear in a string of successful movies that offered him a Hollywood resurgence.
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr.’s career was on hold between 1999 and 2002 due to substance abuse issues. Still, he soared back into the limelight as the charismatic Tony Stark in 2008, winning back the hearts of the world with his mind-blowing performance.
Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
He built a reputation as the rom-com heartthrob and stuck in a rut. His appearance in the gritty cop show True Detective and his performance as an emaciated, HIV-positive cowboy won him his first Oscar and gave him a place as a big player in Hollywood.
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
He caused a stir after his appearance in 9 1/2 weeks, but his career seemed to take a turn for the worst, with rumors circulating about his difficult demeanor. In 2008, he made an electrifying comeback as Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson in The Wrestler, a washed-up wrestler seeking redemption in and out of the ring. It was short-lived, however, and we haven’t heard anything since.
Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Believe it or not, the legendary Brando was considered box office poison until he slipped into the role of Don Vito Corleone. His previous movies had flopped, and he’d gained a bad reputation before casting for The Godfather, but thanks to Francis Ford Coppola’s insightful brilliance, we were reminded why he was the original Hollywood heavyweight.
Michael Keaton in Birdman
The world’s favorite Batman, Michael Keaton, disappeared into obscurity after refusing to continue the role in sequels. In 2014, he soared back into the spotlight as a washed-up actor trying to reclaim his former glory in an ironic but probably calculated twist. He’s currently preparing for the release of Beetlejuice 2 after a 36-year gap.
Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer
She was the child star who made her mark on Hollywood, and her Godfather was Steven Spielberg after casting her in E.T. From that point onwards, Drew battled personal demons in the form of illegal substances but found solace and success in this lighthearted rom-com that marked a career turnaround.
Neil Patrick Harris in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
We’d only known him as the child prodigy, Doogie Howser, an image he was keen to lose. His role in Harold & Kumar’s Go to White Castle allowed him to play a hilariously exaggerated version of himself, which gave him the perfect self-deprecating comeback.
Sylvester Stallone in Creed
When Sylvester Stallone returned to the ring as the Italian Stallion in Creed, his performance was the best of a lifetime. Critics raved about the raw emotion that Stallone gave to the role in the absence of physical fights that were left to his co-star, Michael B. Jordan. Stallone has since gone on to star in Tulsa King and a fly-on-the-wall documentary about his life.
Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock struggled with career stagnation and became uncomfortably stuck in the rom-com cycle. When she stepped into the role of a feisty Southern mom in The Blind Side, she proved she could tackle serious drama as effortlessly as comedy.
Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy
In a twist of fate, Chris Pratt went from a lovable goofball in Parks and Recreation to an intergalactic superhero, having vowed never to audition for another Marvel movie again. Seemingly, the casting director, James Gunn, offered to meet him, and the rest is history.
Colin Firth in The King’s Speech
The star of Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth, found his voice as King George VI, stuttering his way to an Oscar-winning performance. It marked a breakthrough following a long break from the entertainment industry, but his witty, intelligent performance paved the way for further serious roles.
Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones’s Diary
Zellweger broke free from her rom-com typecasting as the supporting actress girl-next-door by donning an English accent and navigating the hilariously awkward life of Bridget Jones. Despite being criticized as the choice for the native-British character, Bridget, Zellweger fit the role perfectly and earned newfound respect on both sides of the pond.
Mel Gibson in Braveheart
Mel Gibson was known for his action roles until he directed and starred in this epic tale of Scottish rebellion. It was a far cry from his Lethal Weapon character, Martin Riggs, but the big Oscar wins proved that he had what it took to hold a leading role in an epic masterpiece.
Ben Affleck in Gone Girl
Good Will Hunting was movie gold, but his career choices that followed were a long line of royal flops. Ben Affleck faced criticism and ridicule but shut down the haters with his chilling portrayal of a man accused of murder in Gone Girl. He showed us he was more than just a pretty face; he had a backbone for both great acting and brilliant directing.
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill: Vol. 1
She’d appeared in several movies with small roles, but Kill Bill marked a career comeback for the leggy actress. Uma Thurman donned the yellow jumpsuit and returned to the spotlight as the vengeful Bride. Sadly, it wouldn’t last long following a fallout with the producers over a damaging accident on set.
Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball
Halle Berry made history as the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, portraying a grieving widow who finds solace in an unexpected relationship. Despite her later poor choices, such as Catwoman, this role proved that she was a great actress with the necessary depth of character to take on meaty roles. It’s been a while since we’ve been in anything, though.
Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl
Jennifer Aniston broke away from Friends’ character, Rachel Green’s shadow, by playing a bored retail worker in a small town. The role faced some criticism, with many only choosing to see the actress in rom-com roles, but her portrayal of a normal working woman was praised. She seems to have returned to rom-coms ever since, however.
