Cinematic productions aren’t all made with an equal measure of success or influence. There are films that crown actors and directors as industry leaders, often instantaneously, while others have the potential to obliterate careers with just as much swiftness. The impression one makes in Hollywood can pivot unpredictably, making every decision to partake in any given movie quite a tactical gamble, much like a game of chess. Similar to chess, a single miscalculated move can potentially bring everything to a screeching halt. But which are the notorious films that have irreparably derailed careers?
Certain films are so disastrous that the actors involved are forever tainted by their failure. On the other hand, there exists a spectrum of films that were too ahead of their time to be appreciated upon their initial release but were acknowledged as gems later on. Regardless of their nature, all of these films have one thing in common: they caused severe setbacks for the careers of individuals who were at the helm, both on and off-screen. Everyone appreciates a great comeback, yet, unfortunately, many in Hollywood are yet to undo the damage inflicted on their reputation by these films.
One such career-derailing film was the poorly received and inadvertently offensive comedy, The Love Guru. This box office disaster played a significant role in stunting Mike Myers’ rise to stardom during the 2000s. Myers had already managed to establish a strong foundation for his career through his stint at Saturday Night Live and the successful execution of several hit film franchises like Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, and Shrek.
However, the critically panned live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ beloved children’s book The Cat in The Hat struck the first major blow to Myers’ career. Then in 2008, Myers penned, directed, and starred in The Love Guru, a peculiar romantic comedy where Myers portrays a celebrity guru tasked with the mission of spiritually redirecting the lead player of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The film was resoundingly rejected by both the audiences and critics. This unfortunate reception cast a pall on Myers’ previously thriving career from which he never truly rebounded.
On a similar note, while the character of Superman might be impervious to harm, Brandon Routh, the actor who played him, proved not to be immune to the volatile ups and downs of Hollywood. In 2006, Routh was catapulted from a stage of relative unknown into the limelight when he was selected to play the legendary Man of Steel in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, a sequel to the original film franchise starring the late Christopher Reeve.
Superman Returns did not turn out to be a complete catastrophe, but its introspective tone and confounding script didn’t quite hit the mark with audiences. The trajectory of Routh’s career post-Superman Returns never did take him soaring back into stardom. However, a glimmer of redemption did eventually appear in Routh’s career. He redeemed himself by successfully portraying the DC Comics hero Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom, on TV shows like Arrow and its spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow.
In a significant turn of events, 2019 marked Routh’s return to the Superman role during a special crossover event, earning him widespread acclaim for his performance. Yet, the tarnishing impact of the Superman Returns on Routh’s career cannot be overlooked.
Among the many who fell from grace due to catastrophic cinematic failures was film director Michael Cimino. His earlier success, Heaven’s Gate, brought him an Oscar, but this did not protect his career from eventual decline. Despite continuing to create films into the 1990s, by 1996 Cimino had stepped back from public view. His crime movie, The Sunchaser, which released the same year, marked his last notable work before his demise in 2016.
However, in an unlikely twist of fate, Cimino’s work was rediscovered and reevaluated in 2012 when he introduced a new edit of Heaven’s Gate. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival that year and was received with a standing ovation. This new reception from critics led to the reappraisal of the film as a misunderstood tour de force. Even so, the damaging impact it first had on Cimino’s reputation scan’t be undervalued.
In essence, film-making is a high-stakes game, where every move carries the potential to either skyrocket a career or be the harbinger of its downfall. An individual’s career in the film industry often hinges on the delicate balance of choices one makes – a single misstep, much like in a game of chess, can lead to defeat. These films and their unfortunate reception illustrate this harsh reality all too clearly.
On one hand, there are films so poorly received that they become a perpetual blot on the careers of the actors involved. On the other hand, there are films that might be deemed failures at first glance but reveal their methodical brilliance upon being revisited with matured judgement. Regardless of the nature of these films, they’ve all, without exception, managed to derail the careers of several notable individuals in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera.
No matter the extent of their initial fall from grace, everyone yearns for, and occasionally accomplishes, a fitting redemption arc. Yet, unfortunately, many in Hollywood continue to grapple with the aftermath of the damage inflicted upon their reputation by these films. In retrospect, the volatility and unpredictability of a career in Hollywood testifies to the guarded strategy of a chess game – where each decision, when not properly calculated, can lead to an irrevocable downfall.
Much like chess, success in Hollywood isn’t just about winning; it’s about surviving the game. Every choice made can have profound effects. These career-altering movies remind the industry that while some films may act as launching pads, others might conversely symbolize cataclysmic stumbling blocks. In the end, the volatile nature of the film industry means that even for the heavy hitters, a steady career is never guaranteed.