7 celebrities who lost their career after one bad role

In Hollywood, career success can conservatively be compared with a dazzling but short-lived firework. Even the most gifted performers' talent may become hidden under the shadow of just one mischance after all the years of dedication and hard work. A single poor role, a lack of penmanship, a wrong actor's choice, or a lack of direction may completely change what seemed to be the high point of a career to public disgrace.

The industry can be very hard on the wrongdoers, and the main reason for this is that they are obsessed with the hits. Regaining one's position in the market turns out to be a Herculean task.

The next seven stars went through just this experience; one unbreakable post led to long-lasting influence on their careers, underscoring the fact that the peak in the showbiz is always wobbly and that even small mistakes do not get forgotten so easily in Hollywood.

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7 celebrities who lost their career after one bad role

1) Brendan Fraser – The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Brendan Fraser's acting in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was mixed, with several reviewers pointing out a loss in charm for the franchise. The movie was successful, but Fraser's performance was viewed as less dynamic than in earlier films. This change in reception led to a time of lowered visibility for Fraser in big Hollywood movies.

Nonetheless, in the past few years, Fraser has witnessed a comeback in his career, gaining critical success for his performance in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale and demonstrating his continued talent and versatility.

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2) Jennifer Lopez – Gigli

Jennifer Lopez's performance in Gigli was universally criticized, with the movie earning a 6% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Lopez herself described the movie as a "disaster" and a major setback in her career. Even though the movie did not fare well, Lopez's career took off, and she became a leading artist in both music and film.

Lopez was in and co-produced 2025's Kiss of the Spider Woman, a musical for which she was praised. Her work on the project underscored her development as a producer and her ongoing relevance in show business.

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3) John Travolta – Battlefield Earth

John Travolta's acting in Battlefield Earth was panned for its stage-like quality and the generally poor quality of the film. The film, an adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's book, was both a critical and commercial disaster and widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

Though the film flopped, Travolta's career lived on, and he has since appeared in a wide array of films and TV roles. Travolta has made a few appearances in recent years, proving his staying power in the business.

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4) Jessica Alba – Fantastic Four

Jessica Alba's Sue Storm in Fantastic Four was criticized, with some critics praising her performance as shallow. Alba felt frustrated with the way the industry handled her, specifically with the issue of typecasting and the focus on her looks.

Since then, she moved into entrepreneurship, establishing The Honest Company, which specializes in environmentally friendly baby and household items. She has been successful in transitioning from business to acting and is an established figure in both fields.

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5) Macaulay Culkin – Richie Rich

Macaulay Culkin's casting in Richie Rich was viewed as a move to leave his status as a child star behind and become a full-fledged leading man. The movie while a commercial success failed to garner the same critical success as his previous work in Home Alone.

After the movie, Culkin stepped away from acting and has since made appearances in different projects including a stint on the television show American Horror Story. His career has been characterized by selective casting echoing his aspiration to have creative control and achieve personal satisfaction in his profession.

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6) Eddie Murphy – Norbit

Eddie Murphy's acting in Norbit as several characters was criticized for being based on stereotypes and shallow. While the movie was a box office success, it was a failure at the box office, and Murphy's acting was thoroughly trashed. The fallout from the movie is said to have denied him an Oscar for his work in Dreamgirls.

Murphy had defended his performance in Norbit in 2025, claiming that he himself thought that the film was funny and that it was an artistic decision that he supported.

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7) Halle Berry – Catwoman

Halle Berry's performance in Catwoman was heavily panned and the movie was poorly reviewed for its story and special effects. Berry herself admitted the film was bad and accepted a Razzie Award for acting. In spite of the failure of the movie Berry went on to work and has since performed a diverse array of work in both film and television.

In 2025 Berry played the role in Kiss of the Spider Woman a musical rendition that was acclaimed for her work indicating her versatility and perseverance in her career.

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Hollywood careers can change overnight due to one role, revealing the very ruthless nature of the profession. Even the best actors in the world are not spared from mistakes, and a poorly received performance can overshadow decades of dedication. These seven stars prove that a bad movie can leave an indelible mark and sometimes define public image for years.

However some have demonstrated resilience and these individuals have learned that talent determination and reinvention can rebuild a career even after one memorable failure.