7 Iconic actors you won't believe starred in these movies

Hollywood surprises us at its best when legendary actors, famous for giving phenomenal performances, suddenly appear in absolutely horrid movies. We'd expect these actors to play only the finest scripts, but even the most accomplished stars have a couple of movies they wouldn't exactly want on their IMDb page. From cluttered action movies to cringeworthy comedies, these surprising selections have us all thinking: how did such talented actors land in such poor movies? Sometimes, it's a paycheck job. And then there are the movies created through sheer curiosity or even calendar convenience.

Whatever the motivation, these movies became notorious not for their stories but for the people who appeared in them. Although these performers have dozens of wonderful films to their credit, these stinkers shine like sparkles on a trash truck.

They're strange, misguided, and frequently hilarious in retrospect. But it is strangely reassuring to know that even Hollywood royalty can bomb. These are seven movies that demonstrate that even legends have an off day and that some film decisions leave fans speechless.

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7 Iconic actors you won't believe starred in these movies

1. Al Pacino – Jack and Jill (2011)

Who would have believed that the Godfather of film, Al Pacino, would appear in a movie where he charms Adam Sandler in drag? In Jack and Jill, Pacino not only parodies himself but also raps about Dunkin' Donuts during the notorious "Dunkaccino" scene, now a popular meme. The movie was demolished by reviewers and took home 10 Razzies, including Worst Picture. Even with his acting legend behind him, Pacino has accepted the ridiculousness of the film with humor. Ironically, Jack and Jill have somehow become a strange cult phenomenon on the internet. Who would have thought Pacino would be TikTok's lord of cringe?

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2. Halle Berry – Catwoman (2004)

Fresh from her Oscar victory, Halle Berry shocked audiences with her leather-wrapped dive into Catwoman, a movie so distant from the comic that it hurt. Critics bashed the movie's CGI, incoherent script, and Berry's hyper-theatrical performance. But Berry took it on the chin, literally. She personally accepted her Razzie Award, clutching both the Razzie and her Academy Award. Years later, she confessed to making the film to "take ownership of her mistakes" and even directed a widely praised movie (Bruised, 2020), showing that one catflop couldn't blunt her claws. Yet, Catwoman is still Hollywood's first-choice cautionary tale for superhero flops.

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3. Robert De Niro – The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)

Yes, that Robert De Niro, the fiery giant of Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, used to play a cartoony bad guy in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Donning a prosthetic nose and recycling his own famous "You talkin' to me?" line, De Niro was Anonymous, and not for the good. The movie was considered childish and boring by the critics, a perplexing misstep for such a prominent actor. But De Niro stood by the role, claiming he did it for his children. Ironically, the movie tanked at the box office but has gone on to be a Gen Z streaming scavenger's nostalgic oddity.

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4. Eddie Murphy – The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)

The Adventures of Pluto Nash was not only bad, it was a disaster. With a budget of $100 million and a return of merely $7 million, it is one of Hollywood's greatest flops. Comedy giant Eddie Murphy starred as a lunar nightclub owner fighting space mobsters in a plot that even the sci-fi faithful shunned. The movie was so bad Murphy wouldn't even promote it. Years on, he joked about employing it as a career "reset button." Ironically, Murphy has since had a big comeback with Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America. But Pluto Nash still orbits as an epic misfire.

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5. Charlize Theron – Æon Flux (2005)

Oscar-winning chameleon Charlize Theron played the title character in Æon Flux, a live-action take on MTV's animated cult classic. Unfortunately, the visual sheen of her film couldn't prevent it from suffering through an inconsistent script and lack of direction. Theron subsequently admitted she was hurt on set, almost paralyzing her neck, a cost she incurred for an "unfinished" movie. Paramount has allegedly re-edited the film without the director's assistance, which accounts for the incoherence. Ironically, Æon Flux gained a new following on streaming services, with Gen Z admiring its look, evidence that even terrible films can get weirdly well with age.

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6. Ben Kingsley – BloodRayne (2005)

Sir Ben Kingsley himself, yes, appeared in the cast of Uwe Boll's BloodRayne, a movie so notoriously awful that it set the standard for atrocious video game transplants. Kingsley vampire, lord Kagan, with the energy of a man who wishes he hadn't made the decisions he had made. The star subsequently confessed he accepted the role just for the location: "I've always wanted to visit Romania." The film was ripped apart by critics, but its camp has ensured it remains a staple of midnight movies. Kingsley was professional to the end, never losing character, although BloodRayne left viewers' nerves in tatters. It's evidence that not even knighthood protects you against a film catastrophe.

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7. Nicole Kidman – The Invasion (2007)

Nicole Kidman, drama queen extraordinaire, was stuck in The Invasion, a confused remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Mid-shoot turmoil resulted in script rewrites, director changes, and Wachowski-led reshoots, all of which could not prevent the film from being a critical afterthought. Kidman allegedly crashed her car while filming a bad sign for the movie's future. In spite of its A-list cast, the film had neither tension nor novelty. It's often glossed over in Kidman retrospectives today, although occasionally fans catch up on it out of curiosity. Fortunately, she recovered with Big Little Lies, reminding us that even icons are entitled to cinematic missteps.

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Even the biggest stars have their flops, demonstrating that everyone gets hit with a cinematic stinker sometimes. Whether it was for money, an artistic risk, or simply poor timing, these performances are reminders that fame does not necessarily equal perfect film decisions. But some of what makes these moments so memorable is observing larger-than-life talent in the most unexpected and occasionally just plain weird circumstances. It's all part of the Hollywood movies ride. One disappointing movie doesn't sully a legacy; it just adds a fascinating footnote. And let's be real, we love them more for taking those chances.