Total Nerd

Daring to revisit fan-panned movies that deserve two thumbs down.

It Stinks!

Entertainment

It's common sense that adding talented actors to a great script will increase the finished film's chances of success. However, if film history has shown anything, it’s the extent to which even a large stable of talent can't always rescue a movie. Indeed, there are a number of notorious flops which failed with critics despite having some of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-actors-said-about-flops/pierce-nahigyan">industry’s biggest names attached to them</a>.Some films&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notorious-flops-that-made-money/nathan-gibson">manage to earn a lot of money</a> at the box office in spite of critical hatred. Others never quite catch on with either audiences or critics, revealing just how fickle the magic of the movies can really be. Check out these 14 critically bad movies with good actors and vote on the biggest disappointment below.

14 Critically Bad Movies With Good Actors

Film

Thomas West

Lists about action stars and characters who are eternally sweaty and smeared with dirty blood, having just leapt out of reach of another fiery explosion.


Yippee-Ki-Yay, Mister Falcon

Whoa Facts

Actors can develop reputations for how they behave off-screen as well as based on the roles they take. Typecasting aside, some actors have definitely become synonymous with masculine energy. Or, simply put, they're macho.These men may fight, talk sh*t, drive fast, and boast big muscles - but they're not always <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-can-fight/mike-mcgranaghan">action stars</a>, per se. They often protect and defend others, stand up to injustice, and present a bravado that's both impressive and intimidating. We know them when we see them, and we kind of count on them to bring manliness to any role - whether they want to or not.&nbsp;Actors like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/burt-reynolds-movies-and-films-and-filmography/ranker-film">Burt Reynolds </a>and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-sean-connery-stories/shane-fraser">Sean Connery</a> have long been considered macho. Nostalgic favorites like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-sylvester-stallone-rambo-facts/jacob-shelton">Sylvester Stallone</a> and Bruce Willis have, too. And performers with relatively short resumes continue to fall under that label all the time. When it comes to the most macho actors we could think of, the guys on this list definitely qualify. And, finding out more about them may have puffed up our chests a bit, too.

Facts About 14 Quintessential Macho Actors That Prove They're Tougher Than Leather

Actor

Melissa Sartore

Films hold the ability to be open to interpretation, and many filmmakers love nothing more than to provide&nbsp;ambiguous movie endings that stimulate discussion. After all, if people are talking about a film, it keeps it alive long after the credits roll. A few directors and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-creators-disagree-about/stephanroget">creators may disagree</a> with audiences who have made their own minds up, but there are others who stoke the fire intentionally.From the reality of the spinning top in&nbsp;Inception&nbsp;to the debate if Deckard is a replicant or not in&nbsp;Blade Runner, let's take a look at the most debated and ambiguous movie endings of all time, which provide just as much fun from arguing over the various interpretations as they do from viewing the films themselves.

16 Ambiguous Movie Endings That We're Still Debating

Sergio Pereira

Looking closer at the actors who have played cold-blooded bad guys—and totally nailed it.

Playing the Villain

Villains

Actors are often typecast as a specific type of character. Those who become defined as &quot;good guys (or girls)&quot; and &quot;heroes&quot; wind up playing, more often than not, good guys and heroes. When actors play&nbsp;the same kinds of roles over and over again, it can be easy for audiences to start accepting them only in those roles.

But actors often like to stretch and challenge themselves by taking roles <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/superhero-actors-you-forgot-played-villains/josh-plainse" target="_blank">outside the bounds</a> of their typical persona. Just as a comedian might be eager to take on a dramatic role, an actor known mainly for playing a hero might relish the chance to finally take on a true baddie. Sometimes the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-played-both-superheroes-and-supervillains/anncasano" target="_blank">role reversal</a> is successful and goes down as one of the performer&#39;s most loved performances; other times, it&#39;s a bad fit, or audiences are simply unable to accept the star in an unfamiliar role.

Here are some of the actors who have generally played&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-trustworthy-celebrities/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">trustworthy</a>&nbsp;characters but <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-broke-type-casting/anncasano" target="_blank">broke away from that typecasting</a> to play a villainous role. Which of these risks paid off?

The Best Villain Performances By Actors Who Always Play The Hero

Person

The Best Villain Performances By Actors Who Always Play The Hero 

TGWrites

TV shows often experiment with different forms of storytelling from time to time, whether it's a "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/90s-sitcom-very-special-episode/tyler-mitchell">very special episode</a>" or trying out a new form. This is likely a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-favorite-episodes-of-shows/shane-fraser">fun experience for the actors</a> who get to break from their usual routine and try something new.Mockumentaries like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Abbott Elementary are some of the most beloved sitcoms out there. It only makes sense that other shows would want to try out the format for themselves for a one-off episode. Mockumentary episodes also likely save the production some money, since a lot of the runtime can be taken up by cheap and easy-to-film talking head segments.While not every show that tries out the mockumentary format are comedies, these episodes tend to take a slightly more comedic slant even in dramas. On the other hand, some dramas manage to use the in-universe explanation for their documentary episode to add a unique storytelling twist. The format lends itself to fresh, distinctive episodes - check out the best examples of one-off mockumentary TV show episodes and vote on your favorite below.

The 15 Best One-Off Mockumentary TV Show Episodes

TV Episode

The Best One-Off Mockumentary Episodes Of TV

Sean Migalla

Pop Culture

Every so often, a movie casts the perfect pair of Hollywood stars. Getting the casting just right so the actors have great charisma is no easy task, but it happens. When it's truly successful, you can rest assured another project will arise somewhere down the line involving the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strongest-action-movie-duos/jacob-shelton">same pair</a>.This list highlights some of the best movies that saw a return to form, with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-marvel-movie-duos/josh-plainse">acting duos</a> who proved themselves in a different project earlier in their careers. These combinations weren't perfect just once - they're cases of lightning striking twice with absolutely unmatchable chemistry.

15 Times Actors Reunited And Lightning Struck Twice

Jonathan H. Kantor

There were lots of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-action-star-movies/griffin-peters">grade-A action stars</a> in the 1980s, from Charles Bronson to Sylvester Stallone to Jackie Chan. They and others have delivered an insane number of thrills to audiences. Who could forget Bruce Willis taking on terrorists in an office building in Die Hard? Or Arnold Schwarzenegger coming from the future to kill Sarah Connor in The Terminator? These are the action movies we cherish because they got it exactly right.Those same stars have been prolific enough to have their share of underrated movies. These films <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-action-movie-flops/sergio-pereira">didn't light up the box office</a> or make the same impression as their biggest blockbusters. Nevertheless, they contain the core elements fans come looking for. The next time you're in the mood to check out an '80s action hero in a lesser-known role, try one of these titles, which didn't get the love they deserved.

13 Underrated Second-Tier Movies From '80s Action Heroes

Underrated Second-Tier Movies From '80s Action Heroes

Mike McGranaghan

2000s

For many decades, TV was seen as “lesser” medium than film, with many artists and critics looking down on episodic storytelling as less serious than cinema. However, in the 21st century, most people appreciate that TV is just as capable of grand, clever, and moving storytelling on a small screen. This transition towards more appreciation for TV as an art started in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wildly-successful-2000s-shows/thomas-west">early 2000s with some major hits</a> on multiple networks.While many would argue that TV has only gotten better since the 2000s, many of the shows from this period are very nostalgic for viewers. Whether they used to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/2000s-after-school-tv-shows/ariel-kana">watch these shows after school</a>, or were just starting to discover how good TV could be, these shows hold a special place in viewers' hearts.Take a look back at these early '00s shows that will make you nostalgic for when you watched TV without scrolling on a smartphone.&nbsp;

18 2000s TV Shows That Make Us Nostalgic For The Pre-iPhone Era

TV Program

2000s TV Shows That Make Us Nostalgic For The Pre-iPhone Era

Not sure what to watch next? Start here. Trust us.

Must-See TV

The most memorable TV shows are the ones that hit the viewer right in the feels. Whether they are&nbsp;sad,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/dark-kids-show-finales/hannah-collins">dark</a>, or simply connect on a deeper emotional level, these programs offer something that touches the human soul. However, that doesn't exactly make them the easiest to sit down and view.After all, when someone wants to binge-watch a series, they tend to gravitate toward escapism or lighthearted entertainment to pass the time. It's unlikely a viewer will want to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/saddest-tv-shows/molly-weinfurter">bawl their eyes out</a> or feel an existential crisis after every single episode for a few hours straight. Nonetheless, this doesn't take away from the overall quality - merely that these TV shows are best enjoyed in smaller doses over a longer period of time.Check out these shows that are incredibly worth a watch - a few episodes at a time.

Heavy TV Shows That Are Great, But Hard To Binge

Heavy TV Shows That Are Hard To Rewatch

Trying to predict a blockbuster is a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/box-office-flops-doomed-to-fail/tracey-graham">roll of the dice</a>, but the combination of studio backing, star names, high production values, and publicity campaigns can give a film a solid head start. In spite of these factors, sometimes a film that seems destined to be a tentpole success can be upset by an unexpected underdog release.All of the marketing and budgetary advantages in the world can't guarantee a movie will resonate with audiences Plenty of highly anticipated films, with or without substantial monetary support, have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/box-office-flops-from-your-birth-year/michelle-nati">failed to make an impression</a> at the box office. Surprise hits that do well via word of mouth can make studios very nervous, so much so that they will more often than not attempt to replicate the formula with the next film production cycle - only for more surprise rivals to turn up.The following list includes blockbuster movies that were expected to strike box office gold, but were ultimately defeated by an unexpected hit.

12 Blockbuster Movies Overshadowed By Unexpected Hits

K. Krombie

The word "anticlimactic” usually has a negative connotation. When applied to movies, it means the story had a lot of build-up for minimal pay-off. Few things are as frustrating as devoting a couple hours to a film, then having it completely fizzle out when it should be pulling out all the stops.&nbsp;But every rule has its exceptions, and this one is no different. Certain films exist that are anticlimatic in an awesome way rather than a maddening one. Instead of giving us what we expect, they take a hard left turn, offering us a new perspective on the story or leaving us with some sort of bigger idea to ponder afterward. They surprise us in the best possible manner. The following movies all did that. Had they ended in predictable fashion, they would, ironically, be far less memorable than they actually are.&nbsp;

Movies With Great Anticlimactic Endings That Are Truly Surprising

Movies With Anticlimactic Endings That Twist The Formula

Lists about real and fictional spies, agents, operatives, and the very exciting, deceitful, and dangerous lives they lead.

I Spy

Spy films are known for the chase scenes, high-tech gadgets, and sometimes unbelievable missions that somehow manage to go the hero's way in the end.&nbsp;And although many spy flicks are fictional, a good number <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-accurate-espionage-movies/jonathan-kantor">are based on a true story</a>. These true tales include everything from a double-agent exotic dancer to a mission that involved creating a fake sci-fi film to rescue people from a hostile land.&nbsp;The stories might seem stranger than fiction, but these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-underrated-spy-movies/jacob-shelton">often underrated films</a> are based on the tactics of real-life spies and secret agents.&nbsp;If you're looking for your next thrilling espionage film to binge, we've got you covered.

14 Underrated Spy Movies Based On Real Spies

Emily Mast

While some consider the 1990s the glory years for cartoons, the 2000s delivered a treasure trove of gems, such as&nbsp;Samurai Jack,&nbsp;Kim Possible, and&nbsp;Teen Titans. Yet, hidden in the great era of Saturday morning cartoons are also an abundance of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/kids-tv-shows-worth-a-reboot/anna-lindwasser">underrated kids' shows</a> that most people don't even remember aired. In fact, if video proof didn't show their existence, most people would believe these to be mixed-up memories or fantasies of their own imagination.From an animated series all about action movie legend Jackie Chan to a lesser-known but still supremely cool DC superhero, let's roll back the clock and explore the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/early-2000s-cartoons-you-forgot-about/molly-weinfurter">forgotten yet awesome 2000s cartoons</a>. Take a trip down memory lane with these lesser-known cartoons that you may have believed you completely made up.

Underrated 2000s Cartoons We Thought We Made Up

Looking at standout roles, unforgettable performances, and behind-the-scenes drama of famous and forgotten actors.

Casting Calls

Studying actors who played the same role offers the opportunity to see how approaches vary, and to compare very different takes on the same character. You can study&nbsp;what the individual stars bring, or how they find their own angles to come at the part. In some cases, one actor might do something brilliant, while the other is weak. Other times, you get lucky and see two really unique, effective takes.&nbsp;

The reasons for the &quot;same character different actor&quot; phenomenon are varied. It can be because the same source material was adapted for the screen more than once. Another reason is that occasionally actors play a real person in separate films. A few cases on this list are even kind of bizarre coincidences. In almost every instance, though, one of the performances is better-known than the other.&nbsp;

Whatever the reason, we suspect you either don&#39;t know or don&#39;t remember that these famous folks played the same character onscreen. Vote up the connections you think are coolest.

Actors You Didn't Realize Played The Same Character

General

Film Trivia

War movie actors and camaraderie go hand in hand. Actors get pretty close to one another (physically and emotionally) while contending with the elements of a rugged outdoor set. Compare this to actors hitting their marks in a&nbsp;cushy soundstage on a Hollywood lot. However, that closeness does not always produce positive results. Some of the biggest conflicts in filmmaking history developed on war movie sets.

The following are both positive and negative stories involving notable war movie actors, as told by their co-stars.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What Actors In War Movies Were Really Like, According To Their Co-Stars

Shane Fraser

Looking at the best, worst, and most unforgettable adaptations of books to the big and small screens.

Books Brought to Life

Movie adaptations of books are a uniquely difficult variety&nbsp;of filmmaking. It&#39;s almost impossible to adapt a book into a movie while staying 100% faithful&nbsp;to the original work, because they&#39;re two fundamentally different mediums. Inevitably story lines&nbsp;will change, whether that&#39;s due to&nbsp;the realities of translating written words into a visual story&nbsp;or because filmmakers think they can improve on what&#39;s already there.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/authors-who-hated-movie-adaptations-of-their-books/anncasano" target="_blank">It&#39;s common for authors to hate film adaptations of their books</a>. Stephen King famously <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2016/02/stephen-king-says-stanley-kubricks-the-shining-is-like-a-big-beautiful-cadillac-with-no-engine-inside-it-83995/" target="_blank">disliked</a> Stanley Kubrick&#39;s 1980 adaptation of&nbsp;The Shining, even though the film is considered a horror classic, and even though King himself admits&nbsp;it&#39;s a visual masterpiece. But authors don&#39;t always hate the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/who-authors-had-in-mind-for-characters/tracey-graham" target="_blank">movie versions of their books</a>, and many love them. Usually that&#39;s because the filmmakers stayed <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-book-characters-in-movies/josh-plainse" target="_blank">true to what they originally wrote</a>.&nbsp;But sometimes, even the author has to admit that the movie version is just better.&nbsp;

Here are 18&nbsp;authors who loved the movie adaptations of their books.

18 Authors Who Loved The Movie Adaptations Of Their Books

Authors Who Loved the Movie Adaptations of Their Books

Jim Rowley

Total Nerd lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Total Nerd lists on Ranker

Total Nerd lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Total Nerd lists and rankings.

Katniss Everdeen

Finnick Odair

Peeta Mellark

Happy Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Franchise

Who are the best Hunger Games&nbsp;characters? This list includes some of the most popular characters from The Hunger Games&nbsp;book trilogy. Some are obviously main characters, like Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), and others are tributes from the various games and/or Panem districts. This list includes both characters from the Hunger Games books and the Hunger Games cast from the movies because, for the most part, the characters are the same.

Which HG&#39;character do you think is the best of all time? Vote for your favorites, vote down any Hunger Games/Catching Fire/Mockingjay&nbsp;characters you didn&#39;t like (or hated, let&#39;s be honest, some are really hate-worthy), and certainly, if your personal favorite isn&#39;t listed, add them so we have a complete Hunger Games character list! You also have the option of re-ranking this list in any order you want. Time to vote, and may the odds be ever in your favor... and when you&#39;re done voting, don&#39;t forget to also check out more <a href="/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-the-hunger-games/watchworthy" target="_blank">shows and movies like The Hunger Games.</a>

Fans of <a href="/list/hunger-games-movie-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes" target="_blank">&#39;The Hunger Games&#39; movies</a> know: The characters are incredibly memorable. Why wouldn&#39;t they be? &#39;The Hunger Games&#39; trilogy is certainly among the <a href="/list/the-13-best-dystopian-novels/ivana-wynn" target="_blank">best dystopian novels ever written</a> (especially in the modern era), and the <a href="/list/full-cast-of-the-hunger-games-actors-and-actresses/reference" target="_blank">&#39;Hunger Games&#39; cast</a> made the first &#39;HG&#39; film come to live in an incredible way.&nbsp;JLaw as Katniss in the movie is one of the&nbsp;<a href="/crowdranked-list/best-movie-characters-of-all-time" target="_blank">best movie characters of all time</a>, don&#39;t you think? 

It would be virtually impossible to make a list of Hunger Games characters without including some of the awesome tributes from the series. Rue, with her sweet nature and that incredible, melodic, haunting voice, is definitely a favorite, as is the clever Foxface (may they both rest in peace) and the hunky, mischievous Finnick Odair from &#39;Catching Fire&#39; and &#39;Mockingjay.&#39;

And, lest we forget, some of the most colorful &#39;Hunger Games&#39; characters are from the Capitol, notably District 12 escort Effie Trinket (always so stylish!), Katniss&#39; stylist, Cinna, and certainly the dastardly, scheming, manipulative, just plain evil President of Panem, Coriolanus Snow.

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