Signing onto a film that has the potential for sequels can be a thrilling opportunity for an up-and-coming actor. Not only does it offer the chance for a steady flow of income, but also the excitement of long-term employment. However, for the franchise to flourish, the first film must captivate audiences and rake in loads of cash.
When a franchise falls flat at the box office, it often fizzles out before it even takes off. In these cases, the actors involved swiftly move on to other projects, safeguarding their earnings and their reputation. It’s fascinating to discover that many well-known movie stars have been part of unsuccessful franchises, despite their overall successful careers.
1. Will Smith
Will Smith’s transition from TV sitcom to film was a fairly smooth one. His performance in Six Degrees of Separation showcased his potential to captivate audiences on the big screen. While his cheeky Fresh Prince of Bel-Air persona initially made him a natural fit for action films like Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black, Smith quickly proved his versatility with roles in Enemy of the State and Ali.
As time went on, Smith became known as a reliable box office draw. However, even his charm couldn’t save every franchise he appeared in. One notable disappointment was the 1999 film Wild Wild West, which was based on a multi-genre 1960s TV series and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, with whom Smith had previously collaborated on Men in Black. Unfortunately, both audiences and critics were left unimpressed, and the film and Smith’s eponymous theme song were mockingly honored at the Razzies.
In 2016, Smith took on the role of Deadshot in Suicide Squad, a film that brought together a team of antiheroes recruited by the government. While the film did spawn some sequels and TV spin-offs, it fell short of the high expectations set for a project involving such impressive DC characters. This added yet another lackluster franchise to Smith’s resume.
2. Chris Pine
Over the past twenty years, Chris Pine has proven his ability to handle both leading roles in feature films like Hell or High Water and Outlaw King, as well as being a powerful presence in successful franchises such as Star Trek and the highly anticipated Dungeons & Dragons sequels. However, amidst these career highlights, Pine has also experienced setbacks in the film industry.
In 2014, Pine took on the role of Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, directed by Kenneth Branagh. This film depicted the story of a CIA financial analyst recruit who investigates Russian-led economic terrorism. While the box office earnings were not terrible, the film failed to perform as well as its franchise predecessors.
Similar outcomes were seen with two book-based films. Pine lent his voice to the animated film Rise of the Guardians, where he portrayed Jack Frost, one of a group of folklore adventurers. Additionally, he played astrophysicist Dr. Alex Murry in A Wrinkle in Time, a film in which his children embark on an interstellar journey to find him. Unfortunately, the overall earnings of both films were overshadowed by their high production costs.
3. Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig has had a unique kind of success in his career. While he’s best known for his role as James Bond, he had already proven himself as a talented character actor before taking on the iconic role. Recently, he has enjoyed playing the smooth southern detective Benoit Blanc in the successful Knives Out mystery films.
His involvement in The Golden Compass didn’t go as well, though. He portrayed the darkly ambitious Lord Asriel in the film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials fantasy novel trilogy. The plan was for further films based on the following two books to be made, but distribution complications, underwhelming profits, and mixed reviews halted those plans. Instead, HBO took on the responsibility of adapting the novels for the small screen, aiming for a more faithful telling.
Craig also had a bit of a misstep with Cowboys & Aliens, a movie based on a graphic novel. In the film, he played Jake Lonergan, a wanted outlaw who gets abducted by aliens. Despite having a star-studded team including co-star Harrison Ford, director Jon Favreau, and producers Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, the movie failed to capture the necessary enthusiasm from both audiences and critics. Some felt that the aliens were not as captivating as the cowboys.
Overall, Daniel Craig’s success has been a mix of triumphs and setbacks, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
4. Matthew McConaughey
Richard Linklater’s film Dazed and Confused propelled Matthew McConaughey to fame with his iconic catchphrase, “Alright, alright, alright.” He quickly rose to the Hollywood heights, starring in a variety of films such as Lone Star, A Time to Kill, Contact, and Amistad. However, he later found himself trapped in a rom-com purgatory with movies like The Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
Despite the financial security and success that came with these romantic comedies, McConaughey made a bold decision to reject the genre and pursue more meaningful work. This risky move eventually paid off when he won an Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club. Along the way, McConaughey also tried his luck with a couple of potential franchises that unfortunately didn’t pan out.
In 2005, McConaughey starred in Sahara, a film adaptation of Clive Cussler’s novel series featuring action hero Dirk Pitt. With a high budget and promising storyline, it seemed like a sure blockbuster. However, the movie ended up suffering from doubling costs, resulting in significant losses at the box office and no possibility for a sequel. McConaughey then took a respectful twelve-year break before facing another disappointment.
In 2017, McConaughey took on the role of the antagonist sorcerer Walter Padick in The Dark Tower, based on Stephen King’s book series. Unfortunately, the film faced numerous production challenges and received negative reviews due to its confusing plot, effectively ending any hope for a sequel.
5. Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is known for his handsome looks and witty humor, which landed him a string of comedy and romantic comedy roles in the 2000s. Some of his notable films during this time include National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, The In-Laws, Waiting…, Just Friends, and The Proposal. However, he has since transitioned into headlining stand-alone blockbusters like Free Guy and the Marvel Deadpool films.
Unfortunately, Reynolds had a stumble with the DC movie Green Lantern in 2011. Playing the role of pilot Hal Jordan, he is granted a ring that grants him superpowers to battle supervillains as part of the Green Lantern Corps intergalactic police force. However, the film received criticism for deviating from the original material and relying too heavily on special effects, resulting in disappointment from both fans and critics.
Reynolds faced another setback with the vigilante thriller 6 Underground, directed by Michael Bay. In the movie, Reynolds portrays a character named One, who is part of a group of vigilantes that assume numerical codenames after faking their deaths. Unfortunately, the film failed to make a significant impact upon its release on Netflix, effectively putting an end to any potential franchise.
Overall, while Reynolds has had his share of successes, he has also experienced some disappointments along the way.
6. Naomi Scott
Naomi Scott’s journey to fame started on the small screen, with roles in shows like Terra Nova and Anatomy of a Scandal. However, it was her portrayal of Princess Jasmine in Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin that catapulted her career to new heights. Not only did she showcase her acting skills, but she also impressed everyone with her singing abilities. The live action remake of the beloved Disney cartoon was a massive success, raking in an astonishing $1 billion at the box office. Despite this triumph, Scott has had her fair share of setbacks in the world of franchises.
One of her notable roles was as Elena, an engineer Angel recruit, in Charlie’s Angels. This 2019 film was a reboot of the early 2000s franchise, based on the original TV series. Elizabeth Banks, who also starred in the movie, took charge as the writer and director, infusing it with a feminist touch to bring it up to date. While the film didn’t perform as well as expected in terms of ticket sales and demographics, it received positive reviews for its humor and snappy dialogue between the Angels.
Scott also took on the role of Kimberly Hart, also known as the Pink Ranger, in the 2017 Power Rangers film. This attempt to revive the nostalgic property saw moderate success, but it didn’t generate enough hype to immediately spawn sequels. Despite these franchise misfires, Scott’s talent and rising career continue to captivate audiences.
7. Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman has been a prominent figure in Hollywood for the past two decades, showcasing his versatility across various genres. From his performances in musicals like Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman, to his work in dramas such as Bad Education and The Son, Jackman has proved that he cannot be easily typecast. Additionally, he has played the iconic role of Wolverine in numerous X-Men and Wolverine franchise films.
However, not all of Jackman’s potential franchise-launching roles have achieved the same level of success. One such example is his portrayal of Van Helsing, a youthful version of the vampire hunter inspired by classic monster flicks. Unfortunately, the film received criticism for an excessive use of CGI, which ultimately led to the absence of any sequels.
Following the disappointment of Van Helsing, Jackman took on the lead role in the 2011 film Real Steel, based on the short story “Steel” by Richard Matheson. The movie tells the story of a man who builds a boxing robot with his son, creating a unique bond in a futuristic world where man and machine collide. While Real Steel received some positive reviews and achieved decent ticket sales, it has been more than a decade since its release and no sequel has been developed.
In summary, Hugh Jackman’s career has been marked by his ability to tackle diverse roles, ranging from musicals to dramas, and his portrayal of Wolverine in various franchise films. While some of his potential franchise-launching roles, like Van Helsing, did not meet expectations, others, such as Real Steel, achieved moderate success but have not seen any follow-up films in recent years.
8. Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch is an actor who has experienced both highs and lows in his career. He gained recognition for his role as Tim Riggins in the highly acclaimed TV show Friday Night Lights. This success led to him landing prominent roles in movies such as The Covenant, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the TV series True Detective.
However, Kitsch also had his fair share of disappointments. In 2012, he collaborated with Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg for the sci-fi film Battleship. The movie revolved around a group of Navy crewmen fighting against monstrous ships from another planet. Unfortunately, basing a war film on a board game didn’t turn out to be the wisest decision, and any hopes for a film series quickly sank after the initial installment.
The same year, Kitsch starred in John Carter, a film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom book series. The story followed Carter, a Civil War captain who magically finds himself on Mars, encountering a mix of sword-and-sandal action and interplanetary travel. Despite its potential, the movie’s colossal budget outweighed its international box office gross, preventing any further film adventures for John Carter.
Overall, Taylor Kitsch’s career has been a mix of successful projects and less fortunate ventures. He has showcased his talent in various roles but has also faced setbacks along the way.
9. Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is widely recognized for creating his own successful franchises. He took on the role of a screenwriter for Rocky and First Blood, resulting in numerous Rocky/Creed and Rambo sequels and spinoffs that solidified his position in Hollywood. However, with a film career spanning fifty years, Stallone has also experienced his fair share of box office flops.
Two cop films from the 1990s had the potential to become franchises but failed to meet expectations. In 1993, Demolition Man confused audiences with its concept of a cop who is cryogenically frozen and wakes up several decades later in 2032 to pursue a crazed criminal portrayed by Wesley Snipes, who is also thawed from cryogenic freeze. Despite the film’s success in terms of ticket sales, the excessive explosions and lack of substance were the primary reasons why no further installments were made.
Two years later, in 1995, fans of the British 2000 AD comic Judge Dredd were disappointed with the film adaptation starring Stallone. The movie failed to capture the dystopian sci-fi essence of the original comic, instead resembling a dated adventure TV series. Critics who found the story even remotely amusing considered it an unintentional result of a clumsy adaptation. Ultimately, Stallone has found greater success when he writes his own roles in franchises, rather than appearing in adaptations of others’ work.
10. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” is widely recognized for his wrestling persona and has successfully transitioned into the world of event movies and franchises. He has portrayed various characters in a range of films, from standalone action movies to his notable role as Luke Hobbs in the Fast & Furious series since 2011. While Johnson’s career has remained strong, he has faced a few setbacks along the way.
One example is his 2018 film Rampage, where he teams up with a giant ape resembling King Kong to prevent other colossal monsters from wreaking havoc on cities. Unfortunately, the movie received lackluster reviews and encountered difficulties due to sensitive studio politics. Another disappointment came with his 2022 film Black Adam, where Johnson portrayed the titular character in an attempt to expand the DC movie universe. However, the film failed to meet the high standards set by other superhero films in its fiercely competitive era.
In a departure from science fiction and superheroes, Johnson took on the role of Lt. Mitch Buchannon in the 2017 comedy Baywatch, which was an adaptation of the popular TV series. The film humorously referenced its source material and followed a team of lifeguards in Florida who not only rescue people but also solve crimes occurring within the beach and ocean area. Despite the inclusion of slow-motion running and cameos from David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, Baywatch faced tough competition at the box office and failed to generate enough buzz for potential sequels.
Overall, Dwayne Johnson’s career has remained resilient despite encountering a few stumbling blocks.
11. Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum is a versatile actor who can tackle both tough action roles and sensitive performances. He first gained recognition in the dance movie Step Up, which launched his career. He then successfully transformed his experiences as a male stripper into the popular Magic Mike franchise. Although he has found success in the action genre with films like 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, and White House Down, he has also had a few projects that didn’t quite hit the mark.
One such project was G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, where Tatum and his soldier buddies fight to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands. The film received mixed reviews, but it still managed to attract a large audience and led to sequels. Surprisingly, Tatum didn’t initially want to be a part of the franchise. In fact, he even requested that his character be killed off early in the sequel.
In 2015, Tatum starred in the Wachowskis’ Jupiter Ascending, a sci-fi film centered around a young cleaning woman named Jupiter Jones, played by Mila Kunis. The story takes a convoluted fairytale twist as Jupiter is guided and protected by a soldier named Caine Wise, who is a mix of human and dog. Unfortunately, the film struggled to make a profit at the box office, barely breaking even. To make matters worse, it was ranked number 29 on a 2016 list of the most polarizing movies of the 21st century.
Despite these setbacks, Channing Tatum continues to showcase his talent and versatility in Hollywood. Whether he’s dancing, fighting, or delving into the world of science fiction, Tatum’s unique position in the industry remains unchanged.
