These 10 Excellent Actors Never Seem To Star In Great Movies

The home of Western cinema, Hollywood has played host to some of the greatest actors of all time over the years. Earning rave reviews from fans and critics alike for their electrifying level of talent and the engrossing performances they produce, these supremely gifted men and women form an integral thread of popular culture’s tapestry. However, talent and quality productions don’t always go hand in hand, a state of affairs highlighted by a selection of excellent actors who never seem to star in great movies.

Whether this happens to come about as a result of the actor consistently choosing the wrong projects, lackluster direction and script writing, or just plain old bad luck, cinema has witnessed a host of great actors who consistently appear in bad movies. Many of these individuals are often lauded television stars who failed to successfully transition to movies, but this brand of performer also encompasses a considerable number of well-known film stars, prominent A-Listers who simply can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to appearing in a quality movie.

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Aaron Paul

Notable Exceptions: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Eye In The Sky

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Bursting into the mainstream with a generational breakout bow as tortured soul Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul’s integral role in helping to produce the best television crime drama of all time with virtually no formal acting education highlighted his remarkable level of talent. Winning multiple Emmy Awards for his stunning performances across five seasons, Paul appeared a lock to eventually bring his considerable gifts to the silver screen.

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However, despite a minor role in 2015’s well-received action thriller Eye in the Sky, Paul’s status as one of television’s premiere performers hasn’t translated to cinema. Furthermore, the actor’s best performance in a movie didn’t break any new ground for his career, considering that it saw him reprise his role as Pinkman in 2019’s Breaking Bad sequel-epilogue, El Camino. Throw in a laundry list of critical and commercial duds like Need for Speed and Exodus: Gods and Kings, and Paul’s career outside of television serves as a frustrating case study in wasted potential.

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Matt Smith

Notable Exceptions: Last Night In Soho, Starve Acre, & His House

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Garnering status as a television standout courtesy of his roles in an array of fan-favorite outings, Matt Smith has consistently demonstrated his credentials as one of Britain’s most gifted performers. Prominent roles in acclaimed series like The Crown, House of the Dragon, and Doctor Who have established the Englishman as one of television’s finest actors, a label that is sharply juxtaposed against his disappointing collection of feature film credits.

While Smith always does his best to salvage these doomed productions with a committed performance, he can’t seem to catch a break with the roles he selects.

With the exception of superb turns in 2021’s Last Night in Soho or 2023’s Starve Acre, the man behind the Eleventh Doctor has had a truly torrid run of form in Hollywood. While Smith always does his best to salvage these doomed productions with a committed performance, he can’t seem to catch a break with the roles he selects. Blockbuster offerings in the vein of Morbius and Terminator Genisys have been utterly torn apart by critics, underlining the actor’s lack of quality movie roles.

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Timothy Olyphant

Notable Exceptions: Live Free Or Die Hard, Rango, & Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood

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Spearheading one of the best Western television shows of all time, Timothy Olyphant’s exemplary bow as Seth Bullock on HBO’s Deadwood rubber-stamped the American’s reputation as a superb performer. A versatile character actor capable of producing convincing performances across a range of genres, Olyphant is as close to a guarantee of an excellent television casting choice as one is likely to find in Hollywood.

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Accordingly, it’s somewhat surprising that the Hitman star’s filmography does not reflect this state of affairs. Outside his magnificent villainous bow in 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard, or his polished supporting work in 2019’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Olyphant’s credits are littered with offerings that have received lukewarm reviews at best. Films like Hitman, Snowden, or Amsterdam have all been lambasted by critics, underlining Olyphant’s status as one of Hollywood’s “what if?” stories.

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Eva Green

Notable Exceptions: Casino Royale, Kingdom Of Heaven

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A prominent staple of French cinema, Eva Green’s star power has never been in question. The actress appeared poised to dominate cinema after her breakout international performance in Ridley Scott’s historical epic, 2005’s Kingdom of Heaven. Taking on another blockbuster, Green would follow her bow as the Queen of Jerusalem up with an iconic turn in 2006’s Casino Royale, starring as Bond girl Vesper Lynd.

Regrettably, the quality of Green’s roles subsequently fell off a cliff shortly after. Outings like The Golden Compass, Dark Shadows, and Dumbo were largely panned by critics, while taking on roles in misjudged sequels like Sin City: A Dame to Kill For or 300: Rise of an Empire decidedly didn’t help matters. It’s a crying shame, because Green produces must-see cinema when she’s on form, an intense screen presence who commands the audience’s attention effortlessly.

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Kit Harington

Notable Exceptions: How To Train Your Dragon 2, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, & Testament Of Youth

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One of the most popular actors in the world, courtesy of his signature role as Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, Kit Harington unfortunately appears to have a problem with starring in good movies. It’s a remarkable state of affairs given that the Englishman is undoubtedly a talented performer, a status quo highlighted by multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his take on the Bastard of Winterfell.

Harington’s most recent role, The Beast Within, saw him reunite with his Game of Thrones co-star and in-series mentor, James Cosmo.

Regrettably, Harington’s dramatic gifts have not translated to producing quality movies. Outside a supporting role in the well-received How to Train Your Dragon animated franchise and a lauded bow in 2014’s Testament of Youth, the Englishman’s films have been almost universally decried by critics. Offerings like Pompeii or The Death & Life of John F. Donovan have invariably received mixed to overwhelmingly negative reviews, highlighting Harington’s status as one of cinema’s most frustrating performers in sharp relief.

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Ian McShane

Notable Exceptions: The John Wick Franchise, The Kung Fu Panda Franchise

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To describe Ian McShane as a “good actor” would do a disservice to one of Britain’s finest dramatic imports. McShane is an exemplary performer of the highest order, possessing a magnetic screen presence and inimitable gravitas. Standout performances in the likes of Deadwood and American Gods have earned the Englishman a reputation as one of television’s most revered names.

McShane is set to reprise his role as Winston in 2025’s John Wick spin-off, Ballerina.

As such, McShane’s lack of quality movie credits is baffling. While he is renowned for his fan-favorite role as Winston Scott in the John Wick franchise, McShane’s bows as the Continental’s enigmatic owner constitute some of his only appearances in legitimately first-rate films. In sharp contrast to his carefully selected television roles, the actor doesn’t appear to be averse to appearing in uninspired and played-out blockbusters like Hercules, Grimsby, or Hellboy, a state of affairs that has viewers questioning whether this is the same man who brought Al Swearengen to life.

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Dominic West

Notable Exceptions: Chicago, 300, & Pride

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Receiving top-billing on one of the greatest television shows of all time in HBO’s The Wire, Dominic West has been flexing his credentials as an excellent actor since the turn of the century. Lauded appearances in The Affair, The Crown, and SAS: Rogue Heroes have established the Englishman as an innately gifted performer, a state of affairs that is sharply juxtaposed against his roll call of film credits.

Dominic West’s Golden Globe Nominations by Year	Category	Result
The Hour (2012)	Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film	Nominated
The Affair (2015)	Best Actor – Television Series Drama	Nominated
The Crown (2024)	Best Actor – Television Series Drama	Nominated

While West boasts supporting roles in lauded outings like Chicago and 300, the vast majority of his feature film performances have not reflected his prestigious television reputation. Credited with misjudged bows in the likes of below-average offerings such as Punisher: War Zone, Tomb Raider, and Johnny English Reborn, West is perhaps the quintessential example of a first-rate actor who appears to have an allergy to selecting quality movie roles.

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Ruth Wilson

Notable Exceptions: Locke, Saving Mr. Banks, & See How They Run

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A magnetic screen presence of the highest order, Ruth Wilson is a ferociously talented actress. The multiple-time Olivier Award winner rarely fails to crackle with intensity when bringing her characters to life, earning rave reviews for her work on shows such as Jane Eyre, His Dark Materials and The Affair. Furthermore, Wilson’s bow as the psychopathic genius Alice Morgan on Luther is widely regarded as one of the greatest British crime drama television performances of all time.

If one is to discount her supporting bows in Locke, Saving Mr Banks or See How They Run, Wilson simply hasn’t appeared in many quality movies of note throughout her career.

However, Wilson’s best television shows are a far cry from her movie credits. While the actress has invariably done her best work with television productions, it’s truly remarkable that a performer of Wilson’s talent hasn’t starred in more acclaimed feature films. If one is to discount her supporting bows in Locke, Saving Mr Banks or See How They Run, Wilson simply hasn’t appeared in many quality movies of note throughout her career.

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Peter Dinklage

Notable Exceptions: The Station Agent, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, & Wicked

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The poster boy for HBO’s fantasy epic Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage’s considerable gifts as an actor are highlighted by the fact that he took home a record four Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his masterful take on Tyrion Lannister. Garnering a reputation as television royalty for his work on Game of Thrones, Dinklage would appear to be a lock for an array of quality movie performances on paper.

Peter Dinklage’s Game of Thrones Emmy Nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series by Year	Result
2011	Won
2012	Nominated
2013	Nominated
2014	Nominated
2015	Won
2016	Nominated
2018	Won
2019	Won

However, while Dinklage’s best movies include roles in critically acclaimed numbers like The Station Agent, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and Wicked, the actor’s wider filmography doesn’t necessarily reflect the aura of a man who was the biggest star of one of the most successful television shows of all time. Several of the blockbuster franchise productions that Dinklage boasts supporting roles in have only received middling reviews, while outings like Brothers, Three Christs, and Death at a Funeral are just a few of his movies that have failed to break the 50% approval rating bar on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Jennifer Aniston

Notable Exceptions: Marley & Me, Horrible Bosses, & We’re The Millers

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An indispensable staple of popular culture following her iconic bow as Rachel Green on Friends, Jennifer Aniston boasts a remarkable number of movie stinkers for an actress of her talent and standing. For every fan-favorite comedic outing like Horrible Bosses, We’re The Millers, or Marley & Me, there appears to be at least one panned entry to Aniston’s credit. For context, Just Go With It, Mother’s Day, and The Bounty Hunter are just three of her films that failed to receive a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating that was higher than 19%.

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It’s important to note that Aniston doesn’t necessarily have a complete aversion to making quality films. Rather, it’s the fact that when she makes a bad movie, they’re often so terrible that they stand out from the pack more than others might. The cause behind this state of affairs is difficult to pinpoint given The Morning Show star’s unquestionable talent, a status quo underlined by the fact that Aniston boasts multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG award wins and nominations from a long and highly successful career.

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Category: Entertainment