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Let's turn down the cheering, just a little bit! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the actors whose skills have been overblown either due to their popularity or the franchises they’ve appeared in.
Transcript
00:00 I'm just gonna hurt you really, really bad.
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the actors whose skills
00:12 have been overblown, either due to their popularity or the franchises they've appeared in.
00:17 While they certainly aren't bad performers by any means, they've been given more credit
00:22 than they've earned.
00:23 You know, I don't think that I'm qualified to do this.
00:26 No, you're fine.
00:28 #10. Chris Pratt There's no denying that he's a staple of
00:31 several franchises, from Marvel to Jurassic Park to even more recent, Garfield.
00:37 He's managed to play a plethora of iconic characters in television and film, and he's
00:42 undoubtedly one of the most successful actors of today.
00:45 You missed the first time.
00:47 Then you got 'em both the second time.
00:50 However, while he excels in playing sarcastic, wisecracking goofballs, he starts to falter
00:55 in more serious parts.
00:57 When it comes to voice acting, criticism has also been launched his way, especially with
01:02 respect to his being cast as the titular character in the Super Mario Bros. movie.
01:10 Still, as fans of Parks and Recreation will tell you, he shows genuine talent, especially
01:17 when it comes to comedy.
01:22 While action flicks have made him a household name, many hope to see him return to his comedic
01:27 roots.
01:28 #9. Jennifer Lopez Over the years, she's proven why she's more
01:32 known for her music rather than her acting.
01:35 While Lopez did well in the Selena biopic, many have argued that that was her peak.
01:45 We'd add the wedding planner to that list, but we digress.
01:48 While she's never been a critical darling, many of her releases have done well at the
01:52 box office, proving she does have some draw.
01:55 However, it can definitely be argued that that's more so due to her general celebrity
02:00 status rather than her skill.
02:08 Despite being in the industry for decades, her filmography still struggles to excite
02:13 critics.
02:16 #8.
02:18 Adam Sandler People are still holding out hope that he'll
02:25 make a return to form.
02:27 There's no denying that Sandler's had a contentious career.
02:34 While he does have a few stellar films, such as 2019's Uncut Gems, in between those are
02:40 some of the most phoned-in performances in Hollywood.
02:48 From the Grown Ups series to the infamous Jack and Jill, audiences have questioned his
02:53 skill and his taste.
02:55 To be fair, he does seem happy being able to work with his friends, even if he knows
02:59 the result won't be the next Citizen Kane.
03:01 What fans find most interesting is that when he cares, he's capable of doing an amazing
03:07 job, which leads them to wonder why he doesn't apply that same diligence to all of his projects.
03:14 #7.
03:15 Keanu Reeves An actor may be loved, but that doesn't
03:20 necessarily mean their work is always worthy of the same praise.
03:24 There's no greater example of this than Keanu Reeves.
03:27 He has exploded in popularity online due to his wholesome reputation and has quickly become
03:32 the internet's favorite celebrity.
03:34 However, a look into his projects show that his personality supersedes his ability.
03:44 While he does a fine job as John Wick, any role where he's given a substantial amount
03:49 of dialogue falls flat.
03:51 From his attempted accents to a lack of emotion in his tone, it's clear that his niche is
03:56 in the action genre.
03:57 While he might not be the most versatile actor, there's no doubt that he's cemented a different,
04:02 more permanent legacy for himself.
04:05 #6.
04:06 Jared Leto With an Oscar under his belt, it's clear
04:12 that the star excels in dramatic projects.
04:15 However, many have argued that winning the highest-performing reward possible has ruined
04:20 his craft.
04:21 After winning for Dallas Buyers Club, Leto decided that every role of his from there
04:25 on out needed to be done via method acting.
04:31 This has unfortunately caused his subsequent films to suffer.
04:35 From playing what's considered to be the worst iteration of the Joker, to his poor attempt
04:39 at an Italian accent in House of Gucci, the method might not be for him.
04:44 Some supporters of his are still hoping that he'll drop it and return to his old style
04:48 so that he can go back to giving convincing performances.
04:52 #5.
04:54 Tom Cruise Once upon a time, he was one of Hollywood's
04:57 most versatile actors.
05:06 Capable of delivering an emotional performance as well as an intense one, at his peak he
05:11 was considered one of the best in the game.
05:14 However, as time has gone on, his filmography has taken a backseat to his personal life.
05:19 His antics, such as his infamous appearance on Oprah, overtook his reputation and his
05:25 connections with the Church of Scientology didn't help either.
05:30 However, what truly disappointed his fanbase was his pivot away from dramatic parts entirely.
05:38 He's only taken on action movies for the past decade, with most of them being sequels.
05:48 While he undoubtedly sees more financial success from those, they don't compare to his older,
05:53 more ambitious work.
05:56 #4.
05:57 Angelina Jolie There was a point in Hollywood when this
06:01 star was a major box office draw.
06:04 While there's no denying her magnetic on-screen presence, it's been argued that she relies
06:09 on her natural charisma rather than her ability.
06:13 While she does have genuinely impressive films in her repertoire, such as Girl Interrupted,
06:18 Jolie has more than her fair share of flops as well.
06:27 Some of her portrayals have even landed her a few Golden Raspberry Award nominations.
06:32 In recent years, her personal life and humanitarian work have contributed more to her fame than
06:37 her acting has.
06:38 Either way, fans are hoping to see a career resurgence from her.
06:44 #3.
06:47 Dwayne Johnson This actor is proof that just because you're
06:50 highly paid doesn't mean you have the talent to match the paycheck.
07:01 Johnson has dabbled in several major franchises, from The Fast and the Furious to Jumanji.
07:07 There's no doubt that he plays a great hero.
07:09 However, this has led to him successfully typecasting himself as the victor who always
07:15 saves the day.
07:16 His characters are usually invincible and infallible, with a little humor thrown in
07:21 for good measure, which causes his roles to easily blend together.
07:31 Considering how long he's been in the game, it's disappointing that he limits himself
07:35 by not adding much variety to his resume.
07:47 #2.
07:48 Gwyneth Paltrow Despite being a mainstay in Hollywood for
07:52 decades, viewers struggle to think of parts that have truly made her iconic, even with
07:57 a Best Actress Academy Award.
07:59 While she has played well-known characters like Viola in Shakespeare in Love
08:10 and Pepper Potts in the Iron Man series, many have argued that the pre-existing stories
08:19 did most of the heavy lifting.
08:21 In mid-budget films, she struggles to make the same mark, leading many of her performances
08:26 to become forgettable.
08:27 Off-camera, she's made more of a name for herself through her controversial business
08:32 ventures, such as her company Goop.
08:34 She's living proof that even if you win at the highest possible level, it doesn't
08:38 necessarily mean you've left a lasting impact, at least not for the right reasons.
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09:01 Number 1.
09:02 Ben Affleck Some entertainers have demonstrated that they
09:05 can act, direct, and write at the drop of a hat.
09:09 Others, not so much.
09:19 While Affleck has certified his talent behind the camera with his writing and directing
09:24 skills, putting him in front of one can sometimes lead to disappointing results.
09:29 He's experimented in different genres, with varying levels of success.
09:33 His appearances in Daredevil and Gigli proved that he wasn't able to elevate a bad script.
09:49 Even when playing an iconic hero like Batman, some felt he had trouble fully immersing himself
09:54 in the role.
10:02 Although he was able to earn good favor back through projects like Argo and Gone Girl,
10:07 it's clear that folks would rather see him behind the scenes than as a leading man.
10:12 Which actor do you think is the most overrated?
10:14 Let us know in the comments below!
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