After criticizing their looks, it was inevitable that we would get to a talent bashing. For this list I have gone for actors from fairly mainstream movies. Movie lists are often quite controversial on this site, but I get the feeling that this one won’t be. If you do think I have left off one of your favorite bad actors, tell me in the comments.
10. Culkin
Forget the Christian name? Nope – they both suck equally! I am not actually sure what to say about the Culkin Tribe. They are just so bad that nothing really registers in my mind when I think about them (except an odd picture of Michael Jackson).
9. Jean-Claude Van Damme
We have to applaud his abilities with martial arts, but wow – couldn’t they just pay a good actor to learn to fake it? Monsieur Van Damme can’t act worth a … you guessed it … damn!
8. Hugh Grant
One word sums this actor up: insipid. I am simply baffled by his popularity. He is a weak, dull, uninteresting man. You can be sure that if he were out with a lady and got mugged, he would hide behind her.
7. Ben Affleck
Ben Affliction has been on our screens far too many times. Not only is he a bad actor, he manages to be so bad that potentially good films wilt at his feet (Pearl Harbour for example). He is like the reverse of King Midas – everything he touches turns to… erm, well – poo.
6. Steven Seagal
“*grunt* *grmph*.” I don’t want to say too much in case he hits me. In fact, I think that must be the only way he gets roles because he is awful!
5. Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom is a man of extremes. He is extremely popular when it comes to looks, and extremely bad when it comes to acting. Having said that – I do feel a little sorry for him – it must have been hard on him to be upstaged by trees in the Lord of the Rings.
4. Paul Walker
This is a tricky one – when he comes on screen he seems like he might be okay – but then he opens his mouth. They must spend millions on his films editing out the drool! How on earth has he ended up in so many films? Good tan though.
3. Hayden Christensen
Darth Vader? Try Dull Vader. Hayden Christensen is the worst thing since mouldy bread. He has not once managed to play a convincing character. He is so bad that during some of his “acting” in the Star Wars movies, I was sick a little bit in my mouth.
2. Tom Cruise
While I am tempted to sum it up in one word (scientology) – I won’t. Cruise started off on a good note (Top Gun) but he just got worse and worse. Perhaps he audited out all of his meagre talent.
1. Keanu Reeves
It was a tough decision picking the right photo for this one – on the one hand I had a photo of paint drying, and on the other hand I had a photo of Keanu. While the paint photo was a lot more interesting, I thought I ought to go with this one. Has he ever been decent in a film? I just cannot think of a single instance of quality acting. Even the one film everyone loves (The Matrix) suited him only because the main character was a wet fish. Sorry Keanu – you suck.
Notable Omissions: John Malkovich, Jeff Goldblum, Arnie, Sly
Technorati Tags: actors
I disagree firmly with your #1 choice. Keanu Reeves inhabits his characters rather than emoting messily all over the place. He acts like a man and therefore you have to search for the glimmers of feeling deep below the surface.
Watch a couple of John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart movies. Those actors, too, refused to let their emotions show on their faces. They'll kiss you, but they're not going to weep on you. That's the way I like my men, thank you very much.
I disagree, Bonnie_. You’re describing someone like Colin Firth. Keanu doesn’t connect very strongly with his characters, so even when I look I just don’t see those glimmers of emotion.
It’s not really about your taste in men it’s about acting ability. I am not a heart on my sleeve kind of guy either, which is exactly why I’d make a lousy actor. By the way why isn’t the worst actor ever (although really cool guy) John Wayne on this list?
OK, I won't dispute Hayden Christiansen being on this list, because most people have only seen him in the Star Wars prequel travesties. But you should check out 'Shattered Glass'. He's pretty good. Fun fact: Tom Cruise produced.
I don't have a problem with Malkovitch or even Stallone not being on this list. They basically play themselves. One-note actors can be good at playing that one note. If artistic merit was judged solely on diversity and/or virtuosity, then there goes punk rock and the whole modern art movement.
Besides, Stallone was REALLY good in 'Copland' and that means a lot coming from me because I despise him.
One thing I can not let pass, tho, is a lack of Schwarzenegger on this list. Shame. SHAME!
Someone mentioned Keanu Reeves in 'Much Ado About Nothing'… I'm sorry, he makes that whole movie for me. You have great production, top notch actors, and a script by friggin' Shakespeare. And in the middle of it all, what the hell, let's throw in Keanu playing Ted Theodore Logan playing Don John. Gutsy.
If you look at his eyes, swear to god, you can actually see him reading his lines off the teleprompter. I have to believe that he would have done a better acting job if he had any idea what his character was actually saying, but he might as well have been reading sanskrit.
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Not Orlando Bloom! I think he's fine as long as he stays in the roles for which he is suited; lots of action and very little dialog. And he's great at standing, gazing into the distance and looking pretty; he does it so well! You should replace him with Kevin Costner. Every one of his movies is "Kevin Costner playing… Kevin Costner." And he doesn't even do that well!
All the rest of the list? Yup, dead on.
because he’s pretty. Seriously.
oh good God, Paul walker is just horrible, his performance in Fast and the Furious (not to mention every one of his movies) was terrible…I need NOS man, big bottles, two of them, lol
and Hayden Christensen, that was the worst darth vader i could of imagined. ive seen incredibly drunk college sorority girls do a better darth vader acting job.
good, but oh so bad, list
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo0
have to agree with you on your number one choice. i recently saw “much ado about nothing” and Keanu is such a lame duck. He really can’t break out of his Bill and Ted role.
Woah
woah
woah
I think you are waaay too harsh. Firstly, you’ve probably only seen Macaulay Culkin. His brothers Kieran and Rory were excellent in Igby Goes Down and Mean Creek respectively.
Hugh Grant is a great British rom-com actor – like Colin Firth. He plays the role extremely well.
Steven Segal is a great action guy – nothing more, nothing less. You shouldn’t compare him to different types of actors.
It’s so easy to hate on Tom Cruise because of his eccentric behaviour, but his performance in Magnolia was on the greatest I’ve ever seen. In fact, he’s consistently good in all his films.
And Keanu gets way too much hate. He’s good at what he does.
I think you’re trying to compare each person here to someone like Ian McKellen which is not a good judge of how someone acts. You can’t say McKellen is a bad actor because he sucks at comedy, for example.
I agree that Hugh Grant is really great at understated British acting.
You might want to add Stallone to this list. His “I want what everyone else wants”scene at the end of Rambo 2 was just painfull.
Good list but Jean Claude was good in ONE movie. Desert Heat was actually one of the craziest movies I ever saw. Then again, maybe it’s my love of the movie that makes me like him rather than his performance.
I agree with the whole list (except for maaaybe Orlando Bloom, I haven’t made my mind up yet) but I especially agree with #4 and #1. good list!
Macaulay was good in Party Monster!
I agree with most on this list, with the exception of number 2 and 1. Keanu Reeves is a bad actor, but does not deserve to be the worst. Tom Cruise should take the place of Keanu; the man is painful to watch.
And sir, you seem to have forgotten Bruce Willis? That man is arguably worse than Tom Cruise!
IDK, Bruce's performance in the sixth sense was pretty good…
Whats wrong with bruce willis? Judging the way you people talk, even brando is a bad actor..
*****y. *****y. *****y. excellent selection nonetheless. *grins*
Wow. Brutal. Pretty smack dab on, though.
But I really expected to see William Shattner on the list.
I… needed to see William Shattner on the list.
Yes.
WHAT?! No John Malkovich? He’s one of the worst! He acts with this very fake English lilt in his voice (as if it will make him sound like a better actor) and over annunciates all his words to show emotion instead of acting out his emotion. Good list overall though…
JT: hey – watch it! I saw Iggy Goes Down and Mean Creek – but you have to admit – this is not a family of character actors. I want to see some emotion! In fact, while I do think some of these guys suck seriously as actors – I do love some of their films. And interestingly, I was starting a new list today of the 10 most surprising brilliant performances from not so brilliant actors, and Cruise in Magnolia is on the list in third place. So I did take that in to account!
Bonnie: I don’t agree- the actors you name are great men – but you can see the manly strength in their characters – I don’t find that with Reeves. Oh – and I agree with you on the qualities of a good male actor – I don’t demand that they weep in every scene – I like to see a man being a man in a movie too – it seems so natural that way.
JOE: Stallone and Arnie were both contenders
Sean: I haven’t seen it – I will see if I can find a copy to watch!
Emily: look beyond the looks – he sucks
Anna: I haven’t seen it so I will give you the benefit of the doubt and try to check it out.
Ryan: I am just shocked horrified! Bruce Willis is a brilliant actor – he was sensitive in Sixth Sense, tough in Die Hard, both in Pulp Fiction. I love Bruce Willis!
Cyn: Ever the pacifist
1.Oohh, I like Keanu, I think he is quite good, I am sad that you put him in the list, let alone as the worst actor. In Devils Advocate was very good, and in the Matrix.
2.Now I agree with Hayden Christensen. He even should have been number one. How could the Star Wars team cast him. He singlehandedly ruined the new star wars episodes.(as well as jar jar binx)
3.Daniel Radclif is quite bad as well. Watching Harry Potter is painful.
im sorry i changed my mind im an idiot
I object to Tom Cruise being on this list, let alone #2.
People think that because he is in a cult, no matter how much you enjoyed his performances before being notified of such, he is now a terrible actor because of his beliefs and/or eccentricity.
I don’t care if Russell Crowe is a jackass, I don’t care if Vanessa Redgrave is anti-zionist, I don’t care if Jane Fonda hopped on a tank danced the good ol’ treason jig.
I don’t have to like them as a person or agree with their beliefs to enjoy their acting, and Tom Cruise is a good enough actor to never deserve being on a list with Keanu Reeves and Steven Seagal.
Though one addition that I would make and leaves a gaping hole in the list because of him having not been mentioned: Ashton Kutcher.
Terrible, terrible actor.
Right on. Cruise is a whack-o, but if you see Magnolia, you'll know the guy does have talent. Aston Kutcher is a horrible actor, all around.
Hannah. Oh my God – I can’t believe I forgot him. That man is vile! He is truly truly horrible. I own a copy of Dangerous Liaisons – totally ruined by his presence. Ripley’s game was embarassing because of him. He has also ruined perfectly good movies like Of Mice and Men, The Sheltering Sky, and, probably worst of all, The Glass Menagerie.
Joe: I don’t mind Ashton so much, though I can see why so many do.
I actually think Malkovich was good in Of Mice and Men because his character honestly matched his acting style. Lennie is mentally retarded, and so stupid that he appears to be always reading from a cue card. That is how Malkovich acts in every single film.
Man in the Iron Mask wasn’t good, but Malkovich ruined it completely. He was the worst part of the not-so-great Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy film.
Hey, hey, Affleck has frequently done an Oscar-worthy rendition of a piece of wood!
(…in action movies that is)
And thanks Hayden for turning one of cinema’s most iconic Bad Guys into a Whining Little B*tch.
hey george lucas said hayden christensen fit his image for anakin and maybe deep down vader is a whining little b*tch like YOU!!
You forgot the one that I would argue is the worst of them all, John Travolta. Every role he plays looks like the last one, all the way back to his role as Vinnie Barbarino with “Welcome Back Kotter”
He’s also a wackjob Scientologist, fits right in there with Tom Cruise.
okay – I think these are the best comments we have ever had.
Jamie, I’m afraid if you don’t add Schwarzenegger as at least an honorable mention I’m going to have to boycott your site.
But wait, you’d probably like that, so…
3 TIMES THE COMMENTS from me until he makes the list! On all subjects, whether I know what I’m talking about or not!
Don’t test me, son. I’m just crazy enough to do it.
Hmmm.
I don’t agree with all of these, but I do agree with Segal and VanDamme in particular. Wow they are bad. I too was surprised at no Stallone, I’ve yet to like one of his movies.
I think that Cruise is INSANE, but I’ve always liked his movies. I don’t know, maybe it is a case of eye candy cause I also like Orlando…
Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, yo.
I’ve got to remind you that if George Lucas can make Harrison Ford and Natalie Portman look stupid, then just about anybody in that role of Aniken Skywalker was going to be bad. I’m not going to nominate Hayden for anything here,(he wasn’t bad in Shattered Glass) but it’s Lucas that writes these idiotic things and insists the actors say the lines.
Harrison Ford even said, “You can write that *****, but it doesn’t mean it’s worth saying.”
I don’t know if Cruise belongs here either. Born on the Fourth of July?
How about a list of the top 10 celebrity douchebags?
Oh wait, I think you already did a Scientology list.
Oh, and Schwarzenegger! Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger!!!!!1!!
Scientology or no, Cruise is the worst. You can’t give him a pass just because Magnolia was good. Eventually if you try enough times you might get it right once. Top Gun can’t be used as an example of good Cruise acting either, cuz he was just being himself- a cocky jackass.
Keanu Reeves ruined the otherwise enjoyable Dracula. Whoa!
And though I would rather put out my eyes with a spoon than watch Hayden Chritsensen in anything, the whole Darth Vader thing wasn’t his fault. He didn’t write the lines he spit out so ineloquently. That’s Lucas’ fault. He made even normally good actors like Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman look like amateurs. What could you expect from whiny Hayden?
But, Tommy Cruise takes it. He’s the worst actor ever. Even worse than Shatner, dude.
Tom Cruise was BRILLiANt in born on the Fourth of July, get him off this list.
Paul Walker should be #1 on this list. He’s just painful to watch. Why on earth does he still get work?
YARR:
Do NOT-
dis -
the Shat.
MISTER TAMBOURINE MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!
(Schwarzenegger)
Let’s not leave out Jeff Goldblum,that guys just awful!!!!!
Ben Affleck should be #1 lol and where is david hasselhoff?
I may not agree with what you say, but I will laugh really hard reading it. That list read pretty much how I feel, although I did not think of putting Tom Cruise on the list. Thinking about it though, none of his performances ever blew me away; he was just in a bunch of movies. I might have added one or both of the Wilson brothers. I can’t remember ever enjoying watching them in anything.
Have you seen Macaulay Culkin in “Saved!”? He was actually really good in that.
9000-
I
Love
Shatner.
He
just
Over
acts!
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keanu’s portrayal of Jonathan Harker in “Dracula” was simply…. moronic…
Switching from English accents and “California surfer airhead dude” accents throughout…
bleargh!
Hilariously, his "English" accent is not unlike Orlando Bloom's…I watched Coppola's Dracula movie maybe a month or two back and I swear he says Mina's name with the same inflection 'Will' says Elizabeth's…
I can’t stand the sight of Tom Cruise anymore but Rain Man was a damn fine performance. I don’t care what anyone says about that. Born on the Fourth of July, he was good in that too
Meh.
I disagree with Grant, Cruise and Reeves. Possibly Seagal too.
The only movies Ben Aflek has been any good in where the movies he did for Kevin Smith. But he got the role of a complete idiot so it suited I guess
The funny thing about Reeves is that he was in Much Ado About Nothing. It’s kind of hard to imagine him as a Shakespearian actor. To be fair though, he played John the bastard, who only had maybe 3 or 4 lines. The movie was pretty good though (I especially like Micheal Keaton as the constable).
Also, Macaulay Culkin is pretty good as a voice actor.
Good movies and acting from certain actors you named…
Ben Affleck, very good in Shakespeare in Love and incredibly believable in Good Will Hunting. Did an amazing job in Hollywoodland
Orlando Bloom is a good actor just not the greatest. He was good in Kingdom of Heaven.
Tom Cruise…Top Gun, Jerry McGuire, Vanilla Sky
and I agree Keanu Reeves isnt a great actor but did an amazing job in The Gift
are you serious? Orlando Bloom is maybe the worst actor that exist. Like Huge Grant he has one look ( looking past the character his talking to, and presenting his lines like it should be some kind of a poem), and for some reason he keep repeting this in all of his movies (lord of the rings, black hawk down, pirates of the caribbean) ANY, and i repeat ANY actor could have done Leading role of kingdom of heaven better then him. apart from that i agree with Tom Cruise, and Ben affleck, Cruise was pretty good in Born on the Fourth of July.
Van Damme was quite good in the film in hell as was Paul Walker in running scared. I can’t say much about the rest of their films however. Also, didn’t Macauly Caulkin win an award for some role were he played a kid confined to a wheelchair? I never saw it. And Tom Cruise is a fine actor.
Jamie, glad to hear you are looking for Desert Heat. I get the impression that you like weird and quirky movies. This is the funiest thing Jean Claude ever did and definitely a little different. Besides, it has Pat Morita in it too. lol.
Gr8flDdFn (comment 28): on the floor drunk?
Jamie- THANK YOU FOR DISLIKING JOHN MALKOVICH. You made me like you that much more! Are we going to see a 10 bad actresses list?
Winona Ryder better be on that list. Also Lindsay Lohan. They're both so obviously aware of the camera.
Hannah: heh. I definitely plan on doing a bad actresses
I first have to say that I’m addicted to your site… Absolutely awesome!!!
I must agree with some of this list… But… I also think some people are being a tad harsh without knowledge…
Have you Watched all of their films? Considered directors? Even know how films are made????? Some actors are asked to do a film and contracted to play it to the directors specs… Hugh grant is awesome at portraying quick Witt rom-com… And must be a good actor if Liz took him back after the hooker incident…
I don’t think seagal or dam are good… But you can’t fake that art… They are/were the best at the time… And purely type-cast and haven’t tried to be anything other than meat head martial artists (with the exception of seagal in executive decision)
Anyone that thinks Tom cruise deserves top 10 status of worst actors has probably only seen a handful of movies… I’m not saying he is the best… But he has made some INCREDIBLE films… Jerry Maguire was awesome… Rain man… Top gun… Born on the fourth of July… Mission Impossible was great! He isnt the greatest by far… But definitely not top 10 for modern cinema… He is a career actor.
Hayden… Agree.
Walker… Agree.
Affleck… I would have a greed but I think he is coming into his own… I thought his efforts in the town were great (his brother is hilarious too lol)
Also… Malkovitch is superb… He might have a weird head… But he is an awesome actor!!! He is mainly a theatre actor though… Have you seen rounders? Even as supporting actor he steLs the thunder… Brilliant.
I’ll probably get heaps of replies too. hehe sorry it’s long.
Affleck just kills me. I really thought he was going to be a good actor after Good Will Hunting. But apparently he wasn’t able to keep his grip on Matt Damon’s coattail.
Cruise, I just don’t know. I can’t stand the guy, personally, and he’s definately not a GOOD actor, but I don’t know that I could agree with being on the list. A lot of it is that his selection of what movies to do is just terrible.
Great job, though. I really can’t begrudge you any of your choices too much. Keep up the good work.
And what about Chuck Norris? He should be firs. Definitely. Or maybe you’re afraid of him?
Matt Damon is also quite bad, he and his buddy Ben, are both poor actors. As is Vin Diesel.
to jfrater:
lmfao, wearing his old night rider jacket and his bay watch speedos ;o).
Wow this is a really good list. It doesn’t just target the obviously bad actors, but also the ones that pretend to be good. What about Michael Douglas though? He seems to just not care in any movie.
The Culkins are good, just cracked-out. Saved, Igby Goes Down, Secret Lives of Altar Boys, to name a few note-worthy performances (oh, and Home Alone 1&2).
I effing hate Hugh Grant. Everytime I see his face or hear his voice it makes me want to pull out his teeth and put them in his eyes. I mean, seriously, he’s up there with John Basedow (not an actor) in terms of regurgitation instigation.
Chuck Norris should definitely not be on this list. This list should be on HIM.
And saying Seagal and Van Damm are bad actors is like saying Bruce Campbell is a bad actor (blasphemy). They just do bad movies on purpose (i hope?) cuz they’re funny.
Also, I don’t see what’s wrong with Goldblum and Malkovich. If they’re on the list, than so should Woody Allen (except Sleepers).
What about Larry the Cable Guy? I mean, I’ve never seen his work, but the trailers are bad enough to warrant a spot on the list.
Yar,
Saying that Shatner overacts is sort of like saying that the eruption of Mt. St. Helens’ was “kinda loud”. It’s tantamount to saying the Chicxulub event “kinda messed up the ecology a bit”.
I agree with most of this list. However, there are a few exceptions. Paul Walker was horrible in Fast and the Furious… but, have you ever seen the movie Running Scared? I thought his acting was brilliant!
What, no Vin Deisel??
Nothing beats his comment at the climax of Triple X:
Welcome to the danger zone.
C’mon… I know the guy’s dead, but Tor Johnson was such a bad actor his legacy of horridness should be recognized by this list. Now, I don’t know how you feel about him, but Tor undeniably had moments that made the original “Night of the Living Dead” zombies seem like legions of Leonidis’ from “300.” He could give ol’ Keanu a run for his money, I’m willing to bet. Or at least make Keanu’s title a little less uncontested. Let’s not forget Tor’s most famous line, from “Plan 9 from Outer Space”: “Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurhhhhhhh.”
I nominate Julia Roberts and Julia Stiles for the bad actress list. Julia Stiles is almost the female version of John Malkovich for me. Very flat delivery and usually dead emotion. And Julia Roberts always plays (wait for it…) JULIA ROBERTS!! In every single movie she does her “horse laugh” where she throws her head back and shows her teeth. I think it’s a trade mark.
I don’t think that Bloom is a particularly bad actor, i can think of others that are worse, like the ones on your list.
Kenau, is not bad, he just got typecast i think.
Personally, i think Shatner should be here, he plays every role the same, even his Priceline commercials. Don’t get me wrong, i love Star Trek, but, he’s not the best actor…
Shatner is actually a good actor when it comes to roles that require a classical trained actor. He used overacting in Star Trek to add to the cheesiness of the series. Hell, he even makes fun of his own acting in his role as James T Kirk. He should have just stuck with Broadway if he wanted to be taken seriously as an actor.
jfrater:
When you do a bad actresses list, make certain J-Lo is on that list. I can only think of one role she was even good in (Selena) and we have been tortured by her ever since.
Shatner is great in Boston legal!
The thing about Shatner is that in every movie I have ever seen him in, he acts the same way, that’s what i see anyway, but i am in no way a great judge of acting, so i’m probably wrong i guess.
and yes, Jenifer Lopez should be on the actresses list.
steve:
You are correct that Shatner has no business in film or television acting. (Comedy would be a good exception as Shatner is actually a great comedic actor.) On stage, he actually gets a lot of rave reviews. Some stage actors just do not do well on film.
has anyone seen the good son?
it had culkin in it and i thought it was really good.
but i was a bit younger so my memory may have failed me.