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
Obviously the list is subjective but I must disagree in some respects with your classification of Tom Cruise and Hugh Grant.
Firstly, it’s a fair argument to say Hugh Grant can’t act because he seems to always pretty much play himself (of which I enjoy). But to say he is a “weak, dull, uninteresting man” means there is either an unjust prejudice or an inability to see quality humor. He’s a funny guy expressing a sardonic and cynical humor. Fair enough one might not appreciate this humor but to say he’s dull is grossly incorrect.
Whereas Tom Cruise, just because he’s not a ‘character actor’ playing the requisite mentally deranged man doesn’t mean he can’t act. He presents his characters with charisma and energy. Rather than jump on the bandwagon with everyone else, can’t anyone see (despite him being affiliated with the weirdo world of Scientology) that he isn’t that bad?
There are far worse actors than them.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is missing?!?
Or it could be that he doesen’t fitt in the list at all.
You said “actors”.
john malkovich notable ommission??? you’ve GOT to be kidding
and and, stallone and schwarzenegger are NOT in the same category. come on, keanu must have acted in SOME movie better than rambo or the terminator
You’re way off the mark on a few choices here. Peal Harbour was not a potentially good movie, and Ben Afflek is actually a pretty decent actor – check out Hollywoodland, and apparently he’s a pretty good director too.
And Tom Cruise is actually a REALLY good actor.
You may not like either of these two guys, but to accuse them of being bad actors is infantile.
umm does anybody really care if Paul Walker can act or not? he is the hottest man alive, I don’t even care if he’s capable of speech at all
I just saw Hayden Christensen in Awake, the new one with Jessica Alba..and he was VERY good in that movie. That movie was awesome and his acting was very convincing.
All that i have say is Leonardo Di Capro should of been on there
Thank you! I was so glad to see Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves in the top two slots. I cannot stand to watch movies that star these guys. Although I can enjoy movies like Top Gun and Risky Business, the only case of Tom pulling good acting out of his ass (as far as I’m concerned) is Interview With the Vampire. But then, that may be because he’s a totally creepy queer and just fell naturally into the roll. I mean, seriously, War of the Worlds… The planet is under attack, but apparently he just can’t seem to muster up any enthusiasm. I have been told that he was good in The Last Samurai, but I haven’t seen it–Tom Cruise scared me away from it.
Keanu is only good for filling the roll of the total moron, such as the Bill and Ted movies and Parenthood. The moment when I realized he was the worst actor ever was when I watched Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This movie was an abomination anyway. I think old Bram rolls over in his grave every time anyone watches this crap-a-thon that never should have dared use his name. That aside, even if it had been good, Keanu would have ruined it with his attempt at an English dialect, which he (or perhaps everyone working with him) decided was best abandoned a few scenes into the crap-a-thon.
Also, I’m not sure if Van Damme knows any martial arts at all. He’s actually a ballet dancer. It’s just a lot of jumping with an extended leg. Any trained dancer could do that.
And yes, Macauley is a bad actor. He deserves to be on this list. His acting abilities have not progressed since Uncle Buck. His sister’s go at acting in The Good Son also proved tragic. But his brothers are much better. They may not be the best in the business, but the family’s idea to put all the faith in Mac as an actor was a total misnomer.
I hate Ben Affleck. He’s the same in every movie – an absolute douche.
Thanks for reading my tangent. I joined the site just to comment on this particular list.
your a F***ing idiot if you think Tom Cruise, Paul Walker, and Orlando Bloom are BAD! AND I KNOW MACAULAY CULKIN is weird now but when he was lil he was purdy good
I applaud the boldness of the list, but you picked a few too many high profile people. Watch more B movies (and then some lower on the scale) and it might change your opinion of those listed. A little. As far as Tom Cruise, you can’t really hold his religion against his acting. Him as a person, sure. But not his movies. That’s not critia for whether he’s a good or horrible actor.
I dont think Paul Walker is bad actor at all
like this character “Evan” says in the fast and the furious “I need NOS man, big bottles, two of them”
what else do you expect?
I need two bottles of NOS please? Oh, and a cup of tea too…. WTF are you supposed to say?
Just a comment here.
Keanu did one good movie. A long long time ago, in his first movie ever, Mr. Reeves was in a movie called ” Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. Yes, it was pure accident that Keanu’s totally vacant acting style and brain dead delivery happened to fit the part, he nevertheless did indeed perform quite well in that movie.
Tom “**** Me” Cruise ( as a former female friend, of the non-*****ual variety used to call him) should have taken the #1 spot on this list. He may have some looks, but he couldn’t act his way out of a wet paper bag if you handed him a exacto knife, and ripped out all of the seams to boot.
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned already, but if anyone has seen the hit movie ‘Awake’, Hayden was actually quite good in that so maybe that gives him a couple more points? However I agree Star Wars fell faster with him than the Holy Roman Empire did with Nero. Terrible, terrible. But watch Awake; it is a good movie.
One more comment- Jason Statham could very well have made this list: He was horrendous in both Transporters and pretty bad in ‘War’ as well; he does decent action scenes, but his acting is insulting
woah
woah
woah
what kind of bull sh*t list is this??? Steven Segal great action guy… Orlando Bloom don’t even start there he is an awesome actor and he does know what hes doing… How the hell is tom cruise on your list??? he’s really good… I’m not going 2 be harsh on actor because they know what they are doing and thats just wrong… plus if they were really that bad they wouldn’t have even made it in to the show biz…
My comments- horrible list…
u definately forgot stallone and vin diesel
This list is BULL*****! That sums it up. It should be scrapped and redone.
I’ve always hated Steven Seagal, he should have been number 1. However, I agree with Keanu Reeves completely, in every role he plays I see him as Ted Theodore Logan (from Bill & Ted) he’s just hungover in the serious roles.
Orlando Bloom has his moments, I wouldn’t include him in this list.
Tom Cruise used to be great, he’s basically a washed up actor these days but he shouldn’t be on this list either.
Nicholas Cage should be on this list. I thought he was awesome in Leaving Las Vegas but he plays the same role everytime. He’s got the same dumb look on his face, he can’t do accents, and when he actually starts sounding convincing he looks retarded or he’s gotta scream. I also hate how it looks like he’s having epileptic fits.
OK, now it’s MY 2 cents worth time:
1st: To all dissing out Uncle Chuck (I have the same last name), please prepare for the obligatory roundhouse kick to the face. He also has a comedic side, although I’ve only seen it once (Firewalker, with Lou Gossett).
2nd: OK, I’ll go along with Canoe Reeves being shallow, one-dimensional, etc. However, he has had some interesting roles in that genre. For instance, “Parenthood”, helping out his girlfriend’s mother figure out her son. Then coming out of his Zen-like trance with a shake and reverting back to Neanderthal.
3rd: I disagree with Tom Cruise as No. 1. He’s so bad, he should be at least the top 3! I’ve hated him since before Top Gun. I agree with someone earlier who said he always plays a cocky little arrogant SOB. But mainly it’s because he makes movies that only make big because of gimmicks or better actors. For instance:
a) Risky Business – hookers and high-school pranks. If Rebecca DeMornay didn’t get naked in that movie, I don’t think ANYONE would have watched it.
b) The Color of Money – Paul Newman. ‘Nuff said.
c) Top Gun – Anybody looks good with a Tomcat strapped to their back. And Anthony Edwards played his character better.
d) Jerry McGuire – Cuba Gooding is WAY better.
e) Rain Man – Dustin Hoffman. Also ’nuff said.
f) Cocktail – Flashy bartending, only drew the barflies. Oh, and people wanting to see Elizabeth Shue naked (I did).
g) Days of Thunder – Racing and the redneck element.
I could go on and on, but my last reason to hate, to absolutely loathe, revile, and repudiate him, is Nicole Kidman. How retarded, or gay, or both, do you have to be to let a woman that incredible get away from you?!?!? I know, I know, this has nothing to do with his acting skills, or lack thereof. Or does it? Maybe his greatest act was never recognized: A man who loves a woman enough to marry her! Katie, look out…
I could not agree more, especially with respect to Orlando Bloom. This list is awesome.
One exception, John Malkovich as a notable. Try as I might, I think its quite the opposite, actually.
Orlando sucks. I think Kane Hodder should be on here. He sucked in the not-even-close-to-a-bio-pic of Ed Gein.
What about Nicholas Cage? Being Coppola’s nephew that’s the closes he came to movie business. He has the same acting in all his movies: the misunderstood & confused man. He surely would deserve a place right there with Keeanu Reeves. He’s even worse than Orlando Bloom. I’m surprised he was there!
Só tem gato meu Deus do céu…mas tá faltando muitos aí ainda!!!!
Bjos galera!!!!
i love ***Keanu Reeves*** sooooooooooooo much
i love ***Orlando Bloom ***
Wow tom cruise is only #2? I expected #1 for him…War of the Worlds would have been alot better with ANYone else…
I don’t believe you guys. Tom Cruise was awesome in War of the World’s and A Few Good Men… Also you might be right that it was just how his character was supposed to be, but Keanu was PERFECT in The Matrix and also pretty sweet in Constantine… Paul Walker is the worst actor in the world hands down, followed closely by Vin Diesel. Ben Afleck was good in The Paycheck and WHOEVER said that Matt Damon is a bad actor is smoking crack cocaine… The Bourne _____ movies were *****ing awesome. As well as his KICK ass performance in The Departed… Most of these actors shouldn’t be on here… And oh yeah. I’m not a die hard Star Wars fan so I don’t know how he lived up to expectations, but Hayden didn’t play Darth Vadar he played Anikan (sp*) Skywalker. And his performance was absolutely AMAZING. I felt like coming to tears when he was killing Padame`. He played the whole confused torn between love and hate super well.
**Keanu Reeves** IS MY Favorite artists
BECAUSE IS VERY CO0O0O0O0OL
HE WAS VERY Wonderful IN (( THE MATRIX))
AND **Orlando Bloom** WOOW HE IS SOO NICE
Special IN (( THE LORD OF THE RINGE ))
Excuse me, but I don’t know how girls, straight women, can consider Orlando Bloom *****y. He looks like my friend Debbie. I’m sorry, but seriously, he looks like Debbie (a girl) with a little tiny shot of testosterone.
tom cruise- used 2 b a good actor now he’s a bad actor who is crazy. poor Katie, i think he’s holding her hostage and threatening the baby if she tries 2 escape
hugh grant- he’s good for what he does, formulaic romantic comedys. i loved him in Love Actually, but he’d suck with other roles
Orlando Bloom does not look like a girl. He is in fact very hot. I was thinking that very thing as I was looking at this list. He is the only really hot one up there in fact.
I did like Macauley in Home alone, but then he grew up
ok- im sorry to disagree wit the hayden christensen haters but ***** it, im going to anyway!
you all didnt like him in starwars because you could not relate to him as darth vador! you have to remember that he wasnt playing darth vador, he was playing aniken skywalker…a boy with alot of loss and misery in his life! a confussed child! thats the role he was playing. you need to seperate the two! he played two roles in the movie and i think he played them extreamly well, next time you watch the movie’s seperate his roles!
merhaba keanu ben türküm ama sana bayılıyorum
I agree about Orlando Bloom. All the girls at my school LOVE him…he’s not that great.
idk… i thought i liked Olando bloom until this list. Now i realize he over acts…..
Great list once again – Although Nicolas Cage deserves to be on it.
TheDane: Yeah! I wonder why he’s not on this list?
Bill Paxton
vin diesel:)
I will say one role for Hayden Christensen that he did pull of well was Stephen Glass in Shattered Glass. That same whiney act that ruined his Anakin worked perfect as Glass. I watched the movie assuming I’d hate him in it and was suprised at how well he pulled off this whiney, manipulative character. Decent movie for those who haven’t seen it
I believe that Tom Cruise is a good actor and doesn’t belong on this list.Where is Arnold??
oh i cannot agree with orlando bloom being in here… of course, i am completely biased due to the fact that he’s *sigh* like SO TOTALLY CUTE!!! (yes, my 10th grade self is revealing its suppressed lingo), but i do happen to think he is a great actor. maybe okay. to be honest, i haven’t ever really paid attention, he’s just so *****ing gorgeous.
this is one of the greatest websites i have ever stumbled upon. it satisfies my need to know some freaky ***** (top 10 haunted places, abandoned places, disapperances, etc) as well as some eccentric things like movie lists and 80s songs.
my hats off to you guys. i have nutrition and history to study and work to do, and i have been thorougly distracted for 3 days going through this site. this is my new graceland. ***** myspace, i’m officially addicted…
oh yeah, and tom cruise blows hardcore
You should have put Steven Seagal first, the man’s a idiot and everybody that likes him is one as well??
Steven Segal was really bad for real…lol
Tom Cruise: doesn’t belong on this list, as stated before he’s been excellent in several of his movies, most of them early work but still.
He just happen to be a complete jackass off the screen.
Culkin doesn’t even qualify for the list, he hasn’t starred in any movie anyone wants to see so he’s not able to ruin anything important.
Ben Affleck on the other hand is the Great Entertainment Annihilator.
He has to be eradicated from the face of the planet.
Steven Seagal and JCVD’s movies doesn’t have anything to do about acting and due to that they should not qualify either.
The very mentioning on some comments about the lack of Stallone on a top 10 bad actors list is blasphemy. Excellent in Cop Land, Rocky, Rambo : First Blood and the latest Rambo.
Hugh Grant, though not a very varied actor is great at what h e does, but I might agree with a top 10 placing.
Orlando Bloom is utter crap. He was ok in LOTR but everything since that has been *****e.
Paul Walker – right on the money. I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.
Keanu is difficult, in one way he’s utterly terrible but then he shines in his performances in Bill and Ted and honestly now who would’ve have a better Neo??
Ben Affleck – DESTROY HIM!!
Hayden Christensen – Has transformed DV into a pussy.
Paul Walker – Needs a career change.
Orlando Bloom – Blargh!
Karl Urban – ok in LOTR, horrible everywhere else.
John Travolta – If uninspired.
Wesley Snipes – might fall under the Seagal/JCVD ruling.
Freddie Prinze Jr. – might fall under the Culkin ruling.
David Caruso – Granted mostly a TV actor but utterly useless.
Kevin Sorbo – Comment not needed.
Christopher Lambert – Hah heh hah… Awful.
Josh Hartnett – I fail to see why so many thinks he’s so good.
“Ted and honestly now who would’ve have a better Neo??”
make that “Ted and honestly now who would’ve made a better Neo??”
All the above are *****ty actors, and there is still a long list of decadent losers who claim to possess immense acting skills and dramatic abilities…
Festos, I think that the best Neo would have been Brandon Lee, If he was alive. A truly great actor who did not have a chance to shine, due to his unfortunate death…
I’ve watched several episodes of David Caruso’s show. Sometimes it seems like he doesn’t know the script, and is reading it – off – of – the – cue – cards – for – the – first – time. Why didn’t they reshoot those scenes? He’s more hammy than Shatner on Star Trek. I think Shatner’s hamminess(?) on Star Trek was because he was a Shakespearian actor doing his first TV show, where he had the odd role of playing a starship captain. William Shatner won some award for his current show, I hope that means he’s not as hammy as he was 40 years ago.
‘Tis been a while since I graced you all with truth, but it’s late, I’m drunk, and I don’t give a flying whateverthe*****.
Tom Cruise needs to be aborted by time travelers who would go back and shiv his mom. A worse affront to anything that could ever be called art has never happened and should not be allowed ever again. Popular only because girls thought he looked dreamy in underwear in Risky Business.
Hey gals- HE SUCKS!
Reeves sucks just as bad, if maybe just a little less. Ted was at least believable. Hmmm… moron makes big in Hollywood, bones chicks that have never seen (and can’t spell) The Godfather…
Let’s give him Millions and Millions and Bazillions!!!
Maybe he’ll grace us with the “Whoa”!
Tom Cruise! I may not like him, but his a good actor. And orlando bloom, he was gr8 in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I’d have to agree with you on Hayden Christensen.
A good list overall but not complete without mentioning Sly and Arnie, two of the worst yet probaly two of the most succesful actors of our time. Perhaps Orlando Bloom and Tom Cruise could be moved out to accomodate the pair.
Reeves was actually pretty amazing in a movie called ‘The Gift’ with Cate Blanchett. He actually outshone Hilary S*****, which is a difficult task.
I think that the kid from the OC (Adam.. adam something) definately belongs on this list. Without a doubt. Number one.
so if yall think you know good acting, try it!! See if you get any role…
FINALLY I AM NOT ALONE!!!someone else too thinks keanu is the worst actor EVER!!!!i just don’t understand how everyone in a movie can be great,the story is great & so is the special fx but the lead character completley & utterly SUCKS!!!!!it happens in every single one of his movies…constatine…great,keanu sucked!!i didn’t think it was possible to fake smoking!!!!the devil’s advocate..GREAT…keanu was *****in terrible!!!THE WORST SOUTHERN ACCENT EVER!!!
OH YEAH! you forgot sly stallone!!LOL
I heard that Keanu Reeves was autistic.
That’s no excuse for bad acting though…
hey hey
How can no one mention Steven Baldwin? Watch “One Tough Cop” or “Viva Rock Vegas” and tell me he is not a joke!!!
PEACE.LOVE.GET A LIFE.
I’m sorry please excuse my comment before, I was annoyed that a person could be so harsh to say that Keanu Reeves was a bad actor, I think thats completely offensive and untrue
=)