15 Movies That Single-Handedly Saved Actors From Obscurity
1. Iron Man (2008) - Robert Downey Jr.
Arguably one of the best comeback stories of all time in the Hollywood industry. Downey Jr. was widely considered uninsurable in the early 2000s due to a long struggle with substance abuse and legal issues that derailed his promising early career. For playing the role of Tony Stark, director Jon Favreau literally fought the higher ups to keep Robert Downey Jr. and give us the literal best portrayal of the character on live television. He is the now face of Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994) - John Travolta
HIs run of iconic hits in the 70s could not save his career when things started going down with bad movies like, Look Who's Talking. Not for Quentin Tarantino however, who insisted that Travolta be cast as the philosophical hitman Vincent Vega. The film's critical success and his Oscar nomination instantly propelled Travolta back onto the A-list, leading to a second wave of hits like Get Shorty and Face/Off.
3. The Whale (2022) - Brendan Fraser
Fraser had largely disappeared from the spotlight in the 2010s, stepping away due to personal health issues, injuries, and depression. He had lost his leading man status after a series of commercial disappointments. His transformative and harrowing portrayal of Charlie, a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his daughter, earned universal critical acclaim. The performance culminated in a Best Actor Oscar win, solidifying his celebrated return, often dubbed 'The Brenaissance.'
4. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - Ke Huy Quan
Quan was once a popular child actor who was on his way to greatness in Hollywood until he lost his edge in the industry. He ended up quitting for two decades working behind the scenes as stunt director. The role of Waymond Wang, a kind-hearted husband across the multiverse, perfectly showcased his immense emotional and physical talent. His performance was rewarded with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, marking one of the longest and most heartwarming comebacks in Hollywood history.
5. The Godfather (1972) - Marlon Brando
Despite his legendary status, Brando was considered "box office poison" in the 1960s after a string of expensive commercial flops and had earned a reputation for being difficult on set. Director Francis Ford Coppola fought fiercely to cast Brando as Vito Corleone. The critically acclaimed, Academy Award-winning performance not only redefined Brando's career but also set a new standard for modern acting, proving he was still one of the all-time greats.
6. Birdman (2014) - Michael Keaton
After ruling the box office in the 80s and 90s (especially as Batman), Keaton spent two decades taking on smaller, lower-profile roles and was largely forgotten by mainstream Hollywood. The film's meta-narrative, where Keaton plays an actor trying to escape the shadow of his superhero past, perfectly mirrored his own life. The complex, tour-de-force performance was a massive critical success, earning Keaton his first Oscar nomination and restoring his reputation as a serious leading actor.
7. John Wick (2014) - Keanu Reeves
Even though Keanu found massive success in a franchise like The Matrix, by the end of 2000s he found himself out of options owing to some bad flops on the box office and wrongly chosen roles. Come John Wick - The tight, stylish action film introduced the retired assassin John Wick. The role perfectly capitalized on Reeves' physical skills and melancholic screen presence, birthing an instant, highly lucrative action franchise and proving Reeves could still be a global action superstar.
8. The Nutty Professor (1996) - Eddie Murphy
Known in the 80s for his raunchy, R-rated stand-up and films, Murphy was searching for a broader, family-friendly audience after a series of late 80s and early 90s disappointments. Playing multiple, distinct characters with incredible comedic finesse, Murphy proved his ability to appeal to audiences of all ages. The film was a massive commercial hit, ushering in a new, bankable phase of family-friendly comedy roles for the actor.
9. Taken (2008) - Liam Neeson
Neeson was a respected actor known primarily for historical and dramatic roles (Schindler's List, Michael Collins) but was not considered a blockbuster leading man. The unexpected global success of this gritty action-thriller instantly reinvented Neeson into a senior action hero. The role of Bryan Mills, the man with a "particular set of skills," transformed the latter half of his career into a reliable, lucrative run of action films.
10. Dallas Buyers Club (2013) - Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey had spent a decade stuck in the "McConaissance" period, primarily starring as the charming, shirtless lead in a string of formulaic romantic comedies. His committed, physical, and highly dramatic portrayal of Ron Woodroof, an HIV-positive cowboy, was a complete break from his previous persona. The performance earned him a Best Actor Oscar and successfully rebranded him as a serious, versatile dramatic actor.
11. In Bruges (2008) - Colin Farrell
Despite early success, Farrell was often typecast as the Hollywood "heartthrob" and was often known more for tabloid scandals than for his serious acting ability. This dark comedy provided the perfect vehicle for Farrell to showcase his dramatic depth, complexity, and comedic timing. The film earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor and was the turning point that allowed him to land more challenging, acclaimed roles with auteurs like Martin McDonagh and Yorgos Lanthimos.
12. The Wedding Singer (1998) - Drew Barrymore
After her child-star breakout, Barrymore's early teens were marred by drug and alcohol issues, leading to an unstable film career often centered on a "bad girl" image. Pairing her with Adam Sandler in this successful romantic comedy allowed her to transition into a wholesome, bankable leading lady. The success of The Wedding Singer established her ability to carry rom-coms and led to her forming her own production company.
13. The Wrestler (2008) - Mickey Rourke
After a promising start, Rourke left acting for boxing, which severely damaged his face and career reputation. By the 2000s, he was struggling to find mainstream work. Darren Aronofsky's film, about a washed-up wrestler trying to stage a final comeback, drew obvious parallels to Rourke's own life. The raw, emotional performance was highly praised, earning him an Oscar nomination and momentarily thrusting him back into the mainstream conversation.
14. Airplane! (1980) - Leslie Nielsen
Nielsen spent decades in the 1960s and 70s as a serious, dependable dramatic actor known for stiff performances in disaster movies and TV shows. This iconic spoof cast Nielsen, against type, as the straight-faced doctor who delivered absurd comedy with perfect deadpan delivery. The success of Airplane! completely reinvented his career overnight, allowing him to dominate comedy for the next three decades in films like The Naked Gun series.
15. Deadpool (2016) - Ryan Reynolds
As a superhero, Ryan Reynolds probably made the worst roles in Hollywood history with Green Lantern and his rather controversial portrayal of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Reynolds leveraged his personal passion for the character and produced Deadpool. The film's self-aware, R-rated, breaking-the-fourth-wall comedy was a massive global success, finally giving Reynolds the definitive, beloved superhero role that he had sought for years and proving his star power.
