Movies

5 Great Actors That Had A Terrible Career Start 

5 Great Actors That Had A Terrible Career Start 
Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Most actors have to work hard to become famous, but these five had to go one step further after their terrible debuts.

Many of the actors we all know and love today weren't born successful and had a long road to go before becoming Hollywood A-listers. But sometimes their career debuts were downright awful, making their accomplishments all the more impressive in comparison.

Here are five great actors and actresses who got off to a terrible start.

Chris Evans

Now known around the world for his portrayal of Captain America in the MCU, as well as appearing in many other great movies like Snowpiercer ( 2013), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), and Knives Out ( 2019), Chris didn't start out that way, appearing in a number of bad movies at first. For example, his third film that is at least somewhat noteworthy was the 2001 comedy Not Another Teen Movie, in which he played Jake Wyler, a stereotypical jock. Painfully unfunny, it is good that not many people remember it decades later.

Scarlett Johansson

Speaking of MCU stars, Scarlett Johansson's debut role was when she was only nine years old in the 1994 film North in the supporting role of Laura Nelson. The movie is considered one of the worst ever made, and we're glad it didn't kill the young actress' career right off the bat.

Leonardo DiCaprio

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Looking at DiCaprio's current status as an immensely talented actor who can do almost any role, you would never have guessed that his debut role was in the 1993 direct-to-video Critters 3. The third installment in the series has an unbelievable 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is definitely a far cry from Leo's later critically acclaimed films.

Sam Rockwell
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Although his career is still rather inconsistent, with ups and downs, movies like Jojo Rabbit (2019) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) serve as undeniable proof of Rockwell's acting talent. But his first film was the 1989 slasher Clownhouse, which was decimated by critics and audiences.

Sylvester Stallone
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Apparently no one can beat the Italian Stallion, as Stallone's first starring role is perhaps the most infamous on our list. The Party at Kitty and Stud's was a 1970 softcore porn film in which he portrayed the titular Stud, and it caused quite a bit of controversy after the actor's rise to fame following his breakout role in Rocky (1976).