Ranking the Worst Actors of All Time
We’d love to say that all of our favorite actors were perfect. However, some don’t have the shiniest background with the critics. The worst-reviewed actors can also be the ones that are most beloved by fans. Let’s take a look at the actors who the critics didn’t love and their reasoning. Plus, maybe we’ll defend them with the “fan perspective.” Ultimately, you’ll have to make your final decision on your own. After all, what do film critics actually know?
50. Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf’s name carries with it a long history of method acting. In fact, he’s known for removing a tooth for his role in Fury (2014). He also got chest tattoos for when he took on a role in The Tax Collector (2020). Typically, actors just let their makeup artists handle that, but we guess that’s Shia’s choice. Nonetheless, these weird extremes have not stopped critics from thinking he is terrible. Particularly, they really didn’t like Eagle Eye (2008) and his role in Dumb and Dumber (2008).
49. Kristen Stewart
Let’s chat about Kristen Stewart. Critics hated her. The major criticism for her role in Twilight was her “awkward” performance and stale face. What fans argue is that this is just how the character in the books was written, therefore she was doing a great job at executing that. Nonetheless, critics still complained about her time and time again. That is until when she absolutely shined in 2021’s Spencer where Kristen played Princess Diana. Her performance was universally loved by both fans and critics alike.
48. Sarah Jessica Parker
This one is going to be really controversial. Our apologies in advance. Sex and the City is one of those shows that you either love or hate. If you hate it, then you probably don’t care much about Sarah Jessica Parker. If you love it, then she is your entire world and inspiration. Outside of this show, though, she’s had other work that critics hated. Particularly, they hated Dudley-Do Right (1999). The movie has long been forgotten by most, but critics will probably never let how terrible it was go.
47. John Travolta
Every indie film fan is forever going to be obsessed with Pulp Fiction (1994). Thus, they will also love John Travolta for his role as Vincent Vega. Turns out, though, that film fans aren’t the same as film critics with plenty of credentials. Battlefield Earth (2000) is actually the movie that these critics tend to take issue with. It earned multiple “Razzie” awards which isn’t really a good thing at all. Whether or not this movie is a testament to John Travolta’s skills or it’s just an outlier is up for debate.
46. Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen went through a tumultuous era in the public eye in 2011. It created a whole pop culture moment, but the critics aren’t judging him based on that. Instead, they’re much more concerned with how terrible Scary Movie 3 (2003) actually was. Plus, they can’t forget Deadfall (1993). Basically, his career isn’t the most perfect one, but he did make America laugh for awhile. The show Two and a Half Men is engrained in television history forever.
45. Robert Pattinson
Can you truly ever hate someone who hates his own work and doesn’t care what you think? Robert Pattinson is the perfect example of indifference. While he’s not on social media and typically distant from the public eye, he has curated a very dedicated fanbase. It started when he played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). From there, he moved on to a role that critics hated: Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga. His bad reviews for this film carried with him, but his stardom spoke for itself. Now, though, he starred in The Batman (2022) and finally earned some positive reviews that are long overdue.
44. William Shatner
When you think of William Shatner, you usually think of how he is a beloved actor. With a household name, you’d expect him to have phenomenal reviews from critics. Unfortunately, it’s quite the opposite. He pops up in the movie American Psycho 2 (2002) which you may think is a good thing. However, notice how this is only the sequel. While the first movie did really well, the second couldn’t even come close. It’s not even like he was in the first one. He was in Miss Congeniality (2000) and its sequel, but this series was overall disliked by critics. Was it his performance or the terrible roles that he has had plaguing his career? It is hard to say.
43. Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba has had a long and iconic acting career. After all, she literally takes on the superhero role of Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four series. She’ll forever be engrained in fans’ hearts in this way. However, critics actually hate her more so for her role in The Love Guru (2008). In this comedy, she stars alongside Justin Timberlake who also doesn’t have a great acting history. We also can’t forget her role in Little Fockers (2010) which had fans laughing and critics absolutely cringing.
42. Jennifer Love Hewitt
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) was highly criticized for poor writing and a boring plot line. Jennifer Love Hewitt was actually probably the high point of the whole thing, but she got caught in the dumpster fire that the critics lit. After that, though, Jennifer continued to get criticized including for her brief time on the show Criminal Minds. Maybe her best performance wasn’t truly acting at all, but rather her appearance in boyband LFO’s music video for “Girl on TV.”
41. Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner has a very diverse background in acting, tackling a variety of different roles. Fans in recent years have gushed over her motherly role in Love, Simon (2018) and the impactful message it has had about LGBTQ+ youth and acceptance. Critics just can’t get over some of her less-than-savory roles, though. One of the most notoriously bad movies would be Mr. Magoo (1997). In essence, critics weren’t impressed by the film or by her performance in it.
40. Zac Efron
Starting out in a preteen movie sensation can make it really hard to have a stellar acting career thereafter. Zac Efron was the teenage heartthrob Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical (2006). He instantly curated a dedicated fanbase that would grow up alongside him. However, once the series ended, his career became a bit wonky. He starred in 17 Again (2009) and then Neighbors (2014) as a frat brother. Basically, he wasn’t exactly handed the most complex roles to be judged by. This doesn’t really matter to critics, after all. They really only care about your performance and, ultimately, they didn’t like his very much.
39. Demi Moore
Some people think that the critics are overly hard on Demi Moore. However, you have to admit that Happy Tears (2010) is certainly not the most masterful film you’ve ever seen. Critics hated it and fans struggle to defend it. What fans will advocate for is Demi’s role in G.I. Jane (1997). While the fans who saw it mostly liked it, critics sank it before it could flourish at the box office. It is typically seen as a financial failure, and even won a few Razzie awards.
38. Sylvester Stallone
When you have had as extensive of an acting career as Sylvester Stallone has had, then there’s bound to be a role or two that critics don’t vibe with. Sylvester is most known for his starring role in Rocky (1976). This role ended up carrying his career as he continued to make pop-up appearances in other films and video games based on this character. Nonetheless, critics still have an issue with his performance. No, not the Rocky performance, but rather his roles in movies like Reach Me (2014) and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992).
37. Steven Seagal
This actor may have too many bad movies to list all of them. In fact, most of his movies typically go forgotten and will surely fade into the void of meaningless films. Critics, though, hated a few specifically more than others. His performance in On Deadly Ground (1994) received bad review after bad review. Most of what was being criticized was Steven Seagal’s dialogue. Whether this was bad writing or Steven’s bad acting didn’t seem to matter at the end of the day. The film will continue to be a stain on the actor’s career.
36. Ruby Rose
Ruby Rose’s popularity is surely fleeting. She rallied a huge fanbase when she was playing Stella Carlin on Orange is the New Black. After that, she seemed to fizzle out in the public eye. She ended up becoming Batwoman in her own TV show, but even that was highly criticized. When it ended in 2020, it didn’t have the sort of pop culture impact that the creators were really hoping for. Many attribute this to Ruby Rose’s rough performance of the iconic comic character.
35. Katherine Heigl
Plenty of little romcoms often come to mind when we think of Katherine Heigl. Romcom actors and actresses are truly their own specific niche of acting. Critics often take this into account when deciding where to rank them. Nonetheless, they still have their qualms with her. Caffeine (2007) is definitely not a fan-favorite film. The critics didn’t really like it, either. One movie that fans did find incredibly funny was 2007’s Knocked Up. Plus, people started liking her more when she took on a role with Grey’s Anatomy. That show particularly is very divided among critics, leaving Katherine Heigl in a middle ground situation.
34. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Is he a politician or an actor? It really depends on who you are and how you choose to remember him. Arnold Schwarzenegger is definitely always going to be a divisive figure in both of the fields he worked in. After all, he was the California governor and also the Terminator. Outside of the two things that have engrained him in history, critics really weren’t a fan of his acting. Hercules in New York (1970) was not impressive to anyone at all and Schwarzenegger’s acting was mediocre at best.
33. Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher has had a phenomenal impact on humanitarian work. He is one of the founders of Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children which focuses on ending child trafficking. He’s often regarded as an impactful activist. However, film critics don’t really care about that when making their opinions on his acting career. One of his worst movies is Down to You (2000). Critics hated it. Fans, though, stand by Ashton especially because of his role in That ‘70s Show where he played fan favorite Kelso.
32. Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Cuoco has had a rather strange career. Most of us know her from The Big Bang Theory. When this show came out, critics were unimpressed. Fans rallied together to keep the show on air and it ended up having a long 12 seasons. Outside of the show, she took on some other odd roles in movies like Bratz (2007) and Alvin and the Chipmunks (2015). Critics don’t have the most deep roles to judge Kaley off of. So, ultimately, they only have these superficial roles to judge her by. While we may love her witty humor, they did not.
31. Madonna
Madonna isn’t necessarily known for her acting roles, but instead for her wonderful pop music. The “Queen of Pop” should have considered staying in her lane, though. Critics have hated when she’s branched out into acting. Shanghai Surprise (1986) literally caused Madonna to get a special award that was dedicated to bad acting. The reviews for this film and Madonna’s roles just didn’t meet the hype that her fanbase has for her. Specifically, this film tanked.
30. Nicolas Cage
We love National Treasure (2004). Who doesn’t? It’s one of those movies that you can always put on and please pretty much any crowd — even the sequel is relatively enjoyable. However, critics don’t seem to care much about that movie. They actually just focus on Deadfall (1993) and Left Behind (2014). Critics both thought that these movies were abysmal and believed that Nicolas Cage was largely at fault for how bad they turned out. While we’re at it, Grand Isle (2019) wasn’t that good, either.
29. Megan Fox
This one is going to be a real doozy. Critics have despised Megan Fox for a long time and fans, generally speaking, can’t seem to understand why. The dislike for her started with Jennifer’s Body (2009). At the time, the film didn’t do too well. What was strange, though, is the way it shot back up in popularity years later. This didn’t change critics’ opinions, but it did curate a dedicated fan base. Other than that, Megan is also known mostly for her role in Transformers (2007). Everyone loved the action-packed film, but some critics were skeptical. Eventually, it would go down in film history though.
28. Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider has definitely taken on some odd roles. Especially odd roles that critics were not thrilled by. For example, The Hot Chick (2002) was very disappointing to film critics. Plus, they hated Knock Off (1998). Fans actually have mixed feelings about these movies. What fans really love about Rob is his time on Saturday Night Live. Their audience is full of incredibly dedicated fans who don’t care about those terrible critical reviews, but rather the comedic “genius” of Rob Schneider.
27. Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is ultimately a nepotism baby. Being the daughter of Bruce Paltrow (producer and director) and Blythe Danner (actress) gave Gwyneth the perfect opportunity to sneak her way into the acting business. While fans will swear by her acting, critics aren’t as easily convinced. Specifically, they really hated The Pallbearer (1996). This dark comedy just simply didn’t do well. Fans argue that her other accolades overshadow some of her more disliked roles. Afterall, she is Pepper Potts in the Iron Man series.
26. Adam Sandler
For a while, fans loved Adam Sandler. Now, they seem to hate his acting. For a while his movies were considered top-tier humor, but as culture and humor changes, so does the public’s views on his acting. Critics, though, have never really enjoyed it. They’ve always sensed that the Adam Sandler obsession was fleeting and that his movies had little value to the film world. The comedies often relied on slapstick humor and crude comments which couldn’t stand the test of time.
25. Ben Affleck
Without sugar-coating it, many ruthless critics consider Ben Affleck to be a terrible actor who shows very little emotion in his roles. “He’s just awful,” wrote one merciless Quora commenter. “You could substitute a cardboard cutout for him and get the same results.” Another commenter noted that Affleck’s brother Casey got all the talent in the family. But to play devil’s advocate, his role as Nick Dunne in Gone Girl was excellent, we won’t deny that.
24. Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson’s comedies seem to be very hit or miss for most people. For example, Wedding Crashers was a hit while Night at the Museum was a total bust, according to many. Others have cited their dislike of his acting style as “boring” and “unnatural,” and that his broken nose is a distraction. Not to mention, he’s apparently a total womanizer in real life. All we have to say about that is, Wow. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist throwing that in there.)
23. Vince Vaughn
Like his buddy Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn has starred in a number of comedies over the years, with some tanking and others performing well. In movies with subpar screenplays that have tanked in the past, such as The Dilemma and The Watch, moviegoers have criticized his performance for simply resembling a shadow of his former, funnier roles. As it stands, Vaughn’s acting and comedic skills just aren’t strong enough to overcome a subpar screenplay or storyline.
22. Ryan Phillippe
In the late ’90s it felt like Ryan Phillippe was everywhere. His role as Sabastian Valmont in Cruel Intentions earned him widespread acclaim and an almost decade-long marriage to costar Reese Witherspoon. So why is it that we literally never hear about him anymore? Well, since his Cruel Intentions days he’s acted in several box office failures that blacklisted him from future big roles. But in Phillippe’s defense, he’s not actually that bad of an actor and it probably didn’t help that his then-wife’s career was really taking off at the same time that his was beginning to tank.
21. Luke Wilson
The less-famous and (arguably) less-talented brother of Owen Wilson is known for being a part of the “Frat Pack,” a group of bro-y dudes (including the Wilson brothers, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, and Ben Stiller) who made comedy movies together in the 2000s. Some of them were genuinely good (hello, Old School and Dodgeball), while others were hard to sit through. Simply put, Luke Wilson’s acting is just boring compared to his brother’s odd and “out-there” characters.
20. Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer is reportedly a very difficult actor to work with on set, and his talent doesn’t exactly make up for it. Many forget that he once played Batman (and was shortly replaced by George Clooney in the sequel). In fact, he’s really just known for his role as Iceman in Top Gun, and if we’re being honest with ourselves here, Top Gun wasn’t all that great of a movie. That’s right, we said it.
19. Christian Slater
Let’s get this out of the way, Christian Slater was amazing in the ’80s cult classic Heathers, in which he plays sociopathic high school student, J.D. That being said, his acting skills are limited, to say the least. While he was once considered an A-list actor, his relevancy as an entertainer has sort of slid off the face of the earth over the years. He’s not good or bad, per say, he’s just always been… okay, and it shows.
18. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Action film star Jean-Claude Van Damme is much better known for his impressive splits and martial arts skills than he is for his acting. But we’d argue that that’s sort of the point. Van Damme starred in numerous huge action films including Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Hard Target, and Timecop, and then seemingly as quickly as he rose to fame, he felt back into obscurity. In case you’re wondering what he’s been up to in recent years, he is still acting. He voiced the character Jean Clawed in Minions: The Rise of Gru, and he’s set to play Frenchy in the upcoming movie of the same name.
17. Kevin James
Kevin James began his career in entertainment as a successful stand-up comedian, and eventually transitioned to TV. While he had some success in the show King of Queens, James has only ever been known for playing one character: an overweight, bumbling, immature dude. Is he good at it? Sure, but that’s his only trope. Some might even make the argument that if he had never become friends with Ray Romano and Adam Sandler, he may not have had an acting career at all!
16. Terrence Howard
One could make the argument that Terrence Howard is quite a versatile actor, but his acting chops have fallen short on a number of occasions. He played the role of Colonel James Rhodes in Iron Man, but was replaced by Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2 on the grounds that he would’ve taken a huge pay cut. However, it’s not clear whether Howard left on his own accord or if he was ousted by Marvel. Howard announced in 2019 that he was quitting acting on the grounds that he was “tired of pretending,” but quickly came back to the industry in 2020.
15. Katie Holmes
Okay, so we have to admit that part of the reason people dislike Katie Holmes is likely because of her past association with Tom Cruise and her devotion to the Church of Scientology. Oh, and she’ll never not be Joey from Dawson’s Creek to us. On top of all that, Holmes’s acting is just sort of…forgettable. Seriously, aside from Dawson’s Creek, can you think of other acting credits she’s known for? Do those old hair color commercials count?
14. Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen is, of course, best known for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in the infamous Star Wars prequels – Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith – but he actually had quite a good reputation as an actor in indie films before being cast in Star Wars. We’re going to go out on a limb and say that Star Wars is what made people dislike his acting, and unfortunately it seems that he hasn’t been able to recover from that – even 20 years later.
13. David Arquette
David Arquette comes from a huge family of actors, so you’d think he would’ve honed in on his acting skills over the years. Not so. It probably doesn’t help that he spent a lot of time trying to become a professional wrestler, but he doesn’t seem to be much bothered by his lack of Hollywood prospects. Arquette has appeared in huge films such as the Scream franchise, Never Been Kissed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He may not be the best actor out there, but he’s certainly managed to make audiences smile (or scream).
12. Chuck Norris
Let’s not kid ourselves here, Chuck Norris isn’t famous for his acting skills in the least. First and foremost he’s a martial artist – and an amazing one at that – but even he has referred to himself as “not a good actor.” It was his friend Bruce Lee who inspired Norris to get involved with acting when he asked him to play the villain in his movie, Way of the Dragon (1972), and the rest is history. So, while Chuck Norris is not a particularly skilled actor, at the same time, no one goes to see a Chuck Norris movie specifically for the stellar acting.
11. Jamie Kennedy
Jamie Kennedy’s acting career really peaked when he played Randy Meeks in the Scream franchise. When he was offered the chance to star in Son of the Mask in the early 2000s, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to elevate his career even more. Unfortunately, however, the movie ended up being a huge box office disaster and Kennedy earned himself a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Actor. Nearly two decades later he hasn’t been able to recover.
10. David Hasselhoff
You’d think the most watched man on TV would be a pretty good actor, but unfortunately that isn’t the case. And don’t get us wrong – he has been in some excellent movies such as Kung Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Dodgeball. But he’s also been in some total flops, including Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. Nonetheless, David Hasselhoff still considers himself a “serious actor,” as he once told Fox News. Do with that information what you will.
9. Bo Derek
One could make the argument that Bo Derek didn’t achieve fame through her acting talents alone. She broke into the entertainment industry after becoming romantically involved with John Derek, a director who was 30 years older than her. She went on to star in several low-budget films, garnering a reputation for her subpar acting skills along the way. She won not one, not two, not three, but four Golden Razzie Awards for her performances in Tarzan, the Ape Man; Bolero; Ghosts Can’t Do it; and The Master of Disguise.
8. Jaden Smith
When your dad is literally Will Smith, it’s got to be hard to make a name for yourself in the entertainment world. But Jaden Smith has managed to make a name for himself, albeit a bad one. It seemed like his reputation was forever tarnished after the release of After Earth, in which he starred alongside his dad. The movie was a gargantuan disaster, only garnering a dismal 11% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. But despite the box office failures, the younger Smith has remained very confident in his abilities. He once called himself “the future of music, photography and filmmaking.” Okay then.
7. Chris Tucker
Once upon a time, Chris Tucker was one of the biggest names and highest-paid actors in Hollywood, starring in movies like Friday and alongside Jackie Chan in the Rush Hour franchise. But you may have noticed that he hasn’t been in much since then. That’s because after making Rush Hour, he decided to step away from acting on the grounds that he “couldn’t find anything worth doing.” Since then he’s appeared in movies here and there, but his disdain for the industry clearly shows in his acting skills (or lack thereof).
