10 Actors Who Saved Their Career With A Single Role

It is said that fame is fickle. A top star of today can be at the bottom of the pyramid tomorrow. It is especially true for actors. To be on top of the triangle in Hollywood is a continuous effortful process but one mistake can benefit someone else in replacing them.
One flop could be the beginning of a streak that could derail their career. Sometimes a script may look promising at first but when it’s done, the final cut can be a real dud. Many actors wished to erase their bad movies from their portfolios, but they have to live with their mistakes and sometimes it can ruin their careers. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, right? For some lucky actors, their careers weren’t ruined forever and saved by just one role.
Below are actors who saved their careers with just one role.

#1 Keanu Reeves

Source: © 47 Ronin / Universal Pictures, © John Wick / Lionsgate

After the success of “The Matrix”, Keanu Reeves didn’t shine in any roles. Failure after failure came to his career. For example, The film The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) was nominated for the Golden Raspberry anti-award in the category “Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off, or Sequel of 2008 or 47 Ronin (2013) became a box office failure. That made his fans so disappointed. Luckily, the role in “John Wick” (2014) saved his career when it grossed 86 million dollars at the box office.

#2 Ryan Reynolds

Source: © Green Lantern / DC Entertainment, © Deadpool / 20th Century Fox

The failure of “Green Lantern” with a 5.5 rating is the main reason that made Ryan Reynolds be offered many other projects. Fortunately, the role in “Deadpool” became his salvation. The actor was praised for his performance by both critics and movie buffs.

#3 Matthew McConaughey

Source: © Failure to Launch / Paramount Pictures, © Dallas Buyers Club / Focus Features

Matthew McConaughey starred in mid-rated romantic comedies such as ‘The Wedding Planner”, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, and “Failure to Launch”. He was treading water in that job. The role of Ron Woodroof in “Dallas Buyers Club” changed everything. It brought him an Oscar award for Best Actor.

#4 Winona Ryder

Source: © Autumn In New York / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, © Stranger Things / Netflix

In the 2000s, Winona Ryder’s career started going downhill when “Autumn in New York” and “Mr. Deeds” in which she starred, were nominated for Golden Raspberry anti-award. However, "Stranger Things" TV series helped her make her way back onto the lists of top actresses.

#5 Robert Downey Jr.

Source: © Two Girls and a Guy / Searchlight Pictures, © Iron Man / Paramount Pictures

In the 1990s and early 2000s, his career couldn’t thrive. The comedies Only You (1994) and Two Girls and a Guy (1998) were rated only 5 out of 10. But taking part in “Iron Man” (2008) revived his career. The action movie grossed 585 million dollars at the box office worldwide.

#6 Jim Carrey

Source: © Dumb and Dumber To / Universal Pictures, © Kidding / Showtime

In the 2010s, movies that Jim Carrey starred in became failures. While the comedy “Dumb and Dumber To” scored 30% positive reviews, the thriller “Dark Crimes” received 0%. In 2018, the actor made a wise decision when taking part in “Just Kidding” TV series. The project got 2 Golden Globe nominations.

#7 Jennifer Lopez

Source: © Gigli / Columbia Pictures, © Hustlers / STXfilms

In 2010, Jennifer Lopez was nearly awarded the Golden Raspberry anti-award for Worst Actress of the Decade. The actress starred in many low and mid-ratted movies such as Maid in Manhattan (IMDb rating - 5.3), Gigli (IMDb rating - 2.5), and The Back-up Plan (IMDb rating - 5.4). Her luck came in 2020 when she got a role in the movie Hustlers and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.

#8 Robert Pattinson

Source: © Twilight / Summit Entertainment, © Good Time / Elara Pictures

After the success of “Twilight” franchise, viewers expect Robert Pattinson to play more bright roles. But his later performances didn’t impress viewers. Luckily, the crime drama movie "Good Time" helped Robert start a new round of his career. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

#9 Drew Barrymore

Source: © Mad Love / Touchstone Pictures, © The Scream / Paramount Pictures

Thanks to Steven Spielberg’s science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, Drew Barrymore got fame at a young age. After that, the movies she starred in were continuously rated in the middle level. After the thriller “Scream” was released, she received viewers’ attention again. The movie grossed 103 million dollars at the box office.

#10 John Travolta

Source: © Staying Alive / Paramount Pictures, © Pulp Fiction / Miramax Films

John Travolta’s career thrived in the ‘70s but started to go down in the ‘80s. But the movie “Pulp Fiction” interrupted his circle of failures. This film won Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards and became iconic.