The Roles That Changed Hollywood Fortunes

Hollywood has seen numerous actors whose careers were notably altered by a single controversial or widely criticized movie role. Megan Fox, for instance, faced career repercussions after publicly criticizing director Michael Bay, while Taylor Lautner's action film 'Abduction' did not launch him into stardom as anticipated. Elizabeth Berkley experienced a career halt after starring in the explicit 'Showgirls', and Alicia Silverstone faced harsh public scrutiny for her role in 'Batman & Robin'.

C. Thomas Howell's 'Soul Man' drew strong objections from the NAACP, and Faye Dunaway felt her role in 'Mommie Dearest' permanently altered public perception. Halle Berry's 'Catwoman' followed her historic Oscar win, leading many to view it as a derailment, though Berry stated it did not stop her. Mike Myers' 'The Love Guru' bombed, and Geena Davis saw opportunities dry up after the financially disastrous 'Cutthroat Island'.

Jesse Eisenberg believes his divisive portrayal of Lex Luthor in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' genuinely hurt his career. Pamela Anderson's 'Barb Wire' release coincided with personal struggles, impacting her career expansion. Chris O'Donnell, after 'Batman & Robin', moved to a long-running TV role, and Sofia Coppola, despite criticism for 'The Godfather Part III', found success as a filmmaker.

Meg Ryan's stark departure from romantic comedies in 'In the Cut' drew a 'vicious' reaction, while Rachael Leigh Cook's 'Josie and the Pussycats' failure led to 'movie jail'. Brandon Routh faced devastation when his 'Superman' franchise sequel never materialized, and Lori Petty's 'Tank Girl' flopped before gaining cult status. Alden Ehrenreich's 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' was a box-office disappointment, and Jaden Smith's 'After Earth' received extremely negative reviews, impacting his path as a leading actor.