Not every movie becomes a hit, and sometimes even big stars end up in films that bomb at the box office. But instead of quietly moving on, some actors have spoken up to defend their work, explain what went wrong, or simply refuse to call it a failure.
Their reactions range from honest and humble to surprisingly bold. Here are 15 actors who had something to say about their biggest box office disappointments.
1. Kevin Costner and The Postman
Kevin Costner wore two hats on The Postman – he both directed and starred in the 1997 post-apocalyptic epic. The film earned only $17 million worldwide against an $80 million budget and picked up five Golden Raspberry Awards.
Still, Costner never apologized for it.
He stood by his vision, defending the film’s themes of hope and community. For Costner, the story mattered more than the numbers on a spreadsheet.
2. Taylor Kitsch and John Carter
“I would do it all over again” – that is basically what Taylor Kitsch told the world about John Carter, the 2012 sci-fi adventure that reportedly lost around $200 million. Most actors would quietly distance themselves from a flop that massive.
Not Kitsch. He said he is “incredibly proud” of the film and does not see it as a failure at all.
His loyalty to the project says a lot about his character as a performer.
3. Jennifer Lawrence and Mother!
When Mother! hit theaters in 2017, audiences were confused and divided. The psychological horror film directed by Darren Aronofsky received mixed reviews and underwhelmed at the box office.
Jennifer Lawrence, however, found the reaction kind of exciting.
She called the divisiveness “exciting” rather than embarrassing, embracing the idea that challenging films spark strong feelings. Lawrence seemed genuinely unbothered, treating the controversy as proof that the movie dared to do something different.
4. Maisie Williams and The New Mutants
Corporate drama behind the scenes can sink a movie before it even opens. Maisie Williams knows that firsthand with The New Mutants, the 2020 superhero film that struggled badly at the box office.
Rather than blaming the cast or crew, Williams pointed to a corporate merger that she said was “out of our control.” She remained proud of the film and the work everyone put in, keeping a positive attitude despite the rough reception the movie received.
5. Jennifer Hudson and Cats
Few films in recent memory confused audiences quite like Cats (2019), the musical fantasy that brought in only $75 million against a $95 million budget. Critics were brutal, and audiences largely stayed away.
Jennifer Hudson, though, had a very different take.
She called the film “misunderstood” and said she remains “very proud of and grateful” to have been part of it. Hudson’s warmth toward the project shows she valued the experience beyond the box office math.
6. Matt Smith and Morbius
“It’s a film at the end of the day – we’re not saving lives.” That was Matt Smith’s remarkably chill response to the critical and commercial failure of Morbius in 2022. The Marvel-adjacent film was widely mocked, but Smith refused to spiral.
He acknowledged it got “thrown under the bus” but shrugged it off with surprising ease. His laid-back attitude was honestly refreshing compared to the dramatic defensiveness some actors show when their films flop hard.
7. Dwayne Johnson and Black Adam
Dwayne Johnson does not take comparisons lightly. When Black Adam (2022) was unfavorably compared to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Johnson fired back on social media with a passionate defense of his film.
He pointed out that Black Adam and the JSA were brand-new to most audiences, calling them “new babies” that need time to grow. His competitive spirit was clear, and fans appreciated that he genuinely believed in what he brought to the role.
8. Halle Berry and Catwoman
Halle Berry famously accepted her Razzie Award for Catwoman (2004) in person, clutching her Oscar and delivering a hilarious speech. But beyond the jokes, she also reflected genuinely on the film’s failure.
She admitted that “you just never know how people are going to respond,” acknowledging the unpredictability of audience taste. It was a surprisingly humble and honest moment from a major star who could have easily avoided the whole conversation.
9. Dakota Johnson and Madame Web
Dakota Johnson’s press tour for Madame Web (2024) became almost as talked about as the film itself. She admitted during interviews that she had not even seen the movie, describing avoiding her own work as “self-care” to prevent an “existential crisis.”
Audiences found her comments more entertaining than the film. Whether intentional or not, Johnson’s blunt honesty made headlines and gave the internet plenty of material to work with during a rough box office run.
10. Ryan Reynolds and Green Lantern
Ryan Reynolds has made a career out of joking about Green Lantern (2011), but he also offered a real explanation for why it failed. He blamed excessive spending and a creative process that never stopped to focus on character development.
“There was just too many people spending too much money,” he said, pointing to a system that kept throwing money at problems instead of fixing the story. Reynolds turned the flop into a lesson he clearly carried into later projects.
11. Ben Affleck and Gigli
Most people remember Gigli (2003) as one of the biggest flops in Hollywood history. Ben Affleck remembers it differently – as a “gift.” The brutal reaction to the film forced him to reflect, feel disappointed, and ultimately question his path in Hollywood.
That questioning led him to directing, which he later called “the real love of my professional life.” Sometimes a spectacular failure opens a door you did not even know you were looking for.
12. Zach Braff and Wish I Was Here
Wish I Was Here (2014) was a passion project for Zach Braff, partly funded through a Kickstarter campaign. The unconventional financing drew criticism before the film even released, and Braff believes that negative media attention hurt the movie’s chances at the box office.
He suggested the controversy around how the film was funded overshadowed the actual movie itself. It was a frustrating situation for a filmmaker who simply wanted to tell a personal story on his own terms.
13. George Clooney and Batman and Robin
George Clooney is one of the few actors who will look you in the eye and say, without hesitation, that he was terrible in a movie. That movie is Batman and Robin (1997), widely considered one of the worst superhero films ever made.
He has said repeatedly that honesty about failures has to include yourself. His willingness to own his part in the disaster is actually kind of admirable, and audiences have respected him more for it over the years.
14. Charlize Theron and Reindeer Games
Charlize Theron did not sugarcoat her feelings about Reindeer Games (2000), calling it “a bad, bad, bad movie” with zero hesitation. But she also had a perfectly reasonable justification for taking the role in the first place.
Working alongside legendary director John Frankenheimer was worth it, regardless of the final product. Sometimes the experience and the people you work with matter more than whether the finished film turns out well.
Theron clearly has no regrets on that front.
15. Sylvester Stallone and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Sylvester Stallone once admitted that he was deliberately tricked into making Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992).
According to Stallone, he heard Arnold Schwarzenegger was interested in the role, which made him want it more – only to later realize Schwarzenegger spread that rumor on purpose.
The film bombed badly and became one of Stallone’s most regretted projects. He has spoken about it with humor over the years, turning an embarrassing chapter into a genuinely funny Hollywood story.