Even the biggest stars in Hollywood have made movies they wish they could forget. From box office disasters to roles that just felt wrong, plenty of A-listers have gone on record saying they were not exactly proud of their work.
It turns out that fame and great film choices do not always go hand in hand. Here are 15 celebrities who openly cringed at their own movies.
1. Ryan Reynolds – Green Lantern (2011)
Ryan Reynolds has turned his regret over Green Lantern into an ongoing joke, and honestly, fans love him for it. The 2011 superhero film was a massive flop, earning terrible reviews and leaving Reynolds visibly uncomfortable about the whole experience.
He even poked fun at it in Deadpool 2, where his character travels back in time to stop himself from agreeing to the role. Few actors can turn a career low point into a punchline this well.
2. Robert Pattinson – Twilight (2008)
Robert Pattinson never hid the fact that playing Edward Cullen was not exactly his dream gig. He famously described the source novel as “a book that wasn’t supposed to be published” and played the character as manic-depressive because he could not relate to him at all.
Rather than phoning it in, Pattinson made the role strange and uncomfortable on purpose. It is a fascinating behind-the-scenes detail that explains a lot about his quirky performance throughout the series.
3. Michelle Pfeiffer – Grease 2 (1982)
Michelle Pfeiffer did not mince words when it came to Grease 2. She flat-out said she “hated that film with a vengeance,” which is a pretty bold statement from someone who went on to become one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses.
The sequel struggled to capture the magic of the original and received poor reviews. Pfeiffer’s honesty about the experience is refreshing, and it shows that even early career missteps can lead to incredible comebacks later on.
4. Harrison Ford – Blade Runner (1982)
It might surprise fans to learn that Harrison Ford was not a fan of Blade Runner, a film that has since become a beloved science fiction classic. Ford reportedly found it hard to connect with the story and said plainly that he did not like the movie one way or another.
His discomfort during production was reportedly visible on set. Ironically, his detached performance may have actually added to the film’s mysterious and haunting tone, making it even more iconic over time.
5. Channing Tatum – G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (2009)
Channing Tatum did not just dislike G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra – he reportedly used much stronger language, saying he “f***ing hated” the movie.
He made it clear the role was purely a contractual obligation and not something he chose out of passion or excitement.
Tatum even asked producers to kill off his character in the sequel so he would not have to return. His bluntness about the whole situation made headlines and earned him some unexpected respect from fans.
6. Halle Berry – Catwoman (2004)
Halle Berry did something almost no celebrity ever does – she showed up in person to accept her Razzie Award for Worst Actress for Catwoman. Clutching her Oscar in one hand and the Razzie in the other, she gave a hilarious and self-aware acceptance speech that won over the entire crowd.
Her willingness to laugh at herself turned an embarrassing moment into a legendary one. Catwoman may have bombed, but Berry’s response to it proved she has genuine class and humor.
7. Ben Affleck – Daredevil (2003)
Ben Affleck has been pretty open about his feelings toward Daredevil, and those feelings are not warm and fuzzy. He publicly admitted his dislike for the film, which was widely criticized for its messy plot and lackluster action sequences.
Interestingly, Affleck later said that the bad experience with Daredevil made him hesitant to take on another superhero role. He eventually returned to the genre as Batman, which showed real courage considering how badly the first attempt had gone for him.
8. George Clooney – Batman and Robin (1997)
George Clooney has called Batman and Robin a “crappy movie” more than once, and he is not wrong. The film is widely considered one of the worst superhero movies ever made, famous for its neon colors, over-the-top villains, and the unforgettable bat-nipples on the costume.
Clooney jokes about it constantly and even jokingly offered to refund tickets to anyone who paid to see it. His ability to laugh at the disaster shows a rare and endearing level of self-awareness from a major Hollywood star.
9. Brad Pitt – The Devil’s Own (1997)
Brad Pitt called The Devil’s Own “the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking” he had ever been part of, which is a harsh but telling review. His main complaint was that the production began without a finished script, leaving the cast and crew scrambling throughout filming.
Pitt was so frustrated that he reportedly tried to quit the project mid-production. The film received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, validating much of his frustration.
Few actors speak this candidly about their own projects.
10. Sylvester Stallone – Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
Sylvester Stallone, the man behind Rocky and Rambo, once called Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot the absolute worst film of his entire career.
That is saying a lot considering how long and varied his filmography is. The comedy was panned by critics and audiences alike.
Stallone has said he was tricked into doing the movie after hearing that Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposedly interested in the role. Whether or not that story is true, it makes the whole situation even more entertaining in hindsight.
11. Mark Wahlberg – The Happening (2008)
Mark Wahlberg did not hold back during a press conference when the topic of The Happening came up. He essentially shrugged off the entire film with a blunt “F*** it,” which is both hilarious and surprisingly relatable for anyone who sat through M.
Night Shyamalan’s strange thriller.
The film was widely mocked for its bizarre premise and wooden dialogue. Wahlberg admitting he shared the audience’s confusion made him instantly more likable.
Sometimes the most honest thing a celebrity can do is just admit when something did not work.
12. Julia Roberts – I Love Trouble (1994)
Julia Roberts is one of the most beloved actresses of her generation, but even she has a film she would rather forget. I Love Trouble paired her with Nick Nolte in a romantic comedy that reportedly had major behind-the-scenes tension between the two stars.
Roberts did not enjoy the filming experience and made no secret of it. The chemistry that a romantic comedy desperately needs simply was not there, and audiences could feel it.
The film underperformed and has largely faded from public memory since its release.
13. Carrie Fisher – Star Wars (1977)
Carrie Fisher’s feelings about Star Wars were complicated, to say the least. She once said she wished she had turned down the role of Princess Leia, explaining that playing the character showed her “the heartbreak of celebrity” up close and far too young.
Fame arrived fast and overwhelming after the film’s release, and Fisher struggled with its effects for years. She was refreshingly honest about the personal cost of becoming a cultural icon.
Her courage in speaking openly about those struggles made her even more admired by fans worldwide.
14. Emilia Clarke – Terminator Genisys (2015)
Emilia Clarke admitted she felt genuine relief when Terminator Genisys flopped at the box office. She said that “no one had a good time” during production, which paints a pretty grim picture of what it was like behind the scenes on that set.
The film was meant to relaunch the Terminator franchise but instead received poor reviews and underwhelming ticket sales. Clarke’s honesty about the experience was surprisingly candid for an actress at the peak of her Game of Thrones fame.
At least she got out before a sequel was greenlit.
15. Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Daniel Radcliffe grew up on screen in the Harry Potter series, and he is the first to admit that not every performance was his best. He specifically singled out Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, saying it is hard to watch because he feels he was “just not very good in it.”
Radcliffe admitted he got complacent during that particular film, which took a lot of guts to say publicly. His self-awareness and willingness to critique his own work show a maturity that many actors twice his age have never managed to find.