17 Actors Whose Performances Completely Saved What Otherwise Would've Been "Meh" Movies
Recently, on my personal favorite subreddit, r/movies, redditor u/TotallyUnbiased666 asked, "What movies should have sucked, but the actors made it great?" and movie lovers really came through with some A+ answers.
So, with that in mind, here are just a few of the most popular responses shared:
1.Deadpool (2016)
"It's hard to imagine it being nearly as good as it is without Ryan Reynolds. I honestly don't know who else could even come close to filling that role."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
2.Fighting with My Family (2019)
"It probably would've just been an average sports movie without Florence Pugh!"
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
3.Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
"That movie is as cliché as it gets. A sarcastic, trouble-making cop? It's been done a million times. Eddie Murphy is the reason it stands out as one of the best."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
4.Superbad (2007)
"I feel like on paper, it should have just been another forgetful teen party movie, but the cast and creators really all came together nicely."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
5.Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
"Alan Rickman turned this into something worth watching. Honestly, Kevin Costner's English accent — or lack there of — should've ruined it, but against Alan Rickman, it just seems to work."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
6.Face/Off (1997)
"It's hard to imagine being good without Nicolas Cage and John Travolta."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
7.My Cousin Vinny (1992)
"I’m not sure it would’ve sucked, but it's definitely great because of Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
8.Devil Wears Prada (2006)
"It would've been mediocre without Meryl Streep — instead, it's excellent."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
9.Lockout (2012)
"Guy Pearce singlehandedly made that a watchable movie."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
10.Demolition Man (1993)
"If it hadn't been for Wesley Snipes, it would have been just another Sylvester Stallone movie."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
11.We Bought a Zoo (2011)
"On paper, totally unremarkable and even a bit cliché. But it all somehow comes together perfectly — which the director gets credit for as well — and becomes something utterly charming and heartfelt."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
12.Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
"It is the stupidest idea for a movie, but the whole cast really sold it. I love that movie so much."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
13.Venom (2018)
"Tom Hardy’s performance made me enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
14.The Untouchables (1987)
"While not a bad movie, it's definitely elevated by its cast. Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Robert DeNiro, and Andy Garcia are all next-level good in that movie and make it so fun to watch."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
15.Armageddon (1998)
"It's ridiculous and pretty dumb when you think about it, but the cast makes it so much fun you don’t care."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
16.Love, Actually (2003)
"This is a B movie with one of the world's great casts."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
And finally:
17.Bullet Train (2022)
"It would’ve been atrocious if it wasn’t for Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Their characters' chemistry was chef's kiss."
You can watch a clip of the performance(s) here:
You've read their picks, but now it's your turn. Which actors/ensemble casts did they miss? What movie should've been "meh," but was totally saved by the actors? Share your pick(s) in the comments below!
Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity. H/T: Reddit.
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