15 Times an Actor Admitted Their Movie Was Bad

Promoting a movie usually means praising it from start to finish, even if the final product falls short. Every so often, though, an actor decides to be completely honest. Years after filming, many stars have openly admitted that a movie simply did not work, apologizing to fans, laughing about the experience, or explaining why they regretted taking the role in the first place. Those rare moments of honesty often become just as memorable as the films themselves. These are fifteen times actors openly acknowledged that one of their own movies missed the mark, and they were not afraid to say so.

Batman & Robin (1997) – George Clooney

Clooney has repeatedly apologized for the film, joking that he may have “killed the franchise” before Christopher Nolan revived Batman years later.

Jaws: The Revenge (1987) – Michael Caine

Caine famously said he had never seen the movie, but he had seen the house it paid for, making it one of Hollywood’s most quoted self critiques.

Super Mario Bros. (1993) – Bob Hoskins

Hoskins called it the worst film he ever made and later described the production as a chaotic experience from beginning to end.

Catwoman (2004) – Halle Berry

Berry accepted her Razzie Award in person and humorously thanked everyone involved for casting her in such a poorly received movie.

The Happening (2008) – Mark Wahlberg

Wahlberg later admitted the movie simply did not work and openly laughed about his own performance in interviews.

Twilight (2008) – Robert Pattinson

Although grateful for what the series did for his career, Pattinson often joked about the films and admitted he found many aspects unintentionally funny.

Fantastic Four (2015) – Kate Mara

Mara later revealed that the troubled production was one of the reasons she became much more selective about accepting major studio projects.

X Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) – Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds repeatedly mocked the film’s version of Deadpool before finally giving fans the character they wanted years later.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) – Sean Connery

Connery became so disappointed with the experience that he retired from acting after the film’s release.

Street Fighter (1994) – Jean Claude Van Damme

Van Damme has acknowledged the production’s many problems and admitted his own personal struggles affected the experience.

Gigli (2003) – Ben Affleck

Affleck later described the film as one of the most painful experiences of his career and accepted its critical failure.

Green Lantern (2011) – Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds has spent years making fun of the superhero movie, even turning it into a recurring joke in the Deadpool films.

The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) – Bruce Willis

Willis later admitted the highly anticipated adaptation failed to live up to expectations and never connected with audiences.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) – Val Kilmer

Kilmer later acknowledged the film’s infamous production troubles, which ultimately overshadowed the movie itself.

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) – Sandra Bullock

Bullock has openly said she did not like the sequel and admitted she still wonders why it was ever made, a criticism many fans agree with.