Who would you say is the most overrated actor

Some of the "best" actors can't act as they have gone by off their looks/body and therefore work dries up as they lose that appeal, or maybe they are just a horrendous actor but we just love them because of it. Then you get the breed of actor that simply can not act, they break into a persona they portray on screen, but ask them to act a different role, they simply can not do it. So who would you rate as the most overrated actor?

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls099004993/

Responses

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Selected Oldest First

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

6 years ago

For me it has to probably be Arnie. He is an absolutely terrible actor. His early films he was so 1 dimensional that he got parts because of his body and that was his star attraction. In the 80s he was basically a lump of muscle with a funny accent. But yet, I love the guy, I love his films. I don't watch Arnie because of his talent, I watch him for the lack of it, his 1 liners, some are horrendous, a bit like the Tommy Cooper of Hollywood, but because it's Arnie, his poor jokes just make you love the guy. Not a single person can say they've sat down and watched an Arnie film purely because they want to see acting at it's finest.

A close 2nd I would say is Al Pacino, 1 of my fave films is Carlito's Way, he plays the gangster role well, but look at his best roles, they are basically the same character. He can't do comedy, and he isn't the draw he used to be at the box office, unlike Robert de Niro who has evolved.

Similar with Samuel L Jackson, he just shouts and swears in practically 99% of the parts he plays. Steven Seagal has a larger variety of jackets than Jackson can play different roles. Just pick a couple of random roles, you could swap the characters around and no one would notice.

gitte_l_yche

1.4K Messages

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58.6K Points

6 years ago

You must really dislike Sharon Stone since you've included her twice - please correct

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

Good spot. I'll change now and replace 1 of her. I don't dislike her, but to say how big she is, I really struggle to remember her films. For me her most memorable is in Total Recall. I really can't remember the last film of her's I've watched.

6 years ago

MyCatDuffyTookMyLaptop

4.4K Messages

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124K Points

6 years ago

Nick Cage, definitely. My whole reaction to him is "Eww."

Suggestion: Meryl Streep

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

Cage was good in Con Air, but the biggest question in the universe is. "Where are Nicholas Cage's side burns?". It may sound daft, but most of his films I ended up watching his hair and just shaking my head than watching the films themselves.

Meryl Streep, I have to admit, I do like her, but could I name many of her films, or remember many of her roles? I liked her in The Post alongside Tom Hanks, she played a very good part, can't remember her in Suffragette but I do remember I enjoyed that film at the time and the 1 role I can't forget her in is Death Becomes Her. I do rate her as an actress, but do I rate her films?

6 years ago

rocky_o

1.4K Messages

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51K Points

6 years ago

tom cruise...tom cruise...and tom cruise....

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

I'm kinda with you on that. War of the Worlds for me massively highlighted what a terrible "actor" he is. But there are a few films I really enjoyed with him in. The Last Samurai, I don't know anyone else that likes that movie, everyone I know that's seen it hates it, but I really enjoyed it. Action films are not really films to display acting ability, but he's had a few very good roles such as in A Few Good Men and Born on the 4th of July. I thought it would have been too cliche to add him on this list but I think he deserves a place. I didn't want to create a list of bad actors/actresses, but a list of good ones that simply can't act. On the list he goes just for you Rocky-O

6 years ago

dan_dassow

Champion

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20.4K Messages

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487.2K Points

One must be careful not to repeat a demon's name three times lest they appear. I wonder whether repeating an actor's name three times would also summon that actor.

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6 years ago

dan_dassow

Champion

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20.4K Messages

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487.2K Points

6 years ago

My very tongue-in-cheek vote:
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Breumaster

11.2K Messages

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191.7K Points

6 years ago

Hugh Grant, for sure! ;)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000424/

Breumaster

11.2K Messages

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191.7K Points

oh yeahh! Rowan Atkinson.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000100/
Comedian - yes! Actor - No!

6 years ago

MykolaYeriomin

Champion

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4K Messages

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244.9K Points

Breumaster, your comment irritates me immensely. :)

I love Atkinson's acting and I consider it rather sad that his comedic acting (while great) overshadowed his dramatic talent. He could've been great Doctor Who, but he was snabbed of that role quite a few times. :(

6 years ago

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

I agree. He has shown a lot in characters like Mr Bean and in particular Edmund Blackadder. I can't stand Johnny English, just felt like it was about 15 years too late or just for a younger audience. But over the years, I've got to admire his talent.

6 years ago

Breumaster

11.2K Messages

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191.7K Points

Atkinson does his own characters, ok, but what about portraying a character he didn't invent? Was there any role he didn't invent and he did perfect? Despite his fabolous performances in comedy - did he ever portray someone perfectly or did a character which felt real. When you look at Meryl Streep - She perfectly captures the little characteristics of the people she portrayes. Like all the little tics she copied when she played the iron lady. For my understanding it's way more work to portray a character that lived and keep the behavior most equal to the character, than playing a character self invented.

6 years ago

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

I hear you Breumaster, but do the majority see Rowan Atkinson as a great actor, or do they see him as a character actor or a comedian? I love Atkinson, I've grown up watching his work since the 80s, but I wouldn't put him in the same category as Tom Hanks or Julianne Moore, I wouldn't put him in the top 50.

I watch Mr Bean, I don't think, wow what a great actor, I'm gripped.I just think he's a very funny clever guy, the same can be said about a lot of his work. Looking at his TV and films, none would be included in any top 100 lists in where he has the main part. But to say he is overrated, I can't say he is because noone really classes him as a great actor and I'm saying that as a big fan of his work (not Johnny English) and he's not a big office draw, he never has been.

6 years ago

riverotter

1.1K Messages

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28.4K Points

6 years ago

to go with an actor that lots of people like and respect as an actor, I'd say
Leonardo Dicaprio. I can tell he's acting. I don't see his character, I see him.

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

I know what you mean, I feel like that about a lot of actors/actresses and the illusion doesn't quite work. There are a couple of Dicaprio films I've really enjoyed, some I feel were massively overrated which I found boring. I was always a detractor from "Dicrapio" how I used to call him until my ex recommended I watched the Beach. That single film made me like him and I started to watch his films in a different light.

6 years ago

goddangwatir

236 Messages

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8K Points

In my opinion, he was quite riveting to watch in Django Unchained (2012) and The Revenant (2015).

6 years ago

goddangwatir

236 Messages

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8K Points

6 years ago

FYC

Sean Connery
George Clooney
Sandra Bullock
Johnny Depp
Anne Hathaway

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

Yup, yup, yup, yup and yup. But didn't Connery playing a Russian submarine Captain in his Scottish accent win you over?

6 years ago

gitte_l_yche

1.4K Messages

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58.6K Points

And his academy award for supporting actor in The Untouchables was undeserved?

6 years ago

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

I can't remember, was his character supposed to be Irish in that film? Or was he of Irish/Scottish descent?

6 years ago

discod

2 Messages

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132 Points

6 years ago

Jennifer Aniston
George Clooney
Sandra Bullock
Johnny Depp
Brad Pitt
Adam Sandler
Jennifer Love Hewitt

commodore_boz

108 Messages

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3.2K Points

Oh yes, can't argue with a lot of that. Clooney I've never really been a big fan of, Aniston, personally just not my type of actress, she is someone else that relies on her looks, she'll struggle when they go and she'll complain that Hollywood is ageist against women although other aging actresses that rely on talent will still get the roles. Pitt I've liked him in a few films, and Depp, I really love his portrayal of Jack Sparrow. I know Depp is a marmite type of actor, you love him or hate him. I liked him in The Professor, Public Enemies and a few other of his films. I have to admit, I'm on the side of the fence I like him, but appreciate that many don't. Some of his characters split opinion too, I didn't like Edward Scissorhands and preferred Gene Wilder playing Willy Wonka.

6 years ago

ThatOneCritic

1 Message

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62 Points

5 years ago

Samuel L. Jackson is at the top of my list. This guy is a fraud and an extremely lucky one, he squeezed into Hollywood by ass-kissing Tarantino and Spike Lee.

I never found Jackson to be a particularly great actor. Yes, he has charisma and can act to a certain degree, but he essentially plays some version of himself in every movie where his real personality shines through. He has no range, no nuance, no specific talent that makes him stand out other than dropping his usual F-bombs. The guy ultimately fails to disappear into his roles. He's not a scene-stealer but established himself by playing off other characters in whatever film he's in.

Jackson can blow up the banks with all the millions he makes, but the truth is he'll never be regarded as a great, skilled or versatile actor.

Thrale04

1 Message

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60 Points

5 years ago

Reading these comments made me laugh. Everyone is naming actors they don’t like, or misjudging them because of bad movies they were in. That doesn’t mean they’re bad actors. Nicholas cage is an amazing actor.. but starred in a lot of duds. Meryl Streep is phenomenal, and Leonardo dicaprio is one of the best actors out there. Sandra bullock and Johnny depp are also named in comments, but delivered outstanding performances. Also, just because an actor only works in one particular genre doesn’t mean they are bad... everyone specializes in something in their career/ job but it doesn’t make you bad at whatever you do.

(edited)

commodore_boz

Who would you say is the most overrated actor

commodore_boz

gitte_l_yche

commodore_boz

MyCatDuffyTookMyLaptop

commodore_boz

rocky_o

commodore_boz

dan_dassow

dan_dassow

Breumaster

Breumaster

MykolaYeriomin

commodore_boz

Breumaster

commodore_boz

riverotter

commodore_boz

goddangwatir

goddangwatir

commodore_boz

gitte_l_yche

commodore_boz

discod

commodore_boz

ThatOneCritic

Thrale04

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