Star-making movies that didn't make stars

[ERON]

I was thinking about how some movies are obviously intended to make a movie star out of a TV star, an athlete, a musician, or an actor who recently had a breakout character role in a successful picture. Sometimes they succeed, like Bad Boys for Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Ace Ventura for Jim Carrey, or My Cousin Vinny for Joe Pesci. But more often than not they fall short. Here are some that came to mind for me.

Kuffs tried to cash in on Christian Slater after his buzzworthy supporting role in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Mo' Money was a bizarre attempt to mish-mash Damon Wayans' In Living Color comedy schtick with an action crime drama.

Playing God attempted to transition David Duchovny onto the big screen after his success on The X Files.

Kiss of Death and Jade were a pair of these for David Caruso after his departure from NYPD Blue.

Second Sight failed to make big screen stars out of sitcom stars John Larroquette and Bronson Pinchot, mostly because it failed at being even remotely funny.

After his NFL career ended, Brian Bosworth tried his hand at acting with Stone Cold.

Vanilla Ice attempted to make it on the big screen with Cool as Ice.

George Strait wisely chose to stick to singing after Pure Country.

After Mike Meyers hit it big with Austin Powers, his former Wayne's World co-star Dana Carvey tried to follow suit with Master of Disguise. It didn't work.

Crossroads infamously tried to make a movie star out of Britney Spears.

Collision Course was a buddy cop flick that was intended to be a vehicle for Jay Leno and Pat Morita.

Abduction tried to get Taylor Lautner over as a leading man after Twilight.

Poor Taylor Kitsch struck out three times in 2012 with John Carter, Battleship, and Savages.

Haywire attempted to give Gina Carano some serious A-list rub by placing her alongside the likes of Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor.

A couple more musician examples: Joan Jett in Light of Day and Susannah Hoffs in The All-Nighter.

Got any more?

[Lord Rahl]

Mariah Carey and Glitter immediately comes to mind

[hossfan]

She's had a career 99% of actors would probably envy, but I think "Coyote Ugly" was supposed to help Piper Perabo become the Next Big Thing.

[xCompackx]

Any of Jaden Smith's movies.

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

From Justin to Kelly

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Jan 3, 2016 16:09:03 GMT -5 hossfan said:

She's had a career 99% of actors would probably envy, but I think "Coyote Ugly" was supposed to help Piper Perabo become the Next Big Thing.

I think it's pretty successful for her since it was first wide release feature film.

Poseidon and Stealth were supposed to be big movies for Josh Lucas, but they just ended up being Poseidon and Stealth.

I think there was expectations from executives that Pearl Harbor will be to Josh Hartnett what Titanic was to Leonardo Dicaprio.

[Zombie Mod is not a ghoul.]

earth girls are easy could fall under this with jim carey & damon wayans.

[agent817]

I thought Dana Carvey had an earlier attempt with "Clean Slate," which I thought was such an underrated movie. Also, Damon Wayans had a few other movies after "Mo' Money" where he was the lead, like "Major Payne," "Blankman" and "Bulletproof." He was also among the ensemble cast of "The Great White Hype."

In relation to this thread, I would say John Cena in "The Marine," even though "12 Rounds" came out two and a half years after that and was released theatrically.

[keezy]

There was a time when everyone was trying to make the new Jim Carrey.

Harland Williams in Rocketman, John Leguizamo in The Pest, Chris Elliott in Cabin Boy.

[willywonka666]

I could be wrong, but I thought Hitch was originally meant to star Kevin James or at least an equal billing of himself and Will Smith, but Will is the only one on the movie poster.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

I think The Lone Ranger was an attempt to do this for Armie Hammer, with the downsides that it sucked and had Johnny Depp as Native American Jack Sparrow and he couldn't compete.

[ERON]

Jan 3, 2016 16:44:08 GMT -5 agent817 said:

I thought Dana Carvey had an earlier attempt with "Clean Slate," which I thought was such an underrated movie.

Ah yes, I forgot about that one. That was his post-Wayne's World attempt at a starring vehicle.

Jan 3, 2016 16:44:08 GMT -5 agent817 said:

Also, Damon Wayans had a few other movies after "Mo' Money" where he was the lead, like "Major Payne," "Blankman" and "Bulletproof." He was also among the ensemble cast of "The Great White Hype."

Yeah, I think Major Payne was when he really started hitting his stride.

[Juice]

Jan 3, 2016 16:52:37 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

I could be wrong, but I thought Hitch was originally meant to star Kevin James or at least an equal billing of himself and Will Smith, but Will is the only one on the movie poster.

I don't think that is anything other than Will "I am the reason this movie exists" Smith.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jan 3, 2016 16:43:02 GMT -5 Zombie Mod is not a ghoul. said:

earth girls are easy could fall under this with jim carey & damon wayans.

Off topic, but my dad had a sticker with the logo from that movie on his motorcycle for about 20 years! Actually, it might be longer if he still has that motorcycle, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't.

[Deleted]

Jan 3, 2016 16:33:28 GMT -5 xCompackx said:

Any of Jaden Smith's movies.

They rebooted The Karate Kid and had M. Night Shamasomebody make a vehicle featuring him and his dad.

Is he getting projects now? Hell no, 'cuz the kid sucks.

[G✇JI☈A]

If you go back and watch old movies you would see this cast sub credit:

"And Introducing"

That tells the makers thought this actor was going places. But a most of the time that would end up being their only meaningful role.

[karl100589]

Trying to market Matthew Broderick as an action movie star in Godzilla.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Jan 3, 2016 16:03:28 GMT -5 Lord Rahl said:

Mariah Carey and Glitter immediately comes to mind

Mariah Carey was (and kinda still is) a major commercial force before Glitter, that was just a badly written and I'll advised vanity project.

At least we got a kick ass cover of I Didn't Mean To Turn You On out of it.

[baracklesnar]

Jan 3, 2016 18:42:16 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

Trying to market Matthew Broderick as an action movie star in Godzilla.

In the same vein, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.

[Deleted]

I always assumed The Hangover was suppose to be a vehicle for Bradley Cooper but Zach Galifianakis stole the show. Bradley Cooper of course would have a successful career and the hangover being successful helped but it feels like all the momentum went to the wrong guy.