History HollywoodHypeMachine / WouldBeAndOneTimeAListers

** His downfall was further cemented by an [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/hes-radioactive-inside-johnny-depps-self-made-implosion exposé]] published by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' uncovering dozens of backstage accounts of his deteriorating behavior, involving drug abuse during filming of ''Dead Men Tell No Tales'', failing to show up at a movie festival (resulting in a film he starred in being pulled without getting a screening) and a repeated smear campaign against Heard, at one point attempting to bully Warner Bros. into removing her from ''Film/{{Aquaman}}''.

** His downfall was further cemented by an [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/hes-radioactive-inside-johnny-depps-self-made-implosion exposé]] published by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' uncovering dozens of backstage accounts of his deteriorating behavior, involving drug abuse during filming of ''Dead Men Tell No Tales'', failing to show up at a movie festival (resulting in a film he starred in being pulled without getting a screening) and a repeated smear campaign against Heard, at one point attempting to cajole Warner Bros. into removing her from ''Film/{{Aquaman}}''.

** His downfall was further cemented by an [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/hes-radioactive-inside-johnny-depps-self-made-implosion exposé]] published by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' uncovering dozens of backstage accounts of his deteriorating behavior, involving drug abuse and a repeated smear campaign against Heard, at one point attempting to cajole Warner Bros. into removing her from ''Film/{{Aquaman}}''.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims (though counterclaims that she abused him have also been made). This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. After he lost a risky libel case in 2020 against a tabloid in the UK court system for calling him a “wife beater” (the judge ruled that 12 of the 14 instances met the civil requirements for domestic violence), he was fired from the the latter franchise. The case also aired out old dirty laundry about his drinking and drug problems and the lack of reliability that come with them, advertising how difficult it is to depend on him. It’s unlikely he’ll ever get any franchise work again. Disney has already made plans for a ''Pirates'' spin-off starring Creator/MargotRobbie but is still figuring out if he has a role in the planned reboot of the main series.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims (though counterclaims that she abused him have also been made). This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. After he lost a risky libel case in 2020 against a tabloid in the UK court system for calling him a “wife beater” (the judge ruled that 12 of the 14 instances met the civil requirements for domestic violence), he was fired from the the latter franchise. The case also aired out old dirty laundry about his drinking and drug problems and the lack of reliability that come with them, advertising how difficult it is to depend on him. It’s unlikely he’ll ever get any franchise work again.

* Creator/EddieMurphy was the hottest comedian around back in TheEighties. He started out on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' during one of its toughest {{Dork Age}}s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''Film/FortyEightHours'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', and ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''Film/TheGoldenChild'', just in terms of quality), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[SoBadItsGood a couple of hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''Film/HarlemNights'', in which he directed and starred with his comic idols Creator/RichardPryor and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in TheNineties, with ''Film/Another48Hours'', ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'', ''Film/Boomerang1992'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopIII'', and ''Film/VampireInBrooklyn'' all bombing (though ''Boomerang'' has been VindicatedByHistory). He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by Creator/DavidSpade on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''really'' [[BerserkButton made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'', and ''Film/{{Metro}}'', ''Film/DrDolittle'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', ''Film/{{Life|1999}}'', and ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}'' were all successful to varying extents. But in the 2000s, Murphy did way too many [[RatedGForGangsta family-friendly films]] that, with the exception of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' series, were poorly received. Films like ''Film/DaddyDayCare'', ''Film/TheHauntedMansion'', ''Film/MeetDave'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, and 2002's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'' was [[BoxOfficeBomb one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. He received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''Film/TowerHeist'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''Film/AThousandWords'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned and had the "privilege" of being his first film to go [[DirectToVideo Direct-to-DVD]] in Britain. After that, he had only had an appearance at the SNL 40th anniversary special and one film, ''Film/MrChurch'', a more dramatic role that was critically panned and a box office failure. Things may be coming around though -- in 2019 he starred in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', which was critically acclaimed, especially for his performance, and followed that up with a triumphant guest hosting gig on ''Saturday Night Live'''s ChristmasEpisode. He's even planning a return to stand-up.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims (though counterclaims that she abused him have also been made). This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He's never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. After he lost a risky libel case in 2020 against a tabloid in the UK court system for calling him a “wife beater” (the judge ruled that 12 of the 14 instances met the civil requirements for domestic violence), he was fired from the the latter franchise. The case also aired out old dirty laundry about his drinking and drug problems and the lack of reliability that come with them, advertising how difficult it is to depend on him. It’s unlikely he’ll ever get any franchise work again.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims (though counterclaims that she abused him have also been made). This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He's never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. Between the #[=MeToo=] movement increasing scrutiny of him due to his domestic violence issues, the struggles of the ''Fantastic Beasts'' films, and his reputation for being financially irresponsible and difficult to work with, his career may well end with that of the series.

* Creator/JeffGoldblum didn't ''quite'' made it to the A-list during his "prime" years of TheEighties and TheNineties. After a near-decade toiling away in minor, supporting, and ensemble roles, plus one unsuccessful (if cultishly-loved) TV vehicle in ''Series/TenspeedAndBrownShoe'', 1983's hit dramedy ''Film/TheBigChill'' gave him a leg up. While ''Film/TheFly1986'' proved a bravura StarMakingRole, '80s Hollywood just didn't have a surfeit of leading roles that suited his unconventional looks, unusual speaking cadence, and eccentric intensity on offer (aside from the flop ''Film/{{Vibes}}'', and only because Creator/DanAykroyd quit)[[note]]Geena Davis, his co-star in ''The Fly'' and two other films (and for a few years his wife), got a bigger push -- see Examples That Didn't Hold Up[[/note]] and he ended up working primarily in independent or European productions. Then came 1993 and a scene-stealing supporting turn in ''Film/JurassicPark''. Overnight he became '''the''' go-to performer for MotorMouth and/or TallDarkAndSnarky turns. But while there was a little hype put behind him, he remained a supporting player -- sometimes to actors getting or just past a full Hype Machine push (Creator/HughGrant in ''Film/NineMonths'', Creator/WillSmith in ''Film/IndependenceDay'', Creator/EddieMurphy in ''Holy Man''...) -- with but two exceptions, ''Literature/{{Hideaway}}'' and ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. He also became easy to mock, having come to define the GibberingGenius trope. At the TurnOfTheMillennium he was working consistently and frequently but rarely as a lead, the most high-profile exceptions being two TV shows (''Series/{{Raines}}'', which was tossed away by the network, and the later seasons of ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'', in which he was stuck in the shadow of original/alternate lead Creator/VincentDOnofrio).\\

But all those roles plus his memorable talk show appearances (he's a favorite of Creator/ConanOBrien, Creator/StephenColbert, ''and'' Creator/JamesCorden) endeared him to late Generation X-ers and millennials. In TheNewTens -- [[CoolOldGuy as he entered his sixties]] -- he became an affectionate source of {{Memetic Mutation}}s, and he [[AdamWesting cheerfully played up and into his natural eccentricity]] to please fans. Combined with creatives who'd grown up with his films wanting to work with him (in particular Creator/TaikaWaititi, who cast him as the Grandmaster in ''Film/ThorRagnarok''), by the end of the decade he had his own Creator/DisneyPlus show (''Series/TheWorldAccordingToJeffGoldblum'') and fame that many who were chewed up and spat out by the Hype Machine would envy.

* After supporting roles in film, television and Music/MichaelJackson's "Bad" music video, Creator/WesleySnipes was one of the most sought after black actors of TheNineties, proving adept as an action hero, dramatic and comedic actor with the likes of ''Film/MajorLeague'', ''Film/MoBetterBlues'', ''Film/TheKingOfNewYork'', ''Film/NewJackCity'', ''Film/JungleFever'', ''Film/Passenger57'', ''Film/DemolitionMan'' and ''Film/ToWongFooThanksForEverythingJulieNewmar''. He really struck gold when he starred in ''Film/{{Blade}}'' which gave him a signature role and is credited with kick-starting the comic book movie boom. Then, towards TheNewTens, his career took a downturn. Not only was he appearing in unsuccessful films, but his career was now being eclipsed by his conviction for tax evasion, for which he spent three years in prison. There was also a damning article covering his prima-donna behaviour on the set of ''Film/BladeTrinity'' which didn't help his reputation at all. Since getting out of prison, he's been confined to DirectToDVD features. Marvel later announced that they were rebooting ComicBook/{{Blade}} for the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse without his involvement. He has managed to get the occasional mainstream role like ''Film/TheExpendables3'' or the poorly-received ''Film/{{Gallowwalkers}}''. He had a well-received turn in ''Film/MyNameIsDolemite'' that led many to speculate that a comeback was iminent.

* Creator/KeanuReeves first made a splash with the ''Film/BillAndTed'' stoner comedy films. Soon after he got a big push with ''Film/PointBreak1991'' and ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', and 1994's ''Film/{{Speed}}'' cemented him as an A-List star, but his [[DullSurprise limited acting range]] was frequently mocked and his stature diminished. Then came 1999 and the release of ''Film/TheMatrix''; Reeves became a bigger star than ever before, only for that to fade as quickly as it came. The highly-anticipated ''Matrix'' sequels left a bad taste in both audience and critics' mouths, leaving the franchise functionally dead. Coupled with, again, criticism of Reeves' acting range (or lack thereof) the rest of his films in the '00s were flops or underperformers, reaching a low point with the TroubledProduction ''Film/FortySevenRonin'' in 2013. And ''then'' he made a huge comeback with the ''Franchise/JohnWick'' films, making him [[CareerResurrection a household name again]] in the age of social media (helped along by, as in Jeff Goldblum's case, longstanding affection for his best work -- where Goldblum has been dubbed a "Zaddy", [[MemeticMutation Reeves is "The Internet's Boyfriend"]]). 2019 was humorously dubbed the year of the "Keanussance" between the third ''John Wick'' film and ''Film/AlwaysBeMyMaybe'', ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' and ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'', and he even has new ''Bill and Ted'' and ''Matrix'' films in the works.

* Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger started out as a low-budget actor with forgettable films like ''Hercules in New York'' in his name, but soon found luck when a little-known director named Creator/JamesCameron tapped him to play the title role in ''Film/TheTerminator''. Although the movie received initially mixed reviews, it soon became such a massive pop culture behemoth that its [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay sequel]] in 1991 grossed ''seven times'' its predecessor. He soon scored more action roles throughout the 1980's and 1990's, with major box-office hits like ''Film/{{Predator}}'', ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' and ''Film/TrueLies'' becoming quintessential action flicks of the era. Unfortunately, his stint as Mr. Freeze in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' didn't fare as well, and it ended up [[{{Pun}} freezing]] his star power for the rest of the 90's. He made one final stint as T-800 in ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' before deciding to take a break from acting and serve as the Governor of California for eight straight years before returning to film. His recent films though haven't been particularly successful with even his return to the ''Terminator'' series, ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', proving to be a commercial disappointment. He did recently host a celebrity season of ''Series/TheApprentice'' in 2017 but left after one season. Now, with Cameron back in the ''Terminator'' fold, Schwarzenegger will return as T-800 once again in a new ''Terminator'' film that will conclude the franchise for good. Unfortunetly, ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'' was another critical and commercial dissapointment, leaving Arnie's career in a rut once more.

* Music/JenniferLopez practically became an A-list star overnight after her performance in ''Film/{{Selena}}'' was praised by critics, and she followed it up with several critically acclaimed films such as ''Film/OutOfSight'' and ''Film/TheCell''. She also became noteworthy for being one of the few thespians who was able to successfully juggle both a singing and acting career, in 2000 she became the first person to have both the number one album and star in the number one film in the same week. Though some critics were disappointed when she later switched over to starring in middling romantic comedies like ''The Wedding Planner'', ''Film/MonsterInLaw'', and ''Film/MaidInManhattan'', but her films were still successful box-office wise for the most part, and even the critically mauled ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' didn't seem to stall her career much. But then she took a four-year break from her film career, and her first film since her break, ''The Back-Up Plan'' received worse reviews then any other film she's starred in so far, so while Lopez is still getting work in films ([[Series/AmericanIdol and]] [[Series/ShadesOfBlue television]]), it's pretty likely she'll never return to her former A-list status.

* Creator/JeffGoldblum didn't ''quite'' made it to the A-list during his "prime" years of TheEighties and TheNineties. After a near-decade toiling away in minor, supporting, and ensemble roles, plus one unsuccessful (if cultishly-loved) TV vehicle in ''Series/TenspeedAndBrownShoe'', 1983's hit dramedy ''Film/TheBigChill'' gave him a major leg up. While ''Film/TheFly1986'' proved a bravura StarMakingRole, '80s Hollywood didn't have a surfeit of leading roles that suited his unconventional looks, unusual speaking cadence, and eccentric intensity on offer (aside from the flop ''Film/{{Vibes}}'', and only because Creator/DanAykroyd quit)[[note]]Geena Davis, his co-star in ''The Fly'' and two other films (and for a few years his wife), got a bigger push from it -- see Examples That Didn't Hold Up[[/note]] and he ended up working primarily in independent or European productions. Then came 1993 and a scene-stealing supporting turn in ''Film/JurassicPark''. Overnight he became '''the''' go-to performer for MotorMouth and/or TallDarkAndSnarky turns. But while there was a little hype put behind him, he remained a supporting player -- sometimes to actors getting or just past a full Hype Machine push (Creator/HughGrant in ''Film/NineMonths'', Creator/WillSmith in ''Film/IndependenceDay'', Creator/EddieMurphy in ''Holy Man''...) -- with but two exceptions, ''Literature/{{Hideaway}}'' and ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. He also became easy to mock, having come to define the GibberingGenius trope. At the TurnOfTheMillennium he was working consistently and frequently but rarely as a lead, the most high-profile exceptions being two TV shows (''Series/{{Raines}}'', which was tossed away by the network, and the later seasons of ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'', in which he was stuck in the shadow of original/alternate lead Creator/VincentDOnofrio).\\

But all those roles plus his memorable talk show appearances (he's a favorite of Creator/ConanOBrien, Creator/StephenColbert, ''and'' Creator/JamesCorden) endeared him to late Generation X-ers and millennials. In TheNewTens he became an affectionate source of {{Memetic Mutation}}s, and he [[AdamWesting cheerfully played up and into his natural eccentricity]] to please fans. Combined with creatives who'd grown up with his films wanting to work with him (in particular Creator/TaikaWaititi, who cast him as the Grandmaster in ''Film/ThorRagnarok''), by the end of the decade he had his own Creator/DisneyPlus show (''Series/TheWorldAccordingToJeffGoldblum'') and fame that many who were chewed up and spat out by the Hype Machine would envy.
* Creator/KeanuReeves first made a splash with the ''Film/BillAndTed'' stoner comedy films. Soon after he got a big push with ''Film/PointBreak1991'' and ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', and 1994's ''Film/{{Speed}}'' cemented him as an A-List star. While he maintained steady work throughout the rest of the '90s, people were beginning to notice his [[DullSurprise limited acting range]] and his star power began to fade. Then came 1999 and the release of ''Film/TheMatrix'', and Reeves became a bigger star than ever before, only for that to fade as quickly as it came: the highly-anticipated ''Matrix'' sequels left a bad taste in both audience and critics' mouths, leaving the franchise functionally dead. Coupled with, again, criticism of Reeves' acting range (or lack thereof) the rest of his films in the '00s were flops or underperformers, reaching a low point with the TroubledProduction ''Film/FortySevenRonin'' in 2013. And ''then'' he made a huge comeback with the ''Franchise/JohnWick'' films, making him [[CareerResurrection a household name again]] in the age of social media (helped along by, as in Jeff Goldblum's case, longstanding affection for his best work). 2019 was humorously dubbed the year of the "Keanussance" between the third ''John Wick'' film and ''Film/AlwaysBeMyMaybe'', ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' and ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'', and he even has new ''Bill and Ted'' and ''Matrix'' films in the works.

* Creator/EddieMurphy was the hottest comedian around back in TheEighties. He started out on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' during one of its toughest {{Dork Age}}s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''Film/FortyEightHours'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', and ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''Film/TheGoldenChild'', just in terms of quality), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[SoBadItsGood a couple of hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''Film/HarlemNights'', in which he directed and starred with his comic idols Creator/RichardPryor and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in TheNineties, with ''Film/Another48Hours'', ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'', ''Film/Boomerang1992'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopIII'', and ''Film/VampireInBrooklyn'' all bombing (though ''Boomerang'' has been VindicatedByHistory). He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by Creator/DavidSpade on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''really'' [[BerserkButton made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'', and ''Film/{{Metro}}'', ''Film/DrDolittle'', ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'', ''Film/{{Life|1999}}'', and ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}'' were all successful to varying extents. But in the 2000s, Murphy did way too many [[RatedGForGangsta family-friendly films]] that, with the exception of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' series, were poorly received. Films like ''Film/DaddyDayCare'', ''Film/TheHauntedMansion'', ''Film/MeetDave'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, and 2002's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'' was [[BoxOfficeBomb one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. He received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''Film/TowerHeist'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''Film/AThousandWords'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned and had the "privilege" of being his first film to go [[DirectToVideo Direct-to-DVD]] in Britain. After that, he had only had an appearance at the SNL 40th anniversary special and one film, ''Film/MrChurch'', a more dramatic role that was critically panned and a box office failure. Things may be coming around though -- in 2019 he starred in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', which was critically acclaimed, especially for his performance, and followed that up with a triumphant guest hosting gig on ''Saturday Night Live'''s ChristmasEpisode. He's even planning a return to stand-up.

* Creator/GinniferGoodwin received something of a Kate Hudson-esque push, getting numerous romantic comedy roles and magazine covers. But she didn't do a film after ''Film/SomethingBorrowed'' until 2016's ''{{Disney/Zootopia}}'' (a five year gap). She was however chosen as the headliner of ABC's ''Series/OnceUponATime'' which has been a consistent hit with viewers. She appears to be slowing down after giving birth, and has had consistently less screen time in recent years, but remains part of the main cast at least.

* Creator/EddieMurphy was the hottest comedian around back in TheEighties. He started out on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' during one of its toughest {{Dork Age}}s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''Film/FortyEightHours'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', and ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''Film/TheGoldenChild''), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[SoBadItsGood a couple of hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''Film/HarlemNights'', in which he directed and starred with his comic idols Creator/RichardPryor and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in TheNineties, with ''Film/Another48Hours'', ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'', ''Film/Boomerang1992'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopIII'', and ''Film/VampireInBrooklyn'' all bombing (though ''Boomerang'' has been VindicatedByHistory). He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by Creator/DavidSpade on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''really'' [[BerserkButton made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'', and other films like ''Film/{{Metro}}'', ''Film/DrDolittle'', ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'', ''Film/{{Life|1999}}'', and ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}''. But in the 2000s, Murphy slipped again as he made more [[RatedGForGangsta family-friendly films]], which, with the exception of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' series, were poorly received. Films like ''Film/DaddyDayCare'', ''Film/TheHauntedMansion'', ''Film/MeetDave'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, and 2002's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'' was [[BoxOfficeBomb one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. He received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''Film/TowerHeist'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''Film/AThousandWords'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned (and had the "privilege" of being his first film to go [[DirectToVideo Direct-to-DVD]] in Britain). After that, he had only had an appearance at the SNL 40th anniversary special and one film, ''Film/MrChurch'', a more dramatic role that was critically panned and a box office failure. Things may be coming around though -- in 2019 he starred in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', which was critically-acclaimed, especially for his performance, and followed that up with a triumphant guest hosting gig on ''Saturday Night Live'''s ChristmasEpisode. He's also planning a return to stand-up.
* Similar to Eddie Murphy, Creator/JimCarrey was ''the'' big comedian of the 1990s. Carrey started off playing supporting or minor roles in movies in TheEighties, but after the back-to-back successes of ''Film/AceVentura'', ''Film/TheMask'', and ''Film/DumbAndDumber'' in 1994, his star shot up like a rocket. Unfortunately for him, while his comedic roles brought a major bank, it made him severely {{typecast|ing}} as an actor. [[TomHanksSyndrome Attempts at more dramatic fare]], such as ''Film/TheTrumanShow'', ''Film/ManOnTheMoon'', ''Film/TheMajestic'', and ''Film/EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind'', while earning him praise from critics, under-performed if not flopped at the box office[[note]]''Film/TheTrumanShow'' was the exception due to [[NeverTrustATrailer the trailer downplaying the drama]].[[/note]] compared to his broad comedies. Unlike most however, Carrey's status is more self-imposed, making a conscious decision to [[TomHanksSyndrome pursue more serious works]] rather than continue with the comedies that made him incredibly popular. After making ''Film/AceVenturaWhenNatureCalls'', he repeatedly refused to star in sequels to his comedic works (except for ''Film/DumbAndDumberTo''), which was likely a wise choice given the critical receptions those films wound up getting.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims. This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He's never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. With the #[=MeToo=] movement increasing scrutiny of him due to his domestic violence history, the struggles of the ''Fantastic Beasts'' films, and his reputation for being financially irresponsible and difficult to work with, his career may well end with that of the series. Then it was later revealed that Heard had abused him, leading to him regaining public sympathy. Time will tell if he can make another comeback.

* Creator/JeffGoldblum didn't ''quite'' made it to the A-list during his "prime" years of TheEighties and TheNineties. After a near-decade toiling away in minor, supporting, and ensemble roles, plus one unsuccessful (if cultishly-loved) TV vehicle in ''Tenspeed and Brown Shoe'', 1983's hit dramedy ''Film/TheBigChill'' gave him a major leg up. While ''Film/TheFly1986'' proved a bravura StarMakingRole, '80s Hollywood didn't have a surfeit of leading roles that suited his unconventional looks, unusual speaking cadence, and eccentric intensity on offer (aside from the flop ''Film/{{Vibes}}'', and only because Creator/DanAykroyd quit)[[note]]Geena Davis, his co-star in ''The Fly'' and two other films (and for a few years his wife), got a much bigger push from it -- see the folder for Examples That Didn't Hold Up above[[/note]] and he ended up working primarily in independent or European productions. Then came 1993 and a scene-stealing supporting turn in ''Film/JurassicPark''. Overnight he became '''the''' go-to performer for MotorMouth and/or TallDarkAndSnarky turns. But while there was a little hype put behind him, he remained a supporting player -- sometimes to actors getting or just past a full Hype Machine push (Creator/HughGrant in ''Film/NineMonths'', Creator/WillSmith in ''Film/IndependenceDay'', Creator/EddieMurphy in ''Holy Man''...) -- with but two exceptions, ''Literature/{{Hideaway}}'' and ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. He became an easy performer to spoof and mock, having come to define the GibberingGenius trope. At the TurnOfTheMillennium he was working consistently and frequently but rarely as a lead, the most high-profile exceptions two TV shows (''Series/{{Raines}}'', which was tossed away by the network, and the later seasons of ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'', in which he was stuck in the shadow of original/alternate lead Creator/VincentDOnofrio).\\

But all those roles, combined with talk show appearances that made him a favorite of Creator/ConanOBrien, Creator/StephenColbert, and others, endeared him to late Generation X-ers and millennials. In TheNewTens he became an affectionate subject of {{Memetic Mutation}}s, and he [[AdamWesting cheerfully played up and into his natural eccentricity]] to please fans. Combined with creatives who'd grown up with his films wanting to work with him (in particular Creator/TaikaWaititi, who cast him as the Grandmaster in ''Film/ThorRagnarok''), by the end of the decade he was enjoying fame that many who were chewed up and spat out by the Hype Machine would envy.
* Creator/KeanuReeves first made a splash with the ''Film/BillAndTed'' stoner comedy films. Soon after he got a big push with ''Film/PointBreak1991'' and ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', and 1994's ''Film/{{Speed}}'' cemented him as an A-List star. While he maintained steady work throughout the rest of the '90s, people were beginning to notice his [[DullSurprise limited acting range]] and his star power began to fade. Then came 1999 and the release of ''Film/TheMatrix'', and Reeves became a bigger star than ever before, only for that to fade as quickly as it came: the highly-anticipated ''Matrix'' sequels left a bad taste in both audience and critics' mouths, leaving the franchise functionally dead. Coupled with, again, criticism of Reeves' acting range (or lack thereof) the rest of his films in the '00s were flops or underperformers, reaching a low point with the TroubledProduction ''Film/FortySevenRonin'' in 2013. And ''then'' he made a huge comeback with the ''Franchise/JohnWick'' films, making him [[CareerResurrection a household name again]] in the age of social media (helped along by, as in Jeff Goldblum's case, longstanding affection for his best work). 2019 was humorously dubbed the year of the "Keanussance" between the third ''John Wick'' film and ''Film/AlwaysBeMyMaybe'', ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' and ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077''.

However, with the live-action ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'' film being critically mauled while financially successful, HypeBacklash kicked in. Audiences grew tired of Depp's LargeHam tendencies in his roles, and the drug and alcohol abuse that plagued his career since the mid-to-late '80s became an issue again. In 2011, while ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' and the fourth ''Pirates'' movie were hits, ''Film/TheRumDiary'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'', the latter film released the following year, tanked. Then came ''Film/TheLoneRanger2013'', in which he -- despite being Caucasian -- played the title role's sidekick Tonto to much controversy (especially as he played him as a Jack Sparrow-style buffoon). The film received poor reviews and became Disney's biggest BoxOfficeBomb, leading to a studio write-down of $190 million ''and'' the end of their long-time relationship with producer Creator/JerryBruckheimer. Depp's star power faded overnight, with ''Film/{{Transcendence}}'' and ''Film/{{Mortdecai}}'' total flops. Although he did receive critical praise for ''Film/BlackMass'', that was a brief respite. In 2016 came a high-profile domestic violence case against him from his former wife, Creator/AmberHeard, who published shocking pictures of bruises on her face, allegedly from him, to back up her claims. This, combined with audience disinterest in ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', led to ''its'' box office failure. He's never recovered from this scandal; his days as a leading man came to a halt when ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the lowest-grossing film of the franchise, resulting in Disney publicly distancing themselves from him ''and'' Warner Bros. downplaying his role in the marketing campaign for ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''. With the #[=MeToo=] movement increasing scrutiny of him due to his domestic violence history, the struggles of the ''Fantastic Beasts'' films, and his reputation for being financially irresponsible and difficult to work with, his career may well end with that of the series.

* Creator/KeanuReeves first made a splash with the ''Film/BillAndTed'' stoner comedy films. Soon after he got a big push with ''Film/PointBreak1991'' and ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', and 1994's ''Film/{{Speed}}'' cemented him as an A-List star. While he maintained steady work throughout the rest of the '90s, people were beginning to notice his [[DullSurprise limited acting range]] and his star power began to fade. Then came 1999 and the release of ''Film/TheMatrix'', and Reeves became a bigger star than ever before, only for that to fade as quickly as it came: the highly-anticipated ''Matrix'' sequels left a bad taste in both audience and critics' mouths, leaving the franchise functionally dead. Coupled with, again, criticism of Reeves' acting range (or lack thereof) the rest of his films in the '00s were flops or underperformers, reaching a low point with the TroubledProduction ''Film/FortySevenRonin'' in 2013. And ''then'' he made a huge comeback with the ''Film/JohnWick'' films, making him [[CareerResurrection a household name again]] in the age of social media (helped along by, as in Jeff Goldblum's case, longstanding affection for his best work). 2019 was humorously dubbed the year of the "Keanussance" between the third ''John Wick'' film and ''Film/AlwaysBeMyMaybe'', ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' and ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077''.

Despite all of that, Hollywood was still willing to work with him, but the general public's perception of him diminished. ''Film/EdgeOfDarkness'' and ''Film/TheBeaver'' flopped at the box office, and another film, ''Film/GetTheGringo'' didn't even get a theatrical release. Warner Bros. gave the greenlight to a project Gibson planned to direct about the Maccabees (which was seen by many as an attempt by Gibson to atone for his anti-Semitic past); however that project flamed out in pre-production due to CreativeDifferences, as well as personal differences between Gibson and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (the former still hated Jews and the latter was a staunch crusader against anti-Semitism, which became the subject of Eszterhas' autobiography ''Hotter Than Mel''.\\\
\\\
For many, he's now a despised joke punchline and virtually persona non grata, [[OvershadowedByControversy to the point where even those who think he's a good actor will stop well short of defending his views and behavior]]. Even his older hits such as the ''Film/MadMax'' and ''Film/LethalWeapon'' series have fallen from the pop culture landscape even as other '80s franchises were rediscovered and put through the NostalgiaFilter. As [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160110034820/http://moviebob.blogspot.com/2015/05/whos-real-speed-bump-on-fury-road.html this article]] by Creator/BobChipman noted, the ads for ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' went out of their way to downplay any association with Gibson (who had played the title character in the original films), lest he serve as box-office poison merely through association with the series. As for Gibson himself, it's been noted that post-meltdown he's shown a willingness to take on villain roles, something he had never done before, perhaps implying he's [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity embraced the public perception of himself]]. He did have a [[CareerResurrection major comeback]] with ''Film/HacksawRidge'', which he directed but didn't star in, and ''[[Film/DaddysHome Daddy's Home 2]]'' was an onscreen success story, so he's not quite finished yet. At the same time, a good deal of ink has been spilled by critics wondering ''why'' creatives and audiences support someone who hasn't repented of/atoned for his past actions.

Despite all of that, Hollywood was still willing to work with him, but the general public's perception of him diminished. ''Film/EdgeOfDarkness'' and ''Film/TheBeaver'' flopped at the box office, and another film, ''Film/GetTheGringo'' didn't even get a theatrical release. Warner Bros. gave the greenlight to a project Gibson planned to direct about the Maccabees (which was seen by many as an attempt by Gibson to atone for his anti-Semitic past); however that project flamed out in pre-production due to CreativeDifferences, as well as personal differences between Gibson and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (the former still hated Jews and the latter was a staunch crusader against anti-Semitism, which became the subject of Eszterhas' autobiography ''Hotter Than Mel''.\\
\\

However, by the early 2010's, audiences began to lose interest in Sandler's crass humor, and his films began to underperform. ''Film/JackAndJill'' went on to be regarded as one of the worst films ever produced, and ''Film/ThatsMyBoy'' became Sandler's first biggest flop since ''Eight Crazy Nights''. Additionally, studio executives began to grow irritated with how terrible his movies were becoming to the public eye, and his [[MeanCharacterNiceActor usual friendliness with everyone he works with]] ended up going downhill one day when Sandler [[IdiotBall marched into Sony's studio offices demanding that $200 million be set aside]] for a potential ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'' movie, a move that ended up sending the film into DevelopmentHell. He did one final attempt to save his floundering career with ''Film/{{Pixels}}'', but it instead became one of the most hated films of 2015 and bombed spectacularly, ensuring that audiences were no longer attracted to Sandler's comedy as they were a decade ago. Following this flop, Sandler began to divest himself heavily from Sony and has almost completely disappeared from the silver screen aside from voice parts in the ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' films, and has been relegated to doing films for Creator/{{Netflix}}. Time will tell if his critically acclaimed perfomance in Uncut Gems will get him out of this rut.

* Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger started out as a low-budget actor with forgettable films like ''Hercules in New York'' in his name, but soon found luck when a little-known director named Creator/JamesCameron tapped him to play the title role in ''Film/TheTerminator''. Although the movie received initially mixed reviews, it soon became such a massive pop culture behemoth that its [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay sequel]] in 1991 grossed ''seven times'' its predecessor. He soon scored more action roles throughout the 1980's and 1990's, with major box-office hits like ''Film/{{Predator}}'', ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' and ''Film/TrueLies'' becoming quintessential action flicks of the era. Unfortunately, his stint as Mr. Freeze in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' didn't fare as well, and it ended up [[{{Pun}} freezing]] his star power for the rest of the 90's. He made one final stint as T-800 in ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' before deciding to take a break from acting and serve as the Governor of California for eight straight years before returning to film. His recent films though haven't been particularly successful with even his return to the ''Terminator'' series, ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', proving to be a commercial disappointment. He did recently host a celebrity season of ''Series/TheApprentice'' in 2017 but left after one season. Now, with Cameron back in the ''Terminator'' fold, Schwarzenegger will return as T-800 once again in a new ''Terminator'' film that will conclude the franchise for good. Unfortunetly, Terminator: Dark Fate was another critical and commercial dissapointment, leaving Arnie's career in a rut once more.

* Following her [[StarMakingRole Star-Making Role]] in ''Film/WhenHarryMetSally'', Creator/MegRyan starred in a string of successful romantic comedies and dramas over the course of the 1990s (most notably her three films with Creator/TomHanks, with ''Film/SleeplessInSeattle'' and ''Film/YouveGotMail'' both grossing over $100 million at the domestic box office). She very quickly became "America's Sweetheart" as a result. However, Ryan's reported affair with her ''Proof of Life'' co-star Creator/RussellCrowe (while Ryan was still married to, albeit separated from Creator/DennisQuaid) did serious harm to Ryan's [[ContractualPurity "good girl"]] image. She gained even more negative publicity when she appear on the UK talk show ''Parkinson'' while promoting the erotic thriller (and very much a PlayingAgainstType role) ''Film/InTheCut''. The interview was awkward and uncomfortable, with host Michael Parkinson later calling her "terrible" while Ryan shot back saying she felt like he was a "disapproving father" towards her with his tone. Not helping were the ill-advised cosmetic procedures, which further diminished her [[GirlNextDoor "girl next door"]] appeal. Following the 2004 boxing drama ''Against the Ropes'' (which [[BoxOfficeBomb flopped at the box office]] and was panned by critics for being a stale ''Film/{{Rocky}}'' clone), Ryan wouldn't appear in another movie for three years. She would resurface in the independent movie ''In the Land of Women'' and [[DirectToVideo direct-to-DVD movies]] like ''The Deal'' and ''Mom's New Boyfriend.'' That was already a massive slide from where she'd been previously, but quite possibly the [[StarDerailingRole biggest nail in her coffin]] was her next major theatrically released film, 2008's ''The Women''. Response from critics was overwhelmingly negative, with the film garnering a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Ryan herself would also be nominated for a [[UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward Worst Actress Razzie]] (alongside co-stars Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Debra Messing).\\

However, by the early 2010's, audiences began to lose interest in Sandler's crass humor, and his films began to underperform. ''Film/JackAndJill'' went on to be regarded as one of the worst films ever produced, and ''Film/ThatsMyBoy'' became Sandler's first biggest flop since ''Eight Crazy Nights''. Additionally, studio executives began to grow irritated with how terrible his movies were becoming to the public eye, and his [[MeanCharacterNiceActor usual friendliness with everyone he works with]] ended up going downhill one day when Sandler [[IdiotBall marched into Sony's studio offices demanding that $200 million be set aside]] for a potential ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'' movie, a move that ended up sending the film into DevelopmentHell. He did one final attempt to save his floundering career with ''Film/{{Pixels}}'', but it instead became one of the most hated films of 2015 and bombed spectacularly, ensuring that audiences were no longer attracted to Sandler's comedy as they were a decade ago. Following this flop, Sandler began to divest himself heavily from Sony and has almost completely disappeared from the silver screen aside from voice parts in the ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' films, and has been relegated to doing films for Creator/{{Netflix}}.

* Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger started out as a low-budget actor with forgettable films like ''Hercules in New York'' in his name, but soon found luck when a little-known director named Creator/JamesCameron tapped him to play the title role in ''Film/TheTerminator''. Although the movie received initially mixed reviews, it soon became such a massive pop culture behemoth that its [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay sequel]] in 1991 grossed ''seven times'' its predecessor. He soon scored more action roles throughout the 1980's and 1990's, with major box-office hits like ''Film/{{Predator}}'', ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' and ''Film/TrueLies'' becoming quintessential action flicks of the era. Unfortunately, his stint as Mr. Freeze in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' didn't fare as well, and it ended up [[{{Pun}} freezing]] his star power for the rest of the 90's. He made one final stint as T-800 in ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' before deciding to take a break from acting and serve as the Governor of California for eight straight years before returning to film. His recent films though haven't been particularly successful with even his return to the ''Terminator'' series, ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', proving to be a commercial disappointment. He did recently host a celebrity season of ''Series/TheApprentice'' in 2017 but left after one season. Now, with Cameron back in the ''Terminator'' fold, Schwarzenegger will return as T-800 once again in a new ''Terminator'' film that will conclude the franchise for good. Time will tell if that helps Schwarzenegger get back on his feet.

* Creator/EddieMurphy was the hottest comedian around back in TheEighties. He started out on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' during one of its toughest {{Dork Age}}s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''Film/FortyEightHours'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', and ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''Film/TheGoldenChild''), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[SoBadItsGood a couple of hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''Film/HarlemNights'', in which he directed and starred with his comic idols Creator/RichardPryor and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in TheNineties, with ''Film/Another48Hours'', ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'', ''Film/Boomerang1992'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopIII'', and ''Film/VampireInBrooklyn'' all bombing (though ''Boomerang'' has been VindicatedByHistory). He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by Creator/DavidSpade on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''really'' [[BerserkButton made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'', and other films like ''Film/{{Metro}}'', ''Film/DrDolittle'', ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'', ''Film/{{Life|1999}}'', and ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}''. But in the 2000s, Murphy slipped again as he made more [[RatedGForGangsta family-friendly films]], which, with the exception of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' series, were poorly received. Films like ''Film/DaddyDayCare'', ''Film/TheHauntedMansion'', ''Film/MeetDave'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, and 2002's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'' was [[BoxOfficeBomb one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. He received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''Film/TowerHeist'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''Film/AThousandWords'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned (and had the "privilege" of being his first film to go [[DirectToVideo Direct-to-DVD]] in Britain). After that, he had only had an appearance at the SNL 40th anniversary special and one film called ''Film/MrChurch'', which, while a more dramatic role for Murphy, was still critical panned and was a box office failure. In 2019, he starred in ''Film/DolemiteIsMyName'', which was critically-acclaimed, especially for Murphy's performance, so time will tell.

* Creator/EddieMurphy was the hottest comedian around back in TheEighties. He started out on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' during one of its toughest {{Dork Age}}s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''Film/FortyEightHours'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'' and ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', and ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''Film/TheGoldenChild''), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[SoBadItsGood a couple of hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''Film/HarlemNights'', in which he directed and starred with his comic idols Creator/RichardPryor and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in TheNineties, with ''Film/Another48Hours'', ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'', ''Film/Boomerang1992'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopIII'', and ''Film/VampireInBrooklyn'' all bombing (though ''Boomerang'' has been VindicatedByHistory). He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by Creator/DavidSpade on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''really'' [[BerserkButton made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'', and other films like ''Film/{{Metro}}'', ''Film/DrDolittle'', ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'', ''Film/{{Life|1999}}'', and ''Film/{{Bowfinger}}''. But in the 2000s, Murphy slipped again as he made more [[RatedGForGangsta family-friendly films]], which, with the exception of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' series, were poorly received. Films like ''Film/DaddyDayCare'', ''Film/TheHauntedMansion'', ''Film/MeetDave'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, and 2002's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash'' was [[BoxOfficeBomb one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. He received an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''Film/{{Norbit}}'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''Film/TowerHeist'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''Film/AThousandWords'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned (and had the "privilege" of being his first film to go [[DirectToVideo Direct-to-DVD]] in Britain). Since then, he has only had an appearence at the SNL 40th anniversary special and one film called ''Film/MrChurch'', which, while a more dramatic role for Murphy, was still critical panned and was a box office failure.