History HollywoodHypeMachine / TooEarlyToCall

* Creator/TessaThompson began amassing praise with well-received roles in ''{{Film/Creed}}'' and ''Series/DearWhitePeople''. This led to her getting a prominent role in ''{{Series/Westworld}}'', leading to international fame upon being cast as Valkyrie in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. She was noted as a standout of the cast, with her star power strong enough to make her comfortable suggesting an all-female team-up film for the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. Other successes Thompson starred in outside the MCU are ''Film/{{Selma}}'', ''Film/Annihilation2018'', ''Film/SorryToBotherYou'', ''Film/LittleWoods'', and ''Literature/{{Passing}}''.

* The fictional character Comicbook/{{Batwoman}}. When the character was announced as appearing in the weekly comic series ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' in 2007 there was a massive media response, even branching into non-comic related formats. The character was a [[ContinuityReboot recreation of the classic character from the 1950s]], but was written as a lesbian involved with one of the primary characters for the series. Most of the media focus was on her sexuality, and she became regarded as the highest profile gay superhero in Franchise/TheDCU. Creator/DanDiDio, Chief Editor of Creator/DCComics, has said that even he was completely unprepared for the massive news fixation on the character, and did not know how to properly respond. Though [[UrbanLegends unconfirmed]], rumors circulate that the ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2000}}'' series being published at the time of her introduction was canceled in order to make room for her character. However, the amount of coverage on the character was completely out of proportion to her role in the series, which was a supporting role spread out over a year, and she spent the following two years as a minor and unused character, only appearing in guest spots in other series. However, in 2009 she became the [[CareerResurrection headline character]] in ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' and received a well-received title-series by Creator/GregRucka that effectively delved into her backstory. 2019 even had a further mainstream push with [[Series/Batwoma2019 her own TV show]], albeit only the first season will star the character of Kate Kane, with the next putting a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute.

* The fictional character Comicbook/{{Batwoman}}. When the character was announced as appearing in the weekly comic series ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' in 2007 there was a massive media response, even branching into non-comic related formats. The character was a [[ContinuityReboot recreation of the classic character from the 1950s]], but was written as a lesbian involved with one of the primary characters for the series. Most of the media focus was on her sexuality, and she became regarded as the highest profile gay superhero in Franchise/TheDCU. Creator/DanDiDio, Chief Editor of Creator/DCComics, has said that even he was completely unprepared for the massive news fixation on the character, and did not know how to properly respond. Though [[UrbanLegends unconfirmed]], rumors circulate that the ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2000}}'' series being published at the time of her introduction was canceled in order to make room for her character. However, the amount of coverage on the character was completely out of proportion to her role in the series, which was a supporting role spread out over a year, and she spent the following two years as a minor and unused character, only appearing in guest spots in other series. However, in 2009 she became the [[CareerResurrection headline character]] in ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' and received a well-received title-series by Creator/GregRucka that effectively delved into her backstory. 2019 even had a further mainstream push with [[Series/{{Batwoman}} her own TV show]], albeit only the first season will star the character of Kate Kane, with the next putting a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute.

* Creator/EmiliaClarke has been slowly rising to the top since she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned her many UsefulNotes/EmmyAward nominations. But then, she landed the role of Sarah Connor in ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', which received negative critical reviews, most of which panned her performance. Although she quickly recovered with her starring role in ''Film/MeBeforeYou'', her film career was hampered by the commercial failure of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' spin-off ''Film/{{Solo}}''. With the poorly-received finale of ''Game of Thrones'' in 2019 – which her character was at the crux of – only time will tell if she will stay on top or be remembered as a OneHitWonder. Since that debacle, she has moved from Westeros to [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marvel]], making her debut in the upcoming series ''Series/SecretInvasion''.

* Creator/TessaThompson began amassing praise with well-received roles in ''{{Film/Creed}}'' and ''Series/DearWhitePeople''. This led to her getting a prominent role in ''{{Series/Westworld}}'', leading to international fame upon being cast as Valkyrie in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. She was noted as a standout of the cast, with her star power strong enough to make her comfortable suggesting an all-female team-up film for the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. Other successes Thompson starred in outside the MCU are ''Film/{{Selma}}'', ''Film/{{Annihilation}}'', ''Film/SorryToBotherYou'', ''Film/LittleWoods'', and ''Literature/{{Passing}}''.

* Creator/ColinFarrell, starting with ''Film/HartsWar'', had a big push in the early to mid-00's, starring in or having large supporting roles in blockbusters like ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/Daredevil2003'', ''Film/SWAT2003'', ''Film/TheNewWorld2005'' and most infamously, Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' and Creator/MichaelMann's ''Film/MiamiVice''. With the exception of ''Minority Report'', all of these films flopped or under-performed, and Colin went under the radar for a few years, starring in smaller budget/indie films. While he's had some small hits like ''Film/InBruges'' and ''Film/FrightNight2011'', he's still made flops like ''Film/TotalRecall2012'', and regardless his career is nowhere near the A-List status it once was. Then, he's one of the main cast in the second season of ''Series/TrueDetective'' as one of the main leads. He was praised for his performance on the show if it wasn't bogged by the convoluted plot, making the second season a ToughActToFollow. In the mid-2010's he appeared in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', which did well financially, and in two films by Creator/YorgosLanthimos, ''Film/TheLobster'' and ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'', which were critically hailed (with ''The Lobster'' even winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival). He's found more success in a supporting capacity nowadays, with as many highs (''Film/{{Widows}}'', ''Film/TheGentlemen'') as lows (''Film/{{Dumbo|2019}}'', ''Film/ArtemisFowl''). He was later cast as the Penguin in ''Film/TheBatman2022'' which turned out to be a monster hit by COVID-19 era standards. He also starred in ''Film/TheBansheesOfInisherin'' where not only he earned a Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical but also an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

* Creator/BarryKeoghan became a household name in his home country of Ireland with a starring role in ''Series/LoveHate'' and was given the opportunity to star in high profile films such as ''{{Film/Dunkirk}}'', ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'' and ''Film/{{Eternals}}'', though not as a lead yet. Time will tell if he can live up to the hype.

* Creator/ViolaDavis has had a string of very well-received roles over the past few years starting with the acclaimed ''Doubt''. However, she hasn't done anything really big since then. This doesn't speak to lack of talent, but more about what kind of roles Hollywood offers black actresses. Davis' later films included small supporting parts in ''Film/EndersGame'', ''Film/BeautifulCreatures'', and ''Film/{{Prisoners}}''; something she's not very happy about, calling these roles "mammy-ish" and "down-trodden". For similar reasons, she also doesn't like ''Film/TheHelp'' that much despite it being UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated, criticizing how the black maids were reduced to [[SupportingProtagonist Supporting Protagonists]] to the white characters (which already attracted criticisms of a "white savior" narrative) and thus didn't give the audience enough of an idea about how her character and the other maids dealt with racism in the Jim Crow South. But Davis landed her own series with ''Series/HowToGetAwayWithMurder'' on ABC which got renewed for a fourth season, and resulted in her winning an UsefulNotes/EmmyAward for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She later won a well-deserved Oscar for her performance in the 2016 film adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Fences}}''[[note]]a role for which she had previously won a Tony in 2010[[/note]], which showed that her career is going steady so far. In addition to building critical respect with serious roles, she also branched out into franchise work when she joined the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse as Amanda Waller. She portrayed Waller in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' (despite being negatively reviewed, her performance was unanimously deemed one of the film's best elements) and its sequel ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' (which was an AcclaimedFlop due to its release amidst the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, being widely considered an EvenBetterSequel despite making less money than the first).

* Creator/EmmaRoberts was heavily hyped as being the next big thing due to being the niece of Creator/JuliaRoberts and roles in a few high-profile movies. After an adaptation of ''Literature/NancyDrew'' in 2007 (among other flops like ''Film/WildChild'' and ''Film/FourThreeTwoOne'', which both went Direct-to-DVD in North America), it looked that she was never going to break out. Despite the obvious fact that no-one was biting, Hollywood continued to push her, which led to lackluster performances of ''Film/{{Scream 4}}'' and ''The Art Of Getting By''. Emma's still around, but it will take a major hit film to turn things around for her. On the brighter side, hooking up with Creator/RyanMurphy helped - she got positive reviews for her role on ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven'', returned for ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow'' and ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCult'', and starred on ''Series/ScreamQueens2015''.

* Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard got a lot of attention for ''Series/TrueBlood'' and for dating former starlets, but what his fans perceive as famewhoring and paparazzi baiting seems to be turning them off. He's on the fence until future efforts succeed in replenishing the ranks. Solid and HoYay-riffic work on ''Series/GenerationKill'' seems to be doing the trick. He has won acclaim for his turn in ''Series/BigLittleLies'', while also getting the lead roles in ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' and ''Film/TheNorthman''.
* Creator/JakeGyllenhaal and Creator/MaggieGyllenhaal. Hollywood seems entranced by the both of them, despite their continued failure to gain traction with audiences. The action-adventure film led by Jake, ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'', performed under expectations, and even Maggie's presence in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' hasn't been enough to bolster her career, with most of the praise she received only being in comparison to Creator/KatieHolmes, the woman she replaced. Her unconventional facial appearance (big jowls and looking much older than the current crop of young starlets) is part of it as well. But the suits seem undeterred, so who knows? Chances have luckily turned for the better in recent years, when Jake appeared as [[Characters/MCUMysterio Mysterio]] in the $1B-dollar grossing ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' (which became his highest-grossing film), though he was far from the main draw. Maggie, meanwhile, made her directorial debut with ''Film/TheLostDaughter'', which premiered in Venice 2021 to widespread critical praise.
* The fictional character Comicbook/{{Batwoman}}. When the character was announced as appearing in the weekly comic series ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' in 2007 there was a massive media response, even branching into non-comic related formats. The character was a [[ContinuityReboot recreation of the classic character from the 1950's]], but was written as a lesbian involved with one of the primary characters for the series. Most of the media focus was on her sexuality, and she became regarded as the highest profile gay superhero in Franchise/TheDCU. Creator/DanDiDio, Chief Editor of Creator/DCComics, has said that even he was completely unprepared for the massive news fixation on the character, and did not know how to properly respond. Though [[UrbanLegends unconfirmed]], rumors circulate that the ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2000}}'' series being published at the time of her introduction was canceled in order to make room for her character. However, the amount of coverage on the character was completely out of proportion to her role in the series, which was a supporting role spread out over a year, and she spent the following two years as a minor and unused character, only appearing in guest spots in other series. However, in 2009 she became the [[CareerResurrection headline character]] in ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' and received a well-received title-series by Creator/GregRucka that effectively delved into her backstory. 2019 even had a further mainstream push with [[Series/{{Batwoman}} her own TV show]], albeit only the first season will star the character of Kate Kane, with the next putting a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute.
* Music/JustinBieber rode an immense wave of success in the early years of his career (despite releasing the same album three times [[note]]a two-part album released in halves four months apart, a compilation of the aforementioned two-parter, and an acoustic re-release with mostly identical content, but focused on vocals and instrumentals, rather than synthetic production[[/note]] and a Christmas album), with his third album (and second album of all original music) going platinum in several countries. He was a major sensation to pre-teen girls, but like most people with that target fanbase, their careers are prone to flaming out quickly. The biggest threat to Bieber's career as a mature performer was initially people getting completely sick of him, as he saturated every form of media out there, even appearing on shows and in magazines that have nothing to do with his target demographic of young children and teens. HypeBacklash was thus a major concern.
** The early 10's were not so kind to him -- in 2012, [[Music/OneDirection a certain British boy band]] started to cannibalize his fanbase. He ''did'' manage another successful album (''Believe'', considered to have [[GrowingTheBeard grown the beard]]) and another successful world tour... but [[http://www.thewrap.com/crummy-christmas-keanu-reeves-sly-stallone-robert-de-niro-justin-bieber/ his next concert film flopped]] and his subsequent album was withdrawn from iTunes. He soon got an arrest and a DUI under his belt, adding to the likeliness that he would burn out.
** The tables finally turned in 2015. After spending the first half of 2015 on an apology tour and doing his best to undo the damage of his 2014 scandals, along with the surprise hit with Music/{{Skrillex}} and Diplo "Where Are Ü Now", his highly-promoted comeback single "What Do You Mean?" debuted at #1 on the Hot 100, something that Music/OneDirection never achieved; his subsequent album ''Purpose'' was released on the same day as 1D's, and went on to trounce it, debuting at number one (subsequently ending 1D's perfect #1 album streak at 4) and having two enormously successful followup singles ("Sorry" and "Love Yourself"), which were the two biggest hits of 2016. Two more tracks featuring Bieber, Major Lazer's "Cold Water" and DJ Snake's "Let Me Love You", were also smash hits in the summer of 2016. While he's still on shaky ground (and 1D arguably still has a bigger "hardcore" following), he gained a larger casual following than he or 1D ever had. It's certainly a positive turning point and the future looks bright.
* The boys of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}.'' Both Creator/JensenAckles and Creator/JaredPadalecki have gotten incredible praise for the show (including helping to raise it above the ScifiGhetto), and for being a couple of members of "Young Hot Hollywood" who can actually act instead of relying on their good looks. However, both of their attempts at film careers after starting ''Supernatural'' (Jensen in ''Film/MyBloodyValentine3D'' and Jared in the ''Film/FridayThe13th2009'' remake) went nowhere. The big test will be when they branch out of the sci-fi/horror genre, and when ''Supernatural'' ends they can be choosier about film roles. After the show ended, Ackles voiced Batman in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheLongHalloween'' and attained a role in the third season of ''Series/TheBoys'' while Padalecki got the title role in the 2021 reboot of ''Series/{{Walker}}''.

* Creator/GemmaArterton began being hyped as the next big UK starlet after a OneSceneWonder role as Strawberry Fields in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' (managing to overshadow even lead female Creator/OlgaKurylenko). However, none of her post 007 roles (''Film/TheDisappearanceOfAliceCreed'', ''ComicBook/TamaraDrewe'', ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'', ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|2010}}'', ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'') have managed to meet the hype. There's still a slight chance that she could pull it off but it's looking very unlikely. She's stated in interviews that she actually prefers indie projects - which is where she finds a lot of her post-Bond work - and that she was surprised to have gotten so many mainstream roles.
* Music/JustinTimberlake has been a very successful singer since his days in Music/{{NSYNC}}, but his movie career has had a lot of ups and downs. His entrance into Hollywood was rough: ''Film/AlphaDog'' had mixed reviews, but his performance was mostly praised. Then ''Film/SouthlandTales'', ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'', and ''Film/TheLoveGuru'' ruined the careers of everyone involved, including him. Nobody cared for ''The Open Road'', but then ''Film/TheSocialNetwork'' gave him a massive career boost. From then on it was bumpy again: voicing [[Film/YogiBear another CGI character]], picking [[Film/InTime the wrong sci-fi thriller]] to star in, and being [[Film/FriendsWithBenefits hit]] or [[Film/BadTeacher miss]] with the rom-com genre. A supporting role in ''Film/InsideLlewynDavis'' may keep him afloat acting-wise in the short term; to work with both Creator/DavidFincher and Creator/TheCoenBrothers illustrate that some big-name directors still have a lot of faith in him.
* Creator/SethRogen has been dancing around this trope for a while. He's been acting since the late nineties but he got his biggest push from ''Film/KnockedUp'' in 2007. Like Michael Cera, he was then on the receiving end of criticism for playing the same character (the vulgar but loveable slacker) too many times in films that weren't successful or were despite his presence. The biggest exception was ''Film/ObserveAndReport'', in which he [[PlayingAgainstType played against type]] as a delusional, sinister mall cop, but it received mixed reviews. He did, however, earn back quite a bit of cred with his surprising dramatic performance in ''Film/FiftyFifty2011'', which have made people view him in a better light; ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd'', which he co-wrote and starred in, was a commercial success, as was his follow-up ''Film/{{Neighbors|2014}}'', its sequel ''Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'', and the R-rated animated film ''WesternAnimation/SausageParty''. He would further expand his dramatic credentials with supporting roles in the Creator/DannyBoyle-directed biopic ''Film/SteveJobs'' and ''Series/PamAndTommy'', with his performance in the latter netting him an Emmy nomination.
* Creator/EmilyBlunt became known outside of the UK in 2006 with her performance in ''Film/TheDevilWearsPrada'' and a Golden Globe win for the drama ''Gideon's Daughter''. After starring in a few indie films, her role as Queen Victoria in ''Film/TheYoungVictoria'' proved that she could handle a leading role and got her her third Golden Globe nomination. While much was expected of her, her career in the years following that was a rollercoaster of critical hits (''Film/TheAdjustmentBureau'', ''Film/SunshineCleaning'', ''Literature/SalmonFishingInTheYemen'') and major misfires (''Film/TheWolfman2010'', ''Film/TheFiveYearEngagement''). She actually had to decline the role of Black Widow in ''Film/IronMan2'' (and the subsequent appearances in films like the box-office juggernaut ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'') because of a scheduling conflict with ''Gulliver's Travels'', which was a box office bomb during the 2010 holiday season. However the year 2014 was very good to her with hits like ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'' and ''Film/IntoTheWoods'' and the repeated commercial success of ''{{Film/Sicario}}'' and ''Literature/TheGirlOnTheTrain'', plus a one-two punch in 2018 with ''Film/AQuietPlace'' and ''Film/MaryPoppinsReturns'' seems to have kept the ball rolling. In 2021, she had another double-whammy with ''Film/AQuietPlacePartII'' and ''Film/JungleCruise'', which were both successful at the box office, and the latter has a sequel in development.
* Guy Henry, better known as [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mhd6/characters/henrik-hanssen Henrik Hanssen]] in ''Series/HolbyCity'' has become critically acclaimed, and has avoided things such as SmallNameBigEgo etc. Unlike Music/JustinBieber, he isn't criticised or the subject of jokes, and is considered attractive by a lot of women - as much as the aforementioned individual.
* Creator/BethBehrs, from ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls'' has also received critical acclaim as well, and time will tell if this lasts or not. However, her GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff status - in the United Kingdom - probably counts for this too.
* Creator/ViolaDavis has had a string of very well-received roles over the past few years starting with the acclaimed ''Doubt''. However, she hasn't done anything really big since then. This doesn't speak to lack of talent, but more about what kind of roles Hollywood offers black actresses. Davis' later films included small supporting parts in ''Film/EndersGame'', ''Film/BeautifulCreatures'', and ''Film/{{Prisoners}}''; something she's not very happy about, calling these roles "mammy-ish" and "down-trodden". For similar reasons, she also doesn't like ''Film/TheHelp'' that much despite it being UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated, criticizing how the black maids were reduced to [[SupportingProtagonist Supporting Protagonists]] to the white characters (which already attracted criticisms of a "white savior" narrative) and thus didn't give the audience enough of an idea about how her character and the other maids dealt with racism in the Jim Crow South. But Davis landed her own series with ''Series/HowToGetAwayWithMurder'' on ABC which got renewed for a fourth season, and resulted in her winning an UsefulNotes/EmmyAward for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She later won a well-deserved Oscar for her performance in the 2016 film adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Fences}}''[[note]]a role for which she had previously won a Tony in 2010[[/note]], which showed that her career is going steady so far. In addition to building critical respect with serious roles, she also branched out into franchise work when she joined the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse as Amanda Waller. She portrayed Waller in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' (despite being negatively reviewed, her performance was unanimously deemed one of the film's best elements) and its sequel ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' (which was an AcclaimedFlop due to its release amidst the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, being widely considered an EvenBetterSequel despite making less money than the first).
* Creator/OctaviaSpencer got major acclaim and won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for her role in ''Film/TheHelp''. However, like her co-star Viola Davis, she hasn't done anything noteworthy since. This doesn't speak to lack of talent, but more about what kind of roles Hollywood offers black actresses. She got her own series, ''Red Band Society'', on Fox, and a major role as Johanna in the ''Literature/{{Divergent}}'' movies at least. Spencer has since returned to being a character actress, with two more Oscar nominations for ''Film/HiddenFigures'' and ''Film/TheShapeOfWater''. At most, she has had a hit playing the titular antagonist of ''Film/{{Ma}}'', as well as an UsefulNotes/EmmyAward-nominated performance as Madam C.J. Walker in the Creator/{{Netflix}} miniseries ''Self Made''.
* Although prominent since ''Film/{{Clueless}}'', character actor Creator/PaulRudd's stint as a Hollywood leading man has been built upon the popularity of the Creator/JuddApatow films he has appeared in. He had a promising start with ''Film/RoleModels'' and ''Film/ILoveYouMan'', but practically every film since then have been either box-office flops or disappointments. ''Film/ThisIs40'' has gotten a lot of praise though and he's guaranteed a career in prominent supporting roles. His performance as [[Characters/MCUScottLang Scott Lang/Ant-Man]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse boosted his career a bit.

* Creator/EmmaStone also fits, with ''Spider-Man'' crowning a rise after a series of well-received movies (''Film/{{Zombieland}}'', ''Film/EasyA'', ''Film/TheHelp''). She later earned an Oscar nomination for ''Film/BirdmanOrTheUnexpectedVirtueOfIgnorance''. Then in 2016, she earned a lot of praise for her performance in the musical film, ''Film/LaLaLand'', for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical and an Oscar for Best Actress. Later, she got nominated again at the 2019 Oscar in the supporting category for her role in ''Film/TheFavourite''.
* Creator/JeremyRenner initially did well with this trope, helped by the fact that he is much older than most of the stars usually being hyped. While he'd been working pretty consistently since 1995 and got attention for his roles in ''Dahmer'' and ''Film/TheAssassinationOfJesseJamesByTheCowardRobertFord'', it was ''Film/TheHurtLocker'' in 2008 that brought him huge acclaim and an Oscar nomination. He's since followed it up with critical acclaim and another Oscar nomination for ''Film/TheTown'', a supporting role in ''Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol'' and a central role in ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' as Hawkeye. While ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'' and ''Film/TheBourneLegacy'' did well at the box-office but not so well with critics, the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse helped keep him working consistently. Unfortunately, in 2019 a snowballing series of embarrassments and worse seriously damaged his reputation: his musical side-career and a failed ''app'' became subjects of mockery[[note]] An entire podcast, "The Renner Files" dedicated to mocking the APP and Renner's douchbaggery was a hit in 2020. [[/note]], and his ex-wife accused him of DomesticAbuse. Combined with ongoing fandom snark about Hawkeye being the lamest hero in a series featuring numerous characters, and his future in the franchise uncertain with the aforementioned allegations, the end may or may not be in sight -- especially as the [[Series/{{Hawkeye2021}} Hawkeye solo project]] was not focused solely on Renner, but also [[LegacyCharacter the introduction of the second, female, Hawkeye]], played by the up-and-coming and much more marketable Creator/HaileeSteinfeld.
* Ever since the Music/PussycatDolls split up, Hollywood has been trying their absolute damnedest to make Nicole Scherzinger a pop superstar. She had one album, long stuck in DevelopmentHell, released in 2010, to mild success. She's also won a season of ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'', had multiple TV spots, including judging spots on the UK and US versions of ''Series/TheXFactor'' and her own episode of ''Behind The Music.'' It's still up in the air if all of it will finally pay off.
* The entire cast of ''Film/StarTrek2009'' got huge hype from their roles but arguably none more so than Creator/ChrisPine, playing the role of Captain Kirk. While he had some hits and critical acclaim before, it was his role in the 2009 reboot that put him firmly on the A-List. Since then, he's accumulated greater success with roles in ''Film/{{Unstoppable}}'', ''Film/ThisMeansWar2012'' and ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians''. He was also cast as ''Literature/JackRyan'' in the film of the same name, taking over a role previously held by Creator/HarrisonFord, Creator/AlecBaldwin and Creator/BenAffleck. His latest major role as Steve Trevor in ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' has done much favors for him as the film was not only a critical and commercial smash, but many praised his performance and chemistry with lead Creator/GalGadot.
* Australian star Jason Clarke, similar to Creator/JeremyRenner, is an older actor who is gaining huge success in his forties with roles in ''Film/ZeroDarkThirty'', ''Film/{{Lawless}}'' and ''Film/TheGreatGatsby2013'' as well as a leading role in the ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and ''Film/TerminatorGenisys''. Time will tell if he can keep it up.

* Creator/ColinFarrell, starting with ''Film/HartsWar'', had a big push in the early to mid-00's, starring in or having large supporting roles in blockbusters like ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/Daredevil2003'', ''Film/SWAT2003'', ''Film/TheNewWorld2005'' and most infamously, Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' and Creator/MichaelMann's ''Film/MiamiVice''. With the exception of ''Minority Report'', all of these films flopped or under-performed, and Colin went under the radar for a few years, starring in smaller budget/indie films. While he's had some small hits like ''Film/InBruges'' and ''Film/FrightNight2011'', he's still made flops like ''Film/TotalRecall2012'', and regardless his career is nowhere near the A-List status it once was. Then, he's one of the main cast in the second season of ''Series/TrueDetective'' as one of the main leads. He was praised for his performance on the show if it wasn't bogged by the convoluted plot, making the second season a ToughActToFollow. In the mid-2010's he appeared in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', which did well financially, and in two films by Creator/YorgosLanthimos, ''Film/TheLobster'' and ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'', which were critically hailed (with ''The Lobster'' even winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival). He's found more success in a supporting capacity nowadays, with as many highs (''Film/{{Widows}}'', ''Film/TheGentlemen'') as lows (''Film/{{Dumbo|2019}}'', ''Film/ArtemisFowl''). He was later cast as the Penguin in ''Film/TheBatman2022'' which turned out to be a monster hit by COVID-19 era standards. He also starred in ''Film/TheBansheesOfInisherin'' where not only he earned a Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical but also an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
* Creator/AaronTveit has kicked around Broadway for a few years with the occasional recurring part, but the Powers That Be have been [[http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/gracelands-aaron-tveit-talks-transitioning-broadway-tv-95846 actively looking]] for a vehicle to introduce him to the mainstream. It finally happened with a turn in the film adaptation of ''Film/LesMiserables2012'' and the new show ''Series/{{Graceland}}''. However, as seen under Amanda Seyfried's entry, much of the attention of ''Les Mis'' was directed toward Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman, and while he's getting great praise for ''Graceland,'' its status as a darker show on the normally bright and optimistic USA Network has made its reception a little lukewarm.

* Creator/BryanCranston has been acting for over three decades, but 2008 onwards have seen him make his way up to the A-List. Already famous and acclaimed for his role in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', it was his role on ''Series/BreakingBad'' that saw him win enormous acclaim, three Emmys and has since been considered one of the best actors on television. His film career has been shaky with his some flops (''Film/TotalRecall2012'', ''Film/RockOfAges'', ''Film/JohnCarter'') and some big hits (''Film/{{Argo}}'', ''Film/{{Godzilla|2014}}''), but he was not the major box-office draw of these films. Like Michael Shannon and Jeremy Renner, he has the advantage of being considerably older and having a more distinctive presence than most other actors and he has a hugely dedicated fanbase, with [[IAmNotSpock type casting]] being a lesser issue as he has already proven he can reinvent himself even late in his career. Time will tell what happens next.
* Cranston's costar from ''Series/BreakingBad'' Creator/AaronPaul is less lucky. He won three Emmy Awards for his role as Jesse Pinkman. However, the films he starred after his breakthrough, ''Film/NeedForSpeed'' and ''Film/ALongWayDown'', were all critical or commercial flops. However, Paul had some success with his involvement in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' and was cast in the third season of ''Series/{{Westworld}}''. His most prolific work since was reprising his role as Jesse Pinkman in the ''Breaking Bad'' sequel film ''Film/ElCamino''.
* Creator/WesBentley, after attaining his StarMakingRole in ''Film/AmericanBeauty'', initially appeared to be a star on the rise, but immediately following its success, acquired a drug habit which nearly ruined his life. His addiction spiraled to the point he divorced his then-wife and only worked onscreen infrequently, with paychecks going to bills or drugs. His career was unstable for nearly eleven years after ''American Beauty'' before he decided to enter rehab and get clean starting in 2010. Bentley slowly, via supporting roles in ''Film/TheHungerGames'', ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'', ''[[Film/PetesDragon2016 Pete's Dragon]]'', and ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', as well as the [[Creator/FXNetworks FX]] anthology series ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'' and the Creator/{{Paramount|Network}} NewOldWest drama series ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}'', began rebuilding his career in that decade.
* Creator/AdriannePalicki, after a long string of appearances in failed pilots and short-lived series, finally broke into the mainstream when she accepted the role of Tyra Collette in ''Series/FridayNightLights'', which received significant critical and commercial acclaim. However, her roles after the series ended have been weak at best. She most infamously played the title role in the ''Series/WonderWoman2011Pilot'', which wasn't picked up and was reviled by fans and critics. The ''Film/RedDawn2012'' remake was also torn apart by critics and tanked in theaters ($32.5 million box office gross against a $65 million budget), with her presence in the film barely getting a mention from most critics and viewers. ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation'', however, did fine at the box office ($122.5 million domestically and over twice that overseas), while ''Film/JohnWick'' was critically acclaimed as well as being financially successful. Palicki has transferred since then from the Joes to [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD S.H.I.E.L.D.]], and later ''Series/TheOrville''.
* BoyBand Music/OneDirection took America practically overnight. While they had a slower rise in Europe, they were relatively unheard of in the United States--and then they started appearing ''everywhere''. Although initially pegged as rivals to fellow rising boy band The Wanted, One Direction [[CurbStompBattle made short work of them]], and The Wanted's career fizzled after one big hit. Then, the band's eyes were set on Justin Bieber. One Direction shocked the world when they defeated Justin Bieber at the 2012 Video Music Awards, which was a sign that Bieber's reign atop the teen world was coming to an end. One Direction proved that the victory was no fluke by continuing to ''dwarf'' his accomplishments and sales. Not only were the Brits' popularity skyrocketing past the Canadian's and closing in on his peak, but it was also obvious that Bieber's popularity was starting to fall (his own behavior would hurt it even worse). It's quite clear that One Direction are the biggest teen phenomenon since Music/{{NSYNC}}. Though after the group broke up, the musicians are trying not to be like NSYNC in that only one member remained successful - and it might be the case with Harry Styles, who released two acclaimed albums and scored three top 10 hits on both sides of the Pond, and rose at the same time Zayn Malik began faltering in the charts, while Niall Horan has mostly retreated to his native Ireland, and the other two only charted well with their debut singles. Harry has since branched out into acting, making his film debut in Creator/ChristopherNolan's ''Film/{{Dunkirk}}'' and later cameoing as Eros/Starfox in the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]]-set superhero film ''Film/{{Eternals}}''. However, his roles in 2022's ''Film/DontWorryDarling'' (directed by his girlfriend Creator/OliviaWilde – see below) and ''My Policeman'' were widely criticized and shed some doubt on his acting potential. Zayn, meanwhile, became mired in controversy after he was accused of striking his girlfriend Gigi Hadid's mother Yolanda, which led to the end of his relationship with Gigi and him being put on probation.

* Since ''Film/{{Divergent}}'' is considered by several in terms of hype to be "The New ''[[Literature/TheHungerGames Hunger Games]]''," being a film adaptation of a popular Young Adult book series (and every new such franchise launched between the two has bombed), there are already some press that are hyping up ''Divergent'' star Creator/ShaileneWoodley as "The New Creator/JenniferLawrence." Adding to this comparison is the fact that both got their first break on low-budget cable series (''The Bill Engvall Show'' for Lawrence, ''Series/TheSecretLifeOfTheAmericanTeenager'' for Woodley.) The box office success of ''Film/TheFaultInOurStars'' is certainly a step in the right direction but after ''Allegiant'' bombed so badly, a conclusion for the series wound up cancelled (partly because Woodley refused to return if the studio repurposed it as a TV film). Fortunately, her performance in ''{{Film/Snowden}}'' and ''Series/BigLittleLies'' was praised which means there's hope for her.
* Creator/OliviaWilde appeared in a number of supporting roles on film and TV before she was cast as Thirteen on ''Series/{{House}}''. That show's ratings success brought her onto the radar of a larger audience. She received a big push afterwards: via starring roles in such blockbuster films as ''Film/YearOne'', ''Film/TheNextThreeDays'', ''Film/TronLegacy'', ''Film/CowboysAndAliens'', and ''Film/TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone''. Unfortunately, they often underperformed. Hence, Wilde, in 2019, branched into directing instead, which proved to be a far more fruitful endeavor when her debut feature ''{{Film/Booksmart}}'' garnered extensive critical praise. However, her next directorial effort ''Film/DontWorryDarling'' starring Creator/FlorencePugh and Harry Styles (whom Wilde started dating) became OvershadowedByControversy ranging from Creator/ShiaLabeouf being cast in the film initially (Wilde herself claimed she fired him, but [=LaBeouf=] himself says he chose to leave the production) to her allegedly clashing with Pugh on-set (which reportedly motivated Pugh to limit her involvement in promotion). The film premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, where it received negative to mixed reviews.
* Music/FiveSecondsOfSummer are an Australian pop rock boy band who got their big break opening for One Direction, and the success they experienced was enormous, becoming the only boy-band able to stand toe-to-toe with them. Groups like The Wanted and Big Time Rush had their careers flushed down the toilet by their rivals, whereas upcoming groups like [=Emblem3=], Midnight Red, and Union J were unable to take off, so 5 Seconds of Summer was expected to suffer the same fate. But instead, the group debuted at number-one with their first album, outsold One Direction's opening, got 5 top 40 hits in only three months, and are apparently next in line for the teen idol throne.

* Her ''Cinderella'' co-star Creator/RichardMadden has received similar hype, he too coming from a hit television series (''Series/GameOfThrones''). He later got the lead role in BBC's ''[[Series/BodyguardUK2018 Bodyguard]]'', which earned him critical praise and a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He then starred in the Elton John biopic ''Film/Rocketman2019'' as the singer's manager and played Ikaris in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse film ''Film/{{Eternals}}''.
* Creator/KevinHart is climbing up this ladder as we speak, in large part thanks to his highly respected stand up career. While the films he's starred in, like ''Film/RideAlong'' and ''Film/GrudgeMatch'', haven't been well-received by critics, audiences have enjoyed them more thanks to box office gross. Forbes even named him the top-paid comedian of 2016 with $87.5 million, surpassing long-time record holder Creator/JerrySeinfeld. More recently, he has had a couple of commercially and critical successful films that costarred Wrestling/DwayneJohnson: ''Film/CentralIntelligence'' and ''Film/JumanjiWelcomeToTheJungle'' as well as having a role in the highly successful animated film ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretLifeOfPets''. He was supposed to host for the Oscars 2019 but after two days since the announcement, he dropped out after a series of his old homophobic tweets resurfaced which he apologized on the next day.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GbcK4HpYY Sarah Rogers, ITV news reporter]] has had critical acclaim and her Twitter feed is popular - although it's very much a dry type of Twitter, with no controversial tweets. She was believed to be in ''Series/StrictlyComeDancing'' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen but that never got anywhere]], amd she's covered [[DarkerAndEdgier many dark and edgy news topics]], sometimes news stories with AnAesop in them, and she is considered a good up-and-coming reporter who deserves national attention. Time will tell if she becomes as big a star as Scarlett from Gogglebox.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyuDELIhPkU Carolin Roth]] from CNBC is well-known to the fanbase who watch ''Street Signs'' on CNBC weekday mornings 9am-11am UK time, but recently, she's become very popular and has been well-received for her [[ThoseTwoGuys appearances with Louisa Bojesen on Street Signs]] and her ability to present, with an interesting mixture of TechnicianVsPerformer. Although it's too early to call, she is still getting a cult following from viewers, and people are expecting her to be on reality shows by 2017 (although the probability of that is anyone's guess).
* Irish actor Jack Reynor was given a lot of hype thanks to his breakout role in ''Film/WhatRichardDid'', but afterwards HypeBacklash set in pretty quickly. Notably, his turn in ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'' had viewers questioning if his success was just a fluke. He did earn some critical acclaim for his parts in smaller films like ''Film/ARoyalNightOut'', the 2015 adaptation of ''{{Theatre/Macbeth}}'', ''Film/{{Detroit}}'', and ''Film/{{Midsommar}}'', so time will tell.

* Around TheNewTens, Hollywood was clearly looking to give Creator/LilyCollins a StarMakingRole. As the daughter of famous musician Music/PhilCollins, she garnered much attention from guest spots on the revival of ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' and a supporting role in the UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated ''Film/TheBlindSide''. However, her first shots at leading roles – as the LoveInterest in the 2011 Creator/TaylorLautner action flick ''Film/{{Abduction}}'' and as Snow White in 2012's ''Film/MirrorMirror'' – didn't turn out so well. The former was trashed by critics and became a BoxOfficeBomb, while the latter ended up overshadowed by the other Snow White film ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman''. The Hype Machine really got behind Collins when it was announced that she was cast as Clary Fray in the film adaptation of ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''. The film ended up becoming a flop with audiences and critics, a planned sequel was cancelled, and the franchise rebooted as the Netflix series ''{{Series/Shadowhunters}}'' with an all-new cast. Lily was however praised for her performances in these and other films, with some even comparing her screen presence to Creator/AudreyHepburn. She would later earn a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe nomination for 2016's ''Rules Don't Apply'' and praise for her roles in Creator/{{Netflix}} films like ''To The Bone'', ''Film/{{Okja}}'', and ''Film/{{Mank}}'', so time will tell. In October 2020, she played the titular role of ''Series/EmilyInParis''. Although the Creator/{{Netflix}} series received mixed reviews, Lily's performance got her nominated for another Golden Globe. A second season premiered in December 2021, and a month later it was renewed for two more seasons.
* Creator/EmiliaClarke has been slowly rising to the top since she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned her many UsefulNotes/EmmyAward nominations. But then, she landed the role of Sarah Connor in ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', which received negative critical reviews, most of which panned her performance. Although she quickly recovered with her starring role in ''Film/MeBeforeYou'', her film career was hampered by the commercial failure of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' spin-off ''Film/{{Solo}}''. With the poorly-received finale of ''Game of Thrones'' in 2019 – which her character was at the crux of – only time will tell if she will stay on top or be remembered as a OneHitWonder. Since that debacle, she has moved from Westeros to [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marvel]], making her debut in the upcoming series ''Series/SecretInvasion''.
* Creator/TomHiddleston has been gradually climbing to the top ever since he first gained mainstream exposure as the villainous Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'', with subsequent reprisals as the villain in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse adding to his stardom while finding consistent, critically-acclaimed work in between his MCU work like ''Series/TheNightManager'' – which netted him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe award. His biggest hit that he headlined outside of the MCU was ''Film/KongSkullIsland'', which received good reviews and grossed over $550 million worldwide, although some felt his otherwise solid performance was overshadowed by the AllStarCast. What helps Hiddleston stand out from other MCU cast members is how he stars in smaller budget productions that garner much critical goodwill while avoiding big flops. For the time being, Hiddleston seems to be doing well and may be on his way to securing A-list stardom if he can continue his consistent track record. His perseverance was rewarded when a ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'' series was greenlit in 2019 and premiered on Creator/DisneyPlus in 2021 to rave reviews and peak streaming numbers.
* Creator/TessaThompson began amassing praise with well-received roles in ''{{Film/Creed}}'' and ''Series/DearWhitePeople''. This led to her getting a prominent role in ''{{Series/Westworld}}'', leading to international fame upon being cast as Valkyrie in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. She was noted as a standout of the cast, with her star power strong enough to make her comfortable suggesting an all-female team-up film for the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. Other successes Thompson starred in outside the MCU are ''Film/{{Selma}}'', ''Film/{{Annihilation}}'', ''Film/SorryToBotherYou'', ''Film/LittleWoods'', and ''Literature/{{Passing}}''.
* Creator/JonHamm has had an odd relationship with this trope. After a few years of doing bit work and supporting roles, He burst onto the scene with ''Series/MadMen'' and won huge acclaim for his role and he has made a few forays into film such as ''Film/TheTown'' and ''Film/{{Bridesmaids}}'', the latter of which allowed him a chance to prove his comedy skills. But he hasn't fully made the leap to film success yet. This is partially due to his admitted aversion to franchises that require long contracts, ruling him out of superhero films even though many had been and still are pushing for him to play Franchise/{{Batman}} in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, something which Hamm has said he'd be up for if the script were good enough. Like some other actors on here, his older age gives him a degree of protection from being replaced and his acclaimed work on TV means he'll be around for a good while. He also had a huge hit with ''Film/BabyDriver'' so the possibility of him breaking out as a film star is definitely still there.
* Creator/BarryKeoghan became a household name in his home country of Ireland with a starring role in ''Series/LoveHate'' and was given the opportunity to star in high profile films such as ''{{Film/Dunkirk}}'', ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'' and ''Film/{{Eternals}}'', though not as a lead yet. Time will tell if he can live up to the hype.
* Creator/DomhnallGleeson had some hits with ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' and a supporting role in ''Film/{{Dredd}}'' and was known in his native Ireland for being the son of Creator/BrendanGleeson but it was ''Film/AboutTime'' that really launched his career. Since then, he's been on a major critical and commercial hot streak with ''Film/ExMachina'', ''Film/{{Brooklyn}}'', ''Film/TheRevenant'', ''Film/AmericanMade'' and, most notably, a major role in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' sequel trilogy among other films. If he can continue his ability to choose good projects and mix respected smaller films and major commercial hits, he will have a very successful career ahead.
* Creator/TomHolland started out in the stage adaptation of ''Film/BillyElliot'' and the film ''Film/TheImpossible'', but his mainstream break-out performance came when he played Spider-Man in the MCU starting with ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''. Holland's performance was highly praised for balancing both the wisecracking action hero and nerdy everyman aspects of Spider-Man. Although his role was primarily comedic, many fans and critics noted how Holland was also surprisingly adept at dramatic performances with Holland improvising [[spoiler: the much lauded death of Peter Parker in ''Infinity War'']]. Even his tendency to accidentally spoil film details and leak production secrets hasn't damaged his popularity since he goes out of his way to show utmost humility and avoid burning bridges. Even at his young age, he holds much clout in the film industry as Holland personally convinced Disney CEO Bob Iger and Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman to form a new deal to keep Spider-Man in the MCU after negotiations initially broke down. Recently, he has voiced a desire to step away from the role of Spider-Man (and acting in general) to start a family. Sony and Disney, however, are both keen on Holland returning for a second MCU Spider-Man trilogy after ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' grossed over $1 billion dollars in the box office. It became the first film since the beginning of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic to do so, while also becoming the highest-grossing film of 2021. Outside of Spider-Man, Holland further proved he could draw in audiences with the video game adaptation ''Film/{{Uncharted}}''. While it got mixed reviews in contrast to his Spider-Man films, ''Uncharted'' did astoundingly well at the box office. The film made over $50 million in its opening weekend and later $150 million in two weeks, proving moviegoers would see Holland just for the sake of seeing Holland.
* Creator/PedroPascal played a lot of minor and supporting TV roles in the past until he played the dashing Prince Oberyn Martell in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned unanimous acclaim from critics and audiences. Pascal was later given one of the starring roles in the Netflix series ''Series/{{Narcos}}'' and was cast in ''Film/TheGreatWall'', ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'' and ''Film/TheEqualizer2''. This boosted his star power further, which led him to getting the role of BigBad Maxwell Lord in ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' and playing the titular character for Disney+'s ''Series/TheMandalorian''. ''The Mandalorian'' proved wildly successful during its first two seasons, resulting in him reprising the role in its spin-offs. When ''[=WW84=]'' ended up premiering one week after the second season finale[[note]]and on the same day as two of Pascal's less-hyped projects that year, ''Film/WeCanBeHeroes2020'' and a documentary about ''The Mandalorian'' Season 2[[/note]], Pascal was praised for his ability to deliver boisterous and subdued performances with equal pathos. Afterwards, he got the role of Joel Miller in ''Series/TheLastOfUs2023'' which earned him his first nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmys 2023.

* Creator/RebeccaFerguson first received attention in the miniseries ''Series/TheWhiteQueen'', which got her a Golden Globe nomination. However, she wouldn't truly get a breakout until 2015, when she played Ilsa Faust in ''Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation'', for which she got lots of critical acclaim. She would reprise her role three years later in ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', which became her biggest critical and commercial success to date. Her career has been a mixed bag beyond that, however. While she's starred in a number of box-office successes (''Literature/TheGirlOnTheTrain'', ''Film/TheGreatestShowman'') she's also made many flops (''Film/TheSnowman2017'', ''Film/TheKidWhoWouldBeKing'', ''Film/DoctorSleep'', albeit the latter two [[AcclaimedFlop received positive reviews]]). In 2021, she she starred as Lady Jessica in Creator/DenisVilleneuve's [[Film/Dune2021 much-hyped adaptation]] of ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', another role which she received lots of critical acclaim and good box office returns, but time will tell as to how her career will fare.

* Creator/TimotheeChalamet had his breakout role in 2017's ''Film/CallMeByYourName'', which netted him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, becoming one of the youngest actors to do so at only 22 years old. Since then, he's become one of Hollywood's hottest young stars, bolstered by well-received supporting roles in ''Film/LadyBird'' and ''Film/LittleWomen2019'', and is considered to be one of the finest actors of his generation. His three films in 2021 - a leading role in ''Film/Dune2021'', his first mainstream film role, and supporting roles in the large ensemble casts of ''Film/TheFrenchDispatch'' and ''Film/DontLookUp'' - boosted his profile even further. However, he's still young and has a long career ahead of him, so where his career will ultimately head is anyone's guess.
* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy such as ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention from critics ''and'' audiences (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment Illumination]]’s ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'', so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate into box-office success.
* Creator/JessicaBiel gained a lot of hype early on from ''Series/SeventhHeaven'', but struggled to maintain a successful career afterwards. She has, among many other things in her favor, an amazing fitness-girl body that still frequently shows up in magazines, a high-profile marriage to Music/JustinTimberlake, and several potential break-out roles, but also suffered from a string of critically trashed {{Box Office Bomb}}s like ''Film/BladeTrinity'' and ''Film/{{Stealth}}''. When she finally got naked in a "serious" movie (hoping for the extra career boost that it usually provides hot, young, fading actresses), it was for a stripper role in a straight-to-video film (''Powder Blue'') that earned her zero legit cred – and sadly for all concerned, is more likely to be remembered as Creator/PatrickSwayze's final film. The bombing of the ''Film/TotalRecall2012'' remake, which reportedly cost Creator/{{Sony}} over $200 million in losses, seems to cement her even further into this, especially as her generation of actresses include megastars like Creator/ScarlettJohansson and Creator/KirstenDunst; there is in fact a 1998 ''Teen People'' [[https://www.thegossipers.com/public/scarlettkirstenjessica1.jpg pictorial of the three]], ostensibly pushing them as future stars, but whereas Dunst and Johansson were nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward in 2020 and 2022 respectively, Biel, so far, has zero.[[note]]Johansson in fact received two simultaneous nominations — Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress — in the same year, one of the few actors to achieve this feat.[[/note]] To date, Biel, despite being on tons of magazine covers, is still just a minor star, and at this point is best known as "Justin Timberlake's Wife". However, in 2017, she returned to the small screen with her critically hailed role in ''Series/TheSinner'', receiving Golden Globe and UsefulNotes/EmmyAward nominations.
* Creator/MichaelCera came out with a '''vengeance''' after ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', appearing in several films that attained mainstream recognition plus artistic credibility (particularly ''Film/{{Juno}}'') and things were looking up. Then ''Film/YearOne'' put him on a bumpy road in 2009, while both of his films released the following year, ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' and ''Film/YouthInRevolt'', [[CriticalDissonance despite positive critical reception]], weren't as successful financially. His problem? Cera [[TypeCasting played the exact same nerdy-shy-guy character in every film he's been in so far]], right down to specific mannerisms and vocal style. This eventually stuck to him in a big way, and his career took a tumble. He hasn't had a major hit or appearance in years, and now Creator/JesseEisenberg (who has a similar appearance and acting style) has gone on to become a bigger star. In recent years, he admitted that he deliberately shirked from bigger projects because he felt uneasy about all the big publicity he faced.
* Creator/JoshHartnett rocketed to super-stardom in the late 90's and early 00's with roles in teen films like ''Literature/TheVirginSuicides'' and ''Film/TheFaculty'', and was voted several times by People Magazine as one of their top teen stars of the year. His momentum died down gradually, however. In spite of a starring turn in the critically acclaimed ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', Hartnett was in a long list of duds (including ''Film/PearlHarbor'', ''Film/HollywoodHomicide'', and the critically panned and controversial ''Film/FortyDaysAndFortyNights''). His last work of note, 2007's ''Film/ThirtyDaysOfNight'', barely recouped its production budget, and he's spent the late '00s and early '10s working on small indie projects. He's started to make a small comeback in the Creator/{{Showtime}} horror series ''Series/PennyDreadful'', but time will tell if he'll be able to return to mainstream success. This seems to have been at least partially a choice on Hartnett's part, as he admits he struggled greatly with the level of fame he had. It got to the point he turned down numerous major roles (including Batman and Superman), and took a step back from Hollywood as a whole. He later moved to the UK, where he started a family.

* Creator/PedroPascal played a lot of minor and supporting TV roles in the past until he played the dashing Prince Oberyn Martell in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned unanimous acclaim from critics and audiences. Pascal was later given one of the starring roles in the Netflix series ''Series/{{Narcos}}'' and was cast in ''Film/TheGreatWall'', ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'' and ''Film/TheEqualizer2''. This boosted his star power further, which led him to getting the role of BigBad Maxwell Lord in ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' and playing the titular character for Disney+'s ''Series/TheMandalorian''. ''The Mandalorian'' proved wildly successful during its first two seasons, resulting in him reprising the role in its spin-offs. When ''[=WW84=]'' ended up premiering one week after the second season finale[[note]]and on the same day as two of Pascal's less-hyped projects that year, ''Film/WeCanBeHeroes2020'' and a documentary about ''The Mandalorian'' Season 2[[/note]], Pascal was praised for his ability to deliver boisterous and subdued performances with equal pathos. Afterwards, he got the role of Joel Miller in ''Series/TheLastOfUs2023''.

* Beth Behrs, from ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls'' has also received critical acclaim as well, and time will tell if this lasts or not. However, her GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff status - in the United Kingdom - probably counts for this too.

* Creator/TomHardy was once considered the next big star with a role in ''Film/StarTrekNemesis''. However the film flopped badly and nearly killed his career before it got started. This resulted in Hardy [[DrivenToSuicide falling into an addiction to alcohol and crack]] which he eventually overcame. His role in ''Film/{{Bronson}}'' helped revive his fortunes but it was his role in ''Film/{{Inception}}'' that [[CareerResurrection made him big again]]. He followed it up with ''Film/TinkerTailorSoldierSpy'', ''Film/{{Warrior}}'', ''Film/ThisMeansWar2012'', ''Film/{{Lawless}}'' and, most notably, his role as [[BigBad Bane]] in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' which was a colossal hit and earned him huge acclaim. 2015's ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' opened to rave reviews and became the most critically acclaimed film of the year while that same year's ''Film/TheRevenant'' nabbed him an Oscar nomination, so don't expect Hardy to fade into obscurity anytime soon. Even the maligned ''Film/{{Venom|2018}}'' and its better-received sequel ''[[Film/VenomLetThereBeCarnage Let There Be Carnage]]'' made a lot of money. Critics and audiences alike conceded that regardless of how good or bad the movies were, Hardy made them watchable at least.
* Creator/ColinFarrell, starting with ''Film/HartsWar'', had a big push in the early to mid-00's, starring in or having large supporting roles in blockbusters like ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', ''Film/{{SWAT}}'', ''Film/{{The New World|2005}}'' and most infamously, Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' and Creator/MichaelMann's ''Film/MiamiVice''. With the exception of ''Minority Report'', all of these films flopped or under-performed, and Colin went under the radar for a few years, starring in smaller budget/indie films. While he's had some small hits like ''Film/InBruges'' and ''Film/FrightNight2011'', he's still made flops like ''Film/TotalRecall2012'', and regardless his career is nowhere near the A-List status it once was. Then, he's one of the main cast in the second season of ''Series/TrueDetective'' as one of the main leads. He was praised for his performance on the show if it wasn't bogged by the convoluted plot, making the second season a ToughActToFollow. In the mid-2010's he appeared in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', which did well financially, and in two films by Creator/YorgosLanthimos, ''Film/TheLobster'' and ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'', which were critically hailed (with ''The Lobster'' even winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival). He's found more success in a supporting capacity nowadays, with as many highs (''Film/{{Widows}}'', ''Film/TheGentlemen'') as lows (''Film/{{Dumbo|2019}}'', ''Film/ArtemisFowl''). He was later cast as ComicBook/ThePenguin in ''Film/TheBatman2022'' which turned out to be a monster hit by COVID-19 era standards. He also starred in ''Film/TheBansheesOfInisherin'' where not only he earned a Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical but also an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy such as ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention from critics ''and'' audiences (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment Illumination]]’s ''Franchise/{{Mario}}'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate into box-office success.

* Creator/ColinFarrell, starting with ''Film/HartsWar'', had a big push in the early to mid-00's, starring in or having large supporting roles in blockbusters like ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', ''Film/{{SWAT}}'', ''Film/{{The New World|2005}}'' and most infamously, Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' and Creator/MichaelMann's ''Film/MiamiVice''. With the exception of ''Minority Report'', all of these films flopped or under-performed, and Colin went under the radar for a few years, starring in smaller budget/indie films. While he's had some small hits like ''Film/InBruges'' and ''Film/FrightNight2011'', he's still made flops like ''Film/TotalRecall2012'', and regardless his career is nowhere near the A-List status it once was. Then, he's one of the main cast in the second season of ''Series/TrueDetective'' as one of the main leads. He was praised for his performance on the show if it wasn't bogged by the convoluted plot, making the second season a ToughActToFollow. In the mid-2010's he appeared in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', which did well financially, and in two films by Creator/YorgosLanthimos, ''Film/TheLobster'' and ''Film/TheKillingOfASacredDeer'', which were critically hailed (with ''The Lobster'' even winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival). He's found more success in a supporting capacity nowadays, with as many highs (''Film/{{Widows}}'', ''Film/TheGentlemen'') as lows (''Film/{{Dumbo|2019}}'', ''Film/ArtemisFowl''). He was later cast as ComicBook/ThePenguin in ''Film/TheBatman2022'' which turned out to be a monster hit by COVID-19 era standards.

* Creator/ChrisEvans has had his ups and downs with this trope. After his role in ''Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie'', he got a number of prominent roles, most notably as the Human Torch in the ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' franchise. While most of his films did fairly well, they were usually not well-received by critics, and he never broke out as a major star. While he did get some positive press for his roles in ''Film/{{Sunshine}}'' and ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'', they didn't do very well at the box office. However, his career started to pick up in 2011, when he was cast as Captain America in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' and the subsequent Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse films. While his films outside it (''Film/TheIceman'' and ''Film/{{Snowpiercer}}'') have been only moderately successful, his Marvel roles should keep him around for a while. Especially with the success of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''. If anything kills Evans's career it may well be Evans himself; he's expressed ambivalence about his blockbusters and stated that he may well retire after his Marvel contract is up to focus on directing. He has seemed more enthusiastic during the lead-up to ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', though, and suggested he may be willing to extend his contract until ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' which is his last movie as Captain America.

* Creator/PatrickDempsey had a serviceable but unremarkable film career for ages. Once ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' became big, Hollywood began trying to promote him as the next big thing. Of the leading-man roles he's starred in since then, only ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' was really a critical and/or commercial success, and that one was arguably helped by having the Disney name behind it as well. His other roles haven't really set the world on fire, though he readily admits that his acting on ''Grey's'' mainly helps finance his auto racing career and also wouldn't mind pursuing motorsports full-time. Dempsey has still made sporadic returns to ''Grey's'' every few seasons, and later reprised his ''Enchanted'' role in the Disney+-exclusive sequel ''Film/Disenchanted2022''.

* Although prominent since ''Film/{{Clueless}}'', character actor Creator/PaulRudd's stint as a Hollywood leading man has been built upon the popularity of the Creator/JuddApatow films he has appeared in. He had a promising start with ''Film/RoleModels'' and ''Film/ILoveYouMan'', but practically every film since then have been either box-office flops or disappointments. ''Film/ThisIs40'' has gotten a lot of praise though and he's guaranteed a career in prominent supporting roles. His performance as Scott Lang in the 2015 Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse film ''Film/AntMan1'' boosted his career a bit.

* Creator/MichaelShannon had been kicking around for years in prominent supporting roles in films such as ''Film/EightMile'' and ''Film/BadBoysII'' but it was his scene-stealing role in ''Film/RevolutionaryRoad'' in which he just about stole the film from Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio, Creator/KateWinslet and Creator/KathyBates with ten minutes of screen time, that earned him huge praise and an Oscar nomination. Since then, he has gone from one success to another with acclaimed starring roles in films like ''Film/TheIceman'' and ''Film/TakeShelter'', rave reviews for supporting roles in ''Film/PremiumRush'' and ''The Runaways'' and most notably his role in HBO's ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' and his role as Zod in blockbuster ''Film/ManOfSteel''. He later received another Oscar nomination for ''Film/NocturnalAnimals'' and was praised for his performance in ''Film/TheShapeOfWater''. While he may not exactly be anyone's idea of a leading man, it is likely he will stay around for a while.

* Creator/EmiliaClarke has been slowly rising to the top since she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned her many UsefulNotes/EmmyAward nominations. But then, she landed the role of Sarah Connor in ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'', which received negative critical reviews, most of which panned her performance. Although she quickly recovered with her starring role in ''Film/MeBeforeYou'', her film career was hampered by the commercial failure of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' spin-off ''Film/{{Solo}}''. With the poorly-received finale of ''Game of Thrones'' in 2019 – which her character was at the crux of – only time will tell if she will stay on top or be remembered as a OneHitWonder. Since that debacle, she has moved from Westeros to [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marvel]], making her debut in the upcoming series ''Secret Invasion''.
* Creator/TomHiddleston has been gradually climbing to the top ever since he first gained mainstream exposure as the villainous Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'', with subsequent reprisals as the villain in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse adding to his stardom while finding consistent, critically-acclaimed work in between his MCU work like ''Series/TheNightManager'' – which netted him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe award. His biggest hit that he headlined outside of the MCU was ''Film/KongSkullIsland'', which received good reviews and grossed over $550 million worldwide, although some felt his otherwise solid performance was overshadowed by the AllStarCast. What helps Hiddleston stand out from other MCU cast members is how he stars in smaller budget productions that garner much critical goodwill while avoiding big flops. For the time being, Hiddleston seems to be doing well and may be on his way to securing A-list stardom if he can continue his consistent track record. His perseverance was rewarded when a ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'' series was greenlit in 2019 and premiered on Disney+ in 2021 to rave reviews and peak streaming numbers.

* Creator/PedroPascal played a lot of minor and supporting TV roles in the past until he played the dashing Prince Oberyn Martell in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', which earned unanimous acclaim from critics and audiences. Pascal was later given one of the starring roles in the Netflix series ''Series/{{Narcos}}'' and was cast in ''Film/TheGreatWall'', ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'' and ''Film/TheEqualizer2''. This boosted his star power further, which led him to getting the role of BigBad Maxwell Lord in ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' and playing the titular character for Disney+'s ''Series/TheMandalorian''. ''The Mandalorian'' proved wildly successful during its first two seasons, resulting in him reprising the role in its spin-offs. When ''[=WW84=]'' ended up premiering one week after the second season finale[[note]]and on the same day as two of Pascal's less-hyped projects that year, ''Film/WeCanBeHeroes2020'' and a documentary about ''The Mandalorian'' Season 2[[/note]], Pascal was praised for his ability to deliver boisterous and subdued performances with equal pathos. Afterwards, he got the role of Joel Miller in the TV series adaptation of ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''.

* Creator/PatrickDempsey had a serviceable but unremarkable film career for a while. Once ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' became big, Hollywood started trying to promote him as the next big thing. Of the leading-man roles he's starred in since then, only ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' was really a critical and/or commercial success, and that one was arguably helped by having the Disney name behind it as well. His other roles haven't really set the world on fire, though he readily admits that his acting on ''Grey's'' mainly helps finance his auto racing career and he wouldn't mind pursuing motorsports full-time. Dempsey has still made sporadic returns to ''Grey's'' every few seasons, and he will later reprise his ''Enchanted'' role in the Disney+-exclusive sequel ''Disenchanted''.

* Creator/TessaThompson started amassing praise with well-received roles in ''{{Film/Creed}}'' and ''Series/DearWhitePeople''. This led to her getting a prominent role in ''{{Series/Westworld}}'', and she was brought to international attention when cast as Valkyrie in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. She was noted to be the standout of the cast, and her star power was enough to make her feel comfortable to propose an all-female team-up movie in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She also earned roles in ''Film/MenInBlackInternational'' and the live-action adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp''.

* Creator/WesBentley, after attaining his StarMakingRole in ''Film/AmericanBeauty'', initially appeared to be a star on the rise, but immediately following its success, acquired a drug habit which nearly ruined his life. His addiction spiraled to the point he divorced his then-wife and only worked onscreen infrequently, with paychecks going to bills or drugs. His career was unstable for nearly eleven years following ''American Beauty'' before deciding to enter rehab and get clean starting in 2010. He slowly, with supporting roles in ''Film/TheHungerGames'', ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'', and ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', along with the anthology series ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'' as well as the Western drama series ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}'', began to rebuild his career in that decade.

* BoyBand Music/OneDirection took America practically overnight. While they had a slower rise in Europe, they were relatively unheard of in the United States--and then they started appearing ''everywhere''. Although initially pegged as rivals to fellow rising boy band The Wanted, One Direction [[CurbStompBattle made short work of them]], and The Wanted's career fizzled after one big hit. Then, the band's eyes were set on Justin Bieber. One Direction shocked the world when they defeated Justin Bieber at the 2012 Video Music Awards, which was a sign that Bieber's reign atop the teen world was coming to an end. One Direction proved that the victory was no fluke by continuing to ''dwarf'' his accomplishments and sales. Not only were the Brits' popularity skyrocketing past the Canadian's and closing in on his peak, but it was also obvious that Bieber's popularity was starting to fall (his own behavior would hurt it even worse). It's quite clear that One Direction are the biggest teen phenomenon since Music/{{NSYNC}}. Though after the group broke up, the musicians are trying not to be like NSYNC in that only one member remained successful - and it might be the case with Harry Styles, who released two acclaimed albums and scored three top 10 hits on both sides of the Pond, and rose at the same time Zayn Malik began faltering in the charts, while Niall Horan has mostly retreated to his native Ireland, and the other two only charted well with their debut singles. Harry has since branched out into acting, making his film debut in Creator/ChristopherNolan's ''Film/{{Dunkirk}}'' and later cameoing as Eros/Starfox in the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]]-set superhero film ''Film/{{Eternals}}''. Zayn, meanwhile, became mired in controversy after he was accused of striking his girlfriend Gigi Hadid's mother Yolanda, which led to the end of his relationship with Gigi and him being put on probation.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy such as ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life) from critics ''and'' audiences. Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment Illumination]]’s ''Franchise/{{Mario}}'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate into box-office success.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy such as ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life) from critics ''and'' audiences. Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment Illumination]]’s ''Franchise/Mario'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate into box-office success.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy included, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment Illumination]]’s ''Mario'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate to box-office success.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/{{Split}}'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy included, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in a ''Mario'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate to box-office success.

* Creator/JeremyRenner initially did well with this trope, helped by the fact that he is much older than most of the stars usually being hyped. While he'd been working pretty consistently since 1995 and got attention for his roles in ''Dahmer'' and ''Film/TheAssassinationOfJesseJamesByTheCowardRobertFord'', it was ''Film/TheHurtLocker'' in 2008 that brought him huge acclaim and an Oscar nomination. He's since followed it up with critical acclaim and another Oscar nomination for ''Film/TheTown'', a supporting role in ''Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol'' and a central role in ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' as Hawkeye. While ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'' and ''Film/TheBourneLegacy'' did well at the box-office but not so well with critics, the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse helped keep him working consistently. Unfortunately, in 2019 a snowballing series of embarrassments and worse seriously damaged his reputation: his musical side-career and a failed ''app'' became subjects of mockery[[note]] An entire podcast, "The Renner Files" dedicated to mocking the APP and Renner's douchbaggery was a hit in 2020. [[/note]], and his ex-wife accused him of DomesticAbuse. Combined with ongoing fandom snark about Hawkeye being the lamest hero in a series featuring numerous characters, and his future in the franchise uncertain with the aforementioned allegations, the end may or may not be in sight -- especially as the [[Series/{{Hawkeye2021}} Hawkeye solo project]] was not focused solely on Renner, but also [[LegacyCharacter the introduction of the second, female, Hawkeye]], played by the much more acclaimed and marketable Hailee Steinfeld.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/Split2016'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy included, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Film/MadMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in a ''Mario'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate to box-office success.

* Creator/AnyaTaylorJoy hovers around this. While her performance in ''Film/Split2016'' was praised, she was not the main draw of that film, and its sequel, ''Film/Glass2019'' failed to satisfyingly conclude its story. However, she received praise for the smaller scale thriller ''Film/{{Thoroughbreds}}'' and the horror movie ''Film/TheWitch''. This focus on smaller scale projects would continue to earn her acclaim, from ''Film/{{Emma}}'' to ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. However, attempted franchises with Taylor-Joy included, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', ''Playmobil: The Movie'' and ''Film/TheNewMutants2020'' did not pan out. Her true breakout hit was as Beth Harmon in ''Series/TheQueensGambit'', which really brought her a lot of attention (and even led to a chess boom in real life). Since then, Taylor-Joy has juggled dramatic and horror roles, but the box-office returns usually aren't there, even if her performances are consistently praised. She's since been cast as Furiosa in the character's eponymous ''Franchise/MaxMax'' spinoff and as the voice of Princess Peach in a ''Mario'' movie, so time will tell if critical acclaim will translate to box-office success.