Hollywood can be a very unforgiving industry. As Piers Morgan puts it, success is fleeting – you can quickly go from being on top to being overlooked. A string of unsuccessful films, personal issues, or simply the rise of new stars can all lead to an actor being forgotten. While many actors hope for a career revival, very few actually manage to achieve one.
People adore seeing someone overcome challenges – it’s incredibly inspiring! Comebacks demonstrate that anyone can bounce back from a difficult period and become even stronger. For loyal fans, a successful return is a chance to celebrate and prove doubters wrong. Plus, it introduces a talented performer to a whole new audience. It’s a positive outcome for everyone involved, and we hope these stories keep happening!
‘Iron Man’ (2008)
Robert Downey Jr.
Paramount Pictures
Around the late 2000s, Kevin Feige, a producer at the newly established Marvel Studios, and his team planned to create a long-running, interconnected series of films—what would become known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They chose Iron Man as the first movie because the rights to more popular Marvel characters, like Spider-Man and Wolverine, were already owned by other studios. Robert Downey Jr. was cast to play Tony Stark, the head of Stark Industries, who creates a high-tech armored suit after being kidnapped. He uses the suit to escape and transforms into the superhero Iron Man.
Before becoming a major movie star, Robert Downey Jr. faced a difficult period. After a critically acclaimed performance in the 1991 film Chaplin – which earned him an Oscar nomination – he struggled with substance abuse and faced legal trouble, including time in jail. He briefly appeared on the TV show Ally McBeal, but was fired after further arrests related to drug use. Hollywood essentially stopped working with him for a time.
After a period of professional hardship, Robert Downey Jr. was suggested for the role of Tony Stark by Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige. Studio executives were hesitant, so Favreau strategically shared news of the potential casting with the media. The incredibly positive public response swayed them, and Downey Jr. landed the part. Iron Man was a massive success, revitalizing his career. By 2013, he had become the highest-earning actor in Hollywood, largely thanks to this pivotal role.
‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)
John Travolta
Miramax
Many film fans consider Pulp Fiction to be director Quentin Tarantino’s best work. The movie primarily follows two hitmen, Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta), and how their paths cross with those of a boxer, the boss’s wife, and a couple of thieves. The film received multiple Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Actor, which helped revitalize John Travolta’s career.
By the late 1980s, John Travolta, who used to be a regular visitor to the White House, had gone from starring in blockbuster films like Saturday Night Fever and Blow Out to playing more comedic roles in the Look Who’s Talking movies. Although the third Look Who’s Talking film wasn’t successful in 1993, Travolta regained his status as a major star in 1994 with a boost from Quentin Tarantino.
John Travolta is fantastic in Pulp Fiction, and his dance scene with Uma Thurman is truly unforgettable. The 1990s continued to be a great period for him with successful films like Broken Arrow and Face/Off. However, Travolta seems to be due for another career resurgence. Lately, he’s mostly appeared in lower-budget films, and it might be time for him to collaborate with Nicolas Cage again, just like in Face/Off.
‘The Substance’ (2024)
Demi Moore
Mubi
The film The Substance powerfully portrays the intense pressures on women to maintain youthful appearances and how society views aging. It also criticizes the way Hollywood often unfairly treats older actresses. The story centers on Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a former movie star who loses her job hosting an aerobics show because of her age. In a desperate attempt to regain her career, she turns to a risky and illegal drug that can create a younger double. However, things quickly take a dark turn.
Julianne Moore received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress but didn’t win, which upset many people who believed she deserved the award – and for good reason, given her incredible performance. Before this film, Moore hadn’t been in a major blockbuster movie since the 1990s. Now, she’s starring in several successful projects, including the lead role in the new Taylor Sheridan TV show, Landman.
During her Golden Globes acceptance speech, the actress revealed she had been bullied by a producer who undermined her confidence by dismissively calling her a “popcorn actress.” She admitted to struggling for years afterward, but her recent work in a science fiction film proved to herself that she still had talent and she’s now determined to focus on similar roles.
‘Dolemite is My Name’ (2019)
Eddie Murphy
Netflix
The movie Dolemite is My Name features Eddie Murphy playing Rudy Ray Moore, the famous comedian and filmmaker behind the iconic character Dolemite. Moore became well-known for performing as Dolemite in his stand-up shows and in a series of popular blaxploitation films, starting with the 1975 movie Dolemite. Murphy first thought of making this film in 2003, but it took about 15 years to actually get it made.
Before making Dolemite is My Name, Eddie Murphy had taken a step back from acting. His movies hadn’t been well-received in the 2000s, and he wasn’t as in-demand as he had been in the 1990s. Luckily, things turned around. His performance in Dolemite is My Name received widespread acclaim and numerous award nominations—though surprisingly, not from the Oscars. In a remarkable turn of events, he even received a Golden Raspberry Award for redemption, an honor given to actors who overcome a history of bad films.
I’m such a big Eddie Murphy fan, and it’s been awesome seeing all he’s been up to since that movie! They brought back two of his classic series – Coming to America and Beverly Hills Cop – which was fantastic. Plus, he did a really interesting documentary about his life on Netflix, and get this – he’s going to be in Shrek 5! Go Eddie, you’re a legend!
‘John Wick’ (2014)
Keanu Reeves
Summit Entertainment
The John Wick movies are now a massive global franchise, but few predicted that success when the first film came out in the early 2010s. It starred a veteran actor and was only expected to earn a small amount of money. However, the series has become incredibly popular. Originally based on a script called Scorn, the first movie centers on a retired hitman (played by Keanu Reeves) who is forced back into action when criminals kill his dog and steal his classic 1969 Ford Mustang.
Keanu Reeves first became a major Hollywood star with films like The Devil’s Advocate, Speed, Point Break, and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. He reached even greater heights with The Matrix sequels, Reloaded and Revolutions, which made him one of the highest-paid actors in the industry. However, after that success, he starred in a series of less popular films. Then came the role that would revitalize his career: Mr. Wick.
Fans would happily watch Keanu Reeves as John Wick for another two decades – he truly embodies the role. The John Wick films have also become significant in action cinema, breathing new life into the genre with their realistic fight choreography, innovative long takes, and stylish ‘Gun Fu’ sequences.
‘The Whale’ (2022)
Brendan Fraser
A24
The film The Whale sparked debate about its portrayal of obesity. Some viewers felt it reinforced negative stereotypes, while others criticized the decision to use a prosthetic suit instead of casting an actor who actually lives with obesity. However, many believe Brendan Fraser delivered an exceptional performance as Charlie, a severely obese and isolated English teacher who connects with students remotely from his home.
Brendan Fraser won the Best Actor Oscar for his powerful and moving portrayal of a character struggling with both pain and happiness. This win marked a significant comeback for Fraser, who had faced years of personal difficulties, including depression and limited work opportunities. These challenges followed allegations of sexual assault by a Hollywood executive in 2003, as well as other hardships like divorce, health issues, and the loss of his mother.
Brendan Fraser, while perhaps no longer known as a heartthrob, is experiencing a remarkable career resurgence. He first achieved widespread fame in the 1990s and early 2000s with roles in films like The Mummy and Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists. He’s now slated to play President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the upcoming 2026 World War II movie, Pressure.
‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Marlon Brandon
Paramount Pictures
While films like Citizen Kane and Casablanca are often mentioned, many consider The Godfather to be the greatest movie ever made. This classic gangster film, and its two sequels, tells the story of the Corleone family, a powerful crime family in New York led by Vito Corleone (played by Marlon Brando). A central part of the story follows Vito’s youngest son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), and his transformation from a family member who wanted to stay out of the business to a cold and powerful mafia leader.
Marlon Brando’s career was revitalized thanks to director Francis Ford Coppola, who championed him despite Hollywood largely avoiding him due to his reputation for being challenging to work with. By the early 1970s, Brando was in financial trouble and even accepted a mere $50,000 to appear in the horror film The Nightcomers.
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Many consider Brando’s performance in this comeback role to be his best, cementing his place as a legend. While he continued to deliver solid work after the 1970s, it’s this role that truly defines his career. Despite remaining a challenging actor to collaborate with, his exceptional talent was always undeniable.
‘The Last Showgirl’ (2024)
Pamela Anderson
Roadside Attractions
The film The Last Showgirl centers around Shelly Gardner (Pamela Anderson), a Las Vegas showgirl in her 50s, who must confront an unpredictable future when the topless revue she’s performed in for thirty years announces its closure. The movie is based on a play called Body of Work by Kate Gersten, who wrote the screenplay. Gersten was inspired by her experiences attending the Jubilee! show in Las Vegas before it closed in 2016.
Though she’d been out of the spotlight for years, Anderson received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Even during her time on Baywatch, she often faced criticism, with people assuming she was just a pretty face. Some compared her to Marilyn Monroe, but she silenced those doubts with her performance in The Last Showgirl, brilliantly portraying a character who constantly shifted between hope and despair.
It’s surprising, but Anderson nearly didn’t get the role. Her agent at the time quickly rejected the offer, assuming she wasn’t up for such a difficult part, and didn’t even tell her about it. Luckily, director Gia Coppola contacted Anderson’s son, who shared the script with his mother. Anderson wasn’t even actively seeking acting work at the time. And now, after being fantastic in The Naked Gun, she has three more films in the works!
‘Everything, Everywhere, All At Once’ (2022)
Ke Huy Quan
A24
Released to widespread acclaim, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once is a major indie success story of recent years. The film features Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who learns she’s connected to alternate versions of herself across different universes. She must team up with these versions to save reality. Ke Huy Quan plays Waymond Wang, Evelyn’s kind and supportive husband.
After a 20-year break from acting, with his last role being in Second Time Around in 2002, Huy Quan delivered a stunning comeback. He not only won the Oscar for Best Actor but was also named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
The actor first became well-known for films like The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. However, he became frustrated with the limited roles available to Asian Americans in Hollywood at the time. Things have changed a lot recently, though. Following his success in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, he’s appeared in popular shows and movies like The White Lotus, Loki, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Zootopia 2.
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2025-12-25 02:07