In Hollywood, you are only as good as your last opening weekend. One day, you\u2019re the industry\u2019s golden child, and the next, you\u2019re a cautionary tale discussed in hushed tones at the Polo Lounge. For some stars, a single “risky” role, like a drug-fueled cameo or a masked mercenary, acts as a career defibrillator<\/a>, shocking their relevance back to life. For others, a poorly timed comedy or a $100 million shipwreck becomes a professional anchor, dragging even the brightest A-list reputations into the depths of “where are they now?” lists.<\/p>\n We are breaking down the high-stakes gambles that redefined the trajectories of eight Hollywood icons, proving that in Tinseltown, the line between a legendary second act and a permanent exit is thinner than a red carpet.<\/p>\n Screenshot from Neil Patrick Harris’ official Instagram page, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n For over a decade, Neil Patrick Harris was the poster child for the “former child star” trap. After Doogie Howser, M.D.<\/i><\/a> wrapped in 1993, Harris found himself primarily known for the stethoscope he\u2019d long since hung up. That all changed with a 2004 cult comedy about two guys looking for sliders.<\/p>\n In Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle<\/i><\/a>, Harris played a fictionalized, hyper-aggressive, drug-fueled version of himself. It was a masterclass in image subversion. By leaning into a hedonistic caricature, Harris proved he had the comedic range to move beyond his wholesome “Doogie” roots. As Reddit user ccarpenter9726<\/a> noted, while it wasn’t a “great role” in terms of screen time, it “put him back on the Hollywood radar.”<\/p>\n This bold risk was the direct catalyst for his casting as the legendary Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother<\/i>. Industry reports confirm that the creative team specifically looked at his Harold & Kumar<\/i> performance as proof that he could play a lovable, suit-wearing sociopath.<\/p>\n Screenshot from @jessicalangearchive, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n Jessica Lange was already a titan of the industry with two Oscars when she entered the 2010s, but she was arguably entering a “pre-retirement” phase. Then came Ryan Murphy. When American Horror Story<\/i><\/a> premiered in 2011, it didn’t just give Lange work; it gave her a brand-new generation of fans.<\/p>\n Lange\u2019s portrayal of Constance Langdon<\/a> in Murder House<\/i> reminded audiences of her terrifyingly sharp dramatic instincts. She became the cornerstone of the franchise, winning two Emmys across her four-season run. Fans on Reddit, including user BrazilianMerkin<\/a>, agree that “AHS definitely brought her back into the forefront.”<\/p>\n Interestingly, Lange originally intended to retire after the fourth season, Freak Show<\/i>. However, her creative partnership with Murphy proved too fruitful to quit. She eventually returned for Apocalypse<\/i> and went on to star in Feud: Bette and Joan<\/i>. As of early 2026, excitement is peaking as reports from Ryan Murphy Production<\/i>s social media confirm her return for the show\u2019s 13th season<\/a>, a move many thought would never happen after her 2025 comments stating, “Christ, no” to a return.<\/p>\n Screenshot from @john.wickfanclub, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n Before 2014, the “Keanu-ssance<\/a>” was a distant dream. After the Matrix<\/i> sequels concluded, Reeves entered a period defined by quiet indie projects and films like 47 Ronin<\/i> that failed to capture the zeitgeist. Online chatter at the time frequently “clowned on him for being a bad actor,” as Reddit user baberlay<\/a> points out.<\/p>\n Then came John Wick<\/i>. The film’s lean, stylish approach to action was the perfect vessel for Reeves\u2019 Zen-like intensity. It didn’t just relaunch his career; it redefined the modern action genre. According to reports, the film was born from a spec script titled Scorn<\/i><\/a>, and few expected it to launch a multi-billion-dollar franchise.<\/p>\n Today, the “Keanu is the best” sentiment is so ubiquitous that many fans have effectively “erased” the decade where he struggled to find his footing. He didn’t just return; he became the most protected man on the internet.<\/p>\n Screenshot from @bdq_birthday_quotes, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n If there is a textbook example of a “career-killing” movie that was somehow survived, it\u2019s Ryan Reynolds and Green Lantern<\/i> (2011). The film was a critical and commercial disaster, plagued by infamous CGI and a script that failed to land. For years, Reynolds was seen as “the guy who couldn’t launch a franchise.”<\/p>\n However, Reynolds\u2019 relentless passion for\u00a0Deadpool and the “accidental” leak of test footage saved him.\u00a0Deadpool<\/i> (2016) allowed Reynolds to lean into the meta-humor he\u2019s now famous for, often making self-deprecating jokes<\/a> about the Green Lantern<\/i> suit.<\/p>\n As Reddit user Locksley_1989<\/a> put it, his career was “destroyed by Green Lantern and revived by Deadpool.” Reynolds didn’t just get a second chance; he gained enough leverage to become a mogul, proving that owning your failures can be the most effective PR move in the book.<\/p>\n Screenshot from Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s official Instagram page, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the “it” boy of 2012. Between The Dark Knight Rises<\/i> and Looper<\/i>, he was everywhere. Then came Premium Rush<\/i>. While the film received decent reviews, it marked a shift in his visibility that some fans believe he never quite recovered from.<\/p>\n The production was notoriously grueling. In 2010, Gordon-Levitt famously crashed into a taxi while filming a bike stunt, requiring 31 stitches.<\/a> Footage of the bloody aftermath was even included in the film’s credits. While the movie cemented his reputation for dedication, it preceded a period where he moved away from major leading man roles to focus on his platform, HitRecord, and more niche projects.<\/p>\n Online speculation, such as comments from MaddenRob<\/a> on Reddit, suggests he\u2019s “not as popular as he was after that movie.” While Gordon-Levitt remains a respected actor, he hasn’t quite reclaimed the blockbuster “leading man” throne he held during his 2012 peak.<\/p>\n Screenshot from @hotmagazin, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n In 2007, Eddie Murphy was the undisputed frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his career-defining work in Dreamgirls<\/i>. He had the Golden Globe and the SAG Award in hand. Then, one week after his Oscar nomination was announced, Norbit<\/i> hit theaters.<\/p>\n The “Norbit Effect” is now a recognized Hollywood phenomenon. The contrast between the high-brow acclaim of Dreamgirls<\/i> and the low-brow, critically panned comedy of Norbit<\/i><\/a> reportedly gave Academy voters “whiplash.” Voters seeing billboards for Murphy in a fat suit while they were weighing his “serious” performance likely cost him the win.<\/p>\n Alan Arkin took the trophy for Little Miss Sunshine<\/i>, and Murphy famously left the ceremony<\/a> early. While he has since had a “comeback” with Dolemite Is My Name<\/i>, the 2007 loss remains one of the most cited examples of bad timing in award season history.<\/p>\n Screenshot from Hayden Christiansen’s official Instagram page, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n Hayden Christensen had the world at his feet after Life as a House<\/i>, but playing the most iconic villain in cinema history proved to be a double-edged lightsaber. The critical drubbing of the Star Wars<\/i> prequels, particularly Attack of the Clones<\/i> (2002), focused heavily on Christensen\u2019s performance and the “stilted” dialogue.<\/p>\n The actor eventually retreated from the spotlight, purchasing a farm in Ontario. He told reporters he felt his fame was “too handed to him” and he wanted to “earn” his way back. While he worked steadily in B-movies and indies for years, he was largely written off by major studios.<\/p>\n However, the narrative has shifted in the 2020s. A “vocal subset of Star Wars fans,” primarily Millennials who grew up with the prequels, have reclaimed him as a hero. His return in Obi-Wan Kenobi<\/i><\/a> and Ahsoka<\/i> has been met with emotional standing ovations, proving that while Attack of the Clones<\/i> may have stalled his trajectory in the 2000s, “patience” (as Christensen himself said) eventually led to a heartfelt redemption.<\/p>\n Screenshot from @greenadavisorg, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.<\/p>\n In 1995, Geena Davis was an Oscar-winning star with hits like Thelma & Louise<\/i> and A League of Their Own<\/i>. Then she starred in Cutthroat Island<\/i>, a pirate epic directed by her then-husband Renny Harlin. The film didn’t just flop; it bankrupted Carolco Pictures and held the Guinness World Record<\/a> for the “largest box office loss.”<\/p>\n The fallout was immediate. Davis, who was meant to be established as an action star, found that roles “dried up” almost overnight.<\/p>\n “I was getting offers, but for nothing meaty or interesting like in my 30s,” Davis recalled<\/a>. While she has remained an influential figure through the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, her days as a bankable Hollywood box-office lead effectively ended with that shipwreck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nNeil Patrick Harris<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Jessica Lange<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Keanu Reeves<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Ryan Reynolds<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Joseph Gordon-Levitt<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Eddie Murphy<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Hayden Christensen<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Geena Davis<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n