25 Wonderful Performances In Notoriously Bad Movies

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The Counselor is an ambitious and nihilistic slow-burn thriller with a bit of an identity crisis, but an incredible performance from Michael Fassbender as a lawyer who finds himself at the wrong end of the drug trade anchors the film in a tangible and devastating way.

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Dreamcatcher is often considered to be one of the worst Stephen King adaptations that is bolstered by its great cast, the standout of which is Damian Lewis in a haywire, multifaceted performance well-suited for the material.

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Though Raising Cain is considered among the more lackluster and convoluted films in Brian de Palma's ouevre, there's no denying that John Lithgow's performance will keep your eyes glued to the screen from start to finish.

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A visually stunning but ultimately misguided follow-up to Duncan Jones' breakout film Moon, Paul Rudd impressively ventures outside of his comfort zone to play a volatile yet empathetic black market surgeon in this sci-fi noir.

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Cats is a mess from start to finish, but if there's anyone who "understood the assignment," it's Jason Derulo, who embraces the outrageous nature of the musical and appears to be the only one having fun.

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Another controversial Stephen King adaptation, Ian McKellan is undeniable as the sadistic and manipulative antagonist in Apt Pupil, elevating the film in every scene he inhabits.

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Black Dog is a fairly run-of-the-mill action film that truly comes alive during its admittedly thrilling high speed chases or when the late, great Meat Loaf graces the screen as the film's effortlessly intimidating villain.

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Samuel Bayer's lazy and abysmal take on this classic franchise fails on almost every level with the glaring exception of the inspired casting of the terrifying Jackie Earle Haley.

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The Intruder is a modern exploitation film that redefined "dumb fun," but a scene-stealing turn from a perverse and murderous Dennis Quaid makes the whole affair well-worth your time.

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Ma may have been a surprise hit at the box office, but the film's success is largely hitched to the amazing performance from Octavia Spencer in the titular role.

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Regrettably typecast after his breakout role in Psycho, Anthony Perkins delivers a jaw-dropping and magnetic performance in Ken Russell's sleazy suspense-thriller Crimes of Passion.

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There were many Quentin Tarantino knock-offs that emerged in the 1990s independent film scene, but Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead at least had a number of character acting greats keeping it afloat, chief of which was a memorable and darker-than-expected Christopher Lloyd.

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Even though Christian Bale received more attention for his transformative performance of Dick Cheney in Vice, Richard Dreyfuss deserves much more credit for his more damning and biting portrayal of the former vice president in Oliver Stone's unnecessary and largely forgotten W.

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Though the remake of Willard doesn't have the ingredients for a legitimately great film, Crispin Glover nearly buckles his knees carrying the film on his back with an unwavering commitment to its creepy, crawly premise.

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Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut essentially came and went in 2017, leaving behind a legacy as an underwhelming Oscar bait title that could not be saved by a phenomenal lead performance from Jessica Chastain.

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Ti West's attempt to venture into the world of Westerns may have been a mixed bag, but critics and audiences agreed that Travolta's turn as the film's big bad had been some of his most captivating work in years.

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While Clancy Brown routinely steals the films in which he appears, regardless of quality, the aforementioned actor is the menacing MVP of this oft-derided sequel.

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Often considered as one of the last excellent performances from the troubled actor, Johnny Depp is borderline unrecognizable and absolutely unsettling in this overlong and unfocused crime drama.

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Killer Elite fails to impress with a stacked cast, including Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro, but the film shines brightest through an infectiously fun performance from a mustachioed Dominic Purcell.

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Wesley Snipes has always been able to bring the pain throughout his career as an actor, but few of his roles have been as astounding as his understated and hypnotizing performance in the largely lame-duck crime flick, Brooklyn's Finest.

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The Ladykillers is frequently cited as the worst of the Coen Brothers' collective output, but can never be entirely disregarded thanks to a devilishly dedicated turn from Tom Hanks that deserves your attention.

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Delroy Lindo is a valuable asset to any project with which he associates, but he almost solely grounds Tony Scott's otherwise frenetic and flawed Domino.

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While many despised that Bug was not the body horror thriller that they may have expected from The Exorcist director William Friedkin, the performances on display refused to be ignored, including Ashley Judd's stunning, paranoid horrifying against-type role as a woman seduced by the conspiracies of her lover.

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Richard Kelly's surreal and mind-boggling sophomore feature never quite caught on with audiences, which is somewhat a shame since Dwayne Johnson really offers a performance so starkly different from the typical reserved leading roles for which he's known in this day and age.

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"For me... it was Tuesday." Raul Julia's final film role brought gravitas to the cartoonish and goofy Street Fighter adaptation, a Herculean feat that remains a shining testament to his legacy as one of the best performers of his generation.