There are dozens of actors in Hollywood that are mostly known for appearing B-movies. However, on rare occasions, big-name actors tend to pull a surprise by starring in low budget films that only get directed-to-video releases. Most of these movies tend to go unrecognized by mainstream audiences.
These movies don't often get the same kind of marketing and distribution that blockbusters enjoy. But once in a while, a few of them end up being cult classics. Here are a couple of famous actors and the direct-to-video movies you never knew they starred in.
10 Al Pacino: Hangman (2017)
The crime thriller centers on a detective who makes efforts to track a serial killer who draws inspiration from the popular kids game "Hangman." Al Pacino plays a detective, named Ray Archer. The weak plot and acting were heavily criticized (5% score on Rotten Tomatoes).
Audience reviews on IMDb weren't kind either. The movie was released direct-to-video and only made $316,728. How did Al Pacino found himself here? That's a question that audiences will forever ask themselves.
9 Keanu Reeves: Exposed (2016)
Keanu Reeves has had two phases of popularity as an actor. He was first a big name actor in the 90s, then faded in the 2000s before coming back with a bang in the 2010s, thanks to the John Wick franchise. But he didn't make this cop drama in the 2000s. He made it very recently, at the height of his fame.
In the direct-to-video movie, Detective Scott Galban (Keanu Reeves) decides to find out the truth behind his partner's recent death. He soon discovers a major conspiracy that involves some of his fellow police officers. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a score of 8%.
8 Christian Bale: Harsh Times (2006)
When the movie came out, Bale was already a huge star, having appeared in Batman Begins (the first installment of the Dark Knight Trilogy), as well as American Psycho. The crime film was also the directorial debut of Suicide Squad's David Ayer.
In Harsh Times, a Gulf War veteran is offered a job at the Department of Homeland Security but fails to get it after cheating during a drug test. He soon finds himself taking odd mercenary jobs in Colombia and Mexico while struggling with alcohol addiction.
7 Charlize Theron: The Last Face (2016)
Directed by Sean Penn, the movie centers on Wren (Charlize Theron), a doctor and human rights activist with the medical aid organization that her father started in West Africa. Though Wren likes her job, she often feels inadequate and considers her work inferior to her father's.
Wren soon meets an falls in love with a surgeon named Miguel. However, their relationship takes a hit when she finds out that he slept with her cousin. Despite Theron being a big star, the movie was never considered for a theatrical release.
6 Samuel L Jackson: Cell (2016)
This horror film was adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name. It had a direct-to-video release in 2016 after it was dropped by its distribution company. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently has a score of 11%. John Cusack also served as an actor and producer.
The premise? A man named Clay happens to be at the Boston airport when people begin behaving in a bizarre manner. He then realizes that all phone users have been transformed into senseless killers due to faulty electronic signals. He thus teams up with an equally-shocked train driver (Jackson) to battle the rabid murderers.
5 Morgan Freeman: Edison (2005)
Well, it's now obvious that big-name actors don't feel quite at home in B-movies. Edison was also critically panned. It's one of the rare films to have a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The original plan was to release it in theaters but Sony Pictures opted for the direct-to-video route after all early reviews were negative.
The movie, which also stars Justin Timberlake and LL Cool J, follows a group of corrupt law enforcement officers called F.R.A.T. Soon, a zealous journalist finds a way to expose them.
4 Mark Wahlberg: Mojave (2015)
Mark Wahlberg's movies don't always get a lot of love from critics but the majority of them do tend to do well at the box office. This time, it was a whole different case. The B-movie wasn't released theatrically and it didn't get any buzz in the media either.
Wahlberg plays a Hollywood executive named Norman. The plot revolves around an artist named Thomas who encounters a homicidal drifter named Jack. After spotting him, Jack trails Thomas to his Los Angeles mansion, and soon, murder and mayhem begin.
3 Forest Whitaker: Hurricane Season (2009)
Given that he's an Oscar winner, it felt odd seeing Whitaker in a movie that never hit theaters. The actor who is currently riding high with the hit TV show Godfather of Harlem has had a couple of bad movies but they normally get theatrical releases.
This sports drama is based on the real-life story of John Ehret High School's 2005–06 State championship team. After Hurricane Katrina, a high school basketball coach assembles a team from students who previously attended several different schools before the major disaster and leads them to victory.
2 Johnny Depp: The Professor (2018)
On paper, this looks like the type of movie that should be a top contender during award season but that was hardly the case. The Professor was never screened in cinemas, and despite a strong performance from Depp, it still didn't go viral after it's direct-to-video release.
Depp plays a humble college lecturer named Richard who morphs into a rule-breaking party animal after learning that he has a terminal disease. To the bemusement of his wife and chancellor, Richard leads the students in rebelling against all forms of authority.
1 Chris Evans: Playing It Cool (2015)
When he was ruling the world as Captain America, Chris Evans starred in a romantic comedic that went unnoticed. The plot revolves around a screenwriter named Me (Evans) who desires to write action blockbusters but his agent feels he is better suited for a romcom.
This proves to be a challenge because he totally doesn't believe in love. However, his perspective changes when he meets and falls in love with a woman named Her. Sadly, he later discovers that she is engaged. The movie was only released on BluRay and DirectTV.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/2MDus1L
0 Comments