The Worst Black A-List Hollywood Actors

Being an A-list star does not always mean every project hits the mark. Even the biggest names collect infamous flops, uneven performances, and dubious awards along the way. This list looks at household names who have racked up high profile misses, notorious misfires, or long stretches of weak choices despite massive fame. The focus is on career patterns, box office stumbles, and widely panned titles that stuck to their reputations. Everyone here is undeniably famous, yet their filmographies include enough trouble spots to land them on a worst list.

Vin Diesel

Diesel remains a cornerstone of the ‘Fast and Furious’ brand, yet solo vehicles falter. ‘The Last Witch Hunter’ underwhelmed and could not start a franchise. ‘Bloodshot’ faced tough reception and a constrained release window. Outside his signature series, the returns rarely match his marquee status.

Will Smith

Smith’s post peak run features costly underperformers that drew sharp reviews. ‘After Earth’ stalled with audiences and became a frequent reference for misjudged star vehicles. ‘Gemini Man’ struggled to justify its expense despite advanced tech hooks. ‘Bright’ found viewers at home but faced widespread criticism that dimmed franchise hopes.

Eddie Murphy

Murphy’s filmography contains notorious bombs that shaped his big screen reputation. ‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ became a textbook case of runaway costs and tiny returns. ‘Norbit’ sold tickets yet drew heavy criticism that lingered for years. A stream of formula family comedies did little to change the narrative.

Dwayne Johnson

Johnson’s star power did not guarantee consistent results outside a few reliable brands. ‘Baywatch’ missed expectations and drew weak notices. ‘Skyscraper’ underperformed relative to its global ambitions. ‘Black Adam’ arrived with franchise plans that stalled after a muted response.

Kevin Hart

Hart’s star vehicles often posted strong openings with poor holds that limited legs. ‘Get Hard’ and ‘Night School’ drew heavy criticism despite visibility. ‘The Man from Toronto’ shifted to streaming with muted cultural impact. Multiple similar high concept comedies struggled to build repeat business.

Tiffany Haddish

Haddish’s leap to headlining features produced uneven results. ‘The Kitchen’ underperformed and drew weak reviews. ‘Nobody’s Fool’ opened well then fell sharply in subsequent weekends. Several later titles went streaming first and faded quickly from conversation.

Halle Berry

Berry’s lead turns include infamous misfires that followed her award winning peak. ‘Catwoman’ became a cultural shorthand for superhero stumbles. ‘Movie 43’ added a poorly received anthology credit to her list. Several mid budget thrillers came and went with limited impact.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Gooding’s post Oscar years saw a steep shift toward low profile releases. ‘Boat Trip’ became a critical punching bag early in that slide. Many later titles bypassed wide theatrical runs. The brand settled into direct to video space with minimal attention.

Jaden Smith

Smith’s bid as a teen leading man peaked with ‘After Earth’ and collapsed quickly after poor word of mouth. ‘The Karate Kid’ earlier showed promise but did not form a durable film franchise. Later features arrived with minimal theatrical presence. The transition to sustained A-list status on film did not happen.

Terrence Howard

Howard’s star turns outside ensembles produced inconsistent outcomes. ‘Fighting’ and ‘Red Tails’ posted soft numbers against expectations. ‘Winnie Mandela’ released with little marketing and limited reach. The most visible success during this period came on television rather than theatrical leads.

Marlon Wayans

Wayans’ comedy vehicles struggled with critics and repeat business. ‘A Haunted House’ and its sequel were front loaded with steep drop offs. ‘Fifty Shades of Black’ arrived to weak reception and small totals. Several later titles went streaming first with limited impact.

Jamie Foxx

Foxx’s marquee roles swung between prestige and uneven commercial bets. ‘Robin Hood’ arrived to weak reception and short legs. ‘Sleepless’ and ‘Bait’ offered action beats without strong word of mouth. Several recent streaming originals passed quickly through the conversation.

John Boyega

Boyega’s post franchise slate leaned toward titles with constrained commercial reach. ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ underperformed and ended sequel momentum. ‘Detroit’ drew critical attention without significant box office. Later dramas favored limited runs over wide releases.

Wesley Snipes

Snipes’ big screen presence declined after a string of difficult outcomes. ‘Blade: Trinity’ closed the trilogy on a low note with poor reception. ‘Gallowwalkers’ and other titles arrived late or directly to video. Attempts to reestablish mainstream footing produced minimal theatrical returns.

Chris Rock

Rock’s film headliners have frequently drawn modest results. ‘Top Five’ earned praise but remained a niche performer commercially. ‘Spiral’ tried to refresh a horror brand and delivered mixed reception with short legs. Several comedies underperformed despite strong marketing pushes.

Common

Common’s attempts at leading roles yielded limited box office. ‘LUV’ and ‘Run All Night’ credited him within ensembles while solo showcases stayed small. ‘A Happening of Monumental Proportions’ barely registered theatrically. Visibility remained higher in supporting parts than in wide release leads.

Ice Cube

Cube’s family and action comedies delivered varied outcomes. ‘Are We Done Yet?’ sold tickets but received poor scores that limited repeat business. ‘First Sunday’ arrived to modest grosses and fast drop offs. Follow up projects often relied on brand familiarity without strong critical support.

Share the actors you would add to this list in the comments and tell us which titles you think best show why they belong.