The Most Phoned-In Performances of All Time

[Schlosser85]

So did Dakota Fanning. And if Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson weren't phoning it in, they certainly seemed like it, though that might just be them being bad actors.

I felt like Michael Sheen had more fun in New Moon than in Breaking Dawn. Like NM was just this campy little cameo but by Breaking Dawn he was just tired of this crap and wanted to get it over with.

 

[Snow Queen]

Michael Sheen at least was enjoying himself. He made Breaking Dawn, Part 2 so much fun to watch. Still awful, but fun.

 

[Ultimatehero]

John Malkovich - Jonah Hex, Transformers 3 and Beowulf

Eric Bana - Star Trek

George Clooney & Arnold Schwarzenneggar - Batman & Robin

Tommy Lee Jones - Batman Forever

Hugo Weaving - Captain America: TFA, the Transformers films

I'd say the biggest compliment an actor can get is that no one even knew they were in the film despite being the primary antagonist. What he did in Star Trek is nearly impossible to do.

 

[MrMaooz]

Eric Bana was actually pretty good in ST.

 

[Schlosser85]

I thought he was "meh", but I don't know how much was Bana and how much was having a really thin character. Nero was basically a plot device to bring the Enterprise crew together.

I really don't agree with some of the performances being named as "phoned in", but there are a lot of good calls as well.

I actually don't think Ian McKellen was phoning it in in The Da Vinci Code. It's not like it's one of his best roles or anything, but I think he was actually enjoying himself (probably because he got to bash the church, which he just loves to do). He made the whole Last Supper analysis a lot more animated and less boring than it could have been.

 

[Piper Maru]

Martin Sheen in The Amazing Spider-Man. It was an awful movie anyways, but I digress.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Gene Hackman in Wyatt Earp

Marlon Brando as Jor-El

John Malkovich in Warm Bodies

Raymond Burr in Godzilla 1985

Ian McKellen in The Hobbit

I completely disagree with that one. He was hands down the best part of that overly long film.

 

[Schlosser85]

Martin Sheen in The Amazing Spider-Man. It was an awful movie anyways, but I digress.

I agree with this one. I thought he was really bland and Cliff Robertson made more impression.

It was hard to care when Sheen died.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Bill Murray- Ghostbusters: The Video Game.

Although I loved having the entire cast back, Bill didn't seem into it. In all actuality, Murray stays so monotone I didn't think it was him at first. Still, as basically GB3, it worked and is an extremely minor criticism from me.

 

[MrMaooz]

I agree with this one. I thought he was really bland and Cliff Robertson made more impression.

It was hard to care when Sheen died.

Plus, just say the freaking "With Great Power" line without paraphrasing it!

 

[Infinity9999x]

Plus, just say the freaking "With Great Power" line without paraphrasing it!

Not really his fault for the writing.

Though I easily enjoyed TASM more then any of the Raimi films, so I had no problem with his acting.

 

[MrMaooz]

Not really his fault for the writing.

Though I easily enjoyed TASM more then any of the Raimi films, so I had no problem with his acting.

Yeah, I know. I just found that part really dumb. I enjoyed TASM too and I thought it was pretty good.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Yeah, I know. I just found that part really dumb. I enjoyed TASM too and I thought it was pretty good.

Yeah, there were definitely issues that I didn't like. I actually didn't think they needed to tell the origin again. Had they gone the SSM route and just started with him already as Spidey it would have been fine.

But I digress. Back to the topic at hand...

This isn't really one of the most phoned in I've seen by any means, but Shannon in MOS didn't impress me as much as I expected. He a bit one note. I wanted to see a little more from him. So I would say he give some light phoned in vibes.

 

[dark_b]

How many actors would do any role for free?

Sure, you have some actors like Hugh Jackman who would do Wolverine for free because that's a passion character for him. But everything else? A paycheck is certainly a part of it. The only time a paycheck really doesn't become a part of it is when it is an indie film - the actor wants to be in it, but they can't afford him so they'll take a cut. But, when it's not indie and they can afford them? Paycheck certainly always crosses every actor's mind and for every role.

x-men and WOlverine is the only franchise that Jackman has where he 100% knows that it will make a big profit. its the only safe money maker. he never for a second thought about lowering the paycheck or make it for free. he tryed with a lot of movies to start a new franchise. never worked.

 

[Octoberist]

Michael Madsen in both 'Sin City' and 'Die Another Day' was distractly bad and phoned in.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Keifer Sutherland in Phone Booth. Literally.

 

[the last son]

Kevin Costner Man Of Steel

 

[Deserana]

Jesse Eisenberg in Now You See Me.

The guy was just in Zuckerberg mode.

 

[MrMaooz]

Bruce Willis in The COld Light of Day

 

[Schlosser85]

Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes in the remake of Clash of the Titans

 

[StarLord]

Tommy Lee Jones - CA:TFA

 

[Still Wynning]

Kevin Costner Man Of Steel

I actually thought that his role as Pa Kent was one of the best performances he's given in years. And I don't even like him that much as an actor, so that's saying something.

I think you're projecting just because you didn't like the film.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Eric Bana was actually pretty good in ST.

Precisely. I mean, could anyone tell if it was Bana before being told or looking it up? I still can't believe that's him. And while yes, makeup is a part of it - there are still plenty of phenomenal actors that can't blend 100% even with that.

 

[Ultimatehero]

x-men and WOlverine is the only franchise that Jackman has where he 100% knows that it will make a big profit. its the only safe money maker. he never for a second thought about lowering the paycheck or make it for free. he tryed with a lot of movies to start a new franchise. never worked.

Which you know how? Also - how do you know Hugh wants BIG blockbusters? Did he state this? He can't lower it or work for nothing because even celebrities need to keep their financial intake the same - especially when the film can pay you your usual amount. But, his love for the character that started his career is more than evident.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Plus, just say the freaking "With Great Power" line without paraphrasing it!

I still don't understand why that line wasn't used... its so famous.

Paraphrasing the line is about as silly as someone making a Batman movie and having the following exchange: "Who are you?" "I'm a man who dresses up like a bat."