Oftentimes in Hollywood, pairing up two big-name actors is a sure-fire recipe for a hit film. This formula has led to blockbuster franchises such as Bad Boys, critical darlings like Rain Man, and cult classics such as Face/Off. Throughout the years, there have been countless examples of successful movie star team-ups.
However, for every hit, there are also misfires. Sometimes the movie is a famous flop, such as Passengers. But the worst possible outcome is when famous actors come together to work on a film that the public forgets about entirely. Whether it was because the chemistry was off or the film was just poorly received, there are many movie star team-ups that people have forgotten about.
Denise Richards And Paul Walker (Tammy And The T-Rex)
Tammy and the T-Rex is a truly one-of-a-kind film from 1994. The movie follows a young man who is fed to a lion by his girlfriend’s ex. After the mauling, he is kidnapped by a mad scientist who transplants his brain into an animatronic T-Rex and he goes on a vengeful killing spree. The movie is unforgettable for anyone who has seen it, but unfortunately, few people have seen it.
Tammy is played by Denise Richards, famous for Wild Things, The World Is Not Enough, and Starship Troopers. Michael, the man who becomes a robot dinosaur, is played by Paul Walker, who played Brian O’Conner in the Fast and the Furious franchise.
Queen Latifah And Jimmy Fallon (Taxi)
Directed by Tim Story, Taxi is about a police officer who is banned from driving, forcing him to team up with a taxi driver in order to solve a string of bank robberies in New York City. Unfortunately, the movie was universally panned by critics and was quickly forgotten.
Taxi stars Jimmy Fallon as Officer Washburn. While he has appeared in numerous shows and films, he is best known for his time on Saturday Night Live and now as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Taxi driver Isabelle is played by Queen Latifah, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Chicago and now stars in the show The Equalizer.
Arnold Schwarzenegger And Jackie Chan (Iron Mask)
Also known as Viy 2: Journey to China, Iron Mask (as it was titled in the UK) is a Chinese-Russian fantasy adventure movie that follows a British cartographer who undergoes a harrowing and magical journey from England to China.
The movie features two of the most iconic action stars of all time in Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan. Iron Mask is actually the second movie Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan have appeared in together, after the 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days.
Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, And Justin Timberlake (Trouble With The Curve)
Trouble with the Curve follows an aging baseball scout in poor health who asks his daughter to help him scout a top prospect. During the trip, the two hash out the sorted details of their past. Additionally, he runs into a former player he had scouted who has now become a scout for a rival team and is interested in the man’s daughter. After all of the drama, the team must make its draft selection and the scout must decide whether to trust advanced analytics or his daughter’s intuition.
The movie stars Clint Eastwood as the aging scout, Amy Adams as his daughter, and Justin Timberlake as the man she falls for. While the movie’s predictable plot made it forgettable, these famous actors actually had strong onscreen chemistry.
Chris Rock And Anthony Hopkins (Bad Company)
Bad Company is an example of what happens when everything that can possibly go wrong with a film does. Chris Rock plays dual roles, first as a skilled CIA agent who is killed in the line of duty and then as his immature twin brother who must take his place after his death. The agent is teamed up with an older agent, played by Anthony Hopkins, in order to stop a terrorist attack on New York City.
Because of its subject matter, the movie was forced to delay its release after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. When the film finally did come out, it was criticized for its familiar plot and poor chemistry between the two leads.
Viola Davis And Jennifer Lopez (Lila & Eve)
2015’s Lila & Eve follows a simple and familiar story of two women who team up to dole out vigilante justice after one of them finds out that her son has been murdered. The performances and chemistry received some recognition, but the movie was deemed too generic and forgettable.
Lila is played Academy Award winner Viola Davis, who is best known for her performances in Fences, The Help, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Eve is played by Jennifer Lopez, who, in addition to her singing career, is known for roles in Hustlers, Selena, and Anaconda.
Leslie Nielsen And Andy Griffith (Spy Hard)
After initially starting his career as a dramatic actor, Leslie Nielsen found huge success later in his life as a dead-pan comedic actor, starring in comedy classics such as Airplane!, The Naked Gun, and the Scary Movie franchise. In the less than memorable Spy Hard, he stars as secret agent Dick Steele who must stop the villainous General Rancor from destroying the world.
In an odd casting choice, the evil General Rancor is played by legendary actor Andy Griffith, who played iconic characters in The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock.
Eddie Murphy And Robert De Niro (Showtime)
Showtime is a satire of the buddy cop genre that sees two opposite cops forced to pair up together to star in a reality show about police officers while also trying to bust a dangerous arms dealer. The film attempts meta-humor and commentary, including jokes like T.J. Hooker actor William Shatner playing himself as an acting consultant on the show.
The film stars Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro, both of whom have had great success in crime movies and comedies. However, the movie does not work and the film was quickly dismissed by critics and audiences.
Steven Martin, Beyoncé, And Jason Statham (The Pink Panther)
The Pink Panther is a 2006 remake of the Peter Sellers classic. Following the murder of a soccer coach and theft of his priceless Pink Panther diamond ring, Inspector Jacques Clouseau must team up with the coach’s popstar girlfriend in order to solve the murder and recover the Pink Panther diamond.
Inspector Clouseau is played by comedian Steve Martin, popstar Xania is played by real-life superstar Beyoncé, and soccer coach Yves Gluant is played by action star Jason Statham. The movie ultimately cannot live up to the original, but it has its moments, mostly thanks to Steve Martin’s committed performance.
Sylvester Stallone And Dolly Parton (Rhinestone)
Released in 1984, Rhinestone is a musical comedy in which a country singer makes a bet with her manager that she can turn anyone into a famous country singer. To win the bet, she must turn a talentless New York taxi cab driver into a star.
Rhinestone stars Dolly Parton as country singer Jake. As an actual musician, she is a natural selection to play the role. However, the role of the cab driver who becomes a singer is played by Sylvester Stallone, in a head-scratching casting choice. the film, and Sylvester Stallone in particular, received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Even worse, Stallone turned down roles in the hit films Beverly Hills Cop and Romancing the Stone to make this completely forgettable film instead.
