Sometimes, a superhero film just doesn't live up to fans' expectations, leading to general disappointment and even disgust from the viewership base that normally devours such a genre with great excitement. These films often become the subject of hatred and derision for years after their release.
While those involved in disappointing superhero films are often banished from the genre forever, sometimes, certain actors find a way of redeeming themselves, either acting or directing a brand new film that makes up for their mistakes of the past.
Jon Favreau
Though many know Jon Favreau from his later works, the directing icon has done his fair share of acting throughout his career as well. He made his first appearance in a superhero flick in 2003's Daredevil, playing Matt Murdock's best friend Foggy Nelson. The film was a commercial and critical flop, though Favreau's portrayal of Foggy was a highlight throughout.
While Daredevil himself was greatly improved upon in the 2015 Netflix series, Favreau found his redemption a bit earlier in directing 2008's Iron Man, the film that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Favreau also starred as Happy Hogan in this film, a role which he continues to reprise in various MCU projects to this day.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage has long been associated with the superhero scene and was at one point a favorite to play the DC superhero Superman. However, Cage's first shot at playing a superhero would come by ways of Marvel Comics, who cast him to play Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider. Though the film received negative reviews, Cage returned for a sequel in 2011, to a similar reception.
Though Cage has yet to return to the superhero scene in live-action, he has lent his voice to several animated films within the genre, most notably as Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The alternate reality Spider-Man proved to be a fan-favorite and is receiving his spinoff film soon.
Sylvester Stallone
In the mid-'90s, Sylvester Stallone seemed like the perfect actor to bring a comic book superhero to life. He attempted to do just that with his 1995 film Judge Dredd, based on the satirical dystopian series of the same name. The film was generally poorly reviewed, losing any hope for a franchise. A reboot starring Karl Urban premiered in 2012 to better reviews but flopped in the box office.
Stallone has had several roles in superhero films since his turn as Judge Dredd, first in Guardians of the Galaxy, vol. 2 as the Ravager leader Stakar Ogord, a role which he will reprise in the next installment of the franchise. More notably, however, he lent his voice to Nanaue, King Shark, in The Suicide Squad, a film in which Stallone's character proved to be a true scene-stealer.
Taika Waititi
Many superhero fans may not realize that director Taika Waititi first joined the superhero film scene as a supporting cast member in Green Lantern as engineer Tom Kalmaku. Green Lantern has since been dubbed one of the worst comic book films of all time, with star Ryan Reynolds frequently making fun of the movie in the years since its release.
After the colossal failure of Green Lantern, Waititi would move into the realm of directing when it came to superhero films, first dipping his toe into Norse mythology with the third Thor film, Ragnarok, in which he also provided the voice of Korg. Waititi's Thor sequel quickly became the most beloved of the franchise, earning that title character his fourth film, an honor no member of the MCU had received before.
Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin got his start in the superhero genre by playing DC's Jonah Hex, an antihero cowboy who faces off against the gang of Quentin Turnbill. The film was critically panned and flopped at the box office, only garnering a meager $11 million in its theatrical run.
Despite the failure of Jonah Hex, Josh Brolin was far from finished with the superhero genre. His turn as the Mad Titan Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proved to be game-changing, as his performance was specifically lauded in Avengers: Infinity War. The actor has since also appeared as the futuristic mutant Cable in Deadpool 2.
Karen Fukuhara
Karen Fukuhara made her infamous appearance in Suicide Squad as Kitana, an agent sent to help the titular team defeat the armies of the Enchantress. Her character was given very little to do throughout the film, which has since become one of the most ridiculed installments of the already troubled DCEU.
Fukuhara would get a second chance at the superhero genre, this time in The Boys. The actress appears throughout the show's first two seasons of the series as the mysterious character known as The Female, whose name is later revealed to be Kimiko. Fukuhara is expected to reprise her role in the acclaimed series when it returns for Season 3 later this year.
Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender joined the Josh Brolin-led Jonah Hex film in 2010, playing the villainous Burke. Fassbender's character was the unhinged right-hand man to the film's primary antagonist, Quentin Turnbill, marking the actor's first time playing a comic book villain.
Fassbender wouldn't have to wait long for his shot at redemption in the superhero genre, as he was cast as the young version of Magneto in X-Men: First Class the next year. His portrayal of the classic villain was lauded by critics and fans, even after the quality of the films stopped meeting the quality of his acting. Nevertheless, many fans continue to theorize how his version of the character could return when the mutants are introduced to the MCU.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan made headlines when he was cast as the Johnny Storm in the 2015 reboot of the Fantastic Four. The movie, directed by Josh Trank, was heavily altered by 20th Century Fox, who were eager to keep the film rights out of the hands of Marvel Studios. Fantastic Four flopped at the box office, ridiculed as one of the worst superhero films ever made.
Thankfully for Jordan, this wouldn't be his last chance at nabbing a role under the Marvel banner. The Creed actor signed on to former collaborate Ryan Coogler's Black Panther film as the main antagonist, Erik Killmonger. The film was met with acclaim from both fans and critics, with special for Jordan's performance.
Chris Evans
Chris Evans got his first role as a Marvel character in 2005, when he was cast as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in The Fantastic Four. The initial film was somewhat of a disappointment but earned a sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, which was met with similar distaste. While fans didn't exactly take to this version of the iconic character, some still hope that Evans could reprise his role as the Human Torch for a cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Just a few years after his brief stint as the Human Torch, Evans was cast in an even bigger superhero role, this time as Captain America in the MCU. Despite some early hesitancy from fans, Evans quickly became synonymous with the role of Steve Rogers, appearing in ten films as the character for nine years.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds has certainly had a storied history when it comes to superhero films. The actor appeared in not one, but three failed superhero movies before finally getting it right. Reynolds first joined Wesley Snipes's Blade Trinity as a supporting character in 2004, for what turned out to be the worst-reviewed film of the franchise. He appeared as Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009 and Hal Jordan in 2011's Green Lantern, both of which were ridiculed for being truly terrible superhero films.
Reynolds would get yet another chance at superhero stardom in 2016's Deadpool, where he reprised his role from X-Men: Origins, albeit without the many things that made the character a failure in the first film. This time around, Reynolds and the film were both met with praise, with the franchise propping up the X-Men films in their final years. Reynolds is expected to return as Deadpool shortly in the MCU.