Every generation of actors faces a moment that changes everything, a role that challenges expectations, reinvents their image, and cements their place in cinematic history. For Zac Efron, that moment arrived with The Iron Claw, where his portrayal of wrestler Kevin Von Erich stunned audiences with emotional intensity and physical commitment. But Efron isn’t alone. From breakout reinventions to daring career pivots, many stars have found themselves reborn through a single transformative performance.
Zac Efron – The Iron Claw (2023)
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Zac Efron has his breakthrough with his role as Troy Bolton in the “High School Musical” series, before transitioning to more mature projects in comedies such as “17 Again,” “Bad Neighbors” or “The Greatest Showman,” which were well received.
However, some of his most recent films weren’t as successful, and he got typecast in typical “bro comedies” such as “Dirty Grandpa,” “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” and more. But in 2023, Efron finally had a triumphal return to drama with “The Iron Claw,” for which he received critical acclaim.
Robert Pattinson – Good Time (2017)
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British actor Robert Pattinson became the late 2000s heartthrob thanks to his role as Edward Cullen in the “Twilight” saga, which also earned him worldwide fame. However, the role didn’t exactly come with critical acclaim or industry recognition.
Thankfully, Pattinson followed his instincts and went on to act in several indie films with some of the greatest directors, slowly earning a reputation as an interesting performer. But it was his performance in the crime thriller “Good Time,” directed by the Safdie Brothers, who shed his former image for once and for all, and led him to other roles such as “Tenet” and “The Batman.” On friday, November 7th, the expected movie Die My Love, where he co-starrs along Jennifer Lawrence, will be released.
Greta Lee – Past Lives (2023)
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After building a career in Hollywood with supporting roles in TV shows such as “Russian Doll,” “The Good Fight,” “Chance” or “The Morning Show,” Greta Lee’s career took a wild turn thanks to her leading role in Celine Song’s drama “Past Lives.”
It was Lee’s first leading role in a film, and also her first time speaking Korean on camera. If there was any doubt that Lee was a talented performer, her nuanced, emotional portrayal of Nora proved that she deserves bigger things.
Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa (2006)
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Just as his iconic character, Sylvester Stallone had a spectacular comeback in 2006, when he once again reprised his role as the underdog boxer in “Rocky Balboa,” the sixth installment of the franchise and one of the most beloved entries of the series.
Actually, the script, which Stallone wrote, was inspired by his own struggles with success in the early 2000s, as he had a three year hiatus after some failed projects. “Rocky Balboa” also served as his first directorial effort, making an even more incredible comeback.
Marlon Brando – The Godfather (1972)
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Marlon Brando ascended to mega stardom with iconic performances in classics such as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront,” solidifying his status as one of the greatest actors of Hollywood’s golden age.
However, the trajectory of his career took a sharp downturn in the early 1960s, marked by a series of flops and a growing reputation for being challenging to collaborate with. Thanks to Francis Ford Coppola’s decision to cast him in “The Godfather,” followed by memorable roles in “Last Tango in Paris” and “Apocalypse Now,” he was able to revitalize his career.
John Travolta – Pulp Fiction (1994)
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After being one of the most bankable and acclaimed actors of the 1970s thanks to his roles in movies such as “Grease,” and “Saturday Night Fever,” the latter for which he received his first Oscar nomination, Travolta’s career suffered a decline in the next decade.
“Two of a Kind,” “Perfect” and “Staying Alive” were commercial and critical failures. However, he had a comeback when he was casted against type as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” (1994). The role that not only helped him earn his second Oscar nomination, but also revived his career.
Reese Witherspoon – Wild (2014)
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Witherspoon was a rom-com queen in the early 2000s thanks to movies such as “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” before transitioning to more dramatic roles such as June in “Walk The Line” (for which she won an Academy Award).
However, after her win, she had a career downturn with only one box-office hit (“Water For Elephants”). It was the biopic “Wild,” which finally saw her earning critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination, as well as commercial success.
Robert Downey Jr. – Iron Man (2008)
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Robert Downey Jr. finally won his first Oscar in 2024 thanks to his supporting role in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” However, the actor’s career (and the past decade of film) wouldn’t have been what it is today without his role as Tony Stark in 2008’s “Iron Man.”
After the actor’s problems with addiction and his subsequent recovery, he slowly came back to film thanks to Mel Gibson’s help (paying his insurance bond for “The Singing Detective”), he got other roles in well-received movies like “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Zodiac.” However, “Iron Man” also gave him worldwide stardom, his first box office hit and changed his image for good.
Brendan Fraser – The Whale (2022)
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Thanks to his roles in box-office hits such as “The Mummy” series and “George of the Jungle,” as well as other dramatic turns in films such as “God and Monsters” or “Crash.” However, his career had a fall down during the 2000s, as he faced some health problems, as well as the aftermath of an assault against him in the Golden Globes 2003.
After leaving Hollywood and focusing in TV roles for a while, Fraser had his triumphal return thanks to Darren Aronosfky’s “The Whale,” for which he won the Oscar as Best Actor in 2023. He then appeared in Martin Scorsese’s “Killer of The Flower Moon.”
Kate Winslet – Ammonite (2020)
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Winslet has always been a brilliant actress, gaining worldwide recognition thanks to her roles in films such as “Sense and Sensibility,” “Titanic,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.” For the latter, she won the Oscar for Best Actress.
However, between 2012 and 2019, her career suffered a downturn, with some of her worst reviews of her career. It was in 2020, thanks to this romantic drama Ammonite, in which she stars alongside Soaoirse Ronan, that she had a resurgence
