Who are your ten most overrated actors?

[the*curse*of*pretoria]

By overrated I mean actors, whom, if it was up to you, would never have made it past their screen test. I have made a list of top ten actors and actresses pre 1970 as well as post 1970 and also television stars and movie directors but you can just name ten movie actors if you like.

As for my list, no debating, accusations, name-calling or threats will make me change my mind 🙂

TOP TEN OVERRATED MOVIE ACTORS POST 1970:

Tyler Perry, Kevin James, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Redford, Denzel Washington, Sam Worthington, Burt Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, George Clooney

TOP TEN OVERRATED MOVIE ACTRESSES POST 1970:

Kristen Stewart, Keira Knightley, Diane Lane, Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, Queen Latifah, Madonna, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Aniston, Rene Russo

TOP TEN OVERRATED MOVIE ACTORS PRE 1970:

Laurence Olivier, Humphrey Bogart, Clint Eastwood, Rod Taylor, Bob Hope, Lee Marvin, Peter O'Toole, Omar Shariff, John Wayne, Gene Kelly.

* there were so many for the above list(!) it was a struggle to narrow it down 😉

TOP TEN OVERRATED MOVIE ACTRESSES PRE 1970:

Betty Grable, Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Lana Turner, Doris Day, Eva-Marie Saint, Tippi Hedren, Cyd Chariise, Caroll Baker.

* the three names in bold above are actresses that I would place 1,2 and 3 most overrated actors male or female pre 1970 or post, including television, theatre, cinema and street performances in the history of entertainment. 🙂

TOP TEN OVERRATED TV STARS (MALE):

Drew Carey, Craig Ferguson, Jerry Stiller, Dr Phil, Ray Romano, Jon Cryer, Jerry Seinfeld, Don Rickles, David Spade, Michael Richards.

TOP TEN OVERRATED TV STARS (FEMALE)

Lucille Ball, Patricia Heaton, Ellen Degeneres, Wendie Malick, Sarah Chalke, Aisha Tyler, Kathy Griffin, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Kathy Kinney, Tina Fey.

* I didn't include many reality tv personalities in the above lists as everybody knows most are below consideration and are not stars.

10 MOST OVERRATED MOVIE DIRECTORS OF ALL TIME:

Roman Polanski, Quentin Tarantino, David Lean, Francis Ford Coppola, Barbara Streisand, Frederico Fellini, Cecil B. DeMille, Ingmar Bergman, Stanley Kubrick, Joseph Losey.

Enjoy 🙂 🙂 🙂

[toowoomba*tart]

I agree with some of your list but aren't you being a little harsh towards Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman? They were very good in Casablana.

[the_bob_delusion]

cool newbies.

THought we stopped getting new people on this forum. 

[the*curse*of*pretoria]

Ah...no. Casablanca is in my top ten worst movies ever list. Despite the fact that I couldn't have cared less what the Nazis did to the Bogart or Bergman characters, I thought the film was slow and "programme-fillerish", apart from the last five minutes which were brilliant - if only it had starred actors I cared about 😞

[toowoomba*tart]

Perhaps you need to consider Casablanca in the context of when it was made during the Second World War.

[the_great_she_elephant]

OP it would be interesting to read a list of your favourites, so we can see where you are coming from and better understand your choices.

[the*curse*of*pretoria]

Why should I watch any movie "in the context of when it was made?" I know movies of a certain age are in black and white, shaky editing and sound with stylised performances; some I like, some I don't and no history of the movie or the world at that time will influence whether I was entertained by that particular storyline and performances.

[the*curse*of*pretoria]

OP it would be interesting to read a list of your favourites, so we can see where you are coming from and better understand your choices.

I considered that but ran out of steam when I wrote this list, LOL. Plus I have many more favourites than I do dislikes, and I wouldn't know where to start. Also, I don't think I would appreciate every poster attacking actors I hold most dear 😉

[toowoomba*tart]

Why should I watch any movie "in the context of when it was made?" I know movies of a certain age are in black and white, shaky editing and sound with stylised performances; some I like, some I don't and no history of the movie or the world at that time will influence whether I was entertained by that particular storyline and performances.

You totally missed my point. When movie-goers in the Western World saw Casablanca in the early forties they didn't know if they would live or die, if the Nazis were on their doorstep. Many lovers had to part, often for always. It's reminiscent of the ending you love so much 🙂 

[the*curse*of*pretoria]

I didn't say I loved the ending, I said it was a brilliant piece of movie making and it was. As for the movie going audience relating to Casablanca, I don't think many had the opportunity to, as it was a resounding flop at the time of its release - far too downbeat and close to home to attract ticket buyers. The movie only developed a cult following decades down the line when people were no longer afraid of short Germans in uniforms.