One thing is certain: not all television superstars possess the stardom required of a Hollywood star. While names such as George Clooney and Will Smith seem to transition from television to film with ease, there are just as many television stars whose mindless attempts at stardom in Hollywood fall short of success. We’re counting down these actors, from those who failed the hardest to those who nearly reached stardom, because watching television stars flail about in Hollywood is much more interesting than watching them conquer television.
10. Aaron Paul
One of the greatest television performances ever was given by Aaron Paul as the unforgettable Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad was a very hard act to follow. Of course, the expectations for his movie career were equally great. Sadly, his first film venture, Need for Speed, stalled at the starting line instead of revving into a franchise. Although he continues to reign on television with roles in Westworld and Black Mirror, there was no gear shift for movie greatness.
9. Charlie Hunnam
Sons of Anarchy made Charlie Hunnam a household name, but his big-screen career has been a series of close calls and letdowns. He famously passed on Fifty Shades of Grey, a decision he says still gnaws at him, and his prospective blockbusters like King Arthur bombed. His strongest big-screen effort yet? Maybe The Gentleman. Still, television is where Hunnam’s glow is brightest.
8. David Duchovny
As Fox Mulder on The X-Files and Hank Moody on Californication, David Duchovny became a legend. On the big screen, however, it didn’t work out. Yes, he showed up in some great cameo parts (Evolution, Zoolander), but he never emerged as a leading man. Now, at this juncture, Duchovny seems like the very definition of a TV-first legend, just where he should be.
7. Jon Hamm
Don Draper made Jon Hamm a cool icon, yet Hollywood never anointed him a movie star. He’s had great supporting roles in movies such as Baby Driver and Top Gun: Maverick, but he’s hardly ever in the lead. Passing on Gone Girl, a part that might have marked a turning point, was a huge what-if. Hamm has tons of Emmys, but superstardom in film never knocked.
6. Kaley Cuoco
Penny on The Big Bang Theory catapulted Kaley Cuoco into one of the most famous faces in sitcom history. Yet when she turned to films, she never quite hit it big. Instead, Cuoco came back to TV with The Flight Attendant and the voice work on Harley Quinn, two endeavors that have done so much more for her career than any romantic comedy ever could. Sometimes home is where the television is.
5. Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel was a favorite on 7th Heaven, but her transition to film never caught on. She acted in a series of action movies and comedies, but none made an impact. In a twist of fate, her strongest work came in a return to the world of TV, particularly The Sinner, which received serious critical acclaim. The film never panned out, but Biel has established a robust persona on television.
4. Mary-Louise Parker
Weeds made Mary-Louise Parker a Showtime star, but her film career never caught up. Movies such as R.I.P.D. and Red 2 disappointed, and she hasn’t been in a noteworthy role in a long time. Parker’s strongest work is always on television, where her quick wit and rich performances receive the attention they deserve.
3. Topher Grace
Topher Grace will always be Eric Forman of That ’70s Show. On the big screen, though, his career plateaued. He attempted leading roles in films such as In Good Company and even dipped into villainy as Venom in Spider-Man 3. Ever since, he’s been a steady supporting actor (BlacKkKlansman, Interstellar) before returning to television. Grace is a testament that sitcom fame doesn’t always translate to movie stardom.
2. Michael C. Hall
As Dexter Morgan, Michael C. Hall emerged as one of television’s greatest antiheroes. But whereas his career on television flourished, his career on film hardly registered. Even though his future did seem to be a horror-movie franchise, he’s only starred in one horror film. For whatever reason, Hollywood never did offer him the kind of parts that could equal his television excellence.
1. Kiefer Sutherland
Before 24, Kiefer Sutherland was an established film star with classics such as The Lost Boys and A Few Good Men. However, after Jack Bauer became his signature role, Hollywood roles dried up. Today, he’s still ubiquitous in TV suspense series like Designated Survivor and Rabbit Hole, but his days as a film headliner are over. Television ultimately became the home field for Sutherland.
And there you have it, ten television legends who demonstrate that the transition from TV to movie stardom is by no means inevitable. Although their careers on the big screen never reached the heights predicted, all of them left an indelible mark on television history nonetheless. Sometimes, the little screen truly is the greatest stage of all.