Latino Actors Who Completely Rebounded from Flops

The road to stardom in Hollywood is rarely a straight line and often involves navigating through critical failures or box office bombs. Even the most talented performers face setbacks that threaten to derail their careers permanently. Many Latino actors have shown incredible resilience by bouncing back from high-profile flops to achieve lasting success and critical acclaim. These men proved that talent and perseverance can overcome a bad script or a disastrous project. Here are Latino actors who completely rebounded from flops.

John Leguizamo

This versatile performer starred in the notorious live-action adaptation of ‘Super Mario Bros.’ during the early nineties. The movie was a massive critical and commercial failure that is often cited as one of the worst video game adaptations ever made. Leguizamo recovered by returning to his roots in theatre and securing roles in hits like ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’. He eventually became a household voice in the ‘Ice Age’ franchise and recently delivered a standout performance in ‘The Menu’.

Antonio Banderas

The Spanish actor faced a significant career hurdle with the release of ‘The 13th Warrior’ in 1999. The production was plagued by issues and resulted in one of the biggest box office losses in history. Banderas quickly pivoted to family entertainment by starring in the ‘Spy Kids’ franchise and voicing Puss in Boots. He later achieved a career high by receiving an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in ‘Pain and Glory’.

Benicio del Toro

He took a major risk by starring in the 2010 remake of ‘The Wolfman’ which failed to impress critics or audiences. The movie struggled at the box office and paused his momentum as a leading man in blockbusters. Del Toro rebounded brilliantly by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Collector. He solidified his comeback with his terrifying and acclaimed performance as Alejandro in the gritty thriller ‘Sicario’.

Diego Luna

Early in his Hollywood career he starred in ‘Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights’ which was dismissed by critics as an unnecessary sequel. The film underperformed and failed to launch him as a traditional romantic lead in American cinema. Luna refocused on character-driven projects and directing before landing the role of Cassian Andor in ‘Rogue One’. He now leads his own successful television series in the ‘Star Wars’ universe with ‘Andor’.

Benjamin Bratt

The actor played the love interest in the 2004 film ‘Catwoman’ which is frequently listed among the worst superhero movies of all time. The project was a critical disaster that swept the Golden Raspberry Awards and hurt the careers of everyone involved. Bratt maintained a steady presence on television before experiencing a massive resurgence. He voiced a lead character in the Pixar smash hit ‘Coco’ and earned praise for his role in ‘Poker Face’.

Oscar Isaac

He played the titular villain in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ but was buried under heavy prosthetics that hindered his performance. Fans and critics expressed disappointment with the character design and the film received mixed reviews. Isaac shook off the criticism by delivering complex performances in smaller films like ‘The Card Counter’. He successfully returned to the comic book genre with the Marvel series ‘Moon Knight’ and played a key role in ‘Dune’.

Michael Peña

The actor took a leading role in the movie adaptation of ‘CHiPs’ which was panned by critics for its crude humor. The film failed to recoup its budget and did not establish him as a comedy action star. Peña bounced back by continuing his scene-stealing work in the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise. He also took on dramatic work in the series ‘Narcos: Mexico’ to remind audiences of his range.

Pedro Pascal

Early in his career he appeared in the fantasy flop ‘The Great Wall’ which lost a substantial amount of money. He also starred in the sequel ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ which received a polarizing reception from fans and critics. Pascal skyrocketed to global superstardom shortly after by landing the lead role in ‘The Mandalorian’. He cemented his status as a television icon with his acclaimed performance in ‘The Last of Us’.

Edgar Ramírez

He starred in the 2015 remake of ‘Point Break’ which failed to capture the magic of the original film. The movie was a critical and commercial disappointment that stalled his transition to action stardom. Ramírez recovered by delivering a powerful performance as Gianni Versace in ‘American Crime Story’. He has since become a reliable leading man in films like ‘Yes Day’ and ‘Jungle Cruise’.

Gabriel Luna

The actor played the new antagonist in ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ which became a major box office bomb despite decent reviews. The financial failure of the film put the future of the franchise on indefinite hold. Luna did not let the setback stop him and secured the role of Tommy in the hit series ‘The Last of Us’. He successfully transitioned from a franchise ending movie to one of the most popular shows on television.

Rodrigo Santoro

He played Jesus in the 2016 remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ which is considered one of the biggest flops of that year. The film was rejected by audiences and lost the studio millions of dollars. Santoro rebounded by continuing his role in the acclaimed HBO series ‘Westworld’. He remains a respected international actor with a steady stream of work in both Brazil and Hollywood.

Lou Diamond Phillips

After his breakout role in ‘La Bamba’ he appeared in several B-movies like ‘Bats’ that failed to make an impact. His career seemed to be declining into obscure straight-to-video releases for several years. Phillips revitalized his standing in the industry with a main role in the popular series ‘Longmire’. He recently garnered attention for his work on the series ‘Prodigal Son’.

Jay Hernandez

He starred in the horror film ‘Hostel’ but struggled to find a foothold in major blockbusters afterwards. His role as El Diablo in the first ‘Suicide Squad’ movie was well received but the film itself was divisive. Hernandez found his true rebound vehicle by landing the lead role in the ‘Magnum P.I.’ reboot. The show became a ratings success and ran for multiple seasons on network television.

Diego Boneta

The actor starred in the musical adaptation ‘Rock of Ages’ which was intended to be his breakout vehicle. The movie bombed at the box office and failed to launch him as a mainstream movie star in the United States. Boneta found massive success by returning to Spanish-language media to star in ‘Luis Miguel: The Series’. He has since returned to Hollywood films with a stronger fanbase and more leverage.

Demián Bichir

He appeared in the sci-fi film ‘Chaos Walking’ which underwent massive reshoots and was dumped into theaters to poor returns. The production troubles resulted in a disjointed film that lost money for the studio. Bichir quickly moved on to star in the blockbuster ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’. He continues to balance Hollywood spectacles with intimate dramas like ‘Land’.

Luis Guzmán

He was part of the cast of ‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ which is historically one of the biggest money losers in cinema. The film’s failure was so severe that it became a punchline in the industry for years. Guzmán survived the disaster by leaning into his strength as a character actor in endless films and TV shows. He recently enjoyed a career resurgence with his role as Gomez Addams in the hit series ‘Wednesday’.

Esai Morales

The actor faced a lull in his career after his early success in ‘La Bamba’ and saw projects like the series ‘Jericho’ get cancelled. He spent years working in various television roles without a signature hit. Morales made a major comeback by playing the villain in ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’. His performance was praised as a highlight of the blockbuster action film.

Andy Garcia

He starred in the live-action adaptation of ‘Max Steel’ which was a critical failure and ignored by audiences. The film holds a zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and disappeared from theaters quickly. Garcia rebounded by leaning into elder statesman roles in successful comedies like ‘Book Club’. He also appeared in ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ and remains a highly busy actor.

Santiago Cabrera

He had a significant role in ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ which was the lowest-grossing film of that franchise at the time. The movie was panned by critics and signaled audience fatigue with the series. Cabrera bounced back by joining the ‘Star Trek’ universe in the series ‘Star Trek: Picard’. He also landed a major role in the hit HBO series ‘Big Little Lies’.

Amaury Nolasco

The actor starred as the villain in the video game adaptation ‘Max Payne’ which was widely disliked by fans. The movie failed to start a franchise and was criticized for its incoherent plot. Nolasco recovered by returning to television with a lead role in the crime drama ‘Hightown’. He remains a recognizable face due to his enduring popularity from ‘Prison Break’.

Wilmer Valderrama

He produced and starred in the movie ‘CHiPs’ alongside Michael Peña which failed to connect with audiences. The movie was criticized for its reliance on crude humor and lack of charm. Valderrama rebounded by joining the main cast of the massive hit show ‘NCIS’. He has successfully transitioned from comedy sitcom actor to a dramatic action lead on television.

Laz Alonso

He starred in the horror film ‘Captivity’ which was involved in a controversy over its marketing posters. The film was a critical disaster and performed poorly at the box office. Alonso rebuilt his momentum with a steady stream of roles in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise and ‘Avatar’. He is now best known for his fan-favorite role as Mother’s Milk in the series ‘The Boys’.

Jimmy Smits

The actor had a role in the supernatural thriller ‘Bless the Child’ which was a critical and commercial disappointment. It failed to make a mark at the box office despite a strong cast. Smits rebounded by returning to his television strengths with ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and ‘Dexter’. He also appeared in the film adaptation of ‘In the Heights’ and the ‘Star Wars’ series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’.

Eugenio Derbez

He starred in the disaster movie ‘Geostorm’ which was ridiculed by critics for its scientific inaccuracies and script. The film struggled to break even in the domestic market. Derbez rebounded by focusing on heartfelt comedies and produced the Best Picture winner ‘CODA’. He has successfully crossed over to become a major player in both English and Spanish markets.

Clifton Collins Jr.

He appeared in the sci-fi flop ‘Transcendence’ which was a major box office bomb for Johnny Depp. The film was criticized for its dull pacing and wasted potential. Collins Jr. continued to work steadily as a character actor before landing the lead in ‘Jockey’. His performance in the independent drama won him awards and reminded the industry of his immense talent.

Bobby Cannavale

The actor had a role in the comedy ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ which was a commercial hit but a critical disaster. He also appeared in the remake of ‘Annie’ which received negative reviews. Cannavale rebounded with prestigious television work in ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Vinyl’. He recently earned praise for his role in the Marilyn Monroe biopic ‘Blonde’.

David Zayas

He appeared in the sci-fi invasion movie ‘Skyline’ which was panned for its script and acting. The film was considered a low point for alien invasion movies during that period. Zayas maintained his career momentum by returning to his most famous character in ‘Dexter: New Blood’. He continues to be a go-to actor for law enforcement roles in New York productions.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

He starred in the Michael Bay action film ‘6 Underground’ which received generally negative reviews from critics. While it was viewed by many on streaming it was criticized for being confusing and loud. Garcia-Rulfo found his breakout role shortly after by starring in ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’. The series became a massive hit and established him as a charismatic leading man.

Danny Trejo

He starred in ‘Machete Kills’ which bombed at the box office and failed to recoup its budget. The sequel was criticized for being too campy and effectively killed the franchise. Trejo continued his prolific career by appearing in the ‘Star Wars’ series ‘The Book of Boba Fett’. He remains a cultural icon and one of the busiest actors in the industry.

Please share your favorite performance by one of these actors in the comments.