The 10 Least-Convincing Action Film Stars Of All-Time

There are action film stars like Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford who make us believe they could do almost anything. These ten wannabe action film stars only make us want our money back.

1. Jay Leno - Collision Course (1989)

Via avclub.com

The Tonight Show host was so miscast as a rough and tumble Detroit cop that he never starred in another film again.

2. Henry Thomas - Cloak and Dagger (1984)

Via basementrejects.com

E.T. star Henry Thomas was at the height of his fame when he was cast as Davey, an eleven-year-old boy who defeats dozens of international spies with the help of his imaginary friend. No, really.

3. Pam Anderson - Barbwire (1996)

Via torrentbutler.eu

The only thing less convincing than Pam’s line readings in this film was her casting as a mercenary and bounty hunter. Let’s just say that for an action hero, Pam runs on a beach in slow motion very well.

4. Anthony Michael Hall - Out of Bounds (1986)

Via allmovie.com

Shortly after rising to fame by playing geeks, Anthony was inexplicably cast as a country strong farmer’s son who single handedly takes down Los Angeles’ biggest drug kingpin. Hard as he may have tried to be an action hero, the still-scrawny teenager was much more believable as someone who couldn’t make an elephant lamp work.

5. Jimmy Fallon - Taxi (2004)

Via imdb.com

Known as the sweetest guy in Hollywood, Jimmy’s first starring role nonetheless saw him portraying a New York City detective. Jimmy performed the comedy elements of this film well enough, but in the action scenes his black leather jacket and tousled hair seemed to be doing the acting.

6. Alicia Silverstone - Batman & Robin (1997)

Via batgirlbat-trap.com

While pretty much every actor cast in the original Batman series received strong consideration for this list, Alicia gets the nod for portraying Batgirl with the same ditzy California girl routine she used in her breakout film, Clueless.

7. Michael Jackson - Captain EO (1986)

Via wired.com

This Star Wars knockoff was a popular Disneyland attraction for years, but even with all the weird MJ touches (like kids, animals, and dance fights) there was no getting around the fact that Michael was impossible to take seriously as a Han Solo-esque captain of spaceship.

8. Billy Crystal - Running Scared (1986)

Via imdb.com

Despite starring in the most enjoyable film on this list, Billy Crystal approached his role as a street-wise Chicago cop as if it were a bit at Comedy Relief.

9. Shia LaBeouf - Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Via zimbio.com

Playing the son of arguably the greatest action hero in cinema history, Shia made us think Indy should ask Maury for a paternity test. Rather than heroic, Shia came across like a brooding teenager in a high school production of Rebel Without a Cause.

10. Charles Bronson - Death Wish V: The Face Of Death (1994)

Via thisorthat.com

Charles was undoubtedly one of the most awesome action stars of all-time, but by the time he starred in this film (both the last installment in the Death Wish series and Bronson’s last feature) he was seventy-three years old. In this film, the only thing the no longer spry senior citizen could believably fight off was a nap.