10 Dying Acting Careers Saved By One Amazing Movie

6. Matthew McConaughey - Killer Joe

One of the biggest and most meme-able acting comeback ever, the era of the "McConaissance" was a joy to behold.

Despite making his name in indie darlings like Dazed and Confused, the 2000s saw Matthew McConaughey become a generic, bankable rom-com star. Headlining romantic hits like *checks notes* Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Failure to Launch, McConaughey and his chiselled abs made big bank, but his time as a serious actor looked over.

Unlike a lot of stars, though, McConaughey had the foresight to know the rom-com bubble wouldn't last forever, and eventually made a bid to transform his career and take it to bigger, more respected heights.

Consequently, just two years after starring in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, he headlined Killer Joe, a grimy, nasty thriller from Exorcist director William Friedkin.

Here, McConaughey played completely against type. Gone was the good-natured sex symbol, and in his place was a gruff, intimidating bastard that the actor played to perfection.

While Dallas Buyer's Club would prove to be the more successful movie critically and commercially, like Affleck with The Town and Argo, it arguably wouldn't have been possible without Killer Joe starting the career pivot.