10 Great Movies (That Were Led By Terrible Performances)

7. Avatar (2009)

There is a reason James Cameron's Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time. Not only is it a prime example of a well-planned promotional campaign, it also makes use of groundbreaking special effects. Audiences were literally transported to Pandora and into the world of the Na'vi. Zoe Saldana is wonderful as the lead female. Sigourney Weaver is her usual fantastic self. Giovanni Ribisi slimes himself up to play the part of a sleazy company executive with his heart set on cold cash. While it looks beautiful, though, the film lacks in originality - and even more so in the lead acting department. Sam Worthington has made a string of sub-par films including the likes of Terminator Salvation and the Clash of the Titans movies. Avatar is easily his best, but his performance remains the same. He's likeable, but he lacks charisma and often comes across as uninspired. He may look amazing under the guise of motion-capture, but it does nothing to mask the blandness of his performance. It was a good thing all eyes were on the amazing cinematography, then.