10 Great Performances That ALMOST Saved Disappointing Movies

As they are wont to do, someone in Hollywood thought 2012 was the perfect time for Chris D'Arienzo's jukebox Broadway musical to become a movie.

Dollar signs in their eyes and songs in their hearts, they marched onwards, assembling an uneven cast Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, and the like, and plonked little Tom Cruise on top to cap it all off.

While not a method actor in the traditional sense, Cruise is known for throwing himself into his parts, doing the legwork and prep work necessary to make sure his audience is wowed. And this is precisely the attitude he brought to Rock of Ages, managing all this and more. Going full glam as Stacee Jaxx, he channelled Axl, Poison and the Crue, donned the guyliner, got ripped, and even learned to sing so he could belt out those jukebox classics.

Though every one of his scenes and songs sticks the landing (seriously, check out his steamy Foreigner duet with Malin Akerman), his was little more than a supporting role in an already busy ensemble piece.

In short, his screen time was too brief to really turn the film around, and it sank big time at the box office. But god does he ever polish up some classics.