6. Ben Affleck
Affleck became a leading man in the late 1990s, after years of playing minor roles and 'heavies' (guys who beat other guys up) and he, along with best friend Matt Damon, received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Affleck was an Oscar-winning writer and a huge movie star. What could go wrong?
The Downfall: Affleck's decline was more due to overexposure than anything else. He was appearing in a lot of films in the early 2000s and people started to get sick of him. Some of those films were very poorly received, too. The superhero film Daredevil and the box-office turkey Gigli did significant damage to Affleck's career. At the same time as he was appearing in these duds, his personal life was splashed over the front pages of the tabloids due to his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Dubbed 'Bennifer' by the press, the couple were everywhere. This only made people more weary of Affleck who, to his credit, took most of it in his stride.
What Brought Him Back: Ben wisely took a break from acting in 2004 and came back in 2006 with a series of performances that were viewed much more positively than his efforts earlier in the decade. He had also ditched fiancé J-Lo for the much more media-friendly Jennifer Garner. What really brought Affleck back, however, was not acting but directing. Affleck has enjoyed a very fruitful second career as a director, having helmed the successful films Gone Girl, The Town and the Oscar-winning Argo.
Did It Last?: So far, so good. Affleck recently reminded everyone of his acting talents in David Fincher's Gone Girl, but the real test will come with Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Affleck was a controversial choice for Batman/Bruce Wayne and the world is waiting for his appearance in what is guaranteed to be a huge commercial, if not critical, hit.