10 Incredible Against-All-Odds Hollywood Comebacks

5. Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time but it wasn't always plain sailing. Brando was a sensation in films like A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata!, On The Waterfront and Guys And Dolls, the latter of which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. The Downfall: Brando signed a five picture deal with Universal in 1961, a deal that would produce five flops. Brando was also distracted by a growing interest in civil rights issues and his own divorce and custody battles. He could not really pay the requisite attention required to maintain his high standard of performance. As a result, his star began to fade. Not all of the films he appeared in during this period were duds. The Chase, which teamed Brando with a new generation of up-and-coming actors like Robert Redford, Robert Duvall and Jane Fonda was actually rather good. Brando often cites the 1970 Italian drama film Burn as one of his favourite performances and critics were generally favourable, but few people came to see these films and they faded into obscurity. What Brought Him Back: The once-bankable actor was considered anything but by the 1970s. He had not been a top ten box-office star for twelve years by 1970 and many were beginning to write him off. Then came Brando's iconic performance as Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Critics and audiences were blown away by his work and he received his second Academy Award for Best Actor (which he turned down due to his objection at the way American Indians were portrayed by Hollywood). Did It Last?: Brando followed up The Godfather with the highly controversial (but highly praised) Last Tango In Paris and rounded out the '70s with turns in Superman and Apocalypse Now.