10 Movie Stars Who Ruined Their Own Movies

When it comes to movie stars derailing a project by refusing to appreciate how fundamentally miscast they are, there's surely no topping John Wayne's infamous 1956 historical epic The Conqueror.

While at the peak of his career, Wayne aggressively lobbied to play Genghis Khan in the film after reading Oscar Millard's script, and though director Dick Powell initially tried to talk Wayne out of it, he had no luck. He ultimately resigned himself, "Who am I to turn down John Wayne?"

Given Wayne's immense stardom it seemed like a project destined for success regardless, yet even the reviews of the period were harshly critical of Wayne's unconvincing attempt to pass as the Mongol warlord - namely donning yellowface, a Fu Manchu mustache, and sporting a dodgy accent.

A Hollywood epic about Genghis Khan could have been great in theory, yet Wayne being completely blinkered to how inappropriate he was for the part ensured it never stood a chance.