Fallen stars: why are Hollywood A-listers flopping at the box office?

<p>This season has seen underwhelming results from stars such as Margot Robbie, Dwayne Johnson, Julia Roberts and Keanu Reeves</p><p>Movie stars have been on a journey this fall, and it hasn’t been especially <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/16/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey-review-margot-robbie-and-colin-farrell-play-the-game-of-love">big, bold or beautiful</a>. Actually, on second thought, maybe there is something bold about the way audiences have rejected, in quick succession, new movies collectively starring Margot Robbie, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/10/its-like-fencing-with-a-close-friend-terrifying-in-a-lovely-way-colin-farrell-and-tilda-swinton-on-taking-a-gamble-with-their-new-drama">Colin Farrell</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/26/this-is-the-first-time-ive-not-thought-about-the-box-office-dwayne-johnson-on-wrestling-reinvention-and-the-role-that-could-redefine-him">Dwayne Johnson</a>, Emily Blunt, Channing Tatum, Kristen Dunst, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Keanu Reeves, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/22/seth-rogen-on-going-from-onscreen-slacker-to-studio-boss-people-really-do-scream-at-each-other-in-hollywood">Seth Rogen</a> and none other than <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/15/daniel-day-lewis-london-film-festival">Daniel Day-Lewis</a>. This group of actors that would constitute an especially star-studded Oscars broadcast couldn’t muster a single hit among them. Even <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/leonardodicaprio">Leonardo DiCaprio</a> must accept his status as the exception that proves the rule: his movie <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/30/one-battle-after-another-paul-thomas-anderson">One Battle After Another</a> is heading toward a r