The Oscar Curse: How Winning Can Derail a Career
Rami Malek, who won the Best Actor Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody in 2019, is the latest example of the so-called 'Oscar curse,' where winning the award can harm rather than boost an actor's career. After his Oscar win, Malek appeared in No Time to Die as a villain, followed by less successful films like Amsterdam, Operazione vendetta, and Norimberga, with diminishing recognition. He now stars in The Man I Love, an independent film by Ira Sachs, competing at the Cannes Film Festival, aiming to revive his career. The film focuses on a gay man with AIDS in 1980s New York, relying heavily on Malek's performance. Critics at Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have praised his acting, but it remains uncertain if this will reverse his fortunes. Historical examples of the curse include Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Kim Basinger, Cher, Cuba Gooding Jr., Adrien Brody, Renée Zellweger, and Matthew McConaughey, all of whom struggled to maintain career momentum after their Oscar wins. The phenomenon is often attributed to overvaluation of commercial appeal, typecasting, or poor film choices.
Key facts
- Rami Malek won the Best Actor Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody in 2019.
- After his Oscar win, Malek's career declined with films like No Time to Die, Amsterdam, Operazione vendetta, and Norimberga.
- Malek now stars in The Man I Love, an independent film by Ira Sachs, competing at Cannes.
- The Man I Love is set in 1980s New York and follows a gay man with AIDS.
- Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have given positive reviews of Malek's performance in The Man I Love.
- Historical examples of the Oscar curse include Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Kim Basinger, Cher, Cuba Gooding Jr., Adrien Brody, Renée Zellweger, and Matthew McConaughey.
- Hilary Swank won her second Oscar for Million Dollar Baby in 2005 but then made increasingly poor films.
- Halle Berry won an Oscar for Monster's Ball in 2002 but failed to replicate that success as a lead.
- Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014 but has since had a string of unsuccessful films.
- The Oscar curse is often attributed to overvaluation of commercial appeal, typecasting, or poor film choices.
Entities
Artists
- Rami Malek
- Hilary Swank
- Halle Berry
- Kim Basinger
- Matthew McConaughey
- Cher
- Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Adrien Brody
- Renée Zellweger
- Leonard Maltin
- F. Murray Abraham
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Denzel Washington
- Daniel Craig
- Ira Sachs
Institutions
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Variety
- The Hollywood Reporter
- Cannes Film Festival
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Italy