Some Of The Worst Singing Performances In Movies
Should an actor be criticized for not singing well? If they’re in a musical and no one ever told them they could carry a tune, maybe they've opened themselves up to some not-so-gentle ribbing. Here are some of the most excruciating “singing” attempts by actors in movies.
Pierce Brosnan, Mamma Mia! (2008)
Dashing, handsome, and with a soft Irish brogue, Pierce Brosnan made for an ideal James Bond. Maybe he was trying to expand his range, or perhaps he was having some fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, when he lent his pipes to the (frankly awful) musical Mamma Mia! he may have pushed things too far.
Mamma Mia!: S.O.S (HD CLIP), Binge Society
Pierce Brosnan, Mamma Mia! (2008)
In a movie that’s based on a jukebox musical, singing is essential. Casting Brosnan was a bold choice and it probably has more to do with his looks, his comic acting ability, and his charm. In the end, the movie was a big hit so it appears that some people didn’t mind his tone-deaf honking.
Mamma Mia!: S.O.S (HD CLIP), Binge Society
Russell Crowe, Les Misérables (2012)
This one’s a classic. No, we don’t mean Victor Hugo’s timeless novel. What we’re talking about is Russell Crowe and his so-called singing, which is really more akin to barking. Much fun has been made of Crowe’s ability to sing (even making it onto a Saturday Night Live sketch).
Russell Crowe Sings Stars in Les Miserables (2012) | TUNE, TUNE - Musical Moments
Russell Crowe, Les Misérables (2012)
Like Pierce Brosnan, he may be trying to explore different types of films, but this being a musical, maybe it wasn’t the place to start. That said, Crowe is in a band, so maybe his style is suitable for a rougher rock performance—but for musical theater, it’s just unbearable.
Les Miserables (2012) - The Confrontation Scene (2/10) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Russell Brand, Rock Of Ages (2012)
These days, bad singing is the least of Russell Brand’s worries. Trying to break into the American market, Brand had a few shots in the late ‘00s and early ‘10s. For example, he was in the mediocre but watchable movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Russell Brand, Rock Of Ages (2012)
Mostly, however, they were dreadful attempts at comedy like the remake of Arthur. This was one of his last attempts at movie stardom (before it all went very, very bad). Maybe Brand was always a frustrated rock singer but singing badly in this jukebox musical wasn’t going to turn the tide of his failing career.
Chris Pine, Into The Woods (2014)
Chris Pine should talk to Pierce Brosnan: being handsome does not mean we’ll overlook dreadful attempts at singing. Rock music tends to be very forgiving of weak singing, as long as the music’s good and the singer has charisma. Musical theater, no matter how cheesy, requires singing at the professional level—and Chris Pine’s performance in this musical is not at that level.
Into the Woods | Any Moment (1080p), Camila DS
Tom Cruise, Rock Of Ages (2012)
Tom Cruise may do his own stunts, but he should never again do his own singing. What is it with the movie versions of jukebox musicals that draw non-singing actors to humiliate themselves? Cruise gives it his all, but he really needs to save that musical energy for karaoke nights at Gold Base.
Rock of Ages (Tom Cruise), ONE Media
Rebel Wilson, Cats (2019)
Considered by most to be one of the worst movies ever made, you’d think as a musical you could at least rely on the singing to be adequate. One of the worst aspects of the film is the fat-shaming jokes aimed at Rebel Wilson. That said, Wilson cannot sing and really should not be in a musical.
Cats (2019) - The Old Gumbie Cat Scene (2/10) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Emma Watson, Beauty And The Beast (2017)
Emma Watson will forever be known as Hermione Granger and it’s not surprising that she’d seek to show her range. Trained as an actor while still a child, she is very capable and has a dazzling screen presence, but unfortunately, she cannot sing.
Emma Watson Sings Belle Scene - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) Movie Clip, Entertainment Access
Marlon Brando, Guys And Dolls (1955)
Marlon Brando is widely considered to be the greatest American actor of his generation. He was not, however, a singer—yet he was still cast in a musical co-starring someone named Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was a crooner, not a Broadway belter, but nevertheless, he had a great voice and Brando just could not compete.
Marlon Brando - Luck Be a Lady (from 'Guys and Dolls' (1955)), Marlon Brando
Rex Harrison, Doctor Dolittle (1967)
In a strong year for Hollywood, moving from the studio system and starting to make more daring films, Doctor Dolittle was a curious throwback. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar alongside The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and Dolittle was just not on that level.
When I look in Your Eyes - Rex Harrison, WolfGirl04
Rex Harrison, Doctor Dolittle (1967)
As for Rex Harrison, he was a charming British actor with a long film career. However, he could not sing, at least in the conventional sense. He performed the songs more as spoken word set to music rather than actually singing them. The movie was a flop and it’s mostly forgotten these days, other than individual songs such as “Talk to the Animals” which have lived on.
Talk to the Animals - Rex Harrison, WolfGirl04
Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Ewan McGregor is an excellent actor, known for some daring parts in independent films in addition to his appearances in blockbusters. Moulin Rouge! was a huge success but McGregor’s singing was not a cause for that success. Fans didn’t seem to mind, though.
Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Like McGregor, Nicole Kidman is known as an actress, having won the Best Actress Oscar for The Hours (2002). Kidman is the female lead in Moulin Rouge! and although there’s nothing wrong with her acting in this film, Kidman is not a singer. Her voice is too thin to really shine in a musical.
Moulin Rouge! (4/5) Movie CLIP - Come What May (2001) HD, Movieclips
John Travolta, Hairspray (2007)
The 2007 musical Hairspray is the movie version of the Broadway musical, itself based on John Waters’ earlier film Hairspray (1988). John Travolta is actually known for singing and he released several singles that did well, including a Top 10 hit in 1976.
Hairspray (3/5) Movie CLIP - Timeless Couple (2007) HD, Movieclips
John Travolta, Hairspray (2007)
Travolta was best known for his dancing abilities in Saturday Night Fever (1977). He sang in the musical Grease (1978) and had a number of hits from the movie. This included two duets with Olivia Newton-John: the number one hit “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights”, which landed at number five on the American charts.
Hairspray (2007) Official Trailer #1 - John Travolta Movie HD, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
John Travolta, Hairspray (2007)
Taking on Divine’s role from the original 1988 film, Travolta performs in drag—and it doesn’t work. Travolta doesn’t seem to understand what drag is and is not, and although the role is meant to be comical singing, Travolta just doesn’t pull it off.
Hairspray (5/5) Movie CLIP - You Can't Stop the Beat! (2007) HD, Movieclips
Cameron Diaz, Annie (2014)
This Broadway musical was first brought to the screen in 1982, a production that is considered to be flawed. It was, however, successful and Carol Burnette did well in the role of Miss Agatha, a performance that required singing in a theatrically comic way.
Annie 2014 Little Girls Little Girls Cameron Diaz, TifaMadfess
Cameron Diaz, Annie (2014)
The 2014 version was not a critical success, although it did well at the box office. Cameron Diaz appears in the Miss Agatha role, now known as Miss Colleen. Diaz is known as a comedic actress, but her range does not extend to singing nor does she handle the physical nature of musical theater well.
Who Am I? - Annie 2014, Jemimah David
Clint Eastwood, Paint Your Wagon (1969)
Famously lampooned by The Simpsons (“They're singing! They're singing, Marge! Why aren't they killing each other?”), this musical Western stars Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood, and they do both end up singing. An acclaimed director, Eastwood has been nominated for an Academy Award 11 times, winning Best Picture and Best Director for both Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Clint Eastwood - Gold Fever(Paint Your Wagon 1080p), Joe Simonetta
Clint Eastwood, Paint Your Wagon (1969)
As an actor, Eastwood has always been popular—but a singer, he is not. Of course, neither was Lee Marvin; if anything, he was worse. The two of them singing and dancing was comical, but not in the way producers wanted it to be.
Clint Eastwood - Gold Fever(Paint Your Wagon 1080p), Joe Simonetta
Gerard Butler, The Phantom Of The Opera (2004)
It’s one thing to appear in a musical film and fall (and sing) flat, but it’s a different story when you’re the lead. Michael Crawford originated the role on Broadway, winning a Tony Award, but after years of development hell, the movie’s producers decided to go in a different direction. Unfortunately, that direction led to Gerard Butler, a rugged actor but not a singer, and certainly not suitable as the lead in a musical.
Elizabeth Taylor, A Little Night Music (1977)
Elizabeth Taylor could always be counted on to be larger-than-life in the classic Hollywood sense. This film version of Stephen Sondheim’s musical was a colossal flop and by 1977, Taylor wasn’t the force of nature she was in the 1950s. On top of that, she couldn’t sing very well, and her performance only added to the problems with this movie.
Elizabeth Taylor 's own voice - A Little Night Music - Love Takes Time, Lost Vocals
Lucille Ball, Mame (1974)
Angela Lansbury owned this role on Broadway, winning a Tony Award. When the movie version was made, the producers didn’t think she was a big enough name. Lucille Ball was tapped for the role, and with her clout and status as a beloved comedienne, she was given the power to make casting decisions.
Lucille Ball - We Need a Little Christmas - Mame (1974), Music Video Vault
Lucille Ball, Mame (1974)
Now cited as one of the biggest miscastings in movie history, Lucille Ball was a great comedian but she simply could not sing or perform in a musical as the lead. Bea Arthur later said that her involvement in the film was a "tremendous embarrassment", and that Ball was "terribly miscast".
Lucille Ball Songs #11 ~ Mame (1974), kristinahoogs
Seth Rogen, The Lion King (2019)
Remaking the beloved Disney classic as a live-action-mixed-with-CGI movie was maybe not the best idea. Seth Rogen is not to everyone's taste as a comedian. His stoner comedy is an acquired taste for sure.
The Lion King Behind the Scenes - Seth Singing (2019) | FandangoNOW Extras, Fandango at Home
Seth Rogen, The Lion King (2019)
Rogen does well voicing Pumbaa the warthog, and it’s clear why the producers brought him on board. When he’s called on to sing, however, that’s where the trouble starts. The original movie was known for its songs and many of them were reworked by songwriters Elton John and Tim Rice for the new version.
Seth Rogen, The Lion King (2019)
Unfortunately, Rogen just isn’t capable, and the producers seem to know it. He mostly sings in ensemble pieces, but his voice is obvious among the other voices, and it throws things off.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - By timon and pumbaa | The Lion King 2019, Popcorn Shorts
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
This is another Stephen Sondheim musical brought to the big screen. This time, it’s Tim Burton helming the film and he brings with him his usual sense of visual horror. Burton also brought along his frequent collaborator Johnny Depp for the title role.
Sweeney Todd (1/8) Movie CLIP - No Place Like London (2007) HD, Movieclips
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
Unfortunately, Depp’s approach to the operatic score is to sing the songs like they’re rock songs. This is the problem with many of the jukebox musicals on this list, with non-singers belting out hits with the hope that their fame and their charm will carry the day. However, this is especially egregious when it’s a musical theater piece that requires not only power but also nuance (and the ability to sing in tune).
Adam Sandler, The Wedding Singer (1998)
This one’s a tough call. Adam Sandler is known for his musical comedy such as “The Chanukah Song,” where he uses his trademark goofy voices rather than actually singing. In The Wedding Singer, he plays the titular singer who is supposed to be not very good. Sandler handles that well.
The Wedding Singer (6/6) Movie CLIP - Grow Old With You (1998) HD, Movieclips
Adam Sandler, The Wedding Singer (1998)
However, if we’re producing a list of the worst singers in film, Sandler has to make the list. He’s a talented comedian and he plays a bad singer well. But that’s mainly because he’s not a very good singer.
The Wedding Singer (1998) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Lost Horizon (1973)
This remake of the 1937 Frank Capra classic comes at the tail-end of the musical craze launched by the success of The Sound of Music in 1965. As a movie and as a musical, Lost Horizon is an oddity. Featuring such memorable singers as Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Michael York, John Gielgud, and George Kennedy, the movie was such a flop it was dubbed “Lost Investments”.
Lost Horizon (1973) - The Songs, LC
Lost Horizon (1973)
As a pretender to The Sound of Music’s musical throne, Lost Horizon lacks any kind of charm in its musical numbers. What’s worse, however, is that the cast can’t sing. As for the movie itself, its setting revolves around a plane crash—not the sort of thing most people sing and dance about.
Lost Horizon (1973) - The Songs, LC
Sylvester Stallone, Rhinestone (1984)
Did anyone think Sylvester Stallone could sing? Did anyone check first before making this movie? Also starring Dolly Parton, who can sing, this comedy set to country music was a flop (obviously).
Rhinestone (1984) - Sylvester Stallone Dolly Parton - Frankenstein, Lost Gems & Stinkers
Sylvester Stallone, Rhinestone (1984)
Stallone has no presence on stage; he looks uncomfortable, and the audience feels uncomfortable watching. And when he sings, things get much, much worse. Poor Dolly.
Sylvester Stallone ft. Dolly Parton - Stay Out Of My Bedroom (Rhinestone 1984), antmaurizio
Oliver Reed, Tommy (1975)
Did Russell Crowe study Oliver Reed’s performance in this film before tackling the role of Javert in Les Misérables? In the first film adaption of The Who’s concept album, Tommy, actor Oliver Reed, known just as much for his drinking as he is for his acting, plays Uncle Frank. Reed is not a singer and when he duets with Ann-Margaret, the difference between the two as singers is glaring.
Tommy - Christmas Scene (1975 HD), Umbrella Entertainment
Will Smith, Aladdin (2019)
In another live-action remake of a class animated film, Will Smith takes on the role of the Genie, originally voiced by Robin Williams. Not easy shoes to fill and Smith does well in the role. Despite his earlier musical career as The Fresh Prince, Smith simply can’t handle this type of Broadway-style singing.
ALADDIN Movie Clip - Will Smith Sings Prince Ali Song (2019), Entertainment Access
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