Is Chris Pratt’s Career as a Leading Man Over?

By: Beth Moreton | Published: Feb 26, 2024

Where he was once seen as one of the rising stars of Hollywood, many are seeing Chris Pratt as having a bit of a downfall.

With his recent film roles seeming to fall flat with audiences and many complaining about the roles he is doing, is his time as Hollywood’s leading man finally up?

Chris Pratt Was Unique

What often helps many actors and anyone in the entertainment industry stand out is having a uniqueness that no one else in the industry appears to have.

Advertisement
Chris Pratt pulling a silly face. He is in a grey shirt and is holding a microphone. He is sitting in front of a Comic Con sign and the woman next to him is rolling her eyes.

Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

As reported by Collider, back in 2014, many of the rising stars of Hollywood were teenage heartthrobs, whereas Pratt was a man in his mid-30s and appealed to audiences of varying ages.

It Was a Risk to Hire Chris Pratt

Sometimes it’s easy for production companies to go with a safe pair of hands. Someone who they know audiences know and who has shown time and time again that they can give them the results they want.

Advertisement
Chris Pratt looks shocked and smiling. He is wearing a grey shirt and has a black watch on.

Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

Pratt was seen as somewhat dorky at the time, and his early roles tended to go against what was then considered as the “norm” in Hollywood, such as Emmett in “The LEGO Movie” or Quill in “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Parks and Recreation Helped Chris Pratt’s Early Career

His breakthrough role was the part of Andy Dwyer in “Parks and Recreation”; the comedy he learned from this helped him when starting in Hollywood.

Advertisement
Chris Pratt playing Andy Dwyer in ‘Parks And Recreation’. He is wearing a blue shirt and striped tie and is holding a yellow piece of paper. There is a dart board and coat hanger behind him.

Source: NBC/YouTube

He tended to play the characters that you wouldn’t expect to be the hero and who would be struggling a bit with this. However, the further he went up in Hollywood, the further down he went in audiences’ feelings toward him.

Chris Pratt’s Roles Are Taken Too Seriously

He was once the funny man of the film and the unlikely hero, but this soon changed for Pratt.

Advertisement
Chris Pratt at Comic Con. He is wearing a grey shirt and has a serious look on his face.

Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

While audiences may have loved this new character Hollywood was bringing to their screens, his characters have now become ones that are very predictable and no longer as enjoyable.

Jurassic World Began Chris Pratt’s Decline

“Jurassic World” may have been a long-awaited sequel to “Jurassic Park,” but it was Pratt’s role as Owen Grady in the film that is believed to have first started his descent.

Chris Pratt playing Owen Grady in ‘Jurassic World’. He has his hand up to the camera and his wrist has a watch on it. A man is lying on the floor behind him.

Source: Universal Pictures/YouTube

Pratt becomes the typical macho-type in the film, and it was this role that audiences first saw him go from the funny and lovable guy to the typical leading man role, as seen in many Hollywood films over the years.

Advertisement

Chris Pratt Is No Longer Relatable

What makes a great movie character, according to StoryFlint, is to make the character relatable to audiences, either within themselves or remind them of someone they know, and to give them something that makes them interesting and helps them stand out. 

Chris Pratt at Comic Con. He is wearing a dark suit and holding a microphone. He has a serious look on his face.

Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

Pratt’s unique element was that he was a bit awkward in a comedic way. However, since becoming one of Hollywood’s main leading men, he seems to have moved on to being the stereotypical leading man.

Advertisement

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Sped Up Chris Pratt’s Downfall

Super Mario Bros. has been a staple in most households for many decades, so a movie being made of the famous video game generated a lot of excitement.

Mario from the ‘Super Mario Bros.’ movie. He is jumping in the air and has his arms out.

Source: Illumination/YouTube

However, the movie didn’t do as well as was previously hoped and got a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Advertisement

People Weren’t Happy About Chris Pratt Playing Mario

Mario as a character is famous for being Italian, so with an American actor playing an Italian role, there was some concern about this.

Chris Pratt during an interview. He is wearing a dark shirt and the background is from the ‘Super Mario Bros.’ movie.

Source: The Jeff Gerstmann Show/YouTube

The Independent reported the backlash Pratt was facing about his new role, especially given Mario’s voice sounded exactly like Pratt’s with no hint of an Italian accent. 

Advertisement

Leading Actors Aren’t What They Used to Be

As reported by The Ringer, a movie used to only need one leading name attached to it, and it would be enough to get people to the movie theater.

Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt during an interview. She has her hair up and has red lipstick and a black dress on. He is wearing a grey suit and dark tie with a white shirt.

Source: MTV Internationa/Wikimedia Commons

However, these days, multiple big names are needed, or at least the movie needs a very interesting plot to get people to watch the film.

Advertisement

Hollywood Relied on Chris Pratt Too Much

There is such a thing as having too much of a good thing, and it feels like Hollywood may have potentially put too much on Pratt too soon.

Chris Pratt in ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’. He is looking off into the distance.

Source: Marvel/YouTube

With him playing the leading role in many movies over a short space of time, such as “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “Jurassic World,” it was inevitable that his downfall would happen at some point.

Advertisement

Chris Pratt’s Upcoming Leading Projects

Pratt still has some leading roles coming up for 2024 and possibly beyond, which means he is still Hollywood’s leading man for the time being.

Chris Pratt looking confused. He is in a grey suit with a blue tie and white shirt.

Source: Dick Thomas Johnson/Wikimedia Commons

According to The Economic Times, two roles he is said to be starring in 2024 are “The Garfield Movie” and “The Electric State.”

Advertisement

Chris Pratt Is Set (For the Time Being)

With a reported net worth of around $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Pratt should be set for life if these figures are to be believed. 

Chris Pratt with a neutral expression. He is wearing a grey suit with a blue tie and white shirt and is standing in front of a grey background.

Source: Dick Thomas Johnson/Wikimedia Commons

However, with audiences seeming to be becoming less impressed with Pratt’s performances, only time will tell whether his career will remain smooth sailing or come crashing down faster than it started. 

Advertisement