Cameron Diaz burst onto the scene in 1994, opposite Jim Carrey in “The Mask.” Although Carrey was a newly minted Hollywood star, Diaz still shined and held her own opposite the actor’s trademark over-the-top antics. Four years later she was given her first real chance to open a movie where she was more than a supporting player and she hasn’t looked back since. This weekend Diaz returns to her raunchy comedic roots with “Bad Teacher,” and despite a few high profile recent misfires, there’s just something special about this talented actress that has made her a household name.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Total USA Earnings: $126 million
Anyone can tell you it’s not easy
going toe-to-toe with Jim Carrey. In fact unless you’re a kid or an animal you
don’t really stand much of a chance. So when Diaz was able to make an
impression in what was her big screen debut, people took notice. Although her
feet were soon quickly put to the fire once again in her second major role as
her co-star was none other than “America’s Sweetheart” Julia Roberts. “My Best
Friend’s Wedding” was a box office hit and even topped her previous opening,
but while Diaz continued to hold her own, her most important test was still
ahead.
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Total USA Earnings: $176 million
Just one
summer later, Diaz was again put front and center starring opposite Ben Stiller
and Matt Dillon. The film was “There’s Something About Mary” and it was
directed by the Farrelly Brothers, who themselves were relative newcomers. Just
like Diaz, the pair had also hit it big with Jim Carrey and their movie “Dumb
& Dumber” was one of the year’s highest performing. The success continued
with “Mary” as it went on to earn $176 million, which to this day remains
Diaz’s most profitable movie to date outside of the “Shrek” franchise.
Charlie’s Angels (2000)/Charlie’s
Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Total USA Earnings: $125 million/$100
million
While the
comedy also succeeded in giving new meaning to “hair gel”, it more importantly set
Diaz up to bring one of TV’s most iconic groups to the big screen. Along with
Drew Barrymore and Lucy Lui, “Charlie’s Angels” successfully transitioned to
the world of film. Granted despite a strong opening for the original, the
sequel tanked.
Shrek (2001) / Shrek 2 (2004) /Shrek
The Third (2007) / Shrek Forever After (2010)
Total USA Earnings: $267 million/
$441 million/ $332 million/ $238 million
In
fact it wasn’t long before her other major franchise began to decline as well.
While Diaz had been lucky enough to snag a key role in Dreamwork’s “Shrek”
franchise, the film’s box office receipts would eventually begin to decline;
hitting their peak with 2004’s “Shrek 2.” Although despite the downward turn,
the fractured fairytale co- starring Mike Meyers is still one of the most
successful series in film history, having spawned three sequels, two TV
specials and a very loyal following of fans. No matter how it performed,
“Shrek” still kept the actress in the spotlight and continued to help net her
new roles.
The Green Hornet
(2011)
Total USA Earnings:
$98 million
Although
most of those roles during that period weren’t as successful as the ones she
used to start her career. While she was able to succeed with movies like
“Vanilla Sky” & “Gangs of New York,” she also had her share of flops including
“In Her Shoes,” “The Holiday,” “The Box,” and most recently 2010’s “Knight
& Day,” her second partnership with Tom Cruise.
Despite
it all though, Diaz still gives every movie she’s a solid chance to succeed.
Earlier in the year she starred in “The Green Hornet,” which with $98 million
isn’t really considered a full fledge blockbuster, but still a promising sign
that actress could be set to return to her peak. In fact that that $98 million
is the highest grossing (non-franchise) film Diaz has had since “Sky.”
It
also helps bring us full circle to this weekend, where Diaz will team with two
of Hollywood’s brightest young actors in Jason Segal and Justin Timberlake. Could
the actress be ready for a comeback or did she really never go away in the first
place? Regardless, “Bad Teacher,” may play a major role in helping the box
office re-gain its momentum and help Diaz re-ignite her hit streak.
“Bad
Teacher” is now in theaters.
