2. Benedict Cumberbatch
Star of Doctor Strange Benedict Cumberbatch may well be one of the biggest actors in the world, but maybe that’s exactly why he could be considered overrated. Since his role as Sherlock Holmes on BBC’s Sherlock, Cumberbatch has gone on to secure roles in numerous franchises, including providing the motion capture for dragon Smaug in the Hobbit trilogy and the aforementioned role as the MCU’s resident sorcerer Stephen Strange in multiple movies. He’s also appeared in a handful of biopics and historical dramas.
Not unlike his most well-known character, Cumberbatch’s biggest roles conjure the illusion of range. Benedict Cumberbatch is good at what he does, but it’s actually far more limited than his reputation suggests. He’s usually playing someone incredibly arrogant and ignorant (willfully or otherwise) of social norms, and he’s always more than a little odd.
Almost every character that Cumberbatch plays seems to have been written at least partly to cater to this particular talent, and that contributes to his continued success. However, there are many that argue that this doesn’t represent any genuine variation in his talent, but rather Hollywood’s willingness to embrace him as a major star. It’s probably the most divisive entry on this list, but there are many who don’t consider Benedict Cumberbatch to be as talented as his reputation implies.