He Starred in It, Then Swore It Off Forever—Jason Momoa Slams This Movie as His Biggest Disappointment

Jason Momoa, known for his imposing presence in Game of Thrones, his heroic turn in Aquaman, and scene-stealing roles in Dune and Fast X, is celebrated for embracing big, bold projects. Yet, despite a career defined by crowd-pleasers and box office success, Momoa has been strikingly candid about one film he’d rather leave in the past: the 2011 reboot of Conan the Barbarian.

A Disappointing Experience

Momoa’s decision to stop watching Conan the Barbarian isn’t rooted in typical actor self-critique or embarrassment about early roles; instead, it’s a reaction to what he describes as a deep sense of creative disappointment. In a forthright interview with British GQ, Momoa revealed just how soured he’d become on the project: “It [was] taken over and turned into a big pile of shit.” That blunt verdict encapsulates the actor’s frustration with a film that, in his view, was derailed by forces outside his control.

The movie, a reimagining of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, was intended to launch Momoa into action superstardom. Instead, it became a cautionary tale in Hollywood’s remake culture—earning only $63.5 million worldwide against a $90 million budget and suffering critical panning for its uneven direction and lack of identity.

A Broader Frustration

Momoa’s remarks about Conan reflect a more widespread frustration with the filmmaking process when actors lose creative agency. “I’ve been a part of a lot of things that really sucked, and movies where it’s out of your hands,” he told GQ, underscoring how big-budget studio productions can veer off course despite an actor’s best efforts. For Momoa, Conan became symbolic of projects where his vision and passion weren’t enough to rescue the final product.

Has He Stopped Watching Other Movies?

The original question—“why Jason Momoa stopped watching these movies”—implies more than one film. However, a thorough search of Momoa’s interviews, public comments, and industry reports points almost exclusively to Conan the Barbarian as the project he distances himself from most. Despite internet chatter about roles in Aquaman or controversy surrounding specific scenes in Game of Thrones, Momoa has never publicly disowned those projects. In fact, he often defends superhero films as modern myth-making and has spoken with pride about other challenging roles, even those that sparked debate.

A Matter of Control and Integrity

What stands out from Momoa’s candid reflections is his unwavering desire for creative integrity. His critique of Conan isn’t just about disappointment with a single film—it’s about what happens when an actor’s commitment collides with a system that can override artistic vision. The result, for Momoa, is a refusal to revisit the film, not out of personal embarrassment, but as a way to draw a line in the sand about what he values in his work.

Conclusion: A Lesson in Artistic Ownership

As of May 2025, Conan the Barbarian remains the only movie Momoa has explicitly said he won’t watch again. His honesty about the film’s failings—and his unwillingness to gloss over disappointment—provides a refreshing glimpse into the challenges actors face when the final product slips from their grasp. In a career now defined by blockbusters and critical acclaim, Momoa’s attitude toward Conan is a reminder: Even for the biggest stars, some films are better left in the rearview mirror.