Greetings, reader!
I did a post about the 100 greatest TV acting performances last year, and now I've finally finished its even more challenging counterpart - the 100 greatest movie acting performances of all time.
I've considered it all - the skill and range showcased in the role, the unique nature of the performance, as well as how iconic the role is. It's hard to completely separate a more 'objective' appreciation for acting skill from appreciating a performance because it's moving or otherwise important to me personally, but then again, this is my subjective list, so the end result is a bit of a mixture between what I consider to be the greatest and what are my personal all-time favorites. These won't all be your conventional Oscar-winning performances - there are roles from quite a large variety of genres and purposes in the mix. I hope you enjoy!
Here are my honorable mentions:
Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp in City Lights (1931)
Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane (1941)
Claire Trevor as Gaye Dawn in Key Largo (1948)
Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday (1953)
James Dean as Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Christopher Lee as Count Dracula in Dracula (1958)
Natalie Wood as Maria in West Side Story (1961)
Jack Nicholson as R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976)
Meryl Streep as Linda in The Deer Hunter (1978)
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid (1984)
Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy (1986)
Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
River Phoenix as Chris Chambers in Stand By Me (1986)
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988
Danny Aiello as Sal in Do the Right Thing (1989)
Denzel Washington as Joe Miller in Philadelphia (1993)
Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List (1993)
Robin Wright as Jenny in Forrest Gump (1994)
Robin Williams as Sean in in Good Will Hunting (1997)
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000)
Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in Cast Away (2000)
Al Pacino as Will Dormer in Insomnia (2002)
Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
Cate Blanchett as Jude in I'm Not There (2007)
Emma Stone as Olive in Easy A (2010)
Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010)
Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Robert Redford as Our Man in All Is Lost (2013)
Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get On Up (2014)
Edward Norton as Mike in Birdman! or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2015)
Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed in Creed (2015)
Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington in Get Out (2017)
Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito in The Shape of Water (2017)
Toni Collette as Annie in Hereditary (2018)
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker (2019)
Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden in The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides in the Dune franchise (2021-)
Zendaya as Emma in The Drama (2026)
100. Patricia Arquette as Olivia in Boyhood (2014)
The film's lengthy-production gimmick makes for a perfect proving ground to Arquette's acting skill, as she makes the most of it in this complex portrayal of motherhood.
99. Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa in the Star Wars franchise (1977-)
This strong performance combines dry wit, charismatic elegance and striking badassery to become truly iconic.
98. LaKeith Stanfield as Andre Logan King in Get Out (2017)
With very little screentime, LaKeith Stanfield permanently etches his authentically frightened facial expressions into the viewer's memory. Totally unforgettable.
97. Zendaya as Tashi Donaldson in Challengers (2024)
An important step on Zendaya's journey to being a generation-defining actress, her leading role in Challengers is filled with all sorts of fascinating nuances that can only be pulled off by the best.
96. Amy Adams as Louise Banks in Arrival (2016)
An emotionally charged lead performance driven by many things - but most of all, a powerful sense of curiosity that Amy Adams conveys in a wonderful way.
95. Finn Wolfhard as Richie Tozier in It (2017)
No, I'm not exaggerating when I'm putting this in my all-time top 100. This is an incredible feat of child acting, and an absolute embodiment of the Richie from the book.
94. Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise (1984-)
Many action heroes were close to making the list - I considered Matt Damon as Bourne, Christian Bale's Batman and a couple of James Bonds, as the archetype does take a specific and admirable type of skill that is rarely recognized by critics. But honestly and respectfully, none of those dudes hold a candle to Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor - the defining lead of the genre, if you ask me.
93. Greta Garbo as Grusinskaya in Grand Hotel (1932)
A mysterious aura, some classy and iconic line deliveries, and ultimately, a beautiful portrayal of compassion.
92. Delroy Lindo as Paul in Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Leave it to Delroy to portray a bitter, Trump-supporting Black man, without turning it into any sort of caricature but rather exploring how something like that happens in all complexity. Bravo.
91. Peter Sellers as Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dude disappears so thoroughly into all three of his roles that I did not realize it was the same guy until the credits rolled. Now that's acting.
90. Meryl Streep as Florence Foster Jenkins in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
The arguably most acclaimed actress of all time brings humor, heart and some truly impressive purposefully-bad vocals into the role that gave her her twentieth (no, really) Oscar nomination.
89. Meg Ryan as Sally in When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Rom-coms are another genre where the acting performances are often sadly overlooked - because really, how many could do what Meg Ryan does with this role, to such a hilarious, endearing and complete degree? This casting was lightning in a bottle, man.
88. Ian McKellen as Magneto in the X-Men franchise (2000-)
The Shakespearean gravitas that Sir Ian brings to this supervillain role has been talked about for 26 years, and will be talked about for many more to come. What a legend.
87. Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire is so good because they took an otherwise conventional script, style and set of actors - and then threw this complete fireball of chaos into the mix to make everything more unpredictable and interesting. I'm so glad that he won an Oscar for this!
86. Judd Nelson as John Bender in The Breakfast Club (1985)
The performance that every educator needs to see, and analyze, over and over again. Judd Nelson paints the superficial-seeming bad boy caricature, as well as the broken, humane soul found beneath, with perfection.
85. Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
It's pretty impressive when a film's plot involves a toroid singularity that could destroy the multiverse, yet the most powerful whirlwind that'll stay with you is Michelle Yeoh's towering performance.
84. Alma Pöysti as Ansa Grönholm in Kuolleet Lehdet (2023)
Many Finnish performances were close to making it (Heikki Savolainen in Tuntematon Sotilas, Seidi Haarla in Hytti Nro 6 and Pöysti's co-star Jussi Vatanen in this flick come to mind), yet this is the sole survivor after my brutal elimination process. Alma Pöysti delivers her lines, interacts with her castmates and expresses her emotions in a unique, harrowing manner throughout the film.
83. Denzel Washington as Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
From Michael Fassbender to Sir Patrick Stewart, many of the greats have tackled the lead role of The Scottish Play on the silver screen - and the very best to ever do it is, in the view of this wannabe Shakespeare enthusiast, Mr. Denzel Washington.
82. Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964)
Honestly, the plot of this movie is pretty bad, and it would be nothing short of forgettable if it wasn't for one saving grace - the divine Audrey Hepburn, gracing every scene with spectacular charm, heartfelt expressions and amazing comedic timing.
81. Keke Palmer as Emerald Haywood in Nope (2022)
First of all, Keke Palmer is funny as hell in this role, but that's just the tip of the iceberg - she uses her comedic chops to captivate the audience and get them all invested in a character who turns out to be pretty f**king interesting amidst all the chaos.
80. James Stewart as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
A wild range of emotions is conveyed in this deeply human leading performance.
79. Nicole Kidman as Alice Harford in Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Sublime chemistry with co-star Tom Cruise, making for some of the best-acted arguing scenes in Hollywood history.
78. Robert Sean Leonard as Neil Perry in Dead Poets Society (1989)
I love every little detail within this fragile and expressive performance so much, and it dazzles me more and more every time I re-watch the film.
77. Al Pacino as Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman (1992)
Come for the "wow, he's playing a blind man?", stay for the "Jesus, that's not even the most impressive aspect of the performance".
76. Nicolas Cage as Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman in Adaptation. (2002)
Pure, unadulterated chaos - and it works like a charm. No one could've interpreted this specific, utterly bonkers script quite like the one and only Nic Cage.
75. Logan Lerman as Charlie in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
A personally important performance to me, but also the objective talent Lerman brings to the role cannot be denied.
74. Christopher Lee as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Between Dracula, Scaramanga and Count Dooku, I consider Sir Christopher Lee to be the greatest villain actor of all time - and this fantasy powerhouse is his crowning achievement.
73. Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025)
Funny, clever, impeccably nuanced, layered - and with some historically kick-ass vocal chops to seal the deal.
72. Jessie Buckley as Ida / The Bride / Mary Shelley in The Bride! (2026)
A unique, thoroughly captivating triple role that truly carries the film to greatness.
71. Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X (1992)
An explosively dramatic read on both the historical figure and Spike Lee's script. Angela Bassett is such a legend.
70. Lee J. Cobb as Juror #3 in 12 Angry Men (1957)
You know you can act big when you're the angriest man in a film with this title. Of course, big doesn't always equal good, but Lee J. Cobb acts big in just the right way.
69. Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)
An ensemble cast's version of what a good system midfielder does in football. Duvall as Tom Hagen never steals the show or makes it all about himself, but dammit if he doesn't elevate every single scene he's in via efficient line deliveries and immaculate chemistry with all of his co-stars!
68. Sadie Sink as Ellie in The Whale (2022)
Here's my hot take - not to take anything away from Brendan Fraser's deservedly Oscar-winning lead role in this film, but I was honestly even more impressed by what Sadie Sink did with her role. She swings through a wild range of emotions, brutally real-feeling difficult conversations and genuine honesty beneath layers of psychological walls like it's nothing.
67. Alfre Woodard as Carolyn in Crooklyn (1994)
A strong testament to motherhood, in a Black and economically challenged family no less, that truly stands the test of time.
66. Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in It (2017)
There are many great big-screen interpretations of iconic characters from literature, but only a select few where all barriers of conventional understanding-of-the-source-material are crossed, to a point where it seems like the actor straight-up absorbed the pages of the book to completely become the character. Bill Skarsgård in It is one of them. Oh, and here's another...
65. Javier Bardem as Stilgar in the Dune franchise (2021-)
I had like six different names from Villeneuve's Dune movies on my shortlist for this top 100, because the whole ensemble is so historically well-cast. But, in the end, only one name made it onto the list: Javier motherf**king Bardem, who is Stilgar down to every last detail.
64. Edward Norton as Narrator in Fight Club (1999)
Edward Norton is one of my all-time favorite actors, although only one of his roles made it onto this as the competition was so tough. His Fight Club role may not be quite as critically acclaimed or conventionally appreciated as his work in films like 25th Hour or American History X, but in its own category, it's utter perfection and the film would feel completely different if it was any other actor in his place.
63. Robert Pattinson as Thomas Howard in The Lighthouse (2019)
Watching Robert Pattinson playing Edward in the Twilight movies or Cedric in The Goblet of Fire, you would NOT guess the caliber of stuff he'd grow capable of later in his career. Beneath that charming smile is an unhinged beast capable of performing the most extreme, outrageous roles (said with the utmost respect).
62. Meryl Streep as Susan Orlean in Adaptation. (2002)
This one is funny because the role written for her would work just fine with a lesser actress, as the film is so centered on the Kaufman brothers - but, as is the case with films like Mamma Mia! and Don't Look Up, the film ends up being a hundred times better because they got the GOAT delivering a ridiculously good performance to spice things up.
61. Florence Pugh as Dani in Midsommar (2019)
Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Heather Langenkamp and all the other legendary 'final girls' from the horror genre walked so that Florence Pugh could run, acting her heart out to deliver the ultimate final form of the archetype.
60. John Hurt as John Merrick in The Elephant Man (1980)
This heartbreaking performance invokes a level of emotion that very few Hollywood actors have ever managed to reach. Outstanding work by Mr. Hurt.
59. Henry Fonda as Juror #8 in 12 Angry Men (1957)
It's pretty funny that the two men out of the twelve angry men that made it onto this list are the most angry one and the least angry one. As great as all the furious shouting by the other characters is throughout the film, nothing beats the nonchalant "I'm just asking questions" vibe that Henry Fonda brings to the function.
58. Laura Dern as Sandy Williams in Blue Velvet (1986)
Out of all the great director-actor combos out there, from Scorsese & De Niro to Nolan & Caine and everything in between, my all-time favorite is probably David Lynch and Laura Dern. She always excels in his films, and her breakthrough role in Blue Velvet is no different. What a talent.
57. Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
It should be illegal for teen movies to have acting performances this intricate and powerful - I thought I was tuning in for a cute high school pseudo-Shakespeare-adaptation, and I was not emotionally prepared for the scene where Kat reads her poem in a manner that would put many Oscar-winning performances to shame.
56. Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013)
God, this national treasure was taken from us too soon. In one of the many roles that immortalized Chadwick's short-lived career, he steps into the shoes of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and does his inspiring story justice with a fiercely passionate performance.
55. Frances McDormand as Fern in Nomadland (2020)
I genuinely believe that this Best Picture winner would be A) boring as hell, B) forgettable and C) not a Best Picture winner (barely a nominee, maybe) if they had cast a lesser actress in the lead role. Don't get me wrong, I really like Nomadland - but you cannot understate the degree to which McDormand carries the end product.
54. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011)
Once again, we have one of those book-to-movie adaptation roles where the character from the source material comes to life in a strikingly complete and impressively layered manner. Also, fuck J.K. Rowling.
53. Michael B. Jordan as Smoke / Stack in Sinners (2025)
Michael B. deserving of that Oscar win, with the way that Michael B. acting in this film! His double lead performance is already admirable as hell on your first viewing, but it definitely takes a re-watch to fully appreciate all the nuances that he brings to his unforgettable portrayal of the Smokestack Twins.
52. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942)
You know you're good at your craft when you'll just say a sentence and it'll be ranked at #13 on some critic's ranking of the greatest movie lines ever spoken, and five minutes later you'll say a different sentence that'll be a different critic's second-favorite movie quote of all time, and neither of those are even among the top three lines you say in that movie. No one chucks out iconic lines quite like ol' Bogart.
51. Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery (1989)
In a medium filled with memorable villain performances, Kathy Bates delivers one of the very best - this chills-down-your-spine feat of acting is legitimately unsettling.
50. Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird McPherson in Lady Bird (2017)
A subtle performance perfectly suited for Greta Gerwig's script and direction - Ronan's brand of acting here is the very definition of "sometimes less is more", as the slightest expressions and inflections speak volumes about the character's arch.
49. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks pours so much genuine heart into this career-defining, Oscar-winning role that it's really something to behold.
48. Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Marlon Brando had made the character one of cinema's most iconic roles just two years earlier, so stepping in to play the younger version of Don Vito must have been quite the shoes to fill. A young Robert De Niro was, however, the perfect casting choice, as he really made the role his own while simultaneously staying true to the precedent set by Brando.
47. Inde Navarrette as Nikki in Obsession (2026)
You could call this recency bias, but I'm telling you - this could go down in history as one of the greats. Navarrette's breakout performance is unique in nature, fascinating as it unfolds, shockingly intense, and a complete revelation.
46. Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The protagonist goes through a lot in this film, and you can tell Tim Robbins' dedication to the craft from how every little twist and turn to his character arch can be seen reflected on his facial expressions, tone of voice and various nuances. The role lives and breathes in perfect lockstep with the story.45. Kyle MacLachlan as Jeffrey Beaumont in Blue Velvet (1986)
Much like Laura Dern, Kyle MacLachlan is another actor who truly understood David Lynch's vision, and was thus an unreal casting choice for many of his projects. The fresh energy and authentic curiosity that he brings to the role of Jeffrey Beaumont really works wonders for Lynch's best film, especially as Kyle's unassuming style of acting here builds such a delicious contrast to the cynical / evil / unhinged roles by his co-stars.
44. Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance in The Shining (1980)
My favorite horror flick of all time wouldn't be anything without Shelley Duvall's one-of-a-kind interpretation of her character.
43. Barry Keoghan as Dominic Kearney in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
With impressively little screen time, a young (and quite unknown at the time) Barry Keoghan comfortably outshines the leading duo of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson with this incredibly tragic and admirably unique performance.
42. Richard Farnsworth as Alvin in The Straight Story (1999)
At 79 years of age, and just a year before his death, Richard Farnsworth delivered a blistering tour-de-force that he'll always be remembered for. Hell of a way to go out.
41. Emma Stone as Sam in Birdman! or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2015)
I consider Birdman to be one of the overall best-acted films I've ever seen, with the likes of Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts all bringing their A-game into a fast-paced, conceptually challenging format - yet they all barely missed out on the list. The film's brighest-shining star, however, is Hollywood darling Emma Stone, who doesn't miss a beat while expertly combining jaded sarcasm, hard-hitting bitterness, a realistic depiction of recovery from addiction and bizarre surrealism into her role. No notes.
40. Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993)
The plot of the film is very emotional in itself, but it's Hanks' performance that makes Philadelphia into the tear-jerker that it is. When aiming to educate a deeply homophobic society via a film about a good-hearted gay man treated unfairly by the world, casting America's sweetheart Tom Hanks in the role was a stroke of genius that probably got a lot of viewers thinking about their prejudices.
39. Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath in The Piano (1993)
She doesn't speak a word, nor does she need to - Holly Hunter is thoroughly mesmerizing for each second of screen time she gets in this deservedly Oscar-winning lead performance.
38. Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction (1994)
You know a role is good when the actor has had a very prolific career, and you saw him in a bunch of stuff before this role and have seen him in a bunch more after, yet still you'll connect him to this one specific role in your mind for the rest of your life. I believe Samuel L. Jackson (the 'L' stands for 'motherfucker') was born to play Jules, and the work he does in this film is larger than life. If you replaced him with any other actor in any of his scenes, it wouldn't be half as entertaining and enthralling.
37. Diana Ross as Dorothy in The Wiz (1978)
Diana Ross, more known and experienced as a singer than an actress, got a fairly negative reception for her role in The Wiz - and, despite putting the role on this list and ranking it so highly, I kind of get it. Like many on this list, this isn't your conventional Oscar-winner-type acting performance - but, I mean, The Wiz isn't your typical film. For this bizarre, wild, utterly beautiful re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz, they couldn't have found a better Dorothy, and I for one was completely captivated by her brand of acting. Also, her legendary vocal chops make for some earth-shattering emotional expression that a non-singing acting performance could never reach, particularly in the climactic track Home.
36. Diane Keaton as Kay Adams in The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)
Totally great when conveying big emotions in explosive arguing scenes (especially that one scene with Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II), but arguably even better when making the toned-down scenes infinitely more interesting with all sorts of nuances.
35. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men (2007)
Many cinephiles would put this in their all-time top ten, and I completely understand why. It's a villain archetype that many have tried, quite a few have succeeded at, but only one has utterly perfected - if there's a more convincing stoic, scary, devoid-of-emotion bad guy out there, I haven't seen it.
34. Rita Moreno as Anita in West Side Story (1961)
10/10 vocals, 10/10 moves, 10/10 line deliveries, 10/10 humor - the whole cast is pretty damn talented, but even if they weren't, you might not notice because Rita Moreno had enough talent to carry the whole film.
33. Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Excellent in the first film, gains more depth in the second, and reaches a point of blistering, passionate perfection in the third.
32. Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
A phenomenal and rightfully Oscar-winning lead performance, as Foster brings the character to life with magnificent intensity.
31. Al Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface (1983)
I've seen my fair share of films where the protagonist goes through a classic rise-and-fall arch - but no one has portrayed the phases of that narrative, from the humble beginnings throughout the newly gained confidence and outrageous arrogance while on the top all the way to the chaotic despair of their downfall, quite as fully as Al Pacino in Scarface.
30. Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds (2009)
That tense-as-hell opening scene alone would put this role in this top 100, and Waltz's work for the rest of the film furthers its placement all the way to #30. Hans Landa is a villain performance that'll make you genuinely uncomfortable because of how real it feels.
29. Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Casting a cis woman as a trans man wouldn't fly today, but relative to 1999, this film did wonders for trans awareness in a profoundly transphobic society, and has gained tons of praise from the trans community. It helps that Swank plays the role respectfully, bringing heartbreaking levels of grace and nuance to the lead role.
28. Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
There are acting performances that are good but typical / confined to an archetype, then there are standout roles that are quite different from any other - and then, in a league of his own, is Brando as Don Vito. Fucking no one talks like this, sounds like this, or carries themselves in such a manner - and that absolutely unique approach is what makes the role so legendary.
27. Kenneth Branagh as Iago in Othello (1995)
Lifelong Shakespeare aficionado Kenneth Branagh conveys a deep understanding of the best villain the Bard ever wrote in this immersive performance.
26. Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator (2004)
Stepping into the shoes of such a legend can't have been an easy task, but Blanchett was up for it, effortlessly outshining Leo DiCaprio's leading role and becoming the easily most memorable part of the acclaimed film.
25. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is one of those formative films for a film geek - you think you know what good acting is from Alec Guinness in Star Wars and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and then you watch this film and are like, "Oh, okay, this is good acting". I think Sir Anthony still holds the world record for Academy Award won with the least screen time, and that's such a telling stat for this particular role.
24. Andrew Garfield as Jon in tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)
A sledgehammer performance bursting with raw emotional delivery and genuine heart. This guy is too good.
23. Isabella Rossellini as Dorothy Vallens in Blue Velvet (1986)
The entire ensemble of Blue Velvet does a great job, but even in that prestigious crowd, it's Isabella Rossellini who stands out with her tragic, layered, mysterious and completely enthralling performance.
22. Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide Wilson / Red in Us (2019)
Quite a few double roles (and two triples?!) made it onto the list, and there are two even ahead of this one - but no double role that I've seen carries so much range between the two characters portrayed by the actress, yet it's still very believably two versions of the same character. Unreal amounts of talent went into this one.
21. Ethan Hawke as Todd Anderson in Dead Poets Society (1989)
One of the many goals that an acting performance can have is "make the viewer care about your character" - and in that, I'm not sure if there's another role in film history that accomplishes that goal to such an astronomical degree as this fully realized, beautifully expressed role.
20. James Franco as Tommy Wiseau in The Disaster Artist (2017)
I'm not exaggerating with this one - out of the many great portrayals of infamous real-life people in the biopic genre, I can't think of another person who must have been as challenging to portray as Tommy Wiseau. Yet Franco completely pulls it off, to a staggering degree. This funny yet tragic performance is a joy to behold.
19. Mahershala Ali as Juan in Moonlight (2016)
The character is only present for one third of the film, but that's easily the best part, largely thanks to the profoundly gripping yet ultimately inspiring presence that the one and only Mahershala Ali brings to his Oscar-winning supporting role.
18. Anne Hathaway as Fantine in Les Miserables (2012)
Speaking of gripping, this heartbreaking portrayal of desperation and loss of innocence will stay with you long after the credits rolled. Every second of Anne Hathaway's screentime here is gold, but the I Dreamed a Dream sequence in particular is what made this into one of the most no-brainer Oscar wins in my lifetime.
17. Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
The guy will say a line like "What?" or "Oh, really!" and it'll be a delivery worth endless re-watch value and analysis due to his specific intonation and nuanced timing. And this expands tenfold when he's given more dramatic lines and monologues, where he truly gets to interpret the character with an infinite amount of gusto.
16. Taraji P. Henson as Katherine G. Johnson in Hidden Figures (2016)
There are many great movies about racism that taught me a lot about my privilege and one's responsibility to educate oneself when growing up, and those movies contain some superb acting performances. If I had to single out one portrayal of the Black experience in the United States that is harrowing, beautiful, complex and eye-opening all at once, it would probably be Taraji P. Henson acting her heart out in Hidden Figures.
15. Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network (2010)
It doesn't get much better than this. The incredible range showcased while believably staying in the same character, the moments of quiet reflection that speak volumes as well as the explosive confrontations as the character's emotions overboil - Andrew Garfield conveys it all and more in this spectacular performance.
14. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
An immortal performance, equally unforgettable for how charming and amusing it is on the outside and for how tender and humane it ends up being on the inside as the character's journey is fully uncovered.
13. Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)
Many have called this the greatest movie acting performance of all time, and while there are twelve that I ranked even higher, I totally get it. Ledger takes the iconic character to unforeseen, unprecedented extremes, sending chills down your spine with every line delivery while causing infinite interest in the viewer with every gesture and facial expression.
12. Laura Dern as Nikki Grace / Susan Blue in Inland Empire (2006)
Calling a performance the greatest role in Laura Dern's career is like choosing Spain's greatest midfielder or claiming a song to be the best track on Fleetwood Mac's Rumours - the competition is tough as hell, so the crown isn't given lightly. But in my view, David Lynch's final feature film is where Dern does her very best work, delivering a performance that is both thoroughly bizarre (worthy of decades of analysis) and deeply touching.
11. Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980)
Unhinged, unsettling, and totally captivating for every second of screentime. It's not exactly the Jack from the book, but it's a bizarre and thoroughly unique interpretation of the character in Kubrick's script, and one of those acting performances that you'll feel in your bones and that'll truly stay with you.
10. Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi (1982)
A juggernaut of nuanced emotion and impeccable talent, grounded in well-researched, thoroughly explored historical accuracy. Dude looked the part and acted the part, to the degree that you'll forget you're watching a biopic and feel like you're living the story instead.
9. Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer (2023)
He fully grabs your attention already in those early scenes - and then it gets better and better with each moment, as the character gains so much depth and layers and Cillian portrays it all with perfection. You think you've seen it all when you get to the final scene - and that's when he hits you with that facial expression in the final shot, which is probably the best-acted individual face I've ever seen an actor make in anything. There is no timeline in which he wouldn't have won an Oscar for this.
8. Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
A spectacularly haunting portrayal of grief, trauma and a psychological breakdown. The Twin Peaks movie splits opinions to this day, but let's be real - the franchise wouldn't be the fully realized masterpiece that it is if it wasn't for Sheryl Lee's beautiful, magical, earth-shattering, heartbreaking and terrifying powerhouse of a performance in this instalment.
7. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025)
No, I'm not exaggerating with this placement. In one of the most moving performances I've ever seen, Cynthia Erivo provides such a full understanding of her character that the viewer becomes completely invested, ingrained even, in Elphaba's journey for every step of the way. The idealism before everything goes wrong, the bitterness upon being betrayed, the cold embrace of the villain role while undergoing a whirlwind of emotions - she does it all, and with dynamite vocals to back it up as well.
6. Willem Dafoe as Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse (2019)
I can't think of a more fruitful performance to study the f**k out of for any aspiring actor. Dafoe does things with his facial expressions and line deliveries that feel extravagant, extreme, almost inhuman - and the end result is a completely mesmerizing sledgehammer performance worthy of endless analysis.
5. Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
There are no words that do justice for how much I care about this character, and for what an unreal casting choice Sean Astin was. The absolute passion with which he acts his heart out in moments like the "Tales that really mattered" speech or the "I can't carry it for you" scene (the greatest movie moment of all time, if you ask me) - it's a wonder to behold, and I fall more and more in love with this performance with each re-watch.
4. Naomi Watts as Betty Elms / Diane Selwyn in Mulholland Drive (2001)
I have never seen, and probably will never see, a performance quite like Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive. Every second she's on screen, the viewer is absolutely glued to her, because every single thing she does - microexpressions, tonal shifts, you name it - is thoroughly interesting. If you've ever seen an actor phone in a performance, picture the complete opposite of that - that's Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive.
3. Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)
This is what people who grew up watching Pele must have felt like when Messi came along: I considered Al Pacino in The Godfather to be the #1 greatest movie acting performance of all time for many years, and a part of me is genuinely annoyed that I eventually saw two films with even better roles, because it hurts to admit that anything is better than this one. It's one of those roles where a small shift in his facial expression will grab your full attention in that special way that only a great movie can, and that's just the tip of the iceberg - between the phenomenal line deliveries, exquisite interactions with fellow castmates and the superb portrayals of gradual change amidst the character's journey, I could write an essay about how this role redefined the limits of acting and continues to amaze to this day.
2. Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in Malcolm X (1992)
I was just inches away from putting this at #1, and even though the other top contender barely edged it out, a big part of me does consider this to be the greatest feat of pure acting talent in cinematic history. To get some idea of what I'm talking about, just watch any clip of the real Malcolm X followed by a clip with Denzel playing the part, and you'll get what I'm talking about. For the full picture, you'll have to watch the full 200-minute film, appreciating every detail that this remarkable master of the craft put into this absolute tour de force.
1. Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society (1989)
In the end, I had to go with my heart - this'll sound like a cliche, but in addition to the objective talent that the late great Robin Williams brought to the role that made him immortal, he performed in a way that moved my very heart and soul, more deeply than any other role in cinema. The passionate energy contrasted with the subtle moments of humane fragility, the big inspiring speeches as well as the painfully genuine portrayals of human kindness - I can't even think of what to say, except for the obvious: O captain, my captain.
And finally, some statistics! Here are the actors who appeared on the list more than once:
Al Pacino (3)
Andrew Garfield (2)
Audrey Hepburn (2)
Denzel Washington (2)
Ian McKellen (2)
Javier Bardem (2)
Laura Dern (2)
Meryl Streep (2)
Tom Hanks (2)
And here are the films / film franchises that appeared more than once:
The Godfather trilogy (5)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (4)
Blue Velvet (3)
Dead Poets Society (3)
12 Angry Men (2)
Adaptation. (2)
It (2)
Malcolm X (2)
The Lighthouse (2)
The Shining (2)
The Silence of the Lambs (2)
Wicked / Wicked: For Good (2)
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week as I begin a silly project that I've dubbed "the un-movie trilogy", by ranking the top 10 greatest films never made.
No comments:
Post a Comment