Great performances don’t just entertain—they resonate, haunt, and sometimes even redefine what we expect from an actor. Every year, a handful of performances transcend mere acting and become something truly unforgettable—transforming films, elevating storytelling, and leaving audiences in awe. In 2024, we saw performances that pushed boundaries, breathed life into complex characters, and made films unforgettable. It was an insane year that rewarded film lovers with a bounty of riches. Horror saw an influx of quality work from a number of actors and the more prestige films had so many great performances, it felt like it was anyone’s night at the Oscars. Some shattered expectations, some cemented their legendary status, and others became the faces of a new generation. Here are the performances that truly defined cinema in 2024.
These are the 50 Best Movie Performances of 2024.
10. Clarence Maclin as Himself in Sing Sing
Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin is so good in Sing Sing, he’s inspired me to make a greatest first time performances list. The fact that he wasn’t nominated for his performance is proof positive that the Academy cares more about stuffing their award show with stars to boost ratings than they do about rewarding actual artists. Maclin’s journey to the screen is as compelling as his performance. Having served 17 years at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for robbery, he participated in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program during his incarceration. This experience not only honed his acting skills but also played a pivotal role in his personal transformation. In Sing Sing, Maclin brings authenticity to his role, drawing from his own life experiences. His involvement extended beyond acting; he co-wrote the screenplay, contributing to the film’s genuine depiction of prison life and the rehabilitative power of the arts. His journey from incarceration to critical acclaim stands as a testament to the transformative power of the arts and personal resilience and is the type of uplifting narrative the Academy should be pushing.
9. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked
Never underestimate the power of a flawlessly delivered musical number. Not since Jennifer Hudson melted faces in Dreamgirls has a performer left audiences as shaken as Cynthia Erivo does in Wicked. Her standout moment is her rendition of “Defying Gravity,” which is a showstopper in every sense of the word. If you didn’t see this with a crowd of diehard fans, you have no idea how beloved that moment is. Erivo’s powerful vocals and emotive delivery elevate the song, making it a memorable highlight of the film. Her ability to bring both strength and vulnerability to the character, creating a compelling and nuanced performance as well as her chemistry with Ariana Grande, easily make this one of the stand-out roles of 2024. The wickedly talented Adele Dazeem may have originated the part on stage but Erivo owns it now and forever.
8. Adam Pearson as Oswald in A Different Man
His appearance in Under the Skin had audience members questioning whether he was a real person or not. Due to the fact that Adam Pearson is the only actor with neurofibromatosis type 1, some assumed he was wearing prosthetics and once they realized that was just his face, it made his performance all the more tragic. That bit role resonated with people so much, that he started getting roles with actual substance. First there was Chained For Life, an underrated and underseen film about a movie actress having difficulties connecting with her disfigured costar. That film proved he could carry a movie, whereas A Different Man proves that he can steal it from anyone.
Pearson’s natural charisma and infectious energy provide a compelling contrast to Sebastian Stan’s more subdued portrayal of Edward, adding a dynamic layer to the film’s narrative. His performance is a standout, bringing the film to life and offering a unique perspective on identity and self-perception. He doesn’t have a lot of screentime, but every time he pops up, he’s the most interesting thing in the frame. I truly hope this leads to more work because he’s a legitimately talented actor.
7. Katy O’Brian as Jacqueline “Jackie” Cleaver in Love Lies Bleeding
It’s taking everything in my power not to go on another rant about Isabella Rossellini’s Oscar nom when this performance exists. How do you look at the work these two actresses did and decide to reward the old lady who silently stands in hallways like a geriatric ghost? I truly don’t understand the thought process behind it. Katy O’Brian is electric in Love Lies Bleeding. She is dialed in and fully committed. Her dynamic with co-star Kristen Stewart is as sexy as it is unpredictable. Their chemistry is out of this world and if that was all there was to the performance, it would still make the list. But she brings an intensity to the role that would best be described as “She-Hulk on cocaine.” She rampages through this film like an out-of-control bulldozer, leaving chaos and destruction all around her. In any other movie, she’d be the out-of-control villain but in this, she’s the romantic lead. Love Lies Bleeding is a movie that doesn’t play by the rules. It says “fuck it” at every turn and is all the better for it.
6. Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok / Nosferatu in Nosferatu
When Bill Skarsgård was cast as Count Orlok, I assumed I knew exactly what he would look and sound like. I imagined the iconic Max Schreck makeup mixed with Skarsgård’s iconic creepy eyes and I’m so glad Eggers went in a completely different direction. They both subverted my expectations in the best possible way and honestly, made me a fool for ever doubting them. Eggers reimagined Orlok as a “hulking brute with a booming voice,” drawing inspiration from folklore to distance this portrayal from conventional cinematic vampires. Skarsgård’s commitment to the role is evident, as he underwent vocal training with Icelandic opera singer Ásgerður Júníusdóttir, incorporating elements like Mongolian throat singing to achieve Orlok’s distinct voice. That voice, coupled with his look, make for a compelling take on the character. Orlock is essentially Dracula (the original Nosferatu is an unofficial rip-off) and this is easily the best version of the character since Oldman. It’s a uniquely original take on the iconic bloodsucker that I think holds its own against the best iterations.
5. Kōji Yakusho as Hirayama in Perfect Days
Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days is a quiet symphony of the everyday, a film that does not rush to its conclusions but instead lingers in the spaces between moments. It is a story that unfolds not through grand events or dramatic confrontations, but through the gentle rhythm of a man’s life, where meaning is found in the simplest of gestures. The film follows Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho), a janitor in Tokyo whose days are meticulously structured yet profoundly poetic. He wakes early, tending to his plants with care, before heading out to clean public toilets—spaces that, under his touch, become near-sacred. He listens to cassette tapes of classic rock, reads paperbacks, and takes photographs of trees with a cheap film camera. On paper, his life may seem mundane, but Wenders and Yakusho elevate it into something transcendent.
Existential films are hit or miss with me. I’m all for simple slice of life films as long as they’re entertaining or if I’m invested in the routine of the main character. Calling this film entertaining would be a stretch. It really doesn’t break from its established rhythm nor does it build to a dramatic third act but nevertheless, I was enthralled. And that’s due almost exclusively to the main performance by Yakusho. His performance is one of profound internal depth. He does not rely on dialogue but instead conveys everything through the way he moves, the way he pauses, the way his face barely shifts but somehow speaks volumes. There is a history in this man that the film does not spell out for us. We see glimpses—a strained family connection, a past that lingers in the background—but Wenders trusts us to fill in the gaps. He does not force meaning upon us; instead, he invites us to observe. What you get from this film is what you put into it. There’s a whole world living beyond the frame, if you can’t see it, you aren’t paying attention.
4. Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge
I am beyond delighted to see Saulnier back in the director’s chair. I’ve dug every one of his films with Green Room being a particular favorite. Not only is it one of the best films of the last decade, it might be one of the best films ever made. There are few examples of single-location horror done better. It’s unbearably tense and unflinchingly brutal, the perfect cinematic peanut butter cup. He has built a career on violence that feels raw, immediate, and deeply personal. Violence isn’t spectacle, it is a consequence. With Rebel Ridge, Saulnier once again crafts a world where justice is murky, survival is brutal, and every wound—physical or emotional—leaves a scar. At the center of Rebel Ridge is a man wronged—played with simmering intensity by Aaron Pierre—who wages war against a corrupt system. The setup is familiar: an ex-Marine, a conspiracy that runs deep, and a desperate fight for survival.
But Saulnier, never content with convention, infuses the narrative with unpredictable bursts of violence and quiet moments of dread. There are no clean action beats here—just the messy, chaotic reality of people caught in a web of cruelty. For some, this didn’t land as hard due to it not exploring the corruption at its center but since I’ve seen enough movies about asshole cops fucking with black men for no reason, I was content with what it chose to focus on instead. Which is action without death. Rebel Ridge is essentially an updated take on First Blood with the main character being pushed to fight back and like Rambo, doesn’t want to kill. Watching him effortlessly take down his assailants with speed and restraint, was refreshing. Honestly, the worst thing about this film is the fact that it drove home how badly film needs voices like Saulnier and how important it is to roll the dice on new talent. Boyega would’ve been great in the role but I’m so glad he dropped out. Pierre is a star and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
3. Josh O’Connor as Patrick Zweig in Challengers
No other year in modern history has produced more break out stars than 2024. This list is made up almost entirely of debuts or star making turns from relative unknowns. Since they’re all doing radically different things in radically different genres, it’s hard to say which one will go on to the best career but if I had to put my money on someone, it would probably be Josh O’Connor. In Challengers, he plays a former tennis prodigy entangled in a complex love triangle that showcases his ability to convey deep emotional layers and his electric charisma. He owns every scene he’s in and his chemistry with co-stars Zendaya and Mike Faist adds depth to the film’s exploration of passion, rivalry, and ambition. He perfectly captures the intense douchebaggery of John McEnroe while also having the undeniable sex appeal and swagger of an Olympic God. He’s believable as an all star athlete, a burned out loser and somehow the most magnetic person alive. It’s one of the best written character arcs of the year and he nails every unexpected beat in the story.
2. Mikey Madison as Anora “Ani” Mikheeva in Anora
Sean Baker has a gift for finding beauty in the margins, for taking lives that Hollywood often renders as caricature and illuminating them with empathy, humor, and an unsentimental honesty. In Anora, he continues his streak of humanistic storytelling, crafting a film that’s raw, electric, and profoundly moving. As with The Florida Project and Red Rocket, Baker’s approach is one of near-documentary realism, capturing the textures of Anora’s world with an almost voyeuristic immediacy. The film follows Anora (Mikey Madison), a young Brooklyn stripper who suddenly finds herself at the heart of a whirlwind romance with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. As good as the story is, the film belongs to Madison.
Her performance is nothing short of revelatory. The way she moves through Baker’s frame, with a mix of street-smart bravado and underlying vulnerability, is equal parts movie star levels of confidence and character actor subtlety. We’ve seen characters like Anora before, but rarely with this level of nuance. She’s a deep well of sadness that often has to resort to screaming and fighting in order to hold onto the last bit of happiness she has left. That heartbreaking ending is one of the best moments of last year.
1. Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance
How far would you go to be famous? How far would you go to stay famous? Once you get a taste of stardom, it ensnares you like a hungry vine. Elisabeth was famous. She was a star. But like most people in the entertainment industry, her fame had an expiration date. It was directly tied to her beauty and she hasn’t been their definition of young for half of her career. She’s the host of a successful exercise program but the numbers apparently aren’t good enough to justify keeping her around. It’s time to rebrand with someone younger and hotter. After receiving a flash drive for an experiential black market drug called The Substance from someone who has already used it and feeling the pressure of wanting to stay relevant, she decides to sign up for the procedure. The drug is meant to give you back your beauty but there are very strict rules that have extreme consequences if broken.
To reveal any more would require getting into what the procedure is, how it works and the uncooperative element that brings it all down and the film is best enjoyed when going in cold. Without giving away too much, I’ll just say it’s a unique spin on body horror that spins wildly out of control. Demi Moore, an actress famous for throwing herself into her work, has once again topped herself in terms of fearlessness; she really goes for it. It’s the type of performance an actor does after years of being forgotten that acts like a reminder to everyone that the spark never left, it was the material that wasn’t up to snuff. Her costar and main antagonist is Margaret Qualley, who’s never been more wonderfully vindictive. The two of them make one hell of an unforgettable team. Mikey Madison was amazing but this was Moore’s Oscar.
20-1 | 2025 Performances
What are some of your favorite movie performances from 2024 that didn’t make the list? Share them in the comments!
