Top 10 Best Voice Acting Performances of 2026 (So Far)
#10: Curry Barker as One Wish Willow Rep
“Obsession” (2025)
One of the year’s most darkly humorous scenes is only made funnier knowing who’s on the other line. Using a One Wish Willow to make his dream girl fall in love with him, Bear experiences buyer’s remorse. Fortunately, the supernatural toy has a number on the back. Bear finds himself on the phone with a representative, voiced by the film’s writer and director, Curry Barker. The rep confirms what Bear suspected, yet struggled to believe: magic is real, and his wish came true. Curry relays this extraordinary revelation in such a casually disinterested way that you can’t help but laugh. He also nonchalantly informs Bear that the only way out is in death. Even when lives are on the line, customer service is never helpful.
#9: Gabrielle Union as Jett Fillmore
“GOAT” (2026)
In a film stacked with talent, we have to give the MVP Award to Gabrielle Union, who goes from competitive cheerleading to bringing it on the roarball court. What’s roarball? It’s basically basketball, although the players are more animalistic. Union voices Jett Fillmore, the star player of a team that can barely ball. While Jett is hard on her teammates, she’s even harder on herself. Union balances Jett’s ego with empathy, unleashing the black panther’s humanity. Jett gradually lowers her defenses, revealing the nuances of an aging athlete determined to prove that retirement isn’t in her foreseeable future. Although Jett still has game, no player goes the distance without a pack. It’s a role that Union sinks her claws into.
#8: Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” (2026)
Remember Jabba’s son Rotta from the 2008 “Clone Wars” movie? He’s back, and he’s not a Huttlet anymore. Rotta didn’t just grow up. This Hutt got totally ripped! What’s even more jarring is that Rotta speaks English and sounds like Jeremy Allen White. We’ll admit the opening credits raised our eyebrows, but like Martin Scorsese as Hugo Durant, it’s a casting choice that strangely works. White brings dramatic heft to a young Hutt who seems destined to live in his father’s shadow. Rotta is determined to carve his own path, however. Likewise, White avoids doing a Jabba impression as Rotta, molding a Hutt with a gentle soul, but also the fighting spirit of a warrior who’ll keep spectators entertained.
#7: Tracy Morgan as Boogle/Firewolf
“Swapped” (2026)
In this body swap adventure, natural enemies turned friends Ollie and Ivy receive help from a fish called Boogle. From the moment Tracy Morgan’s voice comes out of his mouth, it’s clear that Boogle is there to provide comedic relief. Morgan can do this role in his sleep, although Boogle isn’t what he seems. When it appears everything has been resolved, Boogle reveals his true form: the Firewolf, who set the valley ablaze years ago. We legitimately didn’t see that coming! What’s even more surprising is that Morgan can actually sound quite menacing, deceiving our heroes and the viewer. For a comedian who usually comes off as a goofball, Morgan sells it as a beast who just wants to watch the world burn.
#6: Glen Powell as Fox McCloud “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (2026)
Some of the casting choices in the “Mario” movies have been better than others, but we’ll say two things. 1) Donald Glover sounds like he’s been preparing his entire life to voice SB Yoshi. 2) We need Glen Powell to reprise his role in a “Star Fox” spinoff movie. Just as he did as another hotshot pilot in “Top Gun: Maverick,” Powell practically steals the show with limited screen time. Powell actually reached out to Illumination, expressing his passion for Fox McCloud. As it turned out, Illumination and Nintendo were contemplating a Star Fox cameo for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” The stars aligned, with Powell’s enthusiasm for the character shining through with every line delivery. His casting made us all do a barrel roll.
#5: Michael Kovach as Jax
“The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act” (2026)
When “Digital Circus” first commenced on YouTube, most people likely didn’t expect self-appointed “comedic relief” Jax to become the most complex character. With the theatrically released final episodes of the online phenomenon, the purple rabbit cements himself as a truly heartbreaking figure. This is largely thanks to voice actor Michael Kovach, who unpacks dimensions of Jax we’ve never seen before, but were always there. A particular monologue may be Kovach’s most tear-jerking performance as the character, giving us goosebumps by the end. Jax has been a tough nut to crack, fighting us every step of the way as we’ve tried to peek behind that door. Kovach might’ve mastered Jax’s snarky edge, but by the end, he’ll leave you wanting to hug him.
#4: Piper Curda as Mabel Tanaka “Hoppers” (2026)
Mabel is an environmental activist who can sometimes get a little carried away. Piper Curda strikes just the right note as a young woman who’s fighting a worthy cause, although that doesn’t mean Mabel knows better than everyone else. Upon entering the body of a robotic beaver, Mabel gets in over her head, disrupting the balance of nature. Her unrelenting determination plays off well against the laidback delivery of Bobby Moynihan’s King George. At the same time, Mabel isn’t a stick in the mud. Curda brings an infectious energy to her performance that leaves the audience sharing Mabel’s enthusiasm for animals. Mabel wants to give the animals a voice, yet finds along the way that she can’t always speak for them.
#3: Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily “The Sheep Detectives” (2026)
What would you say if we told you that Julia Louis-Dreyfus gave one of the most effective performances of her career as a sheep… and that sheep was also a detective? You might call us clueless, but anyone who’s seen “Sheep Detectives” will surely testify to the quality of the script, direction, and performances. Louis-Dreyfus leads the herd as Lily, a sheep who sets out to solve a murder alongside a few others, including Bryan Cranston as the gruff Sebastian. Lily soon finds herself pondering greater mysteries about life, death, and our very existence. Of course, Louis-Dreyfus is still given plenty of comedy gold to sink her teeth into, but we’re reminded that she’s unappreciated as a dramatic actress, making us cry over a sheep.
#2: Joan Cusack as Jessie “Toy Story 5” (2026)
The fifth installment in the “Toy Story” saga features standout newcomers like Greta Lee as Lilypad and Conan O'Brien as Smarty Pants. This is very much Jessie’s show, though, with Joan Cusack giving her best performance in the franchise since the second film. While Cusack maintains Jessie’s upbeat attitude, the film finds Jessie working through new and old crises as she settles into a leadership position. Confronting the future of tech, Jessie is also taken back to the past, where her fears of abandonment are rooted. The shift to Jessie as the central character brings a fresh perspective, with Cusack’s empathetic line delivery having us crying over what some might see as a piece of plastic. Of course, we know Jessie is so much more.
#1: James Ortiz as Rocky
“Project Hail Mary” (2026)
Initially, James Ortiz was only brought on board as the lead puppeteer for Rocky, the delightful alien who befriends Ryan Gosling. The filmmakers considered enlisting a better-known actor to supply Rocky’s voice. By the time shooting wrapped, though, the directors couldn’t think of anyone who could do it better than Ortiz. Not even Meryl Streep! This goes to show just how immersed in the character Ortiz was even before officially becoming Rocky’s voice. Since Rocky doesn’t have a face, his entire personality needs to shine through his body language and line delivery. Ortiz doesn’t just make us fall in love with this rock spider. He convinces us that Rocky is real. Either nominate Ortiz for Best Supporting Actor or create a Voiceover Oscar already!
What’s your favorite voice acting performance of the year so far? Let us know in the comments.
