Top 20 Best Performances of the Century So Far

“The Social Network” (2010) Going into this decade, Eisenberg was written off as a Michael Cera clone. That all changed when the young actor escaped into the role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. While some have called this film’s historical accuracy into question, there’s no denying that Zuckerberg became one of the world’s most influential, powerful, and controversial figures before even turning 25. Eisenberg captures this to a T, depicting Zuckerberg as a tech genius who’s awkward yet assertive, timid yet intimidating, and generally the smartest one in the room. Even when he’s not the smartest person present, Zuckerberg’s definitely the richest and he’s well aware of this. In addition to Eisenberg’s multilayered portrayal, Andrew Garfield delivered a breakout performance as Eduardo Saverin, Zuckerberg’s friend/business partner turned bitter enemy.

“Gone Girl” (2014) Although she had already established herself an actress, Rosamund Pike’s riveting work in “Gone Girl” made audiences feel as if they were seeing her for the first time. Pike’s performance as Amy Elliott Dunne snuck up on us in more ways than one. Pike initially paints Amy as a fragile woman who’s trapped in a struggling marriage and living in the shadow of a children’s book series she inspired. As “Gone Girl” shifts to Amy’s perspective, Pike removes her mask to reveal a manipulative, diabolical mastermind who’s pulling everyone’s strings. Cheeky, charming, complex, and creepy, Pike leaves the viewer constantly guessing what Amy will do next. Pike never goes too over-the-top in the role, however, creating a psychopath who’s surprisingly – and hauntingly – believable.

“Moonlight” (2016) “Moonlight” caught many audiences off-guard and the same can be said about Mahershala Ali’s Oscar-winning performance as Juan. If you crossed Juan on the street, you may assume that he’s merely a thug. While Juan is a drug dealer who’s made many mistakes, there’s more to him than meets the eye. Despite putting up a tough front, Juan is an accepting and even gentle soul who takes young Chiron under his nurturing wing. Had life dealt him a different hand, Juan likely wouldn’t have resorted to criminal activity to survive. Juan doesn’t excuse his actions, though, living with the burden that he’s part of a larger problem. Although he’s only present for the first act, Ali’s understated, deeply human performance gives the film a heartbeat.

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017) Roughly two decades after “Fargo,” Frances McDormand won her second Best Actress Oscar for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Mildred Hayes couldn’t be more different than Marge Gunderson, however. Marge was warm, understanding, and always knew the right thing to say. Mildred, meanwhile, is cold, closed-minded, and completely lost. When her daughter’s murder goes unsolved, Mildred channels all of her anger, confusion, and grief towards the police department. Although Mildred’s reckless actions eventually go too far, McDormand’s complex portrayal nonetheless leaves us sympathizing and even identifying with her. Mildred simply wants to make sense of this terrible tragedy, but no matter what she does, there are no clear answers. She’s a character who really speaks to the current zeitgeist, with McDormand adding a human element.

“Monster’s Ball” (2001) Towards the end of the 20th century, Halle Berry played Dorothy Dandridge, the first black woman to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination. So, it’s only fitting that Berry ushered in the 21st century as the first African-American Best Actress Academy Award winner. While Berry had already given her fair share of strong performances, her gut-wrenching work in “Monster’s Ball” was nothing short of transcendent. Berry is an emotional powerhouse as Leticia Musgrove, a lower-class woman who endures one family tragedy after another. In her darkest hour, Leticia seeks comfort in the most unlikely places: a prejudiced prison guard who - unbeknownst to her - is linked to her grief. Although we see Leticia continually fall to pieces, she emerges as an inspiring character who keeps moving forward.

#15: Ellen Burstyn

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“Requiem for a Dream” (2000) We’ve seen some amazing films about addiction, although few have put the audience in the characters’ shoes like “Requiem for a Dream.” This psychological drama has an all-around striking cast, but it was the legendary Ellen Burstyn who received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her unbelievably committed performance as Sara Goldfarb. Where most of the film’s central characters fall victim to heroin, the widowed Sara becomes addicted to pharmaceutically-enhanced weight loss. Sara’s determination to look slim on television turns into an obsession, taking a drastic toll on her body and mind. She thus serves as a disturbing reminder that drug abuse comes in many different forms. All the while, Burstyn is electrifying as a woman who’s plunging deeper and deeper into a bad dream come true.

#14: Christian Bale

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“American Psycho” (2000) Five years prior to taking up Batman’s mantle, Christian Bale took on a completely different kind of role as Patrick Bateman. Playing a rich, handsome investment banker might not seem like a stretch for Bale. The twist is that Mr. Bateman is a psychopath. His excessive morning routine and inner-monologue don’t even begin to describe how unhinged Bateman is. One minute, he’ll be playfully rocking out to some tunes; the next, he’ll be giddily hacking up a co-worker with an ax. Bateman lures people in with his charm and charisma, only to catch them off-guard when they least expect it. Likewise, the audience can’t help but be drawn to Bateman, even though he leaves us uneasy and utterly horrified at all times.

#13: Philip Seymour Hoffman

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“Capote” (2005) Throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, Philip Seymour Hoffman stood out as one of our finest character actors. With “Capote,” Hoffman solidified his place as one of our best actors, period. In a role he was born to play, Hoffman becomes Truman Capote, the famed author of “In Cold Blood.” While Hoffman captures Capote’s look, mannerisms, and distinct voice to perfection, he goes beyond giving an impression. We know Capote for his eccentric personality, but Hoffman also taps into the ego, depression, and guilt that made him such a fascinating figure. Although we lost Hoffman far too soon, this Best Actor Oscar-winning performance is one of the many reasons why his legacy will live on for generations.

#12: Jamie Foxx

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“Ray” (2004) The music biopic has seen a rise in popularity throughout this century, but Jamie Foxx’s uncanny turn as Ray Charles remains the performance to beat all others. While Foxx had already proven his capacity for heavy drama in a couple of films, he was still primarily known as a comedian and sitcom actor. Foxx forever changed the public’s perception of him with this Best Actor-winning performance, transforming into into the legendary blind musician with astonishing precision. Although Foxx lip-syncs to Charles’ vocals during the singing portions, he does play the piano for the film. More importantly, Foxx brings out every facet of Charles: the musical genius, the crowd-pleasing performer, the flawed womanizer, the lost addict, and the inspirational figure who ultimately triumphed over a lifetime of adversity.

#11: J. K. Simmons

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“Whiplash” (2014) J. K. Simmons has been one of the 21st century’s most consistently entertaining character actors. He landed the role of a lifetime in “Whiplash,” winning an Academy Award for his chilling performance as jazz instructor Terence Fletcher. This merciless teacher conducts his band with the ferocity of a drill sergeant. Within seconds, Fletcher can go from being calm and reasonable to chucking a cymbal at a student’s head. In Fletcher’s mind, his brutal methods are justified as long as students reach their full potential, even if a few get pushed beyond their limits. As coldblooded as Fletcher can be, Simmons unearths the character’s humanity. He molds Fletcher into a Shakespearean antagonist who vindicates every cruel action he commits in the name of making beautiful music.

#10: Leonardo DiCaprio

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“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) With another actor in the role, this movie’s portrayal of Jordan Belfort probably would’ve been easy to despise. With Leonardo DiCaprio playing the titular Wolf of Wall Street, though, Belfort is a figure we strangely admire and at times even envy. DiCaprio plays Belfort with the conviction of the world’s greatest salesman. Even with the knowledge that he’s an unreliable narrator who’s committed deplorable deeds, DiCaprio makes Belfort impossible to resist. All at once, DiCaprio becomes an unrelenting stockbroker, an untamable party animal, and an untouchable god among men. DiCaprio also brings out Belfort’s vulnerability as the authorities and reality slowly but surely begin to close in on him. While you can take away Belfort’s fortune and freedom, nobody can take away his natural charisma.

“Black Swan” (2010) Of all the performances we saw this decade, none took our breath away like Natalie Portman’s in “Black Swan.” Literally, watching Portman fearlessly throw herself into the role of Nina Sayers is an exhausting experience. Portman is so arresting that we can practically feel the physical and psychological struggles Nina endures throughout the film. When we’re introduced to Nina, she’s as delicate as a porcelain doll and as innocent as a little girl. Years of sexual repression and the pressure to be perfect gradually begin to unravel Nina’s mind, leaving us to wonder how far she’ll go to become the Swan Queen. Just as Nina evolves from a White Swan to a Black Swan, Portman delivers a transformative performance that won her the Best Actress Oscar.

#8: Tom Hanks

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“Cast Away” (2000) Being a one-man show for most of its runtime, the success “Cast Away” almost entirely depended on its lead. Fortunately, Tom Hanks was more than up to the task of carrying the film on his shoulders. Hanks’ Oscar-nominated performance starts off very dialogue-driven, playing Chuck Noland as a workaholic who’s demanding, yet caring and always likable. Once Chuck is stranded on a deserted island, the performance begins to rely more on Hanks’ body language and facial expressions. Hanks lost over fifty pounds during shooting and we really feel that physical transformation. What’s more, we experience Chuck’s isolation as he turns to a volleyball for companionship. While Chuck is a tragic figure in many respects, Hanks’ humor and sincerity make him a bonfire of hope.

#7: Charlize Theron

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“Monster” (2003) If you went into this biographical crime drama without any knowledge of its cast, you probably found yourself wondering, “dang, who’s that unknown actress playing Aileen Wuornos?” Then once the credits rolled, you dropped your jaw and exclaimed, “Wait, that’s Charlize Theron!” The South African beauty couldn’t have been more unrecognizable as the prostitute turned serial killer. Weight gain and makeup aside, Theron totally threw herself into this role. While we never excuse Aileen’s heinous actions, Theron does bring out her raw humanity as she wrestles with abuse, mental illness, and the desire to be loved. Theron’s magnificent work not only won her the Best Actress Oscar, but Roger Ebert hailed it as “one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema.”

“No Country for Old Men” (2007) Javier Bardem was the embodiment of evil in his Oscar-winning performance as Anton Chigurh. The relentless Anton almost seems like a supernatural entity who will destroy anything or anyone that stands in his way, showing zero compassion in the process. Anton is very much a human being, however, which makes Bardem’s portrayal all the more harrowing. While Anton may bleed like any other person, whether or not he possesses a soul is another question entirely. We don’t get a sense that Anton enjoys causing pain and suffering. Rather, it’s as if he doesn’t have a choice, living by a strict set of principles and judging a person’s fate based on a coin toss. Whatever Anton is, Bardem’s performance personified the darkest side of mankind.

“Hereditary” (2018) In “Hereditary,” Toni Collette is both the most terrifying presence onscreen and the person primarily being terrified. As this psychological horror film unfolds, we’re not sure if the grief-stricken Annie is succumbing to her own insanity and or an evil entity creeping into her house. Either way, Collette makes the character empathetic while also making her downright bloodcurdling. We see a woman doing everything in her power to keep it together, but it’s only a matter of time until she crumbles to pieces. When that moment finally comes, Collette turns into a wrecking ball of sheer terror. Although Collette didn’t receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination, she’s given an immortal performance that ranks alongside Linda Blair in “The Exorcist” and Mia Farrow in “Rosemary’s Baby.”

#4: Jake Gyllenhaal

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“Nightcrawler” (2014) Speaking of performances that went overlooked by the Academy, how did Jake Gyllenhaal not get an Oscar nomination for “Nightcrawler,” as he did for “Brokeback Mountain”? Gyllenhaal is the definition of eerie as Louis Bloom, an ambitious sociopath with a phony grin, a knack for negotiating, and no moral code. It’s never revealed where Bloom came from. For all we know, he’s a robot trying to blend in with society. That would explain why Bloom is seemingly deprived of anything resembling a soul, showing zero empathy for the victims he captures on tape and conspiring against anyone who stands in his way. Gyllenhaal strikes just the right balance of being charming and heartless. Without even raising his voice, Gyllenhaal can crawl under your skin and send a shiver up your spine.

#3: Joaquin Phoenix

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“The Master” (2012) Throughout the past decade, no actor took more chances or excited us more than Joaquin Phoenix. As Arthur Fleck, Phoenix took the Joker to another realm of realism and dread. Yet, Phoenix’s turn as Freddie Quell may’ve been the most personal performance of his esteemed career. Freddie is a World War II veteran who wanders through life without purpose until he joins a cult. Likewise, Phoenix was part of a cult as a child and has faced his fair share of trauma. Phoenix draws on his own experiences as a lost soul searching for somewhere to belong and someone to believe in. Phoenix’s daring performance not only makes for a fascinating character study, but a thought-provoking example of how art imitates life and vice versa.

#2: Daniel Day-Lewis

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“There Will Be Blood” (2007) Daniel Day-Lewis has only starred in a handful of movies this century. What his filmography lacks in quantity, though, Day-Lewis more than made up for in quality, as is always the case. While it was tempting to single out his Oscar-winning turn as Abraham Lincoln or his so-called swan song performance in “Phantom Thread,” Daniel Plainview is Day-Lewis’ most unforgettable character. Day-Lewis’ performance here is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It’s a nearly impossible balancing act that requires him to be over-the-top yet smooth-tongued, borderline comedic yet legitimately intimidating, and in constant control while also losing his sanity. Every second Plainview’s on-screen, Day-Lewis is taking an enormous risk and every acting choice pays off in marvelous ways. We can all raise our milkshakes to that. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Lupita Nyong’o “12 Years a Slave” (2013) Alicia Vikander “Ex Machina” (2014) Hugh Jackman “Logan” (2017) Naomi Watts “Mulholland Drive” (2001) Denzel Washington “Training Day” (2001) Mathieu Amalric “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (2007)

#1: Heath Ledger

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“The Dark Knight” (2008) The Joker has always been one of the greatest villains in any entertainment medium. Heath Ledger’s performance, however, not only made us see the iconic character in a different light, but changed the way many of us look at acting. Ledger’s portrayal encompassed everything we associate with the Clown Prince of Crime: a demented sense of humor, an ambiguous past, a menacing presence. Yet, he also turned him into something entirely new, reinventing the Joker as a domestic terrorist who mirrors real-world evil. His Joker doesn’t just enjoy spreading colorful mayhem. He takes pride in pushing society to its limits, doing so with a smile on his face. Elevating an already renowned character to unprecedented territory, Ledger’s posthumous Oscar-winning performance is one for the ages.