Every Greatest Acting Performance of the Last Decade, Ranked 

Cinema isn’t just about the spectacle, but also how deeply we connect with its characters, and catch a glimpse of ourselves in them. But not every actor can turn themselves into a mirror that reflects your unsaid truth to you, or water, that takes the shape of any vessel that holds it. 

So, in the praise and honor of our artists who’ve not just entertained us, but also tug at the strings of our hearts in the most unimaginable ways, here’s a look at all their greatest performances from the last decade. Each of these actors has left an indelible mark on cinema and reminded us time and time again that storytelling isn’t limited to cameras and script, but also the twitch of an eye and the stride of one’s walk. 

10. Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born (2018) 

Bradley Cooper starred as Jackson Maine in A Star is Born, and played a seasoned country musician who battles alcoholism while struggling to maintain his relevance in the music industry. Cooper was paired with Lady Gaga, a Grammy-winning artist, but he still held up his own during the songs. 

His performance had so much nuance and truly highlighted Jackson’s internal struggles. In 2018, he and Gaga were praised to no end for simply how beautiful their chemistry was, both while being lovers and two performers with a complicated relationship. 

A Star is Born is available to stream on Netflix (USA).

9. Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread (2017) 

Daniel Day-Lewis is undoubtedly the greatest of all time, and with three Oscars to his name, he needs no introduction. In 2017, he yet again delivered a masterclass in restraint and emotional complexity as Reynolds Woodcock in Phantom Thread. 

In the Paul Thomas Anderson directorial, Day-Lewis played the character of an obsessive fashion designer who is a perfectionist, but also emotionally detached. The way he captured those subtle gestures and controlled demeanor would make you think that he is indeed a part of the haute couture world.

After a long break, Day-Lewis will be returning to acting in Anemone, a film directed by his son. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he’s made it clear that he “never intended to retire,” and in a way regrets announcing his departure from acting earlier because it “would have done well just to keep [his] mouth shut.” 

Phantom Thread is available to stream on Netflix (USA).

8. Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) 

Denzel Washington is yet another Academy Award-winning legend who continues to astonish us. When he played Macbeth in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the world watched him nail the persona of a man bearing the emotional and spiritual scars of past battles. 

It’s rare to see an actor who can lean into the existential and moral burdens of a narrative so well. All his monologues and speeches had a feel of quiet collapse in them, and the film’s minimal aesthetic only highlighted his performance. He shone in moments of silence, hesitation, and fear, and embodied Macbeth like no other! 

The Tragedy of Macbeth is available to stream on Apple TV+ (USA).

7. Anthony Hopkins in The Father (2020)

We all remember just how terrifying Anthony Hopkins was in The Silence of the Lambs as Hannibal Lecter. But in The Father, he plays a fragile man battling dementia, who gradually loses his wit and independence. 

The way Hopkins portrays his character’s erosion through moments of confusion, anger, fear, and more will bring tears to your eyes. You recognize what he’s losing through the tremors in his voice and the way he hesitates to move. 

Hopkins doesn’t make it melodramatic, of course, but completely raw and grounded, and by the end, what you feel as a viewer isn’t just pity but deep empathy. He won an Oscar for the role at the age of 83, which is a true testament to the kind of exceptional actor he is. 

The Father is available to stream on Starz (USA).

6. Demi Moore in The Substance (2024) 

In The Substance, Demi Moore has delivered her boldest and most fearless performance yet! She plays Elisabeth Sparkle, an A-list star who the ageist industry pushes to the brink of irrelevance. Moore’s Elisabeth is also someone who’s internalized all the toxic beauty standards and dances between the celebrity persona and private self-hating.

She alternates her consciousness with a younger, cloned version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley. You’ll find Moore to be tragic and even desperate at times, but also someone you feel deeply sympathetic for. This was labelled as a career-reviving performance for the actress, which is ironic, given the movie’s subject matter, which forces us to confront how cruel we are towards ageing women. 

The Substance is available to stream on Mubi (USA).

5. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant (2015) 

The Revenant is the movie that broke the Oscar curse for Leonardo DiCaprio! He portrayed Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who is mauled by a bear and then left for dead in the middle of nowhere! DiCaprio carried the film’s weight by making his suffering seem all too real. 

It did feel like he was crawling through snow after surviving a fatal bear attack. Every grunt, sigh, and expression was loaded with emotion. It was a performance that brought his overdue recognition, and many felt it was because of how deeply he dove into the role. 

The Revenant is available to rent and buy on Amazon (USA).

4. Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer (2023)

Cillian Murphy had everyone’s attention with Peaky Blinders, but Oppenheimer really put him on the map of Hollywood’s greatest. He’d been a known collaborator of Christopher Nolan, and this time, the director cast him in the lead, as the titular character! 

Murphy essayed J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who was at the center of the Manhattan Project. Little did we know about his moral torment and deep personal conflicts, but Murphy brought them to the screen and showed us the man behind his public triumphs. 

Murphy was brilliant in nearly everything he did in the movie, from the courtroom scene to intimate moments with his family, and the climactic test segment. Oppenheimer, being a Nolan movie, reshaped what we expect from biopics. 

Oppenheimer is available to rent and buy on Amazon (USA).

3. Brendan Fraser in The Whale (2022)

Many might know Brendan Fraser as the charming lead from The Mummy, but you haven’t seen his true potential if you have never come across The Whale. In this moving drama, he plays Charlie, an obese English teacher who hides from the gaze of others and is haunted by loss. 

You can feel that Fraser’s Charlie feels grief, regret, and self-loathing. The moments when he reaches out to his estranged daughter might just break you. Fraser effortlessly carries the movie and is unforgettable in the most tragic way possible. 

The Whale is available to stream on HBO Max (USA).

2. Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (2016) 

In Manchester by the Sea, Casey Affleck portrays Lee Chandler, a handyman living in isolation, who is forced to return to his childhood home after his brother’s death, which leaves him as the guardian to his teenage nephew. 

We see praise for emotional outbursts in movies, but Affleck doesn’t take that route and shows us the pain of someone whose suffering is mostly internal. The narrative unfolds with flashbacks of what he once had, what he lost, and what he is not able to move past. Affleck’s pauses, posture, and voice reflect everything Lee doesn’t say. 

Manchester by the Sea is available to stream on Prime Video (USA).

1. Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019) 

It was no secret that Joaquin Phoenix could act, but after Joker, he’ll forever be a revered performer. He’d visibly lost weight for playing Arthur Fleck, had a hesitant walk, and that uncontrollable laugh, which made you feel sorry for the character. It’s a shame that Joker 2 couldn’t live up to the original legacy, but it still doesn’t erase just how brilliant Phoenix was in the first one.

The final scene on the talk show and his dance on those stairs was a haunting way to reveal his metamorphosis. Here, Joker is not a villain, but a mentally ill, socially alienated, and suppressed human, brought to life by the extraordinarily talented actor, who delivered the performance of the decade!

Joker is available to stream on HBO Max (USA).

Here’s an overview of the greatest acting performances of the last decade:

These artists prove that acting has never been about memorizing lines or wearing a costume. A true performer surrenders themselves to the role, where the actor and character disappear. That’s what these talented individuals have accomplished in the last decade, which is no small feat because it requires madness and dedication of the highest form! 

So, which one of these performances is your favorite? And have we missed out on your favorite one?