100 Greatest Male Acting Performances
1990 - 2009

Movie actors Anthony Hopkins from Silence of the Lambs and Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood
Criteria: These perfomances are based on characterization, charisma, intensity, and mainly on how well the actor portrayed the role. The genre of the role has no affect on its placement. Comedy, drama, and action, as well as both leading roles and supporting roles were all given a fair consideration.

Last Updated: 2017-10-04
Newly added names are in  Red 
Greatest Male Acting Performances 1990 - 2009
 Movie Title - Movie Actor (Year)

(Part 1. Serious Drama/Action)
  1. Silence of the Lambs - Anthony Hopkins (1991)
  2. There Will Be Blood - Daniel Day Lewis (2007)
  3. Malcolm X - Denzel Washington (1992)
  4. American Beauty - Kevin Spacey (1999)
  5. Shine - Geoffrey Rush (1996)
  6. Capote - Phillip Seymour Hoffman (2005)
  7. Scent of a Woman - Al Pacino (1992)
  8. Gangs of New York - Daniel Day Lewis (2002)
  9. American History X - Edward Norton (1998)
10. The Last King Of Scotland - Forest Whitaker (2006)
11. Mystic River - Sean Penn (2003)
12. Ray - Jamie Foxx (2004)
13. I am Sam - Sean Penn (2001)
14. Training Day - Denzel Washington (2001)
15. Philadelphia - Tom Hanks (1993)
16. The Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman (1994)
17. The Pianist - Adrian Brody (2002)
18. Schindler's List - Liam Neeson (1993)
19. Leaving Las Vegas - Nicolas Cage (1995)
20. Hamlet - Kenneth Branagh (1996)
21. Chaplin - Robert Downy Jr. (1992)
22. Unforgiven - Gene Hackman (1992)
23. Braveheart - Mel Gibson (1995)
24. No Country for Old Men - Javier Bardem (2007)
25. In the Name of the Father - Daniel Day Lewis (1993)
26. Gladiator - Russell Crowe (2000)
27. The English Patient - Ralph Fiennes (1996)
28. A Beautiful Mind - Russel Crowe (2001)
29. The Shawshank Redemption - Tim Robbins (1994)
30. Brokeback Mountain - Heath Ledger (2005)
31. Philadelphia - Denzel Washington (1993)
32. Michael Clayton - George Clooney (2007)
33. The Usual Suspects - Kevin Spacey (1995)
34. Cape Fear - Robert DeNiro (1991)
35. Half Nelson - Ryan Gosling (2006)
36. Glengarry Glen Ross - Jack Lemmon (1992)
37. Monstor's Ball - Billy Bob Thornton (2001)
38. Quills - Geoffrey Rush- (2000)
39. Pulp Fiction - Samuel L. Jackson (1994)
40. Carlito's Way - Al Pacino (1993)
41. Gods and Monsters - Ian McKellan (1998)
42. Dances with Wolves - Kevin Costner (1990)
43. The Unforgiven - Clint Eastwood (1992)
44. The Apostle - Robert DuVall (1997)
45. Fight Club - Edward Norton (1999)
46. GoodFellas - Joe Pesci (1990)
47. House of Sand and Fog - Ben Kingsley (2003)
48. The Aviator - Leonardo DiCaprio (2004)
49. Reversal of Fortune - Jeremy Irons (1990)
50. Richard III - Ian McKellen (1995)
51. The Fugitive - Harrison Ford (1993)
52. Sexy Beast - Ben Kingsley (2000)
53. The Departed - Leonardo DiCaprio (2006)
54. Hustle & Flow - Terence Howard (2005)
55. Mystic River - Tim Robbins (2003)
56. Dead Man Walking - Sean Penn (1995)
57. The Pledge - Jack Nicholson (2001)
58. Gangs of New York - Leonardo DiCaprio (2002)
59. Cast Away - Tom Hanks (2000)
60. The Pursuit Of Happiness - Will Smith (2006)
61. Pulp Fiction - John Travolta (1994)
62. Walk the Line - Joaquin Phoenix (2005)
63. One Hour Photo - Robin Williams (2002)
64. Memento - Guy Pearce (2000)
65. Hotel Rwanda - Don Cheadle (2004)
66. Sling Blade - Billy Bob Thornton (1996)
67. Men of Honor - Cuba Gooding Jr. (2000)
68. Michael Clayton - Tom Wilkinson (2007)
69. A Few Good Men - Jack Nicholson (1992)
70. Hamlet - Derek Jacobi (1996)
71. The Cider House Rules - Micheal Caine (1999)
72. Ali - Will Smith (2001)
73. Blood Diamond - Leonardo DiCaprio (2006)
74. Schindler's List - Ralph Fiennes (1993)
75. Training Day - Ethan Hawk (2001)
76. Hurricane - Denzel Washington (1999)
77. Pollock - Ed Harris (2000)
78. JFK - Gary Oldman (1991)
79. The Remains of the Day - Anthony Hopkins (1993)
80. Master and Commander - Russell Crowe (2003)
81. Good Will Hunting - Robin Williams (1997)
82. Before Night Falls - Javier Bardem (2000)
83. The Wrestler - Mickey Rourke (2008)
84. The People vs. Larry Flint - Woody Harrelson (1996)
85. Ulee's Gold - Peter Fonda (1997)
86. Good Will Hunting - Matt Damon (1997)
87. Crazy Heart - Jeff Bridges (2009)
88. Gladiator - Joaquin Phoenix (2000)
89. GoodFellas - Ray Liotta (1990)
90. The 25th Hour - Edward Norton (2002)
91. 12 Monkeys - Brad Pitt (1995)
92. Reservoir Dogs - Steve Buscemi (1992)
93. The Age of Innocence - Daniel Day Lewis (1993)
94. My Own Private Idaho - River Phoenix (1991)
95. Reservoir Dogs - Tim Roth (1992)
96. Eastern Promises - Viggo Mortensen (2007)
97. GoodFellas - Robert DeNiro (1990)
98. Mr. Holland's Opus - Richard Dryfuss (1995)
99. A Few Good Men - Tom Cruise (1992)
100. Awakenings - Robert DeNiro (1990)

(Part 2. Comedy/Musical)
  1. Forrest Gump - Tom Hanks (1994)
  2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Johnny Depp (2003)
  3. Adaptation - Nicolas Cage (2002)
  4. Lost in Translation - Bill Murray (2003)
  5. Man on the Moon - Jim Carrey (1999)
  6. The Big Lebowski - Jeff Bridges (1998)
  7. Barton Fink - John Turturro (1991)
  8. Ed Wood - Martin Landau (1994)
  9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Jim Carrey (2004)
10. Nobody's Fool - Paul Newman (1994)
11. Sweet and Lowdown - Sean Penn (1999)
12. About Schmidt - Jack Nicholson (2002)
13. Sweeney Todd - Johnny Depp (2007)
14. The Fisher King - Robin Williams (1991)
15. Life is Beautiful - Roberto Benigni (1997)
16. Lars and the Real Girl - Ryan Gosling (2007)
17. The Player - Tim Robbins (1992)
18. The Fisher King - Jeff Bridges (1991)
19. As Good as It Gets - Jack Nicholson (1997)
20. Groundhog Day - Bill Murray (1993)
21. Quiz Show - John Turturro (1994)
22. The Birdcage - Nathan Lane (1996)
23. Fargo - Steve Buscemi (1996)
24. O Brother, Where Art Thou? - George Clooney (2000)
25. Sideways - Paul Giamatti (2004)
26. De Lovely - Kevin Kline (2004)
27. American Splendor - Paul Giamatti (2003)
28. Living in Oblivion - Steve Buscemi (1995)
29. Jerry Maguire - Tom Cruise (1996)
30. Out of Sight - George Clooney (1995)
31. Flawless - Philip Seymour Hoffman (1999)
32. The Nutty Professor - Eddie Murphy (1996)
33. The Birdcage - Robin Williams (1996)
34. The Savages - Philip Seymour Hoffman (2007)
35. Bob Roberts - Tim Robbins (1992)
36. Rushmore - Bill Murray (1998)
37. Being John Malkovich - John Cusack (1997)
38. The Truman Show - Jim Carrey (1998)
39. Little Miss Sunshine - Alan Arkin (2006)
40. Wag the Dog - Dustin Hoffman (1997)
41. Waiting For Guffman - Christopher Guest (1996)
42. Being John Malkovich - John Malkovich (1997)
43. Benny and Joon- Johnny Depp (1993)
44. The Terminal - Tom Hanks (2004)
45. In and Out - Kevin Kline (1997)
46. Jerry Maguire - Cuba Gooding Jr. (1996)
47. Novocain - Steve Martin (2001)
48. Best in Show - Eugene Levy (2000)
49. Edward Scissorhands - Johnny Depp (1990)
50. The Royal Tenenbaums - Gene Hackman (2001)
51. Dreamgirls - Eddie Murphy (2006)
52. Adaptation - Chris Cooper (2002)
53. Bean - Rowan Atkinson (1997)
54. Bad Santa - Billy Bob Thornton (2003)
55. Ghost World - Steve Buscemi (2001)
56. Trainspotting - Ewan McGregor (1996)
57. Fargo - William H. Macy (1996)
58. Chicago - Richard Gere (2002)
59. Shakespeare in Love - Joseph Fiennes (1998)
60. Thank You For Smoking - Aaron Eckhart (2006)
61. Barton Fink - John Goodman (1991)
62. Dumb & Dumber - Jim Carrey (1994)
63. Dave - Kevin Kline (1993)
64. Matchstick Men - Nicolas Cage (2003)
65. Mrs. Doubtfire - Robin Williams (1993)
66. Mad Dog and Glory - Bill Murray (1993)
67. Cable Guy - Jim Carrey (1996)
68. Ed Wood - Johnny Depp (1994)
69. The Squid and the Whale - Jeff Daniels (2005)
70. The Big Lebowski - John Goodman (1998)
71. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Geoffrey Rush (2003)
72. Wayne's World - Mike Myers (1992)
73. Flirting with Disaster - Ben Stiller (1996)
74. Little Voice - Michael Caine (1998)
75. Breakfast on Pluto - Cillian Murphy (2005)
76. Hedwig and the Angry Itch - John Cameron Mitchell (2001)
77. Boogie Nights - Mark Walhberg (1997)
78. Much Ado About Nothing - Kenneth Branagh (1993)
79. Catch Me If You Can - Leonardo DiCaprio (2002)
80. Sideways - Thomas Haden Church (2004)
81. Kinky Boots - Chiwetel Ejiofor (2006)
82. Dumb & Dumber - Jeff Daniels (1994)
83. Forrest Gump - Gary Sinise (1994)
84. Get Shorty - John Travolta (1995)
85. The Mask - Jim Carrey (1994)
86. Charlie Wilson's War - Philip Seymour Hoffman (2007)
87. Hook - Dustin Hoffman (1991)
88. About a Boy - Hugh Grant (2002)
89. Grand Canyon - Kevin Kline (1991)
90. Moulin Rouge - Ewan McGregor (2001)
91. High Fidelity - John Cusak (2000)
92. Box of Moonlight - John Turturro (1996)
93. Primary Colors - John Travolta (1998)
94. Four Weddings and a Funeral - Hugh Grant (1994)
95. Six Degrees of Separation - Will Smith (1993)
96. Deconstructing Harry - Woody Allen (1997)
97. It's Complicated - Alec Baldwin (2009)
98. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - Mike Myers (1997)
99. Wayne's World - Dana Carvey (1992)
100. Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America - Sacha Baron Cohen (2006)








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