Greatest Screen Performances per Film Actors

[Sherick]

I was going over some of these in my head and y'all beat me to it! And pretty similar in some cases.

I was thinking Pitt more like
1. Fight Club
2. 12 Monkeys
3. Inglorious Basterds
4. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6. Moneyball
7. The Assassination of Jesse James
8. Burn After Reading
9. Snatch
10. Babel

and Christian Bale

1. American Psycho
2. The Fighter
3. Vice
4. The Prestige
5. Empire of the Sun
6. American Hustle
7. The Machinist
8. The Big Short
9. Ford vs Ferrari
10. 3:10 to Yuma

I also wholeheartedly support the Chalamet and Phoenix lists. Fiennes's is quite a bit different than I'd have thought: I agree with Schindler's > English Patient, and I had Quiz Show at 3rd in mine.

[Dubrow555]

I am pretty on board with both of your guys' chances (didn't really go over either of these with a fine-toothed comb or anything). However:

-Inglorious Basterds that high would seriously contradict the decade lists (however, they might need to be revamped at this point). Maybe I'm thinking about how Waltz takes the vast majority of acclaim in that movie - but I've also never really heard that as one of Pitt's most revered/acclaimed performances. Tree of Life would be an interesting addition...although I've also never heard that one as one of his most acclaimed performances. What would you both suggest we take off? Ocean's Eleven is what brought him to international fame, hence why I included it.

Other than that...I'm totally on board with all of the suggested changes.

[Sherick]

Takashi Shimura (1905-1982)
1. Ikiru (1952)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. Drunken Angel (1948)
4. Stray Dog (1949)
5. Rashomon (1950)
6. The Quiet Duel (1949)
7. The Idiot (1951)
8. Scandal (1950)
9. Godzilla (1954)
10. I Live in Fear (1955)

I'm not a Shimura authority, but some of these movies he has fairly small roles in. I sometimes forget he was even in The Idiot and that's one of my favorite Kurosawa films. I just don't think the great majority of filmography is known enough internationally.

Johnny Depp (1963‐)
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
2. Ed Wood (1994)
3. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
4. Dead Man (1995)
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
6. Finding Neverland (2004)
7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
8. Black Mass (2015)
9. Donnie Brasco (1997)
10. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

This one I'm not sure about either. I wasn't considering Dead Man to be very high placed for him at all.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2. Ed Wood
3. Finding Neverland
4. Sweeney Todd
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
6. Black Mass
7. Edward Scissorhands
8. Blow
9. Donnie Brasco
10. Benny & Joon / Dead Man

-Inglorious Basterds that high would seriously contradict the decade lists (however, they might need to be revamped at this point).

This is fair, that's just how it worked out in my head. I seem to remember DDD being very heavy on that performance in the past.

[Tim]

Takashi Shimura (1905-1982)
1. Ikiru (1952)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. Drunken Angel (1948)
4. Stray Dog (1949)
5. Rashomon (1950)
6. The Quiet Duel (1949)
7. The Idiot (1951)
8. Scandal (1950)
9. Godzilla (1954)
10. I Live in Fear (1955)

I'm not a Shimura authority, but some of these movies he has fairly small roles in. I sometimes forget he was even in The Idiot and that's one of my favorite Kurosawa films. I just don't think the great majority of filmography is known enough internationally.

I will admit, past the top 5-6, this list is a bit of a crapshot. Any replacement for the Idiot in mind?

Johnny Depp (1963‐)
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
2. Ed Wood (1994)
3. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
4. Dead Man (1995)
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
6. Finding Neverland (2004)
7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
8. Black Mass (2015)
9. Donnie Brasco (1997)
10. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

This one I'm not sure about either. I wasn't considering Dead Man to be very high placed for him at all.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2. Ed Wood
3. Finding Neverland
4. Sweeney Todd
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
6. Black Mass
7. Edward Scissorhands
8. Blow
9. Donnie Brasco
10. Benny & Joon / Dead Man

I do remember Dead Man being considered one of Depp's signature roles/performances but maybe it's something I thought up myself. Either way, Dead Man isn't ranked on the 1995 list (or Man's suggested revision) nor is acknowledged in terms of acting awards.

[Tim]

Just curious, do we think video game voiceovers should be eligible here? Probably harsh to suggest it in Sam Jackson's case but if we were to make the list for, say, Ray Liotta, think Vice City would need to be featured.

[Tim]

Taking a stab at guys being discussed here (wasn't looking too much into the lists themselves to add a fresh perspective):

Christian Bale (1974-)
1. American Psycho (2000)
2. The Fighter (2010)
3. Vice (2018)
4. American Hustle (2013)
5. Empire of the Sun (1987)
6. The Machinist (2004)
7. The Prestige (2006)
8. The Big Short (2015)
9. Batman Begins (2005)
10. Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Brad Pitt (1963-)
1. Fight Club (1999)
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
3. 12 Monkeys (1995)
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
5. Moneyball (2011)
6. Se7en (1995)
7. Babel (2006)
8. Burn After Reading (2008)
9. Snatch (2000)
10. The Tree of Life (2011)

Russell Crowe (1964-)
1. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
2. Gladiator (2000)
3. The Insider (1999)
4. Cinderella Man (2005)
5. L.A. Confidential (1997)
6. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
7. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
8. American Gangster (2007)
9. The Loudest Voice (2019)
10. The Nice Guys (2016)

Ralph Fiennes (1962-)
1. Schindler's List (1993)
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
3. The English Patient (1996)
4. Conclave (2024)
5. Quiz Show (1994)
6. The Constant Gardener (2005)
7. Sunshine (1999)
8. The End of the Affair (1999)
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
10. In Bruges (2009)

Samuel L. Jackson (1948-)
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. Jackie Brown (1997)
3. Jungle Fever (1991)
4. The Hateful Eight (2015)
5. A Time to Kill (1996)
6. Django Unchained (2012)
7. Do the Right Thing (1989)
8. Eve's Bayou (1997)
9. The Incredibles (2004)
10. Unbreakable (2000)

George Clooney (1961-)
1. Up in the Air (2009)
2. The Descendants (2011)
3. Michael Clayton (2007)
4. Syriana (2005)
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
6. ER (1994-1999)
7. Out of Sight (1998)
8. Three Kings (1999)
9. From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
10. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Will Smith (1968-)
1. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
3. King Richard (2021)
4. Ali (2001)
5. Concussion (2015)
6. Independence Day (1996)
7. Men in Black (1997)
8. I Am Legend (2007)
9. Hancock (2008)
10. Enemy of the State (1998)

[ManPerson]

I'd move ER up a spot on Clooney's list.

[Dubrow555]

Looks good to me! The Machinist probably should be on the 2004 list at some point, probably an oversight.

[Tim]

Viggo Mortensen (1958-)
1. A History of Violence (2005)
2. Captain Fantastic (2016)
3. Eastern Promises (2007)
4. The Road (2009)
5. Green Book (2018)
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
8. A Dangerous Method (2011)
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
10. Falling (2020)

Ryan Gosling (1980-)
1. Half Nelson (2006)
2. Drive (2011)
3. Barbie (2023)
4. Blue Valentine (2010)
5. La La Land (2016)
6. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
7. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
8. The Believer (2001)
9. The Notebook (2004)
10. The Nice Guys (2016)

Willem Dafoe (1955-)
1. Platoon (1986)
2. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
3. At Eternity's Gate (2018)
4. The Lighthouse (2019)
5. The Florida Project (2017)
6. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
7. Antichrist (2009)
8. Wild at Heart (1991)
9. Spider-Man (2002)
10. Poor Things (2024)

Ray Liotta (1954-2022)
1. Goodfellas (1990)
2. Something Wild (1986)
3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
4. Cop Land (1997)
5. Unlawful Entry (1992)
6. Narc (2002)
7. Field of Dreams (1989)
8. The Rat Pack (1998)
9. Black Bird (2022)
10. Phoenix (1998)

Alan Rickman (1946-2016)
1. Die Hard (1988)
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
3. Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
5. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
6. Michael Collins (1996)
7. Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996)
8. Something the Lord Made (2004)
9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
10. Galaxy Quest (1999)

Jeremy Irons (1948-)
1. Dead Ringers (1988)
2. Reversal of Fortune (1990)
3. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
4. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
5. The Mission (1986)
6. The Lion King (1994)
7. Elizabeth I (2005)
8. Georgia O'Keeffe (2009)
9. Watchmen (2019)
10. Damage (1992)

Taking a break from trying to follow the greatest list's order for now (including Ray Liotta).

[Tim]

A few things:

1. I prefer Master > Joker, but I'm curious if it contradicts the current decade list?

Well, the list is out of date. I agree with Man that Master is the more acclaimed of two.

2. Wondering if Tropic Thunder has enough cultural impact to take down Oppenheimer's acclaim win

Oscars aside, not sure if there's an Oppenheimer's acclaim win. Feel Tropic Thunder is more of a career performance for RDJ than Oppenheimer is.

3. Wondering if Eddington would make more sense than "Two Lovers"

Well, Two Lovers does better in terms of acting awards and I don't think Eddington has enough cultural impact/popularity to cancel the gap.

[Tim]

Fredric March (1897-1975)
1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
2. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
3. Death of a Salesman (1951)
4. The Royal Family of Broadway (1930)
5. A Star Is Born (1937)
6. Inherit the Wind (1960)
7. Seven Days in May (1964)
8. Death Takes a Holiday (1934)
9. Les Misérables (1935)
10. Anthony Adverse (1936)

Jeff Bridges (1949-)
1. The Big Lebowski (1998)
2. Crazy Heart (2009)
3. Starman (1984)
4. True Grit (2010)
5. The Last Picture Show (1971)
6. Hell or High Water (2016)
7. The Fisher King (1991)
8. The Contender (2000)
9. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
10. Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

James Mason (1909-1984)
1. A Star Is Born (1954)
2. Odd Man Out (1947)
3. Lolita (1962)
4. Georgy Girl (1966)
5. The Verdict (1982)
6. North by Northwest (1959)
7. The Deadly Affair (1967)
8. The Seventh Veil (1945)
9. The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
10. Julius Caesar (1953)

[ManPerson]

A few things:

1. I prefer Master > Joker, but I'm curious if it contradicts the current decade list?

Well, the list is out of date. I agree with Man that Master is the more acclaimed of two.

2. Wondering if Tropic Thunder has enough cultural impact to take down Oppenheimer's acclaim win

Oscars aside, not sure if there's an Oppenheimer's acclaim win. Feel Tropic Thunder is more of a career performance for RDJ than Oppenheimer is.

3. Wondering if Eddington would make more sense than "Two Lovers"

Well, Two Lovers does better in terms of acting awards and I don't think Eddington has enough cultural impact/popularity to cancel the gap.

I agree on all accounts.

[ManPerson]

Viggo Mortensen (1958-)
1. A History of Violence (2005)
2. Captain Fantastic (2016)
3. Eastern Promises (2007)
4. The Road (2009)
5. Green Book (2018)
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
8. A Dangerous Method (2011)
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
10. Falling (2020)

Ryan Gosling (1980-)
1. Half Nelson (2006)
2. Drive (2011)
3. Barbie (2023)
4. Blue Valentine (2010)
5. La La Land (2016)
6. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
7. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
8. The Believer (2001)
9. The Notebook (2004)
10. The Nice Guys (2016)

Willem Dafoe (1955-)
1. Platoon (1986)
2. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
3. At Eternity's Gate (2018)
4. The Lighthouse (2019)
5. The Florida Project (2017)
6. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
7. Antichrist (2009)
8. Wild at Heart (1991)
9. Spider-Man (2002)
10. Poor Things (2024)

Ray Liotta (1954-2022)
1. Goodfellas (1990)
2. Something Wild (1986)
3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
4. Cop Land (1997)
5. Unlawful Entry (1992)
6. Narc (2002)
7. Field of Dreams (1989)
8. The Rat Pack (1998)
9. Black Bird (2022)
10. Phoenix (1998)

Alan Rickman (1946-2016)
1. Die Hard (1988)
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
3. Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
5. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
6. Michael Collins (1996)
7. Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996)
8. Something the Lord Made (2004)
9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
10. Galaxy Quest (1999)

Jeremy Irons (1948-)
1. Dead Ringers (1988)
2. Reversal of Fortune (1990)
3. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
4. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
5. The Mission (1986)
6. The Lion King (1994)
7. Elizabeth I (2005)
8. Georgia O'Keeffe (2009)
9. Watchmen (2019)
10. Damage (1992)

Taking a break from trying to follow the greatest list's order for now (including Ray Liotta).

Id have Spider-Man up two spots as it's Defoe's most iconic role for sure. Other than that it looks really good, fully agree with Dead Ringers as Irons' number one.

[Tim]

James Earl Jones (1931-2024)
1. The Great White Hope (1970)
2. Star Wars (1977)
3. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
4. The Lion King (1994)
5. The Return of Jedi (1983)
6. Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
7. Claudine (1974)
8. Field of Dreams (1989)
9. Conan the Barbarian (1982)
10. Gabriel's Fire (1990-1991)

Joe Pesci (1943-)
1. Goodfellas (1990)
2. Raging Bull (1980)
3. The Irishman (2019)
4. Casino (1995)
5. My Cousin Vinny (1993)
6. The Public Eye (1992)
7. The Death Collector (1976)
8. Home Alone (1990)
9. A Bronx Tale (1993)
10. Bupkis (2023)

George Sanders (1906-1972)
1. All About Eve (1950)
2. Journey to Italy (1954)
3. Rebecca (1940)
4. Lloyd's of London (1936)
5. The Moon and Sixpence (1942)
6. Man Hunt (1941)
7. Forever Amber (1947)
8. The Jungle Book (1967)
9. Samson and Delilah (1949)
10. The Black Swan (1942)

[Dubrow555]

I could see Lion King slightly higher for Irons (I was gonna suggest the same for Aladdin & Robbins)

[Dubrow555]

More FUN:

Nic Cage (another challenging one you guys might disagree with):

1. Leaving Las Vegas
2. Adaptation
3. Pig
4. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
5. Raising Arizona
6. Wild at Heart
7. Mandy
8. Moonstruck
9. Vampire’s Kiss
10. Bringing Out the Dead

(alternates: Honeymoon in Vegas, Con Air, The Rock, Face/Off, Peggy Sue Got Married, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, Ghost Rider, Longlegs)


Matt Damon:

1. The Talented Mr. Ripley
2. The Martian
3. Good Will Hunting
4. The Departed
5. The Bourne Identity
6. The Informant!
7. Behind the Candelabra
8. Invictus
9. True Grit
10. The Rainmaker

(alternates: Air, All the Pretty Horses, Oppenheimer, Ocean’s Eleven, The Bourne Ultimatum)


Kevin Spacey:

1. American Beauty
2. The Usual Suspects
3. Se7en
4. House of Cards
5. L.A. Confidential
6. Glengarry Glen Ross
7. The Shipping News
8. Beyond the Sea
9. Recount
10. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

(alternates: A Bug’s Life, Baby Driver, Casino Jack, The Life of David Gale, Moon, 21)


Bill Murray (unsure whether or not “Saturday Night Live” counts):

1. Lost in Translation
2. Groundhog Day
3. Ghostbusters
4. Rushmore
5. Broken Flowers
6. Caddyshack
7. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
8. What About Bob?
9. Scrooged
10. Tootsie

(alternates: Get Low, St. Vincent, On the Rocks, Stripes, Zombieland, Hyde Park on Hudson)



*I realized I completely overlooked “The Negotiator" when assembling Sam Jackson’s list - so maybe that should be somewhere?